Commission for Future Generations

1. The Knesset The Israeli Parliament Commission for Future Generations

2. Commission for Future Generations “As I came to a world planted with trees, I will plant trees for the coming generations...” (a saying of a sage, the Talmud)

3. The Role of the Commissioner The Knesset Commissioner for Future Generations 1. Will give his future oriented judgment to bills and secondary legislation debated in the Knesset which he considers to have particular relevance for future generations; 2. Will present reports to the Knesset from time to time, at his discretion, with recommendations on issues with particular relevance for future generations; 3. Will advise Knesset members on issues with particular relevance for future generations; 4. Will present to the Knesset, once a year, a report on his activities in accordance with this law.

4. Means of Actions • The Commissioner has the authority to retrieve information from all governmental entities, such as ministries, public companies, state’s institutions or enterprises and more. • The Commission is given the authority to initiate bills that advance the interests of the future generations and advises Members of the Knesset and Knesset Committees over the legislative process. • The Commissioner has the authority to delay the legislative process in case he or she will find it necessary to seek more time to formulate the position over the matter.

5. Commission’sAreas of Activity Economy Environment Society Education Health Demography Justice Quality of Life Environment Natural Resources Planning & Construction National Economy Science, Development & Technology

6. SURVIVAL DIMENSION Looking forward with anxiety Turning inwards Viscous Circle No energy for planning and creating a future Preserving the present reality Using force to prevent change

7. CREATING FUTURE – NEW DIMENSION The inner source for creating the future The courage to create in the unknown Broad view on Humanity real needs Changing awareness The courage to forget Intuitive study of the field Listening and containing

8. Future generations and National vitality Demography and Future Generations- The German and the Israeli Cases

9. A few Demographic factsInternational Comparison (2005, CIA WFB)

10. The Distribution of Israel’s population(2003)

11. A small country with a high fertility rate, and a very • young population, however problematically distributed; • Majority population is only 75% however constitutes 58% of the • Labor Force; • Government support to non-participants in the labor market is increasingly reaching 40% of this sector’s net income, Thus raising the burden on the working population. Economic and Demographic facts in Israel- a few insights

12. A few Economic factsInternational Comparison (2004, CIA WFB)

13. More insights regarding Economy in Israel • GDP- Gross Domestic Product is fairly low; • Growth is occurring, however, not reaching all levels of society; inequality (Gini) has increased with growth; • Birth rate is fairly high, however, participation in labor force is still low and unemployment is similar to this of Germany

14. Demographic Prediction: Israel and Germany

15. The economic and sociological impacts of the Israeli demography • The rate of participation in the Labour Force expected by 2030 is 52% (now 58%); the Majority of population (now 75%), becomes only 63% of the population; • The tax burden imposed on the Majority of the population for purposes of subsidising the minority is expected to be up to 17% of the Majority’s income (in 2004 it was 8%). • Rate of children expected to be born into a socio-economic status of poverty- expected to increase

16. A few notions regarding Israeli Demography

17. IsraelThe revival of the “Nation State” • A state that is defined as the “Home of the Jewish People. National feelings are nurtured. • A national history of persecution that results with “national anxiety of survival”. • The minority complex two-way process: Jews (historical minority) Arabs (existing minority). • Current national anxiety of survival due to unstable national security situation. • Experts evaluations imply that the “Nation State” concept is expected to prevail even with on-going globalization processes.

18. Economic support by the state to encourage fertility • Full subsidy by the state for fertility treatments with no limitations on the number of children. • Until 2002- Progressive Child Allowances, growing from 1st- 6th child.

19. Sociological Background • High birth rate within the Israeli religious sector and the Muslim sector (especially ultra-orthodox groups)—a religious command that became a social norm. • Growing rates of poverty thus affecting socio-economic status, and usually characterised in high-birth rate (birth control etc.)

20. What happened to ourancient natural instinct for posterity and continuity ? • The preliminary instinct was a manifestation of vitality and the passion for life- embodied in the Law of Nature

21. IS THERE REALY NOT ENOUGH CHILDREN TO CREATE OUR FUTURE GENRATIONS? Answer: there IS

22. A new point of viewCreating your future in a new global world • How? • Start massive national advocacy for adoption of children from developed countries • Attach proper financial incentives for adopting parents • Reduce bureaucracy around the adoption process • Suggest creative frameworks for adoption such as designated foster homes that will be financially rewarded accordingly (per child). • Stir public discussion regarding the national demographic situation and the value of family revolving around posterity and children (in distinction from “family values”)

23. Why? • Balance and Sustainability: a sustainable and global world calls for dispersal of resources. Thus, population explosion in one part of the world may be another part’s solution. • Global Society: globalization brings about not only one-way transfer of products and services, but an inevitable two-way transfer of cultures- WE MUST RELEASE FEAR OF DIFFERENT CULTURES. • Future Humanity is about to confront common challenges regarding planet earth. No time like the present to start creating a future solution.

24. A few words from the Judge (Ret.) Shlomo Shoham Commissioner for Future Generations This magic moment – when we risk parting from the familiar patterns of the past, This magic moment when the past disappears and we dare to leave the dimension of known time And to look down to the future we are facing. This magic moment – that creates a new reality. I have longed for this magic moment my whole life. This magic moment contains pure mountain air, love and perfect acceptance of the entire universe,

25. In this magic moment there is eternal love for this earth, And a harmonious dance with nature and God. In this magic moment – we walk past the fear of the future destroys every pleasant place, We allow our special melody to ring out and bring inspiration. This magic moment, this moment only, Is the security for mankind’s ability To create his world and to design his future.

26. This magic moment, this moment alone, can create a future in the life of a nation Can bring it the emotional strength and power – to fully embrace its identity, To look at its past, but not to be captive of the of the traumas of the past,, To a dimension of forgiveness, to a dimension of healing, to a dimension of acceptance, To the dimension of future.