The KnessetThe Israeli Parliament

“As I came to a world planted with trees, I will plant trees for

the coming generations...”

(a saying of a sage, the Talmud)

Commission for Future Generations

The Role of the The Role of the CommissionerCommissioner

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.

Means of ActionsMeans 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.

Commission’sCommission’s Areas of Areas of ActivityActivity

Education

Health

Demography

Justice

Quality of Life

National Economy

Environment

Natural Resources

Planning & Construction

Science, Development & Technology

SURVIVAL DIMENSIONSURVIVAL DIMENSION

Looking forward with anxiety

Viscous Circle

Turning inwards

Preserving the present reality

Using force to prevent change

No energy for planning and

creating a future

CREATING FUTURE – NEW CREATING FUTURE – NEW DIMENSIONDIMENSION

Broad view on Humanity real

needs

The courage to forget

Intuitive study of the field

Changing awareness

Listening and containing

The courage to create in the

unknown

The inner source for creating the future

Future generations and National vitality

Demography and Future Generations-

The German and the Israeli Cases

A few Demographic factsInternational Comparison (2005, CIA WFB)

IsraelIsraelGermanyGermanyWorldWorld

Population:6,276,883 82,431,390 6,446,131,400

Age structure:

0-14 years:

26.5% 14.4% 27.8%

65+ years 9.8% 18.9% 7.3%

Median age:29.39 years 42.16 years 27.6 years

Population growth rate:

1.2% 0% 1.14%

fertility Rate:

child/woman

2.44 1.392.6

Life expectancy

79.32 years 78.65 years 64.33 years

Migration rate

0/10002.18 /1000-

The Distribution of Israel’s population (2003)

% the total population

Fertility Rate (FR) child/woman

Workforce participation(% of the 15+ age population)

Government Support

(% of net income)

Ultra-Orthodox

Jews

6%5.845%40%

Minorities (Muslims, Christians Druze, etc.)

19%4.439%24%

Majority population

75%2.358%12%

Averages100%2.4454.3%14%

Economic and Demographic facts in Israel- a few insights

•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.

A few Economic factsInternational Comparison (2004, CIA WFB)

IsraelIsraelGermanyGermanyWorldWorld

GDP - per capita (PPP) :$20,800 $28,700 $8,800

GDP - real growth rate:4.3% 1.7% 4.9%

Labor force (percentage of population) :

42.7%51.7%-

Unemployment rate:8.9% 10.6% 4%-12%

(developed countries)

Gini index

(Distribution of family income ):

35.5 30.0 -

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

8.7% 1.5% 2%

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

Demographic Prediction: Israel and Germany

GermanyIsrael

Year20202050Year2025

Population (millions)

8375Population (millions)

8.2- 9.0

Average age of population

8588Age group:

0-1425.6%

The ratio of pensioners to workers

55/10080/10065+12.7%

Immigrants proportion

50%-Immigrants proportion

17%-20%

Proportion of one-person households

-40%

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

A few notions regarding

Israeli Demography

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.

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.

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.)

What happened to our ancient 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

IS THERE REALY NOT

ENOUGH CHILDREN TO

CREATE OUR FUTURE

GENRATIONS?

Answer: there IS

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”)

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.

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,

A few words from the Judge (Ret.) Shlomo Shoham Commissioner for Future Generations

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.

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.