This special course is designed to teach educators, parents, activists and local government how to encourage children and their families to walk to school, "for health, safety and the environment." The course objectives are to provide participants with an evidence-based understanding of health, safety and sustainability aspects of walking to school and to provide participants with practical training on leading 'walk to school' projects in their community (based on American 'safe routes to school guidelines' adjusted to Israel).
The course lectures will be given by leading experts in health, safety and sustainability – academic researchers, government officials, and NGOs leaders.
The first part of the course (first 4 meetings) provides the 'solid evidence' regarding the contribution of walking to schools to: health, safety and sustainability. The second part of the course (last 4 meetings and 'walk to school tour') provides evidence of success stories of walking to school projects, and includes a training workshop by the end of the course.
The course includes 50 academic hours, 8 meetings, and 1 half-day tour. It will take place on Tuesdays from 9:00-13:00, 5 May through 23 June. The course will meet at the offices of Igud Arim (Urban union for environmental protection) in Hadera (a short walk from the train station). Participation fee: 500 shekels
For further information please contact: Mika Moran 972-54-7277510, mikam - at - tx.techunix.ac.il or Tamar Keinan 972-52-8974583, tamar - at - hateva.org. Read More...
Join The Heschel Center's efforts to promote verifiable carbon reduction projects The Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership is proud to present The Good Energy Initiative (GEI). GEI is a task force established by the Heschel Center which acts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) production and emissions, and to support energy independence for Israel by means of energy efficiency and alternative technologies.
The GEI is the only active voluntary carbon offsetting body in Israel. It is a social venture with an economic investment approach, in which revenue is channeled into non-profit social/environmental activities. Local and overseas organisations who are interested in reducing or offsetting carbon emissions generated by their activities can invest in a GEI project which enables communities in Israel to make simple changes to reduce their carbon emissions, as well as making their environment cleaner and healthier. Examples of some current and planned GEI projects are:
Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) for Private Homes in Lower Income Neighborhoods.
De-centralized clean power production.
Biodiesel in School Buses/Forklifts.
Planting 1,000,000 Trees in Tel-Aviv Metropolitan Area.
Garbage Seperating Squads.
Recycling gases and Waste Heat Recovery in 2 energy factories.
You can offset your carbon emissions through support of a GEI project. For more information see the GEI homepage here, and to donate, visit the Friends of the Heschel Center website here.
Jewish National Fund calls on the Jewish community to offset their carbon by planting trees. In a new campaign launch last fall, the Jewish National Fund - USA is calling on the Jewish community to "offset" (or compensate) for their carbon emissions by purchasing trees in Israel. "Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for photosynthesis," says the JNF-USA (click here to visit the JNF Go Neutral FAQ). "As a result of this chemical reaction," it continues, "oxygen is released into the air while carbon is sequestered, or stored, in the tree. About half of the weight of a mature tree is carbon." Therefore, the JNF calls on the community to contribute to JNF environmental projects in Israel each time the individuals or groups desire to compensate for their global warming gas emissions. From their FAQ: "JNF has been performing environmental work in Israel for over 100 years. Today, as the problems that are plaguing our planet become more apparent, we continue to develop and implement cutting edge environmental projects. Your generous donation will be put towards: developing water desalination and purification techniques, creating sources of alternative and solar energy, implementing afforestation techniques, research on grappling with arid land management, and developing methods of battling land degradation and combating desertification." Their site features a carbon calculator for individuals to compute their emissions, as well as suggestions for how you can reduce your carbon footprint. For more information, visit JNF Go Neutral by clicking here.
Kick-off conference for the new Forum on Judaism and the Environment - 28 January, 2008 in Jerusalem You can be a part of the new "Forum on Judaism and the Environment - A Network for Professionals and Organizations." The project is designed to create bridges between the educators and activists working in the growing field of Jewish Environmentalism. It will include periodic learning sessions, planned by the participants themselves or by guest rabbis/teachers and hands-on workshops and informative lectures. The Forum's overarching vision is to provide a forum for information sharing and joint initiatives. They are also building a website which will feature links to Jewish environmental projects, a database of Jewish sources about the environment, and more.
