Adam Teva V’Din A case for support

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Our vision

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Dear Friends, Theodore Herzl was right when he famously stated, “If you will it, it is no dream.” Well, he was partly right. Because, very often strength of will is not always enough to realize your vision. The journey towards reaching your dream requires hard work and a highly capable and passionate team of people by your side. So, with less than a tenth of a percent of the national budget allocated to environmental protection, we have a lot of hard work to do to reach our vision of a safe and healthy environment for our children and grandchildren. That said, as Israel’s leading environmental advocacy group, I’m proud to say that Adam Teva V’Din has all of the components needed to realize our vision. With an expert, in-house team of multi-disciplinary professionals, as well as a well-earned reputation as the country’s environmental watchdog, we have the resources, experience and determination to responsibly devise lasting solutions for critical environmental challenges.

We continue to address vital environmental concerns which impact on all spheres of Israeli society, including maintaining the momentum of the recycling revolution (pg. 8); balancing urban development with the public’s need for green havens (pg. 9); promoting new ways to manage our precious natural resources (pg. 7) and advocating for environmental justice for all of Israel’s citizens (pg. 13). We are now facing an important and strategic juncture in our journey towards building a safe and healthy environment. We are now tackling the next frontier- the nexus between environment and health. We are investing our advocacy efforts into promoting basic legislative frameworks to reduce chemical exposure in the daily lives of Israeli families (pg. 3).

No, our work is not always easy. And yes, the road is often interspersed with political and legislative potholes and speed bumps. Governments come and governments go. Some grasp the weight of environmental impacts more than others. Regardless of the political climate, Adam Teva V’Din is unrelenting in its resolve to improve Israel’s environmental conditions and ensure that social and economic policies will be grounded in environmental protections. I’m thrilled to let you know that many concerned Israelis have joined us on our journey. We have seen increasing commitment, involvement and support from concerned citizens who want to see a change in the way we relate to our environment. When Adam Teva V’Din wills it, it is no dream. Together, we can realize our vision of a safe, healthy and sustainable environment for our children and grandchildren.

With sincere thanks and best regards,

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Amit Bracha, Adv.

Executive Director

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Dear Friends, We’ve come a long way in 24 years. In 1991, we were a typical Israeli start-up venture: A small and idealist crew of U.S. immigrants with a modest budget of $12,000 and the ardent belief that environmental advocacy is the foundation for environmental protection. In 2014, Adam Teva V'Din is a household name, acknowledged by government officials, lawmakers, municipalities, business stakeholders, philanthropic partners and the Israeli public as a legislative innovator, a reliable scientific resource, and the force behind most of Israel's environmental milestones. And our mission remains the same: To use the power of law, science and advocacy to protect Israel's environment and public health. To fulfill our mission, our team of experienced attorneys, scientists and urban planners work across numerous platforms:

The courts: We use our special standing under environmental laws to represent the public in the courts, from local administrative courts to the High Court of Justice.

The Knesset: We appear weekly before parliamentary committees to present our professional legal/scientific reports as a basis for new legislative bills and policy measures.

The business sector: We work closely with a large number of commercial stakeholders so that we can ensure that our legislative proposals are rooted in practicable solutions and frameworks.

Municipalities and local authorities: We expect local government and planning boards to implement regulations and uphold standards to reduce local environmental problems, while working together on implementation of new recycling operations, etc.

In the community: We provide the public with accessible and understandable information on environmental concerns which directly affect their lives. Moreover, we offer our legal and scientific advocacy skills to help minority groups and disadvantaged communities secure better environmental conditions in their neighborhoods.

In the media: We use our high media profile to call attention to our environmental agenda in the printed and electronic press, while encouraging public involvement in environmental issues through our web site, Facebook, and Twitter.

Israel's environment, economy and political climate have all changed greatly since our start-up days: New environmental stresses emerge daily and long-standing inadequacies in environmental legislation must be corrected and updated. What hasn't changed is Adam Teva V'Din's dedication to using the law, science and advocacy to protect Israel's environment and public health. We are still here, working hard to achieve our vision and we thank you for being with us all the way. With best regards, Keren Halperin-Musseri, Adv. Deputy Director

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Our mission

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Chemicals of concern

Contaminated sites

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Your environment = Your health Reducing exposure to chemicals

Every Israeli has the fundamental right to live in a healthy, clean & safe environment.

