Green Prophet

Does Air Pollution Kill?

Mehrdad Parsipour — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The air pollution of Tehran seems out of control. It is certainly a national disaster, which needs national unity as a prerequisite of any governmental action and strategy. The result of this pollution is affecting not only human beings, but also the entire ecosystem. An example is the birds, especially black crows that flee the environment of Tehran because of harsh air pollution. This environmental bad news was announced by Mohammad Bagher Sadough, the head of City’s Environment Agency last year. Another worrying news, which these days is hardly announced from the governmental media, is that Tehran’s air pollution has a constant share of the deaths of the city. In 2006, Hossein Mohammadi, an associate professor of University of Tehran discussed the relationship of the air pollution of Tehran and the deaths during the recent years. The study showed the significant relationship between the amount of NO2 and HC in the air and the number of deaths caused by heart diseases. This significance is higher in the November, December, and January when the low temperature, high pressure, and high number of inversion days and low-height inversions are combined with the pollutions. Also the weak significance of relationship of the amount of SO2 and CO in the air with the number of deaths of heart diseases was indicated. Previously another research done by Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran had showed that the number of people who go to hospital because of breathing difficulties related to the air pollution were two times more in the cold months than the rest of the year. Through the last decade, the image of Tehran is always remembered by the residents with smog and inversion, particularly in autumns. It is hard to imagine that the governmental strategies are able to change this situation at least during the next years. more on air pollution of Tehran: Why 27 People A Day Die From Air Pollution in Tehran more green readings on Iran: Iran Plans for Solar Energy in Tehran, But Cost’s a Limiting Factor The Difficulties of Developing Cycling Routes in Iranian Cities

Traffic Accidents Fatality in Iran: the Statistics and Causes

Mehrdad Parsipour — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Iran has the highest rate of traffic accidents fatality in the world. This is the statistical news that has drawn the attention of people, government, and the media to the reasons of this problem. While the car ownership rate in Iran is less than the western countries, the traffic accidents still get unbelievable number of victims. Four months ago, Dr. Hassan Emami Razavi, the Deputy Minister of Health said that the traffic accident fatality of Iran is 5 times more than the world average. At present, the fatality rate is about 20000 people annually. In 2002, 44 deaths occurred for every 100000 people. The same factor in the same year for Germany and Canada were 9 and 6 respectively. In 2008, it was 12.25 for the United States. Last year, the media focused on the issue and announced that car accident fatality of Iran is 25 times more than Japan and 2 times more than Turkey, which has similar cultural conditions to Iran. Researchers and the media usually try to consider the problem and give reasons. There is a list of them. Generally the reasons are related to human, car, and road. The accidents that are related to human factor can include the accidents that are caused by human mistake in driving or passing the street, etc., or social and cultural aspects like obeying the driving regulations. For example, how people use seat belt is one of these issues. In past few years, using seat belt has been attended by most of the people. But there is still problem with safety helmet use by motorcycle riders. In Iran using seat belt is compulsory for the front seats but not for the back seats. That is why in June 2010, Alireza Zamani, a Parliament member, asked for making the back seat belt use compulsory to reduce the fatality. Basically, the population of Iran is comparatively young. So some researchers raise this matter as one of the reasons for the accidents. As they say, the young people are accessible for the car accidents. Of course this can not be an influential cause, if the regulations are obeyed by the same young people. Many accidents occur because of deficiency or lack of safety facilities in the car. Producing cars with seatbelt have been obligatory for Iranian car producers after 1999. But most of the cars that were produced before that date do not have seat belt. Similarly just 7 out of 37 types of cars which are produced in Iran have air bag and ABS brake. [caption id="attachment_24953" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Flickr/Jan Tik"][/caption] The network of the roads of Iran is very old. Many accidents, which usually have a lot of fatalities, happen in old roads that have been built decades ago with low road engineering standards. These kinds of roads are usually located in points far away from the main metropolitan areas or provincial centers. Nevertheless, the statistics show that the fatality rate is dropping. In 2002 about 30000 people died in the accidents. That is 44 deaths in 100000 population. Now it has been reduced to 20000. Although statistically some improvements can be seen, but there is a long way to solve this multi-variable problem. As car users and drivers, the first step we can have is to reduce accident fatalities by having in mind some primary safety hints. Safety hints (in persian)

Forest Fire in West of Iran Destroys Vast Area

Mehrdad Parsipour — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id="attachment_24978" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="credit: Flickr/Bob Jagendorf"][/caption] On July 22, 2010 the forests around the city of Doroud in west of Iran caught fire. After about one day, some news agencies published news about burn of 500 hectares of the forest. Later governmental authorities announced that the correct information is 100 hectares. The main cause of the fire is not known, but the hot dried weather has caused a vast area catch fire rapidly. This is the last one of the series of forest fires that has started since the first days of this hot summer. The number of forest fires in the mountains of western Iran has increased this year. The sparse and scattered forests of west of Iran are threatened more than the rainforests of the north. The western forests are located on the Zagros Mountains in west of Iran in provinces like Ilam, Kordestan, Kermanshah, and Khuzestan, which are all near the Iran-Iraq border. The danger of such fires is felt more in the west. The northern forests experience fire each year too, like the fire that destroyed 130 hectares of forest near Sari in north of Iran in 2009. However, in 2010 a wave of hot temperatures in the Middle East, India and Europe has made the warmer forests of Zagros more vulnerable. According to Conservation Unit of Iranian Forests, Range & Watershed Management Organization, the aforementioned provinces are in critical condition this year. Ilam province, which is one of the smallest provinces of Iran, embraces a total area of 2 million hectares, from which 640000 hectares are oak and other sparse forests. Due to the scattering of the mountains in impassable mountains of the region firefighting needs helicopters and special air fire fighting facilities, which are not available much in the western parts. As Taghi Iravani, the head of the Conservation Unit says, this year the forest fires have had a 100 percent increase in comparison to the previous years.

Non-Governmental Participation in Mountain Clean-up Events in Iran

Mehrdad Parsipour — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

[caption id="attachment_25191" align="aligncenter" width="375" caption="via Hamed Saber"][/caption] During the past few years the Iranian environmental activists have been worried about the great volume of trash which is polluting the environment of around the cities and also far away mountains. Along with fast urbanization and population growth in Iran, the number of people who visit the natural environment around the cities have been much more than before. This has resulted in more littering by the visiting people. The litters are more observable around the cities. The mountains of north of Tehran, like Touchal and Darband, and also along the inter city roads are the places that usually many residents of Tehran spend their time during the weekends. In addition, the farther mounts like Sabalan mount in East-Azarbaijan Province and Damavand and Alam Kooh, the first and second highest mounts of Iran in Alborz mountain in north Tehran, have not remained naturally clean. Efforts for Cleaning the Mountains It has been two decades since the first experiences of cleaning the mountains took place by some Iranian mountaineers and environmental activists. Abbas Mohammadi is one of the mountain cleaning activists who is the head of a group called Mountain Watch related to the Alpine Club of Iran. According to his interviews with the press, one of the aims of groups like the Mountain Watch is to lead the visiting people and the mount hikers to have more environment-friendly culture. As he says some times some members of the group are tired of picking up the trash from the ground and put them in a bag in mountain cleaning events because the unaware hikers litter more rapidly. But Mohammadi believes that these attempts have had good results up to now and the similar groups will be more successful by informing people more. The method that the group uses is to talk face to face to the hikers who are careless about keeping the mountains clean. Maybe this is a good way of promoting the level of participation of people in cleaning the natural environment around the cities in long term. In one of the cleaning events, which took place in the Earth Day on 22^nd of April 2009, the members of the Alpine Club of Iran executed the following:

Clean the mountaineering route for at least one or two hours.
Talk to other mountaineers and want them to cooperate in the program.
Talk to the local residents of the region about the importance of preservation of natural environment.
Explain about the meanings of the concept of sustainable development to anyone.
Contact city councils, environmental preservation offices, and natural resources offices and encourage them to arrange similar programs.
Contact radio and television channels and websites and inform about the Earth Day and the mountain cleaning programs.
Collect information about the urbanization, road and dam construction, and mining projects and their environmental impacts and give the result of your observations to the authorities. Identify the people who are responsible for destruction of the environment to the responsible organizations.

It seems that this method of facing the problem can lead to better participation in people who are going to have a pleasant weekend in the nature. They will be careful about keeping clean their entertainment environment and not to litter on the one hand, and on the other hand they will be informed and aware of the importance of the environment and sustainable development generally. Seemingly, it is possible to clean up the mountains by active participation of people in environmental NGOs not only in Iran, but also in the whole Middle East, like the events in Yemen and Lebanon. Read more about Eco Tourism in the Middle East: Iran

Association of Zoroastrianism and Environmentalism in Traditional Funerals

Mehrdad Parsipour — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

There are religious ceremonies and traditions in Zoroastrian culture that are well-known and popular in Iranian contemporary life like Nowruz. Iranians and have always respected these traditions. Other ceremonies like Mehregan festival are drawing the attention of Iranians more during the recent years. However, there are points in the old religious culture ancient Persia, which today many Iranians are not informed of. One of these traditions is funeral ceremony in Zoroastrianism. The religion that Zarathustra introduced does not recommend burying the corpse of the dead. Instead the corpse is washed and put in a special tower to be exposed to the sun and the birds of prey. This is believed in Zoroastrianism that the unclean corpse pollutes the soil, so the whole ceremony is done on a height, so that the dead corpse is decomposed and is back to the nature. The Zoroastrian Funeral The Zoroastrian funeral is based on the belief that the dead corpse is unclean and preservation of the environment. So the dead are not buried. First they are washed with special ceremony and then the corpse is set on a high construction or tower which is called Dakhmeh in Persian. In some resources it has been called “Tower of Silence”. After being cleaned, the corpse is set in front of the sun and the birds. The towers of silence are round, stone construction that has a flat top. The bones of the dead were put in a well-like depth in center of the tower, which was Stoudan. Men, women, and children were put in separately in different places of Stoudan. One of the most famous towers is the one near Yazd in center of Iran, which has an approximate height of 200 meters. The construction has a diameter of more than 50 meters. The traditional way of Zoroastrian funeral was almost forgotten in the twentieth century and burying the corpse was used instead. The Zoroastrians buried the dead in Tehran about 1930, in Kerman in 1940 and in Yazd in 1960. The Parsi community of India has an importance share of preserving the religious traditions. There are towers of silence in India too. In some parts, the traditional religious funeral is still practiced. [caption id="attachment_25323" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="A new Zoroastrian cemetery "][/caption] Philosophy of Zoroastrian Rite There are two main points in the funeral philosophy. The first is that nature should not be polluted and the corpse is a pollutant of the nature. There are four respectable elements in Zoroastrianism, which are air, water, soil, and fire. These elements are respectable and man should try to preserve them. That is why the Towers of Silence were built on heights. The place where the dead body is washed, placed and its remainder is kept is on a higher level on the ground to be away from the soil. Apart from Dakhmeh, a special example of such places is the tomb of Cyrus the Great in Pasargad, near Shiraz, which is some steps higher than the ground. The second aspect of this philosophy is that human is composed of body and spirit. The body of human is respected but fatal. After death it is back to the four main elements of the world. But the spirit is joins god and reaches ever lasting peace. Zoroastrianism sees not extending graveyards a type of respect to human being, who should live in happiness in this world, while the place of the dead is in the other world. Of course in the modern world, it is our option to choose from the life styles and death styles. The main criteria against which the styles are opted are dignity and happiness. Ancient cultures and religions do it with regards to nature. Similar to the mentioned respect to nature through human culture and tradition is seen in other environmental religions like Indian religions. More readings on green religion: Prince Charles on Islam and the Environment Saudis Listen to Call for Green Hajj Eco-Activist Yeshiva Offers Summer Session That Brings Torah Down to Earth

Middle East May Have 3 of the 7 New World Wonders

Maurice Picow — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Dead Sea is the Lowest Point on Earth, and a candidate for the 7 World Wonders

Although the Pyramids of Giza, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are relegated to the wonders of the Ancient World, the Middle East may still be able lay claim to at least one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World. The 28 world locations that now reached the finals in this competition, as listed on the New 7 Wonders website , include the following three Middle East natural wonders:

Bu Tinah Island Archepelago - Abu Dhabi

This natural habitant of island archepelagos, coral reefs, and mangroves is home to a vast variety of wildlife, including migratory waterfowl and raptors, dolphins, hawksbill sea turtles, and one of world's largest populations of dugongs, also known as sea cows. The dugongs, rare graceful sea mammals, compose about 25% of the world's remaining population of these gentle animals, who have been nearly hunted to extinction in many parts of the world. It's amazing that these creatures, as well as the turtles, a vast variety of fish, and coral reefs can survive at all in much warmer waters (up to 37 degrees C) as well as being more saline than most other bodies of sea water.

The Bu Tinah archipelago is being cared for by Abu Dhabi’s main environmental agency, Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD) , which plans to spend around Dh28 million (US$7.6 million) to promote Bu Tinah to environmentalists. The EAD is describing Bu Tinah as an ecological “miracle.”

The Dead Sea - Jordan/Israel/Palestine

The Dead Sea, a highly saline lake that is surrounded by Jordan, Israel and Palestine; is often referred to as "the lowest point on earth". Its "elevation" is presently around 411 meters below sea level. The uniqueness of this body of water, which is the receptacle of the waters of the Lower Jordan River, whose inflow into Dead Sea is less than 2% of its original flow at the beginning of the 20^th Century, has been brought to world attention by environmental NGO's such as Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) . FoEME's Israel Director, Gidon Bromberg., says that the waters of the Dead Sea are receding at a rate of 1 meter per year; which might cause the lake to literally "dry up" by the end of the 21^st Century.

The controversial "Red – Dead Sea Conveyance Project", in which water from the Gulf of Aqaba would be brought to the replenish the Dead Sea by a series of canals and pipelines, has been in the works for years now; and is the reason for an on-going scientific study to determine the environmental consequences of mixing less saline Red Sea water with the highly saline and mineral rich Dead Sea water. The Dead Sea and its surrounding shoreline, is suffering from a variety of environmental problems, including large "sink holes" which are the result of the lake's rapidly receding waters.

The significance of the Dead Sea, from both a historical and religious standpoint (it is the alleged location of the destruction of the biblical cities of Sodom and Gemorah) as well as being a frequented visited place for people suffering from various skin infections, give the Dead Sea enough cause to be voted for as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

Jeita Cave Grotto– Lebanon

The Jeita Grotto is a compound of crystallized caves in Lebanon located 20km north of Beirut in the Valley of Nahr al-Kalb (Dog River). This grotto is made up of two limestone caves, upper galleries and a lower cave through which a 6230 m long river runs. Geologically, the caves provide a tunnel or escape route for the underground river. In this cave and galleries, the action of water in the limestone has created cathedral-like vaults full of various sizes, colors and shapes of stalactites and stalagmites, majestic curtains and fantastic rock formations.

The total length of the cave is more than 9000 m and includes one of the biggest stalactites in the world, hanging 8,20 m. The grotto has a huge subterranean hall with a height of 108 m from the ceiling to the water level.

* * *

Anyone can ballot on their choice of three candidates for the New 7 World Wonders simply by accessing the New 7 Wonders website, given at the beginning of this article. While the choice of natural beauty spots is up to the discretion of the voter, we hope that those living in the Middle East will cast ballots for the three listed ones, all of which are located here in this region.

Photos: New7Wonders

Can Masdar Keep Their City Afloat?

Tafline Laylin — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Masdar's last executives are hanging on tenterhooks. After questioning the dicey science of carbon credits for big energy companies, we then published assurances by Masdar's CEO Sultan Al-Jaber that although the project will be delayed by 8 years because of certain hiccups - not least of which being that no one in the post-industrial world has aspired to a city free of carbon, or cars - it will still proceed. Yet critics such as Brett Prior say the ship is sinking fast. Prior dealt a scathing blow to the company's rhetoric in a recent post for greentechmedia.com. The svelt 5 act unfolding begins with a little background about Masdar's much-touted ambitions: They aimed for a $22 billion dollar, 6 square-km walled city for 45,000 residents and 1,500 businesses to be built by 2016. That city would be run completely on renewable energy sources, generating zero carbon emissions and zero waste. Additionally, 80% of the water would have been recylced. They boasted a top-notch research facility, the Masdar Institute of Science & Technology (MIST), that would be assisted by Massachusetts's internationally-acclaimed MIT. Even construction would have been powered by a 40-60MW solar plant and PV panels manufactured on-site. But then in Prior's second act, he describes what become "cracks in the armor." In this phase of development, whirling dust storms in August 2009, with "suspended dust in the air between 1,500 to 2,000 parts per million," decreased solar productivity by 40%. The panels were washed - at great expense - and productivity restored. Khaled Awad, the director of Masdar City, claimed that “Dust storms have the same impact on a PV panel’s performance as cloud cover. In Abu Dhabi, we have a number of dust storms during the year, but compared with the level of cloud cover that European countries such as Germany receive, the performance in Abu Dhabi is far superior. In fact, on average, a solar module installed in Abu Dhabi will generate twice as much as [one installed in] a cloudy region in Europe.” By the third act, the armor is not cracked, it is shattered. The deadline is pushed back to 2020 and electricity, it turns out, will have to be imported. The electric transport pods that were supposed to replace cars are only going to be used in certain parts of the city, and Masdar PV fired both their CEO and COO. Then, to top off the floundering debacle, the head of MIST, Tariq Ali, resigned after only 1 year. Prior considers Sultan al-Jaber's recent press - in which he is adamant that these are not insurmountable setbacks - as desperate efforts to hold on, to instruct the band to keep playing while the ship sinks. Given that John Perkins, the provost of the Masdar Institute, also resigned, and that the company that would have provided silicon equipment, Sun Fab, folded its operations, it seems that Prior may be right. On the other hand, his fourth and fifth acts offer a glimmer of hope. Abengoa Solar - one of the most established solar power producers in the world -

UAE VIPs Attend Lecture on Environmental Sustainability at Yale University

Karen Chernick — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Members of the audience attending Professor Daniel Esty's lecture, "Green to Gold: Environmental Sustainability in a Changing World", at Yale University this week included a who's who of UAE officials. The event was attended by H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces), Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al-Nahyan (Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research), Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al-Nahyan (Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)), senior officials, , dignitaries and ambassadors from the United Arab Emirates. The lecturer, Daniel Esty, is the Director of the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, as well as Yale's Center for Business and the Environment. He has also written or edited nine books and several articles regarding the relationships between environmental and corporate strategy, trade, globalization, and development. Esty made direct references to environmental efforts being made in the UAE during his lecture, citing Masdar as a competitive model that aims to generate electricity in both an economic and environmentally friendly way.

desalination-IDE-arison

Karin Kloosterman — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:02:42 +0000

aerial-view-desalination-israel-ide

Karin Kloosterman — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:12:18 +0000

hadera-desalination-ide-water

Karin Kloosterman — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:14:22 +0000

I.D.E. Launches Third Desalination Plant in Israel

Karin Kloosterman — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:15:20 +0000

Shimon Peres, Shari Arison and other notables toast water to Israel's latest desalination plant, dubbed the largest of its kind in the world. With news of new business in China this week, IDE launches its third desalination plant in Israel: Champagne glasses containing the finest fresh water were raised in a toast last month to celebrate the opening of Israel's third desalination plant, this one in the northern city of Hadera. Lauded as the largest reverse osmosis desalination facility in the world, the plant that takes water from the Mediterranean Sea and makes it safe to drink is expected to produce 127 million cubic meters of water each year - enough to meet the water needs of one in every six Israelis. But is it green? Created with an investment of nearly half a billion dollars, the plant was built by IDE Technologies, an Israeli company that has already built two seawater desalination plants on the country's Mediterranean Sea coastline, along with the Housing and Construction Group, a real estate and development firm owned by the Arison Group. It was the government that put in place the plan to create the desalination plant, to meet the demands of a growing population and an imperiled water supply, dependent almost entirely on winter rainfall. Aerial view of the new desalination plant in Hadera. In a 25-year agreement with the government and with its full blessing, the water will be produced at just over 50 cents per cubic meter. IDE's first desalination plant, built on the coast in Ashkelon, has been performing well since 2005, according to company reports. There is a third plant at Palmahim, just south of Tel Aviv, and two more are planned along the coast, in Ashdod and Soreq. A new era of cheap water? "The success of the mega-desalination plant concept has ushered in a whole new era of plentiful, affordable water for a world facing severe water challenges," says Avshalom Felber, IDE Technologies CEO, in a press statement. "With the launch of the Ashkelon plant in 2005, we pledged to continue pursuing further breakthroughs in plant capacity and water cost." Ofer Kotler, CEO of the Housing and Construction Group ('Shikun U'Binui' in Hebrew) says: "As one of the most complex and largest building projects our group has ever undertaken, we are especially pleased to present this plant to a country facing severe water challenges." The project was financed via a consortium of international banks, including the European Investment Bank, Calyon, a French investment bank, and Portuguese investment bank Esperito Santo. Back in 2007, Euromoney, a prestigious business and investment magazine, touted the 'global village'-style economic deal for the Hadera plant as the Project Finance Deal of the Year. Inside the Hadera desalination facility in Israel. IDE boasts technological breakthroughs in the fields of thermal and membrane desalination, and also, perhaps surprisingly for a country in the Middle East, in snowmaking. In desalination, the salt is removed from seawater using a process called Reverse Osmosis (RO) one of two ways to use desalination membranes to process water. In RO, water from a highly pressurized salty solution is channeled through a water-permeable membrane to separate it from its salty component. The second approach found in desalination plants like in Saudi Arabia is via a process called electrodialysis. IDE is owned by two mega-industrial companies in Israel. The chemical company ICL has a 50 percent stake in IDE (this company also extracts potash and chemicals from the Dead Sea) and Delek Group, an energy and infrastructure investment company and holding tank, owns the other half. The new desalination plant at Hadera is the largest of its kind in the world, and is expected to produce enough water for one in six Israelis. Not an environmentally correct solution Environmentalists in Israel do not see desalination as a definitive long-term solution for solving the water crisis in Israel and the Middle East, however. One prominent group is Friends of the Earth Middle East (FOEME), whose Israel director Gidon Bromberg points out that desalination plants have a lot of corporate money at stake, in the hands of a few stakeholders. In addition, in the context of climate change and protection of local environments, reliance on the extremely energy-intensive and pollution-emitting desalination process doesn't appear to be a viable long-term solution, he says. Bromberg and others dedicated to the protection of local water resources suggest that water-strapped countries like Israel, Jordan and others in the region first identify more effective means of reducing water use at home and cut back on water-intensive agricultural practices. This debate between industry and the environment isn't new, and now is the time to create common ground and circumvent a crisis, Shmulik Shai, general manager of H2ID, the Hadera desalination plant, tells ISRAEL21c. He says that for the past five years Israel has been facing a severe shortage in its three main sources of water: The Sea of Galilee, its mountain aquifer and its coastal aquifers. Below the red line in terms of volume and nitrates, if the country doesn't find a solution now, these sources could be damaged indefinitely, he warns. "The balance of rainwater is not good enough," says Shai. If there's one short season of rain and a spike in population, Israel's semi-arid climate could find itself with a "chronic shortage problem," he continues. And while 70 percent of the country's water is supplied by rain that falls in the winter months, there are periods of drought in Israel when the rain does not come down at all. To make things worse, rainfall is not evenly distributed, he remarks. The new plant will furnish a good portion of the 750 million cubic meters of water that Israelis require for personal use, he says. And among the desalination technologies that the Hadera plant utilizes are those developed by IDE, including new processes and new mechanisms, such as how to pressurize the water. To date, IDE has constructed some 400 desalination plants in 40 countries, with a total water output of 2,000,000 cubic meters per day. More on desalination: Saudi Arabia to Use Sun Power at Desalination Plant New Hadera Desalination Plant Could Revive the Dying Jordan River Japan and Saudi Arabia Co-develop Desalination Technologies Read our series of interviews with Israeli water experts: 1. All the Water in Israel: Interviews with Government, Analysts and Researchers 2. Interview with Israel's past water commissioner, Shimon Tal 3. Gidon Bromberg on Water Security and Sustainability in the Middle East 4. Read our interview with Israel's Water Commission 5. Interview with Eli Ronen, the Chairman of Mekorot 6. Interview with Ranaan Borel (SPNI) on Water Security in Israel (This story by Karin Kloosterman was first published on ISRAEL21c - www.israel21c.org)

Smokers Decompose Slower Than Non-Smokers

Karin Kloosterman — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:41:42 +0000

"Smoked pigs" decompose slower than those that don't smoke. (They were actually injected with nicotine). With smoking rampant in the Middle East, and rates in children increasing all the time, a new CSI study, using pigs of all creatures has found that those injected with nicotine decompose slower than those pigs which weren't injected, reports the New Scientist. Over here in the Middle East, Muslim and Jewish traditions don't permit the use of embalming materials to keep the body preserved for viewing. In fact the custom over here, one which we like, is to make sure the dead are buried more or less right away. In Jerusalem, the custom is that the dead must be buried before nightfall. In the new research on pigs and smokes, Andrew Chick from Nottingham Trent University, has already unearthed some interesting preliminary results in his 5 year study. Flies avoided the nicotine-treated areas of the pig at first (around the neck area), and when they do lay their eggs there, he found, they deposit solo eggs rather than customary clumps. "When maggots hatch, they seem to avoid feeding on the nicotine-rich area, and beetles stay away too. Together, these results mean that smokers' bodies might decompose more slowly than those of non-smokers," he told New Scientist. If repeat experiments support these findings, forensic scientists will need to differentiate between the bodies of people who smoke and those who don't, says Chick. Other chemicals could cause similar errors too. "There is evidence in the literature that illegal drugs have an effect on the way bodies decompose: cocaine, for example, increases the size of maggots." With all the other nasty chemicals a human body picks up in their lifetime, nicotine is one we can avoid. At least at the time of our demise the earth and the maggots might thank you for not smoking. Maybe time for another bad habit, like qat? ::New Scientist

iran-sanctions-oil

Karin Kloosterman — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:21:16 +0000

Are Iran Oil Sanctions Finally Kicking In?

Benjamin Joffe-Walt - The Media Line — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 13:23:46 +0000

As major oil companies pull out of Iran, analysts differ over the import of new economic sanctions. By all objective standards, this week Iran is facing some version of a moment of truth. Responding to the impending imposition of beefed-up United Nations economic sanctions, French oil company Total announced publicly that it was suspending oil shipments to Iran and the Spanish oil giant Repsol withdrew from a contract to develop part of a large Iranian oil field. Even Iran’s neighbor, the United Arab Emirates, announced a series of moves to comply with the strengthened sanctions regime. But analysts disagree over the import of the sanctions, and the degree to which the new approach will influence the Iranian government. “These new sanctions will target Iran's financial sector, Iran's ability to trade, Iran’s ability to communicate with the external world and travel, which begins to target the energy sector, and squeeze a number of companies connected to the revolutionary guard,” Dr Emanuele Ottolenghi, a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and author of Under a Mushroom Cloud - Europe, Iran and the Bomb, told The Media Line. “All of these things combined will have a significant effect.” “Obviously, it could have been much tougher, but there are some aspects of the resolution which if implemented honestly, conscientiously and resolutely can do a great deal of damage at a time when the Iranian economy is particularly fragile due to the vast incompetence of the current government. And the internal political situation makes the government more vulnerable,” he continued. “If you look at sanctions as a way to slow down and damage the efforts of the regime then these efforts are valuable.” “Those who think that sanctions will solve the problem are wrong: sanctions are not going to convince President Ahmadinejad or the Supreme Leader Khamenei to reconsider their approach to nuclear power, nor are sanctions going to bring down the regime,” Dr Ottolenghi said.

“But if properly implemented, sanctions can achieve two goals: first, to reduce the ability of Iran to procure and acquire sensitive technology abroad which will significantly slow down the Iranian race to nuclear weapons. The second value of the sanctions is that they will immensely raise costs for Iran to engage in all of its illicit activities, wreaking havoc into the system by, for example, by sowing discontent among those within the regime who are in it just for the profit.”

But Dr. Seyed Mohammad Marandi, a professor at the University of Tehran, argued that the sanctions would fail in their stated goals. “I don’t think that sanctions will have a major effect on Iran, especially since the Iranians had been preparing for the sanctions for quite awhile now,” he told The Media Line. “Iran is trading less and less with Europe and North America; and has been finding alternative partners in Asia, Latin America and Africa. “Beyond diversifying its trade, Iran has also become more independent, for example in its consumption of oil, with heavy investment in oil refineries,” Dr Marandi said. “So Iran is much more independent than it was a few years ago.” “There will be a minor effect,” he continued. “For example hospitals will have difficulty importing equipment from Europe. But at the end of the day it’s not going to have a major effect on the Iranian economy, and the irony is that the more sanctions that the west places on Iran, the greater the gap between them and the less leverage Western countries have over Iran.” Dr Mehrdad Khonsari, a former Iranian diplomat and Senior Research Consultant at the Centre for Arab and Iranian Studies, argued that the sanctions would delay, but not solve, the principal conflict between Iran and the West. “The sanctions will obviously have some kind of an effect on the Iranian economy by making conditions worse for all Iranians,” he told The Media Line. “But it will not be of sufficient strength or magnitude to force the Iranian government to change its stance or go a different way.” “Life will become harder, Iran’s flexibility within the international community will be marginalized, but it doesn’t mean that the sanctions will achieve the behavior which they are aimed at achieving,” Dr Khonsari continued. “The oil companies are not pulling out, and those who are buying Iran’s oil are still buying the oil. What they are doing is essentially making sure that there is no new investment or technology and that production levels don’t increase.” “If the international community were serious about containing Iran’s development towards nuclear weapons, they would recognize reality: we are moving towards a military confrontation, which is exactly what Ahmadinejad wants,” he said. “Sanctions are not working; diplomacy is not working; so what else is left? The choice is very clear.”

