SPNINEWSThe Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel

Betset Beach is for Nature L vers!

Winter 2011/12

Education

Community

Ma'alot Sets the Stage

BirdingKestrels, Owls & Smiles!

EPDNational Parks NOT FOR SALE

Sustainable EnergyIndepedence

Wildlife Art @ the JBO

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Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel2 HaNegev StreetTel Aviv, 66186 IsraelTel: (972) 3-638-8653Fax: (972) 3-687-0513international@spni.org.ilwww.teva.org.il/english

Kosha (Moshe) PakmanExecutive Director

Uri GoldflamExternal Relations Director

American SPNI28 Arrandale AvenueGreat Neck, NY 11024Tel: (212) 398-6750Fax: (212) 398-1665robin@aspni.org

Leon Sokol & Russell RothmanASPNI Co-Chairmen

Robin GordonASPNI Director

Canadian SPNI25 Imperial St. Suite 200Toronto, Ontario M5P 1B9Allan Shiff CSPNI Director

SPNI UKPO Box 42763London, N2-OYJTel: (020) 8444 0777Fax: (020) 8444 0681info@foi-asg.org

John LevySPNI UK Director

SPNI France14 rue Angelique VerienNeuilly 92200Tel/Fax: (1) 4637-5543irl@club-internet.fr

Norbert LipszycSPNI France Director

SPNI News:Editor: Michelle Levinemichelle@spni.org.ilGraphics: www.studiohadag.com

Note: When e-mailing any SPNI office please include “SPNI” in the subject line.

A plan for a massive resort complex in northern Israel looked to be nearing the final approval phase the last few months – yet the scent of fear has turned to hopeful aroma of victory thanks to massive public support for SPNI's campaign. Betset Beach is a very natural beach in far northern Israel. Coastal habitat has all but disappeared in Israel, with some native wildlife and scenery all but disappeared completely from the landscape. SPNI and the Nature & Parks Authority performed Environmental Impact Assessments, revealing a high level of threat to one of the few remaining natural beaches in Israel, the area's native sea turtles and other fragile wildlife. SPNI was concerned about this plan from the time that the Israel Land Administration first issued the tender, some ten years ago, so when the Regional Planning Council approved the plan this Summer, SPNI stepped its campaign to protect the area into higher gear.

The plan threatening this remote treasure involves three resorts taking over a massive area (over 50 acres of land) and affecting the habitat for a far wider range, planned to be built just 100 meters from the beach - in direct violation of the Coastal Protection Act, which stipulates that building plans must be set for a minimum of 300 meters (328 yards) from the coastline. Nature-lovers and beach-goers alike appreciate the special qualities of Betset - truly reminiscent of times gone by - and came out in numbers for an SPNI Sukkot day to raise awareness of the issue.

On October 15th, over a thousand people formed a massive line on the beach, drawing a literal line in the sand with their own bodies - and asking the State not to let developers cross it. Israel Land Administration members were moved by the support of the people for a more sustainable approach, and on October 26th, they announced that they are reconsidering and appear to be close to halting the poorly considered resort plan.

We thank Sheer Lichtash, who celebrated her May 2011 Bat Mitzvah by asking her guests to make donations to the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. Sheer's family then came to Israel and took them a tour of Mishkenot Sha'ananim (the first neighborhood outside the Jerusalem city walls in 1860) with SPNI's External Relations Director, Uri Goldflam. Mazal Tov, Sheer!

Tel Aviv Trains Green Leaders

Preserving Haifa's Coastline

A unique group of Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli farmers, scientists, environmentalists and decision makers from the region, along with ecologists from Switzerland, Malaysia and Cyprus met up at a picturesque spot on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea from October 25th - 27th. The conference celebrated three years of unprecedented success in farming with kestrels and barn owls instead of pesticides, for reducing the rodent population on agricultural lands. Though farmers were skeptical of installing nesting boxes at the start, and some fearful of owls (considered back luck to some Muslims), the tremendous impact of the barn owls and kestrels on their rodent population and their crops changed their perspectives completely - these birds are now very welcome guests, as are their fellow farmers. Sponsored by the Hanns Seidel Foundation, the European Union and the Peres Center for Peace, the project has been an unparalleled success, surpassing anyone's dreams of environmental cooperation in the Middle East. Project founder/director Dr. Yossi Leshem was particularly pleased by the interaction between the farmers, who were so happy to see each other again, at this international reunion!

Kestrels, Owls & Smiles All Around!

Wildlife Art at the JBO - on exhibit, in creation, and reshaping young minds

JBO Director Amir Balaban believes that art "connects people to nature, and illuminates the hidden life that exists around us." A joint venture between first year students from the Bezalel Academy of Arts and the SPNI's Jerusalem Bird Observatory resulted in an exhibition that opened at the JBO in June - the project focused on observation, and translating the wild experience into clay. The creations of this unique encounter were exhibited in the JBO's Gail Rubin wildlife art gallery this Summer and Fall. JBO Education Director Alena Kacal says that "just by examining ceramics, photos and art at the exhibition, people discover things that they never noticed before. How a nest is built. What a wasps nest looks like when magnified 100 times. Through the artist's eye, they can be exposed to things from a new perspective or angle."

Children visiting the exhibit and participating in the ceramics in nature activities felt they could connect to nature with their own hands. The Bezalel students ran a workshop for more than 50 kids on July 26th – which proved emotionally moving and educational. Kacal said, "you think that you know what a turtle looks like...but then when you try to make a statue of a turtle, you start to ask questions - how do all the pieces fit together? It was wonderful to see the kids really lit up by the activity. After an experience like that you never look at a turtle the same way again."

Kacal has had a tremendous impact on Israeli children's perception of nature, since thousands of schoolchildren come visit the JBO every year on field trips – and she was excited about this unique approach to building that deeper level of appreciation and connection. "So many times we do active things in nature - hiking, picnic, playing etc. But when you are doing an art project you have to sit, meditate, observe, be quiet. This allows a different kind of interaction with what is going on around you...and it is the type of reflective interaction that many kids today do not get enough of."

SPNI sends LOVE and congratulations to

Aviva Shalit and her family. Aviva is working for SPNI in

Achziv and Ma'alot for over 20 years now – and 1,000 SPNI staff members across Israel have been praying with

the Shalits for Gilad's return.

Welcome Home, Gilad!

Education Community EPD

Dear Israel Railways, Please Don't Wreak Havoc in Haifa!

