Vivien Sansour reflects on growing up in Bethlehem, Palestine, under Israeli military occupation, and connecting with the Palestinian land and the nature as a child. She then opens up about her experience immigrating to the U.S. at age 10 and navigating anti-Arab racism in North Carolina. Vivien reflects on the humiliation deeply ingrained in the immigrant experience and shares her personal journey in developing resilience and self-love. She then talks about her connection with agriculture, plants and seeds, and founding the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library in 2014. Vivien provides context on how Israeli colonialism severs Palestinians from their food source and then goes on to talk about Palestinian agro-resistance and how seeds provide an opportunity not only to resist but to create. She explains how Israeli Apartheid confines Palestinians to an open air prison and severely restricts their movement. Vivien then talks about her early desires to travel the world and shares her experiences in Argentina and Uruguay. She then reflects on the transnational solidarity with the Palestinian struggle, including the closeness she feels with the African-American community. FULL SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE AT: www.TheMaverickShow.com
Episode #138: Transnational Solidarity Against Israeli Apartheid and Founding the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library with Vivien Sansour
Episode Summary
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About the Guest
Vivien Sansour
Vivien Sansour is a Palestinian artist, storyteller, conservationist and global vagabond. She uses image, sketch, film, soil, seeds, and plants to enliven old cultural tales in contemporary presentations and to advocate for seed conservation and the protection of agrobiodiversity as a cultural and political act. Vivien founded the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library in 2014 as part of this work with local Palestinian farmers, and her work has been showcased internationally, including at the Chicago Architecture Biennale, V&A Museum in London, and the Venice Art Biennale. Vivien is a culinary historian, enthusiastic cook, and works to bring threatened varieties “back to the dinner table to become part of our living culture rather than a relic of the past”. This work has led her to collaborate with award winning chefs, including Anthony Bourdain and Sammi Tamimi. She has a MA in Anthropology and is currently a fellow at the Harvard University.
What You'll Learn
- How Israeli Colonialism Confines Palestinians to an Open Air Prison And Severs Them From Their Food Source
- Examples of Transnational Solidarity Against Israeli Apartheid from South America to Africa
- The Power of Palestinian Agro-Resistance, Seed Conservation, Story Telling and Creation
Links From the Episode
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LEARN MORE ABOUT VIVIEN (AND HOW TO SUPPORT HER WORK WITH THE PALESTINE HEIRLOOM
SEED LIBRARY)
WATCH VIVIEN’S DOCUMENTARY FILM FOR FREE
READ VIVIEN’S ARTICLE
WATCH THE FULL EPISODE WHEN ANTHONY BOURDAIN CAME TO PALESTINE
- SEASON 2, EPISODE 1 OF “PARTS UNKNOWN” (Or Stream on HBO Max)
VIVIEN’S RECOMMENDED RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE
- Just Vision
- Palestinian Activists to Follow on Instagram
- Palestinian Filmmakers to Watch
- Israeli Products to Boycott in Your Country (in Solidarity with the Palestinian BDS Campaign)
LOCATION WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
WINE CONSUMED IN THIS EPISODE
#1 BOOKS VIVIEN RECOMMENDS
#1 PERSON WITH WHOM VIVIEN MOST WANTS TO HAVE DINNER
TOP 3 FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
TOP 3 BUCKET LIST DESTINATIONS
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Argentina
- Bethlehem, Palestine
- California
- Central America
- Chicago
- Chile
- Columbia
- Cuba
- Europe
- Greenville, North Carolina
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Jerusalem
- Jamaica
- Los Angeles
- Michigan
- Chiapas, Mexico
- New York City
- Philadelphia
- South Africa
- South America
- United States
- Uruguay
- Vatican
CONTACT AND FOLLOW VIVIEN
Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[5:40] Growing up in Beit Jala, Palestine
[7:14] Immigrating to North Carolina at Age 10
[8:37] Navigating anti-Arab Racism in the U.S. and Developing Self-Love
[14:32] Vivien’s Connection with Agriculture, Plants and Seeds
[18:36] Founding the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library
[22:02] How Israeli Colonialism Severs Palestinians from their Food Source
[27:17] Palestinian Agro-Resistance and Creation
[31:37] How Israeli Apartheid Confines Palestinians to an Open Air Prison
[39:15] Desiring to Travel the World
[40:29] Vivien’s Reflections on Her Time in Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia and Chile
[46:29] Transnational Solidarity with the Palestinian Struggle
[48:45] African-American Solidarity with Palestine
[56:00] African Solidarity with Palestine on the Continent
[59:12] Matt’s Closing Comments of Part 1