More on oil, green news and not-so green, from the Middle East: Saudi Arabia to Replace Oil With Solar Power Jordan Activists Worry About Oil Spill in Red Sea Red Sea Oil Spill Cover Up Worse Than Expected (This story is reproduced from the Middle East News Source - The Media Line) Above image via azrainman

man-made-river-libya

Karin Kloosterman — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:34:06 +0000

Technofarm's Irrigation Project Aims to Boost Libya's Self-sufficiency in Food Production

Larry Luxner — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:38:37 +0000

New agriculture projects feed Libya, thanks to the Great Man Made River. The artificial irrigation project, the most expensive in history, is good while it lasts. BENGHAZI, Libya — Greg Cunningham is a long, long way from home. Since early 2004, the Colorado agribusiness consultant has lived in eastern Libya — growing wheat and corn irrigated with water piped in from the Sahara Desert. Cunningham, general manager of Technofarm International Ltd., holds the distinction of being the first American businessman in Libya once the doors opened. But risk-taking is nothing new for this 54-year-old entrepreneur, who's lived and worked in at least 20 countries from Egypt to the Philippines. "We did not have an ambassador here even a year ago, and a lot of American companies are uncomfortable investing in a country where there's no active embassy," Cunningham told The Diplomat. But he added that "Libya's a very friendly place. Never in five years has anybody given me any trouble." Technofarm started in 2002 with 1,000 hectares of crops. Today, it has 10,000 hectares in the Benghazi area, another 5,000 hectares in Sirt, 400 hectares in Tarhona and a new 800-hectare project of intensively irrigated olive trees near Tarhona. None of these crops would exist without the Great Man-Made River, which brings fresh water from underground desert aquifers to Libya's coastal regions, making large-scale agriculture possible. Cunningham's life currently revolves around the Al-Khadra Irrigation Development Project, a joint venture between Nebraska-based Valmont Corp. (52 percent); Wisconsin-based Case New Holland (28 percent) and Libya's government-owned Great Man-Made River Authority (20 percent). The venture aims to produce 100,000 metric tons of corn and wheat a year — all of it for domestic consumption. At current market prices, this comes to between $25 million and $30 million. Total operating capital is roughly $5 million. Under the venture, Food and Agribusiness Resource Management Co. (Farmco) supplies the seeds, chemicals and input, while the Great Man-Made River Utilization Authority supplies land, equipment and water. Valmont, which used to employ Cunningham, is the world's largest manufacturer of irrigation equipment, with a 50 percent market share for center pivots. Case New Holland is a division of Italy's Fiat. "This is a big step for both of them," said Cunningham, interviewed at his field office about an hour's drive from Benghazi. "I've been working with these companies for 20 years, and I've been trying to convince them that Africa is the direction they need to go." Cunningham said the project is long overdue for a rapidly growing country as bone-dry and thirsty as Libya. Libya imports 90% of its food "The choice was growing food in the south and bringing it north, or bringing the water north," he said. "Libya imports almost 90 percent of its food. Now that the GMR is finished and there's water available on the coast, there is great potential." Cunningham, noting that Col. Muammar Qaddafi visited one of his company's projects in 2005, said the Al-Khadra venture requires 15,000 cubic meters of water per hectare per year. It draws its water from the nearby Omar Mukhtar Reservoir, which holds 24 million cubic meters and ranks as one of the largest reservoirs in the world. He acknowledges that the Great Man-Made River is controversial, and that nobody really knows how long the underground aquifers will last. "The TVA [Tennessee Valley Authority] was controversial also," he pointed out. "But if I were importing 90 percent of my food, I'd be worried from a security point-of-view — that's a dangerous position to be in. Obviously, Libya is never going to be Iowa. But they could supply a larger percentage of their own food than they're doing now." (This guest post is written by Larry Luxner, journalist and photographer.) More on Libya and the environment: Libya's Great Man-Made River an 8th Wonder of the World Libya and BP To Start Drilling for Oil Boutique Solar Panels Fit For Mosques, Pipelines and Airports A Sustainable Architecture Conference in Libya

IMG_0053

Jack Reichert — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:11:39 +0000

pesticide ken mccown small

Michael Green — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 18:36:03 +0000

damascus-market-plastic-bag-syria-spices

Karin Kloosterman — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 05:36:27 +0000

#10: July 2, 2010

Jack Reichert — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 05:37:06 +0000

Profitability + Altruism + Saving the Planet on an Israeli Kibbutz

The Kibbutz Movement celebrated its centenary in 2010, but the last decades of the 20th Century were not kind to Israel’s collective settlements.

The shift in Israel’s economy, politics and society beginning in the late 70s stripped the kibbutzim of their status and pioneering role, and brought harsh economic realities to their doorsteps.

Being the pioneer elite for Zionism was no longer enough; kibbutzim were now required to pay their own way as well. Fast forward to today. Kibbutzim in Israel are now raising some of the hottest clean tech enterprises that the world can't ignore.

Libya Touts Great Man-Made River as 8th Wonder of the World

From the sky, Libya’s Grand Omar Mukhtar Reservoir resembles a shimmering blue circle nestled in the desert sands. At ground level, the artificial lake is so vast that it’s impossible to photograph the whole structure with anything but a fisheye lens.

Part of Libya's Great Man Made River project, this endeavor ranks easily as the largest and most expensive irrigation project in world history.

Conceived in the late 1960s, its mission is simple: to pump water from Libya’s vast, underground Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System in the south to populated coastal areas in the north where most of the country’s six million inhabitants live and work. Sounds resourceful but is it ecological?

Islamic Sex Stores Offer Halal Sex Aids (for Married Couples Only)

What’s a devout Muslim to do if they want to heighten nocturnal pleasures without exposing themselves to any unnecessary salacious advertising ubiquitous to the adult sex toy industry?

Shop online, of course, at websites catering to the Islamic consumer whose passions can be enhanced without violating religious law.

At least two such discreet sites are now operating. Sex Toys Islam operates out of Atlanta, Georgia, and El Asira from Amsterdam, and both are conspicuously absent from any sexualized imagery or penetrative sexual aids. Instead, visitors will find products such as massage oils, personal lubricants, and natural supplements geared towards enhancing intimacy that also conform to Islamic Sharia principles, according to information provided on both sites. And beyond being halal, some products are even green.

More Environment News from the Middle East: (click on link to read)

CLEANTECH, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Arava Power Company Signs Solar Deals with Negev Bedouins »

Israel’s Bedouin population may not be the most impoverished among the Bedouin clans in the Middle East, but they are very much marginalized people in need of some good opportunities. And what could be better than green ones?

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE

Palestinian and Israeli Wind Companies Create Energy Venture for Peace »

A path toward peace may be blowing in the wind, if a new wind energy project between a Palestinian and an Israeli company succeeds.

Read more lifestyle & culture stories »

BUSINESS & POLITICS

Technofarm’s Irrigation Project Aims to Boost Libya’s Self-sufficiency in Food Production »

“We did not have an ambassador here even a year ago, and a lot of American companies are uncomfortable investing in a country where there’s no active embassy,” says an American who founded an irrigation company in Libya.

Read more business & politics stories »

TRAVEL & NATURE

Volunteer Eco-Tourism from GoEco’s Jonathan Gilben »

GoEco, since 2005, has pioneered bringing the concept of volunteer eco-tourism to Israel...

Read more travel & nature stories »

ARCHITECTURE & URBAN

Dubai Properties Faces $7.3 Million Lawsuit »

Who to believe? That Dubai properties hasn’t paid or that Hopkins Architects reneged on their agreement?

FOOD & HEALTH

Aloe Vera – A Prickly Plant with Pizzazz »

You’ve heard of aloe vera gel, aloe vera cream, but have you ever head of aloe vera ice cream? Well maybe the Italians have got it right with this uniquely flavored gelato, since the health benefits and general uses of this plant go beyond what you might think.

Read more food & health stories »

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Syria Campaigns to Curb Country's Voracious Plastic Bag Appetite

Moshe Terdman — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 05:42:53 +0000

Estimates of 15 million bags per day consumed in Damascus alone! Moshe uncovers news in Arabic - that Syrians are launching a campaign to "say no to plastic bags." Where bags litter highways, byways and in a region where camels choke on plastic bags, Syria is joining other countries in the Middle East, such as Lebanon, the UAE, campaigning to ban plastic bags. The Syrian Ministry of Environment is launching a campain to cut down on plastic bags because of their bad effects to human beings as well as to the environment. According to Syria News - Nobles News in Arabic, as the first step in its campaign "No to the Nylon Bags," the Ministry of Environment distributed on June 28 thousands of fabric and paper bags to the stores in the markets and the commercial centers to replace the nylon bags and to limit their use. The campaign also encourages, together with the civil association, the reuse of paper bags, which have become rarely used following the appearance of the nylon bags. In the second phase of the campaign, the Syrian Ministry of the Environment together with the Ministry of Finance plan to impose a tax on the plastic bags in order to make them more expensive and to decrease thier use. The aim of this measure is to prevent the sellers from supplying plastic. According to this article, the Syrian Ministry of the Environment estimates the consumption of plastic bags in Damascus and its vicinity at 15 million bags per day, while the civil environmental associations claim that the actual number is much higher. According to the Syrian Ministry of Industry, there are 539 licensed factories that produce 145,000 tonnes of plastic bags, cans and syringes every year. In addition, there are unlicensed factories, which distribute the plastic bags to the markets. With these data in mind, it is no wonder that one of Syria's most difficult environmental problems is the number and distribution of plastic bags, which it has been trying to decrease, until now without so much success. According to Syria Today, the Ministry of Environment tried to cut down on plastic bags in August 2009, but to no avail. The Environment Minister, Kawkab al-Daieh, said in an informal workshop discussing the overuse of plastic bags in Syria which was conducted in December of last year, that "we do not want to entirely ban the manufacturing of plastic bags. We want to rationalise their use and introduce alternatives. We are trying to address wrong practices." A biodegradable option? Indeed, the Ministry of Environment has been exploring such alternatives through the option of producing biodegradable plastic bags. But, it should be remembered that only in April 2009, the Ministry of Environment, which had formerly been part of the Ministry of Local Administration, was established as an independent entity. This highlighted the growing emphasis the country places on environmental issues. Since the focus of the Syrian government on the environment is very new, it seems like Syria has still a long way to go in its campaign to cut down on plastic bags, but, hopefully, through cooperation with civil society organizations and NGOs and raising the awareness of the public, the process will be shortened. The UN Volunteers site reports that one of the biggest environmental problems facing Syria is the number of plastic bags. From the old city souqs to the shops of Mezzeh, plastic bags are given out freely and in large numbers. Once used, the bags are usually quickly discarded – often onto the streets causing litter to accumulate in the roads, gardens and parks around the country. But the damage to the environment goes further than causing unsightly mess – plastic bags pose a huge danger to animals. Birds and small mammals who get trapped in the bags often die. Plastic bags pollute the sea too, killing marine creatures which often mistake the bags for food. What can you do about it? Buy a canvas bag for shopping. You can keep inside it smaller plastic bags for reuse when you need to weigh and buy vegetables and fruit in the market. More about campaigning to cut down on plastic/nylon bags in the Middle East: Half of UAE's Camels Choked and then Died on Plastic Bags Waste LB Encourages Lebanese to Use Fewer Bags Recycling Plastic Bags Into Beautiful Handbags Knit in Israel Above image of Damascus market spice seller, and plastic, via alazaat

kickstart-water-pump

Karin Kloosterman — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:38:09 +0000

solvatten-water-purify

Karin Kloosterman — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:42:49 +0000

Making Innovation Matter in Water's Terms

Ambika Vishwanath — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 08:46:24 +0000

Ambika, a research analyst who specializes on Middle East environment issues including conflict and water, reports on her trip to Sweden, where she finds grassroots solutions like the Peepoo Bag – ones that could impact the developing world. Along the banks of the beautiful Lake Siljan, in the idyllic town of Leksand, Sweden, over 1600 people from 120 countries came together for the 5th Global YES Summit in partnership with the Tallberg Foundation. The Summit brought together almost 150 projects and new ideas, developed by people who have a desire to tackle the challenges facing us today. These projects and initiatives attempt to solve issues of social cohesion, climate change, environmental degradation, poverty, and youth unemployment. These ideas, which are focused mainly on the grassroots and community level, have the potential to start an innovation revolution in developing societies. The projects were divided into five broad themes of water, energy, land, cities and people. Each project was not only environmentally sustainable in its own way, but extremely innovative in its approach. Several of these projects, such as the Peepoople bags, SolarCool, KickStart, Solvatten, and others, simply adapted existing knowledge into effective inventive solutions for the future. These exciting new innovations are mostly uncomplicated and easy to implement, with the power to change and transform the society they are introduced into. I was invited to be on the panel of the Water Theme Introductory Session at the summit, where I was able to witness powerful new ideas that people have come up with first hand. On a broad level, the panel discussed the challenges facing the world today in the area of sanitation and water. To counter these challenges, small scale initiatives were presented, and the discussion centred on bringing these initiatives and ideas into the larger social landscape. Peepoople bags, a Swedish invention, are biodegradable toilet bags for sanitation and fertilizer. The bag not only presents an alternative to public defecation, but within 3-4 weeks the bag with its contents breaks down into natural fertilizer, creating a much needed local resource. A response to flying toilets Originally launched in Kenya to combat the growing problem of the ‘flying toilets’ [a facetious name for the use of plastic bags for defecation, which are then thrown into ditches, on the roadside, or simply as far away as possible], the bag could be extremely effective in societies that have water shortages, lack of toilet facilities, as well as lack of finances to afford fertilizers. In the long run, these bags also represent means to a cleaner, more hygienic local environment. Another innovation presented at the session by a young woman from Kenya, was KickStart (pictured right) or manual water pumps for efficient irrigation. These are small, easy to carry water pumps, which can be placed around fields or near places of water supply to draw water from the ground to irrigate fields. The size and nature of the pump makes it easy to use for women and young girls in the villages, reducing the burden placed on them and making efficient use of time. I also had the opportunity to meet a representative of Solarcool; another excellent innovation that addresses another gap in society - energy supply. The Solarcool is a medium-sized box, covered in inexpensive solar panels. These panels convert energy into a cooling mechanism, essentially creating a solar-powered refrigerator. Solarcool not only opens up a whole new market for people without electricity, but will also prove extremely useful in other fields such as mobile hospitals, resulting in an improved system of health care in rural areas. A similar initiative, Solvatten, uses the sun’s rays to purify water. A special 10 litre can has been designed, that upon exposure to the sun for 3-4 hours, purifies the water in the can, rendering it fit for consumption. These ideas, if harnessed and allowed to grow, have the potential to create real change; where solutions for difficult issues can be found in these small innovations. Many of these inventions, such as the pumps, the bags, and the solar coolers, if mass produced, will be inexpensive and affordable for the poorest sections of society. Not only are these projects environmentally sustainable, some of them also have the potential to create jobs in the future. The summit ended with two important plenary sessions – on bridging the divide between these projects and financial capital; and merging these approaches into the mainstream policy dialogue. While plenary sessions are necessary, it is extremely important that these grassroots ideas and inventions do not get lost in the wider political debate. Sweden, known for its openness to innovation, in a number of different fields, was the perfect setting to present existing ideas and develop new ones. The summit ensured that such an open space was replicated in those few days, and these important new ideas were brought to the forefront, as well as to the attention of decision makers. About a year ago, Strategic Foresight Group's President, Sundeep Waslekar, in his monthly column, addressed the question of what makes a nation great, citing innovation as an important factor. It will indeed be a great nation that recognises important ideas such as the ones stated above, and ensures that these ideas are incorporated into its social fabric. Any country that snaps up these innovations and nurtures the potential of innovators, thereby facilitating a sustainable environment for the future, will indeed be a great nation. Any society that encourages its government to distinguish and boost the potential of a citizen who attempts to create a sustainable future will indeed be a great society. The question that now remains is how we, as a global society, can ensure that these efforts become transformative forces for large scale change, and are not forgotten. It is necessary that these kinds of emerging ideas and initiatives are given the right kind of support, and that we make innovation matter. Ambika Vishwanath is a research analyst with Strategic Foresight Group, a Mumbai based Think Tank. She specializes on issues in the Middle East. Above image is of Peepoo Bag

Israeli Company Makhteshim-Agan Industries Invests $1 Billion in Pesticides

Michael Green — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:09:18 +0000

Agrochemicals might be big business, but they are a bad deal for the environment and human health. Israeli firm, Makhteshim-Agan Industries, believes that there is a bright future for chemical pesticides. It has just bet $1 billion dollars on this hope, buying out the Albough chemical manufacturer in a move which, according to Ha’aretz, will transform the Israeli company into the “biggest generic player” in North America's pesticides industry. There’s big money to be made from agrochemicals, although whether Makhteshim-Agan’s investment was wise financially remains a moot point since since Albough’s businesses focuses on a single product - the broad-spectrum herbicide, glyphosate: “Glyphosate prices fluctuate tremendously, and there are clear signs of surplus production capacity around the world. Also, experts suspect that North American weeds are developing resistance to the chemical.” But whichever way you add up the figures, investing in pesticides makes no ecological sense. Glyphosate shot to (in)fame when Mosanto genetically modified crops to become resistant to the herbicide, sold under the brand name “Roundup.” The biotech firm’s GM “Roundup Ready” crops can be sprayed with glyphosate to their heart’s content, killing all weeds and other plants, but leaving the corn or soya unscathed. We don’t need chemicals to produce good quality food. Organic farming forsakes dependence on artificial pesticides and fertilisers (which, by the way, are increasingly expensive as oil prices rise) – and it can produce good yields, especially in developing countries, whilst conserving soil fertility and biodiversity. Modern organic methods, first developed after World War Two, are now used by millions of farmers around the world. But investment in organic farming research and production methods is woefully underfunded. Imagine the difference $1 billion could make it if was spent more wisely. Postscript: As glyphosate’s efficacy falls due to increased weed resistance, its price is expected to drop and Monsanto estimates that the contribution that Roundup makes to its gross profits will be slashed from $300 to £250. Perhaps it’s time to rethink their strategy. ::Betting a billion dollars on one weed killer, Ha’aretz Photo via ken mccown

Adullam Park Pit

Tafline Laylin — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 12:42:19 +0000

Untouched Adullam

Tafline Laylin — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 12:54:22 +0000

Israeli Citizen Group "Save Adullam" To Fight Oil Shale Plans

Tafline Laylin — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 13:02:12 +0000

Israel's Energy Initiatives' (IEI) oil shale ambitions threaten the environment, and livelihood of Judean hills residents. [image courtesy of Moshe Moreno] By now, with the world's worst oil spill off the Gulf of Mexico causing irreparable damage, and with numerous cleaner alternatives to choose from, a wiser civilization might leave destructive, polluting energy in the ground, or below the sea, and harness the sun and the wind instead. But the American IDT Corporation is pushing a potentially ruinous oil shale scheme in Israel with a license that permits them to bypass environmental assessments or community engagement. Close to where David took refuge from Saul, Moshe Moreno from Moshav Aderet went for a walk in December, 2009, and discovered several tools and drilling apparatus in an area that is usually quiet. Mr. Moreno began asking the workers questions. He says, "one told me they were building a road for the Israel National Roads Company, one said they were checking for sources of natural gas, and the third said they were searching for archaeological artifacts." IEI Could Receive 30-yr Commercial Rights to Judean Hills' Oil Shale That was not 100% forthcoming, according to Rachel Jacobson, Save Adullam's PR representative. The group of approximately 30 members formed soon after discovering that IEI has received a license from the Ministry of Infrastructure to test technology designed to extract crude oil from oil shale reserves. According to the Israel Petroleum Law (1952), "upon discovery of petroleum, the licencee has a statutory right to receive...a production lease." The original lease will give IEI 30 years to develop commercial oil shale operations, and can be extended to a maximum of 50 years. IDT Corporation's energy and oil shale division, Genie Energy, consists of IDT Energy, American Shale Oil, LLC (AMSO), and IEI. Genie's chairman and AMSO founder is Wes Perry, the mayor of Midland, Texas, and a 30 year veteran of the oil and gas industry. Roughly 89% of IEI belongs to Genie. Oil Shale Underlies 15% of Israel's Land Perry told Business Wire last year that “both America and Israel have significant shale oil reserves. It’s difficult to overstate their potential to improve our respective economies and national security.” The Ministry of Infrastructure estimates that "15% of the country is underlain by Oil Shale beds," which may amount to a hundred billion tons. However, they also note that the quality of the oil shale reserves is rated at poor to medium, and much of it is inaccessible.

Energy Giant Tests Previously Unused Technology on Land of 1,000 Caves [image courtesy of Naftali Smulowitz]

According to Save Adullam, the in-situ technology being tested is not being used anywhere else in the world on a commercial scale. In order to extract crude oil, the underground rock is heated to 350 degrees Celsius, which releases gases that are in part converted to sulfur-rich fuel. To achieve this, IEI will dig 5km long heating and collection boreholes, of which 300 will be necessary each year to produce 300,000 barrels of oil per day.

Up to 3 barrels of water per barrel of oil are required to exploit this energy resource, as well as 3-5 Gigawatts of electricity, equivalent to "approximately half of Israel's current electricity production," Jacobson reports. Heating the shale, not to mention further production, could release at least 15 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Commercial Oil Shale Production Threatens Livelihood of Agricultural Communities

Save Adullam is eager to protect against the threat to "national heritage sights and vistas, such as the Land of Bar-Kochba's caves." Also at risk are vineyards, goat cheese farms, other agricultural facilities, and the tourist industry. Much of the wine produced in this near untouched region is internationally recognized for its quality.

Furthermore, they express concern that a large, mostly American-owned corporation stands to profit from developing "an industrial pilot program before holding an open and educated public debate regarding the environmental and social costs of the oil shale industry." Jacobson says, "they want to take over this beautiful land. And it's scary."

For more information please visit http://www.saveadullam.org

More Oil News:

Jordan Activists Worried About Red Sea Oil Spill

Red Sea Oil Spill Cover-Up Worse than Reported

Will Shell Oil Strike a Mega-Deal in Oil Shale With Jordan?

lebanon public transportation

Karen Chernick — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 20:23:53 +0000

Fast Forward Asks, "What is the Best Mode for Public Transportation in Lebanon?"

Karen Chernick — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 20:41:12 +0000

A bicycle? A train? A bus? What is the best mode of public transportation for Lebanon? [image via: 350.org] Fast Forward, the organization that led a protest composed of 150 cyclists storming the streets of Beirut a few weeks ago in order to promote sustainable transportation, isn't tired yet. It believes that the Lebanese people "deserve a modern public transportation system that can make our lives easier" and more sustainably, and will not rest until its message has been received. It recently approached the public at large via the organization's Facebook page and asked, "What's the best mode for public transportation in Lebanon?" Some responses were thoughtful, some impractical, but above all it was refreshing to see people thinking about the problem. Most responders agreed that the solution would have to be low-budget and not require a tax increase. Since setting up train and tram systems can be quite costly, several readers suggested sticking with a good old bus system. Buses are advantageous because they can work well within existing road infrastructures, and because there are now hybrid buses that are much greener. One creative respondent also suggested increasing the taxes on newly purchased cars (to a whopping 100%!) in order to reduce the incentive to buy a personal vehicle. The same person also proposed creating more bicycle lanes and sidewalks, and encouraging telecommuting in order to reduce the number of people using the roads to get to work each day. So what do you think the optimal method of public transportation could be where you live? :: Fast Forward Read more about sustainable transportation: Darreja Campaign Encourages Sustainable Transportation in Lebanon Dubai Metro Expands to Three More Stations, Increasing Ridership Cycling for Peace as Israeli Arabs, Jews and Bedouins Kinds Get Free Bikes and Clubs

EIF_IBM_KRISTIANE_6SHEET

Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 05:10:02 +0000

inspired-muhammad-green-islam

Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 05:16:41 +0000

EIF_IBM_KRISTIANE_6SHEET

Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 05:17:53 +0000

"Inspired by Muhammad" is Islam's Green Message to Break Terrorism Link

Arwa Aburawa — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 05:27:11 +0000

Muslims everywhere can be at "peace with the earth and be at peace with heaven" by adopting environment message from the Qu'ran, advocates new UK campaign launched by Muslim convert. Shocking statistics and a love for the environment have inspired a new campaign which highlights Islam's Eco message in order to break the link between Islam and extremism. Inspired by Muhammed is a new campaign which showcases Muslims who have been inspired by their faith to contribute positively to society and focuses on areas such as women's rights, social justice as well as the environment. Its message can impact the Middle East and the world. Launched by the Muslim convert Kristiane Backer (pictured above) on behalf of the Exploring Islam Foundation, the campaign hopes to improve public understanding of the more positive aspects of Islam. The campaign was prompted by shocking finds from a May 2010 national poll in Britain which found that more than half the British population associated Islam with extremism (58%) and terrorism (50%). The opinion poll also discovered that just 6% of the British population believe that Islam promotes active measures to protect the environment. Kristiane, the former MTV presenter from Germany, is one of the campaign profiles and talks about her awareness of green issues and how she's adopted an environmentally-friendly lifestyle to suit her Islamic beliefs. She explains: “Green living and the preservation of our resources are essential principles of Islam. 'Don’t be wasteful, for God does not like the wasters,' the Qur'an tells us. Prophet Muhammad reminded his companions to respect nature and use its resources moderately, not to waste water even when next to a flowing river.” The high profile media campaign is really hoping to change people's perceptions of Islam in the UK and includes adverts at bus stops, tube stations and even on London’s iconic black cabs. A fun and informative website www.inspiredbymuhammad.com has been launched to explain Islam’s ethical principles and includes short videos to explain Islam's more environmentally-friendly aspects. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liWlsA9ByVI[/youtube] Following Muhammad's "green" ethics The prophet Muhammad's ethic that the planet is sacred and should be cared for is highlighted as is his respect for the environment. Muhammad encouraged water conservation (see Waqf for Water), planting trees and turning forests into protected conservation areas called hima as well as limiting waste. Other high-profile Muslims on the website also discuss how Islam has inspired animal welfare through the prophet's example who taught that animals should be treated with the same respect as a person. The campaign is a great way of getting the message of peace and understanding within Islam to the wider general public and also reminding Muslims of their duties towards the environment. Its affects could reverberate to the entire Middle East. As Kristiane says, “Today we can all draw inspiration from Muhammad and try a little harder to live green, to recycle and to conserve energy. And to re-establish harmony between us and the world around us.” ::Inspired by Muhammed website Read more on greening Islam: Prince Charles on Islam and the Environment Water Conservation Values in Islam The Muslim World Wants to Green Hajj Breast Feed Baby in Hijab

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Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 05:41:47 +0000

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Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 06:44:29 +0000

Green Prophet Flies To: Mazen Abboud's Environment Blog in Lebanon

Moshe Terdman — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 06:48:41 +0000

Green Prophet launches a new weekly series taking an in-depth look at the Middle East "green" blogosphere. This week: Mazen Abboud - a Christian minority's view on green issues in Lebanon. The growing awareness of environmental issues throughout the Middle East is manifested in the Internet, which includes an ever growing number of websites, forums and blogs focusing on the environment. Some of the blogs are written in Arabic, others are written in Arabic and include translation into English, and, yet, others are written only in English. In this weekly review "Green Prophet Flies To...", we'll look at a blog from a different country in the Middle East. We aim to give clues to the current environmental issues that each country is dealing with, as well as talk about the identity of the bloggers and the environmental agendas they pursue in their own countries and in the region at large. Here you will find valuable data, opinions and news on environmental topics and exploits which are not discussed anywhere else. This week we fly to Lebanon and look at Mazen Abboud's Blog, active from April 2009. In his blog Mazen Abboud writes that he is "an environmentalist, a freelance journalist and a businessman." Mazen (left) is an Orthodox Christian Lebanese, who was born in 1972 in Douma village, which is located in northern Lebanon. He studied agricultural engineering in the American University of Beirut. In 2008, he got an EMBA from ESA (Ecole Superieure des Affaires), and in 2001, he established the Federation of Associations of the North of Lebanon, the Union of Northern Associations for Development, Environment and Patrimony. He is also an alternate member of the Mediterranean commission on Sustainable Development of the United Nations Environmental Program (MAP) and an Environmental consultant to it. Since this is a personal blog, it includes many posts dealing with Mazen Abboud's life, exploits, and issues other than the environment which he cares about. However, there are many other posts dealing with the environment. Usually, we do not hear much neither in the news nor otherwise on the Christian Orthodox community in Lebanon. This blog gives its readers a rare look into this minority Lebanese community and its environmental concerns. The blog deals with three main environmental issues: the church and the environment, Lebanon's environmental policy, and the environmental activities of Mazen Abboud. The Church and the Environment Since Mazen is an Orthodox Christian Lebanese, he is interested on the issue of the church and the environment, on which he posted an article on June 5, 2010. The article is titled "The Environment and the Church". The article is written in Arabic and describes the relationships between the Catholic and Orthodox church and the environment through the eyes of Pope Benedict XVI and Bartholomew, the Orthodox Archbishoph of Constantinople. In his communique for World Peace Day, Pope Benedict XVI called the environment "a present from God to all human beings." He said that there is an inseparable relationship between God, the human beings and nature and each person has to conserve the environment in order to build a peaceful world. The Orthodox Church believes that honoring the creation comes before honoring the creator. It believes that the principle of imposing human beings on nature is limited by the need to serve nature. According to Bartholomew, the environment is the "icon of the creator and a live symbol and proof for his presence among us." He said that the true Christian is the one who live in coexistence with nature. At the end of the article, Mazen criticizes the Lebanese church priests for not giving the environment a great importance, which they give to making direct economic profit for themselves instead. Through this blog, we are exposed to Christian Orthodox environmental activities within Lebanon. For example, Mazen describes in an article in Arabic which he posted on May 10, 2010 titled "Environmental Conference Organized by the Soldiers of Faith Association - Kosba Branch," an environmental conference organized by this Christian Orthodox association. This conference was attended by government officials, church officials, representatives of environmental civil society organizations and Mazen Abboud himself. This conference called for more environmental cooperation between the Lebanese government and civil society organization and for conserving the environment. Lebanon's Environmental Policy As an environmental consultant, Mazen Abboud wrote an annual report addressing the environmental issues in Lebanon in 2009 in Arabic, French, and English. He posted it in his blog in February 2010. Titled "Lebanon & The Environment in Year 2009." In his report, Mazen Abboud deals with the issues of the impact of climate change on Lebanon; the current election law and its implications on the ability to confront environmental issues, such as solid wastes, sea and air pollution, etc.; environmental violations (increase in forest cutting permits, maritime violations); the Ministry of Environment; Lebanon's environmental policy; the media's role; environmental projects and initiatives launched by Lebanese companies; the means to preserve the forests; violations of underground waters; the spread of poultry farms; pollution of rivers and watercourses; and dynamite hunting. This report includes a separate clause dealing with the lawsuit filed against Israel for its environmental violations during the Second Lebanon War. The aim of this lawsuit is to force Israel to pay Lebanon the full cost of environmental damages to agricultural lands caused by Israel during the war. Mazen Abboud encourages the Ministers of Environment, Justice, Agriculture and Foreign Affairs to grant this lawsuit a much greater importance and push Israel to pay proper compensation for the damages it caused. The Environmental Activities of Mazen Abboud Mazen Abboud describes in his blog his contributions to preserving the environment in Lebanon. On April 27, 2009, Mazen Abboud published his book "Seeds of Change." In his book, Mazen describes the environmental problems confronted by Lebanon and suggests solutions to them. Therefore, in April 2009, Mazen posted articles in Arabic, English, and French concerning his book. On October 23, 2009, Mazen Abboud, a full member of the Lebanese Tobacco Board, posted an article titled "The Lebanese Tobacco Office is Getting Green." This post describes a press conference that he conducted a day earlier at the headquarters of the Tobacco Board. He said that the Lebanese Tobacco Bureau adopted a green agenda to minimize its emmissions of CO2. According to him, the firm's new green policy guidelines aims "firstly, at decreasing the firm dependence on non renewable energy sources through the efficient use of electricity & the partial dependence on solar energy for lighting; secondly, at increasing the firm recycling capabilities by two folds to minimize its organic wastes; & thirdly, on diminishing the chemical residues content of the locally grown tobacco leaves by adopting more environmentally friendly pest management techniques.” Mazen Abboud also announced the launching of an environmental prize of the Regie Libanaise des Tabacs, with a main goal to enhance green activities among NGOs & individuals. A sum of Mazen's blog: This blog enables its readers a rare glance into the Christian Orthodox community in Lebanon and its environmental beliefs and actions. It describes the environmental problems of Lebanon from the viewpoint of an accomplished environmentalist, who has contributed a lot for the conservation of the environment, as can be seen from the blog. Mazen also describes his attitude towards Israel, which he blames for the environmental damages caused to Lebanon following the Second Lebanon War in July 2006. When dealing with environment in the Middle East, we tend to focus on the Muslim environmental agendas while forgetting that there are many other minorities living in the Middle East, such as various Christian sects, Druze, Bahais, Circussians, and others who have also a relationship to the environment. This blog is a very good example showing the environmental awareness and the great importance given to the environment not only among the majority Muslims but also among Middle Eastern minorities. More on Green Lebanon: Eco Tourism in the Middle East: Lebanon Lebanese Prefer “Green With Envy” Maseratis Over Eco-Friendly Hybrids Cars Lebanon Looks to “Smart Grid” and Renewable Sources to Generate 12% of Its Electricity by 2020 Above image via joi

