Environmental Justice
Did you know...
...Unsustainable development and rapid population growth have severely strained Israel's natural resources, including water supply, clean air and open spaces. Israel's environmental quality ranking dropped recently to 45th globally, a new low. Hazardous environmental abuses such as toxic emissions from factories, cellular antennas and water pollution have been linked to negative health effects and disproportionately impact residents of weakened neighborhoods and communities located in Israel's peripheries.
In 1995 SHATIL launched its Environmental Justice initiative to bring greater activism and solidarity to the environmental movement and ushered in a new, more professional era of activism. SHATIL emphasizes the building of grassroots environmental action in the geographic and social periphery throughout Israel.
SHATIL's Environmental Justice Initiative:
• Advises environmental organizations in understanding and becoming more involved in the national and municipal budgeting processes (through workshops and creation of a national forum).
• Coordinates a study group of national environmental organizations on planned reform/privatization of the electricity supply system. Six national environmental organizations are drafting position papers based on consultation with academic experts, politicians, and government ministries.
• Encourages and assists new environmental action in the South through coordinated outreach including workshops, working groups, and continued mentoring and consulting.