Come to their first event, a half-day conference to meet and explore ways of moving forward as a group. The conference will include a "Drash Yarok," short presentations from each participating organization, and working group sessions on various topics (education - formal and informal, tourism, halachic discourse, etc). The conference will be on January 28th, 2008 from 9:30 to 13:00 at the Jerusalem branch of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. For more information, contact Leiba Chaya David at etzhayim.spni@gmail.com.
Eco Activist Beit Midrash Join an aspiring center for a "deep Torah ecology" for one of three eco-activist Beit Midrash in Israel (December/January 2007/2008; May/June 2008 and July/August 2008). Their focus will be "Balancing Community" and the program includes internships with local environmental organizations, ethno-botany, special Shabbatonim with different eco-communities and guest lecturers from across the spectrum of Israeli environmentalism. Work with Israeli groups such as: Table to Table, Society for Protection of Nature in Israel, Shorashim, Shokeda, a new eco-village, Bustan l’Shalom, Project for a Sustainable Jerusalem.
Join us in living, learning and working to improve Jerusalem alongside the exciting community of Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo and Nachlaot, Jerusalem. Scholarships towards plane fares, and special tuition rates for students and non-profit employees
Two Great Ways to See Israel with Three Great Organizations Walk or Ride through Israel with Israeli environmental leaders and activists (and plenty of other people, too). Hazon has teamed up once again with the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies to sponsor two rides this year - May 20-27, 2008 and November 11-18, 2008. And for the first time, Hazon is now teaming up with the Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership to walk the Israel Trail from March 23-27. By peddle or by foot, this is the way to see Israel and support its innovative environmental community as well. For information on the rides, click here. For information on the hike, click here.
Environmental News from the Middle East Do you want to receive environmental news digests from the Middle East? Sign up for Mideastenvironet and receive a summary of the week's news from across the region as reported by the major English language print media outlets. Contact Professor Stuart Schoenfeld (schoenfe@yorku.ca), who initiated the effort as part of the Middle East Environmental Futures Project.
NATO Advanced Workshop on the Dead Sea Region Join international scholars and professionals to explore conflict resolution in international watersheds using the Dead Sea Basin as a case study. Workshop will be 19-21 Nov. 2007. Read More...
Jewish Environmental Eco-Shabbaton and Conference in Toronto - March 9-11, 2007 Featuring talks on the Red-Dead Canal, the Arava Institute and the Israeli Water Crisis.
The Jewish Environmental Conference and Eco-Shabbaton is the first of its kind in Canada. Through lectures, workshops and panels, the Conference will offer its participants a rich overview of important Jewish and environmental issues. It will also provide a networking opportunity for participants to partake in local Jewish environmental community initiatives. The Conference will provide a forum for the exploration of the Jewish response to the global environmental crisis and it will emphasize the importance of human collaboration, across religious and political spectrums. The conference will address fundamental questions such as:
Our sense of priority: Local Jewish Activism versus Israel envrionmenal activism,
The Jewish response to the current environmental crisis, from theological and activism perspectives,
How to create a community network that will facilitate grassroots activism in the Jewish community.
Registration ends February 28. For more information, click here
Hike the Holy Land with the Mosaic Outdoor Club of Ontario Combine the mitzvah of going to Israel with the enjoyment of its fabulous outdoors. In association with the Jewish National Fund of Canada, Mosaic Outdoor Club of Ontario is offering an exceptional trip to Israel, tailored to Mosaic members. Whether you have been to Israel numerous times, or have never been there, you will enjoy this unique trip combining trekking in various geographical areas, touring the highlights, and the camaraderie of Mosaic people from across North America. We will mountain bike, camp under the stars, and enjoy long walks and a wonderful Shabbat weekend in Jerusalem.
