Shlomo Shoham Future Intelligence Shlomo Shoham Future Intelligence Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data is available on the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de. ã 2010 Verlag Bertelsmann Stiftung, Gütersloh Responsible: Andreas Esche Production editor: Sabine Reimann Managing editor: Barbara Serfozo, Berlin Copy editor: Josh Ward, Bonn Cover design: Nadine Human Cover photo: Tal Shani Typesetting and printing: Hans Kock Buch- und Offsetdruck GmbH, Bielefeld ISBN 978-3-86793-044-4 www.bertelsmann-stiftung.org/publications Contents Endorsements ................................................ 7 Acknowledgments and Dedication ............................. 9 Preface Bertelsmann Stiftung .................................. 13 Preface Shlomo Shoham ....................................... 15 Future Intelligence ............................................ 21 Assimilating Sustainability and Foresight into Public Administration ........................... 71 The Story of the Commission for Future Generations ........... 95 Fields of Action ............................................... 127 Education ................................................. 127 Health .................................................... 139 Environment .............................................. 163 Epilogue ...................................................... 185 References .................................................... 187 Appendix ..................................................... 191 The Author ................................................... 217 5 Endorsements From Reuven Rivlin Shlomo, my dear friend! Your book provokes admiration for the topic that you chose to share with your readers as well as for the book's thoroughness and original approach. I consider involvement in our future highly important and valu- able. Most ofus are stuck in day-to-day events and are hard-pressed to anticipate or plan even tomorrow's activities, never mind those on the truly distant horizon ... Your sincere concern for fashioning the future of the generations to come has an altruistic dimension ofa sort not foundhere and de- serves every sort ofpraise. You do so in the spirit ofthose on-target words ofthe well-known Jewish-Polish educator Janusz Korczak: ªThe one concerned with days, plants wheat; with years, plants trees; with generations, educates people.º I wish you great success in the blessed task that you have under- taken. Sincerely, Reuven Rivlin, MP Chairman ofthe Israeli Parliament (The Knesset) 7 From David Passig: The Commission for Future Generations was a kind of gateway to the cosmic continuum that opened for the extraordinary group, headed by Judge Shoham, linking Israeli society's present and past with its future. The opportunity that presented itself enabled us to spin a spe- cial, unified web of legislation that would give significance to our ex- istence in this region so ancient and saturated with history and crea- tive flowering. The threads were the laws that the Commission initiated or for which they composed a true behind-the-scenes coali- tion. But the creation was a sketch ofa mosaic ofthe futurein which our children will live and from which they will view us when the time will come ... The book in front of the reader is the key to other similar gateways. One who knows how to read it will be ableÐifonly he so wishesÐto open new gates for anything he desires, gates that will enable many cultures to connect their past with their future with clear links and values that they acquire from the eternality of the cosmos. Prof. David Passig, Futurist, Head of the Graduate Program in Infor- mation and Communication Technology and Head ofthe Virtual Reality Lab, Bar-Ilan University 8 Acknowledgments and Dedication First and foremost, I would like to express my thanks to my mother, Hedva Shoham, may her memory be a blessing, and to my father, Ye- huda Shoham, may he be granted a long life. In my writings on basic values and openheartedness, and in my writings on our obligation to future generations, my parents stand always before me as the ones who imprinted my soul. Special thanks go to my wife, Orit, who has walked alongside me on the way these many years. To my children and grandchildren and to the children ofthe universe, I dedicate this book. Exceptional thanks are reserved for the late Minister of Justice and Member of the Knesset Yosef Tommy Lapid for successfully looking far ahead and committing to our future. The Commission for Future Generations in the Knesset is entirely the fruit of his vision. There are many