MAIN FEATURES NewsletterINTERNATIONAL 2010/11 YAKIR AND MAGSHIM 2010 SPECIAL EVENTS EDUCATION COMPETITIONS > Yakir Recepients 2010 > CBI’s Photo Exhibit of The Carmel Fire see the article on pages 4-5 see the article on page 15 BRANCHES FIRST GREEN AMBULANCE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINTS SPECIAL INITIATIVES > Fondation France Israel Partnership with CBI > Ecological Footprints see the article on page 3 see the article on page 7 Executive Address DearThis year, The friends, Council for a Beautiful Israel’s esteemed Yakir Award was conferred upon two Israeli and two Swiss, highly distinguished people. The awards ceremony at the President’s residence was an especially emotional and memorable event for the recipients, their families and friends in attendance. We honor and cherish our devoted friends, and are grateful for their continuous dedicated efforts to make CBI's vision a perpetual reality. With the alarming increase of global warming effects, The Council for a Beautiful Israel's mission is rising to the forefront of the public agenda. We are enjoying a stronger than ever affiliation with supporting friends both in Israel and abroad. This year our British and French friends are diligent and dedicated partners. We have also initiated activity in Geneva. The Paris dinner was a ”talk of the town” event and we hope to see similar successful events in London and in Geneva. The recent discovery of enormous gas reservoirs within Israel's territorial waters is a significant finding that may have far-reaching impacts in Israel. In light of these findings, the importance of decreasing harmful carbon monoxide gas emissions and of substantially curbing the use of heavy fuels is becoming more and more apparent. Accordingly, CBI has made a breakthrough into the corporate sector, and has managed to initiate an environmental education pilot with Israel Chemicals Ltd. Inspired by our mission of safeguarding the environment and instilling behavioral changes deemed crucial, this pilot may pave the way to additional collaborations. Israel, like every other place on the planet, is not immune to global warming. In the last seven years we have been experiencing continuous drought. The recent forest fire in the Carmel Mountain is a reminder of the devastating effects of such conditions. In view of this troubling phenomenon and in line with our teachings, we have prepared a unique study program calling upon the public to assume personal responsibility and involvement. Furthermore, we have assembled an exhibit of rare photographs from the Carmel fire for display and purchase. The first event will take place at CBI's Center in Tel Aviv. Thereafter the exhibit will travel to Paris, London and New York. All proceeds will go towards related educational ventures. As CBI continues to expand its scope of operations, we depend more and more on you, dear friends. We certainly couldn’t do it all without your support. You, our friends in need – are our friends indeed! Gideon Patt Avraham Katz-OZ CBI President CBI Chairman 2 FRANCE 2010 PARIS DINNER FONDATION FRANCE ISRAEL(FFI) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNCIL FOR A BEAUTIFUL ISRAEL International A most glamorous evening took place at the Paris residence of the new Ambassador of Israel to France, His Excellency Mr. Yossi Gal. The audience listened attentively to Ambassador Gal’s Amb.Yehuda Lancry, Nicole Guedj, Amb. Christophe Bigot, Avraham Katz Oz, Huguette Elhadad, Amb. Nissim Zvili, Dina Sorek interesting speech describing CBI's mission for the benefit of Israel and its citizens, and his appreciation of the French The inauguration ceremony of the partnership between Fondation France Israel and CBI took place in March, volunteer organization. highlighting environmental education as a platform for This special evening was also an occasion to introduce the strengthening France - Israel relations. president of Beautiful Israel France, Mrs. Claude Cohen Nicole Guedj, President of FFI dedicated the garden and the Committee. Thanks to Mrs. Cohen many media named in honor of this partnership, and together with personalities attended the event, and her esteemed guests the Ambassador of France to Israel, Mr. Christophe Bigot, were impressed by CBI's activities and achievements in unveiled the dedication stone. Israel. Participating dignitaries included former Israel ambassadors Mrs. Claude Cohen and her husband Armand are committed to France, Meir Rosenne, Yehudah Lancry, Avraham Sofer to intensifying the activities of the new friends of CBI in and Nissim Zvili. France, along with the active assistance of Ariel Goldman, Nicole Guedj, former Minister of Human Rights in France, Legal Counsel, Deborah Marciano, General Secretary and was extremely impressed by the presentations that were demonstrated with youth on-site. Gaelle Toledano, Treasurer. Guedj promised to do her best to promote this collaboration The new presidents of Beautiful Israel in London and in to the utmost benefit of both organizations. Geneva arrived especially for the