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Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 08:29:56 +0000

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Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 08:30:14 +0000

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Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 08:30:23 +0000

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Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 08:30:32 +0000

The Best Baba Ghanoush Recipe in the World Starts with the Best Eggplant

Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 09:01:51 +0000

Baba ganoush, baba ghannouj or baba ghannoug (Arabic بابا غنوج ) is an Arab dish of eggplant (aubergine) mashed and mixed with various seasonings. It's one of the best flavors the Middle East has to offer. Scientists say after seven or so years your body's bones and organs regenerate, meaning most of us are a lot younger than we think, and that we truly do become what we eat over a short period of time. So those of us who live in the Middle East are eventually built from the amazing variety of fresh food one finds here. Among which is the magical and versatile eggplant, one of the most consumed vegetables in the Middle East, which like the tomato, is actually a fruit. If we are going to be made of eggplant, it might as well be the best eggplant out there. And if you are looking for the king of all eggplant dip recipes, go no further. This one, I've developed over a few years is sure to make your guests salivating and waiting for an invitation to dinner, no matter how informal. The trick is in the oven, the eggplant and the tehini (tehina), you use. And take it from this lazy vegewarian, it's one of the simplest things you can do in the kitchen. The best baba ghanoush in the world - the recipe:

Ingredients: Eggplants Lemon juice Tehina Garlic Salt Olive oil Parsley (optional) Bread for dipping

Choosing your eggplant: When choosing your eggplant, find one that's firm, heavy in the hand, and which has a shiny skin. If you are lucky enough to lay your hands on a "wrinkled" variety, known in some parts of the Levant as baladi eggplant, meaning 'wild' or 'from the land' in Arabic, then you are almost guaranteed the best eggplant dip in the world. If you do lay your hands on the baladi variety (see my picture above), buy more than one. They are not always in season, and most chefs would argue that these make the most splendid dip. Big thick grooves, a deep purple color, and a wide rather than a long fruit is what defines the baladi. Their cooked meat tends to be darker, and with fewer seeds and less water. Find them in markets, ones that tend to cater either to the gourmand or to the average working class person. Smokin' eggplants that sometimes explode Now that you have your eggplant/s in hand, you want to cook it. Throw it in the oven at pretty much the highest temperature your oven can go. There is no need to prick the eggplant, but you may want to put a bit of tin foil under it, or a tray to catch the juice that might spill out. This is one of the rare moments when lazy chefs like myself can burn the food, and say that I've done it on purpose when the family complains of the smoke. And you want the eggplant to smoke. So whether you are cooking in C or Fahrenheit, let the oven blast. If you are energy-saving conscious, cook the eggplants with other foods that need high heat, like potatoes or a casserole. There is no set time for cooking. It depends on how much water is in the eggplant, and how high you want to go. I estimate an hour of high temp cooking will do the job. Keep the door closed. Having a convection oven can keep away the smoke. Small toaster ovens don't really work well, but if you don't have a fancy high-powered German oven like I do, you could try tossing them on the barbecue or into the coals of a fire (wrapped in tinfoil) to achieve the same, if not better, effect. The smoke is what adds to the flavor. After adequate baking (you also have to make sure that the eggplants don't totally dry up), take them out of them oven and sit on a plate to cool. You can also serve the dip hot or warm if you can't wait, so up to you. Putting the eggplant dip together Slice open the eggplant with a knife. If the innards looks a bit deflated with some brownish broth swirling around, you've probably done a good job cooking. If the meat of the eggplant is tough and really juicy, light green, and hasn't deflated, chances are you need to cook it longer. You need to be the judge of that. Baladi eggplant innards straight from the oven. Scoop out all the eggplant innards, scraping even some darkened caramelized bits from the inside. Place it all in a medium sized bowl, leaving the hard skin behind. Now depending on how rich you want the dip to be, you add tehina, or tehini, however you call it, to taste. Don't use tehina already prepared as a dip. But the raw unmixed variety that comes in a jar, plastic or glass. Tehina is a sesame seed paste which can be bought throughout the Middle East, and in health food stores or the ethnic sections of most grocery stores in America, the UK, and Canada. Sometimes I pour half a 350 ml jar into the eggplant innards, or sometimes - like in the hotter weather when you want it to be more light - I add in only a few tablespoons. Whole, organic tehina tastes best, especially when there are crunchy bits in there, and make sure you stir it before you add it in. Don't just pour in the oil that tends to collect on top of the tehina jar. The trick to a good baba ghanoush is fresh, high quality ingredients. Organic and local if you can get them. Now you want to add lemon juice. Real lemon juice. The bottled variety doesn't cut it. Neither does vinegar. Again depending on taste, add in a half lemon or up to two whole lemons (the juice) depending on how much eggplant you have and how much juice is in the lemon. One part of my family likes it sour, the other part less so. I make it both ways to please all, at least some of the time. Half to one whole lemon per medium sized eggplant is a good estimate. Now add in fresh garlic. Again, dried or frozen garlic doesn't work. You can add two or three teeth per eggplant with a garlic press. Add in some rough sea salt to taste, a few tablespoons of high grade olive oil, and some *fresh* parsley to garnish. The parsley is optional. Mix it all together with a big spoon. No need to blenderize it as Hamutal suggests in another baba ghanoush recipe we're featured. If you've added a lot of tehina paste you might want to thin out the dip by adding some water. Go for dip which has the consistency of porridge, or a bit thinner than hummous spread, depending on your reference point. The more often you make this dip, the better it gets. At least that's what my family tells me. Try it yourself. It's pretty much a recipe that you can't go wrong by. The key here is not in the precise quantity of ingredients you use, but how fresh they are. Baba ghanoush, or eggplant dip, ready for devouring. When your baba ghanoush dip is ready, serve it on crusty bread, on your home made pita, serve it on crackers, dollop it on pasta, or just scoop it into your mouth. It can store in the fridge for about a week. But it's usually gobbled up well before the due date. Want some more Middle East recipes? Those good for lazy vegewarians? Try: More baba ganoush Shakshuka Tunisian Tomato Eggs Recipe Za'atar-topped Pita Moroccan Stuffed Artichoke Hearts Apricot Chutney

Increase Your Chances of Fertility by Three With Natural Supplement

Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 10:51:03 +0000

TAU finds anti-aging supplement is a fountain of hope for would-be mothers According to the American Pregnancy Association, six million women a year deal with infertility. Now, a Tel Aviv University study is giving new hope to women who want to conceive — in the form of a pill they can find on their drugstore shelves right now. Prof. Adrian Shulman of Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine and the Meir Medical Center has found a statistical connection between the over-the-counter vitamin supplement DHEA, used to counter the effects of aging, and successful pregnancy rates in women undergoing treatment for infertility. In the first controlled study on the effects of the supplement, Prof. Shulman found that women being treated for infertility who also received supplements of DHEA were three times more likely to conceive than women being treated without the additional drug. The results were recently published in AYALA, the journal of the Israeli Fertility Association. A natural supplement to fertility treatments After hearing anecdotal evidence from his patients and the medical community on the benefits of combining fertility treatments with DHEA, a supplement marketed as an anti-aging drug around the world, Prof. Shulman decided to put this old wives' tale to the statistical test. He and his fellow researchers conducted a study in which a control group of women received treatment for poor ovulation, and another group received the same treatment with the addition of the DHEA supplement. The latter group took 75mg of the supplement daily for 40 days before starting fertility treatments, and continued for up to five months. Not only were women who combined infertility treatment with DHEA more likely to conceive, the researchers discovered, they were also more likely to experience a healthy pregnancy and delivery. "In the DHEA group, there was a 23% live birth rate as opposed to a 4% rate in the control group," explains Shulman. "More than that, of the pregnancies in the DHEA group, all but one ended in healthy deliveries." Making grade-A eggs? Shulman believes that women who are finding little success with their current fertility treatments could look to DHEA to improve their chances of conceiving. "We recommend that women try this DHEA treatment, in conjunction with fertility treatments, for four to five months," says Prof. Shulman. It could also be used as a regular "vitamin" for women who have already conceived and are pregnant, but more research would need to be done on the compound to determine its effects, says Prof. Shulman. DHEA, for 5-Dehydroepiandrosterone (5-DHEA), is a naturally-occurring steroid found in the brain, which plays an important biological role in humans and other mammals. Produced in the adrenal glands, it is also synthesized in the brain. The pharmaceutical version of this molecule is known as Prastera, Prasterone, Fidelin and Fluasterone, and identical generics are widely available over the counter in the United States without a prescription. Women interested in using DHEA to conceive, however, should consult their practitioner first, suggests Prof. Shulman, a gynecologist and director of the IVF Unit of the Obstetric and Gynecology Department at Meir Medical Center. While studies on the effects of DHEA are far from complete — his test group only included around 20 women — Prof. Shulman hopes that further research will unlock the secrets of why the supplement aids in successful conception in women with an otherwise poor response to fertility treatments. "We need to look into what the drug actually does to make the body more fertile," he says. "It could be affecting components such as the quality of the eggs or the follicles."

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Maurice Picow — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 11:14:20 +0000

Better Place Smart Grid To Solve Storage Issues Preventing A True Clean Grid

Jack Reichert — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 11:17:16 +0000

Jack meets with Better Place in Israel and talks shop about how their rechargeable battery solution can fix the grid. One of the biggest problems with switching an electric grid over to clean energy is storage. Most clean energy solutions are unreliable over short periods of time - when clouds come out, solar panels don’t produce. If the wind changes direction, or stops, wind turbines don’t produce. However, if the energy could be stored efficiently, then energy companies could produce excess during peak production times and otherwise reserve it for a rainy day... literally. "The lack of good storage options has plagued utility operators for generations," according to a recent Nature article: "Obligated to provide a steady supply of electricity to meet constantly varying demand, they have conventionally resorted to the costly and inefficient method of adjusting the output of a coal-fired plant, say, or by turning on a gas-powered 'peaker' plant during periods of high demand.” Storage is a must for any promises of electric vehicles to work. Better Place, the electric car company says their solution provides clean transport and a solution for the grid. Greening The Grid In a recent visit to Better Place, as part of the PresenTense Summer Global Institute, I had the fortune of meeting with Mike Granoff, head of oil independence policies at Better Place. He explained that he is often asked if their solution for our dependency on fossil fuels, of bringing electric cars to the masses, is truly a “green” solution. If the electric grid is still dependent on fossil fuels, an electric car is not really solving anything. Granoff explained that their network is not only a solution for our dependency on gas guzzling cars, but to the storage problem of the entire grid as well. One of the most expensive parts of an electric car is the battery. In order to keep the price of their electric car competitive with their gasoline-fueled counterparts, Better Place will not be selling car batteries, rather, the car owner will pay subscription fees based upon their mileage. Similar to cell phones, where you pay for the minutes you talk, with Better Place you’ll pay for the miles you drive. When your car is parked it can be plugged into one of the charging stations that are connected into the grid. This way you can always stay charged. But if you run out of energy while on the go, your car will direct you to the nearest battery switching station where in only a few minutes you can leave with a full battery. What this means for the energy grid is that once Better Place launches, there will be an entire network of energy storage units working with the energy grid. This will actually make a completely green network feasible. And since the batteries are not owned by individuals, there are no legal issues with manipulating this grid to fit the needs of the entire grid, as a smart grid would ideally work. Not The Only Player On The Field Better Place is not the only solution that will provide this benefit. Tesla, the current poster-boy of the electric car market went public last week, selling 13.3 million shares for $226.1 million USD and earning a valuation above $2.2 billion. They explain that: “Most uses of electricity are needed pretty much in real time – lights, air conditioning, computers, etc. The electricity has to be generated at the exact moment it is used. But plug-in vehicles are a fundamentally different kind of electrical load.Plug-in vehicles draw energy from the power grid and store it for later use while driving. "Plug-in vehicles are typically plugged in for significant periods of time – usually all night – and it doesn’t really matter when the energy is transferred to the vehicle, as long as a certain amount of energy is transferred by a specific time, typically in the morning. This leaves a lot of flexibility as to the timing and exact nature of how plug-in vehicles are recharged. As plug-in vehicles grow to become a very significant fraction of the overall load on the electrical system, this flexibility can be utilized with beneficial results for the vehicle owner and for all electricity customers.” What’s different with the Better Place model vis a vis Tesla, the Leaf or any other electric car model out there is the ability to travel farther than 4 hours a day. Tesla proudly announces how “the Roadster offers complete driving independence. Plug in before bed and wake up with a full 245 miles of driving range.” Do the calculations: at 65 mph you can only drive 3h and 45min until you have to recharge. Not conducive for a road trip that might include bouts of spontaneity. Below is a video of how the battery switching station would work in the Better Place car. Under one one and a half minutes--quicker than it takes to fill a gas tank--you can have a full battery, ready to go:

But is the replaceable battery model the ideal? Thomas Weber, Mercedes' director of group research and car development told The Marker that such battery replacement stations could pose safety hazards. Honestly I don’t believe that concern. How many of us switch out our cell phone batteries? The system, which Better Place is petitioning to be industrial standards, is no different. However, Weber raises a different concern: “The industry has not even resolved matters as basic as the optimum location for an electric car's battery or the battery type.” This problem can seriously stint the growth and efficiency of the technology. It does solve the huge problem that many electric cars have of how to deal with longer journeys. Which may be a worthy price to pay for standardizing where the battery should go. How Ready Are We To Adopt This Model? With Denmark’s gas prices more than double the gas prices in the US (a colossal $7.21 vs $2.77 per gallon) it’s no wonder that Denmark has already signed with Better Place. However, even though Better Place projects a 3 cent mile, 9 cents less than the average car, with so many politicians invested in oil the cost of gas would need to double before enough pressure could be leveraged for the US to adopt an electric model. In addition, with the car industry being such a huge player in the US market, there will be a lot of hostility from car makers. The battery is one-third of the price of an electric car. That means car manufacturers only get to sell two-thirds of a car significantly reducing their ability to control the price of the car. Read more on Better Place: Israel’s Grid Will Never Handle Renewable Energy Goals Gulf Nations Look to Tesla's Electric Roadster to Speed Around Middle East Better Place Electric Car Gets Investment Fuel of $350 Million Led by HBSC

Image credit: BrachieS

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Maurice Picow — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 11:28:16 +0000

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Maurice Picow — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 11:32:42 +0000

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Maurice Picow — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 11:38:22 +0000

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Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 04:29:33 +0000

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Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 04:35:28 +0000

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Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 04:39:52 +0000

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Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 04:42:29 +0000

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Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 04:50:28 +0000

Israel Becomes A Nation of Pedalers (Cycling Freaks)

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 04:53:53 +0000

You can lose your life cycling on the roads in Israel. Almost once a month, a cyclist gets killed by a car by a drunk or negligent driver. Despite the risks, the sport is catching on like wildfire. Bonnie Eshel, president of the Israel Cycling Federation says biking in Israel today is super-dangerous: "We live today facing the threat of death every time we decide to hit the road on a bike. "Practically every day there are accidents, and the fact that we don't have a higher number of fatalities is more a matter of luck. I feel this personally. One time they will throw things at me from a car that is traveling 80 kilometers an hour, another time they spray water, and once they even held a knife to me from out of the car window," she says. "Just last Friday, a truck passed me and honked when it was right next to me as it tried to get close to me and just at the last minute I managed to control the bike, but I was very close there to sprawling onto the road." Despite the dangers, Bonnie joins a growing number of Israelis who are buying road and mountain bikes and who are hitting the city streets, highways and cycling trails. Cycling in Israel, and cycling in the Middle East as eco-tourism has a lot of benefits. This piece looks at the cycling movement in Israel. Picture this: Screaming down ancient roads in Jerusalem in a 'Look Ma! No hands!' pose during a night cycling 'raid;' or peddling through the valley where David slew Goliath with the taste of the local vineyards still on your tongue. Perhaps you'd prefer a more rugged ride, challenging Israel's deserts, forests and mountains, while getting to know the local Bedouin and Druze, or maybe just a leisurely cycle around Jerusalem's Old City? Whatever your bicycle passion or fantasy adventure, Israel has become a cycling destination hotspot. Yet to be discovered en masse by tourists, increasing numbers of Israelis sporting the finest and fittest bodies in skin-tight cycling pants are now biking to work, to their favorite cafés on the weekends, or to trendy off-road destinations. So popular has the pastime and eco-friendly mode of transportation become that the Tourism Ministry recently announced that it will spend about $30 million on cycling infrastructure and trails. Prof. Nurit Kliot, Dr. Noga Collins-Kreiner and their master's student Paz Raveh from Israel's University of Haifa (UH) were the first to document the growing popularity of cycling in the country in a report they published this year on the profile of Israeli cyclists. Their work is based on a survey of 539 mountain bikers at six locations throughout Israel. Most popular is flat or mild-incline terrain, they report, with preferred routes being through forests and on single-track trails. Growing at a rate of about 15 percent a year, there are approximately 200,000 active cyclists in Israel, the researchers estimate, with 90 percent of these easy-riders well-educated and between the ages of 31 to 50. They are people who ride their bikes one to three times a week, mostly for fun. Who is the Israeli cyclist? Not a cyclist herself, Collins-Kreiner tells ISRAEL21c that Israel has joined the worldwide trend to balance on two wheels. While in some countries, like China, locals forego the traditional bike for the more prestigious four-wheel car, Israel is joining a European and North American trend. "It's about awareness of the environment, awareness of health, an interest of people to get involved in sports, and an increase in money and status," she relates. Some people, she notes, are spending up to $6,000 on a fancy bike and cycling gear with all the rims and trimmings. The researchers identified Israel's cycling meccas as the northern Negev Desert in the Be'eri region outside Ashkelon; Beit Shemesh outside Jerusalem; Latrun (a hilltop in the Ayalon Valley overlooking the road to Jerusalem); and Mount Carmel (the coastal mountain range in the north, where the city of Haifa is located). It has almost become a competition, she says, with numerous biking trails being blazed by the Jewish National Fund and local municipalities. She mentions the country's longest bike trail, in the city of Netanya just outside Tel Aviv, and the stunning trail leading to the sea in Haifa, that includes some hilly terrain. The longest trail will be the one that will eventually span the country from its northern tip down to the south in Eilat, paralleling Israel's national hiking trail, which can be walked from one end of the country to the other. "Biking is a trend," says Collins-Kreiner, "Infrastructure's been planned for the last two years with the country's Prime Minister's Office invested in it." Cycle tourism is on the way Israel's Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov says: "The development of a national cycling infrastructure will contribute to enriching the range of tourism products in the periphery and generate momentum for small and medium businesses, while creating new jobs. "About 80% of all the cycling paths will be developed in the Negev and Galilee and there's no doubt that this investment will bear fruit both regionally and in terms of its contribution to the economy generally. It's important to note that creating this infrastructure will also make Israel an attractive destination for cyclists from around the world and a marketing program will also be prepared accordingly," he adds. Collins-Kreiner notes that Israel is also building biking destinations for families, with the Alexander River being the ultimate cycling venue for family fun. Once a year, the roads are closed around the Sea of Galilee, and people can cycle the perimeter safely, at a leisurely pace. While increasing numbers of Israelis are cycling to work, the lack of work-place showers, especially on hot and muggy days, is a drawback for some, especially those in business attire (this young designer has a solution to the sweaty bike ride). Another trend identified by the study is cycling races and other competitions. Paz Razeh, 27, who lives in Kfar Chet in the Sharon area outside Tel Aviv, participated in the UH bike study. The owner of a $600 "Hard Rock - Specialized" brand mountain bike, he says that: "It's the lowest price for a good mountain bike that you can take off-road in Israel." Good for the health "Why do I like cycling? It's good for my health and it makes me feel better. I cycle in the Sharon area and like to bike across creeks in the Carmel area - nature cycling," says Raveh, who is concerned that the popularity of the sport may lead to damage to protected areas of forests and deserts. His awareness of the need for defined trails and cycling laws was part of the impetus for his becoming more involved in the local cycling trend. "I was interested in investigating Israeli cycling behavior because there are so many new cyclists that we've seen in the past five years. The numbers have been growing and now everyone is cycling in Israel. It was important to us to see who these people are, what they like to do, and how we can build more trails for riding, while improving existing trails," he says. Road warriors in Israel. Image via Israel Cycling. While cycling tourism is still in its infancy in Israel, people like Gonen Harpaz of Israel Cycling Tours are working to make sure that it does. After many triathlons and 25-plus years of cycling, which included the treacherous feat of cycling the Canadian Rockies and the Iron Man Challenge in Switzerland, Harpaz decided to open up his own business to provide unique biking tours in Israel. Israel Cycling Tours takes groups through the country's remarkable outdoors and also exposes participants to the culture entwined with the landscape. "Most of the people who travel with us are Israelis who come for weekend rides, and from time to time we get some Americans, as individuals and couples," says Harpaz who organizes trips around overnight hostel and hotel stays. "The idea is to expose the cyclists to new and different ways of seeing the country," he explains, while the locale of choice really depends on the season. In the summer it's more pleasant in the north, while the warmer, drier south of Israel is preferable in winter. "We combine the ride experience with the landscape and the other natural resources we have in Israel like the sea," Harpaz says, mentioning itineraries that take cyclists to see the ancient Eilat mountains in shades of purples, pinks and oranges; the Negev Desert that include meeting with the local Bedouins; and trips to the Galilee where participants meet with the Druze in the north. Culture on wheels Bike trips may be planned around holy places as well, during which "we get to meet different cultures and religions," says Harpaz, pointing out that "there are people other than Jews and Arabs in Israel." Harpaz, who provides bikes, equipment, transportation and an itinerary, and will be taking a bike group to follow the Tour de France this summer, says that straddling a bicycle is a softer, more natural way to meet and enter into knowing a new culture. For those who prefer not to hire a bike tour guide, the Ministry of Tourism offers many suggested bike itineraries that can keep you in the saddle for weeks. These can be accessed through the GoIsrael.com website. Itineraries on the GoIsrael site offer the must-see destinations in Israel and suggested ways of reaching them, and include Masada, the Dead Sea, the holy Christian sites around the Sea of Galilee, and routes through cities which take the cyclist on a tour of the people and culture of Israel. While it's a challenge to negotiate Jerusalem by bike the ministry offers creative options, including tours that have stops at the main tourist attractions like the Old City. Counter-culture cyclists can check out local bicycle shops that offer night rides that tear down ancient streets, through ancient cultures, providing nocturnal vistas of the city that make a trip to Jerusalem unforgettable. The best way to explore Israel Michael Green, 31, from North London, a keen day- and night-time cyclist (and a Green Prophet writer), spent some time in Israel living in Jerusalem and working as a reporter. "Bikes have been my favorite form of transport ever since I learned to ride one. Apart from anything else, cycling is the fastest and cheapest way of getting around in the cities where I lived in England," he tells ISRAEL21c. "So when I moved to Jerusalem buying a bike was the natural first thing to do. Most locals seemed bemused, preferring their air-conditioned cars for taking on the steep hills and hot climate. EcoBike tour company offers cycling trips around Jerusalem. "But soon, cycling became more than just transport - it is the best way to explore a small country like Israel. I joined the weekly night rides organized by [the bike store] Nitzan Bikes in Jerusalem who would go on nocturnal journeys anywhere from the Old City to the Jerusalem Forest, seeing places from a perspective that you can only get on two wheels. "In just 20 minutes you can be surrounded by nature, leaving the city and traffic far behind," Green enthuses. A bike in Tel Aviv. Via raindog808 In Tel Aviv - a city with flat terrain which is perfect for cycling - bike riding has become part of the local culture. There's a well-maintained boardwalk for cycling along the sea and at least three Tel Aviv cafés rent bikes or give away rentals when you buy a coffee. You can find almost any trend that exists in European cities, like the "peddlers" from the Good Energy Initiative, cyclists who pump up Earth Hour concerts with carbon-free energy. You may also come upon semi-naked cyclists protesting helmet laws (left), or new courier companies like Cicleta with 'underground' cyclists weaving in and out of traffic as they deliver packages on bikes instead of on mopeds or in vans. You may also catch sight of the beautiful young people in Tel Aviv, cycling back from the open-air Carmel Market with their purchases in the baskets attached to the handlebars of their bikes. Read more on cycling in Israel and the Middle East: Yinon Lehrer Designs Hanging/Bike Shower For Urban Cycling A Quick Guide to Cycling in the Middle East Is Petrified Bike a Metaphor for Dying Dead Sea? Cycling Through Israeli Wine and History Tel Aviv Cafe Offers Great Cappuccino and Bike Rentals Bike Messengers Take Over Tel Aviv Haifa University Generates Profile of the Average Israeli Cyclist The Cycling Nightlife in Jerusalem (Most of this story was first published on ISRAEL21c - www.israel21c.org. Top image via Ilan Photos.

