To Till and to Tend

Last week I attended the spirited, intense National Havurah Institute in New Hampshire.  Not having participated for over a decade I noted with pleasure the many ecologically smart "minhagim", or customs, which have evolved.  FairTrade coffee, as much local produce as possible, minimal disposables and encouragement to bring your own coffee mugs and even name tags.  At check out, many items were collected for reuse, such as the key necklaces for our dorm rooms.  And there was a book and clothing swap - all kinds of Judaica changed hands and found new homes.
So, I thought, why not do this all year, people offering their surplus Judaica - basically a national Jewish
Freecycle ^(TM)?  (I am more aware of this than usual, having just helped a friend with a large Judaica library & resource collection downsize from six bedrooms to a small apartment.)  But it strikes me that COEJL should be the umbrella, and invite participation from the whole Jewish community: organizations, schools, congregations, as well as individuals.
It could function both nationally and locally.  People/organizations can post items they want to pass along, from an individual spice box, say, to a whole set of old chumashim or prayerbooks.  Likewise, you can post what you're seeking, so others who may have some can offer them up.  (This is already done through the Reform and Conservative rabbinical associations, by the way.)  Perhaps folks in Long Island are looking for 12 tablecloths for a bar mitzvah Shabbat dinner; maybe someone in their vicinity would have them to loan or pass along.  Need 50 kipot?  Maybe there are leftovers from a General Assembly, and all they need are new labels....  Maybe surplus Kosher food could be shipped out?  On our local Freecycle (of which I am one of the moderators), people have asked for or given away matzah boxes during Passover, offered Hebrew novels from the 1960's (4 takers on that one!), and a Judaica "starter kit" which I put together, consisting of my early Judaica, eventually replaced by newer, more lavish items.  The couple who came for the starter set were delighted, and I'm sure there would be a lot of enthusiaism for acquiring a Judaica collection in such a fashion - free after paying shipping.
Anyone out there with some data base/ computer skills interested in helping us think this through?  We're envisioning a simply graphic look, a la Craig's list.  Ideas for names?  Volunteers?  Chime in, so we can proceed on this project, which will lower the cost, as well as the waste and duplication,  and increase the sustainability, of Jewish life.

Wondering where the new, trendy vacation spot of summer 2008 is? Your backyard!

 

As the end of the summer draws near and kids are home from camp, many families and individuals alike are looking to vacation close to home. There has been a new rise in staycations –vacations in which you stay at or close to home. With so many reasons - rising gas prices, a shaky economy, or plane frustration (pun intended) many are taking advantage of all their local areas have to offer.

 

Adults take off from work, and relax at home. Kids camp out in the backyard or traverse local campgrounds.  Couples are visiting the regional spas or resort areas. Wherever you live, there are adventures to be found around the corner: go visit museums, historic sites, beaches, forests, parks, zoos and my favorite – the local tourist traps that you try to avoid every other day of the year.

 

What many Americans don’t realize is their staycation is not only an economical vacation but an eco-friendly one as well. A cross country flight from New York to L.A. can add 8,000 lbs. of CO₂ into the atmosphere – one way! Even with possible extra car-miles, by staying close to home you can dramatically reduce potential carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere.  Eating out is a big part of vacation, by staying close to home you can eat at local restaurants that cook with local ingredients. And with all the money you save from not having to buy a plane ticket you can afford to spend a couple of nights in a local green hotel.

 

As a proud Long Island resident, I recently staycationed to Orient Point, the most eastern tip of the northern fork. Along the way I saw the beautiful farms and wineries Long Island agriculture had to offer.  The local berries melted in my mouth, and the abundance of wine… (unfortunately not being of age, I could not fully enjoy the latter).  Explore and share with us what your hometown has to offer!

