I’m told that sometimes I write about
Israeli hi-tech devices and innovations so complex that they are “over the
heads” of some of my readers. This week, however, I’ve come down to earth, so
to speak, to highlight some of Israel’s natural remedies and activities that
benefit humanity by making best use of the natural environment.
Sufferers of some chronic conditions could
receive some relief from recent Israeli discoveries. Asthmatics
should check their Vitamin D levels, as those deficient in the vitamin are 25
percent more likely to have an asthmatic attack than those with normal
levels. Israeli researchers have found
that diabetics
could benefit from drinking whey
protein half-an-hour before breakfast to prevent blood sugar spikes and
better manage the disease. Meanwhile,
scientists at Israel’s GlassesOff
have developed a series of exercises for improving
near vision sharpness, by enhancing the image processing function in
the visual cortex of the brain. After
2-3 months of training you should be able to send your old reading glasses for
recycling.
Israeli agro-technology is working with
nature to help feed a hungry world.
Farmers at Ein Yahav have cut
pesticide use by 80% thanks to the natural insect predators supplied by
Israel’s “Beauty of Vegetables”. In the
USA, Israeli agricultural innovation has been adopted in Virginia
and California
to boost productivity. In Israel, Salt
of the Earth has announced that it is the first Israeli globally-sustainable
company – one of only 36 worldwide to pass the Global
Reporting Initiative (GRI) materiality matters check.
Here’s an intriguing variation of Israel’s
kibbutz / moshav concept. The Arab-Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment and
Cooperation has launched the Mara'i Sheep Breeders Cooperative - the world’s
first Arab Bedouin cooperative.
Meanwhile, Israel’s food bank network Leket Israel has tripled its
donations and reduced natural wastage by the introduction of its Virtual
Food Rescue site. Donors can fill up a digital shopping bag with
necessities that are then converted to physical baskets and sent to families in
need. Staying with the food chain,
students at Israel’s Technion are developing the “Safie”
– a biological system that detects very low concentrations of bacteria, unsafe
chemicals, toxins, hormones and allergens in food and water.
Israel is working constantly to reduce the
amount of fossil fuel used to produce electricity. Israel’s largest solar energy field – the Timna
Solar Park - has just gone out to tender. Overseas in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Israel’s
Innovation: Africa is teaming up with NBA All-Stars to bring solar power to a
hospital in Kinshasa. It will
help tens of thousands who currently don’t have access to decent medical care.
One technical item - Israeli start-up SolarOr has developed Building-Integrated
Photovoltaic (BIPV)
panels that convert Direct Current trapped in a building into AC energy
that can be used locally or sold back to the electric company.
Appropriately, Israel is one of the few
places in the world where you can study for a “green”
MBA. Haifa University’s new MBA
program focuses on the subject of Sustainable Business Management. However the advantage of Tel Aviv
University’s Environmental
Masters courses is that you will receive your MA or MSc at a ceremony
in the brand new Porter School of Environmental Studies Building.
In comparison to most Middle Eastern
countries, Israel protects its wildlife, whether in the air, sea or dry land.
Israel has just celebrated “International Bat Night” by conducting lectures and
tours about the 33
species of bats that reside in the Land. Down on Israeli beaches, newborn
sea turtles are starting to make their way "home," to the
sea, along pathways cleared by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. And for the first time in 20 years, Ramat
Gan Safari has seen the birth of a female
baby white rhino. Once thought
to be extinct, the baby rhino will now stay in Israel to hopefully become a
mother to more baby rhinos.
Looking after the environment also includes
helping it recover from disasters, whether natural or man-made. Workers from the Israel Forum for
International Humanitarian Aid (IsraAid), spent two weeks helping clean up
after the destruction from the single biggest
wildfire in the US State of Washington’s history. Cleaning up the planet also includes space
debris. Israeli start-up
Effective Space Solutions (ESS) is developing a micro-satellite “tugboat” to
maneuver communications satellites that fail to get into their correct
orbit. It will also be able to take
satellites into a safe “graveyard” orbit at the end of their life.
Finally, Israeli farmers may be making the
desert bloom, but every 7 years is called a “Shmita” year, when the Land of
Israel needs to rest. So for orthodox
farmers like Shoshana and Yoni Rappeport the period prior to the upcoming
Jewish New Year is a very busy time at their Argan
tree plantation.
Israel’s supporters can look forward to a
better environment for everyone; or as the Fountainheads sang at the recent
“Salute to Olim” Festival in Jerusalem “Yom Yavo” (a day will come).
Michael Ordman writes a free weekly
newsletter containing positive news stories about Israel.
For a free subscription, email a request to
michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