In February 2010 the government began to promote the "Israel Lane" plan, which includes railway electrification, among other

agenda items. In June 2010, Israel Railways presented their 'Master Plan to Improve Service to Railway Users' to the National Infrastructure

Committee – the railway electrification system is essential to this plan. The electrical system will be above ground, requiring above-ground

infrastructure, including electric poles along all rail lines. The Coastal Protection Committee held discussion on the merits of this plan, as it relates

to the coastal strip from the Carmel Beach to the Western Port in Haifa, and has requested that the infrastructure be submerged in an underground tunnel

instead of marring the beaches. This alternative plan would be win-win for everyone!

But the Israel Railways submitted an appeal to disregard the Coastal Protection Committee's request! What does this even mean? The consequences of installing a massive above-ground electrification system will inflict a severe blow to the northern coastline in Haifa. Haifa's train tracks have long formed a dividing line between the urban city and the natural coastline – a gap that residents and environmentalists have been seeking to bridge. In recent years, several plans have been promoted to properly connect Haifa's coastline in its network of urban nature, in a push for natural sustainable progress. The above-ground electrical infrastructure is not only harmful to these plans, but erects a permanent barrier between Haifa residents and their richest potential source of urban nature. Haifa's Municipality, its City Council, the Technion's planning organization, the Architects' Association, and several other environmental and planning organizations, are working together with SPNI to influence a sustainable alternative to the Haifa section of the plan. The campaign continues, with SPNI staff participating in every planning committee meeting, lobbying the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Finance, growing our public awareness campaign, and incorporating the issue into local environmental education programs. SPNI's Orienteering youth have been involved in raising public awareness and many public events. A petition has been signed by over 10,000 people. SPNI sees a clear connection between the environment and its inhabitants, and this campaign highlights that connection. If Israel Railways would adopt the sustainable alternative, their electrification plan would be hailed as visionary and celebrated – SPNI is working to make that happen!

Elected Officials Attend Green Cities InitiativeThe Green Environment Fund and the Heinrich Böll Foundation partnered with SPNI-Tel Aviv in developing the Environmental Leadership Training Program.

SPNI-Tel Aviv hosted an environmental leadership training program for city council members throughout Metropolitan Tel Aviv, with seminars held twice a month for three months straight this summer! Contrary to other places, city council members in Israel are unpaid volunteers and while council members have wide exposure to environmental challenges, many are unequipped to address the issues. Thus the free course, giving them the proper knowledge and skill set, filled an obvious need and will potentially have a far-ranging impact. Speakers included Member of the Knesset Nitzan Horowitz, Architect and Professor Hillel Schocken, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Naomi Tsur, Orly Ronen-Rotem, Deputy Director of the Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership, and of course SPNI leaders.

SPNI-Tel Aviv Director Guy Nardi feels that the curriculum covered is essential knowledge, without which we cannot expect municipal leaders to act with wisdom in matters that affect nature and public health. Topics included: Dealing with the Environmental Crisis, The City Complex: Public Space and Urban Renewal, Public Participation in Planning, Urban Nature and Open Spaces, Urban Public Action: Transparency and Information Sharing, and Toolbox for Council Members: Communication, Lobbying, and Environmental Legislation. In truth, the need for this course is apparent from the registration roster – some forty local elected officials from the municipalities of Tel Aviv, Herzeliya, Ra'anana, Givatayim, Ramat Gan, Holon, Kfar Saba, Nes Ziona, and Bat Yam attended and invested their time in the three month course. According to Nardi, "several deputy mayors who attended confessed their ignorance of basic planning concepts such as urban nature and density. Our course provided them the tools for a better understanding of the issues presented to them and the ability to make a difference. Our participants were so pleased with their new-found knowledge they asked us to run more training programs."

Eco Community Center (MaLaSh) Gets Multicultural in Ma'alot

The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung is partnering with SPNI in its diverse activity in Ma'alot.

Picturesque mountainous Ma'alot does not appear as a peripheral, low-income region with a high attrition rate. Ma'alot is home to a unique

mixture of residents: new immigrants from all corners of the world, including former USSR, Ethiopia, North Africa and Asia. Israeli Arabs, orthodox Jews

and others - and the sole extracurricular activity for all of these diverse kids are via SPNI's local eco-community center. Malash Ma'alot organizes field trips,

empowerment and leadership programs, river-bed rehabilitation by community members, youth groups, summer camping, orienteering programs and more.

Programs at this innovative center are conducted by a selected group of Arab and Jewish gap-year volunteers (Shnat Sheirut), a multicultural Garin (גרעין) – a core of 8

educators who live and work together.

Known as B'Reishit L'Shalom, the Jewish and Arab young volunteers are teaching co-existence, nature and environmental issues, while living together in an SPNI apartment for

a year. These volunteers have quickly become superb social leaders, a positive example of coexistence for the population of the Galilee and Israel – and an integral part of local community

life. This year three Arab girls from Gush Halav are leading eco-educational activities with at-risk youth and kindergarten children in Kfar Tarshicha and four Jewish girls are teaching the same curriculum in Ma'a lot. B'Reishit L'Shalom has also formed a distinctive theater group, working and performing at Sassa School (at Kibbutz Sassa). One play tells about the life of Galileo – who discovered the Earth is not the center of the Universe and invented the telescope. The play teaches that while people opposed Galileo's ideas at the time, and though his wisdom is a given today, as a society, we have yet to surpass Galileo’s peers in some respects. Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs was so impressed with this play, they funded a trip of this group to travel to Milan, Italy, where the group had been requested to perform it. On November 13th youth groups came from all over to see the Italian-language special performance; in Israel, the play is narrated in Hebrew and in Arabic.

Mordi Edri, Malashim Director for the Western Galilee, sees SPNI's work as a shining light,"the influence of Malash Ma'a lot has the widest range, positively influencing all of the schools and low-income communities in the region. All of the school principals work directly with the Ma'alot staff in planning strategy, activities, and field trips. Our goal is to build a powerful green leadership in the area, that transforms the community in a positive way – and this is already happening!"

Edri is also coordinating activities at Malash-Shelomi and Malash-Akko, which are humming with activity every afternoon. SPNI guides run free nature clubs for low-income children and youth after school in Shelomi and three community gardens in Akko. Akko's Jewish & Arab kids are working together to beautify their neighborhoods, while growing vegetables for their own families. Children and youth proudly bring family members into the gardens to show off their work and to help out, and over time these gardens have truly become a massive community project, with huge turnout

at events on holidays. The Joint Distribution Committee is sponsoring these activities as a pilot project in Israel, with the hope of following this example in many other countries.