 

 

See what others had to say about this and get ideas on what you can do: Consumer Reports, Gristmill, MSNBC travel

When I was 12, I joined my friend for a daring swim in the beautiful, albeit jellyfish infested waters of the Mediterranean.  Back then, the Israeli coast would get an annual, two-week bout of jellyfish.  I wasn’t there long enough to wait it out, so my friend and I jumped in and were undeterred by the mild stings on our bodies.  Then, I had an encounter with a jellyfish that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy – it and I met as I dove under a wave.  It, and more importantly, its tentacles, hit my face, leaving a scar that lasted years.  (Fortunately, the family I was with knew not to pee on me.)  Though painful beyond words, it was a reality of sharing an ecosystem. 

But the tides have turned – more and more people are sharing my story.  And we have climate change to thank.

As mentioned in a recent NY Times article, “(jellyfish) are the cockroaches of the open waters.”  Jellyfish thrive in weakened environments.  Scientists say that, thanks to climate change and overfishing of jellyfish predators (like tuna), populations of jellyfish are proliferating.  Not only are beaches around the world closing, but the New York City Triathletes had to deal with (and one maybe died from) the stings of this maritime beast.

Jellyfish aren’t the only living creatures that are enjoying the CO₂ filled, warming planet that humans are creating.  Already, populations of poison ivy, superweeds and disease-carrying mosquitoes are increasing, yielding greater incidences of itchy children, resistant weeds and malaria.  I am lucky enough to be non-allergic to poison ivy’s oils (so far) and the organic “farm” on which I “work” has minimal weed problems.  Still, the spread of malaria scares me – more than half the world’s population lives in malaria infested regions – and you may have gathered that I don’t like jellyfish?

Each of us will undoubtedly feel the ramifications of climate change differently.  I am fortunate that I have few to mitigate.  Yet, the global poisons of climate change exceed the stings of jellyfish, and it is for those reasons we need to act.

Not a year since I registered to vote, I was called for jury duty.  Maybe because this was my first call or because I am still young and optimistic, I sincerely looked forward to being a part of our country’s democratic judicial process. I could not but help feel proud that I live in a country that values its citizens so that anyone, of any age, ethnicity, religion, or income-level can have the power to decide a judicial outcome.

So what happened to me in all my glory? I sat for several hours, was never called for an interview by the trial’s lawyers, and was released with the words, “Thank you for serving your duty. Don’t come back for at least eight years.”

Disappointed as I was, especially since I met people who couldn’t wait to leave, I accepted that there are many legitimate reasons why I was not called for an interview. At the same time, I felt unfulfilled as an American, whose sense of duty goes a little more than sitting around all day.

This got me to thinking about what comprises an American citizen’s national duty? If many of us still view the U.S. as “the world’s colossus, the indispensable power, the new Rome, the twenty-first-century empire…” (Sachs, 271), and believe deeply in justice and room for innovation, why is it that we rarely hear “I am an environmentalist because it is my duty as an American”?  Is it not yet understood that pursuing a safer planet for all is part of our American values and roles as citizens?

I have no doubt that there is a strong connection between possessing a Jewish identity that calls on me to be a steward of the Earth and having a strong Jewish-environmental movement, which work hand in hand to increasingly encourage and support my environmental actions.

The government asked me to serve my country by being a non-partisan arbiter of justice, and let me down. No wonder people go to jury duty with dread rather than excitement!   What I think Americans need is for our country to ask us to care for the planet and follow through particular programs and initiatives.  Then, we can all go about pursuing an American ethic of environmental responsibility with the pride I had felt when first entering the courthouse.

As I wrote in my last post ("Can Gore's Climate Proposal Take Flight"), former Vice President Al Gore has challenged the United States to transition to 100 percent carbon-free electricity in 10 years. This is an ambitious goal, to be sure. Some might argue that it's an impossible challenge. And certainly, as Dot Earth writes, it is an "intentionally super-sized" challenge. [Comment 6 to my previous approach agrees]

But Gore's challenge was not intended to be a rhetorical device. Rather it is a bold and intentional departure from conventional ways of viewing environmental problems. Gore challenged Americans to stop adopting "incremental proposals made up of small policies designed to avoid offending special interests" in favor of comprehensive and strategic plans. As a Jew, this paradigm shift resonates with me.