1to5dc[1]

Maurice Picow — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 06:07:28 +0000

1to5dc[1]

Maurice Picow — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 06:09:51 +0000

solar-powered-electric-car

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 07:06:38 +0000

palestinian-electric-car

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 07:06:43 +0000

Palestine's First Solar Power Electric Car Takes to the Streets of Hebron

Maurice Picow — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 07:12:45 +0000

The Palestinian electric car isn't much to look at, and it couldn't carry a large Arab family, but it is solar powered! Just when we all thought Shai Agassi's Better Place electric car company had the electric car technology field sewed up in this part of the world, some university students in the Palestinian West Bank city of Hebron have come up with someelectric car innovation of their own, reports Maan News. Although not as sophisticated as Agassi's technology, which involves developing not only a full size electric car, the Renault Fluence, and an exchangeable lithium- ion batter pack to power it; these unknown Palestinians have developed a home-made version of an electric powered vehicles whose batteries are charged by solar energy. Developed as a school project by engineering students at the Palestine Polytechnic University in Hebron, the golf cart-like vehicle uses 12 batteries, totaling 24 volts, which can power the car for 3 to 5 hours. Running at its maximum speed of 30 kilometers per hour, the batteries can last for only 100 minutes, but given the short distances around town, that would probably be enough for errands. Dr Zuhdi Salhab, who supervised the project, told Maan News that sourcing the material to create the alternative energy presented an obstacle, but he praised the students’ creativity. Given the chance, Salhab said, Palestinian students could come up with more “great projects that stimulate global development.” The batteries are rechargeable, so alternative electricity from a home plug can be used in the winter. The technology is very basic compared to that of "rival" Better Place, and the vehicle the students designed resembles something more out of a "how to" magazine like Popular Mechanics like what we featured in a Green Prophet article back in December 2009. The main difference here is that the Hebron Polytechnic students have managed to integrate the use of solar energy to provide power for the batteries – as long as the sun shines. And in the Middle East it can shine bright 300 days of the year. But, unless these students are able to acquire funding to further develop their "project car," the home made solar power invention will most likely remain a curiosity item in a location where people get around either by gasoline power or more primitive means like donkeys. It's doubtful that a UN aid organization or some international entity like the World Bank will take much of an interest in this school project. But again, when Israel's Shai Agassi started out a number of years back, he probably had no idea if his concepts would reach the stage where his company was able to acquire funding of hundreds of millions of dollars. Up to now, the cars being designed by Better Place do not have solar energy panels incorporated into their cars, as the batteries have to be either recharged by standard electrical current or exchanged when they reach the 160 km cruising limit. The designers of the Palestinian vehicle - the TMT - have to decide whether they want to continue innovating their design, and eventually try to market it; or let it be relegated to being just a glorified self powered donkey cart. Maybe countries in the United Arab Emirates or other wealthy oil producing states might lend the students a hand – unless they are afraid this new invention might hurt their sources of wealth; that being the stuff that comes from the ground and is now the source of all the problems in the Gulf of Mexico. ::Maan News

More articles on electric cars:

Build Your Own Electric Car

Maurice Test Drives the Better Place Electric Car

GM's Volt Vs Renault Better Place Electric Cars

bike tour israel

Karen Chernick — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:19:18 +0000

EcoBike beer Tel Aviv

Karen Chernick — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:28:09 +0000

Enjoy EcoBike's Eco-Friendly Cycling Tours of Israel with a Cold Beer (Or Clean Conscience)

Karen Chernick — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:33:45 +0000

Bikes, beer and maybe even babes part of EcoBike: bringing eco-friendly cycling tours to a whole new demographic - the beer lover. Cycling, as fellow Green Prophet Karin has pointed out, has become very popular in Israel. Despite the dangers of braving streets shared with temperamental Middle Eastern drivers, cycling has evolved to fulfill a variety of functions in Israel - from eco-tourism to messenger services, and simple daily transportation to powering eco-friendly rock concerts. Joining the ranks of Israel's emerging cycling eco-tours is EcoBike with a new spin (pun intended) on seeing the country and cycling: Bike & Beer. (For those of you that are concerned that groups of drunken cyclists are the last thing that Israel's roads need, have no fear - the beers are served at the end of the tour.) Founded by two lovers of two-wheelers, EcoBike as a company believes that "bicycling is the best way to immerse in nature and really travel. While biking, every tour becomes an adventure and every encounter with nature a lasting experience." EcoBike also believes that it is important to leave the environment as unharmed as possible in the process. The company strives to be as eco-friendly as possible, working with the Israeli Green Movement and using as many recycled materials in its office management as possible. EcoBike's tour offerings range from half-day tours of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to 3 or 8 day tours of the Galilee or Israel's southern desert region. (But if a relatively short bike tour and a beer are more your style, the Bike & Beer tours are only 3 hours long.) The Bike & Beer cycling tour package, to be offered as of next week (and you can use the ad to the left for a 50% discount) will take place every Sunday-Friday at 4:30pm in Tel Aviv. NIS 175 (about $45) will get you a bike and helmet rental, an English speaking guide, mineral water, snacks, souvenirs, a workout, and yes... an ice cold beer at the end. Read more about cycling in Israel: Israel Becomes a Nation of Peddlers (Cycling Freaks) The Cycling Nightlife in Jerusalem Public Transportation Day 2008:: Still Stuck in Traffic Above image via achi

beer-bikes-tel-aviv

Karin Kloosterman — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 05:30:03 +0000

water-israel

Lisa Damast — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 07:50:15 +0000

Israel Cleantech Intelligence: Water Fights and 10 More Headlines

Lisa Damast — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 07:56:22 +0000

Researchers attracted to Israel, good news for cycling freaks, Israeli investments in Asia and more headlines related to Israeli cleantech and the environment. Image via hoyasmeg. The annual Tel Aviv Water Fight took place this past Friday but pales in comparison to other water problems in Israel, including ongoing disputes between Arabs and Israelis and the latest class action suit against bottled water companies Neviot and Mey Eden. Meanwhile, cleantech is offering a renewal for Israel's kibbutzim and an annual cleantech conference last week showed the promise of cleantech as a growth engine for Israel. For these stories and more, see this week's headlines below. Asia An Olive Oil Experiment in India Israeli agronomists train Tamil Nadu mango growers Israeli Group Signs Tech Investment Deal With Chinese City M&A Makhteshim to buy U.S. agrochem firm for $1b Water Arabs say Israel drying up regional water reserves Neviot, Mey Eden face NIS 66M class action suit In Israel Cleantech 2010 Shows Clean Tech Industry as Growth Engine for Israel Israel top location for scientific researchers Israel’s Kibbutzim: Renewal through Cleantech? Israel Becomes A Nation of Peddlers (Cycling Freaks) Missed last week’s headlines edition? Catch up on the male birth control pill, Israel's water scandal and more.

whitedesert

Tafline Laylin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:30:39 +0000

whitedesert

Tafline Laylin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:32:12 +0000

whitedesert2

Tafline Laylin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:41:37 +0000

Egypt's Bahariya Oasis Trampled By Tourism

Tafline Laylin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:51:02 +0000

Some locals fear that too much environmental regulation will imperil crucial source of income [image via neiljs] Prior to the installation of an asphalt highway connecting the once peaceful region of Bahariya to Cairo, the oasis was mostly hidden from the greater world. Then archaeologists re-discovered the Valley of the Golden Mummies and tourism in Egypt soared, generating valuable income for the local community. However, the influx also comes with a considerable environmental cost. Eleven million people visit Egypt each year, of which 10% forego the traditional tourist destination and opt instead for the desert oases, according to Jon Jensen, a Cairo-based journalist. In Bahariya Oasis, one-third of the 40,000 residents now work in the tourism industry, which accounts for a large portion of this community's income. [image via flickr] In addition to archaeological gems, the mystic white desert lures tourists and the locals who guide them. 4x4 Jeep adventures and camping are favorite activities, but drivers travel without thought to ecological sensitivity, and the pack in and pack out concept has not yet caught fire. As a result, the landscape is sullied with tracks and litter abounds. Last year 4 tons of this waste was collected, tour guide Dina Mahmoud tells Jensen. In response to the now obvious degradation, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency established a national park in order to protect the region, fining drivers who go off established paths up to LE400. But it is not yet clear that these new policies are effective. A survey conducted by the Center of Environmental Research and Studies at Cairo University demonstrates that in the Giza protectorate, of which Bahariya is a part, garbage is one of the biggest barriers to enhanced environmental awareness. The government also seeks to limit tourist traffic in order to maintain ecological integrity, but this idea is not popular with everyone. Assam Tawkif, who relies on sales to safari operators, explained to Jensen that the government needs to encourage even more visitors, not less. And others still doubt that the government will follow through at the of risk financial loss. But eco-tourism, by design, need not deter from the economic and environmental plight of sensitive areas. The International Ecotourism Society includes these principles in their definition of a truly sustainable operation: minimal impact, heightened environmental and cultural awareness, positive experience for visitors and hosts, direct benefits for conservation, financial empowerment, and raised sensitivity to host country's political, environmental and social climate. Although Egypt's overall environmental record is paltry, these may be steps in the right direction, combined as they are with recent educational programs aimed at improving environmental awareness. Once locals understand that protecting Bahariya in the short term will generate more income in the long term, it is possible that the community will adjust. :: Global Post More News From Egypt: Red Sea Spill Causes Oil Company Stocks to Drop Egyptians Question the Health of Their Tap Water Taking Israel’s Lead, Solar Water Heater Use on Rise in Egypt

summer

Naomi Ben-David — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:58:31 +0000

Enjoy a Summer Feast in the Middle East With 7 Creative Recipe Ideas

Naomi Ben-David — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 05:48:08 +0000

The temperature's rising! Part of your perfect summer meal must be fresh and fruity! Naomi gathers 7 excellent recipes for your feast. Image via vintagedept Did you ever feel like you were running out of options for summer meals? When it comes to meal time in the summer, it is always a challenge to balance the desire to eat something delicious and filling, with the need for something light and refreshing. Well here we have several mouth-watering summer treats, perfect for the humid heat of the Middle East. (1) Pea Pod Soup: Winter nearly always means starting a meal with a nice hot bowl of soup, well there’s no reason not to transfer this tradition to summer – just replace it with a bowl of chilled pea pod soup. Instead of shelling peas and throwing away the pods, you can use them to make a fantastic, nourishing cold soup with this simple pea pod soup recipe. (2) Homemade sourdough bread: To accompany your soup, the best thing is a thick piece of toast and if you want to give your taste buds an extra treat, try out this recipe for home made sourdough. One of the advantages of eating sour dough, is that it controls your blood sugar levels, as well as helping with digestion. Try having a slice in the morning, with (3) home made baba ghanoush, a classic Middle Eastern eggplant spread, and experience for yourself the long-lasting benefits of home-made sourdough. (4) To continue a summer feast, it is always interesting to try something a little different, like a zucchini blossom frittata. This is not something you will find in the supermarket, but you might luck into some at a farmer’s market - or try growing some yourself. Turning them into a frittata balances your meal perfectly, with a combination of all the important parts of the food pyramid; vegetables, protein and calcium. (5) Fava bean salad. Of course no meal would be complete without a tasty salad or two on the side, but we have some salad suggestions that are worthy of a central place at your table. Many salads combine multiple ingredients, but the fava bean salad is extremely simple, in fact it is so delicious, that you decide to try it as main course. (6) Pomegranate salad: If you are looking for a slightly sweet take on the salad scenario, you can always try out pomegranate-nut-salad. While it uses ingredients which are traditional for Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year, it can quickly become a welcome addition to your summer table since it is such a light and festive treat. (7) Plum buckle: Going from slightly sweet salad, the next step has to be dessert. With the season of stone fruit upon us, there can be no better choice than a plum buckle. This unusual name is one you won't want to forget once you have tried and tasted this dessert, which is basically a simple fruit flan and easy to bake. Your summer feast is now set, all light easy dishes, simple and quick to whip up. With the long days of heat ahead, you now don’t have to dread hours in front of a hot stove! Read more about choices of summer desserts: Indulgence, Locavore Style: Homemade Strawberry Jam RECIPE: Home Made Ice-Cream

Electric Cars Are Coming - Are Israelis Ready For Them?

Maurice Picow — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 06:14:44 +0000

Better Place electric taxi debuts in Tokyo. Is Tel Aviv next? Maurice volunteers himself to be the company's test driver.

Israel's debut with total electric powered cars is coming, and Shai Agassi's Better Place electric car company is going to bring this reality in Israel sooner than many people may be prepared for, including having enough electricity mega watts to run them.

The technology being developed by Better Place is becoming so well known that international news media networks such as CNN , where Shai Agassi and his company were shown May 12 on a special program talking about his company's technology.

Shai Agassi talks about his concepts

But despite all of this hoopla, which has including ordinary people like me taking test drives in converted Renault Fluence cars at the Better Place Electric Car Education Center in Tel Aviv; and with agreements already reached between Better Place and the Dor Alon Energy Company to have Better Place battery exchange stations located at selected gas stations, is Israel really ready for the electric car age?

It's not just the issue of having enough electricity available to power them, even though additional power stations are now in the works – including a number of solar powered ones in the country's Negev desert regions.

There are also issues involving infrastructure; especially in areas outside the major metropolitan areas of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa.

Any chance of recharging electric cars here?

And finally, are Israel's 2 plus million driving population really ready, mind set wise, to make the switch to going "total electric" when driving to and from work and other destinations?

CNN also featured Better Place last Friday when both the company and Mr. Agassi were aired on an environmental news show on TV.

Besides noting the agreement that his company now has with the European car giant Renault –Nissan company, Agassi mentioned possible partnerships with automakers in China, including a company, Chery Automobile Company Ltd.

This possibility would not only result in the manufacture of less expensive electric powered cars, but could help solve the increasing pollution problems that major Chinese cities now have from large numbers of gasoline powered cars on the road. It could also alleviate stress on the electric grid there, as Green Prophet's Jack pointed out this week.

The first stage of Better Place cars going "online" in Israel will involve selective numbers of fleet vehicles by both companies and municipalities that will use these cars in their lease fleets.

The cars will later be available to the general public by the end of 2011. One of the company's major challenges involves creating a better battery than the present lithium ion one that is very expensive and will be "leased" to car owners.

The company is involved in developing a "smart battery" that can create its own electricity and even "feed" excess power back into the national electric grid it peak demand times. Perhaps the biggest challenge facing the success of these cars will be finding environmentally friendly solutions in the source of most electric power in Israel, which is presently from coal and oil fired powered plants.

Honda and I are still waiting to move up

As for myself, I have a Better Place Sticker in place on my aging Honda; and hope for the ability to one day move up to driving "total electric," smart batteries and all.

In fact, I'm ready to be a "test driver" to promote the product.

Shai, are you listening?

::Better Place

Read more on Better Place electric cars and technology:

A New Chery on Top For Better Place Electric Cars?

Maurice Test Drives the Better Place Electric Car

Better Place Launches Electric Taxis in Tokyo!

home_hero_sundrench[1]

Maurice Picow — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 07:31:27 +0000

solar-water-heaters-on-roof_lbiRv_578411[1]

Maurice Picow — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:37:28 +0000

northern israel

Ira Moskowitz — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:20:36 +0000

northern israel

Ira Moskowitz — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:21:48 +0000

northern israel

Ira Moskowitz — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:22:59 +0000

Gilatz to Develop Two Solar Power Installations in Northern Israel

Ira Moskowitz — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:34:30 +0000

Northern Israel: Not a cloudless desert, but still fertile ground for solar power. While southern Israel is the focus of the country’s most ambitious solar energy plans, including the Ashelim project and activity in the Eilot regional council, northern Israel is also drawing some attention: Gilatz Investments, an Israeli property developer, plans to begin constructing two photovoltaic (PV) power plants in northern Israel, the Bloomberg news service reported this week. According to Bloomberg (which transliterates the public company’s Hebrew name as “Gelats”), two rooftop PV systems are planned with a capacity of 1.12 megawatts and 1.3 megawatts, respectively. Spain, Italy - and now Israel Gilatz, a public company traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, has already developed 15 megawatts of installed PV capacity in Spain in partnership with the Israel-based Shikun & Binui construction company, and it has purchased a number of solar parks in Italy. The project in northern Israel marks its first solar venture outside of Europe. Bloomberg reports that construction is expected to start on the Israeli PV plants within several weeks, but that Gilatz would not divulge details about the cost of the project or the name of the local contractor it has partnered with for this project. :: Bloomberg Image via Marc Smith Read more about solar power in Israel: Dropouts Threaten Viability of Israel’s Ashelim Solar Tender Israel's First Solar Powered Wine Israel’s Air Force Plans Solar Installations at All its Bases

RECIPE: Silky White Malabi, Middle Eastern Milk Pudding

Miriam Kresh — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:38:51 +0000

Rose-flavored sweetness and a light, creamy texture that keeps you dipping your spoon back in - in Israel this pudding is called malabi. In Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt, people call it muhallibieh. The Greeks eat it as well. And it's only milk pudding, made in ten minutes. Sounds like a dessert for children, but all over the Middle East, you'll see Malabi offered in restaurants and at dinner parties. Recipes vary a little. Some call for a combination of milk and cream. A vegan combination I like is half coconut milk, half water. Rice milk works very well too, but not, for some reason, soy milk. Some people flavor their malabi with rosewater, some with orange flower water. Very old recipes call for mastic, a resin from a shrub belonging to the pistachio family. One ancient recipe requires flavoring the pudding with two leaves of a bitter orange tree, or the flowers (click to read our almond blossom recipe). Toppings vary too. You can top Malabi with chopped pine nuts and walnuts, or with chopped pistachios. Some dust a little cinnamon over the top, or sprinkle shredded coconut and peanuts. A little syrup over everything - it can be silan – the Middle-Eastern date honey used to "sweeten" sweet potatoes – or a home-made sugar syrup flavored with lemon, maple syrup, or chocolate syrup.

Malabi

8 servings - can be halved

Ingredients: 4 cups milk 1 cup sugar 5 tablespoons cornstarch, diluted in 1/4 cup water 2 tablespoons rose water or orange flower water 4 oz. chopped nuts Silan or other syrup

Method: 1. Put the milk and the sugar in a pan and bring the mixture to a boil. 2. Always stirring, add the cornstarch and water mixture. 3. Cook over medium heat till the pudding thickens - up to 5 minutes. 4. Add the rose water; stir. 5. Ladle into small bowls. Cool the pudding and then refrigerate it till cold. 5. Garnish the servings with chopped nuts and a swirl of syrup. Bon appetit! More Middle-Eastern recipes from Green Prophet:

Above image via netocaffe

malabi

Karin Kloosterman — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:18:07 +0000

north-israel-solar-clouds

Karin Kloosterman — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:26:06 +0000

#11: July 8, 2010

Jack Reichert — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:17:51 +0000

Palestine’s First Solar Power Electric Car on the Streets of Hebron

Developed as a school project by engineering students at the Palestine Polytechnic University in Hebron, this golf cart-like vehicle uses 12 batteries, totaling 24 volts, which can power the car for 3 to 5 hours.

Running at its maximum speed of 30 kilometers per hour, the batteries can last for only 100 minutes, but given the short distances around town, that would probably be enough for errands. But likely not sizeable enough for a large Arab family...

Read all about Palestine's first solar powered car »

'Inspired by Muhammad' Green Group Wants to Fight Terror Image

Shocking statistics and a love for the environment have inspired a new campaign which highlights Islam’s Eco message in order to break the link between Islam and extremism.

'Inspired by Muhammed' is a new campaign which showcases Muslims who have been inspired by their faith to contribute positively to society and focuses on areas such as women’s rights, social justice as well as the environment.

Its message can impact the Middle East and the world. Launched by the MTV host Muslim convert Kristiane Backer the campaign hopes to improve public understanding of the more positive aspects of Islam.

Read all about green groups fighting Islam's terror image »

Israeli Activists Launch Fight Against Oil Shale Extraction From Jerusalem

Blame it on America? By now, with the world’s worst oil spill off the Gulf of Mexico causing irreparable damage and news about tar sands extraction in Canada; and with numerous cleaner alternatives to choose from, a wiser civilization might leave destructive, polluting energy in the ground, or below the sea, and harness the sun and the wind instead.

But America's IDT Corporation is pushing a potentially ruinous oil shale scheme in Israel with a license that permits them to bypass environmental assessments or community engagement.

Read all about oil shale extraction in Israel »

More Environment News from the Middle East: (click title to read)

CLEANTECH, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Gilatz to Develop Two Solar Power Installations in Northern Israel »

Northern Israel: Not a cloudless desert, but still fertile ground for solar power. While southern Israel is the focus of the country’s most ambitious solar energy plans, including the Ashelim project ...

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE

Making Innovation Matter in Water’s Terms »

Read more lifestyle & culture stories »

BUSINESS & POLITICS

Better Place Smart Grid To Solve Storage Issues Preventing A True Clean Grid »

One of the biggest problems with switching an electric grid over to clean energy is storage. Most clean energy solutions are unreliable over short periods of time – when clouds come out, solar panels don’t produce. But Better Place has a solution.

Read more business & politics stories »

TRAVEL & NATURE

Enjoy EcoBike’s Eco-Friendly Cycling Tours of Israel with a Cold Beer (Or Clean Conscience) »

Bikes, beer and maybe even babes part of EcoBike: bringing eco-friendly cycling tours to a whole new demographic in the Middle East – bikers who like beer.

Read more travel & nature stories »

FOOD & HEALTH

Enjoy a Summer Feast in the Middle East With 7 Creative Recipe Ideas

The temperature’s rising! Naomi forages and gathers 7 excellent recipes for your feast.

Read more food & health stories »

Let's Keep in Touch!

Like usual we provide a mix of clean technology news, and regional and cultural news from the Middle East. If you fancy a Twitter or two here and there (just like a tickle), follow us on Twitter, or sign up for our RSS feed updated several times daily.

To keep Green Prophet running and our "prophets" full of ideas, energy, and green vision please visit our affiliates and sponsors, any time - day or night. Hint: Some of them are in this newsletter.

We thank you, and we love you.

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goat and rooster

Karen Chernick — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:10:15 +0000

goat and cock in the field

organic farm israel

Karen Chernick — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:12:52 +0000

Rom Farm Brings Organic Goat Cheese to a Table Near You, With Some Help from the Handicapped

Karen Chernick — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:19:43 +0000

Eat delicious organic goat cheese and feel good about helping the handicapped at Rom Farm in the Galilee. Most organic farms have, at the very least, an environmental conscience. Many of them believe that not only is organic farming more traditional and more delicious, but better for the planet (and therefore very important). Not all organic farms, however, have a social conscience to boot. Rom Farm, located in the Galilee region of Israel and not far from Carmiel, has an abundance of good intentions. A family-operated farm specializing in organic goat cheeses and yogurts, it is also home to a rehabilitative farm where the handicapped can come daily, enjoy a hearty breakfast, and lend a helping hand. Founded in 1986 by Amit Rom, the farm sits atop one of the highest mountains in the lower Galilee region - Camon Mountain - and sprawls across a whopping 4000 dunams. Amit, his wife, and their four children now run the farm and the rehabilitative farm, which was a project that stemmed from their desire to contribute to the community. The rehabilitative farm enables the handicapped to experience occupational rehabilitation in a natural environment and perform a variety of tasks, such as: trimming trees, caring for the farm's chickens, ducks, and peacocks, herding sheep, tending to the vegetable garden, and working in the farm's kitchen. The rehabilitative farm is open daily from 8:30am to 1pm, and those visiting receive a farm-produced breakfast consisting of fresh cheeses and yogurts, olives, eggs, vegetables, and fresh bread contributed by a nearby bakery. The farm is also home to a "guest tent" where visitors can participate in various team-building workshops. For more information about Rom Farm visit the farm's website. Read more about cheese and the creatures that help produce it:: Israel's Organic "Goats with the Wind" Farm is Delicious Eco-Tourism Holiday Recipes, Sukkot Edition: Make Your Own Ricotta Organic Goat Herding through WOOOF: The Podcast

green-cake-africa-algae

Karin Kloosterman — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 06:40:51 +0000

Could Algae "Green Cakes" Solve Nutrition Problem in Middle East?

Green Prophet Staff — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 06:44:08 +0000

Add a dash of cumin and you'll get some "green cake" falafel? This wonder food, from algae is being grown by the UN to solve hunger crisis. It could work in the Middle East. We know that kids in Gaza and Cairo aren't getting enough high quality nutrients. And many other oil-less nations, like Syria, suffer agricultural hardships from drought; or from conflict like in Yemen. But "Green Cakes" made from algae (spirulina) could be the wonder food that could provide the missing link to nutrition in developing regions of the world. "It's as close as we will get to a miracle food," said Mahamat Sorto, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) officer managing the green cakes cultivation project in Chad. He and other aid agencies see the plant as a possible cheap solution to global malnutrition. Donors to the project indeed hope that spirulina, a blue-green, protein-packed algae, labelled a "wonderful future food source" 45 years ago by the International Association of Microbiology, will deliver on its promise by the time a $1.7 million USD cultivation project in Chad, funded by the European Union, ends in December 2010. We can imagine these "wonder cakes" will appeal to vegans and vegetarians the world over, as well. The plant's dry weight contains up to 70 percent of protein matter, based on chemical analyses from the French Oil Institute, university research laboratories in Malaysia and Bangladesh, and the Siam Algae company, a Thai commercial group. And imagine how many cow farts can be saved from cultivating and eating such a product? Health food stores in rich countries have promoted spirulina as an energy-enhancing supplement, but it has been eaten for centuries in various parts of the world. Easily digestible, with high protein levels, high levels of B-carotene, vitamin B12, iron and trace minerals, and the rare essential fatty acid y-linolenic acid [also called gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), or omega-6], these green cakes do sound like a wonder. Good news for the greens: a small environmental footprint with low water needs, production could take place in salty conditions that would kill other crops, and there were no "obvious negative cultural or religious issues associated with its consumption," finds a recent report. One drawback. In Chad's northern Kanem region, spirulina grower Hereta Taher told IRIN that some people found the taste jarring. "It might seem bitter at first, but you get used to it." The bitterness could be solved with garlic, a dash of cumin or sage, so why is it not spilling out of market stalls? Grower Hereta Taher "Lack of political interest," said Alessandro Manini, secretary general of the Italy-based group, "Convention for the use of food micro-algae, intergovernmental institutional spirulina programme", which promotes using the algae to combat malnutrition. A review of seven studies on the impact of spirulina supplements on malnourished children, by researchers at the national hospital in Niamey, capital of Niger, was published in December 2008 in the French medical journal, Revue d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique. The review concluded that although spirulina had a positive impact on the children's weight, the studies were methodologically poor and had included too few people. The authors called for a larger "double-blind controlled clinical trial" - where neither the patients nor the researchers knew which patients were given spirulina - and longer follow-up period. "It is a miracle," said Ousmane Issa Mara, village chief of Barkadressou in the north of Kanem region, pointing to the rain-fed oasis where spirulina typically grows. "It gives you energy. After eating spirulina cakes, our sub-prefect did not have any more health problems. It restores appetite to children who lose it." Barkadressou is one of 14 EU-funded sites growing spirulina near Lake Chad and in the Kanem region. Almost one in five children measured by height, weight and arm circumference in November 2009 by Action Against Hunger, an NGO working in the region, were acutely malnourished. The governor, Djari Ngamai, told IRIN that conditions in northern Kanem, 300km north of Mao, the regional capital, were the most arid in the area. "It is lamentable how dry and barren the area is. It borders the northern BET [Borkou, Ennedi, Tibesti] regions and shares the same agricultural conditions and difficulties." Algae friendly oasis in Kanem region in Chad There were 1,581 women across the country participating in the EU spirulina cultivation project, and hundreds of women in Barkadressou had been packaging spirulina as dried cakes to sell to people who drove up to six hours by car from the capital to buy it. Similar climates and conditions for growing green cakes can also be found in the Middle East and in North Africa. Need for boosting irrigation Village chief Mara told IRIN that Barkadressou needed a motorised pump to boost irrigation because a drought in 2009 had halted the local spirulina cottage industry. Each family sold up to 100kg in the annual harvest and the income was critical. China and India are among the top commercial producers of spirulina, with China's production doubling from 19,000 tons in 2003 to 41,570 tons in 2004. Yet very little was produced for humanitarian purposes. ::IRIN

Tesla Motors IPO Races Through Abu Dhabi, But Is the EV Practical?

Maurice Picow — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 07:09:10 +0000

Faster than a Ferrari, cleaner than a Prius, Tesla's EV roadster is only $100,000: Is this reason for Tesla's high IPO result? Tesla Motors, already a popular concept in Gulf countries, but whose high performance electric sports car has not turned a profit for them in the company's seven year of operation, has suddenly put at least some of their financial woes behind them, by raising $188 million in a recent IPO (initial public offering) on the NASDAQ stock exchange in New York. Compared to other electric car ventures, including Better Place (whose battery swapping technology will be featured in Renault autos, beginning in 2011) which recently received funding of $350 million from the HBSC banking group, Tesla has been specializing in making very expensive high performance sport models that only the very rich and affluent can afford to buy.

Tesla's shares, issued at the NASDAQ IPO offering at $17 each, shot up "like a rocket" and reached the mid $20's by the end of the trading day with considerable gains for Middle East buyers:

Abu Dhabi's Al Wahada Capital Investment took a 7.8 percent stake in Tesla, a stake now worth about $174 million USD, while the quickest return was on the investment made by Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp, which bought $50 million USD worth of shares in a private placement at the IPO price. That is now worth about $70 million USD Arabian Business reports.

In comparison, other NASDAQ stocks were heading in the other direction, making the Tesla IPO one of the few positive performers. The US Government, with it's current interest in offering support for green transportation ventures, has given Tesla a loan of $465 million to help the company develop it's $100,000 sport roadster.

One hundred thousand dollars is a heck of a lot of money for any car, especially an electric two-seater coupe (there is a tiny back seat that only a small child or a midget can sit in). Financial assistance of that nature should best be awarded to companies who will be offer a much more practical, and cheaper, electric car. But the company plans on producing 20,000 EV sedans per year.

If Better Place and other companies work out a final deal with the Chinese Chery Automobile Company Ltd, the funds would be much better invested, as this car would be much more practical, as well as affordable.

Tesla's CEO Elon Musk, who is reported to be in the midst of an "expensive divorce", may be needing some of these IPO funds to finance that "project". He was quoted by USA News as saying that :

"People need to appreciate that if we were just making the Roadster, we'd be profitable. But we're in massive expansion mode."

The "rapid expansion mode" may be referring to company plans to produce a Model S Sedan that executives and even families can drive in, and which will cost about half the price of the roadster.

There are doubts that Tesla's cars, which presently only have a cruising range of 160 miles, will ever be popular – unless they work out a battery exchange plan like that of Better Place or can improve on the life of the battery charge: "It remains to be seen that this type of car, even in a sedan version, will become popular due to its limited cruising range and long battery recharging time" said Jack Nerad, of Kelly Blue Books, one of America's top new and used car buying guides.

It appears from all this that perhaps Tesla might find some purchasers for its roadsters in oil rich Persian Gulf countries like Abu Dhabi, where expansive cars are commonplace, including specially ordered ones like white gold Mercedes Benzes.

Why not make an electric version of one of these jobbies?

Read more electric car articles:

Is Israel Ready for Electric Cars?

Palestine's First Solar Powered Electric Car Cruises the Streets of Hebron

Better Place Looking for Chery on Top with Ideas to Team up; With Chinese Chery Auto Company

Photo via Tesla

Water Bills In Israel Go Up 40 Percent. Did Anyone Notice?

Lisa Damast — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:55:47 +0000

Water bill prices in Israel continue to rise while desalination plans and conservation efforts remain stalled. Image via IDE Technologies. Not long ago the Jerusalem Post reported on a national water scandal that seems to have crept on most of the Israeli public. In the past year water bills have gone up 40 percent. Since 2008, the average price per cubic meter has risen 400%. Despite these absurd numbers, no one seems to have expressed any disapproval. Maybe it's because of the two-three month delay in sending water bills which makes people forget or maybe it's because people are resigned to the thinking that because it is scarce, it should be high, but whatever the reason, it's not completely right. As the article points out,

"The logic (of the Israel Water Authority) is to pass on to consumers losses incurred by regional water authorities, as well as to have households foot the bill for erecting desalination plants, which should have been constructed and fully operational years ago."

