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Zalul's Tu B’Shvat 2009 Photo Competition

Lifestyle

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January 25, 2009

Photo courtesy of Sagit Rogenstein, Deputy Director of Zalul Environmental Association

Tu B’Shvat is just around the corner! Traditionally known as the “New Year of the Trees”, in modern times it has been reinterpreted as the Jewish Earth Day. Each year, Jews around the world come together to celebrate the holiday by planting trees, cleaning beaches, and participating in other acts of “Tikkun Olam” (repairing the world).

Zalul Environmental Association is inviting you to join us by participating in our special 2009 Tu B’Shvat photo competition celebrating our most precious natural resource – water – the source of life not just for trees, but for all living things.

The photographs should fit the theme “Mayim Chaim” (”Water of Life”) and embody the theme of Tu B’Shvat as well as the need to protect the world’s seas and rivers. GREAT prizes will be awarded to the top three winners – including gear from both Columbia Sportswear and Billabong Clothing Company. Please read the following rules for more details (in both Hebrew and English).

We’ll be posting participants’ photographs on the Zalul blog and the Zalul website, so check back often to see the latest additions. Chag sameach!

More on Tu B’Shvat:
Feed Your Green Soul On Tu B’Shvat
What To Do On Tu B’Shvat
In Israel We Say Happy New Years Trees!
Win A Green Beanie on Tu B’Shvat

Savta Connection Takes Urban Knitting to Tel Aviv's Streets

Design

Karen Chernick

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January 25, 2009

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Savta Connection Takes Urban Knitting to Tel Aviv's Streets

Thanks to Tel Aviv based blog, Oh So Arty, we recently learned of a new decorating trend hitting the sometimes dirty and dreary streets of Tel Aviv. Urban knitting.

If the term “urban knitting” makes you think of old ladies sitting in the middle of Rothschild Boulevard with needles and yarn in tow, think again. And if it makes you think of large gatherings of women getting together in some city apartment to knit scarves and socks for their loved ones – a la 2 Knitting Needles Studio based in Haifa – then you’re a little closer but not quite there yet.

The urban knitting we’re talking about is executed by a group called Savta Connection (or, Grandma Connection) that wishes to add beauty and softness to the city by integrating knitted pieces into the urban landscape. Knitted pieces are attached to benches, adding warmth and color to people’s days. On an environmental level, the presence of local, handmade (and therefore low-energy) decorations are a far greener alternative to the omnipresent billboard ads and flyers that usually decorate the streets.

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Turkey Creates and Tests Hybrid Buses As Part of Project Ğ

Green Tech and Gadgets

Karin Kloosterman

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January 24, 2009

1

Turkey Creates and Tests Hybrid Buses As Part of Project Ğ

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of living in or visiting Turkey, you’ll find it’s very hard to get lost off the beaten trail. The public transportation system there is so well oiled; bus owners of private buses or the smaller minibuses –– the dolmus –– are so well organized, you can literally scoot across the country by just telling one of the bus assistants (who approach you), where you’d like to go.

A few years back when I was there, I noticed the service was great too: buses are on time; the assistant –– who operates like a steward –– splashes cologne in your hands as a refresher, and then serves you tea, coffee and cookies. A delight.

The world has a lot to learn from the Turkish public transportation system which may just be getting a whole lot better: According to the Ankara newspaper Hurriyet, the Turks have developed their own hybrid buses at the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), and feasibility studies are underway to test how the buses will work in the urban environment.

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Qatar To Set Some Environmental Goals

Business

Green Prophet

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January 23, 2009

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Qatar’s environmental goals and ambitions will be discussed at a national seminar organised by the General Secretariat for Development Planning (GSDP) on January 27 at the Four Seasons Hotel, according to the Gulf Times.

The seminar’s aims are twofold. The first is to identify and discuss issues and challenges related to achieving the environmental goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030, reports the paper.

The second objective is to provide ideas and a framework to Qatar’s second Human Development Report, which GSDP is preparing in partnership with United Nations Development Programme. The seminar will concentrate on the themes such as:

Qatar’s sustainable development challenges
marine environment
water security
climate change and their human development issues.

Ibrahim Ibrahim from the GSDP is set to make the opening speech before four panels named after the above themes.

The QNV 2030, launched by HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in October last year, builds a bridge between the present and the future and envisages a vibrant and prosperous country with economic and social justice for all.

