GEN-Israel National Networkgen-israel.org/booklet/booklet-eng.pdf · 2015-01-08 · GEN-Israel National Network Over the last few years in Israel, we have witnessed an incredible

GEN-Israel National Network

Over the last few years in Israel, we have witnessed an incredible burst of activity as groups of people from all over the country have been creating viable models of sustainable living. From established kibbutzim through to new urban communities, private farms and education centers, a diverse range of projects are developing that offer low-impact local alternatives to the high-energy consumer culture of the mainstream. Now is the time to bring these different initiatives together under one national network – GEN-Israel.

As a small, densely populated country with few natural resources, Israel is facing huge challenges in terms of sustainability. The national ecological footprint, while ranking about average in terms of industrialized nations, far outstrips available biocapacity within the country. At present, Israel is completely reliant on imports of fossil fuels for its energy supply. Renewable energy sources and infrastructure are developing but still constitute only a small fraction of the country's total consumption. Air and water pollution represent serious threats to human health in some regions, and management of solid and liquid wastes mainly focus on conventional landfill and water purification solutions. In addition, there are marginalized populations in Israel such as the Bedouin living in unrecognized villages in the Negev desert that suffer from a lack of basic infrastructures and in some cases severe environmental health issues due to their proximity to toxic waste dumps. Theseinternal challenges must also be placed within the context of the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians that has exacted a huge human and environmental cost on both sides.

The growing movement of ecological projects and communities within Israel has the potential to offer a positive, sustainable vision for the future. All over the country, projects are emerging that are allowing people to disconnect from mainstream consumerist culture and develop alternatives based on local economies, renewable sources of energy, permaculture design principles and cooperative living. The establishment of a national network, GEN-Israel, is the next logical step in order to further facilitate this process.

The aims of setting up a national ecovillage network in Israel connected to GEN-International are threefold:

1) To promote viable, attractive and sustainable low-impact alternatives to support climate change adaptation and mitigation, and to engage people looking for a more ecologically and community-based way of life, whetherwithin the existing communities or through the creation of new ones

2) To strengthen the existing communities and projects by providing a framework for connecting and interacting with other potential partner organizations within the country, local and national government authorities, and the international network

3) To forge cross-border and cross-culture connections with potential International and regional partners.

The first public event of GEN-Israel, an all-day conference, took place on

November 23 at Kibbutz Gezer, with the participation of Kosha Joubert, president of GEN-International. More than 200 people representing around 40 different ecological projects, communities and community networks from throughout the country gathered to learn more about each other, deepen the cooperation between them and vision together for the future. The event was aninspiring start to the new national network.

Kibbutzim - Cooperative settlement

Kibbutz Neot SmadarEcovillage

Established

Established in 1989 as a learning communitythat focuses on cooperation and creativity indaily life. As individuals in a dynamiccommunity, Our interest in relationship extendsto the environment through organic farming,desert architecture, water recycling, The ArtCenter and more. Today there are 90 adultmembers (families and singles), 70 children ofvarious ages, and about 50 volunteers of allages.

Location: Arava, South.Website: http://www.neot-semadar.com/about

Kibbutz Hukuk - Settling with theenvironment

EcovillageUnder construction

Eco-community in an existing Kibbutz, foundinga community that enriches the local community,founding an ecological education system,ecological building, ecological infrastructure &social architecture.The Community influences the whole region:founding an ecological education system andneighborhood that are visited by many peoplewho come to see the way we try to reduce ourecological footprint - and naturally reducing thegreenhouse gases pollution, living in an energyefficient lifestyle.