Chemical emissions registry

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Chemicals of concern

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WHY WE WORK ON CHEMICALS OF CONCERN

Israel needs a coherent framework for reducing chemical exposure in consumer goods.

“Coming from California, I have seen for myself how Israel lags behind U.S. and European standards when it comes to environmental health issues. Israelis are under-informed and under-protected, especially when it comes to how chemicals impact on the health of our children.”

Sarit Caspi-Oron Environmental scientist

Special risk assessments are legally required to determine that tolerance levels are safe for American children

NO legally binding risk assessment process in Israel for any age group

Annual environmental & nutritional health survey (NHANES), measures the dietary patterns, health impacts and exposure to environmental chemicals

NO such equivalent

Adam Teva V’Din has drawn public and official attention to the pressing issue of pesticide residues in fresh produce. Drawing on comprehensive research, we have developed regulative models to improve testing and monitoring procedures as well as government oversight and accountability. We are working hard to raise public awareness and to translate scientific jargon and data into comprehensible and accessible information that is useful to members of the public who are concerned about pesticides in their food.

In March 2014, Adam Teva V’Din is co-hosting Israel’s first public dialogue on pesticide usage in Israel.

‘Talking about Pesticides’ will bring together

500 participants who are anxious to improve

pesticide management in Israel: Agricultural stakeholders Law makers Government agencies Commercial retailers General public In conjunction, we are responding to the

concerns of the 1,200 participants who took part

in our detailed survey on pesticides.

Every day, Israelis, particularly children and vulnerable populations, are chronically exposed to a cumulative cocktail of harmful chemicals and hormones in their food, cooking utensils, household cleaning products and cosmetics. Israeli consumers, similar to their American and European counterparts, assume that they are protected from the harmful effects of these toxins. But in fact, Israel is far behind accepted standards in the western world on reducing chemical exposure in food products. Unfortunately, Israeli consumers could not be more wrong.

Reducing exposure to chemicals 1

Two examples of shortcomings in Israeli standards which we identified during our comparative research

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WHY WE WORK ON CONTAMINATED SITES

Israel needs a legislative framework for remediation of industrial contaminated sites.

Contaminated sites

Government

foot-dragging

over bill

Privatization of IMI:

Gov. shirks itself of

responsibility

Fast-track release of

contaminated land for

development

Piecemeal

clean-up

approach

No action to

remediate existing

properties

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A government bill on remediation has been stuck in the Knesset for the past two years because the current Minister of Environmental Protection is taking no steps to move it forward. Meanwhile, planning authorities are continuing to promote new development plans on these contaminated sites, including on Taas HaSharon on the border of Ramat HaSharon and Herzliya. Adam Teva V’Din is playing a vital role as environmental watchdog and is continuing to pressure the government to authorize the bill. Although the issue of contaminated sites has been a grave environmental, health and economic concern for many years, we are now confronting new obstacles which will authorize the premature and reckless release of this polluted land for redevelopment:

For over 50 years, Israel Military Industries (IMI) has polluted the soil and groundwater of numerous sites throughout the country with toxic waste from the manufacture of military hardware & munitions. These sites are now prime real estate hubs in Israel’s favored central region. Our position is that Israel must have a comprehensive law, similar to the U.S. Superfund and E.U. Brownfields directives. Such a framework is the only effective and responsible means to guarantee that land will be released for development only after a thorough remediation process.

Without a remediation framework, there is a mounting danger that Israeli families will soon be buying homes and sending their children to schools on sites where soil and groundwater contain known carcinogens, such as trichloroethene and benzene.

Roni Rom (right), Chairman of Achla Ramat Hasharon, with Adam Teva V’Din staff at Taas Hasharon site

Achla is a community activist organization calling for the clean-up of Taas HaSharon, a former IMI site in their neighborhood.

“As soon as we the recognized the overwhelming challenges we were up against, we turned to Adam Teva V’Din to help bring about the clean-up of the 22,000 acre contaminated site in our neighborhood. We found professional partners who understood the gravity of the situation, sympathized with our plight and dedicated themselves to finding long-term solutions. Without their guidance we would never have made the progress we’ve made today.”

