Tibetan's Learn From Israeli Green Thumbs

(Image: Tsering Dolma working in the Arava farming settlement, Credit: Israel 21^st Century)


Farmers originally from the nation of Tibet are getting a chance to learn from some of the world's greatest minds in the agricultural field in Tel Aviv.

Although exiled in India (do to political situations), these farmers hope to share the knowledge they learn back at home, and improve life from their corner of the planet.

(Israel 21^st Century) Dolma is part of a group of 50 Tibetans who have come to Israel for a year to learn agricultural techniques from Israeli farmers. At the end of their tenure, they'll return to their homes-in-exile in India and pass along the information to fellow Tibetan community members. [...]

"Israel is a known leader in agriculture and agriculture technology. Even countries that don't have diplomatic ties with Israel send envoys to learn from our farmers. So this group is a natural extension of what Israel does well," TIFTP spokesperson Ran Natanzon told ISRAEL21c.

Israel has already trained 300 Tibetans, who believe that the agriculture industry will be critical towards their nation's survival once Tibet is liberated.

Note: This program would not have been possible if it were not for the efforts of The Israeli Friends of the Tibetan People and Israel's Forum for International Humanitarian Aid.

Israel To Buy West Bank Gas

It looks like a British company has discovered some gas off the coast of the Gaza strip.

Although nothing has yet been finalized yet, BG Group is in the process of getting agreements between both Israel and the PA as this find could not only help ease Israel's energy strain, but help bring the West Bank out of its current poverty.

(Globes Online) BG Group (NYSE: BRG; LSE: BG) is poised to sign a $4 billion 15-year contract deal to supply Palestinian gas to Israel from a discovery off the Gaza coastline, London daily "The Times" reported yesterday.

"The Times" added that the contract "will provide 10% of Israel’s annual energy requirement, and the Palestinians would receive total royalties of $1 billion. The Gaza field, it said, "holds one trillion cubic feet of gas, the equivalent of 150 million barrels of oil, equivalent to a large North Sea field."

Of course, the current situation in the region has to "tone down" a bit, but this discovery may convince both sides to cool their jets enough to work out an economic deal.

Jewish Invention Could Save American Truckers Gas

With gases in America reaching an all time high (or at least according to those buying gas at $3 per gallon), this smart invention may help trucking agencies reduce the amount of gas they use while delivering goodies across the US.

(Israel National News) Israeli researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a device which is likely to save the U.S. trucking industry some $400 million per year. The drag reduction device, an actuator, was exhibited at the "World's Best Technologies Showcase" in Texas.

Through the combined action of suction and pulsed blowing of airflow, the device reduces drag in a controlled manner when it is attached to the back of the truck or trailer.

It's great for them to have this device for truckers in the states, although I wonder if they would consider inventing something similar for the average car? Hmm...

Camera d'Or Prize Awarded To Israeli Film

A film by Shira Geffen and Etgar Keret has won an award for best debut feature.

(Ynet News) "Meduzot," the young authors' first film, is based on a script written by Geffen and directed by her and her husband, author Etgar Keret, and tells the story of three women in Tel Aviv. [...]

The movie's producer, Amir Harel, told Ynet he was thrilled by the news. "The award is an extremely important accomplishment. The financial award (of about $200,000) will help us with the distribution and is an incentive to create another film. There's no doubt this has been a very good year for Israeli cinema."

I was unable to locate a video preview of the film, although the reviews of the film are quite impressive. If I find a video preview online (or at least a place where one can order the film) I'll post an update over here.

Holocaust Hero Saved 2500 Jewish Children

(Image: Irena Sendler being awarded with the Order of Smile in Poland, Credit: AP via Jerusalem Post)

During one of the greatest tragedies of history, a brave polish woman decided to risk death and torture in order to save as many Jewish kids as possible.

Despite her heroism many decades ago, it seems as if the world (not to mention the many survivors) are now seeking to contact this woman who has affected so many lives.

