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| November 2009 |
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On October 24, FoEME took part in 350.org’s International Day of Climate Action. The world’s best climate scientists advise that the international community must stabilize the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere at 350 parts per million in order to avert the worst consequences of global warming. To urge global leaders to remember this number at the next round of international climate talks in December, over 5,200 groups in 181 countries organized events around this number.
Here in Israel, Jordan, and Palestine, FoEME mobilized 300 concerned citizens from all three nations to create human chains of the digits “3,” “5,” and “0.” FoEME’s event took place at three different sites along the Dead Sea, symbolizing the importance of trans-boundary cooperation over shared natural resources and common environmental problems. Photos from the event, as well as from the other events all over the world, were projected in Times Square, New York all day on October 24, and were delivered to the United Nations on Monday, October 26.
Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, commented on FoEME's event, saying; "If there's any image that illustrates the ability of people to come together across political boundaries, this should be it."
FoEME's Climate Change efforts are supported by the Heinrich Boell Stiftung. | |
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Gidon Bromberg, FoEME's Israeli Director held high level policy briefings at the US State Department in Washington DC and the European Union in Brussels this month. At both meetings Gidon updated key decision makers regarding the specific reform needs in the regional water sectors as well as the opportunities for peacebuilding that cooperation in this field can foster. In addition to these official presentations Gidon also was a guest speaker at a high level discussion on transboundary water issues in Israel, Jordan and Palestine at the New America Foundation and gave numerous public presentations over the last month including the 350 event in DC. | |
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This year Jordan and Israel marked 15 years since the signing of their peace treaty. FoEME took this opportunity to remind the public that much work remains to be done to build cross border relations between Israel, Palestine and Jordan to achieve the vision laid out in the historic agreement. Specifically, the Peace Treaty calls upon the parties to protect the shared waters of the Jordan River against pollution, prohibits the disposal of wastewater and calls upon the governments to conduct joint monitoring of the Jordan River. Despite the clear call to action, lack of transboundary cooperation to rehabilitate the river has led to a drastic situation.
Recent studies conducted by FoEME have found the Jordan River has less than 3% of its natural flow putting it in danger of drying up entirely. FoEME presented its recent findings and scenarios for rehabilitation at the first Regional Advisory Committee earlier this month. This forum brought together a select group of official representatives and high level experts from Israel, Palestine and Jordan as well as international partner Global Nature Fund in an effort to identify a course of action to restore the Jordan River.
The Jordan River Rehabilitation Project is supported by USAID, the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, the Green Environment Fund and the Global Nature Fund / Ursula Merz Foundation. | |
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Interest in visiting areas of the future Jordan River Peace Park continued to climb this month with FoEME hosting two pilot tours from Studiosus and National Geographic Expeditions. The demand for tours to the areas of the Parkfurther highlights the rich tourism opportunities that the proposed park offers for visitors and neighboring communities alike.
The Jordan River Peace Park project is presently being supported by the Studiosus Foundation, the Jewish Funders Network / Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund Matching Grant Initiative and the Blaustein Foundation. | |
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"Taking Action on Water Hazards!" was the title of the CGIS youth camp which took place in October near Beit Shean, Israel. Youth from 10 Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli communities got together to compare their field research findings of hazards to water sources, and to plan a campaign as part of the effort to reduce groundwater pollution in the area.
During the 2 days, the participants got to know each other and their neighbors' water reality, had fun in the campaign workshops and touring the area. Despite the regional challenges to water, youth left the camp with hope and optimism for building together a better future. The CGIS outcomes and maps will be presented at the upcoming Annual Mayors Conference in November.
The Community GIS project is supported by the EU Partnerships for Peace program.
FoEME is recruiting an intern with GIS training to be based in our Bethlehem office beginning January 2010. Please see our internship page for details. | |
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