Construction on the biggest infrastructure project in Israel’s history is currently underway. Photo: Nitai Reches
On June 22, the Israeli surf community will attempt to set a world record for surfing’s largest ever “Circle of Honor” (a record currently held by the City of Huntington Beach). You are probably asking yourself, “Why?!” Well, it’s quite a simple answer, actually.
The construction of what’s being called Israel’s largest infrastructure project in history is currently underway – which will result in up to 20 oil rigs across a six-mile stretch of coastline, all less than six miles from the beaches surfers enjoy. This region just offshore has quickly become yet another part of the world where people and the natural environment are being put at risk of catastrophic accidents and pollution. All of this goes without mentioning the 300,000 cubic meters of polluted water that will go into the ocean every year with or without the new oil rigs.
Photo: Nitai Reches
Continued exploration and extraction of fossil fuels at the risk of the natural environment and those that enjoy it is, of course, nothing new. And progress comes at a price. But, here in Israel and around the world we need to ask ourselves how high that potential cost may be.
The Circle of Honor will be a peaceful protest, and won’t be aimed at keeping these rigs out of the water altogether, rather simply moving them further away from our beaches.
Leaks and even small breakdowns that result in tainted water or worse are common risks that come with these types of projects. What’s more, the Israeli government may not even be equipped to handle a possible spill, no matter how small or big. This means any problem that comes along the way could cause unimaginable destruction to what is now the only undeveloped stretch of coast we have left.
So this is a call to anybody in and around Israel on June 22: Help us break a Guinness World Record and make a positive change so we can all keep enjoying our ocean.