Location: North.Contact: Zvi Nir - [email protected]: http://www.slideshare.net/zvinir/hukuk-

eco-community-israel

Kibbutz LotanEcovillageEstablish

Kibbutz Lotan is an integrated, holisticintentional community based on a liberal,egalitarian approach to Judaism, ecologicalawareness and cooperative living. Thecommunity is home to around 150 people,mainly comprising young families. A centralfeature of Lotan is its Center for CreativeEcology, an experiential training facilityproviding hands-on education for sustainabilityfor thousands of participants every year fromIsrael and the rest of the world.This venture will encourage creating a bridgebetween people, nations and religions and willcultivate new income sources.Kibbutz Lotan has developed and demonstratespermaculture design techniques in extremedesert conditions, energy efficient naturalbuilding methods, local organic food systems,renewable energy, and sustainable waste andwater management.

Location: Arava, South.Website: http://www.kibbutzlotan.com/

Kibbutz TZiv’onEcovillegeestablish

Tziv’on is a small young kibbutz with anecological vision. Tzivon has among otherthings, an organic vineyard, dairy goat herd,traditional crafts workshop, a vegetable gardenand and alternative education system.This place is about:Diversity - Diverse people that chose to live in arural kibbutz on the fringe of Israel in order tocreate something new and different.Community - ranging from being goodneighbors to actively researching co-operatingand sharing in our daily life.Sustainability - striving to fulfill our needslocally, from food production to education.

Location: Upper Galilee, North.Website: https://www.facebook.com/tzivon

Kibbutz kramimecovillage

established

A struggling traditional Kibbutz gone through arevival process with emphasis on sustainabilityand community life. from a strugglingcommunity became a thriving eco-Kibbutz. All houses built in the Kibbutz designed to beenergy efficient in accordance with localclimate. Waste is carefully separated includingorganic made into compost in the Kibbutz. Solarpower project is working. Water recyclingproject, community social projects, etc.

Location: Negev, South.Website: http://www.kramim.org.il/

Kibbutz Gezerestablished

Originally founded in 1945, the kibbutzdisbanded in 1963 and was re-established by agroup of young Americans in 1973.Gezer was into vegetarian, organic food andgetting back to the land back in the 70's, andwas (and still is a bit!) considered by ourneighbors as American hippies. The communitynow has a growing environmental "movement".We have a new ecological garden, communitygardens, recycling center (we recycle, compostand reuse about 60% of our trash). We alsohave an organic olive grove of 1200 trees whichproduce olive oil, olives, and soap. Anenvironmental committee open to everyoneorganized events, and cleanups. We recentlyinstalled solar panels on the roofs of the cowsheds, and are looking into expanding.

Location: Center.Website: http://www.gezer.org.il

Settlements

KaditaEcovillageEstablish

Kaditah is an unrecognized, loosely organizedvillage located in the Galilee of northern Israel.The residents are currently negotiating with thegovernment concerning planned ecologicaldevelopment of the village. Residents are allcommitted to living on the land and areinvolved with various ecological lifestylepractices. but there is little co-ordination. TheKaditah ecology center was founded to offerworkshops, information and demonstrationprojects both to residents and to visitors andvolunteers. The center is currently working onissues such as water conservation (greywaterand rainwater collection), passive solar (ovensand greenhouse), organic gardening and fruittrees, tofu production, handcrafts and more.The organizers of the center are committed toworking to improve Jewish-Arab relations in thistroubled region through cooperative work onecological projects. Other Kadita residents areinvolved with issues such as alternative energyproduction (solar and wind), small livestock,alternative building, and more. The communityis diverse and a wide range of political, socialand religious beliefs are represented.

Location: North.

ShuvaEcovillage

Religious -Ecological community based onPeople who were not connected to the Torahand became reconnected) 22 families trying tocombine sky and earth, judaism with simple lifeand sustainability. Ancient hand-Craft, Organicfarming, Organic herb growing, Organicworkshop.

Location: Western Negev, South.Website: http://eng.negev-

net.org.il/HTMLs/article.aspx?C2004=12679

Urban Ecology Community

CityTree - Tel AvivEstablish

CityTree is an Urban Ecological Community, witha few hunderd members, six of whom live in oureco-apartment, located in the heart of Tel Aviv.We are practicing a communal life style, and theflat is a showcase for urban sustainability. Weexperiment with composting, grey water reuse,urban agriculture, and more. We also hostworkshops and courses that have to do with awide spectrum of ecology, starting from RawVegan classes, through Non-ViolentCommunication, and on to study groups aroundalternative economy.As part of our Ecological Oasis vision, we areopen to hosting travelers and activists fromaround the world in our flat.

