Yesterday Zalul attended the World Bank public hearing on the Red Sea-Dead Sea Conveyance Feasibility Study (also known as the “conduit” and “canal”). The study, which is scheduled to begin this December, will last two years - at the end of which the World Bank will determine whether or not such a project is truly feasible.

The atmosphere was buzzing as Uri Shani, head of Israel’s Water Authority, introduced the two World Bank consultants, Dr. Steven Lintner and Dr. Alex McPhail. The introductory remarks were given by Dr. Lintner and then the speakers took their turns. All in all, over 20 people spoke (Including Knesset Member Dov Kheinin, Chairman of Life and the Environment Dr. Dani Rabinowitz, a former employee of the Ministry of Tourism, a representative from the Dead Sea Works and many others) and all of them demanded that alternative solutions be considered. Heavy emphasis was placed on reviving the Jordan River as an option.

Interested parties have until September 2nd, 2007 to submit their written statements about the feasibility study.

You can submit your statements by email to amcphail@worldbank.org or by fax to 1-202-473-8249.

Visit the World Bank website to learn more about the study: www.worldbank.org/rds

Baker Hasan Barakat, Shaul Aviel, and Dr. Safwan Fawzi examine a barn owl, a symbol of cross-cultural cooperation across the Jordan River after Israeli farmers told Jordanians how they used the birds to ward off crop-destroying rats. - AP

• Jerusalem Post: Knesset declares ‘Environment Day’
• Haaretz: Study: ‘Green’ education at schools is in poor shape
• Haaretz: Poisonous fumes threaten building plans in Dan region
• USA Today: Owls unite Middle Eastern farmers

Guangzhou, China Mayor Zhang Guangning isn’t the only mayor taking leaps into polluted rivers these days.

Friends of the Earth Middle East held “The Big Jump” this Sunday at the junction of the Yarmouk and Jordan rivers. Read more about it here - Hebrew or English.

Hot off the presses:

• Environment Ministry threatens to slap fines on beach polluters – This article from The Jerusalem Post discusses the Ministry of the Environment’s new campaign for clean beaches. Here’s to hoping it will make a difference!
• Global Agenda: Water way to wealth - Another Jerusalem Post article, this time discussing the world’s newfound interest in water investment and Israel’s role in the water technology sector.

And from our neighbors to the east:

• Jordan River among world’s 100 most endangered sites - The Jordan Times writes about how the world’s most esteemed river is turning into a sewage pipeline and what Friends of the Earth Middle East is trying to do about it. Some highlights…

According to Friends of the Earth Middle East, a regional environmental organisation of Israelis, Jordanians and Palestinians, poor regional water management has led to the complete demise of one of the world’s most famous rivers…

According to the organisation, “90 per cent of the river’s natural flow has been diverted by Israel, Jordan and Syria for domestic and agricultural use, with sewage flowing in its place. The region’s current policies treat the river as a backyard dumping ground.” …

The environmental organisation now hopes the inclusion of the river on the World Monuments Fund’s 100 most endangered sites will spur regional states into taking action.

After all our work to save the coral reefs in the Gulf of Eilat, this article caught our eye.

In the past Zalul has worked with Jordanian groups on preserving the coral reef in the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba, in the future we hope that there will be more partnerships. After all, when you share a body of water, each country’s garbage affects the other. And Aqaba is definitely not alone when it comes to having to deal with trash left on the beach.

Read on to see how things are going on the other side of the border…

From The Jordan Times. Monday, June 4, 2007.

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