::Gulf Times

More on Qatar’s environment:
Qatar’s Desert Seawater Greenhouses
(Image credit: Syd Mead)

Shai Agassi Goes Canadian, eh, With Better Place in Ontario

Green Tech and Gadgets

Green Prophet

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January 23, 2009

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Shai Agassi Goes Canadian, eh, With Better Place in Ontario

We were too distracted by the war with Gaza over the last few weeks to take notice that Shai Agassi from Better Place, the Israeli electric car guru, is now working on a deal with Canada. Those Canadians love their SUVs, and trucks to plow through Canadian winters, but maybe some Torontonians and yuppies that don’t drive their kids in 4x4s to school, would go for the plan.

Here’s the press release, issued January 15: Better Place today announced a partnership with the government of Ontario to help bring an electric car network to the province and create a model for the adoption of electric cars in Canada.

Ontario, which is one of North America’s largest car producing regions, seeks to transition its auto manufacturing sector for future growth from electric vehicle production while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“With today’s announcement, Ontario is taking a system-wide approach to retooling its economy for growth and environmental leadership,” said Shai Agassi, Founder and CEO, Better Place. “Our partnership will move Ontario toward a new era in personal transportation – from the current Car 1.0 model centered on the internal combustion engine to a Car 2.0 model of electric cars powered by renewable energy. Today’s announcement is the all-important first step in an expected electric car charging network rollout for Canada, and we look forward to working in partnership with the Ontario government on it.”

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"Agam Energy Systems" Pulls Out The Pistons For 100 Miles To The Gallon

Green Tech and Gadgets

Karin Kloosterman

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January 23, 2009

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"Agam Energy Systems" Pulls Out The Pistons For 100 Miles To The Gallon

People love their cars, even environmentalists. In the Middle East, it’s less so, but in America, people and own more cars per capita than anywhere else on earth — some 765 for every 1,000 people. But turbulent financial times everywhere threaten both the automotive industry and the ability to put gas in the tanks of our favored mode of transportation.

Electric cars offer promise, but switching over still has limits: infrastructure is lacking, new cars need to be built, and the electric car just doesn’t have the same “muscle” as the petrol-fueled machines that people love.

An entirely new solution may come by way of an Israeli company – Agam Energy Systems — which has developed a piston-less turbine engine, featuring a new kind of compressor that the company hopes will revolutionize the automotive industry.

American automakers are already taking notice, the company reports.

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Why Don't Cars Last Forever? Some Tips on Greening Your Ride

Business

Karin Kloosterman

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January 22, 2009

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Why Don't Cars Last Forever? Some Tips on Greening Your Ride

I was in Grade 4, in Canada, and learning about all the secrets and marvels of life. There was the discovery of books like 1984, new information about sex and how our parents’ genes combine to make us who we are; we were taught how to make our own movies, and program computers – and one other thing stuck in my mind: It was when Mr. Birch taught us about the automobile industry.

“Why don’t cars last forever,” he asked? “It’s not like the materials aren’t there to prevent them from rusting, or the technology for the motor from wearing out,” he explained.

The real reason, the big secret was… Yes? I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for a special answer… “The real reason,” he said, “is that automobile manufacturers don’t want to make their cars last forever. It isn’t in their interests. A car that last forever isn’t good for business.”

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Courtney Nichols’ on Charity: Water

Business

Green Prophet

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January 22, 2009

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How do changemakers form bold ideas, and turn them into a massive project like a major documentary film? Today we talk with Courtney Nichols, producer of the new film Blood For Water, on how she came from the world of business to take on the global problem of water politics head on. She’s planning on turning the film into An Inconvenient Truth, about water.

And the film, we’ll read, talks about the implications for people living in the Middle East.

So here she is: Courtney Nichols, a 38-year-old NYC resident, and founder/CEO of CampaignWater Inc.:

How did you transition from the world of business, to as you say “make a real impact?” in the world of water. Was it a dream in the middle of the night, an aching sensation, or just something you were leaning towards? It was a slow creep really. I quit my job after four years because i wanted to find a way to use my skills at launching businesses to doing something more connected to “doing good” but I also just needed a break!

About a year ago, I sat around a table with some folks and heard them talking about the water crisis. Now, I consider myself a relatively engaged person, maybe not the MOST informed, but certainly caring and connected to the world around me and yet I have never heard this talked about.

I thought, How is this possible? What came to me as this NGO talked about its goals for fundraising was this: what you basically have is a branding problem.

This issue needs to be “marketed” to a mass audience so people understand that water, in fact, is at the root of or related to many of the problems they hear about: disease, conflict, environmental degradation and food shortages as well as lack of education (mostly women and children). I began to volunteer my time advising two fantastic organizations: Charity:Water and Blue Planet Run both with strategy advice/connections and fundraising.

About 6 months later at a dinner I was hosting just to start reaching out to friends, influencers etc. to get people talking about water, a friend told a story having just returned from Sudan (south) about seeing men with guns fighting over access to a well.