Israel’s National Parks and Nature Reserves are scandalously threatened and SPNI is rolling out a massive new public campaign to preserve them. A group of Knesset members are drafting a bill that would transfer management from the Parks & Nature Authority, the government body responsible for managing the day-to-day activity of nature reserves and national parks in Israel, to private organizations. In Israel there are some 120 recognized national parks, including Palmachim Beach, Judean Hills National Park, Yarkon National Park, Sharon Beach, Carmel, Mount Tavor, Alexander River, Masada, and many more, a fair number of which are considered international treasures.

Campaigning throughout the holiday season, when many Israelis get out to nature and travel, SPNI is working to inspire and mobilize people to take control of the situation, before it gets out of hand. Nir Pappay, SPNI Deputy Director and head of SPNI’s Environmental Protection Division, believes that the

very concept of national parks under private management is an oxymoron. "Israel's National Parks are open areas with significant ecological environmental importance. If we allow them to pass this law, we accept the imposing of private external bodies, and thus private interests, on the management of national parks - and it can be assumed that they would take their own miscellaneous managerial considerations into account, over conservation."

SPNI sparked a viral online media campaign with a wild youtube video sarcastically pretending to auction off nature reserves in a massive fire sale. We're pulling out all the stops in encouraging the public to express their opposition to the bill, and you can be a part of this - SIGN the petition against the privatization of Israel's National Parks!

EPDEPD

The nation’s leading experts, professionals, and government officials, attended SPNI’s Jerusalem Conference for Nature & the Environment on Monday, November 7th, to discuss both central and local level environmental dilemmas about Israel’s future energy policy.

In addition to formulating a sustainable energy policy, the purpose of the conference was to address the environmental and human costs that result as a consequence of different energy systems. Calculating the environmental impact of new energy sources and a wide range of alternatives is a complex and multifaceted issue. Renewable energy systems were discussed extensively, but were not seen as an ideal option for Israel due to the extensive use of open spaces and infrastructure in the case of solar farms, as well as harmful implications to large migrating birds in the case of wind farming. Still, SPNI welcomes the development of renewable energy sources while maintaining environmental responsibility. Renewable sources are only intended to be a small part of the total energy production. Natural gas should replace the current use of fossil fuels, and will allow Israel to successfully transition to a clean, well-regulated energy

economy while attaining energy independence, a major strategic goal.

Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Naomi Tsur was constantly surrounded with other decision makers; she said "It is wonderful that the tradition of an

annual Jerusalem Conference on Environment and Nature has been firmly established by SPNI. I spoke to leading planners and environmentalists, who are involved in the process of public participation in planning the infrastructure for use of Israel's newly-discovered natural gas resources. This stakeholder process has been initiated by the government, in the knowledge that the public is engaged in the issue, and must be won over, in order not to jeopardize the future of clean energy for Israel. I couldn't help but reflect on the important role SPNI has played in promoting public participation as an essential component in the

planning process."

SPNI’s partners in organizing the 2011 Jerusalem Environment and Nature Conference on Energy Independence include the Ministry of National Infrastructure, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Municipality of Jerusalem, Israeli Energy Forum, Clal Finance, Renewable Energy Association of Israel, The Samuel Neaman Institute and University of Haifa.

An interpretative movements play is silent and wordless, with each performer wearing a white mask and white clothes – illustrating how we are all alike. Dramatic music and movement illumines the contrasts, as the white clothing comes off, revealing an orange group and a purple group. The players' interactions teach how we are all the same, yet different – when we try to recognize the differences, we create conflict; yet sometimes even when we try to move past our differences, the conflict escalates. The players remove their masks and look upon one another – as only when we recognize our similarities, and acknowledge each other as human beings, do we come together in peace.

www.teva.org.il/stop

Israel's National Parks are NOT FOR SALE!!!

Energy Conference a Powerhouse of Ideas & Action Plans!By Sadie Rothstein

Education Community EPD

Dear Israel Railways, Please Don't Wreak Havoc in Haifa!

In February 2010 the government began to promote the "Israel Lane" plan, which includes railway electrification, among other

agenda items. In June 2010, Israel Railways presented their 'Master Plan to Improve Service to Railway Users' to the National Infrastructure

Committee – the railway electrification system is essential to this plan. The electrical system will be above ground, requiring above-ground

infrastructure, including electric poles along all rail lines. The Coastal Protection Committee held discussion on the merits of this plan, as it relates

to the coastal strip from the Carmel Beach to the Western Port in Haifa, and has requested that the infrastructure be submerged in an underground tunnel

instead of marring the beaches. This alternative plan would be win-win for everyone!

But the Israel Railways submitted an appeal to disregard the Coastal Protection Committee's request! What does this even mean? The consequences of installing a massive above-ground electrification system will inflict a severe blow to the northern coastline in Haifa. Haifa's train tracks have long formed a dividing line between the urban city and the natural coastline – a gap that residents and environmentalists have been seeking to bridge. In recent years, several plans have been promoted to properly connect Haifa's coastline in its network of urban nature, in a push for natural sustainable progress. The above-ground electrical infrastructure is not only harmful to these plans, but erects a permanent barrier between Haifa residents and their richest potential source of urban nature. Haifa's Municipality, its City Council, the Technion's planning organization, the Architects' Association, and several other environmental and planning organizations, are working together with SPNI to influence a sustainable alternative to the Haifa section of the plan. The campaign continues, with SPNI staff participating in every planning committee meeting, lobbying the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Finance, growing our public awareness campaign, and incorporating the issue into local environmental education programs. SPNI's Orienteering youth have been involved in raising public awareness and many public events. A petition has been signed by over 10,000 people. SPNI sees a clear connection between the environment and its inhabitants, and this campaign highlights that connection. If Israel Railways would adopt the sustainable alternative, their electrification plan would be hailed as visionary and celebrated – SPNI is working to make that happen!

Elected Officials Attend Green Cities InitiativeThe Green Environment Fund and the Heinrich Böll Foundation partnered with SPNI-Tel Aviv in developing the Environmental Leadership Training Program.

