100 supporters offer 100 reasons to vote “ה” – Green Movement-Meimad

Vote "ה" for התנועה הירוקה-מימד

For our readers – decided and undecided.  Vote on 10 February and make an informed decision.  The next government will set Israel’s agenda for the near and distant future. If you are decided, feel free to join the list with a comment!

Marc, 60, Informal educator, Central Galilee

As we’ve just seen in another election elsewhere, maybe there needs to be some place for vision, for saying out loud: “This is what we really want – not the least of all evils, not what we can get under the circumstances – but what we really believe in.” When you keep settling for mediocrity, you get mediocrity. If we want to raise the level of discourse, we have to look up.

Marie, 55, Marketing Communications Manager, Karmiel

Because politicians who score high on environmental issues also tend to push for better availability of health care, education, and programs to develop renewable energy that will allow us to create new, high quality jobs.

Orit, 56, Computer programmer, Haifa

Green Movement-Meimad talks about issues that concern each one of us, the future of this country and our future here. They don’t use the security cloud to hide the real problems, like providing citizens with a clean and healthy environment: air, water, earth, society, politics.

Bob, 50, Marketing Professor, Mevasseret Zion

Education, Transportation, Social Justice and the Environment in Israel are all very important to me and the Green Movement/Meimad are most focused on these issues.

Ayelet, 35, Social worker, Haifa

As a mother, living and raising children in Haifa, in Neve Sha’anan with its polluted air from the industry in Haifa bay, my responsibility is for the welfare of my children. I will vote to make sure my children breathe clean, healthy air.  I have no faith in the old parties who have promised for years and have not delivered, and I don’t believe that local politicians in Haifa will do anything about it.  My vote for the Green Movement-Meimad will bring about the real changes – it is a vote for everyone’s health and for the future generations.

Ruth, 58, translator/interpreter, Jerusalem

Vote “heh – ה” for a party that supports a  politics of social harmony, in a Jewish and green framework.

Amit, 31, NGO operations coordinator, Haifa

For the first time in my personal history – I feel hope for my and my children’s future.

Danny, 36, Osteopath, Jerusalem

HaTnuah Hayeruka-Meimad deal with the issues I face at every moment – the air that I breathe, the environment I live in, the welfare of the people I meet and the education of the future generation – and who better than Rav Melchior to be responsible for this?

Shai, 33, Transportation Engineer, Haifa

Because it’s the best pick around, I mean, HEY, what’s the question?

Shirley, 33, Graduate student, Tel Aviv

If you are aware of the environment around you, then you know that only the Green Movement – Meimad understands what needs to be done.

Simon, 53, Activist and Permaculturist, Haifa.

The mission statements of both the Green Movement and Meimad say it all. Why would I vote for anyone else?

Party chairman Rabbi Michael Melchior

Daniel, 40, Environmental policy researcher, Haifa

I want Israel to be a good place for my family and community – a country that has good education, health care and environment.  Rabbi Melchior, Eran Ben Yemini, Alon Tal and their list have proven experience in making Israel a good place to live.

Leiba Chaya, 38, Tour guide and environmental educator, Moshav Aderet

Because the leaders of the party are smart, talented, experienced, able to perceive the breadth and complexity of our country’s problems, and able to envision practical yet comprehensive solutions. And because they believe in Jewish culture/identity in the Jewish homeland without resorting to radical, dangerous ideologies. And because they will work to enable Israeli citizens to participate in the creation of their own future instead of imposing one from on high.

Shai, 33, Port crane operator, Haifa

As a port worker who’s been working for years under the threat of privatization, I’m glad to find a party who stand strongly on the side of workers, of people.

Kalia, 32, Post doctoral researcher (Biochemistry), Haifa

I will vote for Hatnua Hayeruka-Meimad becaue my priorities lie in education, social-democracy and environment; I think these are the most important things for Israel in order to develop and prosper.

Eilon, 42, Lecturer in Israel Studies, Jerusalem

It is the only party that has a deep and clear integration of Judaism, social-democratic priorities and ecological responsibility.  Until today, we are used to seeing Judaism as something that divides and separates the political map.  The Green Movement-Meimad turns Judaism into a unifying element, a foundation on which to build a society with social and ecological responsibility.  A party like this in Knesset will support the growing movement of Judaism and social justice, will represent the movement in Knesset, and will eventually replace the ideological vacuum represented by the larger parties.

Uri, 47, Senior lecturer (Ecology), Givat Ada

This party presents the ultimate team. They are honest, hard workers, professionals, and have the best credit in the country for protecting the environment.