He was there to research the subject of his book (Stefan Templeton subject of biography by David Matthews, to be published by penguin in 2010) who works as a humanitarian mercenary of sorts and is dedicated to this issue of water as a source of conflict. As he was talking, I thought, that’s it, let’s make the Inconvenient Truth about water!

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Eco-Rabbi: Parshat Vaera – Plagues, Pharoah and Dissonance

Religion

Jack Reichert

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January 22, 2009

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Eco-Rabbi: Parshat Vaera – Plagues, Pharoah and Dissonance

Each week Orthodox Jews read one segment of the Five Books of Moses so that they can complete the entire Five Books within the course of a year. In last week’s Eco-Rabbi post we discussed the Jews slavery in Egypt along with Moses’ first prophecy via a burning bush. This week continues Moses’ fight for his people’s freedom.

After Pharaoh rejects Moses’ first request for his people’s freedom God steps up the attack and gives Moses the tools to send plagues onto the Egyptians in order to leverage the Jew’s freedom from slavery.

This week’s segment describes the plagues of blood, frogs, lice, wild animals, pestilence, boils, hail and locusts. Each of these plagues, in their own right, would cripple a society in those days.

The interesting thing is that God told Moses from the start that Pharaoh would reject Moses’ request until the end. Why would anyone in their right mind do such a thing? Moses is telling Pharaoh that all his troubles will go away if he only lets the Jewish people leave Egypt.

But Moses’ pleas falls on deaf ears.

But there is an explanation, God tells Moses: “I will harden his heart.” And sure enough he does. Moses pleas with Pharaoh to let his people go, and each time Pharaoh denies Moses’ request.

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Taking on Middle Eastern Classics: Baba Ganoush Recipe

Health

Hamutal Dotan

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January 22, 2009

21

Taking on Middle Eastern Classics: Baba Ganoush Recipe

Last week with our recipe for the Syrian dip muhamarra, we embarked on a perilous culinary adventure: trying to recreate authentic versions of classic Middle Eastern dishes.

Why perilous? Well, my grandmother and grandfather couldn’t, between the two of them, agree on the best way to make charoset. Trying to come up with a recipe everyone can get behind? Totally hopeless.

But, as we said then, everybody needs to start somewhere, and it’s far better to get in the cooking game than to watch from the sidelines. Trying, as our grade two teacher told told us, is half the battle.

And with that, we plunge fearlessly into the wonderful world of… baba ganoush!

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Alubin's All Season Windows Pivot To Save Energy

Green Tech and Gadgets

Karin Kloosterman

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January 22, 2009

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Alubin's All Season Windows Pivot To Save Energy

Windows are one of the most significant costs in building projects or home renovations. Next to that are the bills homeowners have to pay for heating and air conditioning. Solving two problems under one roof — literally — is an Israeli company Alubin that has developed all-season reversible windows. The solution is also good for the environment.

Based on the research of Professors Evyatar Erell and Yair Etzion from the Department of Man in the Desert at Ben Gurion University, Alubin is set to commercialize a unique two-sided window that promises to absorb and keep in the heat during the winter, while reflecting the sun for a cool indoors when the hot summer months strike.

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Grassroots Beer Sheva NGO Makes the Earth a Promise

Lifestyle

Karen Chernick

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January 22, 2009

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Grassroots Beer Sheva NGO Makes the Earth a Promise

With everything going on over the past month, many of our thoughts have been turned towards the southern area of Israel and the Negev. At more than 60% of the country’s land mass, however, the Negev desert should really be part of the Israeli consciousness more often.

Community based NGO Shvuat ha-Adamah/Earth’s Promise, based in Beer Sheva (the capital of the Negev), encourages people to not only think of the Negev as a crucial part of the country, but to think of it in a sustainable way.

Shvuat ha-Adamah’s mission is: “to improve and safeguard the quality of Israel’s environment by creating replicable grassroots models of sustainable urban development.” The organization works closely with the community in order to create lasting initiatives, such as community gardens and recycling programs.

Some of their current projects include:

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Israel's Offshore Gas Deposits May Lead to Cleaner Air But Not Energy Independence

Business

Daniel Pedersen

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January 22, 2009

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Israel's Offshore Gas Deposits May Lead to Cleaner Air But Not Energy Independence

The historic discovery of a large deposit of natural gas off of the Israel coast has the potential to restructure the Israeli energy market, with effects reaching into other countries in the region as well. The “Tamar 1” deposit, located 90 km west of Haifa, is projected to begin delivery in 2015, and contains at least 88 billion cubic meters of gas. The projections are that Israel will use 220 billion cubic meters by 2030 to generate electricity, so that this deposit will provide about a third of the demand over the next 20 years – certainly a substantial contribution to Israel’s energy budget.