(Jerusalem Post) The pilgrims keep coming, seeking out the fragile 97-year-old woman in black in her tiny nursing home room filled with pictures and flowers.

The attention tires Irena Sendler sometimes. She never sought credit for smuggling 2,500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto anyway. Not for risking execution to save other people's children, or holding out under torture by the Nazis, or enduring decades as a nonperson under the communist regime that followed. [...]

"I'm very tired - it's too much for me," Sendler said recently of the incessant visits, during a brief meeting with an Associated Press reporter. And giving a little laugh, she added a bit sadly: "I feel my age."

This woman did a lot of work insuring that these kids survived! She not only smuggled the children under the noses of the Nazi's, but gave them fake names in order to help them evade detection.

She also made sure that the children's real names remained with them, so that they would never lose their Jewish identity. One of the children (who is now an adult herself) calls this woman "my Polish mother" and Sendler has even been nominated for a Nobel Peace prize by her country.

Although I could go on about this womans courage, the Jerusalem Post has written an excellent article highlighting how she smuggled the children away from danger, as well as what happened when the Nazi's caught her.

So stop reading this blog, and read the rest of her story.

Biofuel Through Fungus Power?

(Image: Dr. Amir Sharon, Credit: Israel 21^st Century)


Sometimes touted as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels, biofuels have the potential to not only seriously reduce the amount of oil consumed worldwide, but pollution as well.

Unfortunately in order to do this, our species would have to convert edible food into fuel, since the non-edible parts (such as corn stalk) are much harder to convert into biofuel.

Since our fuel demands vastly outstrip our food demands, governments would probably be unlikely to consider biofuel as a serious solution. That is until an Israeli scientist discovered a little secret using nature's most useful creatures.

(Israel 21^st Century) Israeli researcher Dr. Amir Sharon of Tel Aviv University is on the trail. Sharon has discovered a transgenic fungus strong enough to convert even the most resilient plant parts into bioethanol, a chemical used for biofuel. Strengthened with an anti-death gene, this fungus is resistant to harsh conditions such as heat and toxic substances - both of which are released while converting plant biomass into ethanol. As a result, the production of ethanol using this transgenic fungus could be much more efficient than with conventional fungi.

If Israel is able to perfect this, they may not only help resolve their energy dependence woes but America's as well, as both nations are seeking ways to "go green" ASAP.

Note: It seems to me that Israel may become the very first "energy independent" nation as they are already exploring ways to turn shale and asphalt into oil and radioactive waste into useful energy.

Update: Added image credit near the top.

Video: A New Way To Educate Palestinian Kids

(Hat Tip: One Jerusalem)

It looks like an Israeli soldier found an interesting way to instruct Palestinian kids on what it means to be...well...Israeli.

Note: I thought I'd never see the day that life imitated art. If only...

IBM Israel Taking Care Of Business

Despite the hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of software applications out there for businesses, sometimes its hard to find one program that fits your needs.

Although larger (or more affluent) companies can simply contract or employ an IT developer to create an application from scratch, most small businesses do not have that luxury, forcing them to simply use something "off the shelf."

Unless of course they have heard about what IBM Israel is doing, that is.

(Israel 21^st Century) They've just announced their Development Engagement Service (DevEngage), a free Web application development tool with a simple user-interface to allow people without technical skills in small businesses and other organizations to create applications that solve daily tasks. [...]

"This new application development tool will let users with no software development expertise skill create online forms with ease that complete routine tasks," said Gal Shachor, project lead for this technology at the IBM Research Lab in Haifa. "IBM wants to ensure that users at small and medium-sized businesses are able to capitalize on modern Web 2.0 technologies in a simple, user-friendly way."

This technology is simple, yet elegant, and best of all it may ultimately prove to be very useful for everyone ranging from corporate secretaries to entrepreneurs needing to sort info from the daily grind.

Users can preview the web application over at alphaWorks Services, although they will need to register an account with IBM in order to give it a demo test.

