Conservation 101: the Compete to Conserve Blog

photo credit: naama

Two years ago last month Israel and Hezbollah went to war.  To some in the outside world, and many Israelis, the 33-day battle was seen as an Israeli defeat.  Just last month Israel agreed to exchange Hezbollah and Palestinian prisoners (considered by Israel to be terrorists) for the bodies of the two Israeli soldiers whose capture in 2006 sparked the original crisis.  Immediately following the exchange, Hezbollah celebrated in the streets of Beirut showing off its power.

Seen by some in the outside world as the end of a once-legendary reputation for avenging the deaths of Israelis killed by terrorists, this most recent trade has drawn considerable criticism to the government of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (six months before the 2006 war, Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a stroke, and his authority was immediately transferred to Olmert, then Israel’s Vice Primier and Sharon’s protégé).  Still, some see Hezbollah victorious on the propaganda front but not the Israel/Lebanon border.

For the past two years the Israeli Knesset has investigated the handling of the war against Hezbollah, including the establishment of a special commission.  Recently announcing his resignation in September, Olmert never really recovered politically from the war with Hezbollah.  And while the future of Israel’s military dominance in the Middle East may face additional challenges from Hezbollah and more recently Iran, the overall political turmoil in the region has eclipsed some very important and seemingly unnoticed significant Israeli advances on a non-military front, namely the environment.

Situated in the middle of the desert, Israel has always been known for its advances in irrigation and agriculture.  Recently Israel’s past experience is now leading to financial benefits with the attraction of foreign investments in such fields as solar thermal technology, waste-water recycling and desalination.  In fact, up until recently Israel had the world’s only large-scale desalination plant.  Now, Israel’s public sector appears to be following the private sector’s example, and this past summer the entire country got even greener as the Knesset passed a series of environmental laws.

⦁The Clean Air Law:  Effective in 2011, this new law will regulate the emission of pollutants into the air, and the Israeli government must reduce air pollution through monitoring, enforcement and fines.

⦁Environmental Enforcement Law:  Under this new regulation, local authorities will now have the ability to enforce the nation’s environmental laws.

⦁The Polluter Pays:  This new law will add economic disincentives to the already existing environmental regulations.

In addition to these new laws, Israel is close to making changes in the following areas:

⦁Bike Transportation:  This law would require the creation of bike paths, parking structures for bikes, showers in places of work, and the ability for bikers to carry their “vehicles” on trains and buses.

⦁No More Plastic Bags:  Much like recent laws being passed throughout California, Israel will soon be following suit.

⦁Water and Energy Efficiency:  These new regulations would require all of Israel’s public buildings to install water and energy saving devices.

⦁Water Pollution:  Facing serious drought conditions, Israel is proposing new laws to tighten enforcement of already existing water pollution prohibitions.

Fearing attack at any one of its borders with Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank, Israel’s military is always on alert.  In fact, some Israelis have recently taken issue with Google Earth for its alleged unfair representation of the Israeli presence in areas now deemed to be under Palestinian control.  But no matter what actual or perceived military threat Israel faces on a daily basis, the nation is doing its fair share for the environment by enacting realistic and practical laws to promote conservation and preservation, all in an attempt to secure its environmental sustainability.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/07/02/israel_still_paying_for_its_defeat/

http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/world/israel-hezbollah-swap-1820.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7509113.stm

http://www.jewishjournal.com/israel/article/israels_clean_tech_advances_attract_foreign_investors_green_20080714/

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/08/israel-passes-slew-of-green-laws.php

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