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Is Bubbe's Eastern European Diet "Kosher" for Your Health?

Health

Hannah Katsman

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January 21, 2009

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Is Bubbe's Eastern European Diet "Kosher" for Your Health?

Israelis come from a variety of countries and their diets tend toward the eclectic. My own culinary heritage is staunchly eastern European. But while my mother rendered chicken fat from time to time, she preferred adapting traditional foods to make them lighter.

Alternet‘s Terence McNally interviewed Michael Pollan, ecological food expert and best-selling author of In Defense of Food, who expressed concern about the loss of food’s cultural connotations. Marketers and researchers devalue our intuition, leading us to suspect the foods we were raised on:

Michael Pollan (MP): I remember my mother dutifully giving us all margarine instead of butter. She would say, “Some day they’re going to figure out that butter is actually better for you than margarine,” and we thought she was nuts. In fact, it turned out that margarine was lethal and butter is fine.

Terence McNally (TMN): She was still feeding it to you suspecting that would happen…?

MP: The authority of mothers was essentially destroyed by the food industry. The $32 billion a year in marketing muscle out there has undercut culture’s role in determining what we eat, and culture is a fancy word for your mom.

TMN: Just to emphasize that number, that’s not the food industry, that’s the food marketing industry.

Of course many eastern European staples are healthy. Think of soups rich with legumes and vegetables, stuffed cabbage and chopped liver that “stretch” meat (even if the cabbage is overcooked), and lots of fresh vegetables straight from the garden.

I have rejected my own mother’s copious use of Crisco, a tasteless, pareve (meaning meat nor dairy, thus neutral for a kosher kitchen) shortening heavily marketed by corporate giant Procter and Gamble. Instead I bake with whole wheat flour and canola oil, and serve humus and eggplant salad along with potato kugel and matzah balls.

How have you adjusted your culinary traditions to eat more healthily?

A Cooking Legacy (from A Mother in Israel)

Syrian recipe for Muhamarra

Organic Falafel in Tel Aviv

Israel Strikes "Natural Gas" Pocket, Promising Energy Independence for 15 Years

Business

Karin Kloosterman

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January 21, 2009

2

Israel Strikes "Natural Gas" Pocket, Promising Energy Independence for 15 Years

Amidst all its struggles to develop clean and cleaner technologies (and a war with Gaza), it seem that Israelis got a huge gift this week: Israelis were celebrating this week over the discovery of a massive 3 trillion cubic feet natural gas pocket found buried 1.5 km below the sea floor, some 90 km off the coastal city Haifa.

I’d spoke yesterday with a rep from one of the major stakeholders, Shaya Segal from Delek Drilling, who confirms the find, but who, like the local analysts were saying, says that it will take about 2.5 weeks to know what the discovery can mean.

I’ve read reports that taking the natural gas stock from the pocket called Tamar, after the granddaughter of a geologist working at the site, will cost somewhere around $1 billion. But that the value of it amounts to about $15 billion.

If Israelis can pull the gas from the seafloor, with the help of a major Houston-based stockholder Noble Energy, then they could, say reports, be close to energy independent for 15 years. That means buying less fuel resources from Egypt, and other less than friendly neighbors.

But natural gas, a fossil fuel, is not exactly a clean fuel.

The find does question however, the direction of Israel’s future and the development of clean technologies. I imagine the discovery is exciting for Shay Agassi at Better Place, who I’ve personally criticized. His plan to use electric cars in Israel was a good idea on paper, but up until now, it looked as though Israel’s power plants would continue to be fueled by very polluting coal sources.

Meanwhile, according to the Jerusalem Post, just when Israelis and Gazans were hoping for quiet, after a ceasefire earlier in the week, we learn that Lebanon is claiming that part of the Tamar natural gas reserve is in Lebanese territorial waters:

“The Lebanese government might warn Noble Energy Inc., a US corporation which is part of the consortium that discovered the Tamar 1 gas reserve off the shores of Haifa, that the reserve may be in part in Lebanese territorial waters, according to Al Liwaa, a Lebanese paper.

“In a meeting of the Energy, Infrastructure and Public Works Committee in the Lebanese Parliament, Chairman Muhammad Kabbani said Israeli media reports on the recently discovered natural gas reserve raise the possibility that the reserve extends to Lebanon’s territorial waters. “We should take every legal measure possible in order to preserve Lebanon’s right,” the paper quoted Kabbani as saying.”

What’s certain, is that it’s never boring over in these parts of the world.

For more on the story unfolding in Israel, read an earlier piece by Green Prophet’s Maurice on the natural gas found off the coast of Gaza.

::JPost

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