Zionist environmentalism

Celebrating Hanukkah with compact fluorescents, and recalling the awesome power of ancient biofuels

Published December 13, 2006 5:18PM (EST)

Give carbon offset provider TerraPass credit for constantly thinking of new ways to keep global warming in the spotlight. This morning, the company's newsletter contemplated the meaning of Hanukkah from an environmental perspective. The miracle of the oil that burned for eight straight days and nights "represents an early example of energy conservation with relevance to our current environmental challenges."

TerraPass goes on to note that the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life is doing its part to keep the memory of the miracle alive by pushing a campaign to switch from incandescent to compact fluorescent light bulbs during this year's Hanukkah celebration.

We're great believers in compact fluorescents at How the World Works, but we can't resist pointing out a missed opportunity in the Hanukkah symbolism. The oil used more than 2000 years ago in the Temple of Jerusalem was olive oil. So, this Holiday Season, think biofuels.


By Andrew Leonard

Andrew Leonard is a staff writer at Salon. On Twitter, @koxinga21.

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