The Council's French Chapter Reopens in Paris
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Newsletter 2008/9 SPECIAL FEATURES: 2008 New York Gala CBI Reopens French Chapter President Peres Bestows Yakir Awards Amb. Dan Kurtzer speaking at the AIEC New York Gala, 2008 (page 3) Executive Address 2008 Magshim Awards The Canaanite Gate (1,850 B.C.E) New Initiatives IDF Tender for Environmental Studies Gideon Patt honoring Zehava Dankner (page 7) The Council’s "Use One The Council’s French Chapter Reopens Plastic Bag Less" Campaign In 2008, the Council for a Beautiful Israel in Paris initiated a national campaign in central We are happy to announce the urban locations, aimed at minimizing reopening of the French chapter environmental damage caused by of the Council for a Beautiful Israel. overuse of plastic bags by industry and Mme. Vanessa Elia is the president. consumers. In Israel alone, two billion Israel's ambassador to France, Mr. plastic bags are given free of charge to Daniel Shek, will be hosting the the public each year. The life span of inauguration ceremony with a a plastic bag averages a mere twenty festive dinner at his Paris residence minutes, while disintegration takes Ilanit Levi displaying reusable and biodegradable bags at CBI's in March 2009. hundreds of years. main stand in Tel Aviv. 1 Dear Friends, 2008 marks a year of expansion at the Council for a Beautiful Israel. The Council has added educational programs as well as several physical projects, thus perpetuating the Council's mission. In 2008, we enjoyed major media exposure, the likes of which we had not encountered in the past. CBI'S established competitions continue to attract hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life, and we have come up with new initiatives, such as environmental campaigns to abolish harmful waste. We also won a prestigious tender for environmental education programs to the Israel Defense Forces. We deeply appreciate our warm welcome at the Gala Dinner in New York in September. We were encouraged by all those attending despite the bleak atmosphere in the city. It was a true demonstration of solidarity. The Council continues to gain international strength. Our French chapter, which has reopened after an eighteen- year interval, is already active and we wish it much success. We are undergoing leadership changes in our U.K. branch, and these will be announced shortly. We trust our steadfast, devoted British Friends to continue their important support of the Council. In 2009, the Council's parlor meetings in New York, will be hosted by Israel's Consul General, Mr. Assaf Shariv, with the participation of Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Professor Gabriella Shalev. We wish to extend our appreciation to all our longstanding sponsors of the 2008 Album, which has again received very enthusiastic feedback. We believe they are all proud to be mentioned in what is now considered one of the most beautiful art books published in Israel. We promise to continue with ever-exciting themes in our next productions. The Council is synonymous with leadership in community and national environmental care. Its activity is felt all over Israel, including areas under fire, like Sderot. Indeed, we can accomplish our work only with the backing you provide, and we thank you all for your steadfast, sincere commitment to the Council and its goals. Sincerely, Avraham Katz-Oz Gideon Patt CBI Chairman CBI President 2 Newsletter 2008/9 2008 New York Gala The Council for a Beautiful Israel was represented by all its Dr. Dan Kurtzer, former U.S. executives at The American-Israel Environmental Council's ambassador to Israel and (AIEC) gala dinner at the Plaza Hotel, New York, in September now Visiting Professor in 2008. In spite of the financial crisis that had begun to affect Middle East Policy Studies at the atmosphere in the city, the AIEC managed to fill the Princeton University, delivered Plaza's ballroom with its longstanding, dedicated friends, as an enlightening keynote well as with new ones. The dinner was co-chaired by S. Daniel speech to an enchanted Abraham, Richard Hirsch and Mel Atlas. The heads of the Israeli audience. He recounted his personal experiences of the Council received an especially warm welcome. political map of the Middle East and of Israel’s position on it. Israel's newly appointed ambassador to the United Nations, Gideon Patt, president of the Council for a Beautiful Israel, Professor Gabriella Shalev, and former U.S. ambassador to spoke on behalf of the Council, expressing its gratitude for the Israel, Dr. Dan Kurtzer, were speakers. AIEC President Sheila American Friends' continued support of current major projects, Kurtzer was mistress of ceremony. including the upcoming Center in Jerusalem and the parks in Kiryat Shmona and Be'er Sheva. The Council's 40 years of achievements for the benefit of the environment and of the people of Israel were commended by Professor Gabriella Shalev, who came straight from the From Left: Amb. Gabriella Shalev; Sheila and Amb. Dan Kurtzer (on right); opening ceremony of the UN General Assembly, where the Zita Rosenthal (second from left); Gideon Patt speaking at the Gala; CBI importance of joint global activity to protect the environment Executives with Amb. Dan Kutzer was stressed. Newsletter 2008/9 3 Yakir Awards The Council for a Beautiful Israel's highest honor, the Yakir Award, is presented by the President of Israel at the President's residence, to individuals for their outstanding vision, leadership, and continuous support for the goals of the Council. David Lewis, CBE David Azrieli The Council for a Beautiful Israel is proud to bestow the Yakir The Council for a Beautiful Israel is honoring David Azrieli with Award upon David Lewis, one of its main pillars of support in the Yakir Award as a tribute to his longstanding sponsorship of England. His steadfast backing has been instrumental in the its mission. He initiated and continues to sponsor the Council’s success of the Council's ventures. annual Azrieli Prize for Urban Planning, designed to encourage architects and urban planners to develop creative, innovative The Lewis' family company is one of the most significant urban projects appropriate for Israeli society, environment, and private companies in Britain. In 1995 David Lewis received the culture. title of CBE, Commander of the British Empire, from Queen Elizabeth II of England. David Azrieli, a noted architect and entrepreneur in Israel and Canada, is the recipient of the Order of Canada, the country's David Lewis’ involvement with Israel began in 1973, highest civilian honor. He is a Knight of the National Order of immediately after the Yom Kippur War, when he and his family Quebec, one of the most prestigious honors of that province. established the Lewis National Rehabilitation Institute to help wounded IDF soldiers. David Azrieli's contribution to Israel is exemplified by his establishment of the first covered suburban shopping mall in In 1980, Gideon Patt, then Minister of Tourism, persuaded the country, an idea that inspired many other entrepreneurs. David Lewis to invest in Israel. He responded by founding He is also famous for the Azrieli Center's skyscraper trio, which Isrotel, a 5-star hotel chain, in Eilat, transforming the city into has transformed the Tel Aviv skyline. an international tourist attraction. 4 Newsletter 2008/9 2008/9 Magshim Awards The Council for a Beautiful Israel’s annual Magshim Awards, presented at the same time as the Yakir Awards at the President's Residence, are bestowed on public and private institutes, non-profit organizations, and individuals for outstanding contributions to the quality of urban life and environment in Israel, in the form of ecological projects, public gardening, urban planning, and other aesthetic environmental improvements. Sculptor Dani Karavan The City of Netanya The Council for a Beautiful Israel is proud to present the The 2008 Magshim award was awarded to the city of Netanya for Magshim Award to Israeli sculptor Dani Karavan for his lifelong its outstanding contribution to urban landscape development. contribution to public and environmental beauty. Its cultivated shore line, promenades, and parks, as well as its quality residential projects have made Netanya a jewel tourist Dani Karavan is renowned town, with artistic creations exhibited throughout. worldwide for his art, exemplifying Israeli scenery. He has created numerous environmental sculptures both in Israel and abroad, and his prizewinning creations are exhibited in the most important galleries around the globe. The Bedouin Village of Drijat The International Birding & he Magshim Award for itsא The village of Drijat received unprecedented initiative: the installation of a multipurpose Research Center in Eilat solar electricity system, providing power to the entire village. The Center received the 2008 Magshim Award for its innovative Drijat, founded in 1860 and formally recognized in 2004, is ecological activity and educational environmental enterprises. located northeast of Be'er Sheva. The village has 900 residents, Located north of among them many professionals in the fields of medicine, Eilat on recycled law, education, pharmacy and tourism – an example for a land, it serves as a prosperous Bedouin village. “refueling” station for migrant birds, enabling them to complete their seasonal journeys. In addition, it annually provides special education to some 60,000 children with behavioral and concentration problems. Many of these children improve and can eventually join the army. Newsletter 2008/9 5 New Initiatives CBI Initiates "Environmental Treaty" Prior to Israel’s municipal elections, in November 2008, the Council for a Beautiful Israel and the Union of Local Authorities in Israel collaborated, for the first time ever, in formulating a “Contract with the Environment”, committing prospective local authority leaders to safeguard and improve the environment and the quality of life of their constituents. The treaty is designed to actualize the right of every person to live in a healthy, beautiful environment.