Adi Lustig
Adi is an environmental activist. Born in South Africa, she was raised in Israel on a small moshav close to Palmachim beach, which soon became Adi’s second home. When she was 17 Adi suddenly noticed that seemingly overnight the beach had turned into a construction zone. Tractors were on site and a large area of the beach was being fenced off. The public was unaware of what was happening and no one was doing anything to stop the destruction of this beautiful piece of nature and the intention to deny the general public access to what was and is public land. Although she had no background in activism, Adi launched into action. She raised awareness of what was happening and drafted family, friends, and the public into her campaign to bring construction to a halt, in part by pitching tents and living on the beach to bring the message home. The campaign was a success, and after attracting the attention of social media, television and newspapers, it garnered the support of politicians including the then Minister of the Environment. For Adi this was only the beginning. For the past nine years she has been speaking before Knesset committees and media outlets, lecturing all over Israel, and working to raise awareness about environmental issues and the power that we all have to create change, even when it seems impossible. Adi is currently working on the establishment of a nonprofit organization called Saving Our Future (SOF). This goal of the organization is to be a home for all the many environmental causes and will also work to promote making environmental education an official subject in the national school system. She believes we all have a duty to protect our Jewish homeland for future generations so they too will be able to enjoy and have access to its natural beauty.