EcoPeace Middle East Co-Founders Receive the 2018 Stanford Bright Award
Gidon Bromberg and Munqeth Mehyar, EcoPeace’s co-founders, travelled to California this month to receive the prestigious 2018 Bright Award from the Stanford Law School, for their outstanding work in promoting global sustainability. “Gidon Bromberg and Munqeth Mehyar are unparalleled environmental leaders and visionaries … at the forefront of environmental peace-building for over 25 years,” said SLS Dean M. Elizabeth Magill at the award ceremony. Bromberg and Mehyar later participated in several public events held in Stanford, San Jose and Malibu, where they spoke about the need to solve Middle East water issues.
The Crown Princess and Prince of Sweden at the Jordan River Estuary
On October 16th EcoPeace’s 3 co-directors had the opportunity to meet with her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden. The meeting between EcoPeace and the Royal couple took place at the Jordan River estuary which is a unique site where the historical Jordan River meets the Dead Sea. They discussed issues of water security, the effects of the shrinking and degradation of the Dead Sea and the water and sanitation crisis in Gaza.
EcoPeace Leads a Regional tour for a Delegation from the Methodist Church
On October 8th -13th EcoPeace had the opportunity to lead a delegation from the Methodist Church on their “Water and Peace Conference and Travelling Seminar.” The Tour focused on the Jordan Valley and the dire state of the Jordan River and regional water issues. At the end of the tour one participant wrote, “We witnessed, in particular, the intelligence and resilience of young people and the dedication of activists, of all ages, to humanitarianism, water-justice and peace. We owe it to these people, not to mention our faith, to collaborate practically in the future.”
Tour for the Wilmette Interfaith Center
EcoPeace Ramallah Office led the Wilmette Interfaith Center on a tour of the Jordan Valley region. During the tour they learned about water scarcity in the region and the status of the Jordan River and its ecosystem.
Every Challenge Presents an Opportunity
EcoPeace was quoted this month in the New York Times and other publications addressing the recent decision not to renew the special status given to the ‘Bakoura’ area in Jordan. Together with Yale University School of Design, EcoPeace has developed a cross border tourist concept for Israelis, Jordanians and others. EcoPeace believes that a reciprocal arrangement in the area encompassing both Israeli and Jordanian land could help develop the tremendous tourism potential of the area, creating a win-win for all sides, especially local communities.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2018/10/21/world/middleeast/israel-jordan-peace-treaty.amp.html
https://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/this-land-isnt-your-land-anymore/
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/water-scarcity-fuels-tensions-across-middle-east-n924736
The Good Water Neighbors (GWN) project is supported by the Swedish International Development Agency and USAID CMM West Bank / Gaza.
EcoPeace at the Official Joint Launching of the Two-State Coalition (TSC) Project
EcoPeace’s External Affairs Officer, Bashar Shawa, was invited to speak at the official joint launching of the Two State Coalition Project on October 21st. With mixed participation from the Palestinian and Israeli peace camps, Shawa gave a review of EcoPeace’s current and past work and projects, regional success stories and unique stance as the only organization operating projects and offices in Palestine, Jordan and Israel. The event was hosted by the Geneva Initiative, The Palestinian Peace Coalition and the EU Peacebuilding Initiative.
EcoPeace in Cyprus
EcoPeace’s International Affairs Manager, Giulia Giordano, was invited to represent EcoPeace in the fourth regional meeting of the Inner Dimensions of Climate Change series for young professionals, organized by the Global Peace Initiative of Women in Cyprus on October 21-24. The event gathered environmental advocates and climate change specialists from the MENA region, to discuss the challenges that communities and governments from the region face in responding to the threats of climate change.
Climate Change in the Context of National and Regional Security
EcoPeace held three national roundtables this month in Jordan, Palestine and Israel. The roundtables centered on the topic of climate change and water security and their impact on national and regional security. EcoPeace partnered with academic institutions and influential think tanks for the roundtables. Each one was attended by high level government representatives as well as influential leaders in the private sector and academia. The feedback gathered from the participants will be incorporated into a policy paper that will be presented to decision makers at a regional roundtable in November.
The “Advancing Climate Security, Peace and Regional Security through Water Diplomacy in Israel, Jordan and Palestine” project is supported by the German Embassy in Palestine, Jordan and Israel
EcoPeace Leads Tour for Palestinian Journalists
On October 9th Eco Peace Middle East organized a tour for a group of Palestinian journalists. The tour focused on the effects of the polluted stream “Wadi-Al-Samen” (Hebron Stream) on health, environment and water resources in Hebron. The tour started from the Industrial Area in Hebron Old City “Al-Fahs”. Engineer Marwan Al-Akhdar from Hebron Municipality talked about the pollution stone cutting factories produce in Hebron and the fact that these factories dispose of their waste into Wadi Al-Samen stream directly. The visit promoted EcoPeace ME’s advocacy efforts to advance the construction of the planned wastewater treatment plant and “Khalet Wafi” landfill. Palestine Public Broadcasting Channel (PBC) covered this Tour Live. Other journalist worked on reports and news stories on this crisis that were later broadcast and published by established radio stations and newspapers.
Activities conducted in the Hebron/Negev/Basin are supported by the Government of Canada.
EcoPeace Leads a Tour for a delegation from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS)
On October 17th EcoPeace Ramallah Office led a tour for a delegation from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) headed by Dr. Edmund Ratka, Speaker for the MENA Region at KAS headquarters in Berlin. The tour covered the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea and aimed at shedding light on water security issues in the Middle East.
Specifically, they discussed how water scarcity continues to negatively affect the Jordan Valley.