Reducing exposure to chemicals 2

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Chemical emissions registry WHY WE WORK ON CHEMICAL EMISSIONS

Israel needs a comprehensive and accessible database of hazardous chemical emissions from all

sectors.

Without a comprehensive registry of chemical emissions, no government can competently manage and restrict polluting industries; health authorities cannot efficiently monitor and reduce toxic-related illnesses and morbidity and the public cannot demand necessary protective safeguards to shield them from avoidable chemical exposure. At long last, Israel now has an equivalent to the Toxic Release Inventory. The Pollutant Release & Transfer Law (PRTR 2012), co-authored and promoted by Adam Teva V’Din, compels industries and other sectors to report on the quantities and types of specific pollutants released to the environment. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER The PRTR law is a revolution in how Israel oversees the release of chemicals. In accordance with the law, the very first inventory of chemical emissions to the air, water and soil was published via a designated government website on December 1 2013. This is the first time that data of this nature is open and accessible to the general public. It is also a vital instrument for change which will form the basis of future policy decisions and standards. Our role of watchdog is vital to ensure that the PRTR law is fully implemented and fulfills its potential to protect human health and the environment. We are publishing a series of information sheets to help the public understand how these harmful substances affect their health.

We are now drafting crucial amendments to the current version of law to rectify inadequacies and weaknesses which we identified in our evaluation and analysis of the initial data.

Making pollutants public: New government website publishing PRTR

Food & beverage Metals

Minerals

Agriculture

Other

Energy

Chemical Wastewater

Data

received

from 430 industries

Arye Vanger, PhD Environmental scientist

“As an atmospheric scientist and the chief scientist behind the Clean Air Act (2008), I know that having this crucial data at our disposal is major advancement and a step in the right direction. But, I also know that the first two years of implementation of a law is a question of make it or break it. That’s why we have to remain vigilant so that the PRTR law is not watered down in any way.”

Reducing exposure to chemicals 3

Haifa

Tel Aviv

Jerusalem

The reporting factories are categorized according to sector:

•Used as fertilizers

•95% exported

Minerals from Dead Sea (Potash)

•Cleaner fossil fuel: less air pollution

•Promise of energy independence

•40% exported Offshore natural gas

•Used as fertizlizers

•Extraction in the Negev, poses health concerns for residents

•95 % exported Phosphate

•Used as building materials for roads and infrastructure Gravel & sand

Dana Tabachnick, Adv. Economy & environment

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“I’m happy to say that in the current Knesset we have a relatively sympathetic parliamentary ear on this matter. Knesset Committees, such as the Economic Affairs and State Control Committees, as well as the State Comptroller himself, have openly spoken out against the mismanagement of our natural resources. We have to seize this unique opportunity for change. Who knows if and when such an opportunity will present itself again.”

WHY WE WORK ON ECONOMY & ENVIRONMENT

Israel needs new strategic approaches to managing non-renewable extractive resources in order to meet today’s environmental, social and economic needs.

Adam Teva V’Din is leading the public’s call for an environmentally and economically sound strategy to using and protecting state-owned non-renewable natural resources. In a country as small as Israel, it is financially-wise to leverage these lucrative natural resources for the benefit of the national economy. However, current legislative frameworks and franchise agreements ignore the need to balance exploitation of the resources with recognized environmental protections.

For example, it is estimated that 30% of the annual

drop in water levels in the Dead Sea is as a direct result of commercial mineral extraction conducted under an out-dated franchise agreement with the Dead Sea Works. ADAM TEVA’ V’DIN’S ROLE IN GOV’T COMMISSION: ADDING ENVIRONMENTAL INTERESTS The discovery of offshore natural gas reserves sparked a furious public debate about how the government will use the future royalties.

In response, the government appointed a commission, Sheshinski II, to re-evaluate and determine how the State will manage all of Israel’s non-renewable natural resources. These resources include offshore natural gas, potash and other minerals from the Dead Sea, phosphate, gravel and sand.

