News, Events & Comments

The new year heralds a new beginning. Zatoun is very pleased to announce...

Open in downtown Toronto; Wednesday, January 27

Housed in a beautiful, large space with a terrific location at Bathurst and Bloor, Beit Zatoun looks to fulfill its mission to be an art and culture venue.

Beit Zatoun (translates as "House of Olive") is a gallery and performance space for the justice and human rights community in Toronto. It aims to raise awareness and create greater understanding as ultimate means to peace through art and culture by hosting exhibits, talks, screenings, plays, music, dance, workshops, and a resource centre.

Although at the core, the question of Israel/Palestine is but an intersection point for many struggles and human dimensions. Beit Zatoun invites and welcomes all communities resisting oppression and affirming the rights of individuals everywhere to live in dignity and freedom.

Beit Zatoun is also the global office and centre for Project Hope, a long-time partner of Zatoun. All Zatoun products will be available for sale at Beit Zatoun.

Regular Hours:
Wednesday, 12 noon to 6 pm
Thursday & Friday, 12 noon to 8 pm
Saturday & Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm
Monday & Tuesday, Closed

Events will extend beyond the posted times.

Please visit us during these hours and attend our special events.

Located at 612 Markham St., one door south of Bloor (Bathurst subway)
Call to confirm, if unsure: 647-726-9500. Also visit: www.beitzatoun.org

Labels: Zatoun

A couple noteworthy invitations came to my inbox last night:


e-fagia presents: Video Screening - "Do Wambura" (Goodbye River) 
by Oscar Ordóñez

Friday, January 30th at 7:00 pm

Goodbye River shows the struggle of the Embera Katio peoples of the Sinu River in Cordoba, Colombia. It recovers the legacy of Kimi Pernia, indigenous leader who was assassinated for defending nature and the rights of his ethnic group.

This video is presented as part of the exhibition LEY DE ORIGEN (LAW OF ORIGIN).

e-fagia collective is pleased to present Oscar Ordóñez, a Colombian photographer and documentary film-maker based in Toronto; He is currently showing a series of photos of people from different native ethnic groups from various regions of Colombia. Through this exhibition, you will see rich cultural diversity in an extraordinary journey across several regions and peoples.

When the Spanish conquistadores arrived in Colombia, there were around nine million natives. Thereafter the vast majority of them were exterminated. Despite this, native peoples in Colombia have been fighting to preserve their own culture, autonomy, cosmogony, self-determination, and their rights to the land. At present there are around 84 native nations in Colombia and they speak approximately 64 different languages. This extraordinary cultural heritage is possible, in part, through a living oral tradition that remains strong across numerous generations.

For more information, please contact: Oscar Ordónez, mascalitoo@yahoo.com
Julieta Maria, 416-588-8171
contact@e-fagia.org
www.e-fagia.org

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Toronto Events with Zatoun:

- Wednesday, February 4; Poetry for Peace at OISE from 7:00 to 9:00 pm

- Sunday, February 8; Palestine, Israel, & Democracy at OISE from 7:30 pm

- Sunday, February 22; Bridge to the World: Fundraiser for Project Hope at Lula Lounge - 6:00 pm

( see below for details )


~ Poetry for Peace
Time: Wednesday, Feb-04 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm
Location: OISE - Peace Lounge, 7th floor South - 252 Bloor St. W. (St. George subway)
Sponsor: Tikkun Toronto & Transformative Learning Centre

Share music and poetry, coffee and dessert, as we collect funds to support "from Zatoun to Zatoun" initiative for humanitarian aid to Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Gaza City


~ Public Forum: Palestine, Israel, & Democracy
Time: Sunday, Feb-08 at 7:30 pm
Location: OISE Room 5-260 - 252 Bloor St. W. (St. George subway)
Sponsor: NION - Jewish Voices Opposing Zionism; Information: www.nion.ca

Speakers: Robert Massoud, Founder Zatoun Fair Trade Olive Oil from Palestine
Jenny Peto, Anti-Zionist Jewish activist, member of CAIA, graduate student at OISE


~ Bridge to the World: Fundraiser for Project Hopesdaf
Time: Sunday, Feb-22 Doors open at 6:00 pm
Location: Lula Lounge - 1585 Dundas St. W. (between Dufferin and Lansdown)
Information: www.projecthope.ps
Tickets: $35 per person (includes finger food)

A special evening of cultural performances, gallery of pictures showcasing Project Hope's six years of work with children in Palestine, raffle, auction of embroidered dress from Palestine, presentations by volunteers just back from Palestine, sale of cultural items from Zatoun and other vendors & much more!

