"I worked with
[Obama] on tough
new sanctions that
are damaging the
Iranian economy,
including their
ability to sell oil."
— Sen. Carl Levin
CL: As I outlined at AIPAC,
President Obama hasn't just talked
about supporting Israel, he has acted
time and again in support of our
friend and ally. He has assembled an
unprecedented global coalition to
confront Iran. I know of no one else,
except perhaps Secretary [of State]
Clinton, who has the international
credibility to organize such a coalition.
I worked with his administration on
tough new sanctions that are damag-
ing the Iranian economy, including
their ability to sell oil. He has made it
clear that all options are on the table,
including military force should it
become necessary.
I believe it would do a disservice to
the security of the United States and
Israel if we allowed the few who are
seeking partisan advantage on this
issue to drive a wedge that divides
friends of Israel.
JN: How serious is this problem
relative to the primary election,
contraception, and other issues
now being heavily covered in the
press?
CL: This is a serious issue that
deserves, and has received, serious
discussion.
JN: Is there anything else you'd
like to add?
CL: One under-appreciated fac-
tor in this discussion is how missile
defense systems in Israel, developed
and built with significant U.S. assis-
tance, are contributing to Israel's
security. We share satellite and radar
missile warning data with Israel, and
U.S. troops are on the ground in Israel
overseeing the operation of a power-
ful U.S. missile-defense radar system.
U.S.-Israel missile defense coopera-
tion makes it much more difficult for
the Iranians to be confident that, if
the time comes when military action
is necessary, they could successfully
retaliate with their missile arsenal.
Thanks to U.S.-Israel missile
defense cooperation, should Iran
make the fateful choice to develop a
nuclear weapon, Iran's missiles will
not stop the United States and Israel
from doing what we have to do to pre-
vent them from succeeding. EJ
MI-Israel Business Bridge
Creates Advisory Council
Letter Urges Funding For
Israel-U.S. Energy Research
The Bloomfield Hills nonprofit
Michigan Israel Business Bridge
President, Chuck Newman,
announced members of the newly
formed MIBB Advisory Council.
The Advisory Council is composed
of leaders from Michigan and Israel
who will serve as ambassadors and
counselors for the organization. The
group was chosen for their ability to
assist the MIBB in its mission to pro-
mote business development between
Michigan and Israel.
"This group brings a new level of
expertise and thinking to the cur-
rent and future work of the Michigan
Israel Business Bridge Newman
said.
U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield
Township, and 43 other senators
and representatives of both parties
wrote to the chairmen and ranking
members of the House and Senate
Appropriations Subcommittees on
Energy and Water Agencies request-
ing $2 million for the implemen-
tation of the U.S.-Israel Energy
Cooperative Agreement.
This funding will help implement
the 2008 agreement between the
U.S. and Israel on alternative energy
cooperation. It will provide for
ongoing collaborative research and
development efforts in the fields of
alternative energy technologies and
increased energy efficiency.
❑
The Alternative
Spring Break -
Doing Good Locally
By Russ Olwell
Eastern Michigan University's
Hillel has been organizing
student Alternative Spring
Break trips for years, traveling
to locations such as Los
Angeles and New Orleans,
to work with nonprofits
on community oriented
projects. These projects are
designed to inspire students EMU students on Alternative Spring Break organize
for service and volunteering,
and wrap gifts at The Bottomless Toy Chest.
and to expose them to issues
throughout the nation — such as homelessness, poverty and hunger.
Hillel Engagement Director Miriam Eve Borenstein led two of those trips,
and found them valuable, but lacking in opportunity for local involvement
upon the students' return home.
"They return really charged up about community service, but then school
starts up again and they don't have time to investigate how to do that locally,"
said Hillel Executive Director Clara Silver, who has seen students participate
in ASB trips over the past six years.
While students might learn about housing issues in Los Angeles, and have
a valuable experience working with their nonprofit partner, it was unrealistic
for them to continue that relationship after ASB was over.
So Hillel at EMU decided to change the program to be "completely local,"
and retitled it "IMBY — in my backyard." Given the economic crisis in
southeast Michigan, there was really no reason to venture out of state. So
the group focused on issues close to home — food and hunger in particular
This year's student participants worked two days at SOS Community
Services, a nonprofit housing agency that serves homeless families. Students
unloaded food trucks and bagged groceries for the food pantry. The next day,
they helped to distribute the food to needy residents at a center just a few
blocks from the apartments and residence halls they live in during the school
year.
The program then brought the students to Food Gatherers, where they
learned about food rescue and to visit Zingerman's sustainability director
who talked to them about the way the company builds giving to the
community into their business plan.
Students also were able to learn about fundraising in the community and
were able to participate in a toy distribution program, The Bottomless Toy
Chest, which benefits children at local hospitals.
Guest speakers included Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber, who talked
about the role of public service in his life, and the amount of time and energy
he has put into serving the city of Ypsilanti while holding down his full-time
job as an engineer.
Borenstein said it was much different to have the program close to home.
"There are perks to traveling," such as new places to visit. "Recruitment is
easier, too, as this is a much more self-less trip than the one to California."
This trip should help cement service for the participants. "The students
now know people they can talk to about volunteering," she said. "They have
a relationship with them."
Individually and as a group, students from the trip have been talking
about how to best continue working with these agencies, many of which are
within walking distance of campus.
.
,
Russ Olwell is a professor of History and director of the Gear Up
Program at Eastern Michigan University.
1111 EMU
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March 29 • 2012
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