The Sheshinski Commission II presents a unique opportunity to reform the way in which Israel relates to and protects its natural resources for future generations. Our role as public interest representative is needed to ensure that essential environmental protections are integrated into future economic and social policies. We are working hard to persuade the Commission that environmental sustainability cannot be detached from economic decisions of this magnitude.

Adam Teva V’Din is calling to reshape the management strategies of non-renewable natural resources:

Economy & environment

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“The most rewarding aspect of working on recycling is to see the positive power of collaboration with businesses and local authorities. Adam Teva V'Din has used stakeholder forums to bring together people with conflicting interests and worldviews to find solutions that work for everyone's good. By bringing the main players together, we have been able to advocate for innovative legislation that provides workable solutions. Recycling today is going on all over the country – and we will ensure that momentum is maintained so all Israelis can benefit.”

Gilad Ostrovsky Environmental scientist

Disposing of landfills: Addressing an environmental hazard

Closing illegally operating municipal waste dumps

Paradigm shift: Towards a zero waste economy

Cultivating a vision of zero waste economy among stakeholders

Advocating for change: Producer responsibility laws

•Drafting & advancing pivotal legislative frameworks (see below)

•Introducing municipal separation-at-source pratices and infrastrcuture

Filling the gap: Smooth implementation of laws

Providing legal & practical guidance to commercial & municipal stakeholders

New frontiers for 2014: Tackling unaddressed spheres

•Organic waste

•Commercial organic waste

•Food waste reduction

Leading Israel’s recycling revolution in 5 phases

WHY WE WORK ON RECYCLING & SOLID WASTE Recycling provides optimal environmental & economic solutions to the disposal of solid waste in Israel.

Electronic waste law (2012)

Building waste law (pending) Our leadership role continues as we monitor the crucial early implementation stage of producer responsibility. CHALLENGES REMAIN

Recycling of building waste – the potentially most economically valuable recycling sector as Israel expands its housing stock – is hindered by bureaucratic snaffles at the Knesset level.

Commercial recycling of organic waste is inefficient due to under-investment in infrastructure.

For the last decade, Adam Teva V'Din has been the primary driver of Israel's move away from land-filling and towards a modern recycling economy.

Over 600 million beverage containers have been

diverted to recycling. And over 40 local

authorities and hundreds of thousands of

Israelis are participating in 'separation at source' schemes that send organic waste such as agricultural compost, and paper, cartons and other containers to recycling facilities. Thousands of new jobs have been created in the burgeoning recycling economy. Adam Teva V’Din’s advocacy has led to a series of innovative producer responsibility laws:

Vehicle tire law (2007)

Bottle deposit amendments (2011)

Packaging waste law (2011)

Recycling & solid waste

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WHY WE WORK ON PLANNING & LAND USE

Israel must maintain the balance between urban development and the public’s quality of

life and need for open spaces and public services.

“Our ‘Bye-bye to green open spaces’ campaign (see announcement above) serves as a reminder that planning reforms are not about sparing ourselves a bureaucratic headache. It is about

determining today the

condition of our children’s landscape and quality of life

for tomorrow.”

Yael Dori Urban planner

Israel’s most pressing social, economic and environmental challenge is to meet the country’s ever-growing housing needs. With an increasingly growing population, Israel

will have to provide over 1,000,000 new homes

over the next 20 years. The burning question is

how, where and at what price.

How Israel relates to its precious and dwindling land resources in 2014 will directly affect the quality of life and irrevocably shape the national landscape for generations to come.

Adam Teva V’Din is committed to ensuring balanced urban development and sustainable planning frameworks which maintain environmental safeguards and conserve green belts as essential social, recreational and community assets. We are currently focusing on minimizing the potential for planning chaos and irreversible loss of green open spaces from damaging reforms:

Planning & land use ‘Say bye-bye to green open spaces- an irreversible measure.’

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WHY WE WORK ON COASTLINE PROTECTION

Israel needs to uphold the public’s interest to benefit from its narrow coastline in order to

maintain the balance between industrial, defense, commercial and public needs.