Performances include: Al Lala Dance Group (www.al-lala.com) - a group of dancers and drummers bring true spirit of Arabic folklore. Spoken word by: Samah Sabawi.Mraya (with the talent of Maryem Tollar, Roula Said, Jayne Brown, Sophia Grigoriadis) - performing Arabic, Greek and Balkan music, drum and vocal songs. A special dance performance by members of the MOSAIC Arabic Folklore Ensemble (www.arabmosaic.ca).

To purchase tickets via PayPal or local contacts (mona@projecthope.ps or (416) 879-8939; lemloumah@yahoo.ca or (416) 570-3674)


Zatoun invites you to learn more about our mission and activities.

experience ~ learn ~ share

ZATOUN, fair trade olive oil from PALESTINE; info@zatoun.com - www.zatoun.com

Labels: Tinto Coffee House, Zatoun

Zatoun has contributed to Project Hope from the very first bottle of Zatoun sold. We are pleased that the Toronto community is also fundraising and supporting its wonderful work with youth in the refugee camps of Nablus:


Together Fundraisers present

An Evening of Readings for Project Hope

with authors Rawi Hage and Jason Sherman


special performance by Roula Said and Maryem Tollar


Sunday January 20, 2008; Lula Lounge; 1585 Dundas Street West
Doors open at 6 p.m. Event starts at 7 p.m.

Lula Lounge will reserve tickets with dinner reservation.


Tickets: $ 20 at the door
or Toronto Women's Book Store, 73 Harbord St. (west of Spadina 416-922-8744)
or through togetherfundraisers@gmail.com


Project HOPE (Humanitarian Opportunities for Peace and Education) is a non-profit volunteer organization with a mandate to provide participatory, educational programs space for Palestinian youth and children. Together Fundraisers are an Arab/Jewish Group in Toronto raising money for projects in Palestine.


Sponsored by Togetherfundraisers, Zatoun, and PEN Canada

Labels: Toronto Women's Bookstore, Zatoun

A recent member and supporter of TorontoTheBetter, ZATOUN: fair trade olive oil from Palestine, has been profiled in last week's NOW Magazine.

Wayne Roberts reports that:

'Robert Massoud, born in Jerusalem of Christian Palestinian parents and now living just north of Toronto, developed the project as "a people-sized initiative for those who want to make a difference" but who "throw up their hands and walk away" in despair from seemingly hopeless cycles of retaliation in the Middle East.'

Mossoud addresses the conflict with an olive branch by Bottlling peace in a jar.

Labels: Zatoun

Dear friends and supporters of Zatoun,

After a truly remarkable year, Zatoun is ready for another one. The support and impact is visibly building. With the help of its community of supporters across the continent, Zatoun is making a difference. We hope to double the value from 2006 and contribute over $350,000 directly to Palestinian farmers and workers.

Much news and many highlights to list:

24,000 + 24 ,000 in 2007
Incredible how Zatoun has grown with your help and support. From tiny beginnings exactly 3 years ago with only 1,500 bottles - Zatoun is looking to sell 24,000 bottles of olive oil and 24,000 bars of olive oil soap in 2007. These nice round numbers will contribute over $350,000 to Palestinian growers, workers and activist projects.

