River Restora?on in the Middle East No Poli?cs - Just Sewage

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Bertina Martin
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1 River Restora?on in the Middle East No Poli?cs - Just Sewage Amos Brandeis Architecture, Urban & Regional Planning, LTD. Ambassador of the Interna?onal Riverfounda?on (IRF, Brisbane)

2 Rivers are everywhere Almost all ci?es and villages around the world were built along rivers or streams North America Asia Australia Boston Beijing Brisbane Europe Africa South America 2 Barcelona Bamako (Mali) Buenos Aires Architect Amos Brandeis 2

3 Conflicts are (almost) everywhere Where you have people you have (poten?al) conflicts On various levels Especially along rivers, as most of them cross boundaries: Countries, states, districts, ci?es, municipali?es, etc. Beijing Brisbane Bosto n Murray River on 3 the border between Barcelona Victoria and New South Wales The Middle East Architect Amos Brandeis 3

4 The Ques?on How can we deal with, or even overcome, the conflicts in the context of river restora?on and management? Before 1996? A_er Bosto n Barcelona Beijing The Alexander Cross Border River: 20 years of Collabora?on between Israeli and Pales?nian neighbors Brisbane Architect Amos Brandeis 4

5 The technical aspects are rela?vely easy We have accomplished a lot on the Israeli side in 20 years, like many other river restora?on projects around the world Nature Parks Parks and Bike trails Water Treatment Nature rehabilita?on Brisbane Bosto n Flood Defense River Watch River Parade River Fes?val Architect Amos Brandeis 5

6 But the Human Aspects are really complicated How do all stakeholders ride in the same direc?on, on one path along one river? Mediterranean Beijing Barcelona Architect Amos Brandeis 6

7 Evolu?on of my approach towards River Restora?on 20 years ago I was very young and naive 10 years ago I was less young and less naive me Brisbane Bosto I thought river restora?on is like n I thought river restora?on is like assembling a complicated puzzle Barcelona preparing a drawing and a report Architect Amos Brandeis 7

8 Evolu?on of my approach towards River Restora?on 5 years ago I was grown up and more experienced Complicated 3d All disciplines All scales One wrong move Leadership Public Par?cip- a?on Open Spaces Land Uses Tourism Statutory River Plans Banks Water Quan?ty Bosto I thought river restora?on is like n River Paths Collaboration Water Sources Leadership Now I am older and realis?c Collaboration I think river restora?on is like solving a normal Barcelona Rubik s Cube solving a 5*5 Rubik s Cube Architect Amos Brandeis 8 Brisbane Many technical aspects 2 hands

9 Leadership = Luck You must be really lucky to have real leaders in your project Palestinian ex-mayor Israeli ex-mayor Architect Amos Brandeis 9

10 Collabora?on = will, sensi?vity and hard work How do we build trust, plan and work together? (no) (no) (yes) (yes) Architect Amos Brandeis 10

11 The Alexander/Zaymar River A case study from the Middle East Mediterranean Beijing Pales?nians Brisbane Israelis Barcelona Architect Amos Brandeis 11

12 Un?l Dirt Dam on the Green Line Kibbutz Yad Hannah The Border Tul Karem Architect Amos Brandeis 12

13 One day in the whole river died Architect Amos Brandeis 13

14 Severe Pollu?on Downstream Architect Amos Brandeis 14

15 1996 Treaty - Demonstrates Leadership & Collabora?on Architect Amos Brandeis 15

16 Prepara?on of a Survey and Plan Together (1997-8) Architect Amos Brandeis 16

17 The Nablus Stream Sewage Survey (1998) About 70 sources of pollu?on. Urban sewage + sewage from stone factories, 26 olive mills, industry, waste dumps, garage oils, etc. 250,000 residents, ~8M m 3 of sewage annually, 53% reach the Green Line. Architect Amos Brandeis 17

18 1998 Treaty Architect Amos Brandeis 18

19 Since 1996 Ups and Downs in the coopera?on between Israelis and Pales?nians along the river Architect Amos Brandeis 19

20 The German Mediated Emek- Hefer - Tul Karem Coopera?on ( ) Architect Amos Brandeis 20

21 Emek Hefer - Tul Karem Workshops (2003-5) With German media?on and support Architect Amos Brandeis 21

22 Emek Hefer - Tul Karem Workshops (2003-5) Architect Amos Brandeis 22

23 Emek Hefer - Tul Karem Workshops (2003-5) Barcelona Gala Dinner Beijing Jews and Muslims sit together Brisbane under Santa Klaus, in a hospital, in the most neutral place on earth, eat fish (not from the Alexander River), and talk only about Sewage Architect Amos Brandeis 23

24 Nablus Stream (Vadi Zaymar) Emergency Sewage Project Diversion Dam Opera?onal Pool and Pumps Electromechanical Devices Extensive Opera?onal Pool with fans Architect Amos Brandeis 24

25 Winning the Thiess Interna?onal Riverprize (2003) Had an amazing impact on the project, and much happened since then Architect Amos Brandeis 25

26 Tul Karem Waste Water Ponds Rehabilita?on Financed and managed by the German Government (KFW) Architect Amos Brandeis 26

27 Tul Karem Sewage Ponds Inaugura?on Ceremony Architect Amos Brandeis 27

28 The emergency sewage project and Tul Karem ponds Architect Amos Brandeis 28

29 Nablus west sewage treatment plant inaugura?on (2013) Photo Credit: Ayelet Tapiro, EcoPeace Middle East Architect Amos Brandeis 29

30 Figh?ng Together Our Common Enemy The Non-conventional Weapon Architect Amos Brandeis 30

31 Olive mills waste removal pilot project (2007) With the assistance of Daimler - Chrysler, and EcoPeace Middle East Bavarian Government Support Architect Amos Brandeis 31

32 Trash Traps on the Pales?nian and Israeli side Architect Amos Brandeis 32

33 Develop the concept of The Alexander River Peace Park Emek Hefer Tul Karem Nablus Architect Amos Brandeis 33

34 Much has s?ll to be done Architect Amos Brandeis 34

35 We remained trustul and op?mis?c colleagues Architect Amos Brandeis 35

36 Can environmental collabora?on lead to other kinds of collabora?on? The Alexander River League Architect Amos Brandeis 36

37 Conclusions - What is needed to deal with conflicts in the context of river restora?on and management Leadership and Collabora?on with all, which presents: Excellent interpersonal rela?onships Basic understanding of each other Respect to the interests of the others Building of mutual trust Overcoming cultural & mentality gaps By- passing of explosive issues Use of mediators, but mainly direct talks Money, Pa?ence, Luck, and belief Architect Amos Brandeis 37

38 Finally My Vision: A river restora?on project can serve as a bridge to overcome major conflicts between authori?es, en??es and even Israelis and Pales?nians who want to live together in peace, on one small piece of land Quaker Tapestry, Kendal, England Architect Amos Brandeis 38

39 The so_ shelled turtle Ques?ons? Architect Amos Brandeis 39

Water is Everywhere. Australia. North America. Asia. Boston Beijing Brisbane. Africa. Europe. South America. Barcelona Bamako (Mali) Buenos Aires

Water is Everywhere. Australia. North America. Asia. Boston Beijing Brisbane. Africa. Europe. South America. Barcelona Bamako (Mali) Buenos Aires Urban River Restoration: Cities & Water Conclusions from Amos the 50th Brandeis ISOCARP Congress and Personal Experience Ambassador of the International Riverfoundation (IRF, Australia) General Rapporteur