The IDF awarded the environment minister's medal recently to soldiers who, during their regular military duties, excelled in contributing to environmental protection or raising awareness about environmental issues. This is the seventh such competition, held jointly with the Ministry of the Environment, and this year the subject was "Preserving Sources of Water." First place was awarded to the Navy Command for the projects "Assimilating an educational program for preserving the marine environment," and "Making electricity consumption in the Navy more efficient." Second place was awarded to the Ofek unit of the Air Force, for its "Green IT" initiative: Turning off PCs in the branch. Third place was awarded to the haulage and fuel center of the Logistics Branch, for the project "Improving environmental safeguards at the oil and fuel depot." Environment Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud) was present at the ceremony at the Glilot army base, together with Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, head of the Logistics Branch Major General Dani Biton, and head of the Environmental Protection Branch Lieutenant Colonel Eli Paz. "Preventing harm to natural resources is vital to the same extent as protecting the state from its enemies," Erdan said during the ceremony. "Air, soil and water pollution is a real threat to our existence and quality of life." "An army, by definition, is a large organization that handles dangerous and polluting substances, utilizes energy, fuel and oil, and is a major consumer of water and natural resources as well as a significant creator of waste products and effluvium," the minister continued. "The operations of the IDF have the potential to harm the environment, including air, water, sea, soil and nature." "The 'zero-tolerance' policy towards environmental damage which I announced is valid for the private sector and also for the IDF," he emphasized. "The army must be prepared to meet environmental requirements to avoid the ministry's law enforcement proceedings… The IDF, which declared itself a 'green army', must operate while taking environmental considerations into account, and allocate the necessary means to do this." In addition, photographs were displayed from the photography competition "The IDF and the environment through the eye of the camera." The winners were awarded a certificate of merit. The competition, open to all IDF soldiers, is intended to increase and reinforce the connection between soldiers and the environment and raise awareness about environmental issues in the army. First prize: Photo: Major Dror, Air Force base, Palmachim The photographer: "It is early morning during a joint exercise with ground forces. It's an area where the past is present: ancient remains are spread around, and the old Ottoman railway to Egypt. After some hours flying over the dunes… I saw a herd of camels in the sea of sand. The result caught on the camera's memory is what you see here." Second prize: Photo: Staff Sergeant Yuval Etzili, Military Police, Central Command The photographer: "During Operation Cast Lead my neighbors hung out 'green laundry.' Hanging out uniforms instead of using a dryer saves a lot of electricity and thus safeguard the environment. During the operation I really wanted to help somehow, but I wasn't called up. When I saw the neighbor's laundry I was filled with a feeling of pride and envy: My neighbors had hung out 'green laundry'."