Kibbutzis on hea! Sa oled omadega kibbutzis!

http://www.esramag.com/Dynamic.asp?p=4&cid=9547

The Center for Creative Ecology, Kibbutz Lotan
By Fonda Dubb

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Building a mud and junk bench

READING the Esra Magazine I took note of how many projects are being
initiated to aid coexistence; without them how on earth can our children or
grandchildren ever reach out to each other? The only Arab man I ever met
during my 17 years in Israel was in the diplomatic service. Mentioning this to
my friend, Angela, she told me of a successful project being carried out on
her son’s kibbutz. Kibbutz Lotan is a young community situated in the Arava
Desert in the south, far away from urban Israel, in a quiet area in beautiful
desert surroundings.

Recently, a workshop on Lotan was carried out under the auspices of Friends
of the Earth Middle East. FOEME have initiated a program called “Good Water
Neighbors” that pairs up Israeli Arab and Jewish communities with Palestinian
communities which aims to raise awareness and cooperation over issues
relating to water and working together on projects to further the sustainable
use of common sources of water. Twenty eight kids between the ages of 13-17
were hosted from two Jewish Israeli, one Arab-Israeli and two Palestinian
communities. This was the first time kids from the communities involved in
the Good Water Neighbors project have actually met and interacted. One of
the main aims was group-building, to overcome language/cultural/political
issues and establish a basis for working together, as well as the actual material
and practical experience that was part of the workshop. It succeded beyond all
expectations - in the final summation circle, everyone was moved to hear
the children saying how much they had gained, how they had found
new friends, how they were keen to take what they had learned and
put it into practice.

To quote Mark: “For us, it was a dream come true to be able to realize
the educational potential that we have been working hard to develop here
with such a group.

Combining environmental education with working towards peaceful
coexistence - who could ask for more? Hopefully we've been able to help sow
some seeds that will grow to fruition, and there will be a ripple effect. We
are certainly keen to continue to develop in this direction and host other such
groups in the future.” Lotan was established to create a community based
on a modern liberal approach to Judaism that strives to fulfill values of
equality between the sexes, equality in work, and genuine communication
between people. The kibbutz’s population is equally divided
between native born Israelis and immigrants from all over the world.
The economy is based on date plantations, dairy, tourism, holistic health center,
field crops, mariculture and various professions held by members who work
outside of the kibbutz. Presently there are 50 adult members and around
50 children, most of whom are in kindergarten-primary school.

During a period of community redefinition in 1995, a few dedicated
members began advocating greater emphasis on environmental concern
and ecology as an expression of Lotan’s Progressive Jewish and Zionist orientation.
Lotan’s Eco-Projects scheme is rooted in “Tikun Olam”- the Jewish concept
for repairing and transforming the world. Kibbutz Lotan Eco-Projects started as
a dream and vision. It began with a small desert organic garden, and
expanded to include a migratory bird reserve and nature trails. Each project
helps evaluate new directions to pursue.

In 1998 Eco-Projects became an official work branch of the kibbutz. It
now includes alternative building construction within the kibbutz and in
the region, and the establishment of a unique desert ecological education
center, the Center for Creative Ecology. The Center combines hands-on,
experiential environmental education in creative recycling, organic gardening
and alternative building techniques with Jewish values, within the framework of
a living community making progress towards sustainability. In 2000, Lotan
received the Ministry of the Environment’s Shield award for work in environmental
education.

Visitors to the Center may come on a two hour tour to see the work being
done on the kibbutz and in the ecological gardens, spend a weekend on an
alternative building seminar learning how to build with mud, enjoy the nature
trails and migratory bird reserve, or take holistic treatments including watsu,
(water-shiatsu) in a heated pool. Threeday workshops are offered for highschool
students that aim to provide a practical “toolbox” for use in their own
communities, and also a three-month work and study program called “Green
Apprenticeship” for those that require a longer-term, intensive experience.
I look forward to spending a day enjoying the facilities offered - particularly
a watsu treatment!

Further information on Lotan and their ecological work may be found on
their website www.kibbutzlotan.com. For more details of Lotan’s programs
and educational work, contact Mark Millstone Naveh on 052 396 0904, or
email lotan-ecocenter@lotan.ardom.co.il