The Environment as a Catalyst for Peace
in the Middle East
A presentation by Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian
alumni of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
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Monday, September 24, 2007
UMass Amherst
Free and open to the public
The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
is the premier environmental teaching and research
program in the Middle East, preparing future Arab and Jewish leaders to cooperatively
solve the region's environmental challenges while learning peace-building skills, based on the belief that nature (and environmental problems) knows no political borders.
Panelists:
Jennifer Golding, an Israeli ecological architect who has studied the passive cooling and heating of a desert building (a geodesic dome built with straw bales and coated with mud).
Amer Sweity, a Muslim Jordanian with Palestinian roots, who interned with Friends of the Earth and the Middle East Environmental Futures Project. He plans to study desert ground water hydrology while pursuing a Master's degree at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Samer Eid, a Palestinian from Ramallah, who is studying comparative air pollution levels in East and West Jerusalem as part of his graduate work at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. [Unfortunately Mr. Eid was unable to get a visa to enter the U.S. and consequently did not appear on the panel.]
Rabbi Michael Cohen spoke on behalf of the Arava Institute.
Sponsored by:
Office of Jewish Affairs (UMass Amherst)
Brit Tzedek v'Shalom: Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace
Beit Ahavah (Reform Synagogue of Greater Northampton)
For more information
Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
CNN interview with Arava alumni Ilana Meallem and Mutassim Abu el Hawa (12/9/07)
Download poster (PDF)
