SPNI has demanded a thorough assessment on the environment 
impact of the road and an examination of alternative ways of solving 
present traffic problems. Although these demands have recently been 
rejected, SPNI see this as one of their most crucial campaigns. The 
Society is fighting to preserve the remnants of Israel's open land- 
scapes; for prudent and reasoned planning processes; and for a ratio- 
nal balance between development and conservation. 
SPNI's position is that the benefits gained from Road No. 6 are 
unproved and controversial; there is no proof that the road will solve 
Israel's transportation crisis; transportation policies need an emphasis 
on diverse and efficient public transport; and agricultural lands, 
forests and open spaces along the proposed route must be protected to 
avoid the coastal plain becoming continuously urbanised and to pre- 
serve the remaining "green lungs" in the coastal plain. 
SPNI 40 years old - 1994 saw a number of events celebrating the foun- 
dation of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel in the sum- 
mer of 1954. 
Free the dolphins (and the alligators) - SPNI has objected to the display of 
dolphins in amusement parks and to staged combat between humans 
and alligators at Hammat Gader. They sent a message to Israel's 
Environment Minister Yossi Sarid stating: "As an organisation special- 
ising in education for nature conservation, we consider the transfer of 
these animals to an amusement park .... uneducational, lacking in con- 
cern for the environment, and inhumane." 
There is a debate world-wide on the use of wildlife in zoos and 
amusement parks. There seems to be a thin line between the use of 
zoos for education and conservation (e.g. the captive breeding of 
endangered species) and inhumane exploitation of our wildlife 
resource. 
Planning decisions - Plans to build 5,000 hotel rooms at the mouth of 
Nahel Hever, north of Massada, are being opposed. The development 
will cause the loss of the last segment of untouched shore around the 
Dead Sea and sever the connection between the Judean Desert and the 
Dead Sea. 
17 
