- THE ARAVA INSTITUTE
- Location & Purpose
- Academics & Research
- Recognition
- Alumni Leadership
THE ARAVA INSTITUTE
Alumni Leadership
MOUSA: Saving Streamwater Resources through Science and Cooperation
Transboundary stream pollution plays a major role in the destruction of the Middle East - more so, because the multi-generational turbulence has proven to have no political solution. River and stream pollution are also artifacts of this "war," and that pollution is killing the population, through disease, at a rate that exceeds the casualties of sectarian violence. Using advanced mapping, modeling and water sampling technologies, Mousa Diabat (2004) is on the front line of real solutions, raising awareness across the political divides. Recent reports and recommendations on these shared resources have provided regional leadership with a hard look at the realities of not finding true common ground in mitigating the pollution of these much-needed waterways.
Arava alumni are the real tools of environmental and peace-building leadership across the Mideast. No matter where they come from, no matter the political borders they have to cross, our alumni have forged strong bonds in their commitment to the program's mandate.
TAMAR: Creating a Sustainable Future for Middle East Transportation
The private automobile is a symbol of freedom and a tool of convenience. In densely populated urban and suburban regions, it is also the catalyst for rampant pollution. Tamar Keinan (1997) directs Transport Today and Tomorrow, a non-government organization that has, since the late 1990s, continued to promote safe public transportation alternatives to the single-user car. Tamar, like many AIES graduates, has taken an active role in establishing communities of leadership and education that promote real environmental solutions to the many diverse peoples of Israel, Palestine and their neighboring countries. And she has brought her real-world experiences back to AIES as a member of its Board of Directors.
Such is the energy and determination of these alumni that they proactively formed the Arava Peace and Environment Network (APEN) to further build on the strengths of their educations and commitment. APEN exists to bridge environmental solutions over political barriers. It is extending the influence of alumni by creating a common language and vision to help implement solid solutions to the region's many environmental issues.
ILANA & MAZEN: Healing the Bedouin Tribes and the Industrial Wasteland
Biogas energy generation might not seem a solution to the extremes of bigotry and racism that cripple the ancient Bedouin tribes of Israel, but it is. 
Forced to live in the industrially polluted outlands of the Negev, the Bedouin fight daily with crushing poverty and its many resultant evils: disease, birth defects, family violence, and premature death. AIES alumni Ilana Meallem (2004) and Mazen Zoabi (2005) are leaders in, not only representing these forgotten peoples, but in creating advanced hygienic and energy resources - and the promise of safer living conditions - through advanced biodigester, methane-capture and biogas technologies. In 2007, Ilana and Mazen are sharing their findings on, and further studying, advanced biogas technologies with the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture.