Eli Ben-Ari, Adv. Senior Attorney

Israel’s prized Mediterranean coastline is only 122 miles long. Yet as a result of land development tug of wars, a scarce 10 mile sliver of shore is open and accessible for public enjoyment. Roughly 2/3 of the country’s coastal belt is taken up by infrastructure such as ports, power plants, natural gas and desalination facilities and military bases. The remaining shoreline is further obstructed by hotel complexes, marinas and marine sport facilities, leaving each Israeli citizen with a scrap of ½ an inch of valuable beach.

From its inception, Adam Teva V’Din has been at the forefront of protecting the nation's over-developed coastline. Our landmark lawsuits, starting with the milestone Carmel Beach Towers case, confirmed that Israel’s coasts are a public resource which should remain accessible to the public. In 2004, we successfully secured the historic Coastline Protection Act, Israel's first legal framework for preserving the Mediterranean coastal strip. However, lawmakers at the time refused to include previously approved construction plans in the act. As a result of this legal loophole, there is a constant danger that destructive development

plans will be realized. 91 approved plans are

known to date. Many of these plans date back to the British mandate and Ottoman Empire and are out of step with the law and the social, industrial and environmental demands of the 21st century. For the Israeli public, our sun-soaked beaches are a favorite recreational retreat and serve as refuge from the commotion and pressures of urban life. Three years ago, there was a public outcry against the revival of construction plans of a holiday resort on the Palmachim beach, the last remaining natural beach in the crowded central region. This was one of the biggest public environmental protests Israel has ever known. But there’s good news. 74 MKs have endorsed our proposed amendment to the Coastline Protection Act which calls for the re-evaluation of existing plans in accordance with current environmental and social contexts and trends.

We will continue to be closely involved as the proposal undergoes the parliamentary process.

Israel’s crowded shoreline

Hotels & resorts

Industry &

infrastructure

Military

Residential

complex

“As co-author of the 2004 law and lead attorney in the Carmel Beach Tower lawsuit, I don’t want to have to take my grandchildren overseas for them to be able to dip their toes in the Mediterranean.”

½ AN INCH OF BEACH PER CITIZEN

Coastline protection

WHY WE WORK ON MARINE MANAGEMENT Israel needs a coherent legal framework for managing its marine environment.

Legislative and policy challenges

•Archaic laws which are incompatible with current legal & environmental standards

•Lack of essential environmental issues from existing legislation (i.e. monitoring requirements, planning and construction laws)

•Israel is not signed on vital international treaties and conventions (i.e. UN Convention on Law of the Sea, 1982)

Physical & logistical challenges

•Undefined physical boundaries for maritime activities

•Hindered supervision & enforcement due to logistical and technical requirements needed to access marine environment (ships, diving and sailing knowledge)

Management challenges

•Fragmented & dispersed authority & responsibilities between 6 government offices leading to conflicts of interests & deadlocks

Scientific challenges

•Lack of sufficient coherent and consistent data collection regimes

•Lack of transparency and access of information to decision makers and the public

The Mediterranean is a vital component in

Israel’s economic, defense, transportation and

tourism sectors. However, there is no correlation

between the level of investment and supervision

of our marine environment and its paramount

importance to Israel’s economy and quality of

life.

Israel lacks a sound regulatory framework to protect the marine environment from short and long term degradation arising from new economic undertakings and current maritime activities. In addition, Israel is not keeping up to pace with the environmental standards of EU nations who are working to improve the marine environment.

While the rest of the western world is taking

major steps towards eco-based management,

Israel has yet to implement this integrative

approach.

An EU directive has charged neighboring nations

with developing sustainable and clean marine

strategies for the Mediterranean by 2020.

Although Israel is not a member of the EU, the

expectations of us are clear. Continuing to treat

the waters in our jurisdiction as the Wild West

will not bode well with our EU neighbors.

Our marine management legislative model, now in preparation,will create an integrative legislative framework which takes into account the often conflicting uses, interests and pressures to which Israel’s marine environment is subject.

We are fortunate to have a respected international advisory board which is helping us to develop our legislative model. The board is headed by Justice Emeritus Dalia Dorner, former Interior Minister Ofer Pines-Paz and marine scientists from Israel, the U.S. and Europe.