SPNI-Tel Aviv hosted an environmental leadership training program for city council members throughout Metropolitan Tel Aviv, with seminars held twice a month for three months straight this summer! Contrary to other places, city council members in Israel are unpaid volunteers and while council members have wide exposure to environmental challenges, many are unequipped to address the issues. Thus the free course, giving them the proper knowledge and skill set, filled an obvious need and will potentially have a far-ranging impact. Speakers included Member of the Knesset Nitzan Horowitz, Architect and Professor Hillel Schocken, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Naomi Tsur, Orly Ronen-Rotem, Deputy Director of the Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership, and of course SPNI leaders.

SPNI-Tel Aviv Director Guy Nardi feels that the curriculum covered is essential knowledge, without which we cannot expect municipal leaders to act with wisdom in matters that affect nature and public health. Topics included: Dealing with the Environmental Crisis, The City Complex: Public Space and Urban Renewal, Public Participation in Planning, Urban Nature and Open Spaces, Urban Public Action: Transparency and Information Sharing, and Toolbox for Council Members: Communication, Lobbying, and Environmental Legislation. In truth, the need for this course is apparent from the registration roster – some forty local elected officials from the municipalities of Tel Aviv, Herzeliya, Ra'anana, Givatayim, Ramat Gan, Holon, Kfar Saba, Nes Ziona, and Bat Yam attended and invested their time in the three month course. According to Nardi, "several deputy mayors who attended confessed their ignorance of basic planning concepts such as urban nature and density. Our course provided them the tools for a better understanding of the issues presented to them and the ability to make a difference. Our participants were so pleased with their new-found knowledge they asked us to run more training programs."

Eco Community Center (MaLaSh) Gets Multicultural in Ma'alot

The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung is partnering with SPNI in its diverse activity in Ma'alot.

Picturesque mountainous Ma'alot does not appear as a peripheral, low-income region with a high attrition rate. Ma'alot is home to a unique

mixture of residents: new immigrants from all corners of the world, including former USSR, Ethiopia, North Africa and Asia. Israeli Arabs, orthodox Jews

and others - and the sole extracurricular activity for all of these diverse kids are via SPNI's local eco-community center. Malash Ma'alot organizes field trips,

empowerment and leadership programs, river-bed rehabilitation by community members, youth groups, summer camping, orienteering programs and more.

Programs at this innovative center are conducted by a selected group of Arab and Jewish gap-year volunteers (Shnat Sheirut), a multicultural Garin (גרעין) – a core of 8

educators who live and work together.

Known as B'Reishit L'Shalom, the Jewish and Arab young volunteers are teaching co-existence, nature and environmental issues, while living together in an SPNI apartment for

a year. These volunteers have quickly become superb social leaders, a positive example of coexistence for the population of the Galilee and Israel – and an integral part of local community

life. This year three Arab girls from Gush Halav are leading eco-educational activities with at-risk youth and kindergarten children in Kfar Tarshicha and four Jewish girls are teaching the same curriculum in Ma'a lot. B'Reishit L'Shalom has also formed a distinctive theater group, working and performing at Sassa School (at Kibbutz Sassa). One play tells about the life of Galileo – who discovered the Earth is not the center of the Universe and invented the telescope. The play teaches that while people opposed Galileo's ideas at the time, and though his wisdom is a given today, as a society, we have yet to surpass Galileo’s peers in some respects. Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs was so impressed with this play, they funded a trip of this group to travel to Milan, Italy, where the group had been requested to perform it. On November 13th youth groups came from all over to see the Italian-language special performance; in Israel, the play is narrated in Hebrew and in Arabic.

Mordi Edri, Malashim Director for the Western Galilee, sees SPNI's work as a shining light,"the influence of Malash Ma'a lot has the widest range, positively influencing all of the schools and low-income communities in the region. All of the school principals work directly with the Ma'alot staff in planning strategy, activities, and field trips. Our goal is to build a powerful green leadership in the area, that transforms the community in a positive way – and this is already happening!"

Edri is also coordinating activities at Malash-Shelomi and Malash-Akko, which are humming with activity every afternoon. SPNI guides run free nature clubs for low-income children and youth after school in Shelomi and three community gardens in Akko. Akko's Jewish & Arab kids are working together to beautify their neighborhoods, while growing vegetables for their own families. Children and youth proudly bring family members into the gardens to show off their work and to help out, and over time these gardens have truly become a massive community project, with huge turnout

at events on holidays. The Joint Distribution Committee is sponsoring these activities as a pilot project in Israel, with the hope of following this example in many other countries.

Israel’s National Parks and Nature Reserves are scandalously threatened and SPNI is rolling out a massive new public campaign to preserve them. A group of Knesset members are drafting a bill that would transfer management from the Parks & Nature Authority, the government body responsible for managing the day-to-day activity of nature reserves and national parks in Israel, to private organizations. In Israel there are some 120 recognized national parks, including Palmachim Beach, Judean Hills National Park, Yarkon National Park, Sharon Beach, Carmel, Mount Tavor, Alexander River, Masada, and many more, a fair number of which are considered international treasures.

Campaigning throughout the holiday season, when many Israelis get out to nature and travel, SPNI is working to inspire and mobilize people to take control of the situation, before it gets out of hand. Nir Pappay, SPNI Deputy Director and head of SPNI’s Environmental Protection Division, believes that the

very concept of national parks under private management is an oxymoron. "Israel's National Parks are open areas with significant ecological environmental importance. If we allow them to pass this law, we accept the imposing of private external bodies, and thus private interests, on the management of national parks - and it can be assumed that they would take their own miscellaneous managerial considerations into account, over conservation."

SPNI sparked a viral online media campaign with a wild youtube video sarcastically pretending to auction off nature reserves in a massive fire sale. We're pulling out all the stops in encouraging the public to express their opposition to the bill, and you can be a part of this - SIGN the petition against the privatization of Israel's National Parks!

EPDEPD

The nation’s leading experts, professionals, and government officials, attended SPNI’s Jerusalem Conference for Nature & the Environment on Monday, November 7th, to discuss both central and local level environmental dilemmas about Israel’s future energy policy.

In addition to formulating a sustainable energy policy, the purpose of the conference was to address the environmental and human costs that result as a consequence of different energy systems. Calculating the environmental impact of new energy sources and a wide range of alternatives is a complex and multifaceted issue. Renewable energy systems were discussed extensively, but were not seen as an ideal option for Israel due to the extensive use of open spaces and infrastructure in the case of solar farms, as well as harmful implications to large migrating birds in the case of wind farming. Still, SPNI welcomes the development of renewable energy sources while maintaining environmental responsibility. Renewable sources are only intended to be a small part of the total energy production. Natural gas should replace the current use of fossil fuels, and will allow Israel to successfully transition to a clean, well-regulated energy

economy while attaining energy independence, a major strategic goal.

Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Naomi Tsur was constantly surrounded with other decision makers; she said "It is wonderful that the tradition of an

annual Jerusalem Conference on Environment and Nature has been firmly established by SPNI. I spoke to leading planners and environmentalists, who are involved in the process of public participation in planning the infrastructure for use of Israel's newly-discovered natural gas resources. This stakeholder process has been initiated by the government, in the knowledge that the public is engaged in the issue, and must be won over, in order not to jeopardize the future of clean energy for Israel. I couldn't help but reflect on the important role SPNI has played in promoting public participation as an essential component in the

planning process."

SPNI’s partners in organizing the 2011 Jerusalem Environment and Nature Conference on Energy Independence include the Ministry of National Infrastructure, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Municipality of Jerusalem, Israeli Energy Forum, Clal Finance, Renewable Energy Association of Israel, The Samuel Neaman Institute and University of Haifa.

An interpretative movements play is silent and wordless, with each performer wearing a white mask and white clothes – illustrating how we are all alike. Dramatic music and movement illumines the contrasts, as the white clothing comes off, revealing an orange group and a purple group. The players' interactions teach how we are all the same, yet different – when we try to recognize the differences, we create conflict; yet sometimes even when we try to move past our differences, the conflict escalates. The players remove their masks and look upon one another – as only when we recognize our similarities, and acknowledge each other as human beings, do we come together in peace.

www.teva.org.il/stop

Israel's National Parks are NOT FOR SALE!!!

Energy Conference a Powerhouse of Ideas & Action Plans!By Sadie Rothstein

Education Community EPD

Dear Israel Railways, Please Don't Wreak Havoc in Haifa!

In February 2010 the government began to promote the "Israel Lane" plan, which includes railway electrification, among other

agenda items. In June 2010, Israel Railways presented their 'Master Plan to Improve Service to Railway Users' to the National Infrastructure

Committee – the railway electrification system is essential to this plan. The electrical system will be above ground, requiring above-ground

infrastructure, including electric poles along all rail lines. The Coastal Protection Committee held discussion on the merits of this plan, as it relates

to the coastal strip from the Carmel Beach to the Western Port in Haifa, and has requested that the infrastructure be submerged in an underground tunnel

instead of marring the beaches. This alternative plan would be win-win for everyone!

But the Israel Railways submitted an appeal to disregard the Coastal Protection Committee's request! What does this even mean? The consequences of installing a massive above-ground electrification system will inflict a severe blow to the northern coastline in Haifa. Haifa's train tracks have long formed a dividing line between the urban city and the natural coastline – a gap that residents and environmentalists have been seeking to bridge. In recent years, several plans have been promoted to properly connect Haifa's coastline in its network of urban nature, in a push for natural sustainable progress. The above-ground electrical infrastructure is not only harmful to these plans, but erects a permanent barrier between Haifa residents and their richest potential source of urban nature. Haifa's Municipality, its City Council, the Technion's planning organization, the Architects' Association, and several other environmental and planning organizations, are working together with SPNI to influence a sustainable alternative to the Haifa section of the plan. The campaign continues, with SPNI staff participating in every planning committee meeting, lobbying the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Finance, growing our public awareness campaign, and incorporating the issue into local environmental education programs. SPNI's Orienteering youth have been involved in raising public awareness and many public events. A petition has been signed by over 10,000 people. SPNI sees a clear connection between the environment and its inhabitants, and this campaign highlights that connection. If Israel Railways would adopt the sustainable alternative, their electrification plan would be hailed as visionary and celebrated – SPNI is working to make that happen!

Elected Officials Attend Green Cities InitiativeThe Green Environment Fund and the Heinrich Böll Foundation partnered with SPNI-Tel Aviv in developing the Environmental Leadership Training Program.

SPNI-Tel Aviv hosted an environmental leadership training program for city council members throughout Metropolitan Tel Aviv, with seminars held twice a month for three months straight this summer! Contrary to other places, city council members in Israel are unpaid volunteers and while council members have wide exposure to environmental challenges, many are unequipped to address the issues. Thus the free course, giving them the proper knowledge and skill set, filled an obvious need and will potentially have a far-ranging impact. Speakers included Member of the Knesset Nitzan Horowitz, Architect and Professor Hillel Schocken, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Naomi Tsur, Orly Ronen-Rotem, Deputy Director of the Heschel Center for Environmental Learning and Leadership, and of course SPNI leaders.

SPNI-Tel Aviv Director Guy Nardi feels that the curriculum covered is essential knowledge, without which we cannot expect municipal leaders to act with wisdom in matters that affect nature and public health. Topics included: Dealing with the Environmental Crisis, The City Complex: Public Space and Urban Renewal, Public Participation in Planning, Urban Nature and Open Spaces, Urban Public Action: Transparency and Information Sharing, and Toolbox for Council Members: Communication, Lobbying, and Environmental Legislation. In truth, the need for this course is apparent from the registration roster – some forty local elected officials from the municipalities of Tel Aviv, Herzeliya, Ra'anana, Givatayim, Ramat Gan, Holon, Kfar Saba, Nes Ziona, and Bat Yam attended and invested their time in the three month course. According to Nardi, "several deputy mayors who attended confessed their ignorance of basic planning concepts such as urban nature and density. Our course provided them the tools for a better understanding of the issues presented to them and the ability to make a difference. Our participants were so pleased with their new-found knowledge they asked us to run more training programs."

Eco Community Center (MaLaSh) Gets Multicultural in Ma'alot

The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung is partnering with SPNI in its diverse activity in Ma'alot.

Picturesque mountainous Ma'alot does not appear as a peripheral, low-income region with a high attrition rate. Ma'alot is home to a unique

mixture of residents: new immigrants from all corners of the world, including former USSR, Ethiopia, North Africa and Asia. Israeli Arabs, orthodox Jews

and others - and the sole extracurricular activity for all of these diverse kids are via SPNI's local eco-community center. Malash Ma'alot organizes field trips,

empowerment and leadership programs, river-bed rehabilitation by community members, youth groups, summer camping, orienteering programs and more.