Sigalit, 42, Informal educator, Galilee

I will vote for Meimad-Hayeruka because its candidates are hard-working, honest, idealistic people, with impressive records – each and every one!

Haim, writer, Jerusalem

Far from being a one-issue party, the Green Movement-Meimad offers a comprehensive program that addresses international affairs, economics, social services, and education as well as the environment. In the tradition of the Green movements of Europe, the environmental crisis serves as a paradigm for how to address the entire range of issues facing the country

Yonina, pensioner/academic, Haifa

So that on Shabbat, holidays, and weekends we will have beaches to walk on and waters to swim in, trails to hike, parks to visit, and natural flora and fauna to wonder at RATHER THAN spend our time in shopping malls, canyonim, and walking the pavement.

Nir, 31, Lawyer and Ph.D. student, Tel Aviv

Green Movement-Meimad Band

The people who comprise our movement have proven their capacity to lead environmental initiatives and campaigns. I have been taught by prof. Alon Tal, 10 years ago as a young(er) student, and his enthusiasm and impact on my life is still apparent. I believe together with Eran Ben-Yemini and Rabbi Malchior, Iris Hann and everyone else, they will be able to lead a new green coalition, together with other MK’s.

Rina, 27, Graphic artist, Tel Aviv.

To provide a fresh, new approach to the government – putting people before politics.

Jonathan, 58, English teacher, Haifa.

We must do something, to start making the changes necessary for the survival of our planet.  So called “environmental awareness” of the major parties is a smoke screen.

Leah, Information technology expert, Ra’anana

Rabin’s murder caused me to understand how deep is the gap between different groups if the Jewish nation in all and in Israel particularly. I understood that changes must be done to avoid the destruction of Israel and the Jewish nation all over theworld.  I believe in all the Hatnua Hayeruka – Meimad beliefs’, and hope to continue and contribute to the society in all it’s needs.

Paul, Musician and Environmental Artist

I shall vote Green as I always do, but this time for this list.  I know Alon Tal’s work to be from the heart.  I would like some human to represent all the non-human life forms as well, I hope this is a start.  I do not see eye to eye with all the agenda of the party, however as I believe in the saying, “No matter who I vote for, the wrong party always gets in,” I see this is the best I am going to get for now.

Jack

A vote for Meimad- HaYeruka is a vote for clean politics, a better future and productive MKs who will care less about bashing each other and more about building a better future for all!

Zvi, 33, Chief Scientist in Start-Up Company, Haifa

In the past decades, the so called “left-wing” parties in Israel were so busy talking about peace and about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that, they didn’t notice (or didn’t care) that Israel had become an ultra-capitalist country. The Social-Democratic moderate-left option was left as an orphan and unrepresented. I believe the formation of The Green Movement-Meimad is a great opportunity to create a new political party, similar to the European Green parties, which will focus both on environmental issues as well as on social issues.

On the campaign trail

Randy, 49, Couple & Family Therapist, Raanana

The main reason to vote “Heh” is because the leaders of this party have proven themselves as people with principles who want to make Israel a more enlightened society. Theirs is an essential voice in the Knesset and media, of mutual respect in the way we relate to one another, respect for various forms of Jewish practice and respect for the land, seas and all forms of life that we’re responsible for.

Dor, 34, Marine biologist and lecture, Kibbutz Ein Shemer

One day, say, in the year 2059, my grandchildren will wake up one lovely morning in their clean green democratic, free and advanced homeland of milk, honey and social justice, they may want to pay a visit to their 84 year old grand dad, so he can once again tell the tale of how bleak everything looked and how once no one cared, and then a group of brave men and women decided to change the system from within. May we all get the future we deserve.

Aviv, 21, student, Haifa

I support the Green Movement-Meimad because it stands for “clean” politics – in more ways than one!

Deborah, Jerusalem

In a 1999 pre-election survey, I was asked what was the most pressing question facing Israel. My stunned survey conductor told me no one else had answered “water.” Ten years later, water is still our most pressing question (as continuous government neglect and mismanagement have kept it so). This time, however, there is a voter solution to this question: I believe the Green Movement/Meimad has the combined knowledge and “do-it-ness” to change our horrible reality. That is why this party has my vote.

Sarit,27, student, Ramat Gan

Because we need sustainable and accessible public transportation, to decrease air pollution, the socio-economic gap & the waste of public open space.

David. Theater director. Pardes Hana.

Voting Hay for TYM ensures that 4-5 leading social-environmental activists, proffessionals and legislators will be in the Knesset working with us, the citizens, to create a safe, healthy, just and educated Israeli society.

Arieh, 47, journalist and olive farmer

Because I believe we need to save our open spaces and twist the arms of the government to make greener energy.