Years ago, I had a fascinating conversation with an observant woman. She explained the emergence of her commitment to Jewish law. For years, she dabbled with tradition – perhaps she lit Shabbat candles, but still drove to synagogue; she kept kosher at home, but would eat fish outside the house. But this "ad hoc" approach to Judaism left her exhausted and confused. Every day was filled with dozens of decisions: Could she eat leftovers on her home dishes? Could she drive to a friend's house for Shabbat dinner? Ironically, she discovered that her life became simpler and less stressful when she became more observant. Now, she no longer has to rationalize inconsistencies and take the time to navigate her faith.

Perhaps this woman's journey is a lesson for what we must do as a nation. Congress is paralyzed with short-sighted and microscopic decision-making. The House and Senate have tried for months to extend existing incentives for investment in renewables – with no success. Both the House and Senate have rejected bills that would have modestly reduced gas prices by curbing oil speculation. Some of our leaders are trying to chip away at gas prices by proposing to open protected areas to drilling. Each of these ideas is fraught with debate and controversy.

The answer to high gas prices and climate change cannot be found in any one of these proposals. Our nation demands a fundamental paradigm shift. We can stop funding despotic regimes and lower gas prices – and begin to solve climate change – by eliminating carbon-based fuels from our electricity grid.

Accepting such bold and sweeping measures is not new to the Jewish people. We accepted the Ten Commandments without amendment. We were not permitted to vote to honor our parents, but covet our neighbors. And, as my friend discovered years ago, such sweeping acceptance can be liberating. If our nation accepts Gore's challenge – and commits to a virtually carbon-free economy within 10 years – we will no longer have to debate the virtues of drawing oil from the strategic petroleum reserve or placing limits on speculation. And instead we can focus on solving the crisis before us.

Click here to see a digital remix of Gore's climate challenge.

While COEJL's mission is primarily North American, it's exciting to note all the buzz and activity in Israel around sustainable, renewable energy.  Israel is positioning itself as a high-tech center for all things solar, water conserving, energy efficient, and post-petroleum.  As I like to say, Israel's main natural resources are sun and engineer/entrepreneurs.
News about Shai Agassi's electric car initiative has been heard 'round the world, most recently reported on by Thomas Friedman.  Micro-irrigation is an Israeli invention grown into an industry, exported around the world.  Indeed, with the run-up in food prices, microirrigation is one of the technologies referenced to improve developing countries' food yields, and increasing food yields means increasing incomes for the world's hardworking subsistence farmers and their families.  Microloans are extended for drip irrigation. 
One of the most interesting projects I've learned about is through the Arava Institute, known to many COEJL supporters through its relationship with Hazon.  The Arava is located at Kibbutz Ketura and trains young environmental professionals from many different countries - their education involves not only the technical aspects of ecology and planning, but coexistence, since many of them hail from countries with cold or non-existent relations with Israel.  I learned much about its marvelous work when I cheered my husband David on the 2007 Hazon/Arava bike ride in Israel.  Two Arava alumni, Illana Meallum and Mazen Zuabi, are working together on designing a biodigester which will create biofuel out of "biomass" which, in the case of Israeli Bedouin villages, equals raw sewage.  Because Bedouins live in unincorporated villages, they have no formal plumbing infrastructure - so this technology, replicable once it's refined, will be a win-win: cleaning up sewage and creating a renewable source of fuel.
The list goes on and on, but the basic point is inspiring: Israel is indeed providing sustainably powered Light unto the Nations!

photo from Israelli.org

With baited breath, people around the world have been waiting for this week to arrive.  This Friday, representatives from 205 countries around the world will make their grand entrance into the Olympic Stadium.  But this year is not like all other years. Being that the 2008 summer Olympics will be held in Beijing, China, I am sure there will be extra fireworks, magical dragons and beautiful masks galore.  Being that the 2008 summer Olympics are being held in Beijing, China, some of the athletes will be wearing masks, too.  But these masks aren’t so beautiful, they’re functional.  By wearing the masks, athletes hope to keep their lungs clean of the heavy pollution and particulate matter that covers Beijing.

