An Interview With Karin Kloosterman, Editor of greenprophet.com

May 27, 2008

Writer and editor Karin Kloosterman recently took some time to answer questions about Green Prophet, a blog that looks at many of the pressing environmental issues facing Israel and the world today.

NVR: What exactly is greenprophet.com and where did the idea for the site come from?

Green Prophet is a blog that reports on environment news from Israel. Although our writers are all based in Israel, and the majority of us are Jewish, the goal (at least mine) is to collect writers from other countries in the region in order to advance cooperation and technology on environmental issues. We'd love to hear Muslim voices from Gaza, Egypt, Jordan or Iraq and learn about the spiritual and "green" sides of Islam. Unfortunately the environment isn't a fashionable topic in Arab countries right now. If climate change predictors are correct, it will be. 

With a background in the environment and more recently journalism, I've been working on ways to tell stories about Israel and its special achievements which can help mankind. I'd been steadily reporting on green issues in papers and zines such as the Jerusalem Post, ISRAEL21c and for the Discovery-owned blog, TreeHugger over the last few years. In the beginning, unless it was a technology-related story it seemed like an uphill battle finding positive angles to report on. "Yarok" or green, wasn't part of the Israeli lexicon. 

Overnight, something changed. I was suddenly getting too many "Israel+environment" Google Alerts to handle. Green Prophet is a repository for all this great news, but we are more than just a news aggregator –– as seasoned experts in different fields, we add our special insight too. 

NVR: Green Prophet covers quite a range of environmental topics and issues, from sustainable housing in the Negev to electricity-producing bacteria to Al Gore’s choice of footwear when he accepted the Dan David Prize at Tel Aviv University – how do you decide which issues to write about?

Green Prophet has a life of its own. Our content is chosen by the amazing collection of gifted "prophets" who already have their finger on Israel's green pulse. They are already out there meeting the inventors of new technologies, going to the green events and in many ways big influencers in their own right. Some of them are journalists, or filmmakers, or art aficionados or eco-moms or DJs. A mixed bag. We are all passionate about the environment, but are not necessarily all environmentalists. 

Sometimes we suggest story ideas to each other (for example I'd love more clean technology on the site), but so far we've just been growing together without much guidance. It seems to be working. I think it's important also for us to access some of the special wisdom that Judaism has to offer. Our "Eco-Rabbi" series deals with that.

NVR: Can you tell us a little about some of the other people involved in the project?

I'm part Irish. And according to my mom "gifted" with the art of exaggerating storytelling. Since not all people appreciate such gifts, I'd rather let the other Green Prophets speak for themselves. Our bios are all listed here.

NVR: What are some of the biggest environmental challenges facing Israel today and what is being done to address them?

I think Israel has to stop developing and implementing its great clean technologies abroad and start building serious pilot plants ––  despite financial and policy limitations –– in Israel. Companies are talking about this now, and action is being taken in the solar energy sector, water too. Today I met with GreenFuel's founder Isaac Berzin. He's developed a biofuel from algae solution and because of it was voted as one of Time Magazine's most influential people of 2008. Now back in Israel, to build an alternative fuel powerhouse, he says Israel's window of opportunity in the energy sector is 5 years to entry. Basically if the world doesn't pull its socks up fast, time will run out. Scientists repeat (and Berzin said it today) that humanity has about 10 years to come up with alternative solutions to oil or else we will reach the "point of no return." I won't spell out all the gory details, but basically life as we know it, will change. 

Plastic bags, resistance to composting, and the chronic littering problem is an issue in Israel. While it's disturbing, I don't think this is the biggest problem now. Israel's biggest challenge will be rising to the occasion in time, by producing appropriate clean technologies that will save our planet. I am not kidding. Israel now has a chance to be an energy-efficient light unto the nations. 

NVR: In your opinion, what else needs to be done?

I have lots of opinions. Here are a couple for today:

People have to stop treating the environment as though it's something romantic. I think buying organic clothing and food raises the awareness of certain health and chemical issues, but it is not the solution. Consuming eco-chic fashion and high-end non-chemicalized food is possible for the people who "have" in our society, but sometimes I feel the whole business is detracting from the bigger problem. What about the have-nots? I think people need to put pressure on their government groups in Israel (and everywhere) to legislate the protection of basic rights, like access to healthy food for everyone. 

Israelis should start learning Chinese. According to speakers today at the Renewable Energy Conference at Tel Aviv University, the biggest contributor to greenhouse gases is China. Stocked with coal reserves they are also buying fuel from Iran. (Berzin, pers. communication). If Israel can dream up some irresistible cleantech solutions for China's emerging economy, it could change the trajectory of an otherwise very scary situation for Israel –– both in terms of national/global security and the impact of Chinese-Iran fuel transactions on global warming. 

NVR: Is there a role for Diaspora Jews to play in the protection of Israel’s natural resources? If so, what does that role look like?

Diaspora Jews should invest their money in Israeli clean technologies.  Bar and bat mitzvah money, tzadaka, large endowments, you name it. Throw it all into the pot. I think technologies dealing with water, and those that can produce clean and renewable energy or make energy use more efficient, should be a priority. Israel doesn't really have much in the way of natural resources, but it does have innovation. 

NVR: Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the environmental movement within Israel and beyond?

I am kind of out of touch with local movements and tend to spend my time these days speaking with companies, so I will only speak about the "beyond" part right now. I would like to see more regional cooperation of course –– a sentiment I hear from most Israeli researchers. There is cooperation, but it is usually done in secret. Arabs who work with Israel are facing persecution from their peers. Jordanians do come to Israel to learn about water technology, biological control, and marine research, but the plain fact is that they don't like to talk about it. If we look back in history, Muslim scientists and scholars were among some of the world's most revered. I would like to see them regain this glory and create world-changing solutions together with Israelis. I've been criticized for being an optimist by my peers, but I don't mind at all. 

NVR: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Yes –– Thank you.

Karin Kloosterman is a freelance writer and editor living in Jerusalem. Originally from Canada, she has an academic background in science and writes songs (mainly in her head) for fun. She is the co-founder of Green Prophet, Israel's premiere blog on environment and cleantech news in English.  http://greenprophet.com/