Programs at this innovative center are conducted by a selected group of Arab and Jewish gap-year volunteers (Shnat Sheirut), a multicultural Garin (גרעין) – a core of 8

educators who live and work together.

Known as B'Reishit L'Shalom, the Jewish and Arab young volunteers are teaching co-existence, nature and environmental issues, while living together in an SPNI apartment for

a year. These volunteers have quickly become superb social leaders, a positive example of coexistence for the population of the Galilee and Israel – and an integral part of local community

life. This year three Arab girls from Gush Halav are leading eco-educational activities with at-risk youth and kindergarten children in Kfar Tarshicha and four Jewish girls are teaching the same curriculum in Ma'a lot. B'Reishit L'Shalom has also formed a distinctive theater group, working and performing at Sassa School (at Kibbutz Sassa). One play tells about the life of Galileo – who discovered the Earth is not the center of the Universe and invented the telescope. The play teaches that while people opposed Galileo's ideas at the time, and though his wisdom is a given today, as a society, we have yet to surpass Galileo’s peers in some respects. Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs was so impressed with this play, they funded a trip of this group to travel to Milan, Italy, where the group had been requested to perform it. On November 13th youth groups came from all over to see the Italian-language special performance; in Israel, the play is narrated in Hebrew and in Arabic.

Mordi Edri, Malashim Director for the Western Galilee, sees SPNI's work as a shining light,"the influence of Malash Ma'a lot has the widest range, positively influencing all of the schools and low-income communities in the region. All of the school principals work directly with the Ma'alot staff in planning strategy, activities, and field trips. Our goal is to build a powerful green leadership in the area, that transforms the community in a positive way – and this is already happening!"

Edri is also coordinating activities at Malash-Shelomi and Malash-Akko, which are humming with activity every afternoon. SPNI guides run free nature clubs for low-income children and youth after school in Shelomi and three community gardens in Akko. Akko's Jewish & Arab kids are working together to beautify their neighborhoods, while growing vegetables for their own families. Children and youth proudly bring family members into the gardens to show off their work and to help out, and over time these gardens have truly become a massive community project, with huge turnout

at events on holidays. The Joint Distribution Committee is sponsoring these activities as a pilot project in Israel, with the hope of following this example in many other countries.

Israel’s National Parks and Nature Reserves are scandalously threatened and SPNI is rolling out a massive new public campaign to preserve them. A group of Knesset members are drafting a bill that would transfer management from the Parks & Nature Authority, the government body responsible for managing the day-to-day activity of nature reserves and national parks in Israel, to private organizations. In Israel there are some 120 recognized national parks, including Palmachim Beach, Judean Hills National Park, Yarkon National Park, Sharon Beach, Carmel, Mount Tavor, Alexander River, Masada, and many more, a fair number of which are considered international treasures.

Campaigning throughout the holiday season, when many Israelis get out to nature and travel, SPNI is working to inspire and mobilize people to take control of the situation, before it gets out of hand. Nir Pappay, SPNI Deputy Director and head of SPNI’s Environmental Protection Division, believes that the

very concept of national parks under private management is an oxymoron. "Israel's National Parks are open areas with significant ecological environmental importance. If we allow them to pass this law, we accept the imposing of private external bodies, and thus private interests, on the management of national parks - and it can be assumed that they would take their own miscellaneous managerial considerations into account, over conservation."

SPNI sparked a viral online media campaign with a wild youtube video sarcastically pretending to auction off nature reserves in a massive fire sale. We're pulling out all the stops in encouraging the public to express their opposition to the bill, and you can be a part of this - SIGN the petition against the privatization of Israel's National Parks!

EPDEPD

The nation’s leading experts, professionals, and government officials, attended SPNI’s Jerusalem Conference for Nature & the Environment on Monday, November 7th, to discuss both central and local level environmental dilemmas about Israel’s future energy policy.

In addition to formulating a sustainable energy policy, the purpose of the conference was to address the environmental and human costs that result as a consequence of different energy systems. Calculating the environmental impact of new energy sources and a wide range of alternatives is a complex and multifaceted issue. Renewable energy systems were discussed extensively, but were not seen as an ideal option for Israel due to the extensive use of open spaces and infrastructure in the case of solar farms, as well as harmful implications to large migrating birds in the case of wind farming. Still, SPNI welcomes the development of renewable energy sources while maintaining environmental responsibility. Renewable sources are only intended to be a small part of the total energy production. Natural gas should replace the current use of fossil fuels, and will allow Israel to successfully transition to a clean, well-regulated energy

economy while attaining energy independence, a major strategic goal.

Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Naomi Tsur was constantly surrounded with other decision makers; she said "It is wonderful that the tradition of an

annual Jerusalem Conference on Environment and Nature has been firmly established by SPNI. I spoke to leading planners and environmentalists, who are involved in the process of public participation in planning the infrastructure for use of Israel's newly-discovered natural gas resources. This stakeholder process has been initiated by the government, in the knowledge that the public is engaged in the issue, and must be won over, in order not to jeopardize the future of clean energy for Israel. I couldn't help but reflect on the important role SPNI has played in promoting public participation as an essential component in the

planning process."

SPNI’s partners in organizing the 2011 Jerusalem Environment and Nature Conference on Energy Independence include the Ministry of National Infrastructure, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Municipality of Jerusalem, Israeli Energy Forum, Clal Finance, Renewable Energy Association of Israel, The Samuel Neaman Institute and University of Haifa.

An interpretative movements play is silent and wordless, with each performer wearing a white mask and white clothes – illustrating how we are all alike. Dramatic music and movement illumines the contrasts, as the white clothing comes off, revealing an orange group and a purple group. The players' interactions teach how we are all the same, yet different – when we try to recognize the differences, we create conflict; yet sometimes even when we try to move past our differences, the conflict escalates. The players remove their masks and look upon one another – as only when we recognize our similarities, and acknowledge each other as human beings, do we come together in peace.

www.teva.org.il/stop

Israel's National Parks are NOT FOR SALE!!!

Energy Conference a Powerhouse of Ideas & Action Plans!By Sadie Rothstein

SPNINEWSThe Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel

Betset Beach is for Nature L vers!

Winter 2011/12

Education

Community

Ma'alot Sets the Stage

BirdingKestrels, Owls & Smiles!

EPDNational Parks NOT FOR SALE

Sustainable EnergyIndepedence

Wildlife Art @ the JBO

Have You Renewed Your Membership?