Hillel Spitzer Conference spotlighting Israel and the Environment The theme of this year's conference is Sustainability, and organizers have put environment into program and practice.
This February, The Charlotte B. and Jack J. Spitzer Hillel Forum on Social Justice in Washington D.C. will focus on Sustainability. The conference will be carbon neutral, though the purchase of carbon offsets, and several additional steps are being taken to lessen the environmental impact of the conference. In addition, the program is thick speakers and workshops discussing Jewish committment to environmental stewardship and action. Participants can also attend three events focusing on Israel and the environment, including a talk with Dr. Daniel Orenstein of the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, a workshop on "Sustainable Peace: Peaceful cooperation and environmental sustainability in the Middle East" with representatives of the Arava Institute and the Green Zionist Alliance, and a talk with students who participated in this year's Hillel Green Environmental Tour of Israel. For more information, see http://www.hillel.org/conferences/spitzer/default.
Join Hazon and the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies on an amazing one week bike ride from Jerusalem to Eilat.
All inclusive vacation you can enjoy with your family, friend, spouse or partner.
We provide comfortable hotel accommodations with an option for a single room, daily baggage transportation, domestic air travel from Eilat to Tel Aviv at your convenience and delicious meals throughout.
Spend Shabbat in the majestic desert connecting with your fellow riders.
Experience 300 miles of Israel in a unique way as you travel across its ever-changing landscapes.
Fully supported ride with SAG (support and gear) vehicles, ambulance and security escorts and well-stocked rest stops.
A 3700 foot drop in elevation to the lowest point on earth - the Dead Sea.
Meet riders from all backgrounds and ages.
Raise money for the Arava Institute and Hazon, and meet their amazing staff and students.
Learn about environmental issues in Israel today, while helping to promote environmental cooperation in the Middle East
While the flavor and the content of the ride is jewishly focused, non-Jews who share our vision will also feel comfortable and at home.
Progressive Zionist and Environmental Organizations Announce Partnership
Israel's environment faces serious challenges. Air pollution has been linked to the death of more than a thousand Israelis annually, toxic waste continues to plague the Bedouin community of the Negev, and water shortages threaten any future peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
In light of this situation, Ameinu and the Green Zionist Alliance (GZA), two national Zionist organizations, have entered into an agreement to promote sustainable environmentalism in Israel and create bonds between environmental activists within the Jewish community and their counterparts in Israel. Ameinu, which means 'our people' in Hebrew, works for a two state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, economic empowerment amongst Israel's poorest citizens, and promotes minority rights in Israel. The Green Zionist Alliance is comprised of environmentally concerned Jews who care about the country, the people, and the land of Israel, and are passionately committed to creating a peaceful, pluralistic, and sustainable society. Through this partnership, the two organizations hope to bring a new awareness and focus to the preservation of Israel's environment to the Jews of North America. [Ameinu Press Release, November 16, 2006] Read more...
Coejl-SC expands US-Israel Eco-Technology Development Program with the Opening of Tel Aviv CoejlSC Office
CoejlSC is a faith-based, environmental non-profit organization... In the US-Israel Eco-Technology Development Program, CoejlSC provides environmental business development consulting services to Israeli and US environmental technology companies looking to enter the markets of California and the Western United States. In the last year, CoejlSC was instrumental in securing over $80 million in client sales and in the creation of hundreds of jobs in the Israeli technology sector. The breadth of CoejlSC’s vast experience includes, but is not limited to, assisting clients in the following technical areas: waste management, solar power, water desalination, water treatment, and hydroelectric power. CoejlSC consults to environmental technology companies such as Solel, Inc., US affiliate of Solel Solar Systems Ltd., the world leader in solar technology for central power generation [Coejl-SC Press Release, November 7, 2006]... Read More