occasion. Claude Cohen Claude Cohen is a popular and dynamic public figure. Until recently Claude Cohen was the Administrateur du Groupe TF1.Claude Cohen is ”Chevalier de l'ordre du Mérite” and ”Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur”. Claude is commited to working towards better environmental norms and backing CBI’s educational ventures. We all wish her great success. Nicole Guedj at CBI’s Headquarters in Tel Aviv LONDON SWITZERLAND Gordon Hausmann Marc Hassan Gordon Hausmann, LLB, an established Marc Hassan is the new President of Beautiful Israel Geneva. Marc is a young, successful businessman lawyer, is the new President of whose company, DBH Finance, deals primarily with real Beautiful Israel U.K. estate and finance. He is very enthusiastic about the In a recent visit to CBI’s headquarters opportunity to lead CBI's Swiss friends. in Israel, Gordon Hausmann expressed In a recent visit to CBI, Hassan expressed his support of CBI's goals and his motivation to promote them. great enthusiasm with what he saw, and his strong belief We all wish Marc Hassan success. in the mission of CBI, which he and his wife Ruth will do their best to support. We all wish them a fruitful mission. 3 Yakir Awards 2010 The Yakir Israel Yafa Award is bestowed annually by The Council for a Beautiful Israel to a leading philanthropist whose inspiring life story is intertwined with the destiny of the Jewish people both in Israel and abroad. The distinguished candidates have demonstrated their unstinted concern for the welfare of individual citizens and the community at large, and are dedicated to improving awareness of environmental issues and quality of life in Israel. The esteemed award - the organization’s highest honor - is presented to the recipient by the President of the State of Israel, at the President’s Residence. Display of Yakir 2010 Biographies in the Presidential Garden 4 YOSSI MAIMAN Yossi Maiman, Chairman of the Merhav Group of Companies, received the Yakir Award 2010 for his generous support of CBI’s environmental and community activities benefitting Israel’s citizens. Maiman has been highly instrumental in facilitating CBI’s environmental educational projects. The companies he heads invest great efforts and resources towards implementing CBI’s teachings on preserving and protecting the environment. Merhav is a leading force in the production of alternative energy as a means of safeguarding green energy and the environment. The group holds the Egyptian government’s concession to export natural gas to Israel, and is renowned for its improvement of water treatment and sewage systems. Yossi Maiman holds a graduate degree in economics (MA) from Cornell University, USA, and is Honorary Consul of Peru in Israel. He founded the Merhav Group of Companies 30 years ago, now based in Herzlia Pituach, with offices worldwide. Yossi Maiman – Yakir 2010 MICHAEL FEDERMANN Michael Federmann is the recipient of CBI’s Yakir Award for 2010, in appreciation of his contribution towards improving Israel’s image, and for his steadfast support of CBI’s mission to benefit the citizens of Israel. Michael Federmann has a degree in Economics and heads the Israeli conglomerate Federmann Enterprises, established by his late father and uncle. Federmann chairs the boards of the enterprise’s two largest publicly traded holdings: the highly respected defense electronics Elbit Systems plant, as well as the luxury Dan Hotels Corp. The Hotel Group began as a boarding house on the Tel Aviv sea front and has since expanded worldwide. Federmann is also deputy chairman of the board of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a board member of The Weizmann Institute of Science. Michael Federmann – Yakir 2010 HENRI KLEIN Henri Klein is the recipient of the 2010 Yakir. Born in Switzerland and raised in France, Klein lost most of his family in Auschwitz. He was saved by family friends and went on to lead a flourishing banking career that has enabled him to generously support philanthropic and ecological initiatives in Israel, primarily in the Negev. Henri Klein’s numerous philanthropic endeavors include support of the University in Eilat, the establishment of the beautiful museum in Ashdod, and generous investments in technological research companies. He also supports the Medical Clowns project, now adopted by most hospitals in Israel. Through Klein’s dedicated support, Kibbutz Neot Semadar was cultivated and the neighboring desert is now blooming year around. Henri Klein – Yakir 2010 5 Magshim Awards 2010 The Magshim Awards Ceremony is held every year, along with the Yakir Awards at the President’s Residence. The Magshim Awards are given to selected projects, either individual buildings or urban sites, which The Council for a Beautiful Israel has deemed outstanding in their service to the public and are exemplary models. A team of professionals from the related areas is appointed to choose the winning projects. RAMAT HANADIV Ramat Hanadiv is a unique place that blends rural environment with modern architecture and infrastructure.