Dear Friends,
I have had the privilege of being Green Course's Director over the last four years. I have seen Green Course develop, grow, and achieve great success. We have reached thousands of new students, from different segments of the population, instilling in them an awareness of the environment, and motivating them to become activists for social change and for their communities.In light of the “burning” security issues Israel is confronting, particularly in the last weeks, and in the last few years in general, it is a very difficult task to put environmental issues on the public agenda. Although environmental hazards are taking the lives of thousands of people each year, it is not yet seen as a major threat to most Israelis and decision makers. With the last missiles attacks over Haifa, the possibility of disaster that might be caused by a missile hitting the petrochemical plants or the oil refineries situated in the heart of Haifa Bay is obvious. The very existence of these plants in the heart of half a million people is the very base of the struggle against those polluting plants.
Putting the environment high on the public agenda has been Green Course's biggest challenge. We have seen many successes on that front and won a few battles for the benefit of the environment, yet there is still much to be done.Leaving the position of Director of one of the leading environmental organizations in Israel is not easy, but I am sure I will remain an active volunteer in Green Course. Gil Ya'acov, who will replace me as the new Director, will lead the organization through the upcoming challenges and will bring Green Course to new heights.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for supporting Green Course. Without your support it would have been impossible for our volunteers to work for creating a change for a better environment in Israel.Yael Cohen Paran
Green Course Executive Director 2002-2006
New Green Course Website Launched!
Visit our new English website: www.green.org.il/eng
We would love to hear your feedback at: info@green.org.il
The website was updated with the help of the First Narayever Congregation- Toronto
Ongoing Campaigns:
Environmental Summer Camp for Youth from the Front Line
The Svivot Summer Camp for young environmental leadership planned for this August has been adapted in order to arrange for youth from the Northern fire line to take part in the camp.
Shafdan incinerator
Green Course initiated broad campaign against the planned incinerator for burning sewage sludge. Green Course held 3 demonstrations in the last few months opposite the municipality of Rishon L'zion against the planned sludge incinerator, with national media coverage. Subsequently we are promoting a decision against the incinerator in the municipality of Rishon L’zion.
Nedder Valley
With building plans for a whole neighborhood on the Nedder Valley underway, Green Course chapters at Haifa University and the Technion held broad activities:
Press Conference inviting all City Council members, local organization representatives and media.
Guided tours in the area- for students & locals from Haifa area, including information desks.
A special event with tours, activities for youth,
children and the general public.
Recent and Upcoming Events
April
Green Days took place in: Bar Ilan University, Oranim College , Tel Aviv University.
Educational Activities led by Green Course volunteers of the Technion for primary students in the Neder Valley.
Festival for the Environment organized by Oranim College in conjunction with kibbutzim & regional municipalities against the continued planned building of the Trans-Israel Highway.
Demonstration in Rishon L'tzion against planned sludge incinerator.
May
Green Course National Conference on the Environment, Economy, and Society took place at Ramat Hashofet kibbutz with 80 participants from all over Israel.Environmental Film Festival at the Ben Gurion University.
Free Market at Bar Ilan University.
Advocacy Conference where students met other green lobbyists as well as MKs.
Environmental Film and Art Festival at the Sapir College near Sderot.
Haifa Chapter trip to educate about the problems in Mount Meiron.
Green day at the Technion in association with the Students Union.
June
Delegation sent to Germany to meet the Young Greens
Green Globe Awards: presented to various pro-environmental figures & organizations as well as a "Black Globe" award to the project which present the highest harm to the environment. This year the Black globe was awarded to the "Safdi" development plan in the hills of west Jerusalem. Green Course activists held a highly covered action to hand over the Black Globe award.Green Weeks wes held at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem promoting local environmental campaigns and projects. Green Days were held in our new chapter at the Western Galilee College in Akko & at Haifa University.
Activities regarding Judaism and the environment took place at the Hebrew University Campus. Green Course volunteers attended schools in Sderot discussing environmental issues through Jewish texts.
Students from the Technion visited an elementary school to discuss waste and recycling.
July
Annual Chapter-Directors' Event- Green Course Chapter Directors present main activities and developments throughout the year.
August The Svivot Summer Camp for young environmental leadership planned for this August has been adapted in order to arrange for youth from the Northern fire line to take part in the camp. Student Environmental Leadership Training Program: Training students who will become our Green Course chapter directors next year.
September
Conference for Green Course Volunteers
Green Course 5th national Association Assembly
18th of September: Public Transportation Day.
For more information please contact us at:
Green Course- Students for the Environment
POBox 472 ,
Tel Aviv 61003
Phone: +972-3638-8671
Fax:+972-3537-4302
www.green.org.il/eng
megama@spni.org.il
