Keren Neubach is angry. Not only did the government pass a drought “tax,” on water usage over a certain quantity, the water authority raised the price of water by 50% beginning in January. Yesterday Neubach invited three people to speak on her morning program on Reshet Bet about water policy. Neubach and MK Ronit Tirosh of Kadima claimed the tax was pushed through illegally, bundled with the bill on the state budget. The money doesn’t go toward infrastructure or anything connected to the water crisis, like desalination plants. It was blackmail. MK Yaakov Litzman of Agudath Yisrael complained about the effect of high water rates on poorer families. Even MKs whose grandchildren … [Read more...]
Chronicles of a Water Crisis: Litzman Sheds Crocodile Tears and MK Tirosh Advocates Civil Disobedience
October 30, 2009 by 8 Comments
More Water-Saving Suggestions
July 27, 2009 by 8 Comments
Many Israelis are distressed to realize that they will be paying a lot of tax on excess water, maybe several hundred shekel a month. In my last post on the water crisis in Israel, I asked readers for suggestions. I'm going to compile the replies here, and add a few comments of my own. The standard allocation for each family should be more than enough for a family's normal washing, cooking, and laundry needs. Every drop counts, and saving water saves you money on the water, the sewage, and wear and tear on your water heater even if it's solar. I doubt that a few long showers by teens would be enough to make a difference, but ever drop counts. If you are way over the limit I think that one … [Read more...]
Excess Water Usage: Can You Help This Reader Save?
July 6, 2009 by 28 Comments
Gidon Ariel left this comment on my post about the water tax: My bill is closer to 70 koob (cubic meters) for a family of seven for 2 months! (33 at 4 NIS, 14 at 5.5, and 24 at 7.9! Will the 20 NIS a cubic meter fine go on the last group only or also on the 5.5 NIS group?:-( And are we being charged properly, or is the water authority pulling our plug?) and you said you use 26 for the two months of Pesach . . . I saw your post about getting rid of our Maytag, and peeked at your Purim mask [with more water-saving suggestions], but can someone show me a way to cut my usage by two-thirds???? Well, if you have 5 children you should be getting an extra 6 cubic meters a month at the lowest … [Read more...]
Will Seeds Sprout in Microwaved Water? And My Son’s Surprise Experiment
March 5, 2009 by 12 Comments
I love to cook with my microwave. Sure, it's possible to manage without it, and there are better ways to defrost food. However, there are environmentally sound reasons for preferring it to conventional cooking: It only heats the moisture in food, so more energy is retained. Microwave cooking preserves nutrients in vegetables. And since many microwave utensils can go straight to the table and they scorch less, less water and detergent are needed for washing up. Because microwaves cook food using electromagnetic radiation, many people are afraid to use them. The FDA discusses the issue here. I'm not here to convince anyone to buy an electrical appliance they don't feel comfortable … [Read more...]
Petach Tikva’s Bat Cave
February 27, 2009 by 9 Comments
[My Purim basket Giveaway ends Monday, March 3.] Sometimes the urban environment is an ideal place for wild animals. Here's an example: In 2006, Petach Tikva's two hospitals merged to form the Rabin Medical Center. Since then, several new buildings have appeared at the Beilinson campus while the Hasharon campus, several kilometers away, lies stagnating. The health ministry originally planned to shut down Hasharon completely, but workers and residents protested and prevented the closure. Large departments in Hasharon, such as maternity, closed or moved to Beilinson but others, including orthopedics and internal medicine, exist in both places. Hasharon is viewed as a friendly, … [Read more...]
Environmental Dissidence
February 13, 2009 by 8 Comments
My son's school has been emphasizing the importance of the environment. He insists on bringing his sandwich in a reusable container and refuses a recycled bread bag. And a few months ago the school hosted an event on environmental topics, including making crafts with recycled items and a discussion of water in Judaism. Cardboard boxes, prepared by the municipality, were provided for each household to collect old paper. The box reads: "You recycled? You helped! In Petach Tikva we take responsibility for the environment." Petach Tikva, refreshingly, is first in the country for percentage of trash recycled. Yet the school exhibits some cognitive dissonance when it comes to the environment. … [Read more...]
Grabbing the Chapper: A Model of Israeli Tolerance and Cooperation
February 9, 2009 by Leave a Comment
With national elections around the corner it's easy to spot intolerance and discord among the Israeli population. Yet I recently discovered an unexpected model of coexistence and cooperation--the chapper. I used to take the bus to travel to Tel Aviv. I knew about the minivan companies that compete with the two major bus routes between Petach Tikva to Tel Aviv, but I hadn't been on one in years. There was something slightly disreputable about them--after all, chapper is Yiddish for grabber. I believe that these minivans have only recently become organized into companies and regulated. They are also known as sheruyot, plural for sherut. More than one new immigrant has mistakenly asked for … [Read more...]
Ten Things You May Not Need to Buy if You Breastfeed Your Baby
February 8, 2009 by Leave a Comment
This post originally appeared on Green Prophet, and is reprinted with permission. Click to view over 70 comments (Haloscan). A common misconception about breastfeeding and babies in general is that they require special equipment. But we already know on Green Prophet that a mom who buys less is by default acting in an environmentally-friendly way. So what are the essentials, and what aren't? This is your guide to making breastfeeding truly green. Products you don't buy, won't have to be manufactured, packaged, transported, cleaned, or disposed: 1. Formula. Parents are often advised to keep formula on hand "just in case." But they are more likely to offer formula to a newborn when … [Read more...]
Green links and the water shortage
January 25, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Super Raizy hosts Haveil Havalim: The Super-Hero Edition of the Jewish-Israeli blog carnival.Ilana-Davita hosts the "Green" edition of the Kosher Cooking Carnival.Speaking of green, I ask whether whether a traditional eastern European diet is "kosher" for your health on the Israeli environmental blog Green Prophet.This website points out the lack of Jewish chaplains in the American military and suggests ways to help, such as hosting military personnel within your community.And last but not least, a subject much on my mind but so depressing I have avoided writing much about it--Israel's drastic water shortage. Here's the money quote from Haaretz (emphasis mine):Committee chairman MK Ophir … [Read more...]
10 Misperceptions about Breastfeeding a Baby
January 11, 2009 by 11 Comments
Check out the newest post in my series on breastfeeding at the environmental blog Green Prophet:10 Common Misperceptions about Breastfeeding Your Baby … [Read more...]
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