Skopje, 9 September 2023 (MIA) – Raed Saadeh’s lecture “Searching for the Beauty of Palestine under Occupation” at the Jadro Cultural Center on Saturday evening is set to kick off the second part of the eighth edition of the CRIC Festival for Critical Culture, organized by Kontrapunkt.

“In order to secure the continued existence of the Palestinians as an occupied nation and their political future, as well as in order to protect their material and immaterial heritage, especially in the more threatened areas, the ones that are close to the settlements, but also in the more distant areas, it is of vital importance to look for characteristic elements that formulate the specific identities of these potential destinations with cultural heritage, where tourism can be seen as a tool for sustainability and development. This lecture will attempt to present an approach towards a sustainable sensibility of the specific cultural identities of these locations and a methodology for the villages, cities and other communities, in order to formulate a strategy for sustainability and development,” said the organizers in a press release.

Raed Saadeh is an activist and advocate of community-based tourism and cultural heritage preservation in Palestine. Originally trained as a mechanical engineer, with a Bsc. from Syracuse University and MSc. from Case Western Reserve University, he is also co-founder and board member of the Palestinian Art Court; board member of Al Ma‘mal Foundation for Contemporary Art; Chair of Sunbula, a Jerusalem-based non-profit fair trade organization; and co-founder and ex-President of Yabous Productions for performing arts. His current efforts are focused on developing the concept of an Alquds/Jerusalem tourism board intended to maximize the economic returns and benefits for Alquds local community.

Photo:  CRIC Festival for Critical Culture