![Jordanriverflags](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Jordanriverflags.JPG)
EcoPeace Middle East, formerly Friends of the Earth Middle East (?–2014), is a regional
environmental peacebuilding Environmental peacebuilding (frequently also termed environmental peacemaking) examines and advocates environmental protection and cooperation as a factor in creating more peaceful relations. Peacebuilding is both the theory and practice of identif ...
organization in the
Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Province), East Thrace (Europ ...
, bringing together Jordanians, Palestinians, and Israelis to create shared solutions for the most water-scarce region on the planet.
Name
EcoPeace was formed in 1994, bringing together Israelis, Palestinians, Egyptians and Jordanians in the wake of the Arab-Israeli peace processes of the 1990s.
After joining the international
Friends of the Earth network, EcoPeace became Friends of the Earth Middle East, but in 2014 it left the network, reverting to the initial name as EcoPeace Middle East.
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Description
The people and wildlife of the region are dependent on many of the same natural resources. Shared surface and sub-surface freshwater basins, shared seas, common flora and fauna species and a shared air-shed are some of the characteristics that necessitate regional cooperation. As a tri-lateral organization that brings together Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli environmentalists, EcoPeace's primary objective is the promotion of cooperative efforts to protect a shared environmental heritage. EcoPeace has offices in Amman, Ramallah, and Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv-Yafo ( he, תֵּל־אָבִיב-יָפוֹ, translit=Tēl-ʾĀvīv-Yāfō ; ar, تَلّ أَبِيب – يَافَا, translit=Tall ʾAbīb-Yāfā, links=no), often referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the ...
, employs around 50 staff and actively involves hundreds of volunteers.
Actions
EcoPeace publishes scientific and social research, spearheads national-level advocacy campaigns and engages in grassroots community development.
One of EcoPeace's major efforts is a regional advocacy project to promote discussion and sharing of water resources. Its efforts are focused on the rehabilitation of the Jordan River, Dead Sea, Mountain and Coastal Aquifers and fostering awareness about the regional impact of climate change
In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to ...
. EcoPeace's focal program, the ''Good Water Neighbors project'', engages residents of all ages, mayors and municipal representatives in twenty five communities throughout Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
, Palestine and Jordan
Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan Rive ...
in a united effort to rehabilitate the regions' shared water resources.
EcoPeace has taken a leading role in calling for action to save the Dead Sea, which may be in danger of drying up due to some environmental factors.[Dead Sea needs world help to stay alive](_blank)
by Ahmad Khatib, Agence france presse, 11/25/09. Various groups and government officials from several countries say that a pipeline from the Red Sea is needed to save the Dead Sea. In June 2009, after a meeting with World Bank President Robert Zoellick
Robert Bruce Zoellick (; ; born July 25, 1953) is an American public official and lawyer who was the eleventh president of the World Bank, a position he held from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2012. He was previously a managing director of Goldman Sach ...
, the Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister, Silvan Shalom
Zion Silvan Shalom ( he, ציון סילבן שלום, born 4 August 1958) is an Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Likud between 1992 and 2015. He held several prominent ministerial positions, including being Vice Prim ...
, announced a pilot project to build a "pilot" pipe long from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. The pipe would pump 200 million cubic meters per year. Half of this would be desalinated for Jordanian consumption and half put into the Dead Sea. Some experts questioned this project. Hebrew University of Jerusalem Prof. Avner Adin said more studies were needed on the potential environmental impact.[Water expert: Red-Dead 'pilot' project could be premature](_blank)
By EHUD ZION WALDOKS, Jun 28, 2009.
Awards
* ''Heroes of the Environment 2008'' by ''Time
Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, ...
'' magazine to EcoPeace's three co-directors: Gidon Bromberg
Gidon Bromberg (born November 26, 1963) is the Israeli director of Friends of the Earth Middle East, EcoPeace Middle East (formerly Friends of the Earth Middle East). EcoPeace is a regional organization that brings together Jordanian, Palestinia ...
(Israel), Munqeth Mehyar
Munqeth Mehyar ( ar, منقذ مهيار) (born January 16, 1957) serves as Chairman and Jordanian Director of EcoPeace Middle East (formerly Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME)). EcoPeace Middle East is a unique regional organization that ...
(Jordan) and Nader Al-Khateeb
Nader Al-Khateeb ( ar, نادر الخطيب) (born July 30, 1960) is the General Director of the Water and Environmental Development Organization (WEDO), a non-profit Palestinian organization that promotes a number of environmental programs and p ...
(Palestine)
* ''Skoll Award'' in 2009.
* 2008 SEED Finalist Award
* ''Green Globe Award 2010'' for the best Environmental Education project for its Good Water Neighbors project
* ''Onassis Prize'' for the Protection of the Environment.
* ''Outstanding Leadership Award 2011'' by the International Development Committee (IDC) of the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR)
*''Mount Zion Award'' for having significantly contributed to the understanding of the three Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, in Israel.
References
Further reading
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:EcoPeace Middle East
1994 establishments in Jordan
Companies established in 1994
Environmental organizations based in Israel
Environment of Israel
Environmental organisations based in Jordan
Non-profit organisations based in Jordan
Environmental organizations based in the State of Palestine
Non-governmental organizations involved in the Israeli–Palestinian peace process