Video: Jerry Seinfeld To Visit Israel

(Hat Tip: What War Zone??)

One of the greatest comedians of television prime time has decided to take a small detour in the Holy Land in order to promote an upcoming film.

(Ynet News) Jerry Seinfeld is scheduled to visit Israel in November to promote the new animated film, "Bee Movie." [...]

The movie tells the story of a male bee (dubbed by Jerry Seinfeld) who graduated college and is disgruntled by the fact that his only option is to manufacture honey. The bee hangs out in New York City where he befriends a flower salesgirl.

No word on whether Jerry Seinfeld will perform or not, but either way his visit will sure make many Israeli Seinfeld fans happy.

For those wondering what the film looks like, here is a preview of the flick below.





More details over at BeeMovie.com.

India See's Israel As A "Preferred Ally"

Although there seems to be some "squawking" amongst the Indian left, the government of India has reaffirmed that the ties between the Asian sub-continent and Israel will remain strong--at least militarily.

(The Economic Times) The Left may be seeking the downgrading of New Delhi's ties with Tel Aviv, but Israel continues to be India's preferred destination for accessing arms and weapons systems. Defence minister A K Antony told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that that over $5-billion worth of defence purchases were made from Israel between 2002 and 2007. [...]

The decision to strengthen ties with Israel is a clear rejection of the Left's demand for ending military cooperation with Tel Aviv. As Israel plays a key role in the conclusion of over 200 agreements for agricultural development in crucial areas like drip irrigation, greenhouse technology and horticulture in India, the UPA government considers it as a valuable ally.

Although the main reason India is seeking to maintain these ties is because of military interests, their eyes seem to be focusing attention on Israel's "greener side."

Known for hosting well over a billion residents, India can ill-afford to sideline a friend like Israel, especially one who seeks to benefit the world's largest democracy.

Israel Spending Over A Billion Dollars To Woo Jews To Jerusalem

(Image Credit: RomKri of Jerusalem Shots)

Despite the fact that many Jews are proud that Jerusalem is once again in Jewish hands (as the capital of their nation), many Israeli citizens for some strange reason are reluctant to relocate within the capital.

The government, unsatisfied with the current status of "Jerusalem immigration" has decided to spend approximately $1.45 billion in order to see more Jews live within what many regard as the holiest spot on earth.

(Israel National News) Jewish areas of Jerusalem are expected to receive extra attention with the allocation of some $1.45 billion toward development aimed at improving the capital’s Jewish demographics.

Media reports quoted Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as saying the government would approve NIS 5.75 billion to upgrade the city's infrastructure while strengthening its Jewish majority.

Although I have heard of many Jews desiring to keep Jerusalem 100 percent in Jewish hands, I have seen various conversations online where a few of them would decline actually living in the Holy City.

If anybody who is Israeli is reading this, I would be curious as to why so many Jews are avoiding living in their capital city, and whether or not the incentives would attract them towards reconsidering?

BusinessWeek Getting Kosher

One of the worlds most influential business magazines has decided to make it easier for Israeli's to keep up to date with the latest corporate news happening around the globe.

(Globes Online) Hirsch Media is going to publish a Hebrew-language "Businessweek". Sources inform "Globes" that the company and the publisher of "Businessweek" recently signed an agreement for this purpose. Hirsch Media confirmed the report

The first issue of "Businessweek Israel" will be published in September. Sources said that "Businessweek Israel" will be published every two weeks and sold by both subscription and at newsstands.

This is probably a smart move for BusinessWeek, as Israel is quickly rising as an attractive place to work, with companies like Google, AOL, Microsoft and Intel actively recruiting the best minds (or buying them) in an attempt to stay on step ahead of the competition.

According to Globes, the Hebrew version of the magazine will be launching in September, although no specific date has been mentioned.

Note: I wonder if the magazine will either be a translation of what BusinessWeek publishes in English, or a spin off with an Israeli twist?