NOW! "Zatoun Olive Oil is Certified Fair Trade"
Yes you can say it! Fair trade certification has finally arrived! This order is Certified Fair Trade by IMO from Switzerland. After waiting for the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) to develop standards for olive oil - PFTA / Canaan proceed with IMO to make it happen. To learn more about IMO please visit imo.ch

NEW! Soap Collection - 4 special bars - fundraising for Project Hope
An amazing collection of 4 soaps form Nablus - ancestral home of soap making - pure olive oil from Palestine is used and mixed 20% by weight with honey, goat's milk, lemon and mud from the Dead Sea to give you a gift collection of 4 unique and exquisite soap for you and your gift-giving. The project was launched by Zatoun as a fundraising venture for Project Hope. Zatoun will donate $5 for each box sold to Project Hope for its programs in Nablus. Visit the soap collection page.

NEW! New Trees for Life Sponsorship
In the same way, Zatoun wants to create an easy and more direct way to support Trees for Life: Planting Peace in Palestine. Zatoun will continue to direct a portion of proceeds to the program but wants to make it possible to sponsor trees directly - now you can purchase a sponsorship of 5 olive tree saplings to be planted for $20. You can buy as many sponsorships in multiples of 5 trees. Please visit the Trees for Life Sponsorship page.

MORE Hand Embroidered gift bags from Gaza
The embroidered bags were such a huge hit - sold out within a week around Christmas time that we had to get them back. The bags are from Gaza and produced by Atfaluna (Arabic for our children), an educational, training and care institution for deaf children and adults. Zatoun returns all proceeds to Atfaluna to assist with its mission and programs. Please visit the Atfaluna site for more information.

IMPROVED Order Process & Simplified Shipping & Online Payment
Please visit the order page which will take you to US or Canada order form. Note the maps and unified shipping zones. It was important to move to zone shipping for the sake of simplicity and clarity. Also it helps Zatoun be more available to supporters in non-urban or non-central locations. Zatoun may have to pay more to get there but it is important to us to be as affordable as possible to people and / or organizations.

Also, our online payment system involves emailing electronic invoices for payment via credit card through PayPal's gateway site. You do not have to be a PayPal member or have an account. Pay securely online with all major credit cards.

Leonardo daVinci Awards 2007
Zatoun is a finalist in the Leonardo daVinci Awards 2007 ! Nominated by a supporter in March, Zatoun has been selected a finalist in the "community" category to receive a Leo Award held on April 17. The Awards is part of worldwide "Creativity and Innovation Day - April 21" and has with national/local chapters (more info at creativityday.ca).

"Trees for Life - Planting Update"
The planting season completed in early March. Zatoun & PFTA is developing a final report. The total numbers are 12,600 tree saplings were planted in appx. 300 farmers in the areas of Jenin, Nablus and Salfit. Zatoun contributed to over half the number from 2006 sale proceeds of oil and direct donations received from individuals and organizations. The US Campaign to End the Occupation contributed over $2,500 by partnering with Trees for Life for its fundraising drives. We have been overwhelmed with the number and generosity of individual donations. All donations are acknowledged with a letter and certificate. If you have not received a certificate - please let us know - we may have missed you - sincere apologies.

Loan Guarantee fully subscribed
Our need to guarantee a $60,000 loan was fully covered. Thank you to the many guarantors who agreed to lend support in this unique way. It enabled Zatoun to grow in 2007 by helping our cashflow. It is not likely we could have gotten the 2007 shipment without the loan. Thank you!


** Always needed ** HELP! Volunteer Help - New Section on Website
We need help from volunteers. Please see a list of the many varied and wonderful ways you can help Zatoun. Please visit to see what appeals to your sensitivities and talents. There is bound to be something for you - let's talk about it.


Thank you so much, we look forward to your support and great success in 2007.

For more information: www.zatoun.com info@zatoun.com

Labels: Zatoun

This comes from Robert at ZATOUN, fair trade olive oil from PALESTINE:

Zatoun is sold primarily through our activist, grassroots network and via the Internet.

However there are a growing number of retail outlets in the Toronto area, including:
- Karma Co-op
- Fair Trade Clothing
- 4-Life Natural Foods
- Alternative Grounds Coffee House
- Toronto Women's Bookstore

Labels: 4-Life Natural Foods, Alternative Grounds, Fair Trade Clothing Co-op, Karma Co-op, Toronto Women's Bookstore, Zatoun