While desalination would solve some of Israel's water problems, it is years away from making Israel self-sufficient. In addition, the prices will still remain high since desalination plants require a lot of energy. On top of that, poor infrastructure that continues to be ignored despite leaks and other problems will also continue to be a problem that the public will have to pay for. It might be high-time for people to now notice this and to demand the government to stop delaying these projects. It's also a good time to institute far-reaching programs that encourage conservation. ::Jerusalem Post Israeli Solutions to Locating and Plugging Leaks: Arad’s Drone Flies By and Hones In On Leaky Pipes TaKaDu Adds Brains to the “Dumb” Water Grid CuraPipe Systems Hires “Pigs” to Repair Leaky Pipelines

joanna-jones-greenpeace

Karin Kloosterman — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:17:38 +0000

greenpeace-ship-coal

Karin Kloosterman — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:19:41 +0000

greenpeace-coal-mast

Karin Kloosterman — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:22:57 +0000

Greenpeace Israel Boards Coal Ship At Sea To Protest New Coal Plant Construction

Karin Kloosterman — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:33:48 +0000

Greenpeace activists from Israel today have boarded the 290-meter long coal ship Orient Venus on the high seas, and have since been arrested, Greenpeace alerts. Joanna Jones, Mor Levy and Jense Loewe arrived in inflatable boats and climbed up the side of the huge vessel. They proceeded to build a camp on the ship's mast in order to stop the coal shipment from entering Israel. The protest was staged to show the public about Greenpeace's concern that Israel plans on constructing another coal-fired power plant in southern Israel. Police have boarded the ship and are attempting to take the activists down. They included 23 year-old Jones, pictured above, from Jaffa. This pic comes from one of her training sessions. According to the Washington Post, Israel has arrested the Greenpeace activists "who sneaked onto an Israel-bound coal ship on the high seas to protest the country's plans to build a new coal-fueled power plant." They got into inflatable dinghies and boarded the coal ship using rope ladders. They then barricaded themselves to a mast and put up a banner saying: "Coal Kills." It delayed the shipment by several hours only, but caught our attention. Israel maintains a coal-fired power station in Hadera, north of Tel Aviv and plans to build another in southern Israel, despite all its clean technology intentions. ::Washington Post

pregnant-sweets-diabetes

Karin Kloosterman — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:11:02 +0000

A Bittersweet Test for Women with Gestational Diabetes

Green Prophet Staff — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:12:58 +0000

Family values, and having children are important in the Middle East. Here is a simple test done during pregnancy that if paid close attention to can help make women more health-smart in the long run. We know that pregnancy can be the elixir of life, and fountain of youth, but anyone who's been pregnant knows that the battery of tests done during that time can be annoying and stressful. There's good news for Mom during all the fuss: A common test to diagnose gestational diabetes ― a temporary condition which can harm both mother and child if left untreated ― also has predictive power for Type II adult-onset diabetes, a new Tel Aviv University study finds. Dr. Gabriel Chodick has proven that women who “fail” the glucose challenge test, a series of four blood tests conducted over a single four-hour period, have a higher chance of developing adult onset diabetes later in life. In his latest research, reported in the journal Diabetic Medicine, he found that nearly half the women who fail all four of the four-part tests, demonstrating an elevated blood sugar level, developed Type II diabetes within ten years. The study statistically proves what has been anecdotally believed by healthcare practitioners in the past: “While doctors take this into consideration, there usually isn’t close follow-up in the clinical setting,” says Dr. Chodick. He says that women in the highest risk group (those who fail all four of the tests) should be given special counselling and intervention to prevent the onset of diabetes, which can greatly diminish quality of life and lead to adverse effects including heart disease, blindness and liver cancer. In the retrospective study, Dr. Chodick and colleagues collected data on more than 185,000 women in Israel who took the glucose challenge test, then acquired information from the health registry as to what percentage of these women contracted diabetes later in life. They ascertained that women who failed all four glucose challenge blood tests had a nearly 50% chance of developing Type II diabetes within the ten years following the test. Those who failed three of the four tests had a 20% overall chance of developing the disease within the same period. “This is the first-ever study to show the long-term health of those who failed the glucose challenge test,” says Dr. Chodick. While doctors commonly advise that women with gestational diabetes exercise and supplement their diet with fiber and fruit (and, in the most extreme circumstances, take insulin injections), women who take the advice usually have the health of their child in mind, not themselves. After giving birth, they resume adverse eating and lifestyle habits. The test results now show how they provide invaluable predictive information for women’s health in the long run. Gestational diabetes currently affects 3 to 5% of all pregnant women, and rates are continuing to rise. Read more on pregnancy: Natural Remedies for Late Pregnancy EcoMum Goes Back to the Beginning - Pregnancy Preparing for Breastfeeding ::AFTAU Above image via Flickr

hennawrap

Naomi Ben-David — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:50:43 +0000

redbeard

Naomi Ben-David — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:53:14 +0000

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

hennawrap

Naomi Ben-David — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:59:01 +0000

hennawrap

Naomi Ben-David — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:01:23 +0000

hennawrap

Naomi Ben-David — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:08:21 +0000

IMG_9032

Tafline Laylin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:46:22 +0000

Cairo street scene

Tafline Laylin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:53:51 +0000

JaskolskiSCC

Tafline Laylin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:55:41 +0000

Trash park Cairo

Tafline Laylin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:58:45 +0000

American University Cairo's Sustainable Campus Committee Address Waste Concerns

Tafline Laylin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:05:12 +0000

Education puts Cairo one step towards getting rid of its nemesis: solid waste. Within a 3 minute walk down Cairo's streets, an environmentalist is bound to have an apoplectic fit: litter lies everywhere. Tiny trash bins - rare jewels - overflow with containers and water (read more about Cairo's tap water) bottles that will live on long after the residents who used them are gone. And the Nile itself - that mighty river, the longest in the world - carries human debris north to the hapless dumping grounds that is the Mediterranean. The numbers are overwhelming: the country's current population is at least 80 million, while 16 million people spill out of the capital city's cramped confines. Meanwhile, ecooptionsegypt.com, a blog committed to sustainability in Egypt, lists only 6 NGOs involved with environmental issues. There is also a dearth of government solutions. The Zabbaleen, who used to collect, sort and re-purpose solid waste, and fed organic waste to their pigs, were replaced by the government in favor of a more modern system. However, the city's effort to modernize the system fell short in part because they failed to pay a fair wage to this historically efficient group of waste-gatherers who then lacked incentive to help. Egypt finally adopted a National Strategy for Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management in 2000. This resulted in the development of: a government committee charged with oversight, economic incentives, and privatized services that are financed by tax on electricity. On the street, the change is not seen. The Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Program claims the "country will face a cycle of rising costs to address ever increasing quantities of waste and will have limited or no ability to correct the situation." Therefore, the government has to approach waste management from several angles, namely "(i) strengthened supportive capacity of central government; (ii) application of the polluter pay principle; (iii) application of the principle of attaching an economic value to wastes as being recoverable resources; and (iv) enhanced public awareness and community participation in waste management systems." This means in part that citizens must become involved. [courtesy of Tina Jaskolski] To this end, the American University of Cairo is doing their part. They recently established the Sustainable Campus Committee, a subgroup of the Desert Development Center, composed of 20 volunteers committed to "bring together people interested in the environment from around AUC's campus, to pool ideas and develop strategies for making AUC's campus more sustainable," Tina Jaskolski told ecooptionsegypt. One of their first activities was held in honor of earth day, and focused on waste management. The group visited 20 AUC departments and educated 121 staff members about effective waste management during April. Although this may seem like a small dent in an enormous junkyard of scrapped cars, and it is, especially given the group's focus on the university campus, it is also an important step towards cleaning up greater Cairo. Their work also brings to mind Margaret Mead's words: "never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does.” :: www.ecooptionsegypt.com More from Egypt: Climate Change Poses Threat to Egypt’s Farming, Tourism, Water Supply (Video) Egypt Government to Invest in Wind, From $110 Billion Renewable Energy Budget Upstream African Countries Sign Nile Water Deal Against Egypt’s Interests

slide_6519_109804_large[1]

Maurice Picow — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 05:26:26 +0000

Muammar al-Gaddafi

Karin Kloosterman — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 06:38:04 +0000

Libyan Oil Clout Now Pushing for Buying Stake in BP

Maurice Picow — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 06:43:25 +0000

Libyan bargain hunters look to scoop up shares of BP. Should the world's environmentalists be concerned? Image of Libyan president al-Gaddafi via Daily Mail News that doesn't bode well for the environment? Rich Libyan oil barons are vying for a controlling stake in British Petroleum (BP) the UK oil company leaking billions from the Gulf oil spill off the coast of Florida. Libya, who already had a deal in the works with BP for offshore drilling off the coast of Libya, look to increase their oil wealth clout even more by purchasing a sizable stake into the British oil giant. Libya has been in Green Prophet news recently as the country involved in spending billions for lavish, possibly absurd, projects to "green" the country's parched desert regions with projects such as circular pivot irrigation farming tapping ancient fresh water from deep underground aquifers. The BP purchase aspirations now stem from the oil giant's current reversals of fortune as a result of the continuing oil spill (or shall we say underwater gusher) in the Gulf of Mexico. This latest bit of Libyan extravagancy is reported by the Dow Jones Newswire which reports how the Libyan National Oil Company Chairman Shokri Ghanem is recommending the a purchase in BP stock shares to the Libyan Investment Authority, or LIA, the North African state's sovereign wealth fund:

BP shares are down about 48 per cent since April 20, when an explosion on Transocean's Deepwater Horizon drilling rig -- leased by BP for its Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico -- killed 11 workers and triggered one of the worst oil spill disasters the US has ever seen. "BP is interesting now with the price lower by half, and I still have trust in BP. I will recommend it to the LIA," Mr Ghanem said in a telephone interview. "It's a good opportunity for bargain hunters."

Ghanem's logic stems from BP company stock shares now selling for about half their former value before the Transocean Deepwater Horizon drilling ring blew up last April 20, killing 11 oil workers and causing the oil flow into the Gulf which has continued unabated for more than 78 days. Ghanem says that "still has faith in BP." For its part, BP executives say that the company is not contemplating selling any core assets right now although they do welcome new BP shareholders. This bit of news of possible LIA interest did cause the company's shares to rise on world stock markets. Other countries are also minor share holders in BP stocks, including the Kuwait Investment Authority, which already owns 2.8 per cent of BP; and Norway's sovereign wealth fund, which owns 1.3 per cent. Libya, a country that is said to have a sizeable amount of the world's known petroleum reserves, is now even cooperating with BP and will allow it to conduct some offshore drilling in the Mediterranean. BP will be the first non-OPEC country to drill of its coast. With the Gulf of Mexico at the verge of being a "dead" body of water, it would be disastrous if a similar oil spill would occur in the Mediterranean, considered as the last remaining spawning area for fish species such as the blue fin tuna. And Libya which to some extent has repaired its image of a terror nation (see CNN) at least in the eyes of the US, it doesn't exactly have a good track record for environmental concern. Libyan Oil Company head Ghanem commented on this new venture, that although the Gulf of Mexico spill is a "tragic accident" the oil industry in general is "moving into new frontiers." If those "new frontiers" are dealing with risky deep water drilling in the waters of the Mediterranean, this could put this body of water into an even worse situation than the Gulf of Mexico since the Med has a very narrow outlet into the Atlantic Ocean. At present, however, Mohamamd Layas, executive director of the Libyan Investment Authority, was quoted as saying that he had "no comment at this stage." Most likely, he is being "instructed" to keep quiet on any purchase plans. ::Dow Jones Newswire Read more about Libyan environmental and energy projects: Libyan Techno-farm Irrigation Project Aims to Boost Agriculture Productivity Libya Goes Ahead With Deep Water Drilling Agreement Despite BP Oil Spill Libyan Pivot Irrigation Farming Proves Money Can do Anything

Henna - A Natural New Hair Hue for Summer

Naomi Ben-David — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 07:04:30 +0000

Who would have thought that nature could provide such vivid hues? Here you see the strength of "redbeard" henna. Since the dawn of time, people have been finding ways to improve, change and diversify their appearance for cultural and personal reasons. These methods of beautifying yourself are just as diverse as they are natural and one of these, is the art of henna hair dying. Henna has existed in the Middle East as well as areas of Africa and Asia since the time of the ancients, so it is definitely a tried and tested process for all different hair types. Of course it is not limited to dying hair, it is also used on skin, fingernails as well as leather, silk and wool. But when it comes to dying your hair, there are a few things you should take into account. To begin with, if you are used to getting your colour from a bottle, you should be aware that this process is completely different. While there are several colours available which are all known today as henna, the truth is that natural henna, which comes from a plant called lawsonia inermis contains a property called lawsone and this turns your hair a red-brown colour, depending on your natural colour. The colours known as black and neutral henna actually come from completely different plants, however the dye process is the same. Just be careful when you are buying your henna products, if they are labelled “compound henna” this means that it is not purely natural and are actually combined with various metallic salts which can damage your hair. Henna itself is one of the natural ways to protect your hair. It penetrates your hair, preventing dandruff and split ends and is a natural way of making it shine. Once you have decided what colour you want, make sure you have enough time put aside because this is a slightly lengthy procedure, like many others which are purely natural. In the Middle East, you can usually buy henna in a local shuk or market. Just ask around. Best to ask people with experience on where the best henna can be found. How to henna: 1. You need to start by making a paste. Take the henna in its powder form and make a thick paste by adding lemon, orange or grapefruit juice. 2. Leave this to sit over night. 3. Then when you are ready to start applying it, add some more lemon juice, or some herbal tea to make it about the consistency of yoghurt. It will feel like coating you head in a thick layer of icing, but don’t be afraid to really cake it on. It might look strange, but wrapping your head in plastic is the next step, try it out! Image via pretendtious 4. Now comes the amusing part. You need to wrap your head in shrink wrap, for between 2 and 4 hours. While it will feel heavy, it is actually very soothing and is a natural way of ridding yourself of headaches and letting yourself relax. The final step is to rinse out the henna, which can take a bit of soaking and then shampooing normally. The colour that you are first faced with is not the colour which will remain. As the henna reacts with the air, the colour will change, so it is only 3 days later that the colour will truly settle. Enjoy nature’s own hair dye, but make sure you wear gloves, remember, henna also dyes skin and you don’t necessarily want to walk around for the next month with red hands! Read more on natural ways to improve your health and appearance: Aloe Vera - A Prickly Plant with Pizazz RECIPE: Eco Friendly Summer Solstice Lip Balm Sage Advice on Natural Deodorants Image via AfghanistanMatters

hebron-hevron-clothes-house

Karin Kloosterman — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 07:21:42 +0000

hebron-renewable-energy-course

Karin Kloosterman — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 07:32:52 +0000

Palestinian Engineers Get Sustainable Energy Sources Course in Hebron

Moshe Terdman — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 07:33:49 +0000

They're already going eco: Hanging the clothes to dry, naturally, in Hebron. Image via andydr Hebron (or Hevron) is a West Bank city run by the Palestinian Authority which is famous for being an ongoing powder barrel in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and an ongoing source of unrest between Israelis and Palestinians. But nowadays, when the economy in the Palestinian Authority is booming, the Palestine Polytechnic University in Hebron is a source for peacetime renewable energy projects, such as the first solar power electric car developed by its students and research. There's more good energy brewing in the West Bank: The Palestine Polytechnic University in Hebron also hosted a four-days international workshop in sustainable energy sources (links to Arabic) recently, sponsored by the US. This workshop was jointly held by Prof. Akram Abu-Aisheh from the University of Hartford/USA and Prof. Sameer Khadir from Palestine Polytechnic University. It was organized by the Power Electronics and Signal Processing Research Unit at the Palestine Polytechnic University with cooperation and financial support of the Department for Cultural Affairs in the Consulate of the United States in Jerusalem. The aim of the workshop was to introduce and train Palestinian academic staff and engineers in the respective industrial sectors in the types of alternative energy sources, their applications and modeling. Many academics and students who lecture or do research on environmental issues, engineering, and renewable energy took part in this workshop. The lectures dealt with wind energy systems, solar energy systems, sustainable energy, passive solar systems, active solar systems, computer simulation tools for solar energy systems, sustainable energy sources, wind energy simulation and more. It should be mentioned that the Palestinian Authority has been dependent on Israel for its supply of electricity, and tries to develop other sources of sustainable energy in order not to be dependent on Israel and in order to improve the Palestinians' lifestyle. One local company MENA Geothermal is trying to create alternative energy using heat from the ground, but much much more can be done. As part of this effort, the Palestinian Authority established already in 1993 the Palestinian Energy and Environment Research Center as a national research and development institution responsible for research and implementation of renewable energies and energy efficiency in the Palestinian Authority. From 2007, it has been under the control of the Palestinian Energy Authority. Although this research center organized a few international workshops, until 2007 it could not do much because of the breakout of the Second Intifada. Indeed, the end of the Second Intifada and the appointment of Salam Fayyad, who is caring for the well-being of the Palestinians and trying to improve their economic and social status, to be the Palestinian Prime Minister, paved the way to increasing the environmental awareness among the Palestinians as well as to creating new opportunities for environmental research and developments initiatives. The international workshop in sustainable energy sources is an inseparable part of this process which is actively encouraged by Prime Minister Fayyad. During the last year or so, the Palestinian Authority has started to encourage foreign investments, such as the building of the first ever solar energy plant in the Palestinian Authority in Jericho by the Japanese Government, and local research and initiatives, such as the cooperation between Israel and Palestinian companies in building and selling wind turbines in the West Bank, in developing sustainable energy sources. Although the process of increasing the environmental awareness among the Palestinians as well as of creating new opportunities for environmental research and developments initiatives is still in its beginnings, it has a lot of potential to progress quickly, especially if the economy continues to boom and bloodshed is not about to return. More on Renewable Energy in the Palestinian Authority: The First Palestinian Solar EV Car Hits the Streets of Hebron Good Wind Energy Between Palestine and Israel

Roman theatre, Syria

Tafline Laylin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:42:14 +0000

beirut

Tafline Laylin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:48:33 +0000

Tunisia

Tafline Laylin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:53:56 +0000

Sharing Eco-Friendly Construction Techniques is So'Eco

Tafline Laylin — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:56:56 +0000

Social housing can be eco-friendly too, in Syria, Lebanon, and Tunisia [image courtesy of seir+seir] Syria says no to plastic bags, Lebanon is pushing for more sustainable transportation, and Tunisia makes good shakshuka. But what do these three countries have in common? They are all participating in the So'Eco program under the auspices of the Invest in Med project spearheaded by the European Commission. At the end of the program, in March 2011, Syria, Lebanon, and Tunisia will each have a host of newly-minted eco-builders who will apply their knowledge to social housing. The So' Eco project has 3 main objectives. First, until the end of July this year, they will send French, Belgian, and Spanish experts in ecologically-sound building techniques to analyze the existing state of building techniques in Syria, Lebanon, and Tunisia. Then they will establish each country's specific priorities, and map a suitable development path according to those identified needs. In October, training programs will be initiated, aimed at sharing valuable technical and technological skills. It is expected that the recipients of said training will then pay it forward in their own countries. And then in March next year, representatives from all of the countries will gather in Marseilles to "consolidate" the efforts heretofore conducted. This gathering will also further enmesh relationships established and foster future collaboration in order to maintain the momentum of eco-building. [image courtesy of u-g-g-b-o-y] So'Eco was established specifically "to enable [Mediterranean people] to reach a successful local development by giving people an access to a high quality, affordable, and low energy consuming housing," and targets local authorities, eco-construction companies, social housing projects, town-planning offices, universities, and technical centers. [image courtesy of http2007] It is also a part of a larger 3-year project funded by the European Commission and conducted by MedAlliance to steer the region's growth in a healthy, constructive manner. A consortium of business, investment, and government organizations have joined to focus on investment and business partnerships in 9 Mediterranean countries: Algeria, Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, and Tunisia. The Mediterranean evokes images of crystal clear waters and beautiful babes - male and female - strutting their stuff on the beach. To spare these images, and keep life tolerable for the people who call the Mediterranean home, careful and responsible planning must inform all future building projects. So'Eco's expert guidance is golden. ::Invest in Med More Building news from the Middle East: Mr. Robert Upton’s Philosophy of Planning and How It Applies to the Middle East Planning the Sustainable City: Lessons from Bogota, Colombia Welcome Home: Meet Theo Who’s Running Jordan’s Alternative Eco Aqaba House

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Hannah Katsman — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:35:11 +0000

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Hannah Katsman — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:35:25 +0000

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Karen Chernick — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 09:56:35 +0000

hiriya garbage summer events

Karen Chernick — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 10:09:02 +0000

Spend Summer Nights at Hiria, Central Israel's Garbage Dump, Among the Trash and Beneath the Stars

Karen Chernick — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 17:30:37 +0000

Get romantic at the dump! Hiria garbage dump tries to attract visitors this summer with outdoor movie screenings and activities for the whole family. Once upon a time, it was common to spend summer nights watching a movie outdoors. Remember that scene in Grease at the drive-in, when Danny took Sandy out to watch a movie and eat popcorn under the stars? Unfortunately, drive-ins and outdoor movie screenings have disappeared for the most part. But Hiria, central Israel's garbage dump that has been greenifying its image in recent years, is bringing the outdoor movie screening back this summer. The catch? The catch is pretty obvious. The events are all at Hiria... a garbage dump. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX2UeVvAMFA&feature=player_embedded[/youtube] The movie screenings are part of a series of family-friendly activities planned for the month of July. (Check out the footage from previous workshops and movie screenings at Hiria in the clip above.) Every Thursday during the month of July, visitors are invited to take part in a workshop, tour, and outdoor film at Hiria. Between 5pm and 8pm, visitors will be invited to participate in recycling/upcycling/reusing workshops at Hiria's Center for Environmental Education (a center which designer Brigitte Cartier has whimsically decorated with garbage). They will also be able to take tours of the site during these hours. At 8:30pm, visitors will be able to set up picnics on the Hiria lawn and watch children's movies (dubbed in Hebrew). Next Thursday, Jerry Seinfeld's Bee Movie will be shown, the week after that they'll be screening Wall-E (an appropriate movie for a garbage dump), and then Antz. For more information about the events or about Hiria in general, visit the Hiria website. Read more about Hiria and it's new green image:: Hiria: A Garbage Dump Turned Recycling Dream Hiria Garbage Mountain Gets Green Lighting from Clean Energy 50,000 Seat Amphitheater Planned for Hiria, Israel’s Trash Mountain

green baby uae

Karen Chernick — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:08:11 +0000

Biased Allergy "Milk Protein" Study Puts Babies at Risk

Hannah Katsman — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:59:00 +0000

A new study suggests that introducing babies to milk before 2 weeks of age can prevent milk allergies later. "Lactavist" Hannah points out its flaws and dangers of such studies. For decades, the World Health Organization and medical associations around the world have recommended exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby's life. Breastmilk provides babies with all their nutritional needs, and contains antibodies and other substances that protect babies from infection. Numerous studies show that early introduction of formula increases the risk of illness and hospitalization. Yet when a faulty Israeli study sponsored by the Israeli Milk Council found an increased risk of dairy allergy among exclusively breastfed babies, lead researcher Jacob Katz recommended offering cow's milk to babies within two weeks birth. Breastmilk is natural, free and green. It's important to consider all the facts before telling parents to go out and buy a box of expensive and highly-processed cow's milk formula and a baby bottle, when mother's milk is readily available. Sharron Zabary, an researcher in the immune system at Tel Aviv University, examined Katz's study in the Israeli site Walla and pointed out several major flaws. Funded by the Israeli Milk Council, the study looked at 13,000 mothers and babies. The mothers were asked to report--months and weeks later--the day the baby first drank cow's milk, and any allergy symptoms that occurred in the following days. The study concluded that the incidence of dairy allergies was nineteen (!) times higher among exclusively breastfed babies or babies who received supplements after two weeks of age, than in those who received supplements in the first two weeks. The medical literature reports an incidence of dairy allergy of one to three percent among babies exposed to cow's milk formula, compared to only 0.5 percent among exclusively breastfed babies. But Katz's study found a 0.5 percent incidence across the board. Since the study relied on post-partum mothers to recall, weeks later, the exact date their babies first received cow's milk formula and subsequent allergic reactions, it's likely that much of the data was flawed. Even more confounding is that the study did not consider supplements in the hospital stay after birth, where most babies end exclusive breastfeeding with a bottle of cow's milk fed them by a nurse. We should be especially wary when companies that promote cow's milk and baby formula get involved in breastfeeding studies. Even in the unlikely case that the study's results turn out to be accurate, Katz's recommendations ignore the many proven risks of early introduction of formula. Dairy allergy is rarely life-threatening and usually passes after a year of age, while gastro-intestinal infections, a common result of early supplementation, can lead to serious illness or even death. More Green Posts on babies: Breastfeed Your Baby in a Hijab: Public Breastfeeding in the Middle East Maccabee Health Fund Undermines Babies' Health Avoid These Common Misconceptions When Breastfeeding Your Baby Photo credit: foxypar4

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Tafline Laylin — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 22:29:36 +0000

Where hawksbill turtles roam

Tafline Laylin — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 22:31:52 +0000

What Tagged Hawksbill Turtles From Qatar Tell Us

Tafline Laylin — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 22:37:55 +0000

When you're stuck in the middle of a crowded, noisy city like Cairo, where waste piles up on the side of the street, and you can't manage to peel back what you hope is a mirage of decrepit buildings to reveal the earth below, let the hawksbill turtle inspire you. Undisturbed by light pollution from beach development projects, such as Urjuan in Qatar, and following an ancient wisdom dialed into their DNA, they lay their eggs and follow the moonlight back to the ocean from whence they came. This is what they have always done. But now, like the green turtle, they have the dubious distinction of making it on to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's endangered list; light pollution is among their biggest threats. Impediments to their food source, meanwhile, could also jeopardize their ability to reproduce. Dr. Nicholas Pilcher is the Executive Director for the Marine Research Foundation. In an article for The National, he explained to Vesela Todorova that "females expend a vast amount of energy, not only nesting, but in the physiological development of the egg follicles, then creating the albumen..." In order to preserve that energy, they need to be well fed, so it is essential that their foraging grounds are kept safe. However, until now, it has not been clear where they foraged. Some scientists believed that Iranian turtles plied Iranian waters, while Qatari turtles stayed close to their own shores, according to Lisa Perry, the Program director for the Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS). But recent efforts by EWS and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to tag 20 Middle Eastern turtles dispelled that assumption. Initially tagged in Oman, turtle # 53003 "went straight into the Gulf, towards Qatar, where we know some foraging grounds exist,” Ms Perry said. Two Iranian turtles are gallivanting off the coast of Qatar, while turtles from the United Arab Emirates are the region's homebodies. Rich in oil and gas and bidding for the 2022 World Cup, demonstrative of its enormous economic growth, Qatar's southern coast, "close to the Saudi and UAE borders, is an important foraging ground" according to Dr Pilcher. What impact this new knowledge will have on development in the area is not known, but we hope that the study will breed important policies aimed at protection, rather than habitat devastation. :: images and story via The National More green Gulf News: Rare Sea Turtles and Other Wildlife Living Happily on Persian Gulf Atoll Abu Dhabi’s “Wondering Where the Lions Are” (And Why The Corals Won’t Come Back) Coastal Erosion Threatens Evolutionary Hotspots In Gulf Region

5 Israeli Fresh Food Markets – Traditional, Farmer's and Organic

Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 04:35:59 +0000

Tel Aviv Carmel Market. Above image via esme Visitors to Israel’s best fruit and vegetable markets already know the country’s two most famous landmarks: The Carmel Market in Tel Aviv, which winds down from trendy Sheinkin Street right down the Mediterranean the Sea. And Jerusalem’s Machane Yehuda market, which anthropologically speaking, is most interesting on Friday afternoons as religious Jews shop frantically before the Sabbath. There you can find fruits, nuts, meat, veggies, good hummus, fish, clothing, and sweets. Also look out for the crazy Kabala juice man. On another level, there is a group of “market wardens” see the picture of my Canadian mom (below) checking out the ultra-Orthodox men, with fur hats, warning stall owners in Jerusalem to shut down before twilight, or else. She got a real kick out of that when she visited Israel. As the saying goes, variety is the spice of life, and when it comes to food market shopping, Israel is very much spicy, and alive. Speaking of spices, all the country’s best chefs, and restaurant owners know that there is only one place to get the country’s best offerings of spices, nuts and specialty cheeses. The place is Shuk Levinsky in South Tel Aviv. Like the big fruit and veggie market –– the Carmel Market –– which also sells cheese, meat, fish, kitchen wares and clothing, the Levinsky Market is open 6 days a week, from Sunday early am until after sunset, closing before sunset on Friday late afternoon before the Sabbath rest. Also in recent years, Israel has gone beyond its basic needs for olive oil, tomatoes, cucumbers and pita bread. It’s taken the cue from countries like Canada and France and a new class of markets have opened, being touted as farmer’s markets. Now these aren’t simple hoedowns you’d find in North Bay region villages, but specialty farms that have come to Tel Aviv to offer some of the finest hand-made cheeses, baked goods and organic veggies. According to the Tel Aviv Farmer’s Market website, the market represents about 50 producers from all over Israel, who are selling their local, fresh, small scale and quality produce. Look for fruits, vegetables, herbs, cheese, bread and cakes, honey, olives and olive oil, halva and tehina, wine, beer and flowers. All sold without the middle man. Instead of going to top quality restaurants or flown out of the country as exports, the market brings these products to you the people. Don’t expect to bring your goods home in plastic though, so carry a fabric bag or cart to wheel your purchases back home or to your hotel. Also – expect a little snobbery visitors to the Port Farmer’s market have pointed out. (See tasty but elitist). Last on our list: Taking advantage of a renovated train station in the north of Tel Aviv, is the city’s latest farmer’s market called Orbanic. It’s probably the city’s hippest, accessible by foot from the city’s boardwalk, right beside the not-to-miss historic neighborhood of Tel Aviv Neve Zedek where I used to live. It’s a must see. Situated in “Hatachana” (or, “the station”) Orbanic is Tel Aviv’s first and only all-organic farmer’s market. Run jointly by Hatachana and the Organization for Organic Agriculture in Israel, you can visit Orbanic every Friday from 8 am to 2 pm. From farmer’s organic fields to your mouth, expect high quality organic and natural delicacies, and ecological products. The market, reports Green Prophet, also holds lectures about ecology and nutrition on a weekly basis, at 11 am and 1 pm. Additional perks include Tai Chi in the morning at 8 am. And for those who just want to relax while snacking on some organic goat’s cheese brie, check out the jazz and world music shows at 10. To recap: 5 best markets in Israel: 1. Carmel Market in Tel Aviv (Links to Google map) - Open Sunday to Friday sundown 2. Machane Yehuda in Jerusalem (Links to Google map) - Open Sunday to Friday sundown 3.Shuk Levinsky in South Tel Aviv (Links to Google map) - Open Sunday to Friday sundown (links to Google map) 4. Tel Aviv Farmers Market at the Port (Links to Google map) – Open every Friday 8 am to 3 pm 5. Orbanic organic market, south Tel Aviv (Links to Google map - Menashiya) – Open from 8 am to 2 pm A Quick Guide to Market Shopping in Israel: If you are going for food, and not for the experience, best to go to the traditional markets on days other than Fridays. The farmer’s markets we recommended of course, are only open on Fridays. Generally though Fridays are the day of the week in Israel when last minute or lazy Sabbath shoppers head out for supplies. Check ahead first before you head out to see if the market is still on. Bring a bottle of water to drink, a hat to wear and comfy shoes. Yes, many Israeli women zip around on their bikes with platform heels, but if you don’t want to tire easily, wear comfy shoes for walking. Don’t be part of the plastic problem in Israel. Take canvas bags, and a shopping cart if you have one to lighten the load. Don’t worry about looking like a grandma. Everyone in Israel uses them. Take small change. Prices in Israel are negotiable. Carry small change, in shekels, 5 shekel and 10 shekel coins. Chances are you’ll get a better deal than waving a 200-shekel bill at a stall owner, especially in the Carmel Market or Jerusalem’s Machane Yehuda market. If you go late in the day, especially on Fridays, ask for deals. Stall owners want to clear out their goods, and in Israel bargaining is open season all year long. Prices for organic food and boutique wines and cheeses aren’t cheap, so don’t expect to come home with a pile of stuff that you’ve paid less for in Canada. Prices might be the same, and for some goods, even more. What’s Israel is good at? Olive oil. Olives. Nuts. Fruits that are in season. Watermelon, oranges. Bananas. Tomatoes. Fresh cheeses made from goat’s milk, not the hard varieties like cheddar. That’s Israeli market shopping in a nutshell. Now print this out and enjoy your travels! (This post was first published on Canada's Israel blog)

borders-conflict-environment-water-hands-glass-water

Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 05:09:43 +0000

Political Geographers Discuss Borders and Conflict

Dr. Yosef Gotlieb — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 05:11:27 +0000

