A Tribute: “I am here because I care.” – Rachel Corrie

“I am here because I care.” – Rachel Corrie – A tribute!

Rachel Corrie served with ISM – International Solidarity Movement in Gaza in 2003 where she was crushed by an Israeli military bulldozer while protecting the home of a Palestinian doctor. She was 23 years old. Today is the 15th anniversary of her death.

Interview with Rachel in Gaza:



The young Rachel Corrie, “Because I care…”

See also live footage of Rachel’s death (content may disturb):



In the live footage the Caterpillar D-9 bulldozer driver’s radio transmission graphically illustrates the dehumanising reality of the military occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the siege of Gaza:

“I think the object got hit….”

“Yes, I saw him I think he is dead.”

Rachel’s death was tragic and brought the world’s attention to the suffering ad deaths of the thousands of Palestinians.

Please don’t think that the situation in the West Bank and Gaza are any different today. The ethnic cleansing of Palestine continues every day.

We should not allow this to become normailised in our thinking.

Palestine may not be the leading news story in Western media but random ID checks, body searches, delays, restrictions of movement, detentions, arrests, collective punishment, destruction of property including olive trees and agricultural crops, theft, home invasions, deprivations of infrastructure, bureaucratic and economic occupation, the siege of Gaza and aggressive military attacks continue constantly.

The challenge Rachel has brought to all our lives is to get out of our comfort zones and act on our convictions.