Representatives from Jerusalem and Chicago will sign a “green” MOU next month in the windy city.
We need mammoth human collaboration in order to surmount our global environmental problems. And let’s face it, we have a few of those: coral reefs potentially a thing of the past by 2050, oil set to peak just as the demand for it increases, and water- the source of all life – already a luxury commodity in places like Yemen. But it isn’t over till it’s over. In recognition of their numerous challenges, but determined to overcome them, two cities are planning to create mutual solutions. Chicago and Jerusalem will soon announce their new “green” friendship.The municipality of Jerusalem and the city of Chicago will forge a partnership similar to Sister Cities International, a non-profit organization that fosters cultural and economic cooperation between international communities at the municipal level. Jerusalem’s sister city is New York.
The difference between SCI and the Memorandum of Understanding that will be signed by representatives of the Holy and Windy cities is its explicit focus on green building and planning. It is an environmental partnership that will hopefully spread a wave of similar collaboration.
Ms. Naomi Tsur, the Municipality of Jerusalem’s Deputy Mayor will join Ms. Suzanne Malec-McKenna, Commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Environment, on Wednesday March 9, 2011 to sign the MOU and discuss the ramifications thereof.
The event will be held at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago, and will be hosted by Ms. Orli Gil, Consul General of Israel to the Midwest, Mr. Yariv Becher, Israel Consul for Economic Affairs to the Midwest Region, and Mr. Uri Steinberg, Israel Tourism Consul to the Midwest Region.
The two municipalities will be able to share planning ideas, technology, and best practices, and will hopefully set the stage for similar agreements elsewhere.
More environmental partnerships in the Middle East:
BrightSource, Alstom Partner On Solar Thermal
Ormat And Sunday Partner Up In Sunny $195 Million Deal
How Terra Ventures Accelerate Clean Technology
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
This is a neat, I like seeing the idea of sister urbanism. It will be interesting to see what comes out of a green architecture partnership between locations with such different climates.
It’s an incredible place 🙂
Someday I will visit The Holy Land of Israel.