http://www.cocomment.com/comments/Maskil Copyright 2007 coComment.com 2009-11-25T03:35:51.565+01:00 http://www.cocomment.com/images/logo4rss.gif http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=Maskil&conv=1864352&comment_id=32149931 Maskil “Good on yer” to those attempting to protect Israel’s urban trees for future generations. It’s not a wonder that Israelis have become so nostalgic about Israel’s past; the generations that planted these street and yard trees demonstrated their wisdom and values in a very concrete way. Mature and historic trees should be conserved in the same way that Israel’s historic buildings are (hopefully) preserved. All levels of government need to take responsibility for Israel’s arboreal assets. Cutting down a mature tree should require planning permission, and that permission should be given in only the most exceptional circumstances. Where trees do need to give way, they should be replaced, and the trees themselves should be transplanted rather than simply being felled or bulldozed. It also won’t be enough to simply pass legislation. Those laws must be enforced “without fear or favour”. South Africa, for instance, has one of the best constitutional and legislative frameworks around, but is probably one of the most violent and lawless societies in the world… Altneuland: Replacing felled trees: necessary but insufficient http://blog.altneuland.info/2008/04/replacing-felled-trees-necessary-but.html 2008-10-17T13:19:05.521+02:00 2008-10-17T13:19:05.521+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=Maskil&conv=1498004&comment_id=28719765 Maskil Perhaps now all the alternatives will be evaluated, including my own hobby-horse, an aqueduct between the Mediterranean and Lake Kinneret. Instead of a canal or conduit between the Mediterranean or Red Sea and the Dead Sea, the Med-Kinneret Aqueduct proposal envisages a conduit from the Mediterranean (in the vicinity of Haifa) to Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee). The “potential difference” in height between the Med and Kinneret would be converted to energy by means of a hydro-electric station. This energy would in turn be utilized to desalinate the seawater at a suitable stage between the intake (Med) and outlet (Kinneret). The proposal would address all the problems and threats currently faced by the Jordan River ecosystem; the dangerously low level of the Kinneret, the woeful state of the lower reaches of the Jordan itself, and the drying up of the Dead Sea. It would help to rehabilitate the entire length of the Jordan River below Kinneret. I’ve outlined the concept on my blog here: Altneuland: Building the wrong canal: An alternative to the Red-Dead Canal http://blog.altneuland.info/2008/05/building-wrong-canal-alternative-to-red.html 2008-07-15T17:37:29.937+02:00 2008-07-15T17:37:29.937+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=Maskil&conv=1168400&comment_id=28285864 Maskil Just testing... 2008-07-03T15:55:40.710+02:00 2008-07-03T15:55:40.710+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=Maskil&conv=1357973&comment_id=25469670 Maskil Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, Rose. Widgetbox gave me exactly what I needed, with the help of your concise how-to. 2008-04-22T18:26:24.243+02:00 2008-04-22T18:26:24.243+02:00 http://www.cocomment.com/sidebar?object=people&context=explore&mode=detail&id=Maskil&conv=1348217&comment_id=25403464 Maskil This is a great first step to MAD (making a difference) for anyone when it comes to water conservation. The next step is to look at replacing your toilet cistern’s flush mechanism with a “dual-flush” system. At the same time, also consider replacing your shower head with a water-saving equivalent (low-flow). I can’t unfortunately give any advice as to where these are available in Israel. Perhaps Green Prophet could do a roundup of manufacturers and retail outlets that supply these? 2008-04-15T15:05:09.696+02:00 2008-04-15T15:05:09.696+02:00