“Borders, Territory and Conflict in a Globalizing World” was the theme at a conference held in Israel. Experts deliberated on ethnicity, power relations and technology. Dr. Gotlieb emphasizes that such issues must be linked to the environment. The conference engaged specialists from Europe, the US, India, Canada, Russia, Israel and elsewhere on a variety of subjects relating to changes in the world political order as a result of globalization. Familiar geographical concepts such as territory, borderlands, states and geopolitics were reexamined in light of developments that have taken place in the post-9/11 world. In his keynote address, Prof. Alexander Murphy of the University of Oregon set the conference’s tone with a discussion of “Territory’s Continuing Allure.” He noted that the contemporary nation-state system is often incongruous with the societies they supposedly represent. Consequently, substate and extra-state “identity communities” – ethnic and linguistic groups -- continue pressing for self-determination and recognition. These aspirations challenge existing states and the system that sustains them. Ethnic conflict and borders were a major focus of the conference. Among the cases discussed was Abkhazia and other “unrecognized” republics in post-Soviet space. IGU vice president Prof. Vladimir Kolossov of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Prof. John O’Loughlin of the University of Colorado, Boulder described the uneasy relationship between the Abkhaz majority and the Georgian minority in state-building process following the territory’s secession from the Republic of Georgia. Similar issues were discussed in my paper on “Geo-Ethnic Discordance in the Middle East State System” dealing with the discontinuity of contemporary state borders in the Middle East. Ethnic conflict and demands for self-determination involving the Kurds, the southern Sudanese and the Baluch were described in the presentation. New Systems of Closure The impact of technological innovations – the Web, digital communications and information technologies, biometrics, surveillance systems and remote sensing – and new tools for bordering and gating – to keep out criminals and terrorists but which also invade privacy and lend themselves to Orwellian scenarios were the subject of lectures and discussions. Prof. Stéphane Rosière of the University of Reims, France discussed the roles of walls and fences. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 there were expectations of a trend toward a “borderless world.” This promise, according to the speaker, has been replaced with “teichopolitics,” the development of closure systems on international borders and cities. These include physical structures such as walls, -- the West Bank wall was cited in this connection – fences and morphological, semantic and financial boundaries to regulate flows of people and goods. Increasing concentration of wealth and privilege in bounded enclaves were cited as resulting from these developments. Gabriel Popescu of Indiana University provided a chilling portrait of developments in “border securitization” including new innovations in border crossings and borders. Among these are forward borders manifested by a network of detention centers maintained by European states in north African countries and the Straits of Gibraltar to interdict would-be migrants. Also presented was a map of states where constitutional guarantees against unlawful search and seizure in United States borderlands have been suspended with respect to persons authorities consider suspect. Transborder Cooperation A paper on strategies for everyday living in Hungary’s ethnically diverse border regions was presented by Prof. Doris Wastl-Walter of the University of Bern. Tensions engendered both by changes in national boundaries and also in the Schengen line (the European Union border for the mobility of people and goods) have been transcended by “translocal” cooperation between neighboring ethnic groups in Hungary and Slovakia in a case study Wastl-Walter discussed. The theme of cross-border cooperation was discussed by Tammy Arieli of Tel Hai and Ashkelon Colleges with respect to Israel and Jordan. She described the challenges posed by fluctuating relations between the national capitals in frustrating cross-border interaction between local populations in the northern segment of the border, the Dead Sea region and the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba area. Among the difficulties Dr. Arieli highlighted was redundant infrastructures along the border. Also, national policies and checkered relations between the governments disrupt efforts to normalize relations between Israeli and Jordanian neighbors. A major component of the conference was the discussion of aspects of the Israel-Palestine imbroglio. Several papers discussed Israeli Arabs and Bedouin in particular. Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights and West Bank settlement in terms of occupation were analyzed in terms of control and hegemony. Ben-Gurion University geography professor Oren Yiftachel, one of the organizers of the conference, discussed his concepts of “creeping apartheid,” and “gray space” with respect to the Israel Bedouin and the occupation of the West Bank. Sponsored by the Commission on Political Geography of the International Geographical Union (IGU), the event was hosted by Prof. David Newman, of the Department of Politics and Government and incoming Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Ben-Gurion. Prof. Newman also described the intricacies of determining the nature of the future border on the Israel-Palestinian boundary and urged “thinking out of the box” in arriving at solutions. The need for linkages to environmental concerns was noted by Stuart Schoenfeld, a York University sociologist and myself. The importance of increasing geographical education, the restoration of maps as a central tool of geographical analysis, and reclaiming political geography’s rightful place in discussions of international affairs were also raised. In his summary remarks, Prof. Anton Gosar, Chairman of the IGU Political Geography Commission noted the consensus among the conference participants that the presentations were of particularly high caliber. Discussions were lively and congenial and a renewed commitment to political geography as a community of scholars involved in applied research and collaboration was evident. Many thanks were expressed to Prof. Newman and his staff for organizing a very fruitful gathering. There was broad agreement that Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is a most congenial environment for international geographical conclaves. Read more on conflict, borders and the environment: The Cost of Conflict in the Middle East (Strategic Foresight Group) Gaza Conflict With Israel Has Environmental Aspects Too Killing For Water In Iraq Image via piccadillywilson

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Naomi Ben-David — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:29:26 +0000

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Naomi Ben-David — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:48:14 +0000

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Naomi Ben-David — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:51:38 +0000

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Naomi Ben-David — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:54:55 +0000

Abu Dhabi Hospital Sets Green Example with Newborn Babies

Karen Chernick — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:19:23 +0000

Green babies are being born all over the UAE. Coming soon to a hospital near you? [image via: Gulf News]

When it comes to setting green patterns, there is no doubt that it is better to create eco-friendly habits early in life. No different than other forms of education, or even good habits such as eating healthy, being "green" with your baby or young child can teach them how to be responsible adults. It also shows that you care about their future, and want them to have a healthy planet to thrive on. A few months ago, the Abu Dhabi Corniche Hospital started an initiative across several hospitals in the United Arab Emirates to encourage mothers to use eco-friendly products for their newborn babies. Karthick Prasanna, the Senior Operations Manger at Corniche Hospital, said that "focusing on newly born babies will help us create an eco-friendly environment that will encourage mothers to use alternative eco-friendly products and baby food, which is part of the hospital's 2010 to 2011 eco-friendly vision." The campaign was originally launched by the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) in celebration of Earth Day. The campaign consisted of exposing the new mothers in the hospitals to eco-friendly suppliers who spoke to them about cutting down on waste and using reusable cloth diapers. (Our own Eco-Mum Sophie will tell you, of course, that cloth nappies reign and are definitely the way to go.) In addition, over 100 eco-friendly onesies were given out (and you can see some youngsters modeling them in the photo above). The mothers also had opportunities to learn about organic baby food products from local vendors. :: Gulf News Read more about green babies all over the Middle East: Pick Organic from Under the Nile's Cotton Clothes and Toys for Babies Seven Tips for Modest Moms: Choosing a Green Breastfeeding Cover EcoMum on Nappies & Laundry

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Maurice Picow — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:46:33 +0000

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Maurice Picow — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:58:06 +0000

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Maurice Picow — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 12:17:23 +0000

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Maurice Picow — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 12:27:42 +0000

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Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:26:56 +0000

Making Magestic (and Biblical) Cedars of Lebanon Sustainable in Our Times

Green Prophet Guest — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:31:59 +0000

Lebanon is eager to replant their cedars - a national symbol. But a sustainable, community-wide vision is in need. The Hebrew bible is replete with references to the cedars of Lebanon, and uses them as a metaphor for steadfastness, might and great stature. The cedar trees for the construction of King Solomon's Palace and the First Temple in Jerusalem purportedly came from the once mighty cedar forests of the Jabal Niha area in south Lebanon. Jewish congregations around the world sing Psalms 92 on Friday nights, as part of receiving the Sabbath (the Jewish day of rest). One line of the psalm goes - tzadik ketamar yifrach, keerez balvanon yisgeh....'the just person will flourish like a palm, grow tall like a cedar of lebanon.' But now the referent of this biblical metaphor, which has continued to grow in Israel's northern neighbour for the last 3000 years, is in danger. Centuries of deforestation, settlement sprawl and unsustainable logging have all taken their toll on this emblematic tree – as well as other species which make up Lebanon’s last remaining forests. In 2009, despite the global recession, Lebanon enjoyed a 9 percent economic growth and hosted the largest number of tourists in its history. But economic development often carries an environmental price tag. A booming real estate market, growing population, and lack of a clear and enforced national forestation strategy means that Lebanese forests remain under threat. In response the Lebanese Ministry of the Environment has been implementing – since 2001 - its National Reforestation Plan (NRP), and currently aims to plant two million trees a year. So far more than 500 hectares of forest have been replanted, but a lack of co-ordination with NGOs also working in reforestation has slowed progress. “Many NGOs try to do reforestation on their own, without having the background or the knowledge. They are just interested in the media. They don’t care if the tree will live or not” says Garo Haroutunian, NRP’s manager to NOW Lebanon. Because of this, some civil society organizations, such as Jouzour Loubnan Association for Reforestation, focus on project maintenance: “Not only do we plant, but we make sure that whatever we plant will survive,” said President Raoul Nehme in the same article. Meanwhile Jawad Boughanem, of the Association for Forests, Development and Conservation (AFDC) asserts that community buy-in is vital. So the AFDC, besides growing saplings and planting trees (about half million every year), also works on awareness and legislation. Boughanem says the group is working with some communities to promote the stone pine tree, the edible seeds of which can fetch $50 per kilogram. “We are trying to tell people that you can benefit economically from the trees, by selling pine nuts or by extracting wood in a well-managed way. His organization is also targeting eco-tourism as another way to promote reforestation, as visitors travel to Lebanon to marvel at its famous cedars. “The problem is that, if you don’t do awareness, we’ll plant 10,000 trees and 100,000 will be logged,” said Nehme. The prophet Isaiah might have applauded the work of these Lebanes organisations. The theme of the reforestation of Lebanon is often mentioned in the book ascribed to him: "I will make rivers flow on barren heights...I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.... I will set pines in the wasteland.. the fir and the cypress together." - (Is. 41:18,19) ::NOW Lebanon Image via primejunta This guest is by children't non-fiction writer Immanuel Sluttner author of the African Animal Football Cup.

fossiltooth whale valley

Tafline Laylin — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:08:32 +0000

whalevalley

Tafline Laylin — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:16:01 +0000

More Whale Fossils in The Egyptian Desert

Tafline Laylin — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:18:58 +0000

Wait, what? Whales in the desert? Fossils of earliest suborder of now extinct whale sheds new light on evolution. Even though human population expansion and over-exploitation of natural resources has accelerated the rate at which climatic change wreaks havoc, nature has always been in flux. Few things drive this concept home more concretely than a boat load of whale fossils in the desert. This is what was just reportedly found in Egypt. British geologist Hugh J.L. Beadnell conducted a geological survey of Egypt in the early 1900s, discovering within the Western Desert of Egypt 150 km southwest of Cairo and 80 km west of Faiyum City, stashed amidst the sandstone, limestone and shale left behind 40 million years ago when the Tethys Sea slunk back towards the Mediterranean, the fossils of the earliest suborder of whales (links to PDF on the whales). Vulnerable to curious visitors and furious winds, these tombs, these ancestral Archaeoceti tombs of the two modern suborders of cetaceans Mysticeti and Odontoceti received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2005. The University of Michigan, which began conducting expeditions of what is now known as "whale valley" beginning in 1983, were the first to discover that whales used to have hind feet before they evolved into the slick serpentine creatures we now know them to be. Most remarkable about this discovery, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is that these particular fossils - many unusually intact and representing different phases of development - demonstrate the whale's departure from land and shallow coastal waters to full fledged ocean-going. The learning gleaned from this and a nearby site containing "the most complete record of Palaeogene mammals for all Africa... [including] two hominoid genera is critical to understanding the evolution of many mammal groups on the continent, particularly hominids," the IUCN wrote. Considering this rich archaeological prelude, the Egyptian State Information Service's weekend claim that an Egyptian archaeological team has discovered yet more prehistoric whale skeletons in the same region came as a huge surprise. They report that among various tools and weapons, scientists discovered a fossilized whale embryo. Surprise yes. But disinterest, no. Because Egyptians take their tourist bait seriously, and because any such discovery leads to new understanding and maybe, if we're lucky, more ecological preservation. These are early discovery days yet, but we will certainly keep you informed. :: via Egyptian State Information Service More green news from Egypt: Egypt’s Bahariya Oasis Trampled By Tourism Kids in Cairo Survive on Crusts and Crumbs Egypt Eco-Group HEPCA Reports Red Sea Spill is Capped, Beaches Cleaned [top image via klvinci; lower image via walid.hassanein]

cambridge-eco-mosque-prayer-hall

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 03:59:22 +0000

Cambridge to Build Europe's First Eco-Mosque

Arwa Aburawa — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:01:26 +0000

Architect Marks Barfield is to design a £13 million "eco" mosque on a 0.4 hectare brownfield site in Cambridge. England's historic city of Cambridge, with its world-famous university and idyllic countryside, will soon count a mosque amidst its stunning skyline of spires. But this isn't just any old mosque. In fact it is the first-purpose built mosque in the city which also happens to be environmentally-friendly! After years of dealing with overcrowding at various small sites across the city, the growing Muslim community decided that it was time to take action. By the summer of 2008, a strip of land and an old warehouse has been purchased and plans for the new mosque were underway. However rather than simply building a mosque as quickly as possible, it was decided from the very start that the mosque would follow environmental sustainability principles. Europe's first Eco-Mosque “Islamic civilization has been based on the rejection of waste as an under-estimation of God's blessing and so in the construction of the new mosque here in Cambridge, we were very much in the forefront of the local environmental movement in that we are using the latest heat pumps, conservation technology and green roofs so that we'll have an almost zero carbon footprint,” commented Chairman of the Trust, Tim Winter who is also known as Abdul Hakim Murad. Winters also added that they intended to build Europe's first truly ecologically-responsible mosque and encourage Muslims world-wide to take up their environmental responsibilities. It is stated in the Qur'an that God has made believers the stewards and protectors of the earth and so to harmonize this important environmental ethic with the most important place of worship in Islam makes perfect sense. It is also hoped that such initiative will encourage Muslims in the Middle East to take an active interest in the environment and preserve precious resources both at home and in the mosque. Designed by the award-winning architect Marks Barfield, who were behind stunning projects such as the London Eye and Kew Treetop Walkway, the mosque is based on the premise of creating an oasis of calm and sustainability in an urban jungle. Winter adds, “This building will be truly inclusive, sustainable, safe, secure and respectful of the neighbourhood.” Back to the Eco Basics Stunning skylights mean that the mosque will be naturally lit throughout the year, the building is well insulated and temperature will be carefully optimized by heating or cooling using energy efficient technologies and locally generated energy from ground source heat pumps. The overall design will enlarge the existing community garden, create a new permeable green edge around the structure with trees as well as providing bicycle racks at street level and car parking in the basement. The £13 million project building, which will accommodate up to 1,000 men and women, will also include a cafe, a teaching area and meeting rooms for use by the local Muslim and non-Muslim communities. “The new mosque will be a real neighbourhood as well as a spiritual centre, easily accessible by public transport and on foot, with facilities for formal and informal community group meetings as well as a leisure destination,” said Winters. A reminder of the mosque's humble roots Whilst building an eco-Mosque may seem like a modern invention, it not only helps strengthen and demonstrate Islam's eco principles but also takes Muslims back to the simpler and ecologically sound construction of the first mosque built for the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Mud bricks were used for the walls, a palm trunk for the minibar as well as the pillars and waste was minimal- a humble reminder of the mosque's true green roots. Similar projects have been carried out in the UK such as a £3.5m partially eco-friendly mosque in Levenshulme, Manchester in 2008. It installed solar panels and was built using wood from renewable sources- however energy was not entirely from renewable sources and they outsourced some construction materials from India. Read more on eco-Islam: A Halal's Day Work at the Community Garden "Inspired by Muhammad" Is Islam's Green Message to Break Terrorism Prince Charles on Islam and the Environment Water Conservation Values in Islam The Muslim World Wants to Green Hajj Breast Feed Baby in Hijab

Syria's Master Plan for Renewable Energy

Maurice Picow — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:19:58 +0000

Wind farms, like this one in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, may soon be common in Syria. About 90 percent of Syria's electric power comes from thermal power plants fueled by heavy fuel oil and natural gas; and the country is now looking into using forms of renewable energy to provide its increasing need for energy. Various projects dealing with solar and wind energy, as well as bio mass as a fuel source, were mentioned in powergenworldwide. Syria is a member of the 145 strong International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) group of which a number of Middle Eastern countries now belong. Projects dealing with renewable energy in which Syria is either currently engaged in or planning to be involved in include a proposed tender for two wind turbine parks to generate a total of 130 MW; a program to install solar roofs on kindergartens attached to government buildings; the installation of two kinds of solar water heaters in both private and public buildings, including the Al Mwassat Hospital in Damascus; and the installing of photo voltaic solar panels in rural areas, which already provide about 80 kwh of electricity.Some of these renewable energy projects are being done in cooperation with international companies like the Danish Vestas wind energy company, and the German company GTZ, which is already involved in joint renewable energy projects in India and Pakistan. Syria is also working with the Regional Centre for Renewable Energies and Energy based in Cairo; and is seeking a “common platform” for energy supply in response to climate change. According to the Center, Syria’s new master "renewables" plan will run to 2030. The tentative targets for the end of this period are:

1000–1500 MW of wind power

250 MW of biomass based plant

250 MW of PV plant

1 MTOE per annum of solar heat

Syria has a 5 year plan in which its National Energy Research Council, associated with the country's energy ministry, will embark on projects costing $8 million USD. Although this is a small sum, it is nevertheless a start in the renewable energy direction. The two wind farms are to be built near the cities of Al Sukhna and Al Hijana, and will be constructed in a joint project with Vesta. Although most industrial concerns in Syria are still state owned (a carryover from when Syria patterned itself after the former Soviet Union), more privatization is occurring, in the economic atmosphere being created by the country's present leader, Bashar al-Asssad. This already accounts for more than two dozen manufacturers of solar water heaters alone. Ukranian Kvazar Solar Panels In addition to the wind farm projects with Vesta, Syria is also turning to Spain for investment in solar energy. In May 2010, according to SANA, the Syrian news agency Syria’s Minister of Electricity Ahmad Qusai Kayala visited a number of wind and solar plants in Spain, including Iberdrola, one of Spain's largest utility companies and Gamesa. Another recent joint venture involves the Ukraine and Kvazar, a solar cell and panel manufacturing company which has been in discussions with Syronics, a Syrian company, for several years. The idea here is for producing solar PV panels and cells. Spanish solar energy companies are already involved in several projects in the Middle East, including a solar PV feasibility study in Abu Dhabi's futuristic Masdar City. All round, sounds like good clean news. Read more on Middle East regional renewable energy: Jordan Makes Renewable Energy Education Available to its citizens Lebanon Looks to Smart Grids and Renewable Energy to Reduce Energy Israel's Electricity Grid May Never Handle Renewable Energy Goals

fantasy-island-evolution

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:30:28 +0000

shai-meiri

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:33:14 +0000

Pygmies, Dragons and Hobbits: "Magical Thinking" About Islands Is an Illusion

Green Prophet Staff — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:35:33 +0000

New studies looking at evolution sees nothing extra-ordinary about island communities. The Middle East region, particularly around Egypt, Israel and Jordan out East to Iraq is known as the cradle of civilization. It is no wonder then that much evolutionary thinking and discoveries are made from this region. More whale bones (and a fossilized whale fetus!) were just found in Egypt, Tafline reports, and now, we have news on islands and evolution. Long before TV's campy Fantasy Island, the isolation of island communities has touched an exotic and magical core in us. Darwin's fascination with the Galapagos island chain and the evolution of its plant and animal life is just one example. Think of the extensive lore surrounding island-bred creatures like Komodo dragons, dwarf elephants, and Hobbit-sized humans. Conventional wisdom has it that they — and a horde of monster-sized insects — are all products of island evolution. But are they? Dr. Shai Meiri (left) of Tel Aviv University's Department of Zoology says "yes," they are a product of evolution, but nothing more than one would expect to see by "chance," citing research that shows there's nothing extraordinary about evolutionary processes on islands. He and his colleagues have conducted a number of scientific studies comparing evolutionary patterns of island and mainland ecosystems, and the results refute the idea that islands operate under different, "magical" rules. Man bites evolutionary dog "My findings are a bit controversial for some evolutionary biologists," says Dr. Meiri, the author of several papers and essays on island evolution. His research is based on statistical models he developed. "There is a tendency to believe that big animals become very small on islands, and small animals become very big, due to limited resources or lack of competition. I've shown that this is just not true, at least not as a general rule. Evolution operates on islands no differently than anywhere else." In a recent study reported in Global Ecology and Biogeography, Dr. Meiri and his colleagues looked at a theoretical optimum body size towards which mammals are expected to grow, on both island communities and on the mainland. "Contemporary evolutionary thinking maintains that smaller island mammals will rapidly grow larger towards the optimal size, while bigger animals will rapidly shrink due to the constraints of competition on the islands. The researchers found that island isolation per se does not really affect the evolutionary rate, the rates of diversification of species, or the rate at which body size shifts in populations of island and mainland animals. Reality Island? Employing their own statistical tools incorporating large data sets that compared body sizes on various islands and on mainland communities, Dr. Meiri and his colleagues found no such tendency for bizarrely-sized animals to develop on islands. "We concluded that the evolution of body sizes is as random with respect to 'isolation' as on the rest of the planet. This means that you can expect to find the same sort of patterns on islands and on the mainland." Dr. Meiri attributes our widely held misperceptions about "dragons and dwarfs" to the fact that people tend to notice the extremes more if they are found on islands. The reason for science and mankind’s fascination with island communities could boil down to "better press," says Dr. Meiri. If observers investigate human beings on 3,000 different South Pacific islands and all but one of the islands are populated by ordinary-sized people, they will tend to concentrate on the unique case. They forget about the other 2,999 islands in the South Pacific with normal-sized humans, and focus on the unusual. "I think it's purely a psychological bias," Dr. Meiri concludes. "It's just magical thinking. Nothing more." Fantasies about island habitats and the animals that live there are best left for movies, TV shows, and fantasy novels, he adds. ::AFTAU [image via balt-arts]

4 Unique Aloe Vera Juice Recipes for Summer and Health

Naomi Ben-David — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:24:06 +0000

This common potted plant can now become part of your daily diet. Naomi offers 4 recipes for taking advantage of this healthful plant, which offers more than just sunburn relief. Image via odetothebigsea Growing up, my mother was always interested in natural remedies to mild health issues, whether it was burns, cuts or the flu. Aloe vera being so versatile was one of her favourites, but as much as we used it externally, aloe vera juice was never on the menu, it turns out that it can be a great addition to your diet. There are many plants, like roses, which can be used in more than just one way and aloe vera - native to the Mediterranean region where it grows like a weed – is one of them. We discussed previously some of the uses of aloe vera (like in ice-cream!) however the next step, beyond buying the potted plant, is to be able to make your own aloe vera drink. Granted this doesn’t sound very palatable but the benefits are significant to one's health. Your body has the tendency to hang onto food residues, various toxins and bacteria all of which block the intestinal lining of your digestive tract and prevent nutrients from being absorbed properly. Drinking aloe vera juice regularly can help get rid of all the junk your body no longer needs which in turn prevents various digestive problems such as indigestion, colitis, ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Some recipes for aloe vera juice: Your aloe vera drink will actually turn out different colours depending on the fruit you use, since the pulp of the plant itself is colourless Image via misocrazy

Recipe 1 - virgin juice The most effective way to get the medical benefits is to drink the pure juice, so if you are game, this is the recipe for you: 1. You take a few leaves of aloe vera and cut them into pieces of a few centimetres long and put this in a pot to boil. 2. Let it boil for a few minutes, but make sure it doesn’t boil over. 3. Take it off the flame and let it cool for about an hour, sitting in the water. 4. Then take out the plant pieces and drink only the liquid.

