Dr. Yosef Gotlieb

Dr. Yosef (Yossi) Gotlieb is a geographer specializing in society-nature relations, international development and global change. He was born in Costa Rica and raised in the United States. During service as a planner in an Israeli international development cooperation program in Nepal in 1987, Yosef observed the systematic destruction of the environment in that resource-rich country, whose population was being made poorer by expatriate concerns in the name of “modernization.” During his doctoral studies, he proposed that development be directed toward geo-ethnic regions rather than in the confines of the post-colonial state. Kurdistan was his case study. Among Dr. Gotlieb’s writings are Self-Determination in the Middle East (NY: Praeger, 1982) and Development, Environment and Global Dysfunction (Delray Beach, FL: St Lucie Press, 1996). He currently directs text and publishing studies at David Yellin College of Education, Beit HaKerem, Jerusalem. Yosef Gotlieb is a writer of prose and poetry and paints. He practices tai chi and is a passionate listener of classic and progressive rock and blues. He lives with his family outside of Jerusalem, having made his home in Israel since 1984. You can reach him at yossi (at) greenprophet.com.

Time to Adapt to Climate Change

Climate change is here and it looks like there is no way back. Scientists and policymakers are increasing concerned...

Israelis Are Drinking the Country’s Drugstores

Increased levels of male breast cancer and early onset puberty are consequence of water pollution in Israel. The 52nd Conference...

How the Middle East Should Can Coordinate A Sustainable Agenda

As a new political order struggles to assert itself in the autocratic states of the Middle East novel challenges – and possibilities – emerge. In looking toward the future, social Greens throughout the region would do well to coordinate an agenda geared toward a sustainable tomorrow.

Cotton and oil fuel Middle East oppression

It started with cotton and oil: the Middle East oppressed now seek freedom and a future. image via AP The...

Reporting On Poverty and Sustainability from the Rehovot Conference

The relationship between poverty and environmental degradation is a major impediment to sustainability. Specialists from throughout the world gathered...

Indigenous Knowledge and Ancient Farmers at Avdat

Ancient farmers used indigenous knowledge to sustain communities at Avdat in the central Negev as many as seven thousand years ago. ...
spot_imgspot_img

Biodiversity Is In Peril: Thought Leaders Appeal for Change at Desert Conference

Dr. Gotlieb reports from the the Drylands, Deserts and Desertification Conference in Israel - an event drawing hundreds from...

A Story About the Elephants and Sparrows of Israeli Society

Twenty families own most of the "free" economy in Israel: a recent report points to disturbing trends concerning class...

Community of Angels Meets to Defeat Pulmonary Hypertension

Israeli and Turkish delegations joined European and American counterparts in Spain to draw attention to environmental factors causing a...

A Blogger’s Diary: A Cloud Forest, A Volcano and an Israeli Geographer

  Dr. Gotlieb describes a recent trip to his birthplace: Costa Rica Alajuela Province, July 22, 2010: For a Costa Rican-born...

Beating the Nationalist Drum and Israel’s Oil Interests

  Israel needs to move away from nationalist oil rhetoric and pursue renewable energy projects instead I was astounded to happen...

International Geographers Explore the West Bank in Search of Common Ground

Following a site visit conducted as part of a meeting of geographers at Ben-Gurion University last week, Dr. Gotlieb...