Tammy Ganot, Adv. Marine management

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“Current legislation is either lacking, out of date or is just plain absurd. Take the offshore gas for example, the Ministry of Energy & Water is responsible for the fast and efficient development of our offshore energy industry. But, at the same time the Ministry is also supposed to supervise and safeguard the marine environment. This is a blatant conflict of interest. Thanks to our collaboration with the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) of Washington DC we have developed a marine management model to address pressures of this kind.”

REGULATING THE MEDITERRANEAN: THE NEED

Marine management

WHY WE NEED AN NATIONAL PRIORITIES INITIATIVE We use undesignated general support contributions so that we can apply our environmental advocacy when and where we can have a positive impact.

THE DEAD SEA

The Supreme Court orders Israel Chemicals Ltd. to publish records of arbitration proceedings relating to non-payment of royalties. Prior to our lawsuit demanding transparency, records on payments made for extraction of minerals had been sealed and even the government's Commission on Natural Resources was refused access.

LANDSCAPE PRESERVATION

Current reforms to the national master plan for urban development will cancel established norms and release open spaces of 'unique scenic value' for building. We are advocating before national planning authorities and conducting specific interventions in order to preserve untouched landscapes for future generations' education and benefit.

NEW PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

Several of our core programs were nurtured into full-scale environmental initiatives under the umbrella of the 'National Priorities' program. Currently, we are building a new intervention program promoting better public transport in order to reduce congestion and air pollution from motor vehicles.

SVIVATI

An innovative tri-lingual environmental portal, which uses interactive maps to display a wide range environmental issues and information to the general public. Current maps display cellular radiation, e-waste collection points, parks, power plants and more. The information is provided by various government agencies ,local authorities and environmental and social organizations.

YOU CAN HELP US ADDRESS THESE AND OTHER PRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES BY SUPPORTING OUR NATIONAL PRIORITIES INITIATIVE!

(Please see how you can make your donation on page 16)

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National Priorities Initiative

“Our environmental protection strategy must always be flexible so that we can act in the public interest, whatever the topic. The 'National Priorities' initiative means we can use our advocacy in lawsuits and other interventions that have crucial consequences for the state of our environment. It means we don't have to remain neutral and we don't have to ignore environmental injustices because they are not on our current agenda.”

Amit Bracha, Adv. Executive Director

Locations People served Environmental justice No. of appeals

From north to south: From Nahariya to the Arava and everywhere in between

All sectors and socio-economic levels: including minority groups, disadvantaged communities, children & elderly

It is imperative to uphold the environmental rights of ALL Israelis with the same vigor as all other human rights.

1,500 annually (1 appeal can represent an entire community)

Our interventions lead to:

Basic modern sewage systems and sanitation services.

Reduced chemical emissions from factories in residential

areas and near schools.

Reduced noise nuisances from nightlife spots in urban areas.

Improved air quality and noise reduction safeguards for

families living next to major traffic arteries.

Safe removal of dangerous asbestos waste from residential

neighborhoods.

From local to national:

In many cases, a single intervention will generate broad national

implications. We have used neighborhood environmental threats

as a catalyst to secure nationwide legislative solutions in order to

uphold the environmental rights of all Israeli citizens:

Securing the landmark Prevention of Asbestos Hazards Law

(2011) and ensuring a government-sanctioned asbestos

removal program in the Western Galilee (see page 14).

Upholding the right to free and equitable access to municipal

parks and public beaches regardless of religious affiliation or

place of residence.

The public’s need:

The components of environmental stress, including increased air

and noise pollution, exposure to harmful chemicals and shrinking

open spaces and coastlines, are impacting on the health and

quality of life of many communities in Israel.

Tens of thousands of Israelis lack the tools, knowledge and

support to confront local authorities to provide solutions to these

environmental threats.

Our response:

Our pro bono program provides free legal, planning and

scientific guidance to local activists and grass-roots organizations

who are concerned about their neighborhoods.

