The Dov Khenin Stencil Kit

I just received an email instructing me to print out this stencil, enlarge it on a photocopier, use an X-acto knife to cut out the black parts on a piece of cardboard, and hit the streets with a spray can. The image says "Dov Khenin Wants You at the Ballot on 11.11"



In other news, in honor of the potential new mayor of Tel Aviv, I recently had a dinner for greens, leftists and journalists on my roof. It began as an idea for 20 people to get together but quickly ballooned into 40 people, who through a few carefully thought-out loans managed to eat on normal plates, silverware and cups. The whole evening took one bag of garbage, but I do have a giant crate of empty wine, beer and vodka bottles waiting to be recycled.

A few conclusions about Tel Aviv may be drawn from the event:

First, most Tel Avivians lean to the left and therefore it's almost not necessary to stipulate that your party is for leftists. A telling conversation between my friend and another guest: Friend: "I just moved to Israel." Other guest: "Why would you ever do that?"

Second, Israeli informality is quite convenient; I offered a few people as a seat a cement block, and they took me up on it.

Third, the potluck dinner is fabulous as it provides for an endless expansion of guests, provided they bring their own dishes.

I'd write more but I have to go buy some spraypaint.

No Butts, No Borders

An inspirational tale of the power of Internet commentary:

I read about Eretz Lelo Bdal (Country without cigarette butts) first on the environmental blog Green Prophet, where I also write. While I was shocked to learn about the damaging effects of cigarette butts, which don't biodegrade and release toxic chemicals for years, I was also disappointed in the campaign's logo, which was generous with Israel's borders and implied that the campaign identified with keeping Gaza, the West Bank and the Golan.

Eretz Lelo Bdalim is hardly the only organization to use the expansionist Israeli map; all newspapers use it for weather forecasts, the "Green Light" traffic safety company uses it, as do dozens of other groups who want to put some shape of the country in print.

But perhaps because it was a new campaign and I had access to founder's blog, I dropped a comment to Hanan Shteingart.

"Great job on doing this campaign. But can I ask why you chose a map that includes Gaza and the West Bank?"

Shteingart replied in email that "It's sad to me that instead of focusing on the campaign you choose to accuse me of having hidden political motives (which I don't). I didn't choose the map, the student union graphic designer did. Surely if she had drawn in borders, someone would email me about why I am giving the Palestinians a state. At any rate, I don't think this is the place to involve politics in what is connected to human cultural heritage. And I'm sure that in Gaza they are also throwing their cigarette butts on the beach."

Me: "I think what you are doing is important, with or without giving the Palestinians a state. But I wrote to you because the small things show political motives, even if we don't want them to. Perhaps we have reached a point where apolitical Israeli organizations cannot use maps in their logos."

HS: "If I had a graphic designer I would redo the logo. But a lack of borders doesn't have to imply occupation. It can also imply unity and solidarity."

I thought the exchange was over when three weeks later I received a surprising email from Shteingart with a link to a reengineered site for the cigarette campaign. Now I urge you to go there, especially if you read Hebrew, and see the newly apolitical logo in context:

Khenin: Communist, Left and Green

This week, Communist Knesset Member Dov Khenin announced his candidacy for Tel Aviv mayor. He's running on behalf of the new party Ir Lekulanu (A city for all), which is an environmental, economically left wing party in the city.

Khenin's candidacy is a big deal on a number of counts. First, the Israeli Communist Party (known as Hadash) is a mixed Arab-Jewish party. Second, it's Communist; Khenin's blog is called Red and Green. Third, Khenin is one of the most consistently green members of the Israeli parliament. Fourth, it's the first major challenge to incumbent Ron Huldai, who has come under fire for letting skyscrapers rise in Tel Aviv's historic neighborhoods. And last, its an indictment of the Green Party, which already has seats in the city council but, according to Ir Lekulanu, doesn't do enough with them.

Does this mean that Tel Aviv is going to be littered with new parks that have signs in Hebrew and Arabic with a corner reserved for collective gardens? Is it possible to get voted in and stick to ideals that are quite out of the Israeli mainstream?

"If a man was drowning and you could either save him or photograph him....

...What aperture and shutter speed would you use?"

Plenty of people accuse journalists of being heartless, and I had a conversation last night that reminded me why.

I was talking with a friend who is a freelance writer, and we were discussing the frustrations of the sinking dollar against Israel's strong shekel. A dollar was worth 4.4 shekels in the beginning of the year, and now it is hovering around 3.3. Meanwhile, the relative calm in Israel means there is not that much demand for a story.

We realized that a third Intifada would be terrific for journalists writing for American papers from Israel. First, there would be a lot more space to fill in newspapers. And second, the shekel would probably tank and our paychecks would suddenly be worth a lot more. There has been some talk of another war with Hizballah recently...