If you are looking for something a little tastier, we have some other options:

Recipe 2 - light and lemony Ingredients: 1 Cucumber 1 Apple 1 Lemon 2 tbsp Aloe vera pulp Method: 1. Blend the apple and the cucumber 2. Add the lemon juice 3. Cut open an aloe vera leaf and scoop out 2 tbsp of the pulp and add it to the mixture

Recipe 3 - health Ingredients: 2 Carrots 2 Green apples 1 Orange, peeled 1 tbsp of aloe vera pulp Method: 1. Cut the apples, carrots and orange into pieces 2. Blend them into a juice 3. Then add the aloe vera

Recipe 4 - exotic aloe vera For something a little more exotic you can try this one. Ingredients: 1-2 cup Fresh pineapple 1 Carrot 1 Green apple 1 tbsp Aloe vera pulp A few tbsp of coconut milk is optional Method: Basically blend all the ingredients together, adding the pulp of the aloe vera leaf. The coconut milk more than being a tasty addition, will actually increase the anti-bacterial and anti-viral qualities of this drink.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DTtQaLIJc8[/youtube] All of these recipes are simple and quick, but remember the same doesn’t apply to the results of drinking aloe vera. Like most things natural, it takes time until you see and feel the benefits of adding this to your diet, but it will be well worth the effort. Read more on natural health remedies: Natural Remedies for Late Pregnancy Feel Better with Herbs of Kedem and Ancient Hebrew Medicine

west-bank-border-wall

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:33:03 +0000

International Geographers Explore the West Bank in Search of Common Ground

Dr. Yosef Gotlieb — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:37:26 +0000

Following a site visit conducted as part of a meeting of geographers at Ben-Gurion University last week, Dr. Gotlieb reflects on how appropriate technology, bottom-up planning and goodwill are prerequisites to resolving conflict. For an international group of geographers, a visit to what is known variously as Judea and Samaria, the West Bank - of the wizened Jordan River - or the Occupied Territories is bound to be a pithy event. As an Israeli geographer and environmentalist who has avoided the area for many years, my visit prompted new thinking on the Israel-Palestinian conflict: If there is any hope for a resolution, it will be found in cooperative planning of scarce, land-based resources. Our visit to the southern Hebron hills and the Gush Etzion Bloc began with a visit to Meitar, a community known in current planning parlance as ex-urban, a “dormitory community” as Ben-Gurion University professor David Newman, described it during our early morning briefing. It is a placid community in the Negev near the southernmost tip of Judea, one whose residents work in the relative metropolis of nearby Beersheva or in major regional enterprises like the Israel Chemicals works. Interestingly, there is no security fence around the community, which is a stone’s throw from the Occupied Territories and Israeli Bedouin encampments. There is a belt of forests and woodlands around Meitar planted by the Keren Kayemet (Jewish National Fund). It is a quiet, undisputed place, a Jewish community in the country. A Virtual Border We passed into the West Bank at the Meitar Checkpoint, a virtual border station between Israel and the Hebron Hills. The facility, which began operating in late 2008 is a state-of-the-art passage for people and goods between Israel and the Palestinian territories. Supervised and trained by Ministry of Defense personnel, operations at the site are run by a private security firm. One is impressed by the order, proficiency and calm encountered at the station, which we visited just after the end of the four to seven am crunch when Palestinian workers arrive for work in Israel. Unlike other checkpoints, Meitar is staffed by security personnel in civilian dress and their bearing is professional, not martial. According to the director of security at the terminal, at least one security incident occurs at the facility each day. Catastrophe is averted by knowledge-based Israeli technology and a staff thoroughly drilled in security procedures and human relations. Our next stop was in the an area described as the “lands of Susya,” approximately sixteen kilometers north and east of the Meitar terminal -- a world away. Susya is in the parched south Hebron hills, part of the Judean wilderness, desert land that is gravelly with scrubby vegetation. There are a number of settler outposts here, most with a small number of caravans. Much of the land is used for pasturage by local Bedouin, many of whose families left the town of Yatta -- eight kilometers south of Hebron and now a major Palestinian city of seventy thousand people -- and became cave dwellers a hundred years ago. Ironically, though treated with disdain by the settlers these people are disparagingly referred to by the other Palestinians as the “Jews”; local lore has it that they are descendants of Jewish communities originating in the Arabian peninsula. Adding further to the entanglements of their existence, they have settled in a place where subsequent archeological excavation uncovered an ancient synagogue. Whatever their origins, these Bedouin are subject to harsh conditions: difficult terrain where little cultivation can take place, a shortage of water, attacks by militant Jewish settlers, neglect by the Palestinian Authority and tough regimentation by the Israel Defense Forces: the latter claims they are intruders encroaching on the land it holds as part of Area “C,” according to the Oslo Accord designation. Amid crushing conditions, these people live, tending small livestock and olive groves. Some have built houses, which are prone to demolition by the IDF as being “illegal.” One of their settlements has been “recognized” and IDF soldiers escort its children to school, protection against attacks suffered in the past by Jewish hooligans. Because these lands are in dispute, the population is connected neither to the Israeli or Palestinian electricity grids or water or sewage systems. Israeli and international activists have provided these people with solar energy systems and wind-driven turbines that provide some relief for these people. Behind the plots of olive trees ripe for development, sustainably As I looked at these low-cost, green technologies against the backdrop of the terrain, the Bedouin tents and the small plots of olive trees, it occurred to me that areas like this are place ripe for sustainable development -- if they can avoid “modernization.” Where planners and economists might counsel building roads, industry and other trappings of market-driven growth for marginal areas, it is clear that low-impact agriculture, agro-forestry, and sheep herding fueled by passive energy sources and other appropriate technologies could provide a sustainable livelihood for the local population. The application of drip irrigation, solar collectors and other earth-friendly systems – the kind of technology in which Israel is a world leader -- could help these people make a living out of these hard lands. As I heard the stories of harassment and disregard I understood of course that appropriate technology for low-impact agriculture is a necessary but insufficient conditions to help these people live sustainably. No less imperative is the need for a more benevolent spirit to blow over these lands. Micro-Climates and Eco-Zones We left Susya and the desert lands behind and proceeded toward Hebron. Within a quarter of an hour one is reminded of how varied the Land of Israel/Palestine is in terms of micro-climates and eco-zones. The transition from blazing, stony desert to more moderate temperatures and arable terrain takes place rapidly and in a matter of kilometers. As we drove we noticed tiers of ancient terraces, neat plots cut into the side of the mountains. A sustainable form of agriculture had once been practiced here. I wondered if there might be lessons, or at least hope in this for the beleaguered souls we had just visited in the lands around Susya. We circumvented the Jewish settler city of Kiriat Arba and Hebron itself and skirted a refugee camp, now something between a shanty town and a city neighborhood and headed to our next destination. Gush Etzion is a short drive north of Hebron on Route 60, the major highway that runs the length of the West Bank. There we were hosted by Shaul Goldstein, the mayor of the Gush, a small region consisting of eighteen communities and a population of nearly 44,000 people. Originally settled by Yemenite Jews and religious migrants from Jerusalem in 1927, it stands between Hebron and Jerusalem, ancient cities of the Jewish heartland. In the period since then the bloc fell three times to Arab assaults including a May 1948 massacre during which 240 Jews were killed, a similar number taken captive by the Jordanian Legion and the settlements razed. After Israel captured these lands following the 1967 war many of the children of the original settlers and others returned. Today it is a bustling area of planned settlement, learning, and a tourist destination within easy reach from central Israel. I was struck by some graffiti I saw on one of the walls of a passageway near where we had eaten lunch: “I am proud to be a Jew,” was what it read. No anti-Arab vitriol. And that set the tenor for the rest of our visit, a kind of definition of what encounters in Gush Etzion: pride in heritage without chauvinism. A Different Voice As someone who does not support the settlers movement, I was leery of what the mayor might say to our group, an assembly of prominent geographers from around the world. I learned that Goldstein is a member of the Likud and does not believe in a two-state solution – but contrary to my expectations he expressed views in vivid contrast with those of the militants the media brings to home television screens around the world. Goldstein and Carter Goldstein is the man with whom Jimmy Carter, no champion of Israel, met during his June 2009 visit to the area. For several hours, Carter visited Goldstein at his Neve Daniel home in the Gush and emerged to say "I have been very fortunate this afternoon in learning a perspective that I didn't have," and that "this particular settlement area is not one that I envision ever being abandoned or changed over into Palestinian territory." The perspective that Shaul Goldstein espouses is one of coexistence and partnership with his Palestinian neighbors based on mutual respect. He condemns settler violence against Palestinians or their property and has an ongoing dialogue with his Palestinian counterparts concerning joint development of the area. A subject of protests by Jewish extremists, Goldstein is convincing in his profession of a desire for peace. He seeks coexistence built from the “bottom-up” that will determine the future political contours on the basis of mutually beneficial development for both Israelis and Palestinians in their adjacent communities. He cited the recent opening of a supermarket frequented by both area Arabs and Jews. Goldstein is by his own description a politician and, accordingly, healthy skepticism is warranted in assessing his message. However, by the end of the tour of the Gush there is no doubting the respect evident for green spaces, healthy living and community – the kind of regard one encounters with a progressive vision. While disagreeing with Goldstein’s politics it is difficult to find fault with his perspective: A bottom-up approach to bridge building seems to me correct, more effective than imposing solutions from above – whether from the Government Precinct in Jerusalem, the Mukhta, the seat of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, or the cynical resolution makers at the UN along Manhattan’s East River. Lessons of the Day During a day away from news reports of violence and threats, there was a sense that maybe there is hope for progress. Both Jewish and Palestinian roots run deep in these sore lands. Rather than focusing on uprooting the other, both parties would do well to cultivate common ground using adaptive technology and by combining scientific know-how and traditional land-management practices in a framework where cooperation, not competition, is fostered. Image via amerune

tomer zaksenberg eco cycling israel

Karen Chernick — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:01:11 +0000

cycling tour israel ecobike

Karen Chernick — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:12:36 +0000

palmachim-beach-israel-green-prophet

Michael Green — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:17:16 +0000

battle-palmachim-beach-green-prophet

Michael Green — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:25:38 +0000

Chinese dog food

Miriam Kresh — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:09:10 +0000

Lower Your Pet's Carbon Pawprint With Home-Made Dog Food Recipes

Miriam Kresh — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:24:25 +0000

Pet owners in the Middle East pay lots for imported pet food. Miriam offers recipes for Fido's food with locally sourced ingredients to keep him healthy, save money, and reduce carbon emissions. A dog somewhere on the street howled pitifully, all day and all night. Neighbors told us that her owner had gone abroad, leaving money and the house keys with a student who was supposed to feed and walk her. Who didn't. We tracked down the negligent student and brought the poor animal home till her owner returned. Then we cooked for her. Cook for a dog? Whaddaya, crazy? Well, no. We need to consider sustainability and health in our pet foods just as much as in our own foods. Home-made dog food is far healthier than the commercial stuff. It costs very little and is easy to make. And it makes ecological sense to rely on fresh, local ingredients rather than on packaged pet food imported from countries thousands of miles away. In some countries, like in Germany, natural pet food sales are growing faster than human ones. Internet research for dog-food recipes turned up a load of information on commercial pet foods. Sites like Born Free investigate and report on what's really in Fido's dish. Things like cattle scraps and offal that can't be sold for human consumption: heads and feet, fetuses discovered after slaughter, bones. Protein derived from sick animals who died days before getting processed into pet food. The list of horrors goes on. Synthetic preservatives. An overload of fillers: carbohydrate-heavy foods in place of the animal protein that dogs and cats really need. Rendered animal fats sprayed onto vitamin-deficient foods to make them smell appetizing to pets. Pesticides. Small wonder that today's pets suffer from ailments formerly unheard-of in animals: diabetes, allergies, obesity, dental disease, heart disease, hyperthyroidism. But you can keep your pet in the greatest shape, without much effort, by whipping up home-made foods like these: Dog Food (method at allrecipes.com)

3 pounds minced chicken meat

2 1/2 cups frozen vegetable blend (no garlic or onions), minced

4 cups rice

6 1/2 cups water

Doggy Biscuits (method at allrecipes.com)

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup cornmeal

1 tablespoon salt

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1 cup water

Kitty Breakfast (method at about.com)

1 Tbsp. nonfat dry milk

3 medium eggs

3 Tbsp. cottage cheese

2 Tbsp. grated veggies

A few tips:

Talk to your vet about weaning your pet from commercial to real food. Doing it all at once might stress the pet's digestion. Your vet should know your pet's individual needs (and what foods to avoid).
Dogs need a balance of 40% meat, 30% permitted vegetables (not all are good for pets) and 30% starch. Cats need 50% meat, eggs, or dairy, and the rest grains and vegetables. Balance It helps you figure out cat or dog's calorie needs.
Vary ingredients. Eating the same food every day won't supply his overall nutritional needs.
The jury is still out on the danger or healthiness of garlic in pet food, but certainly no onions, chocolate, or bones.

You'll enjoy reading more green news on animals and humans: Owls Unite Arab Farmers Israel Camel Racing May Suffer For Lack of Humps Toads Could Predict Deadly Mideast Earthquakes "Chinese Dog Food" image by azrainman via Flickr.

On Cycling and Two-Wheeler Tourism in Israel, from EcoBike's Tomer Zaksenberg

Karen Chernick — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:45:46 +0000

EcoBike's Tomer Zaksenberg tells us to get our pedals turning in Israel and beyond. Cycling is booming in Israel, both as an alternative, eco-friendly form of daily transportation and as a green tourism option. Last week Karin surveyed Israel's progress (a nation of cycling freaks) in this area, and this week we decided to get the inside scoop on cycling tourism in Israel from EcoBike's founder and general manager, Tomer Zaksenberg. He told us about his passion for biking all over Israel with 60 year olds, the increase of cyclists in the country, and his hopes that cycling tourism will spread all over the Middle East. Green Prophet: How did you first get involved with EcoBike? Tomer Zaksenberg: Just over two years ago,my dad, his work partner and I formed a cycling group called Rashi (Rochvey Shvil Israel- Riders of the Israeli Trail). This group consists of a dozen cyclists aging from 30-60 which are all passionate about two things: cycling and eating good food. Our main mission was to do the Israeli Trail from north to south but because we are all very busy we haven't yet been able to finish the whole route yet. Nevertheless, our rides are always very exciting and fun. While cycling with the Rashi group, the idea of creating a cycling company focused on incoming tourism occurred to me. I thought this would be a great way to combine two of my biggest loves: biking and tourism. After I decided this, I set to find a good partner to work with. Soon enough and with a little help from my mom, I found Amir Rockman, the son of Haim Rockman, one of the first and best known tour guide cyclists in Israel. Amir, like his dad, is also a professional tour guide and a talented cyclist and within a few weeks we decided to form EcoBike - a cycling company designed for incoming tourism which believes in high quality standards, eco-travel and doing a-lot of fun. It's been two years already and thank God, everything has been going on well since. GP: What does a "day at the office" look like for you? TZ: A normal day in the office isn't as sexy as it sounds and is rather quite hectic, as I am in charge of practically everything. I start the day by answering customer e-mails and phone messages and doing follow up's on any tour requests.If there are any tours in the near future I also reserve hotels, bikes, guides, transportation, meals, etc... After that, I spend some time on advertising (google, facebook, updating website, ads..) Before our tours, I contact our guides, brief them and finally attend the tour itself. As I am the director, I prefer not to guide the tours but rather join and supervise them, so I can have a fresh look without being totally involved. During this time, Amir, my partner, works in the field itself, guiding the tours, supervising over our staff and giving me a helping hand whenever I need one. Amir is currently overseas guiding a cycling tour in Lake Michigan, Chicago. [image via: EcoBike] What kind of tourists do the EcoBike tours attract? Are they mostly local Israelis or foreigners? EcoBike tours attract mostly foreign tourists from USA and Europe and we have even had some travelers from other destinations (India for instance...). We also offer several bike tours like "Bike & Beer" and "Bike Jerusalem" for local Israelis. Do you think that the field of cycling tourism is growing in Israel? I see the demand for cycling vacations in Israel constantly growing and know that the whole cycling tourism field is evolving faster than ever before, yet I still think that we are just in the beginning of a process and we still have a long way to go. In order to really offer Israel as a cycling attraction we have to prioritize cycling tourism and offer better infrastructure for cycling routes inside big cities (Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa etc..), Nevertheless, I think we are on the right track. Do you think that cycling tourism has potential to spread all over the Middle East? I think that it certainly can and especially so in Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey but we need to do a lot of work to make this dream a reality. I constantly hear about new bike routes being made in Israel and have been contacted by many hotels with requests to transform to bike oriented hotels so I believe this is certainly a good start. Furthermore, we work daily with our partners in Jordan and have already received many group requests and orders for multi-day Israel-Jordan bike adventures. Beyond cycling tourism, do you think that the cycling movement is becoming stronger in Israel? I think you have to be blind not to see the great influx in cyclists in Israel. When I started cycling with my dad 12 years ago, beside a couple of cyclists here and there, we were practically the only ones on the bike route. Today, you can see thousands of cyclists storming the country from north to south on dozens of new bike routes. It's great! Please tell me a little about your experience riding the Israel Trail. The Israel trail which starts in kibbutz Dan in the North and goes all the way down to Eilat is a beautiful 940km trail which shows you the true essence of Israel. Even though the trail is not 100% designed for cyclists and some technical riding is necessary, most of the way consists of well maintained dirt paths.The Rashi group and I had a great experience cycling the trail and we are still constantly discovering hidden gems which you just never see when staying in the city. :: EcoBike Read more about cycling in Israel: Israel Becomes a Nation of Pedalers (Cycling Freaks) Cycling Through Israeli Wine and History Tel Aviv Cafe Offers Great Cappuccino and Bike Rentals Bike Messengers Take Over Tel Aviv Haifa University Generates Profile of the Average Israeli Cyclist The Cycling Nightlife in Jerusalem

syria-tree-aleppo

Karin Kloosterman — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:57:50 +0000

Green Prophet Flies To: "SAWA For A Better Syrian Society" Eco-Blog

Moshe Terdman — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:00:41 +0000

Moshe continues his weekly look at the Middle East eco-blogging community, in Arabic. This week he flies to Syria and looks at how an Internet Service Provider is educating the public. Last week, we looked at Mazen Abboud's environmental blog from Lebanon. This week, we are flying to Lebanon's next-door neighbor, Syria, and to a blog called SAWA - For A Better Syrian Society. Unlike last week, this week we are not dealing with a personal blog, which is dedicated more or less to environmental issues, but SAWA is a blog that deals with all sorts of issues, and the environment is only one of them. This whole blog is written in Arabic and administered by a work group in SAWA ISP, which is the leading internet services provider in Syria. Maybe it's no accident that SAWA ISP is the one who has a blog with a section on the environment that started to be active at the end of 2009. The issue of environmental awareness in Syria has been really developing during the last two years or so, following the establishment of the Syrian Ministry of Environment in April 2009 as an independent entity, and the Internet (once banned in Syria) is used as a tool to develop this environmental awareness among Syrians throughout Syria and in the Diaspora. Among the people who take part in this work group, one can find: M. Maher al-Khatib, chairman of SAWA ISP's administrative board; Raw'ah al-Masri, Ala' al-Din Binyan, and Muhammad al-Sayyad from SAWA ISP's marketing department; Basam Shahadat, a web developer from SAWA ISP's additional services department; and M. Umar Nafis, the head of the technical department in SAWA ISP. Other writers, who are defined as friends of the blog, take an active part in the blog too. Indeed, the aim of this blog, according to the "about the blog" section, is to strive for a better Syrian society. It says there that the members of the work group, which administers the blog, are proud to be Syrians and believe in their ability to change the situation in Syria for the better by way of posting in the blog "beneficial and modern cultural and societal information in order to create a better Syrian society." This blog includes seven sections about health, family and society issues, social and youth associations and NGOs, tourism, Internet, technological innovations, and the "green life," which deals with environmental issues. The main writer in the "green life" section is Raw'ah al-Masri, who seems, according to her posts, to be an environmentalist herself or to have a lot of knowledge in environmental issues. The "green life" section begins in November 2009 and includes reports on current environmental projects and conferences which take place in Syria and the more interesting part, which includes articles whose main aim is to serve the SAWA ISP agenda of increasing the public awareness to environmental issues. An Environmental Campaign to Protect the Frunluk Forests in Lattakia Thus, for example, an article titled "An Environmental Campaign to Protect the Frunluk Forests in Lattakia" was posted on July 1, 2010. This campaign was organized by the Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform and the United Nations UNDP on the occasion of the International Year of Biodiversity. The campaign, dubbed "Visit them and Keep them Natural," was launched on June 24, 2010. The aims of this campaign are to raise the awareness of the Syrian public to the issue of cleaning forests, to administer the eco-tourism at the site, and to protect the biodiversity there. The Frunluk Forests have been chosen among the three targeted sites of the project of biodiversity preservation and nature reserves management, together with Jabal al-Aziz and Abu Qabis due to its rich biodiversity. The Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs wishes to draw up from this project modern national policies for management of all sorts of reserves and natural sites in Syria to make them models of eco-tourism. The Frunluk Forests have been announced as a nature reserve in 1999. Studies of the forests which have recorded the existence of 260 botanical genres, 50 species of birds, 22 species of reptiles and amphibians and 18 species of mammals. The Syrian Arab News Agency also reported on this campaign in English on June 25, 2010. But, the interesting part in this post is that at the end of it there is a link to another post titled "The Forests and Its Benefits," which explains what is a forest, its importance, and the negative implications on human beings and the animals of the deforestation process and the forests being unclean. This is a good example for how the SAWA ISP's blog is promoting its agenda of raising the environmental awareness among the Syrian public. Not only does it report on the environmental campaign to protect the Frunluk Forests in Lattakia, but it also explains to the Syrian public in yet another post why the forests are so important and why they should be preserved. Articles on the Environment in Syria Another article, titled "The Residence of Tomorrow - An Environment-Friendly National Residence Project," was posted in February 2010. This article described the "residence of tomorrow" project which was planned and worked on by a group of Syrians, who found a solution to the residence and lack of electricity by way of a sustainable project which produce the electricity by itself without any need for energy sources. The idea was to establish residence units which will be based on solar energy and on stations for water teatment which will make it suitable for the irrigation of house plants. This project was not limited to the residence un its alone, but created the first environmental house in Syria which is based on solar energy as the energy source and on treated water for the irrigation of plants. The project supplied small families with small houses and saved the families 150,000 Syrian Lira annually because of the lack of electricity and water payments. This project was conducted first in Damascus and its environs, and later, would expand to other places in Syria. It should be mentioned that when the article was posted, the project had not been started yet, but according to the Syrian government, it would begin soon. A series of six articles describing some of Syria's nature reserves was posted in March 2010. General Environmental Articles Other articles in the "green life" section are dealing with general issues concerning the environment, such as: the green building and the environmental friendly buildings; the environment and food pollution; recycling; the influence of the plastic on the human beings and the environment; wind energy; simple steps for protecting the environment in the house; organic food; water saving, air pollution, solar energy, etc. The Contribution of SAWA ISP to the Environment in Syria SAWA ISP is not only reporting on environmental projects and issues in Syria and at large, but also taking an active part in preserving the environment. As part of its activities for a better Syrian society, SAWA ISP organized a planting campaign on February 12, 2010. One hundred and twenty SAWA ISP's workers and their families took part in this campaign in which they planted about a thousand trees on the road from Damascus to Zabadani. This planting campaign was conducted under the supervision of the agricultural administration of Rift Damascus, which supplied the machines, seedlings, and water tanks for irrigation. It seems like SAWA ISP wishes to advance its agenda for a better Syrian society through raising the awareness of the Syrian public to environmental issues through the internet. In this theme, it seems to cooperate with the Syrian Government, who wishes to raise the environmental awareness among the public by way of all means available, including the Internet. Indeed, according to Syria Internet Usage and Marketing report, which was written by the Internet World Stats, in June 2009 there were 3,565,000 internet users in Syria out of a total population of 21,762,978. This means that the Internet users comprised in June 2009 16.4% of the total population. In view of this data and in view of the fact that every year the number of internet users in Syria grows, SAWA ISP does a great job through its blog in increasing environmental awareness among the Syrian public. ::SAWA blog More about environment in Syria: Syria's Master Plan for Renewable Energy Syria Works to Curb Voracious Plastic Bag Appetite Drip Irrigation Gives Hope to Drought-Plagued Farmers Top image via joi; tree via xslim

sawa-environment-blog-syria

Karin Kloosterman — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 06:09:56 +0000

israel-power-plant

Lisa Damast — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:18:21 +0000

Israel Cleantech Intelligence: Energy Reduction and 9 More Headlines

Lisa Damast — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:24:16 +0000

Tigo Energy's latest development agreement, mobile desalination competition, top Israeli fresh food markets and more headlines related to Israeli cleantech and the environment. Image via david55king. During the week of July 6, 2010, TaKaDu continued to attract the attention of venture capitalists interested in smart water monitoring. National Infrastructures Minister Uzi Landau announced a new plan to reduce energy use by 20% (3,400 megawatts) by 2020 and Governor Bill Ritter of Colorado is in Israel this week leading a delegation interested in establishing long-term business ties here. For these stories and more, see this week's headlines below. Solar Tigo’s PV Power Booster Wins Over Installer REC Water Saudis raise the ante in mobile desalination Electric Car Building to scale By Amit Nisenbaum (Better Place) In Israel Landau unveils plan to curb energy use by 20% Water Bills In Israel Go Up 40 Percent. Did Anyone Notice? 5 Israeli Fresh Food Markets – Traditional, Farmer’s and Organic Palestinian Engineers Get Sustainable Energy Sources Course in Hebron Investments TaKaDu has VCs buzzing about smart water monitoring Ritter leading Colorado business group to Israel Cleantech venture investment nearly doubles in 2009 Missed last week’s headlines edition? Catch up on Israeli olive oil in India, the latest lawsuit against Mey Eden and Neviot and more.

Palmachim Beach Campaign: “We Have Won”

Michael Green — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:08:01 +0000

Grassroots campaigners claim final victory in fight to preserve open space for the Israeli public. Photo by Michael Green It was over two years ago that Green Prophet first reported on the grassroots campaign to stop developers from paving over one of the last remaining ‘wild’ spaces on central Israel’s coastline: ‘fisherman’s beach’ at Palmachim. It’s been a long struggle, but this week the protesters finally got the word that they won their battle – and the picturesque bay will remain in public hands. The controversy began in 2007 when, almost overnight, bulldozers moved into a small area south of Kibbutz Palmachim, razing sand dunes and fencing off open space just metres from the shore. Several years earlier, a development company gained permission to build a 350-room holiday village on the picturesque spot. Even though the 2004 Law for the Protection of the Coastal Environment bans construction 100 metres from Israeli shores, the resort was authorised before the law was passed. In addition to the legal case, opponents argued that preserving the beach from destruction was in the public interest. Despite a grassroots campaign by local residents, it seemed like the beach’s fate was sealed. Business interests outweighed a few campaigners camped out in tents on the sand. But on Sunday, the two-year struggle which gained the support of NGOs, the media, politicians and public figures finally came to an end. Israeli government ministers decided to forbid the project once and for all, prompting Adi Lustig, the teenage activist who spearheaded the campaign, to write on her Facebook page: “We’ve won!" - "Justice won and not money.” Update: The follow statement was made by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at the start of a cabinet meeting on 11 July 2010:

Today, the Government will decide on instructing the Central District [Planning and Building] Committee to change the plan to build hundreds of vacation units on the Palmachim Beach and thus restore the coastal strip to the public. This decision will implement the State Comptroller's 2009 report, which called for reconsideration of the plan to build a holiday village by the seashore. The country's beaches are a unique resource. It must be assured that they will continue to be open to the public at large.

Creative Water Drop

Tafline Laylin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:08:41 +0000

Dubai

Tafline Laylin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:21:48 +0000

Abu Dhabi's Costly Desalination Plants Prompt Wastewater Treatment Plans

Tafline Laylin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:30:46 +0000

Treating wastewater and encouraging water efficiency balances high cost of desalination in water-scarce countries. To some, desalination plants are the Middle East's holy grail. Israel's IDE launched its 3rd such plant, and Bahrain has joined the fray with theirs. However, it is no coincidence that in the last year alone Israel has also experienced a 40% hike in water prices. Energy-intensive and therefore expensive to run, desalination plants also destroy marine organisms such as phytoplankton and fish on the intake, and pump heavy concentrations of salty brine back into the water, which can be destructive to the ocean environment. A desert wasteland astride the Arabian Gulf, the United Arab Emirates compensates for its scant freshwater resources with some of the world's largest desalination plants. The Jebel Ali plant, the 4th largest according to Worldwater.org, has the capacity to produce 140 million gallons of distillate water every day. But distillate water is also the most expensive source of water, reports the Pacific Institute of California, since approximately 4,000 kilowatt hours of electricity are required to produce 1 acre-foot of water. Furthermore, the price of desalinated water will rise and fall with fluctuating energy costs. The higher the cost of fuel, the higher the price of water. Water Eats Oil Another parched Middle Eastern country, Saudi Arabia operates the first 3 largest plants in the world. At a recent convention marking the second anniversary of the Arab Water Academy, Dr. Mohammed al Saud, deputy Minister for water said "if we continue with desalination as we do today, we will be the biggest consumer of our own oil." Securing an ongoing and destructive water supply to an unrealistic demand produces the risk of wasteful water practices. By contrast, insisting on better efficiency and recycling encourages communities to think more carefully about their water consumption. Using Wastewater for Agriculture At present, Vesela Todorova from The National claims that using treated waste water for agriculture, which combined with forestry requires 76% of the UAE's water, is illegal in Abu Dhabi. Even so, in response to concerns about exorbitant costs the government has initiated several projects to explore safe treatment options. The Mafraq sewage treatment plant in Abu Dhabi treats 450,000 cubic metres of waste water each day, according to Todorova. To expand that capacity, the Al Wathba Veolia Besix Waste Water consortium is constructing two more plants in Al Wathba and Allahamah, UAE, which could treat a further 430,000 cubic metres of sewage each day. While the mere idea of using waste water to grow food can send the most intrepid environmentalist to the loo with a nervous belly, the World Health Organization has established certain guidelines for the safe execution of such an endeavor citing that current regulations might even be too stiff. :: The National [top image courtesy of Snap and lower image via GaryBembridge] More Water Issues in the Middle East: Technofarm’s Irrigation Project Aims to Boost Libya’s Self-sufficiency in Food Production Libya’s Pivot Irrigation in the Sahara Proves Money Can Do Anything Libya Touts Great Man-Made River as 8th Wonder of the World

cloves

Naomi Ben-David — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:43:56 +0000

bu-tinah-shoals-4929071-500x375[1]

Maurice Picow — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:51:17 +0000

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Maurice Picow — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:55:07 +0000

Gulf Emirates Spending Billions on Defense When Their Environment Suffers

Maurice Picow — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:32:32 +0000

Persian Gulf environments like Bu Tinah Shoals would be devastated in a regional military conflict. Consider the following scenario: small United Arab Emirate states like Bahrain and Abu Dhabi are planning to spend billions of dollars on sophisticated weaponry; when one of their real dangers is the deteriorating state of the Persian Gulf and the environment of their own countries due to increasing pollution and commercial building projects. A recent article the Media Line points out that these countries, which are Sunni Muslim and have small populations (and relatively small armed forces), are becoming increasingly worried over the military buildup and aggressiveness of their large Shiite neighbor, Iran; which is only a short distance away from them. Any new armed conflicts in the region would devastate the environment. In light of this apprehension, these smaller countries are interested in building up a qualitative military deterrence, to make up for their lack of manpower. The interest in spending big bucks on sophisticated aircraft, anti-aircraft and missile systems, some of which cost millions of dollars for one unit, is being done at a time when they should also be worrying about the increasing damage to their natural environment; especially to marine and coastal environments. Think about all the real estate projects being undertaken. According to the Media Line, Gulf States will increase their defense expenditure by $15 billion over the next five years; the global market research firm, Forecast International predicts that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Sunni countries on the southern side of the Gulf will increase their annual defense spending from $68 billion to $83 billion by 2015. “The driving force behind the spending is regional anxiety over Iran,” said Mark Thomas, Deputy Director of the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies in Qatar. “They are trying to close the strategic gap, countering Iran’s quantitative superiority by superior weapons systems.” The desire for advanced weaponry has even caused countries like Saudi Arabia to consider the nuclear weapons option a few years ago. But putting this kind of extremity aside, even the expenditure of money for advanced conventional weaponry seems a bit absurd for countries with very small populations, and who are trying to make up for this by wanting to maintain a qualitative edge. One regional country, Qatar, is trying another tactic, by entering into various cooperation agreements with the Islamic Republic; including ones dealing with the environment. Signing environmental agreements or something else? Better to cooperate with a potential enemy other than preparing for war? Perhaps a small country like Qatar is in about as much a position to become involved in an armed conflict with Iran as Kuwait was with Iraq in June, 1990, prior to Saddam Hussein's invasion. But due to the fact that the Agreement of Cooperation between Iran and Qatar was signed by military representatives for the two nations, and not just by Iran's Environmental Minister Mohamed Javad Mohamedi Zadeh, and Qatar's Minister for the Environment, Abdullah bin Mubarak bin Aboud al-Midhadhi, could mean something deeper than just working together on issues like management of coastal areas and control of desertification. The bottom line in what's happening in this region, insofar as being prepared against any "adventurism" on the part of Iran, is that a lot of money that could be made available for undertaking projects to protect the fragile environment of the Persian Gulf region, will now be earmarked for something else altogether. Perhaps a successful cooperation between Iran and Qatar in environmental projects could lead to a lessening of tensions and could serve as a good example to countries in the UAE and other countries which are looking with apprehension towards their neighbor across the Gulf, especially the Straits of Hormuz. It is through these straits that a good portion of the world's oil shipments have to pass through. After all, an oil spill there, caused by a military confrontation, would spell disaster for the environment of the entire Gulf region; especially wildlife sanctuaries like Abu Dhabi's Bu Tinah Island. Read more on Persian Gulf environmental issues: Iran and Qatar Sign Memo of Understanding on the Environment Persian Gulf "Mermaids" Face Man Made Environmental Threats Durrat al Bahrain Artificial Islands: "A Place Like no Other" Photos via New Seven wonders; Gulf Times

slow-roasted tomatoes

Miriam Kresh — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:25:55 +0000

Recipe: Seasoned Slow-Roasted Tomatoes

Miriam Kresh — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:04:58 +0000

Summer time is tomato time, and not just for salads. Slow-roast some to taste the depth and sweetness of all their flavors. In Middle East open-air markets, we now see piles of ripe tomatoes. And since they're seasonal and cheap, we enjoy them raw and sliced into all kinds of salads, sometimes cooking them when we need a tomato sauce for pasta or pizza. Another delicious twist on tomatoes is slow-roasting them. The long roast at a low temperature caramelises the fruit's natural sugars, bringing out deep flavors that add another taste dimension to omelets, sandwiches, stews, even breads. And yes, to salads too. Slow-Roasted Tomatoes Pre-heat the oven to 120°C - 250°F. Take any quantity of ripe, red tomatoes. With the tip of a knife, cut the green stem end out of each one, pulling out a little triangular plug of core. Halve the tomatoes and squeeze the gel and seeds out of each half. Place the seeded tomato halves on a baking tray, cut side up. Sprinkle salt, and grind pepper, into the hollow halves. Drizzle with good olive oil. That's it, the tomatoes are ready to roast. But wait - here's where you can season the tomatoes with some of those interesting dry or fresh herbs you keep around. Do you have dry oregano or za'atar? Rub some between your palms to crumble it and sprinkle over the tomatoes. Is there basil in your fridge, rosemary growing in a windowsill pot? Chop up a little - it doesn't take much - and smash a clove or two of garlic along with it. Spoon 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of the fresh herb mixture into the hollows of the tomatoes. Salt again, lightly. Now put the loaded baking tray into the oven, shut the door, and come back in about four hours. Roasting time may vary according to your oven. A delicious aroma will arise in the kitchen about 2 hours into the roasting, but don't take the tomatoes out yet (you're allowed to peek, though). The tomatoes should be moist, slightly leathery at the edges but not dried out. There should be a small amount of liquid in the baking tray. Once cooled, store them in a clean, dry glass jar and keep refrigerated. They will last up to two weeks. Now, what do you do with these gourmet tomatoes?

