Arava Institute for Environmental Studies Sends a Message of Peace During U.S. Trip
Posted on: Monday, 10 September 2007, 18:00 CDT
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Jordanian, Palestinian, and Israeli alumni of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies (http://www.arava.org/) collaborated on a workshop at the UN in New York this week at the 60th Annual DPI/NGO Conference on Climate Change. Invited by the Hadassh organization, the three young Middle Eastern environmental leaders focused on "Water and Security," one of the pressing environmental challenges facing their region.
The Arava Institute 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. The three panelists; Suleiman Halasah, a Jordanian, Danna El Rassas, a Palestinian and While Roey Angel, an Israeli were joined by Rabbi Michael Cohen, the Director of Special Projects along with Dr. Clive Lipchin, the Director of Research at the Arava Institute. The panelists spoke about the Jordan River watershed as a trans-boundary system that is being overexploited, and that the effects of climate change will exacerbate this situation and could lead to security-related concerns. In the absence of a jointly-accepted, integrated water resources management plan, they said, water security is likely to worsen. They discussed what elements are necessary for the implementation of a joint water commission that could be put in place to meet the threats posed by climate change and that could operate despite the political animosity in the region.
The panelists also traveled to Washington, DC where they met with Jordanian Ambassador to the United States, His Royal Highness Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein and discussed the numerous projects the Arava Institute has done with Jordan ranging from bio-diversity in the Arava Valley, Air Quality in Jordan, Palestine, and Israel, and joint research on the Dead Sea including the Red-Dead Canal. The Arava Institute is also working with the Jordan University of Science and Technology to complete more projects. Moreover, since the doors of the Arava Institute opened in 1996 one quarter of the undergraduate and graduate student body has been Jordanian. "What the Arava Institute's work demonstrates is that peace is not a mirage in the Middle East. It is attainable, workable and when given a chance successful. Jordan commends the Arava institute for its efforts to bring Jordanians, Palestinian and Israelis together to take the initiative to save the environment in the pursuit of peace and prosperity in the region," said the Ambassador.
About the panelists: Suleiman Halasah is doing research to bring solar power en mass to both the Jordanian and Israeli sides of the Arava Valley. Danna Rassas is the Strategic Director for Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information. While Roey Angel just completed work on a joint Palestinian-Israeli River Restoration project.
Arava Institute
CONTACT: Rabbi Michael Cohen ofAravaInstitute, +1-802-362-2432
Web Site: http://www.arava.org/http://www.friendsofarava.org/
Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire
Related Articles
- Antisoma and The Institute of Cancer Research to Collaborate on Novel Approach to Cancer Treatment
- Burnham Institute for Medical Research Appoints Andrea Moser As Vice President, Communications
- Burnham Institute for Medical Research to Establish Major Research Facility in Orlando, Florida
- GSK Licenses Cancer Antigen Portfolio From Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
- Burnham Institute for Medical Research Announces Management Appointments
- Baylor Institute for Immunology Research Reports Success in Treating Children With Juvenile Arthritis
- Blaustein Institute for Desert Research Selects SGI for Study of the Impact of Human Activities on Habitat Destruction
- Top Environmental Official Killed in Russia's Volga Region
- Rethinking the Vision for Environmental Research in US Agriculture
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds