In the ceremony that took place yesterday 12/05/19 at 17:00, at the generators' plaza in Dado Beach in Haifa, representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, the CEO of Ecoocean, which operates the program in Israel, representatives of the Ministry of Health and representatives of the winning authorities participated. Also taking part in the ceremony were attorney Sharit Golan, CEO of the Haifa Municipality Eitan Shtiasni, Director of the Beaches Division in the Haifa Municipality Hilik Amsalem and the municipality's "Voices of Haifa" band. (The band is directed by Chaya Arad Yonai and the musical director Dodi Mor), the band performed with several songs between the speeches.
The Blue Flag program is an international program for environmental excellence in beaches and marinas. The Blue Flag is an international quality mark given to beaches and marinas that meet international criteria regarding education and information, water quality, beach safety and services, and environmental management. The feature is operated worldwide by the FEE organization - an umbrella organization for environmental education of associations and non-profits from around the world and is represented in Israel by the ECOOCEAN association, which centers the activity in Israel.
The "Blue Flag" program was founded in France in 1985 and currently operates in dozens of countries around the world by the International Foundation for Environmental Education. The "Blue Flag" is awarded once a year to beaches that meet the strict international standards of the program. The beaches are examined by a national committee consisting of representatives of government ministries , rescue organizations and green factors. The committee's recommendations are submitted to an international committee at the foundation's headquarters in Copenhagen, which has the authority to award the Blue Flag. Among the indicators examined as part of the program: the quality of bathing water, the services provided on the beaches, environmental education activities, the cleanliness of the beaches, regular maintenance, the safety of the number of lifeguards on the beach and accessibility.
The ceremony was moderated by the secretary of Haifa municipality Bracha Sela and before receiving the blue flag there were several speeches by Eric Rosenblum, CEO of Eco Ocean, attorney Sharit Golan Steinberg who is also the chairperson of the Union of Cities for the Environment, Doctor Orli Ronan, Rani Amir and other representatives of Factors responsible in the country for the quality of the environment.
Haifa's bathing beaches continue to maintain their international prestige with 9 blue flags: of which 6 flags at Dado - Zamir beaches, 2 flags at "Naot" beach in Kiryat Haim and another flag at Galim beach.