OR go to: www.aspni.org

Membership: $54 Credit card: Visa Mastercard Other

Card number Expiration date

Name Email

Street Phone/Cell

City State/Zip

Birding SPNI News is published with the generous support of the Lucius N. Littauer Foundation

Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel2 HaNegev StreetTel Aviv, 66186 IsraelTel: (972) 3-638-8653Fax: (972) 3-687-0513international@spni.org.ilwww.teva.org.il/english

Kosha (Moshe) PakmanExecutive Director

Uri GoldflamExternal Relations Director

American SPNI28 Arrandale AvenueGreat Neck, NY 11024Tel: (212) 398-6750Fax: (212) 398-1665robin@aspni.org

Leon Sokol & Russell RothmanASPNI Co-Chairmen

Robin GordonASPNI Director

Canadian SPNI25 Imperial St. Suite 200Toronto, Ontario M5P 1B9Allan Shiff CSPNI Director

SPNI UKPO Box 42763London, N2-OYJTel: (020) 8444 0777Fax: (020) 8444 0681info@foi-asg.org

John LevySPNI UK Director

SPNI France14 rue Angelique VerienNeuilly 92200Tel/Fax: (1) 4637-5543irl@club-internet.fr

Norbert LipszycSPNI France Director

SPNI News:Editor: Michelle Levinemichelle@spni.org.ilGraphics: www.studiohadag.com

Note: When e-mailing any SPNI office please include “SPNI” in the subject line.

A plan for a massive resort complex in northern Israel looked to be nearing the final approval phase the last few months – yet the scent of fear has turned to hopeful aroma of victory thanks to massive public support for SPNI's campaign. Betset Beach is a very natural beach in far northern Israel. Coastal habitat has all but disappeared in Israel, with some native wildlife and scenery all but disappeared completely from the landscape. SPNI and the Nature & Parks Authority performed Environmental Impact Assessments, revealing a high level of threat to one of the few remaining natural beaches in Israel, the area's native sea turtles and other fragile wildlife. SPNI was concerned about this plan from the time that the Israel Land Administration first issued the tender, some ten years ago, so when the Regional Planning Council approved the plan this Summer, SPNI stepped its campaign to protect the area into higher gear.

The plan threatening this remote treasure involves three resorts taking over a massive area (over 50 acres of land) and affecting the habitat for a far wider range, planned to be built just 100 meters from the beach - in direct violation of the Coastal Protection Act, which stipulates that building plans must be set for a minimum of 300 meters (328 yards) from the coastline. Nature-lovers and beach-goers alike appreciate the special qualities of Betset - truly reminiscent of times gone by - and came out in numbers for an SPNI Sukkot day to raise awareness of the issue.

On October 15th, over a thousand people formed a massive line on the beach, drawing a literal line in the sand with their own bodies - and asking the State not to let developers cross it. Israel Land Administration members were moved by the support of the people for a more sustainable approach, and on October 26th, they announced that they are reconsidering and appear to be close to halting the poorly considered resort plan.

We thank Sheer Lichtash, who celebrated her May 2011 Bat Mitzvah by asking her guests to make donations to the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. Sheer's family then came to Israel and took them a tour of Mishkenot Sha'ananim (the first neighborhood outside the Jerusalem city walls in 1860) with SPNI's External Relations Director, Uri Goldflam. Mazal Tov, Sheer!

Tel Aviv Trains Green Leaders

Preserving Haifa's Coastline

A unique group of Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli farmers, scientists, environmentalists and decision makers from the region, along with ecologists from Switzerland, Malaysia and Cyprus met up at a picturesque spot on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea from October 25th - 27th. The conference celebrated three years of unprecedented success in farming with kestrels and barn owls instead of pesticides, for reducing the rodent population on agricultural lands. Though farmers were skeptical of installing nesting boxes at the start, and some fearful of owls (considered back luck to some Muslims), the tremendous impact of the barn owls and kestrels on their rodent population and their crops changed their perspectives completely - these birds are now very welcome guests, as are their fellow farmers. Sponsored by the Hanns Seidel Foundation, the European Union and the Peres Center for Peace, the project has been an unparalleled success, surpassing anyone's dreams of environmental cooperation in the Middle East. Project founder/director Dr. Yossi Leshem was particularly pleased by the interaction between the farmers, who were so happy to see each other again, at this international reunion!

Kestrels, Owls & Smiles All Around!

Wildlife Art at the JBO - on exhibit, in creation, and reshaping young minds

JBO Director Amir Balaban believes that art "connects people to nature, and illuminates the hidden life that exists around us." A joint venture between first year students from the Bezalel Academy of Arts and the SPNI's Jerusalem Bird Observatory resulted in an exhibition that opened at the JBO in June - the project focused on observation, and translating the wild experience into clay. The creations of this unique encounter were exhibited in the JBO's Gail Rubin wildlife art gallery this Summer and Fall. JBO Education Director Alena Kacal says that "just by examining ceramics, photos and art at the exhibition, people discover things that they never noticed before. How a nest is built. What a wasps nest looks like when magnified 100 times. Through the artist's eye, they can be exposed to things from a new perspective or angle."

Children visiting the exhibit and participating in the ceramics in nature activities felt they could connect to nature with their own hands. The Bezalel students ran a workshop for more than 50 kids on July 26th – which proved emotionally moving and educational. Kacal said, "you think that you know what a turtle looks like...but then when you try to make a statue of a turtle, you start to ask questions - how do all the pieces fit together? It was wonderful to see the kids really lit up by the activity. After an experience like that you never look at a turtle the same way again."

Kacal has had a tremendous impact on Israeli children's perception of nature, since thousands of schoolchildren come visit the JBO every year on field trips – and she was excited about this unique approach to building that deeper level of appreciation and connection. "So many times we do active things in nature - hiking, picnic, playing etc. But when you are doing an art project you have to sit, meditate, observe, be quiet. This allows a different kind of interaction with what is going on around you...and it is the type of reflective interaction that many kids today do not get enough of."

SPNI sends LOVE and congratulations to

Aviva Shalit and her family. Aviva is working for SPNI in

Achziv and Ma'alot for over 20 years now – and 1,000 SPNI staff members across Israel have been praying with

the Shalits for Gilad's return.

Welcome Home, Gilad!

SPNINEWSThe Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel

Betset Beach is for Nature L vers!

Winter 2011/12

Education

Community

Ma'alot Sets the Stage

BirdingKestrels, Owls & Smiles!

