GLIN==> Negotiating the Coming Water Crisis

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – Prominent Israeli environmental activist Gidon Bromberg and a distinguished group of Chicago area experts will lead series of discussions and presentations on the important issue of water management.  All events will take place at KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation, 1100 E. Hyde Park Blvd as part of the annual Weinstein-Schneiderman Social Justice Weekend, April 1-3.   

“With the Great Lakes holding twenty percent of the world's fresh water supply, this is a topic with huge implications for all of us.  We can certainly learn valuable lessons from the shortages facing Middle East states and how Bromberg’s Friends of the Earth Middle East plans to manage the crisis,” 
states Judith Kossy, chair of the weekend.

Bromberg will start the weekend with his talk “Water and Mideast Peace” Friday, April 1st at 7:45 PM.  He will detail the consequences of the rapidly disappearing Jordan River, a sacred site to many of the world's religions and his plans to develop a Jordan River Peace Park where the Jordan will be restored after decades of war and pollution. After studying the impending water crisis, Friends of the Earth Middle East is now working to negotiate a regional water-sharing plan, to develop jobs in the sector of sustainability and to distribute water equitably in order to promote peace.  Bromberg was named a 2008 Time Magazine “Hero of the Environment” along with his Jordanian and Palestinian counterparts.

How the restoration efforts in the Middle East parallel the water management plan for the Great Lakes states will be the main point of discussion for the panel, “Cross Border Politics and Strategies: The Middle East and Great Lakes Region”, on Saturday, April 2nd  at 1:30 PM.  Distiguished Northwestern University law professor David Dana will lead a panel that includes Bromberg, Debra Shore, commissioner of the Metropolitan Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and Karen Hobbs of the National Resources Defense Council.

A very important and informative workshop with Bromberg, Martin Felson of ArcheWorks, and Paul Kay of Rouge Water will anchor the weekend's activities on Sunday, April 3rd at 10:30 AM.  Attendees will get the opportunity to learn how they can protect, preserve and rehabilitate water systems in the Chicago region.

As the oldest Jewish congregation in the Midwest, KAM Isaiah Israel has been known throughout our history for our commitment to authentic and innovative Jewish music, quality education for adults and children, and social justice both at home and around the world. Today, we are also known as the beautiful Byzantine-inspired synagogue at Greenwood Avenue and Hyde Park Boulevard across the street from President Obama’s house. 

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Contact: Rachel Havrelock
	    773-398-9464
	   Raheleh at uic.edu