by Anat Shushan

It’s been a week since 170 km of the coastline of Israel was covered with tar.

170km of beautiful beaches, full of unique animal habitats (some are in extinction danger), hidden magical spots to escape to from the hectic everyday life- all have been damaged.

Sea birds, sea turtles, crabs, fish and one adult whale died.

It might take decades to restore the damage in the ocean and some of the beaches.

Unfortunately, this is something that happens all the time all over the world. Big vessels dump tons of oil and fuel into the ocean without thinking or taking any responsibility for the damage caused and the killing of animals. Add to that the enormous amount of plastic and garbage are thrown into the sea and you get a dangerous deadly soup.

Environmental issues have been close to my heart for years. Many times I drag my daughter to protests and events to support as much as we can. So when I first heard of the ecological disaster, I had to go and help clean the beaches.

One of the reasons I join all these activities, besides helping out, are the people. The other side of humanity. The good side. Every time I encounter these people, it gives me hope. Seeing people who really care, who are willing to stand in front of huge wealthy companies and say NO. Without fear, without ego, without thinking of themselves. To me, it is a real need to see that good side. It restores balance, faith in humanity. It shows that not all people are bad, driven by ego and power.

While we were cleaning the beach, I looked around and saw little children, elderly people, teenagers, parents, all came with one goal and with that spark in their eyes. That rare kindness and pureness we don’t get to see as much anymore.

This is one of the biggest ecological disasters this country ever saw. And one of the largest volunteering touching operations this country ever saw involving thousands of people from all over the country who come every day and say in their own way- NO.

I came back home from these days at the beaches tired, smelling like tar, sad for this planet but full of hope. That’s what spending time with the other side of humanity does.

We didn't finish coping with the first batch of tar and a couple of days ago another batch landed on our beaches.

And again, so many kind wonderful people are not discouraged and continue to volunteer to clean, to help, to do good

I'm a experienced street photographer from Haifa, Israel. Started my exiting journey in photography when I was 16 in high school when I chose to learn in an art school. There I was exposed to the world of dark rooms, self-developing pictures and negatives and the magic that a camera creates. In my army service I was a photographer and a photography instructor and continued to spread my love to this amazing art. I've been experimenting all kinds of photography over the years, till a few tears ago I found my home-street photography.