EPDNational Parks NOT FOR SALE

Sustainable EnergyIndepedence

Wildlife Art @ the JBO

Have You Renewed Your Membership?

OR go to: www.aspni.org

Membership: $54 Credit card: Visa Mastercard Other

Card number Expiration date

Name Email

Street Phone/Cell

City State/Zip

Birding SPNI News is published with the generous support of the Lucius N. Littauer Foundation

Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel2 HaNegev StreetTel Aviv, 66186 IsraelTel: (972) 3-638-8653Fax: (972) 3-687-0513international@spni.org.ilwww.teva.org.il/english

Kosha (Moshe) PakmanExecutive Director

Uri GoldflamExternal Relations Director

American SPNI28 Arrandale AvenueGreat Neck, NY 11024Tel: (212) 398-6750Fax: (212) 398-1665robin@aspni.org

Leon Sokol & Russell RothmanASPNI Co-Chairmen

Robin GordonASPNI Director

Canadian SPNI25 Imperial St. Suite 200Toronto, Ontario M5P 1B9Allan Shiff CSPNI Director

SPNI UKPO Box 42763London, N2-OYJTel: (020) 8444 0777Fax: (020) 8444 0681info@foi-asg.org

John LevySPNI UK Director

SPNI France14 rue Angelique VerienNeuilly 92200Tel/Fax: (1) 4637-5543irl@club-internet.fr

Norbert LipszycSPNI France Director

SPNI News:Editor: Michelle Levinemichelle@spni.org.ilGraphics: www.studiohadag.com

Note: When e-mailing any SPNI office please include “SPNI” in the subject line.

A plan for a massive resort complex in northern Israel looked to be nearing the final approval phase the last few months – yet the scent of fear has turned to hopeful aroma of victory thanks to massive public support for SPNI's campaign. Betset Beach is a very natural beach in far northern Israel. Coastal habitat has all but disappeared in Israel, with some native wildlife and scenery all but disappeared completely from the landscape. SPNI and the Nature & Parks Authority performed Environmental Impact Assessments, revealing a high level of threat to one of the few remaining natural beaches in Israel, the area's native sea turtles and other fragile wildlife. SPNI was concerned about this plan from the time that the Israel Land Administration first issued the tender, some ten years ago, so when the Regional Planning Council approved the plan this Summer, SPNI stepped its campaign to protect the area into higher gear.

The plan threatening this remote treasure involves three resorts taking over a massive area (over 50 acres of land) and affecting the habitat for a far wider range, planned to be built just 100 meters from the beach - in direct violation of the Coastal Protection Act, which stipulates that building plans must be set for a minimum of 300 meters (328 yards) from the coastline. Nature-lovers and beach-goers alike appreciate the special qualities of Betset - truly reminiscent of times gone by - and came out in numbers for an SPNI Sukkot day to raise awareness of the issue.

On October 15th, over a thousand people formed a massive line on the beach, drawing a literal line in the sand with their own bodies - and asking the State not to let developers cross it. Israel Land Administration members were moved by the support of the people for a more sustainable approach, and on October 26th, they announced that they are reconsidering and appear to be close to halting the poorly considered resort plan.

We thank Sheer Lichtash, who celebrated her May 2011 Bat Mitzvah by asking her guests to make donations to the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel. Sheer's family then came to Israel and took them a tour of Mishkenot Sha'ananim (the first neighborhood outside the Jerusalem city walls in 1860) with SPNI's External Relations Director, Uri Goldflam. Mazal Tov, Sheer!

Tel Aviv Trains Green Leaders

Preserving Haifa's Coastline

A unique group of Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli farmers, scientists, environmentalists and decision makers from the region, along with ecologists from Switzerland, Malaysia and Cyprus met up at a picturesque spot on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea from October 25th - 27th. The conference celebrated three years of unprecedented success in farming with kestrels and barn owls instead of pesticides, for reducing the rodent population on agricultural lands. Though farmers were skeptical of installing nesting boxes at the start, and some fearful of owls (considered back luck to some Muslims), the tremendous impact of the barn owls and kestrels on their rodent population and their crops changed their perspectives completely - these birds are now very welcome guests, as are their fellow farmers. Sponsored by the Hanns Seidel Foundation, the European Union and the Peres Center for Peace, the project has been an unparalleled success, surpassing anyone's dreams of environmental cooperation in the Middle East. Project founder/director Dr. Yossi Leshem was particularly pleased by the interaction between the farmers, who were so happy to see each other again, at this international reunion!

Kestrels, Owls & Smiles All Around!

Wildlife Art at the JBO - on exhibit, in creation, and reshaping young minds

JBO Director Amir Balaban believes that art "connects people to nature, and illuminates the hidden life that exists around us." A joint venture between first year students from the Bezalel Academy of Arts and the SPNI's Jerusalem Bird Observatory resulted in an exhibition that opened at the JBO in June - the project focused on observation, and translating the wild experience into clay. The creations of this unique encounter were exhibited in the JBO's Gail Rubin wildlife art gallery this Summer and Fall. JBO Education Director Alena Kacal says that "just by examining ceramics, photos and art at the exhibition, people discover things that they never noticed before. How a nest is built. What a wasps nest looks like when magnified 100 times. Through the artist's eye, they can be exposed to things from a new perspective or angle."

Children visiting the exhibit and participating in the ceramics in nature activities felt they could connect to nature with their own hands. The Bezalel students ran a workshop for more than 50 kids on July 26th – which proved emotionally moving and educational. Kacal said, "you think that you know what a turtle looks like...but then when you try to make a statue of a turtle, you start to ask questions - how do all the pieces fit together? It was wonderful to see the kids really lit up by the activity. After an experience like that you never look at a turtle the same way again."

Kacal has had a tremendous impact on Israeli children's perception of nature, since thousands of schoolchildren come visit the JBO every year on field trips – and she was excited about this unique approach to building that deeper level of appreciation and connection. "So many times we do active things in nature - hiking, picnic, playing etc. But when you are doing an art project you have to sit, meditate, observe, be quiet. This allows a different kind of interaction with what is going on around you...and it is the type of reflective interaction that many kids today do not get enough of."

SPNI sends LOVE and congratulations to

Aviva Shalit and her family. Aviva is working for SPNI in

Achziv and Ma'alot for over 20 years now – and 1,000 SPNI staff members across Israel have been praying with

the Shalits for Gilad's return.

Welcome Home, Gilad!