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	Come peace train and pick me up an article by Ayman Qwaider Give me my freedom and childhood back: a statement stressed on through an action day taking place on March 18th in Al Maghzi Refugee camp stationed in the Gaza Strip. Remarkably some 10,000 refugee camp kids gathered and participated in the action day entitled We Need Freedom. We Need Childhood. A scene from the action day click on photo to enlarge Despite the fact that the Gaza Strip residents have been enduring profound and extraordinary living conditions as a result of the on-going unlawful Israeli government blockade, regular military activities and internal Palestinian political conflict, children still dream of happiness and going back their normal lives. "I am still dreaming of a better world dominated by peace and tranquility. It is more than enough what we the children of Gaza have to cope with in the 21st century. We believe that war is incredibly costly and devastating in the meanwhile, peace is much cheaper and adorable" says Asmhan Shaaban a fifteen year-old child from Al Maghzi refugee camp who participated in the event. For several decades, exposure to tension and violence in the local community has resulted in tremendous negative repercussions for the children. This lingering situation has had negative consequences on all aspects of life, including education, health, economic situation and financial status, and social interactions and interpersonal relationships "When I take part in this event, I feel cheerful and relaxed. I like playing and getting my face painted. I love peace, I love the world. I dream of a better tomorrow for us, the children in Gaza where we can have a peaceful and secured environment. I need to walk around my neighborhood peacefully and pick pretty flowers. I do not like to hear Israeli fighter jets or bombardments," Ali, another participant told the organizers.		DISCUSSION Question(s) related to this article: How do we keep up our spirits in an age of global terror? Thematic forum(s) in which this article is being discussed: EVERYDAY LIFE - VIE QUOTIDIENNE Latest reader comment: This discussion question applies to the following articles: Beslan: How Do Peacemakers Keep Going? Our Voices Together - Honoring the Lives of Victims of Terror Come peace train and pick me up
This report was posted on March 21, 2011. If you wish to start a new discussion topic on this article, please copy the title of this article which is Come peace train and pick me up and its number which is 451 and enter this information along with your discussion question and an introductory response to the question here. A few stories are retained on the main listings if they are considered by readers to be a priority. If you have not already done so, please take the time to check a box below: should this article be considered as a priority?