EcoPeace in the Media
July, 2019, The Wilson Quarterly
Sea, Sun, and Peace?
by Naomi Zeveloff
A must read on the work of environmental peacebuilding
Upcoming Events
If you happen to be in New York for Climate Week this September, The Sabin Center For Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School, will be host to all 3 EcoPeace Directors for a forum about the organization’s critical work mapping the observable effects of climate change, and its policy recommendations to address this looming ecological crisis and its national security implications.
What: Forum on “Climate Change, Water & National Security for Jordan, Palestine and Israel”
Where: Columbia Law School, 435 West 116th Street Room 103, New York
When: Tuesday September 24, 7-8.30pm
Farmers’ Training
On July 3rd and 22nd EcoPeace held training workshops for Jordan Valley farmers aimed at helping farmers increase efficiency. Farmers were also trained in how to meet the needs of international markets and best practices and techniques for grape production.
Regional Youth Camp
From July 8th-10th, thirty-six youth from Palestine, Jordan and Israel took part in the Water Trustees program at EcoPeace’s Sharhabil bin Hassneh EcoPark (SHE) in Jordan. This Regional Training represents the kick-off event for the EcoPeace Youth Trustees program. The regional camp aimed to introduce the concepts of Water Security, the nexus between water, food and energy, and the challenges of climate change. In addition to learning about water and the environment the camp helped students develop their negotiation and project management skills.
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Workshop
On July 22nd and 23rd, Abdelrahman Sultan presented EcoPeace’s vision of a regional water-energy-nexus at a regional workshop in Morocco titled: “Water-Energy-Food Nexus Implementation in MENA Cities.” The workshop brought together various stakeholders from the water, energy and food sectors to discuss how to make cities sustainable.
Columbia Global Centre Workshop
On July 1st, Abdelrahman Sultan, EcoPeace’s Projects Manager in the Jordan office, presented the concept of the Water Energy Nexus at a workshop that focused on bridging science and policy. The workshop brought together climate scientists, hydrologists, NGOs and university professors, in an attempt to better understand how to properly communicate scientific ideas and plans to government officials.
EcoPeace Palestinian Director participates in experts meeting “Promoting water security in the MENA region”
On July 9th EcoPeace Palestinian Director, Nada Majdalani, participated in a meeting of experts, organized by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) foundation in Brussels, together with SME Europe (official business association of the European People’s Party), on the topic of “Promoting water security in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region”.
Representatives from civil society, the business sector and the EU came together to discuss the MENA region’s most pressing challenges regarding water security; the economic framework and how to enable conditions to facilitate technology transfer and promote investments in the water sector in the region driven by SMEs. Nada spoke about EcoPeace as a role model for regional cooperation.
First Awareness Session- Al-Khass Village
As part of the China Project, Eco Peace Ramallah office held the first Awareness Session at Al-Khass village – a rural area East of Bethlehem. The workshop showcased the project and its objectives, and included a discussion of how to improve household sanitation by using low cost treatment units and reuse treated wastewater for agriculture. The workshop also explored issues of women’s empowerment, specifically how to increase women’s engagement in economic development in the community, in particular in agricultural sectors.
Water Diplomacy Information Session
On July 27th, the Education team from the Palestine office, along with a representative from the Palestinian Water Authority, conducted an information session for Al-Najah University students and researchers, to introduce the opportunity of water diplomacy training. A tour to the Jordan Valley was conducted before the session to give participants more information about EcoPeace’s work and the importance of water diplomacy.
Meeting with Methodist Church Members at EcoPeace Palestine Office
On 10th July, a group of Methodist Church Members visited EcoPeace’s Ramallah office to discuss EcoPeace’s role and vision in Palestine and the region as part of the strategic partnership between the two organisations. EcoPeace Palestinian Director, Nada Majdalani addressed the important role EcoPeace plays in finding regional solutions to significant issues like climate change and water security.
The above activities are part of the Good Water Neighbors (GWN) project, which is supported by the Swedish International Development Agency.
Call for Applications
The MENA Workshop on Water Security & Environmental Peacebuilding
The Program on Water Security of EcoPeace Middle East, in partnership with the Middle East Regional Program Energy Security and Climate Change Middle East and North Africa of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, is offering an incredible workshop opportunity from October 14-16, 2019 in Rabat, Morocco.
The MENA Workshop on Water Security & Environmental Peacebuilding is open to practitioners and civil society organizations from the MENA region. Limited space is also available for individuals from: academia, think tanks, development agencies and foundations.
For more information, and to apply, please click here
EcoPeace Water Diplomacy Training for Young Professionals
Registration closes on August 5th – only a few places left
Applications are open for young professionals and students, aged 20-35, who are passionate about the environment, to apply for ‘Water Diplomacy Training’. Over several sessions across the region, the training will explore:
Water reality and regional issues
Communication and negotiation skills
Conflict management and resolution
Track II diplomacy
Water security
Water-energy Nexus
Training commences on the 16 September in Tel Aviv. For more information please click here