Not all environmental organizations and projects have tunnel vision – some focus on social responsibility as well. It’s unfortunate that environmental and social responsibility don’t automatically go hand in hand. What green changes would be possible without effecting society? And since when does anything involving society or people not effect the environment? But most organizations […]
In Islam, fair-trade is more than just a fashion statement, it’s a deeply-ingrained value Many people wouldn’t normally associate Islam with fair-trade and ethical fashion but that is all set to change as a growing number of Muslim companies rediscover Islam’s fair-trade message. Whilst fair-trade fashion would generally conjure up images of well-dressed hippies, there […]
Beduin coffee in Israel. Consumption is on the rise, and in demand is the sustainable, fair trade, organic variety.
The first time I entered Zendegi, a natural and organic clothing shop in Tel Aviv’s historic Neve Tzedek neighborhood, a particularly unique pair of boots caught my eye. I picked up the boots to take a closer look, but quickly realized that they were out of my intern-activist-blogger budget range. “But you have to understand […]
The Social Economic Academy, a non profit organization aimed at promoting social and economic change in Israel that opens its courses to the entire general public, will be leading a course on food politics this fall – starting in September. The name of the course is What Are We Nourished By? and will be held […]
The southern West Bank is known for its grapes, which Palestinians grow with little to no water on small plots. Often the vineyards are simple grape trees, without wires to support or encourage the plants to spread out. This month, I wrote a piece for the Jerusalem Report on Odeh Sabarna (left), who runs the […]
Green Action‘s SAHA project brings together uniquely environmental and political issues promoting community trade between Palestinians, Israeli Arabs and Israeli Jews. The project initially began with a group of Palestinian farmers whose livelihood was threatened due to the occupation and separation wall. These farmers came together and set up the Zaytun Cooperative and work with […]
For years I have been using Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap. I like the tingly peppermint smell, how clean it makes my skin feel, and the fact that the ingredient list is short and organic. Last weekend, at the annual Washington DC Green Festival, I learned that not only is Dr. B’s good for my body […]
For most people, fair trade means making sure South American and African farmers get paid a reasonable wage to grow coffee and chocolate. But in Israel, fair trade is much more local. Two companies have emerged in the last few years to provide a living wage for farmers in the region. The first, SAHA, is […]
Environmental and social change don’t always go together in green organizations, but the truth is that you can’t really make green changes without effecting society. Alternatively, some socio-economic groups just don’t have the resources to make costly (yet positive) environmental changes. As Jeff recently pointed out in his reaction to Tel Aviv’s farmers market, it […]
“We face the most almighty hangover, as the toxins unleashed by our century-long binge work their way through the earth’s system. We have to detoxify. We have to sober up. We have to come to grips….” from ‘Confessions of an Eco-Sinner’ by Fred Pearce. Pearce has written a book for the ecologically and socially minded. […]
Munching on a Druze pita with Labneh, olive oil, and some zaatar spice. The Irish call it “the troubles”; over in Israel, they euphemistically call political problems “the situation”. As sad and complicated as the situation may be for every human being involved, a few individuals have risen above the crowd, like oil on water, […]