PERHAPS Israel should change its national anthem from Hatikva to Dayenu. For the Jewish State, so dependent on the support of powerful allies, a song that expresses thanks and delight for every new blessing seems more appropriate than a patriotic, historical, sentimental national anthem. But as the Middle East is all about chest pounding and historical pedigree, Hatikva may fit the bill better. Its solemn, and people take it seriously.
The problem is, no countrys national anthem expresses whats really serious in the Middle East: theyre all becoming environmental disaster areas, as they all run out of water and arable land.
Add to Israels list forest fire residues, a polluted Haifa harbor, air pollution from automotive, maritime and air traffic, and a 92% reliance on oil and coal for energy.
Israel is also a net food importer for its growing population, and it burns fossil fuels to desalinate the Mediterranean, pump out the Jordan River and Lake Kinneret, and suck the last drops of non-renewable water from its natural aquifers.
But wait!
Theres more.
Surrounding Middle East countries feature autocratic governments, unhealthy economies, high unemployment and a dark environmental cloud.
in Lebanon, industrial, agricultural, and urban environmental toxins pollute the air, water and land. Over-grazing and over-cultivation are eroding topsoil fast, and its still cleaning up from the 2006 war cluster bombs on farmland, water and sewage system damage, toxic waste from bomb damage and industrial facility fires. Plus, bored Hezbollah soldiers use migrating bird flocks for target practice;
in Jordan, environmental problems became serious in the 1970s, as it modernized and urbanized, absorbed influxes of refugees, and its population burgeoned. Now, its dealing with deforestation and agricultural erosion, air, land and water pollution;
Syrias agriculturally disastrous drought is driving refugees from farms to cities. Deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, and desertification are also problems, and dumping of raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes is polluting their water;
Palestinian Authority and Israeli administrators contend over managing sewage and solid waste, scarce water and land. Israelis continue clearing away Palestinian orchards and farms for settlements, where houses often feature water-devouring lawns and sometimes, swimming pools. Palestinian houses are designed more for the environment, with flat roofs for harvesting rainwater, and backyard garden plots. Israelis are also trucking out West Bank rock for Israel construction projects;
Gaza is challenged with sewage and solid waste management, war debris cleanup, desertification, brackish fresh water, depletion and contamination of underground water resources, water-borne diseases, and soil degradation;
Egypt, with low literacy and high birth rates, has created terrible air pollution over Cairo and Alexandria. Its losing arable land to development, desert wind erosion, over-cultivation and heavy uses of agricultural chemicals. Expanded desert area irrigation has increased soil salinity, and helped spread waterborne diseases. And oil pollution, raw sewage and industrial effluent dumping threaten beaches, coral reefs, wildlife habitats and potable water supplies.
GIVEN these deadly, common challenges, and if only because misery loves company, one might expect Middle Eastern parties to find ways they could work together, to stabilize the worst situations, mitigate damage and start restoring their environments.
Yes, small, promising, individual and cooperative efforts are underway in every country, but historical, political, tribal and ideological animosities trump them. Externally, Israels top priorities are survival and secure borders. Internally, secular vs. religious factions war for Israels soul.
Outside Israel, secular vs. religious Arab factions fight over the same things who will set each governments agenda, philosophy and laws. All parties seem to agree on two things:
(1) annoyance with environmental problems, and
(2) disdain for peace negotiators.
THE two main factors on which they should agree, however, are those which, according to historians, have torpedoed every empire since ancient Egypt:
failure to manage water, topsoil and food supply, and
creation of severe disparities in wealth and society.
In environmental business terms, these are failures to manage the triple bottom line economics, environment and social equity. Its ironic to see 21st century people in Judaisms birthplace repeat 4,500 year-old mistakes and know they see us making the same ones here in the New World.
At least (Dayenu!) theyre apprised of this situation, can assess its elements, and start taking corrective action. We can also be thankful for the progress locals are making: the Jordan-Israel Water Agreement, international environmental conferences, work by international organizations, from the Heinrich Boell Foundation to Greenpeace, and Israeli initiatives from its Environment Ministry and myriad environmental organizations, from SPNI and Ben Gurion Solar Center to Kibbutz Lotan.
Would restoring the environment bring peace to the Middle East? Who knows?
At the very least, it could enable all parties to survive long enough to work things out.
Dayenu!
Copyright © 2011 by the Intermountain Jewish News