Tools we use:

Green Alert community advice center (This is the first-stop for

the public as they turn to Adam Teva V'Din for guidance and assistance

on local environmental threats)

Negotiated solutions and interventions

Law suits and planning objections (using our special standing

under environmental laws to represent the public)

Special projects concerning public health (sewage & asbestos)

Environment & community

PPRROOMMOOTTIINNGG EENNVVIIRROONNMMEENNTTAALL JJUUSSTTIICCEE

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Orly Ariav, Adv. Environment & community

"Getting authorities to listen to citizens' concerns about environmental threats is a huge challenge. I've been an activist in my own community and I know first-hand the indifference or denial of agencies that are supposed to protect people from environmental hazards. At Adam Teva V'Din we offer our free professional services to all Israelis. Sometimes we find a quick solution; sometimes we may spend years in the courts, reaching the Supreme Court if needs be. We can't promise community representatives that it will be easy, but we do promise that we are by their side every step of the way.”

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ASBESTOS EMPIRE (1952 - 1997)

Eitanit Construction Co. (formerly known as

Isasbest), the only manufacturer of

asbestos products in Israel, markets its

product throughout the Western Galilee as

a cheap building material.

Nahariya, home of the asbestos plant, has

one of the largest concentrations in the

world of people suffering from

mesothelioma - a rare form of lung cancer

that is caused mostly by occupational

exposure to asbestos.

Upon closure of the factory, the company

rids itself of the asbestos waste by selling it

cheaply to neighboring kibbutzim and land-

filling it around the region.

NAHARIYA: A CENTER FOR LOCAL ACTIVISM (1991 - 1999)

Orit, a young mother in Nahariya, is horrified

to discover chunks of dangerous asbestos

waste in the yard of her new home.

She forms a community action group to

demand removal of the asbestos waste.

The group is adamant to prevent a Disney

World style amusement park from being

built on contaminated ground next to the

abandoned asbestos factory.

Their complaints to the company, the

municipality and the State fall on deaf ears.

FRUSTRATED, THEY TURN TO ADAM TEVA V’DIN

FOR HELP (1999 - 2011)

Adam Teva V’Din succeeds in cancelling the

construction plans by acting on behalf of

the community activists.

Adam Teva V’Din demands an evaluation

program to assess the extent of the

contamination in the area. The assessment

findings are shocking: the entire region is

riddled with the cancer-causing toxin, in

greenhouses, chicken coops, schools,

homes and infrastructure.

Adam Teva V’Din demands immediate clean-

up of the area.

Adam Teva V’Din sues the Ministry of

Environmental Protection and the City of

Nahariya for official inaction to implement a

comprehensive clean-up program.

A LAW IS BORN (2010 - 2011)

Adam Teva V’Din understands that this

regional environmental threat is merely a

symptom of a national peril.

Adam Teva V’Din contributes and promotes

the landmark Prevention of Asbestos

Hazards Law (2011).

The law demands a multi-year clean-up

program (Green Road) to rid the soil of the

Western Galilee of asbestos. The program is

to be financed jointly by the State and the

asbestos producer, Eitanit (up to $42 million

each).

THE POLLUTER MUST PAY (2013)

Eitanit petitions against the law in order to

avoid paying its share of the remediation

program.

Adam Teva V’Din is named as a public

representative in order to challenge the

petition.

In a precedent-setting decision, the High

Court of Justice rejects Eitanit’s appeal.

The High Court of Justice invokes the

‘polluter pays’ and ‘producer responsibility’

principles and orders Eitanit to pay its share

as outlined in the law.

THE WORK GOES ON (2013 to date)

Adam Teva V’Din’s Green Alert service continues to receive numerous complaints relating to asbestos hazards (5% of all appeals).

Our expert team continues to accompany the Ministry of Environmental Protection on field inspections.

-Orit Reich, community activist and former head of the Association for Quality of Life & Environment in Nahariya

“When we started our campaign, no-one would listen to us. Everyone knew that this was a ticking time bomb, yet no-one was willing to deal with it. The ‘Disney World’ amusement park, which was going to be built right next to the factory, shows the absurdity of the situation. Asbestos is not child’s play. I was not prepared to give up until the Western Galilee was asbestos-free. Thankfully, Adam Teva V’Din was finally able to make decision makers confront our situation. We can now breathe easier knowing that the clean-up program is underway.”