The International Olympic Committee knew that China’s pollution was a concern, but awarded the honor to China with the understanding that it (and issues like human rights and freedom of press) would be fixed.  Jacques Rogge, the president of the IOC, was even reported in the NY Times as saying he was confident the air would be clean because Chinese officials “are not going to let down the world.”  Meanwhile, China surpassed the US and took the gold for annual carbon dioxide emissions and China’s air and water continue to be one of the most polluted in the world.  Needless to say, since the IOC awarded China with the 2008 Olympics, little has been done to alleviate anyone’s concerns. 

So, with the Olympics nearing, China did what any nation might do: forcibly shut down nearby factories, discontinue construction and shove half the city’s cars off the road.  Though air quality did improve, it hasn’t been enough.  Now they’re attempting to alter the weather.

With the worlds’ eyes on China, solutions needed to be found and implemented years ago. But they started too late, pollution concerns remain, and China is being publicly embarrassed. 

The Olympics will come and go, but will the world learn the lesson?  Last year the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Sir Nicholas Stern and even some American politicians have said that we have until 2050 to reduce our carbon dioxide by 80%.  Like cleaning China’s air, such reductions in CO₂ emissions is an enormous challenge; and like China, if we wait too long it will be impossible to achieve.

Oil Energy Money supports our communal mission to combat climate change by engaging in the moral imperitive of Earth Stewardship.  As he says, "This is why, while politicians argue over the cost of climate change and who to bill, religious leaders can encourage grass roots environmentalism on a global scale."

"And I can do anything better than you!"

Ah, the thrill of competition.  In a capitalist society, such as ours, we constantly challenge ourselves to get ahead ofothers.  In the world of higher education, this is nothing new. Students and faculty alike strive to reach unbelievably high levels of intellectual and creative excellence.  Now, the competition is turning green.

Princeton Review, along with other publications like Grist Magazine, has anew college ranking category this year: the greenest colleges. According to a recent Princeton Review survey, 63% of 10,300 college applicants said a school’s environmental behavior could affect their decision to attend. Is it just me, or is that an impressive statistic?  This is a strong message to American schools because it saysthat our youth, like yours truly, want to develop as conscious, active citizens who care to protect the Earth.  Yet at a time when going green is ever popular, we need to carefully look beyond  mere lists of “top ten”sustainable schools and think about how a sense of competition actually affects the collegiate green scene.

I struggle with the concept of turning environmental stewardship into a contest. With so many lists out there displaying different schools and their actions, environmental “standards”suddenly become relative. Then students are left in the dark as to what actually should make a school green. As with many public competitions (like our elections perhaps?), exterior presentations are all too powerful influences. With colleges now racing to get their name on the “g” list, how do we know this isn’t a PR stunt?  After all, howcool does constructing LEED certified buildings or composting garbage sound to an 18-year-old comparedto planting trees or holding recycling contests?  It is important that colleges not get away with advertising environmental appeal over taking little of the actual, difficult actions that define sustainable development to back it up. 

Then again, while environmental competition can turn shallow with schools making minimal effort to get their name on a list, it can have significant results.   In economic terms, as demand for real environmental action increases, supply, must inevitably increase too. Looking at the lists some more, we can see just how responsive colleges are becoming to making environmental improvements. Some schools are really changing their infrastructure and lifestyles-and now they are rightfully being credited for it. Additionally, while a consensus on environmental standards to rate colleges are important, it is also vital to understand that each school must have the freedom to take initiatives based on its own unique opportunities and circumstances.

What I have left to say for all college applicants is, be smart and demanding consumers. Competition works only if it is regulated by an educated and active group of judges and if it leaves just enough wiggle room for innovation and individuality. Look at all the green school rankings out there only as introductions to your college search. Know what to look for as true signs of sustainability and environmental ethics and the diverse ways a college, your college, can go about fulfilling them.