excellent members ofthe Knesset and government ministers who had a deep understanding ofthe significance ofthe Commission for Future Generations and helped to empower it within parliament. To all ofthem, I extend a big thank you. I will mention the few who stand out in my mind at this moment and ask forgiveness of the many others: Knesset Chair ªRubyº Reuven Rivlin, a close friend and a man oftruth, former Members ofthe Knesset and Ministers Shaul Yahalom and Eliezer ªMoodiº Sandberg, Ministers Raleb Maja- dele and Gideon Ezra, Members ofthe Knesset Omri Sharon, Lea Nass, Dov Khenin, Michael Melchior and Yuri Shtern, Z'L. From the bottom ofmy heart, I extend thanks to the staffofthe Commission for Future Generations, which accompanied our wan- 9 derings through the wilderness and helped to establish this unique body: Yonat Marraton, Adv. Nira Lamay, Adv. Vered Kiro, Iris Zur, Aviad Oren, Dotan Simchovitz, Ran Haklai, Dr. Shai Pintov and Li- lach Yaish. A special thanks goes to Professor David Passig, my methodology consultant for all my years of service in the Commission, who in- spired this book as well. I wish also to express my gratitude to all ofthe people who helped in the writing ofthis bookÐto Yonat Marraton, Dotan Simchovitz, Aviad Oren, Ran Haklai, Yael Mei-Ora and Keren Kolan. This book would not have been written ifit weren't forthe exceptional and bril- liant Johannes Meier, a close friend and a former member of the board ofthe Bertelsmann Stiftung, who supported, encouraged and, above all, helped me to put my ideas to the test ofreality and action. This is also the opportunity to thank the Bertelsmann Stiftung, its vice-chair, Liz Mohn, and her daughter, Brigitte Mohn, for the support that made possible the unhurried, relaxed writing ofthis book. I thank as well Mr. Vincent Menken, Ms. Anita Janzohn and Ms. Ingrid Eimer, who make up a wonderful, loving, supportive and esteemed team. I extend as well my heartfelt appreciation to Hadar Cohen, my faithful assistant, for her assistance in writing, her faith and for being who she is. Much praise is also in order for my supportive assistants, Adv. Meyrav Kenyon and Haya Mosak, and for Rochelle Treister, whose translations succeeded in capturing the feelings and the magic even in the transition to another language. Last but not least, I wish to thank Barbara Serfozo, the editor of this book, for facilitating a wonderful intellectual and emotional expe- rience with German-Jewish collaboration in letting go ofthe past and committing to the future. And, at the end of the day, I thank her for writing it down in a professional and readable way. This book is dedicated to my children, Benny, Moria, Ofra, Ori and Noa, To my grandchildren, Nitsan, Stav, Yael, Tamar, Smadar Hedva, Eyal, Inbar and Meshi, And to the children of the universe, 10 You who have come from the infinite And are en route to the infinite, Whose wings are spread wide, Whose essence is liberty, love and freedom, To the children of the universe, Which awaits youÐwith its mysteries As a beloved mother, Open to enclose, Yearning to expose its secrets, To the children of the universe, Who are born whole and full of light, Loved exactly as you are Tuned to play your unique melody in the world, To you this book is dedicated, Fruit of love. All that I ask, As sages of generations before me have asked, As the wisdom of the world asks, Open your hearts to know that there is in the world, a place ready and ripe to enfold you just as you are, Your dreams, Your passions, Your longings. Your arrival in this world and your existence in it is connected by its very being with the space to include you in your entirety, 11 With all the unique shades in your souls, With all of your strengths and uniqueness, Without your having to diminish yourselves an iota, Without your having to lessen your joy of life In order to conform to rules created out of fear ... The whole world is your playground, The entire universe awaits you, The cosmos blesses you, Welcome home. Shlomo Shoham, 2010 ª... the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts ofthings occur to help one that would never oth- erwise have occurred. A whole stream ofevents issues fromthe deci- sion, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.º William Hutchinson Murray The Scottish Himalayan Expedition, 1951 12 Preface Bertelsmann Stiftung In 2001, the Israeli Knesset took a radical step outside the short-term thinking processes too often endemic to parliamentary bodies by es- tablishing its Commission for Future Generations. Under the leader- ship of its first commissioner,