Asbestos: A local threat demands a national solution

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Thanks to the generosity and support of our members, donors and foundation partners 2013 was a landmark financial year with our overall income reaching $1,739,000. Growth factors in 2013 included new foundation support and a welcome trend towards multi-year grants from our philanthropic partners. Individual U.S. donors remain a loyal and generous source of support, with some of our donors recently contributing their 20th consecutive annual gift. Our strategy for increasing funding from Israeli sources bore fruit; our end-of-the-year campaign among our Israeli supporters brought in over $100,000 which is twice the sum raised in the 2011 campaign. Overall, contributions from Israeli sources, including cooperative projects and court-mandated agreements, came to $457,000 or 26% of budget. Our budget for 2014 is $1,791,000, reflecting renewed project support and continued anticipated growth in income from Israeli sources.

Financial commentary

Statement for 2013 is not final, pending completion of annual audited financial statements, which will be available in May 2014.

DONATIONS IN ISRAEL AND THE U.S. ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RELEVANT TAX LAWS. Adam Teva V’Din is a recognized non-profit under Section 46 and is annually awarded a certificate for sound financial management (Nihul Takin). Friends of Israel’s Environment is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, Federal ID # 58-1959151.

See how you can make your donation on page 16.

Adam Teva V'Din-Israel Union for

Environmental Defense

48 Yehuda Halevy St.

Tel Aviv 65782, Israel

Tel: 972-3-5669939, Fax: 972-3-5669940

E-mail: info@adamteva.org.il

Website: www.adamteva.org.il/english

Adam Teva V'Din-IUED is a registered non-

profit organization (#580177863).

Contributions are eligible for tax

deduction under Section 46 of the Israeli

Income Tax Code.

Board: Dahlia Be'eri (Chair), Ayal

Avrech, Josef Gross, Gershon Grossman,

Jubran Jubran, Joshua G. Kiernan, Galit

Leider, Rabbi Ronen Lovitz, Ofra Peleg,

Avigdor Vilnitz

Executive Director: Amit Bracha, Adv.

Deputy Director: Keren Halperin-

Musseri, Adv.

Scientists: Sarit Caspi-Oron, Dr. Boaz

Mayzel, Gilad Ostrovsky, Dr. Arye

Wanger

Attorneys: Orly Ariav, Eli Ben Ari, Tammy

Ganot, Shelly Lev Sherman, Asaf

Rosenblum, Daphna Shalev-Korenblit,

Dana Tabachnik

Urban Planner: Yael Dori

Online Information Center: Karen Adomi

Media & Social Media: Yael Edelist

Fundraising: Hayley Lipshitz, Fran Ran

Membership: Chen Offek, Roni Larom

Finance & Administration: Nessi

Ashkenazi, Iris Zar

Interns: Ori Ettinger, Yonatan Harel,

Matan Hemo, Avi Toeg, Nechama Miller

Milken Institute Intern: Eyal Galkin

Friends of Israel’s Environment: Philip Warburg, Boston, MA - President Howard Learner, Chicago, IL – Vice President Evan J. Kaizer, Los Angeles, CA – Treasurer Viva Hammer, Silver Spring, MD – Secretary Mike Gildesgame - Boston Daniel Rosenblum, New York, NY Geri Eileen Unger, Cleveland, OH & Washington DC Jonathan Zasloff, Los Angeles, CA Honorary Friends: Representative Henry Waxman, Washington DC & Los Angeles, CA Honorable Alan Sieroty, Los Angeles, CA

Checks payable to: Friends of Israel’s environment (FIE) c/o Evan Kaizer 4182 Beck Avenue Studio City CA 91604

Tel: (818) 693-5255 Website: http://www.israelenvironment.net

Friends of Israel’s Environment is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Federal ID # 58-1959151. Contributions are eligible for tax deduction.

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We are grateful for the generosity of the following philanthropic foundations that support our work: Beracha Foundation Environment & Health Fund Jacob & Hilda Blaustein Foundation Charles Brown Foundation Green Environment Fund Jacob L. & Lillian Holtzmann Foundation The Morningstar Foundation Plum Foundation The Samuel Sebba Charitable Trust (UK) Thank you to all of our individual members and donors who help us get the job done!

Friends of Israel’s Environment

If you have any questions or would like to know more about our advocacy work, please feel free to contact me at 972-3-6289123 or hayleyl@adamteva.org.il. We look forward to keeping you informed on and connected to the issues which matter to you most.

Hayley Lipshitz International donor coordinator

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