Yesterday Zalul took a trip up the coast to the Alexander River, Beit Yanai Beach, Gesher Tsavim (Turtle Bridge), and Kfar Veetkin. We had heard that this past weekend beachgoers had noticed dead fish, as well as other reasons to cast suspicion that there could be problems with the water in the area of Beit Yanai Beach, where the Alexander River meets the Mediterranean Sea.

However, on our tiyul the Mediterranean didn’t appear to have any dead fish, murky water color, or strange odors. People were out kitesurfing as usual and the sea looked as it normally does. Nevertheless, the Alexander River was not looking its best.

It is not clear what the quality of the water is. Check out the pictures to see how it looks to you.

The project “Creating a Clean Sea” is a partnership project between Billabong Surf Clothing Company and Zalul Environmental Association. Together we are raising awareness for the environment, specifically the need to protect the seas and rivers of Israel from polluters.

During the past few months, over 40 blank white Billabong board shorts were sent to some of Israel’s most famous celebrities, singers, and artists who, using their unique creativity, “gave life” to the shorts.

The project’s culmination is a special exhibition of the artists’ creations, with an audio-video presentation on the subject of protecting the marine environment.

As part of the exhibition, the shorts will be available for purchase in a silent auction as well as online. All profits will go towards Zalul’s campaign to protect Israel’s Mediterranean coastline from land-based pollution.

The exhibition is open to the public!

Come view the fruits of creation by some of Israel’s best artists and biggest celebrities

Saturday, May 17, 2008

10:00 – 17:00

Rehov HaNamal 26, Yaffo

Click here to view the full collection.

For more information on purchasing shorts as a donation to Zalul, please contact: info@bhaus.co.il

A sample of the artists involved:

Gila Almagor, Uri Lipshitz, Asi Dayan, Ayelet Zorer, Ram Oren, Eli Phinish, Eyal Kitzis, Limor Goldstein, Yael Goldman, Tovale, Galit Levi, Naama Hasin, Naama Kasar from “Survivor”, Noam Toor from “Survivor”, Israel Aharoni, Nir Tzuk, Yaron Castenbaum, JIN G, KNOW HOPE, Shlomi Bracha (Mashina), Shaanan Street (Hadag Nahash), and Bar Rafaeli.

Last Thursday afternoon the Hillel Day School came all the way from Detroit to join us in Acco. Even though they had only arrived in Israel the previous day, they jumped right into their tikkun olam on the Agaman Beach.

As the day cooled off all 40 students began walking down the beach armed with their own trash bags and plenty of trash to fill each one. Everyone’s spirits were high as they saw that their help was truly needed to collect the trash other people had left behind.

Some brave students took on a shopping cart buried at the edge of the tide, to add to the pile of garbage for the municipality to pick up. A few fellow beachgoers even lent their help picking up the huge amount of rubbish just sitting in the sand. All in all over 70 bags of trash were collected!

All the students left the beach with stickers and ready to continue to see the rest of Israel. Have a great trip and thanks for all your hard work!

This past Friday morning, Zalul staff and sea enthusiasts gathered at the Tel Aviv Marina for an informational meeting about The Blue Watch (הסיירת הכחולה) and ways they can get involved in protecting the Mediterranean.

Speaking at the event were Zalul’s Executive Director Yariv Abramovich, Blue Watch volunteer extraordinare Micki Gotschalk, and Tel Aviv Marina Manager Ofer Duvnov - all of whom stressed the important contribution of Blue Watch members make defending the Mediterranean Sea from pollution and illegal dumping.

Micki!

Micki Gotschalk spoke passionately about the power of a camera for documenting pollution as well as scaring off potential polluters and urged Blue Watchers to take their cameras with them on every trip to the marina and out to sea.

As as an accomplished sailor, Micki told a story about a visit to Turkey and the types of fines imposed upon those who dare to pollute into the sea. Ofer Duvnov highlighted the power of individuals and called for everyone to remove at least one plastic bag from the sea each day.

It was inspiring to see event attendees stand up with their children and call for more action to be taken at the marina. We look forward to working with them all in future Blue Watch projects. Together we can protect our sea from pollution!

If you are interested in learning more about the Blue Watch, please contact Gital Gerbi at Gital@zalul.org.il.

We received this from the UNMEP/MAP Mediterranean Action Plan Office today announcing that as of May 1, 2009, ships will no longer be allowed to dump waste into the Mediterranean Sea.

Consequently, for all ships, as of 1st May 2009, disposal into the Mediterranean Sea of the following is prohibited: all plastics, including but not limited to synthetic ropes, synthetic fishing nets and plastic garbage bags; and all other garbage, including paper products, rags, glass metal, bottles, crockery, dunnage, lining and packing materials.

The adoption of the resolution follows the notification at the same MEPC session by Albania, Algeria, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey, representing States bordering the Mediterranean Sea special area, that adequate reception facilities for garbage are provided in all the relevant ports within the region.

We’re happy to see this decision being made, but are curious as to how it will be enforced.  In any case, it’s about time!