Big Bird aims to promote peace in Gaza

Published on Friday 27 November 2009 21:39

BIG Bird, Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch have taught countless generations of children how to count, recite the alphabet and wash their hands.

Now their creators are hoping a Palestinian version of Sesame Street will be broadcast in Gaza to help teach Arab children there the importance of peace.

It is the latest example of so-called "Muppet diplomacy". In Kosovo, puppets show how Serbian, Albanian and Roma children can all get along and a version in Northern Ireland – Sesame Tree – is trying to break down the religious divide.

A Palestinian version has already been broadcast in the West Bank but has not been shown in Gaza. Instead, children there watch a TV station run by the Islamist group Hamas featuring cartoon animals and puppets that declare their hatred of Jews.

Gary Knell, president of the Sesame Workshop, the educational organisation behind the popular series, has travelled to Israel and the Palestinian territories to try to persuade donors to back his plans. "We want very much to be on the air in Gaza. There's an enormous population of kids who have been through an extremely difficult situation this past year especially who could benefit from the show," he said.

Researchers at the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme found that two-thirds of children showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.