“Good Deeds Day” goes global
What began with over 7,000 participants in Israel in 2007 has turned into a worldwide celebration with 160,000 do-gooders last year across the globe volunteering in everything from cleaning nature reserves and donating blood to reading to youth-at-risk.
A very special kibbutz
All members of Kibbutz Kishorit have been diagnosed with a mental or emotional challenge; some have a physical challenge as well. But the 150 members live much as those on any other kibbutz. They go to work, eat communal meals, and enjoy activities such as yoga and acting in plays. Each has an assigned social worker. (A VGNI first for this controversial site.)
That’s the way to do it
Israel’s Energy and Water Minister Uzi Landau is to chair a high-level intergovernmental session on Wastewater management at the 6th World Water Forum in Marseilles. If the UK representative listens to him, he may be able to prevent the hosepipe ban he announced earlier in the month.
Israel joins Nigeria to combat terrorism
(thanks to Yoeli) Nigeria’s efforts to curb terrorist activities in some parts of the country will soon be boosted as a collaborative endeavour with Israel comes alive. Israeli’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Moshe Ram said that no more details could be given for security reasons.
Israel and India are ideal partners
Indian Minister for Urban Development Kamal Nath oversees urban planning in India, which has over 50 cities of more than one million residents. Nath says that joint Israeli-Indian projects include in water, one of India's greatest challenges today.
Muslim director of Holocaust studies
Mehnaz Afridi is director of Holocaust studies at Manhattan College. She previously did a five-week fellowship at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Arab-Jewish hockey team
The five Arab players (2 girls and 3 boys) on the Metulla junior ice hockey team come from the Golan Heights and are not even Israeli citizens. “When you play together, you forget that you are Arabs and Jews,” said Mayyas Sabag, a 12-year-old forward from the Druse village of Majdal Shams.
Where women are more than equal to the task
On International Women’s Day, I read about Captain Merav Buchris - the first female ammunition officer in the history of the Israeli Air Force. Merav summed up the inspiration behind all successful Israelis. "It was my goal and dream, and I achieved it. At the end of the day, anyone can achieve anything and succeed if he or she really wants to and believes in it."
Jerusalem – our undivided capital
This 11min video shows how all three major religions co-exist in the eternal city of peace.
“Think Global”
That’s the motto of the Academic Center of Law and Business in Ramat Gan, which hosted six Chinese and 36 German students as part of an innovative overseas program to jump-start business and cultural ties. The participants were euphoric over the program and their experiences in Israel.