Location: Tel-Aviv, Center.Website: http://www.citytree.net/

Ahuzat NegevEductional Project

Under construction

A settlement core of 30 families, running 2community centres that are also socialbuisness. The first is “The center forsustainabilty which includes a 4000 squaremeter communal garden,including guidance forsustainable energy and recycling, and thesecond is “A center for bicycle tourism”.

Location: Ofakim, South.Website: http://www.an.xwx.co.il/

kama communityurban community

Educational projectEstablished

Established about 10 years ago by a group ofyoung people who had served together in thearmy. The organization works to reduce socialand economic disparities and to promoteinterconnected communities in the Negev, inthe periphery and throughout Israel. “TorHaMidbar”is the kibutz NGO- it approachescommunity development from a social-democratic perspective, based on the sharedvalues of equality, justice, partnership andsustainability.Operating the Center for NeighborhoodSustainability in Beer sheva:The Center is home to a garden with plots forvegetables, where the landscaping andarchitecture is constructed sustainably frommud and recycled materials. The Center is acommunity gathering place where localresidents come together for daily meetings,community events and holidays.The Center for Neighborhood Sustainability isproud to serve as a national model which hasbeen replicated in more than 10 communitiesthroughout Israel.

Location: City of Beer-Sheva, South.Website: http://www.torhamidbar.org.il/

Transition TivonEstablish

Strengthening the community resilience andlocal activities in the northern town of Tivon.

Location: Tivon, NorthWebsite: http://transitiontivon.org.il

Educational center

AdamamaPermaculture project

Living and learning center

Established in 2001 by Gur and Irit Rotem asan inspirational experimentation center fordealing with the climate change and adoptingways of a sustainable lifestyle.Demonstrate variety of appropriate technologytools - Renewable energy sources, recyclingwater, Soil erosion preservation, building withnatural and recycled material.Ecological Agriculture, desert useful plantnursery, edible landscape, preserves thebiological diversity.Working with the Bedouin community in theNegev in various environmental projects suchas reforestation and waste management.

Inhabitants: 10 permanent resident and volunteersLocation: north negev, South.Website: http://adamama.org.il

Hava and Adameducational project

permaculture project

Hava & Adam Farm is a multidisciplinarycenter for environmental and social educationlocated next to the city of Modi'in. The farm isthe first and oldest educational center in Israelthat focuses on sustainability and has beenoperating since the beginning of 2003. Everyyear the farm has over 10,000 children andadult visitor that enjoy and participate in thevarious courses and activities.As a center which models sustainability, thefarm strives for ecological self-sufficiencythrough the use of solar energy, self-treatmentof waste, rainwater collection and gray-watersystems, a variety of ecological buildingtechnologies, recycling and organicagriculture.The farm is home to a changing communitymade up of year of service and nationalservice volunteers and young people fromaround the world who live and implement thefarm's principles of sustainability. This way oflife serves as a model to learn these principlesand transmit them to the general public.Most of the farm's resources are directed toeducational and social projects conducted onthe farm, schools and kindergartens in Modi'inand throughout the country. In addition, thefarm provides consulting service to a growingnumber of private people, organizations,nonprofits and municipalities in the field ofenvironmental education and practicalsustainability.

Location: Modi'in, Centrer.Website:

http://www.havaveadam.org/index.php?language=eng

The solar Gardeneducational project

established

The Solar Garden is an educational initiativedesigned to promote awareness and use ofgreen energy sources and environmentaltechnologies (CleanTech) amongst the Israelipublic. We aim to influence the developmentof a leading green energy industry in Israelthrough education and exposure ofenvironmental technologies.

