The first month of the academic year here in Israel has passed and there is a buzz on campuses for a fresh, exciting start to the year. Green Course is extremely excited for the upcoming campaigns to get into full swing. It is also our privilege to welcome the new class of students taking part in our Environmental Leadership Training program. There are leaders participating from 23 campuses across Israel!

The Leadership Training program is a year-long program to help position students to become environmental leaders on their campus and in Israel. These students begin as chapter coordinators at the beginning of the year and receive mentoring and support throughout. The program includes monthly training focused on different topics like media and public activity. As well, there is a summer seminar that encourages defined personal goals and the mechanism to achieve them. Throughout the program, Green Course arranges professional mentoring for each fellow as to demonstrate some deeper aspects of the environmental activism.

Interview with the Director of the Leadership Training program, Lara Paran:

How would you characterize the group of chapter coordinators this year?
We have a great group of coordinators this year. They were exemplary volunteers last year and I have no doubt they will make great future leaders. The coordinators went through five days of trainings during the summer where they studied activism and the detailed issues associated with Israel’s environment. They also developed relationships with each other and learned how to work together. I am confident that they will use their summer training and become the spirit of activism in Israel for the upcoming year.

How do you choose chapter coordinators?
We choose coordinators based on experience. We prefer students that took a big role in volunteering with Green Course in the past and proved they care about the environment, know how to lead people, and have a good sense of responsibility.

What are your expectations from the coordinators for the coming year?
I'm very excited for the upcoming year! I expect great accomplishments from our leaders despite the huge challenges they face as environmental activists in Israel.

What are the major challenges this upcoming year?
This year, Israel is at some critical crossroads and Green Course has to be significantly involved to make sure Israel chooses the right path. Our coordinators are actively attempting to prevent the approval of the coal power plant in Ashkelon – which may have disastrous consequences. Furthermore, we are extremely close to reaching our public transportation goals and are hoping we can get Israel over the hump and start seeing some improvements (like the reorganization of the bus system in Tel Aviv). Currently, we are looking towards the Copenhagen Conference and preparing to push Israel to commit to reducing its greenhouse gases emissions.

As our world teeters closer to disaster, it becomes even more imperative that Israel has great leadership pushing for change. This year’s group is an excellent example of the additional motivation and dedication Israel needs to lower its emissions and begin helping the world deviate from its current path.

Where some of our Alumni are today:

Rachel Azaria (Member of Jerusalem Municipal Council) , Yael Cohen Paran (Founding Director of Israel Energy Forum), Rinat Cohen (Project Manager at National Committee of Building and Planning), Avi Dabush (Head of Environmental Justice, Shatil)

Focus Campaigns for 2009/10
Water: The always important issue of water and water conservation. Green Course will focus on public conservation of water and implementation of grey water usage.

Transportation: Green Course is pushing for sustainable, environmentally friendly, and improved public transportation throughout Israel, a joint venture with Transportation Today and Tomorrow.

Solid Waste: Currently, there is almost no separation of waste in Israel. Rates of recycling are very low. Israel’s continued wasteful habits are quickly filling our landfills and polluting our world. There are two big bills that Green Course is actively supporting: The Packaging Bill (manufacturers responsible for packaging) and the Deposit Bill (increased collection of plastic bottles).
Countdown to Copenhagen
Green Course director, Gil Ya’acov, is preparing for his trip to Copenhagen for the United Nations Climate Change Conference as part of the delegation of Israeli representatives (LINK: http://en.cop15.dk/). See our next newsletter for more!

Correction: In the previous newsletter on Public Transportation we neglected to mention that our Tel Aviv event was held in conjunction with Transportation Today and Tomorrow (TTT), who were concurrently holding a public transportation conference inside the Cinematheque.