Citizens
The grass roots organization, “Citizens for the Environment in the Galilee” (CFE) was established in 1990 by a group of citizens who were concerned about the state of the environment in their region, the Western Galilee. They recognized that the elimination of air and water pollution along with toxic and solid wastes required immediate action, but this problem was being neglected by the government. As a result, they set up an independent group of their own to do what was possible to improve the appalling state of the environment in the Galilee.
Since its founding, CFE has enjoyed a wide range of successes in reducing the environmental hazards in its region (the Western Galilee). Included among its achievements are the closing of illegal garbage dumps, the removal of a hazardous industrial facilities responsible for a high cancer rate among its workers and local residents (The Electrochemical Industries, Ltd.),the closure of an asbestos site, the organization of clean-up campaigns with the Jewish and Arab residents of the Galilee, the initiation of new laws in the Knesset exposing environmental polluters, and forcing the payment of fines and clean-up costs by several polluting entities, etc.
Of particular concern at present is the fact that quality of water in the rivers and streams of the Galilee are being degraded as a result of the lack of an effective government policy and by general neglect. The CFE has developed a plan to monitor the rivers and streams of the area, with the aim of limiting the opportunity of the local governments to further pollute the sources of fresh water in the area. They are also trying to crack down on the commercial sources of stream pollution.
The Tal Fund believes that this particular organization is especially worthy of its support. A grant was awarded to the CFE to assist it in its work in the field of river restoration.
Contact: Liora Aharon
Email: liora.lior@gmail.com