Location: Binyamina, Center.Website: http://www.haganhasolari.co.il

Center for Agroecology In thecity

permaculture projectEducational project

Urban AgroEcology Training Centre for aSustainable living: Workshops, Tours, Movies,Presentations, all about Urban Ecosystems andour day to day.

Website:https://www.facebook.com/MosinzonAgroEcologyCenter/info

Clementerra mini farmpermaculture project

1 dunam of a small scale urban farm, we are ademonstration and a learning center topermaculture in small scale.we teach permaculture as a way to educatepeople to the world state, and what they cando about it. we use ecological food growingmethods, all kind of compost methods(kitchen, toilets, worms), low tech gray watersystem and more.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/ClementerraMiniFarm

Yesh mea’inEductional Project

Established

A permaculture farm built on the foundationsof an old neglected farm. The project includespermaculture courses, feasible ecologyworkshops and exchange markets once amonth.

Location: Nahalal, North.Contact: Merav Carmi,

[email protected]: http://yeshmeain.carmi.org.il

Kidron Food ForestPermaculture Project

Under construction

Research centre for development of foodforest in the Mediterranean climate. We arecreating a sustainable and productiveecosystem where there used to beconventional monoculture. Soil erosion preservation using Swells anddams.

Location: Kidron, Center.Contact: Hadas Hochberg,

[email protected]:

https://www.facebook.com/foodforestisrael

ShdemaEcological community

Under construction

Eco communal center & give-take market,created by number of Families from theGadera area. Our goal is to be an opencommunity space, to promote environmentaleducation, and to be an example foralternative way of life. We are having differentevents such as give-take market and localgatherings and parties.

Location: Sdema, Center.Website: http://www.ecomeshek.org.il/

Yatir farmPermaculture Project

Established

An ecological farm in the South, specializing ingrowing medicinal herbs, along with ecologicalindependent systems for supply of food, waterand energy.Soil erosion preservation using Swells anddams.

Inhabitants: 2 families & volunteers.Location: Yatir, South.Contact: Noam Oren - [email protected]: http://yatirherbs.com/

Vertigopermaculture project

ecovillage

VERTIGO Eco Art Village is a center for art andecology At its heart is the Vertigo DanceCompany, which founded the Village in orderto foster artistic creation engaged with theenvironment. As part of its environmental focus the Villagedevelops and disseminates information ongreen technologies such as water conservationsystems and sustainable energy sources. TheVillage aims to inspire socially conscious,creative sustainable living, and to connectparticipants from all walks of life, in Israel andabroad, to themselves, their creativity and theenvironment.

Inhabitants: 10 adulth 12 childrenWebsite: http://eco-artvillage.org/english/

Ecology and Peace center

Bustan Nof MeshutafEducational center

Located in the heart of the Galilee, the Bustanis a place for Jews and Arabs to learn aboutagriculture, ecology, and each other.Amiram and Tilda Goldin founded the Bustan in2009 as an initiative of the Omri Foundation, anNGO established in memory of their son, OmriGoldin, who was killed by terrorists in thesummer of 2002. Bustan Nof Meshutaf brings together people ofdifferent backgrounds in an accepting embrace,providing opportunities to learn in a sharedenvironment and to cultivate the land together.It is a place where nearby communities canmeet, a place where Jews and Arabs, secularand religious, young and old, may come inorder to heal and grow both individually andcollectively while caring for the land.Bustan Nof Meshutaf offers a range ofprograms, such as: Ecological workshops,Demonstrations of traditional agriculturalmethods and traditional crafts.

Website: http://nofmeshutaf.org/english/

African Hebrew Israeli ofJerusalem

Intentional community

establish

American black community finds spiritual homein the Negev. The African Hebrew Israelites arethe followers of Ben Ammi Ben Israel.

The group The group maintains a vegan dietand grow much of their own food. particularlyactive throughout Africa.

Inhabitants: 5000 members.

Location: Dimona, South.

