Paul Mikkelson introduced his close friend and cycling partner Bruce Stanger. Bruce is a past president of the West Hartford Rotary and an attorney in practice for over 40 years. He specializes, according to Paul, in suing other attorneys. (ED NOTE: He must be very popular around the Bar association!) Mr. Stanger is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Friends of the Arava Institute, an environmental think tank with a focus on the Middle East and its unique geographic, climatological and political circumstances. Bruce also has three grandchildren.
According to its website: "the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies is a leading environmental studies and research program in the Middle East. It houses academic programs in partnership with Ben Gurion University, research centers, and international cooperation initiatives focusing on a range of environmental concerns and challenges.
With a student body comprised of Jordanians, Palestinians, Israelis, and students from around the world, the Arava Institute offers students an exceptional opportunity to learn from leading professionals while forming friendships and developing skills that enable them to lead the region and the world in solving today’s most pressing environmental challenges. Here, the idea that nature knows no political borders is more than a belief. It is a fact, a curriculum, and a way of life."
Bruce opened his talk by taking note of the cycling jersey he wore, which celebrated a cycling event known as "The Israel Ride", a ride he has participated in 12 times in the last 14 years, and in which he will again participate in October of this year. The ride is multifaceted and helps support the Arava Institute. He noted the ride is an awe inspiring experience which was started by American's who emigrated to Israel in a religious act known to Jews as "aliyah". [Aliyah is the immigration of Jews from the diaspora to the Land of Israel (Eretz Israel in Hebrew). Also defined as "the act of going up"—that is, towards Jerusalem—"making Aliyah" by moving to the Land of Israel is one of the most basic tenets of Zionism. - Wikipedia].
The idea behind the institute was join Arabs and Israeli's together in common purpose for the good of all. The reality is that Israeli Arabs and Jews mostly live separate lives, in separate towns and schools, and interact minimally except in commerce. Arava intends to help bridge that divide.
The Arava Institute is made up of five constituent environmental research and development centers. Their researchers work cooperatively with students, scientists and communities throughout the Middle East to address regional issues with cross-border solutions. These centers are:
a. Arava Center for Sustainable Development
b. Center for Hyper-Arid Socio-Ecology
c. Center for Renewable Energy & Energy Conservation
d. Center for Sustainable Agriculture
e. Center for Transboundary Water Management
Bruce shared several vignettes of what has been accomplished through and by Arava, which included:
The "PELs" program, an acronym for "Peace & Environmental Leadership", is a group of Institute graduates who came together to solve a problem. They worked together to gain access to the information needed to determine the flow of water in the Jordan river, information that was otherwise difficult to obtain. The group of students was made up of 1/3 Arabs from various locations, 1/3 Israeli Jews and 1/3 Americans.
Arava students developed a camel dung-based methane generator for Bedouin societies, which can be distributed to households for production of methane for heat and for cooking. For Palestinians, Arava students developed a gray water management system which reclaims sewage for use as irrigation water in agriculture, though the water is not potable for human use.
Changing topics, Bruce went on the describe the "Israel Ride" in more detail, noting the ride also supports "Hazon", an organization that supports sustainable food programs and health. The bike ride includes 4 groups within it which are designed to allow four distinct experiences. The first type, which Bruce described as "kick-a_s" , is listed in the brochure as "Chalutzim" and includes a 70 mile-per-day ride with extra hills and distances. A 100 mile day is included in it. The second type, "Tzsofim" is 55 mile-per-day , from hotel to hotel, and includes some lectures. It is intentionally less demanding. The third type, Shomrim, includes 30 mile-per-day of riding in a mix of cycling and touring, and is further relaxed in tone. Finally, the fourth "ride", Chaverim, includes no cycling at all, but is a touring option for guests and spouses who want to attend the overall event, but not ride.
To date, the ride has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of Arava and Hazon. The minimum amount necessary to raise for participation is $3800.00 and Bruce is proud that the West Hartford Rotary has helped support his participation many times. He notes that other than raising the pledged funds, there are no expenses for riders beyond airfare, as hotel and food are covered by the event organizers.
In response to questions Bruce indicated he keeps a bicycle in storage in Israel, though many non-Israeli riders travel back and forth with their bicycles. Asked whether issues beyond the environmental are discussed he explained a program known as "Track 2", in which 100 representatives of various government entities gather to talk about regional environment issues, though often, he says, "peace sneaks in." Finally, he described a program known as "Red-Dead" in which water is allowed to flow from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea, and in so doing turns turbines that produce electric energy and others that assist in desalination of seawater. This latter program is operated jointly by Israel and Jordan. In Israel at least, 30% of potable water is derived from desalination. Asked about Rotary's presence in the Middle East, he noted there are 2 or 3 Rotary clubs in Jerusalem, of 5 total in Israel. There is also 1 Club in Ramallah, a city located on the west bank of the Jordan River.