Website: http://africanhebrewisraelitesofjerusalem.com/

Partners

Transition israel

A national project for the development of thetransition movement in Israel, by raisingawareness and supporting local activists.Synchronizing with the global network.Strengthening the community resilience andlocal activities to address various globalchanges.

Website: http://transitiontivon.org.il/

Dror Israel

The Dror Israel movement is a pioneer Zionistmovement of educators that work in all sectorsof society to strengthen faith in man and actionin society and to actualize the values ofequality, social alliance and social responsibilityin everyday reality.The movement is composed of alliances ofindividuals and communal groups aiming toadvance Israeli society through generaleducation and friendly interpersonalcommunication.

Website: http://www.drorisrael.org.il/english/?page_id=15

The group circle

A federation of groups, urban kibbutzim andcommunities based on socialist cooperative.This organization is a broad platform for therealization of the cooperative idea. The groupsdifferent from each other ways of life .Thegroups working to create a partnershipculturally, socially, economically and politically.The groups operating centers for communitysustainability in cities.

Website: http://shituf.org.il /

Others

Shomri HaganEducational Project

Established

150 groups of children and youth learning on aweekly base how to connect to the earth, thespirit and themselves, using hunter / gathererskills.

Location: All of israelContact: Eran Bar-On -

[email protected]: www.shomreihagan.org/

Community on Wheels

Nomadic community of pepal living in motorhomes.

Website: www.facebook.com/groups/460783537341425

BayadaimVirtual community

Solution library and DIY and DIT (Do ittogether) site that provide guides forindependent life style.The site is supported by community ofresearchers and developers.

Website: http://www.bayadaim.org.il/category/instructubles/

Personal Project

Old Craft Traditional cultural project

Yonit crystal - Study and conservation of traditionalcrafts. Research and study of traditional crafts from oldpeople who practiced the craft in the past, Thisincludes searching for those who candemonstrate and teach their craft, fulldocumentation of the work including social andenvironmental aspects, and transferring theknowledge to younger generations. מלאכות traditional The traditional crafts where basedon local materials without using any fuel orpolluting energy to create most of humanneeds.

Website: www.old-crafts.co.il

Bio-Dynamic BeehivesUrban Project

Under construction

Initiating the return of the honeybee to theworld through the creation of an ecological andsustainable system within a social-environmental activity with highly globalimportance. In the core of this activity lies theestablishment of bio-dynamic beehivesthroughout Israel. This venture will encouragecreating a bridge between people, nations andreligions and will cultivate new income sources.

Website: http://www.yossiaud.co.il

Permador – Dor Havkin

Certified permaculture consultant by theBrisbane Permaculture institute, Australia, andanenvironmental implementation consultant.Builder of grey water recycling systems, work inIsrael and Africa.The Project is Series of manuals which simplifyknowledge and abilities and make it accessibleto the level of hands on practice. In the Issuesof water usage, runoff harvesting, agriculture,food production, appropriate technologies. All inthe lines of permaculture for leveraging urbanCommunities and especially rural Communities.

Initiative

The Ecological house in Neve-Eitan

Under construction

development of alternative life sportingtechnology combining comunity living andpractes of sustainebilty the project isdevoloping bicycle trailers rocket stoves,compost toilets ,constructures from naturalmatrials (canes ,palms ,earth) and mostimportent of all living with other pepole(comune)

Etz BaKibutz Bror HailPermaculture Project

Initiative

Workshops and classes about ecological aspectssuch as growing food, recycling and wastemanagment, introduction to local wildlife plantsand animals.

Aley Adamot Rural Project

Under construction

Based in the Judean Plains, Aley Adamot iscreated out of a vision to encourageharmonious life between humans, and betweenhumankind and the earth. We wish to supportthe fullness of life, combining spiritual teaching,meditation, art, ecology, nature and peace.

Location: Luzit, CenterContact: Yoav Aptowizer -

[email protected]: http://www.aleyadamot.com/