Layer one or two halves into a sandwich, with other fillings.
Chop and add some to a cheese omelet or scrambled eggs
Top pizza or bruschetta with grated mozzarella and roasted tomato halves
Drop a couple into any stew 15 minutes before the end of cooking time
Coarsely chop and add 3 halves to a quiche filling
Add 4 chopped halves to your next batch of bread (add some chopped scallions, too)
Serve them plain as mezze, with olives and another raw salad vegetable or two

Enjoy! More Green Prophet summer recipes: Malabi, Middle-Eastern Milk Pudding Creamy Eggplant Soup Shakshouka, Tunisian Eggs Poached in Tomato Sauce Photo of slow-roasted tomatoes by Miriam Kresh, www.israelikitchen.com

Cloves In and Out of the Kitchen

Naomi Ben-David — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:11:53 +0000

Meeting an emperor or a sheikh? Here you have a great herb, with medicinal uses beyond the kitchen! Image via elenadan Spices are so versatile, if you have a look around your kitchen, you will find many spices have more than a simple culinary use. One of these amazing spices is cloves, and while you might be aware of its versatility in the kitchen, there are some other medical factors, which you might not know about. Cloves originally came from Asia and it wasn’t until the Middle Ages that they became more widely used in Europe. In Asia, for over two thousand years, they have been used, in fact it is said that in the Chinese court, nobles had to chew cloves to sweeten their breath before approaching the emperor. There are several other uses for cloves as a result of it having several medical properties including being antiviral, antibacterial, antiseptic as well as being a natural anesthetic. This means that there are many ways for you to take advantage of the natural healing capabilities of cloves. 1. To begin with, cloves are an amazing solution to toothache. Instead of swallowing handfuls of painkillers, you can try putting a whole clove directly onto the gum around the affected area. You will find that this will numb the area giving you relief within a few short minutes. 2. Beyond a simple toothache, if you have a teething toddler, cloves can be safely used to relieve their pain as well as yours. All you need to do is crush up a clove or two and using your finger, gently rub their gums on both sides. This is a remedy that you don’t have to be afraid of overusing. 3. As an antibacterial, cloves have other uses. They have a high level of a compound called eugenol, which numbs and kills bacteria, making cloves an excellent way to get rid of a cold. Just heat up (without boiling) some red wine with cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and honey, you will have what is known as mulled wine. This was often used in medieval times to repel the common cold, and lets face it, it is much tastier than the flu medicines we have today. Even though it is summer here in the Middle East, with air conditioning turned up high indoors and the heat and humidity rising outside, getting a cold becomes more than just a winter annoyance. So keep your cloves handy and next time you get a cold, see what it can do for you. Read more on versatile plants: RECIPE: Soothing, Sensual Rosewater Aloe Vera – A Prickly Plant with Pizazz

israel bike messenger

Karen Chernick — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:14:17 +0000

Greenie Wants YOU to Become a Bicycle Courier in Tel Aviv

Karen Chernick — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:20:19 +0000

Ever dreamed about becoming a cycling courier? Forget delivering the newspaper, Greenie is here to help. [image via: bandano!] Tel Aviv is no stranger to cycling, and in fact it is even considered trendy. During the summer months in particular, the iconic image of the young woman in a stylish summer dress and hipster-y sunglasses riding down Rothschild Boulevard on a beat up bike is considered pretty cool. Now a new business initiative, Greenie, is helping Tel Avivians put their cycling to (not only trendy but also) eco-friendly and lucrative use. Thanks to Greenie if you live in Tel Aviv, own a bike and know how to use it in this crazy city, you can make some extra cash as a bicycle courier. In Greenie's own words,

The tight urban mess of our country is ideal for carrying out deliveries with the use of a bicycle. But, for a multitude of reasons, the reality on the ground is dominated by large delivery companies that employ expensive, loud and polluting fleets of scooters. And an initiative to cut down on costs, better the environment and be less noisy isn't seen anywhere. Isn't that awful?

The idea is simple: Greenie wants to encourage cycling by building a simple online tool where couriers, businesses, and customers can all connect. All it takes is four simple steps - sign up via Facebook, mark your geographic area and available hours, receive updates about other couriers and businesses working in the area, and, lastly, order or carry out deliveries! Cycling couriers are not a foreign concept in Tel Aviv. The Cicleta Sprint company offers courier services by bike messenger already. And Buddha Burger, a vegan burger restaurant with two branches in Tel Aviv, makes all of its (delicious) deliveries by bike. But this is the first initiative that allows the average Joe to become a cycling courier as well. Greenie is only just starting out, and it will be interesting to see if the concept catches on in the booming city of Tel Aviv. :: Greenie Read more on cycling in Israel:: Israel Becomes a Nation of Pedalers (Cycling Freaks) Yinon Lehrer Designs Hanging/Bike Shower For Urban Cycling Tel Aviv Cafe Offers Great Cappuccino and Bike Rentals Bike Messengers Take Over Tel Aviv Haifa University Generates Profile of the Average Israeli Cyclist

sharkfinsoup

Tafline Laylin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:46:14 +0000

shark

Tafline Laylin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:52:56 +0000

shark

Tafline Laylin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:57:36 +0000

Protection Legislation Endangers Red Sea Sharks

Tafline Laylin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:01:36 +0000

Shark Fin Soup: a delicacy or a crime? Yemeni fisherman take advantage of Egypt's protection laws and kill sharks for fins in Red Sea for Japanese soup.[image via jmurawski]

With fragile ecosystems overrun by tourism, waste piling high on Cairo's streets, and an oil spill initially covered up by authorities, the recent dispatch about Yemeni fishermen caught with 71 shark carcasses wrest from the Red Sea reveals a spatter of environmental progress in Egypt.

Sharks are valued not for their meat, but for their fins. A delicacy in Hong Kong, a bowl of Shark Fin soup costs $100, writes Cam McGrath in an article for Al Masryalyoum. The cruel practice of cutting off shark fins and discarding the remains has been banned in Egypt since 2005, but conservationists believe that this legislation has caused renewed interest in Red Sea sharks.

[image via candice]

"This Yemeni incident has made it very obvious that the shark [protection] legislation we passed five years ago has made us a very nice target for shark fishermen in the region,” Amr Ali, managing director of the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA) told McGrath. “They know now that if they go to the Egyptian Red Sea where sharks are protected and the population is increasing they’ll get a good opportunity to catch them.”

After safari operators alerted authorities to suspicious activity near Zabargad Island, 230km SE of Marsa Alam and renowned for its hammerhead and reef shark populations, the Egyptian navy seized and escorted the Yemeni boat to Bernike port. A decision about appropriate action is pending.

A total of 60 Yemeni fishermen and up to 6 boats were involved, though it is not clear whether the last 2 boats were captured and brought to account. "Marine conservation groups estimate that up to 100 million sharks are killed worldwide each year for their fins. Illegal finning has devastated shark populations and brought many of the world’s 350 shark species to the brink of extinction," according to McGrath.

Even if legislation has attracted these fishermen like shark to blood, authorities should dole out swift punishment in order to deter future poaching efforts. This is no easy task, of course, given the price tag associated with fins and a general fear of and apathy towards sharks. What will give authorities incentive, though, according to Ali, is the LE 1.25 million ($220 thousand US) loss to tourism that the death of one shark entails.

:: Al Masryalyoum

More On Conservation in the Middle East:
What Tagged Hawksbill Turtles From Qatar Tell Us
Clash Between Greenpeace Activists and Bluefish Tuna Fishermen in the Med Sea
Endangered Baboons and Hyenas Rescued from Private Home in Abu Dhabi

Poor Egyptians Find Innovative Ways to Build Solar Water Heating

Maurice Picow — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 06:35:57 +0000

Hussein Farag's home made version of a solar water heater is not as sophisticated as these made in Israel, but it's a heck of a lot cheaper. Although solar water heaters are now becoming popular in Egypt, pay the equivalent of US $ 600 or more to purchase them is still out of reach to many poor Egyptians reports in Cairo's English language news media Daily News Egypt. In this article, Cairo resident Hussein Soliman Farag has installed solar collectors he made himself; and as a result, is able to have hot water from the collectors at a fraction of the cost that he would have had to pay, if he bought a commercially made or imported one. Solar water heating from metal and glass collectors has become one of the most economical and environmentally means for "capturing" the sun's rays to produce hot water during daytime hours. Originally invented and developed in Israel during the early to mid 1950s, the concept which involves hooking up the collector plates to water storage tanks or heaters uses virtually no electricity since the water flowing through pipes in the collector plates is fed immediately into the storage tank by the heat created when the sun's rays strike the collector plates. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujrj-VdDj5s[/youtube] For a person like Farag, whose monthly income is probably a fraction of the cost of "store bought" solar collectors, being mechanically inclined enables him to save a considerable amount of the money. He is also resourceful in finding used pieces of pipe, sheet metal and plate glass. And when one is watching every piaster, being resourceful helps to survive. What parts cannot be found this way, can be purchased from representatives of solar energy equipment companies like the American company, Solar City, which is based in the USA, but sells worldwide. A number of companies dealing with solar water collectors are now doing business in Egypt, as we explored in a previous article on solar hot water heaters. Due to the "cold peace" between Egypt and Israel much less business in this field is presently occurring. As a result, most of the equipment needed for these "sun boilers" is imported from countries much farther away than neighboring Israel. Israeli sun boiler companies, on the other hand, export their products all over the world, and are now making inroads into the very big and lucrative American market. For poor people like Hussein Farag, being creative and good with tinkering can be rewarding when one is a bit light in the pocketbook. It's also good to hear about his concern for the environment. Photo clip credit: Daily News Egypt Read more on solar water heating and purification ideas: Solar Water Heaters on the Rise in Egypt Sodis Method Uses Light and Used Plastics Bottles to Purify Water Israel's Pioneering Use of "Bottling" Solar Energy Has Many Following Suit

Global Post Names Ramallah's Khaled Al Sabawi One Of World's Top Energy Entrepreneurs

Tafline Laylin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:39:08 +0000

Copenhagen's negotiations went up in smoke, and too many governments are seduced by the comforts of oil. Since we can't trust the good ol' boys to do what's right, we look instead to a new generation of industrious citizens with the pluck to go it alone. Khaled Al Sabawi is one them. The son of a Palestinian refugee, the young engineer has taken the Palestinian territories and now Jordan by storm with a simple but ingenious geothermal cooling and heating technology. Unlike other inventors featured in Global Post's Energy Entrepreneurs series, Al Sabawi had a little help from the European Union to develop his first project. But he has since formed his own business, MENA Geothermal, and runs his company despite tricky political obstacles. Pushing past barriers "Every single time I re-enter, I am subjugated to the same interrogation," Al Sabawi told Jon Jensen, the Global Post journalist who filmed him. A Canadian citizen, Al Sabawi is sometimes denied entry into Palestine, which is under Israeli military control, and has to leave the country for a month at a time. Although sometimes drained, he is not deterred. In summer, the temperature below the earth's surface is lower than atmospheric temperatures, and in winter it is higher. MENA Geothermal capitalizes on this by burying pipes below ground. Water pumped through these pipes then capture the temperature to feed the building's heating and cooling system. Heating and cooling Geothermally is clean and cheap Installing his system, as opposed to using the diesel boilers that many Palestinians use, is equivalent to planting an acre of trees and taking 2 cars off the road, according to Al Sabawi. It also saves 70% on energy costs. He recently won a $1.5 million bid to install a heating and cooling system for the University of Madaba in Jordan, bringing with it money and prestige, yet he is driven by more than just fame. "Independence means a sustainable economy," he told Jensen. And for him, a sustainable economy includes an economy that incorporates green technology. If independence for Palestinians is drawing near, it's not because of politicians, but because of people like Khaled Al Sabawi. :: Global Post Learn More About Innovation in the Middle East: Poor Egyptians Find Innovative Ways to Build Solar Water Heating International Geographers Explore the West Bank in Search of Common Ground Palestinian Engineers Get Sustainable Energy Sources Course in Hebron

#12: July 15, 2010

Jack Reichert — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:59:39 +0000

Libya Looks To Buy A Stake in BP. Surprised?

It's like the plot of a Hollywood movie: This time starring the fashionable President of Libya al-Gaddafi and the world's most notorious polluter, BP.

Add in the early release of a supposedly dying terrorist – the Lockerbie bomber – released back to Libya and expected to live for another decade, and you've got the best script for the ultimate conspiracy theory film.

Read all about Libya's stake in BP »

Political Geographers Discuss Borders and Conflict

“Borders, Territory and Conflict in a Globalizing World” was the theme at a conference held in Israel last week for international political geographers.

Deliberating on ethnicity, power relations and technology, Dr. Gotlieb emphasizes that all such issues must be linked to the environment.

Then maybe Middle East peace will be within reach. We hope.

Read all about borders and conflict »

Fly Around the Arabic Green Blogosphere: New Weekly Series

If you don't read Arabic (or Green Prophet every day), you'll have no way of knowing what's happening in the small, but growing environment movement in the Middle East.

Green Prophet is happy to launch a new weekly series, where we feature a new Arabic-language blog each week, and translate some of the juicy eco-angles yet to be discovered by the English media.

This week, we are flying to Lebanon’s next-door neighbor, Syria, and to a blog called SAWA – For A Better Syrian Society.

Explore the Arabic Green Blogosphere with Green Prophet »

More Environment News from the Middle East: (click title to read)

CLEANTECH, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Cleantech Intelligence: Energy Reduction and 9 More Headlines »

Tigo Energy’s latest development agreement, mobile desalination competition, top Israeli fresh food markets and more headlines related to Israeli cleantech and the environment.

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE

Abu Dhabi Hospital Sets Green Example with Newborn Babies »

When it comes to setting green patterns, there is no doubt that it is better to create eco-friendly habits early in life. A new project in Abu Dhabi gives babies a fresh green start.

Read more lifestyle & culture stories »

BUSINESS & POLITICS

Syria’s Master Plan for Renewable Energy »

About 90 percent of Syria’s electric power comes from thermal power plants fueled by heavy fuel oil and natural gas; and the country is now looking into using forms of renewable energy to provide its increasing need for energy.

Read more business & politics stories »

TRAVEL & NATURE

“Magical Thinking” About Islands Is an Illusion »

New studies looking at evolution sees nothing extra-ordinary about island communities. The Middle East region, particularly around Egypt, Israel and Jordan out East to Iraq is known as the cradle of civilization. It is no wonder then that much evolutionary thinking and discoveries are made from this region. And now new evidence to disprove our magical mind meanderings about island evolution.

Read more travel & nature stories »

FOOD & HEALTH

4 Unique Aloe Vera Juice Recipes for Summer and Health

This common potted plant can now become part of your daily diet. Naomi offers 4 recipes for taking advantage of this healthful plant, which offers more than just sunburn relief.

Read more food & health stories »

ARCHITECTURE & URBAN

Cambridge to Build Europe’s First Eco-Mosque »

England’s historic city of Cambridge, with its world-famous university and idyllic countryside, will soon count a mosque as its latest eco-project. We hope it sets a standard for the Muslim world at large. Arwa reports.

CARS & TRANSPORTATION

Tesla Motors IPO Races Through Abu Dhabi, But Is the EV Practical? »

Faster than a Ferrari, cleaner than a Prius, Tesla’s EV roadster is only $100,000. Tesla Motors, already a popular concept in Gulf countries, but whose high performance electric sports car has not turned a profit for them in the company’s seven year of operation, has suddenly put some of their financial woes behind them. Fast.

FASHION & DESIGN

Henna – A Natural New Hair Hue for Summer »

Who would have thought that nature could provide such vivid hues? Since the dawn of time, people have been finding ways to improve, change and diversify their appearance. And a method of choice has been from the henna plant. It's not just for wedding tattoos, but wondering hues for your hair.

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www.GreenProphet.com

If you'd like to advertise on this newsletter, give us news tips, or just say 'hi,' send us an email contact@greenprophet.com. We respond to queries within 24 to 48 hours.

migraine barbie

Naomi Ben-David — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:22:55 +0000

on couch

Naomi Ben-David — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 11:30:37 +0000

oil-spill-lebanon-coastt[1]

Maurice Picow — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:39:52 +0000

4 Tips for Relieving Migraines Naturally

Naomi Ben-David — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:01:13 +0000

Ever felt a vice-grip was the only solution to your migraine? Well, there are other natural options out there. Image via Migraine Chick In today’s day and age, we push ourselves in our stressful lives, barely allowing ourselves a moment’s respite. So the body naturally rebels at this abuse and sends us the mother of all headaches – the migraine. People tend to use these words, headache and migraine, interchangeably, however there are significant differences. While a headache is enough of an annoyance, add to that some of these symptoms: nausea, vision issues, dizziness and sensitivity to light and there you have it, the migraine. Most people, when they start to feel a migraine coming on, pop a couple of pills, and push through the, forcing themselves to go about their busy lives. We all know that the best defence is a good offence so instead of waiting for the migraine to attack you, why don’t you attack it with a few simple steps. 1. A change in diet The issue of obesity is only one dietary concern. What many people don’t necessarily realise is that there are certain foods, which can trigger a migraine. Anything related to caffeine isn’t good, add to that dairy products, yeast and highly processed, manufactured foods, such as pickled goods, canned goods as well as soy products. Try eliminating these items from your daily diet, or at least cutting down. Keep in mind that everyone is different, so what is a trigger for someone else might not be for you. By trial and error you can find what impacts you most and cut it out of your diet. 2. Adding Omega 3 What happens during a migraine, is that the tissue around the brain becomes inflamed and it is this, which causes all the pain and other side effects. Taking Omega 3 daily (V-Pure sells a vegan variety of Omega 3) will reduce the tendency to inflammation and therefore lessen the frequency of your migraines. Like other herbal remedies, it takes time. You will need to take omega 3 for several weeks, with a meal, before you feel an impact. Face down on a chiroprator's couch, the relief you feel can be intense Image via Alisha V 3. See your local chiropractor Chiropractors work by adjusting your spine and realigning the vertebrae in your back. This can take away some of the pressure on the spinal chord which can be causing migraines. This also ensures normal blood flow to the brain as well as other areas, which can lessen your migraine symptoms. 4. Lower your daily stress levels This might seem like an impossibility, especially here in the Middle East where stress and political tension touches everyone’s lives almost daily. It is also, however, one of the key contributors to migraine. Daily stress causes tension in the muscles of your neck, just as much as lack of sleep is also a leading factor. While all these points can help you reduce the occurrence of migraines, you have to take into account that it will take time. A change in lifestyle is always difficult, but like so many natural methods and products, it is worth it in the end. Read more on natural remedies: Aloe Vera – A Prickly Plant with Pizzaz PART I: The ABCs of Traditional Middle-Eastern Spice Medicines (A through C)

Hezbollah Interferes With Israel's Mediterranean Energy Business

Maurice Picow — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:16:42 +0000

Lebanon looks to lay claim to natural gas find off Israel's coast. Image of Mediterranean Sea from Beirut. Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is not only trying to pose a threat to Israel's security, but to its pocketbook as well. Israel has announced striking gas - natural gas- and now the Hezbollah (Arabic: حزب الله‎, literally "Party of God") based in Lebanon are attempting to lay claim to the underwater natural gas fields that Israel discovered, and is now developing off Israel's northern coast. A Washington Times article penned by Gal Luft suggest that that the Hezbollah, a Shi' a Islamist political and paramilitary organisation, are looking for ways to continue its "armed struggle" against Israel, with its claims that the gas fields are actually in Lebanese national waters, and therefor belong to Lebanon. Can the Hezbollah justify its actions? And will it be using the "Free Gaza" flotilla-style operations to monitor Israel's seas?

The gas fields, currently being developed by the Texas-based Noble Energy company, together with Yitzhak Tshuva's Delek Energy subsidiary can go towards making Israel an energy exporter, as well as taking care of a good portion of its energy needs for a period of time of as long as 10 years. The gas fields are located about 100 km off the coast, and in an area that both Israel and Lebanon are claiming as their own territorial waters.

With Hezbollah's infrastructure rebuilt following the 2006 war, Sheikh Nasrallah is now boasting of his ability to "wipe out Israel's navy" with rockets supplied by both Iran and Syria. Such an attempt on Hezbollah's part would result in very unpleasant results for the Iran-backed organization, which has now become so entrenched in Lebanon that even former adversaries like the Druze community there accept them.

The Washington Times article does note that the Hizbollah are watching how the Israeli Navy deals with aid ships being sent to Gaza in order to determine any weaknesses in the Israeli naval forces.

Luft argues:

Upcoming flotillas under the "Free Gaza" banner would enable Hezbollah fighters to observe closely the Israeli navy at work and identify its weak spots. Later, as the eastern Mediterranean becomes home to drilling rigs, pipelines and other infrastructure related to Israel's gas operation,Hezbollah could find multiple soft targets to attack. Such attacks could easily escalate into a regional war involving neighboring countries such as Syria, Turkey and Iran.

Getting back to the claim by Lebanon of oil and natural gas reserves in the Mediterranean Sea belongs solely to Lebanon (and hence to Hizbollah as well), the amount of corruption in Lebanon is such that the Lebanese government is powerless to be able reach any kind of agreement in regards to rights for energy exploration in Lebanon's legal offshore section of the Eastern Mediterranean. And Lebanon's continuing state of belligerency towards Israel prevents the reaching of any kind of energy exploration agreement with Israel.

This also holds true regarding any agreements regarding protecting the environment, from a country that still dumps raw sewage and solid waste materials into the sea.

The solution to curtailing Lebanon's and Hezbollah's virtually baseless claims to energy reserves in Israeli territorial waters can only come from international assistance from both the USA and world legal councils, according to the Washington Times article.

::Washington Times

More articles on Lebanon's environment and the Hezbollah:

Garbage Trucks Dump Straight into the Sea as Hizbollah Takes Hold

Green Prophet Flies to Mazen Aboud's Environmental Blog in Lebanon

Lebanon's Sidon Garbage Dump More Serious Than Just the Smell

Image via sergemelki

beirut-mediterranean -sea

Karin Kloosterman — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:21:08 +0000

Karen Chernick — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:58:55 +0000

How to Make Organic Sunblock

lebanon garbage recycling

Karen Chernick — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:37:28 +0000

Lebanon Launches New Recycling Campaign, "Think Before You Throw"

Karen Chernick — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:42:17 +0000

Before its garbage situation gets out of control, Lebanon is urging citizens to Think Before You Throw. [image via: blinkofaneye] With the average Lebanese person allegedly producing 1 kilogram of waste a day, the situation is pretty trashy (especially when Lebanon garbage trucks dump into the sea). Delegates attending the launch of Lebanon's new recycling campaign, Think Before You Throw, last Thursday were made aware that this amounts to over 4,000 tons of garbage daily (or, enough trash to fill a football stadium to the brim). The national recycling campaign is attempting to urge people to start separating their garbage into recyclable and organic bins. The garbage will then be sorted by a private enterprise or by one of 18 solid-waste management plants being built around the country. These facilities are being built as part of a European Commission initiative. Patrick Laurent, the European Commission ambassador to Lebanon, explained that while workers at garbage sorting plants are capable of separating waste it is more productive and cost-effective to have the waste sorted in the home. "It is essential to put the Lebanese citizen at the center of this initiative," he said. "Beyond issues of the initial investment and financial sustainability, an efficient solid waste management strategy must also involve a reduction in the volume of waste and a change in attitudes." Local NGOs will be targeting young people in Lebanon in schools, in order to instill a sense of environmental responsibility from a young age. :: The Daily Star Read more about other sustainable initiatives in Lebanon:: Making Magestic (and Biblical) Cedars of Lebanon Sustainable in Our Times Darreja Campaign Encourages Sustainable Transportation in Lebanon Take Your Team to Lebanon's Ecovillage

Arwa Aburawa

Karin Kloosterman — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:06:35 +0000

deep-economy

Karin Kloosterman — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:46:06 +0000

bill-mckibben-photo-deep-economy

Karin Kloosterman — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:48:41 +0000

bill-mckibben-photo-deep-economy

Karin Kloosterman — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:49:00 +0000

A Review on Bill McKibben's "Deep Economy"

David Goldman — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:52:06 +0000

Deep Economy is probably the first economics book you’ll read that advocates for less economic growth. The book is framed around a simple, yet zealous premise – that what we need is Better rather than More. Author Bill McKibben believes, as do a growing number of economists, that we indeed have to choose between one and the other. He writes, “…growth is no longer making most people wealthier, but instead generating inequality and insecurity.” Stealing a page from the Norwegian philosopher Arne Næss, who in 1973 coined the phrase Deep Ecology, (an ecological philosophy that recognizes the inherent worth of other beings aside from their utility), McKibben writes, “We need a similar shift in our thinking about economics – we need to take human satisfaction and societal durability more seriously; we need economics to mature as a discipline.” This is reminiscent of E.M. Schumacher’s Buddhist Economics, which I referenced in an earlier book review for Green Prophet. What is unique about Deep Economy is that the author understands that the only conceivable way to create a deep ecology is to address our culture’s obsession with economics first and foremost. “The Fortunate Few?” The reader needs to hang several preconceived notions at the door before McKibben’s argument begins to resonate. Firstly, that more wealth and greater Gross Domestic Product (GDP) automatically translates to a higher standard of living, and by extension – more happiness or satisfaction. Almost immediately, McKibben undermines these assumptions. He writes, “The median wage in the United States is the same as it was thirty years ago. The real income of the bottom 90 percent of American taxpayers has declined steadily: they earned $27,060 in real dollars in 1979, $25,646 in 2005.” Take a minute to digest this. That means that all the talk of a growing economy and wealth is actually only being felt by a handful of the population (relatively speaking). This addresses the first assertion that greater GDP means we are becoming wealthier. Then McKibben continues, “new research from many quarters has started to show that even when growth does make us wealthier, the greater wealth no longer makes us happier.” So not only are most of us not actually getting wealthier, but those ‘fortunate few’ who are, are not buying anymore happiness. According to a paper written by Ed Diener and E.P. Seligman entitled, “Beyond Money – Toward an Economy of Well Being,” “researchers report that money consistently buys happiness right up to about $10,000 per capita income, and that after that point the correlation disappears.” Always the realist, McKibben acknowledges that some people, particularly in developing countries where basic needs are still far from being met are better off with more money. He writes, “Up to a certain point, none of what I have been saying holds true. Up to a certain point, more really does equal better.” After all, a person has got to eat. Supermarket Trance Apart from debunking the correlation myth between GDP and happiness, he takes a close look at the modern food industry a.k.a. agribusiness as a case in point for how more is far from better. According to a Harvard Business School professor McKibben quotes from in the book, “fifty percent of the world’s assets and consumer expenditure belong to the food system. Half the jobs too.” Similar to Michael Pollan’s claims in The Omnivore’s Dilemma, McKibben cites “the average bite of food an American eats has travelled fifteen hundred miles before it reaches her lips.” Transportation and the resulting dependence on fossil fuel are greatly responsible for the tragic misunderstanding that most well-meaning Whole Foods shoppers participate in. “Organic” could also mean that the banana you just ate was actually imported from Chile at great expense in terms of carbon emissions and destruction of natural resources. If consumers internalized this, then more of our food would be grown locally and that would prove to be better for us and the environment than organic food. Consolidation or another path to “More,” has numerous other dangers. According to the McKibben, “Four companies slaughter 81 percent of American beef. Cargill, Inc. controls 45 percent of the globe’s grain trade, while its competitor Archer Daniels Midland controls another 30 percent.” For more about ADM and how economic consolidation leads to corruption, I HIGHLY recommend listening to this podcast (The Fix Is In) from This American Life. Only a few companies control more than 70 percent of the fluid milk sales in the US, according to the book. All of this consolidation has been born out of economic efficiency and the unwavering pursuit of growth. McKibben indicates the high cost of all these efficiencies. He list several costs including: damage to communities and people who lose their jobs, safety risks both to employees and the food that they are responsible for processing, and the resulting pollution from the likes of one farm in Ohio McKibben claims produces 3 billion eggs per year. Distributed vs. Centralized Systems McKibben see hope through distributing economies instead of consolidating them. If the focus shifts from monetary growth, this Deep Economy can lead to prosperity through decentralization. He points to the rise in farmer’s markets and community supported agriculture (CSAs) groups where “the farmers who come in from the country to meet their suburban and urban customers, the customers who emerge from their supermarket trance to meet their neighbors.” McKibben writes that “Beside food, the most important commodity in our lives is energy.” The sheer scale of our energy production today is astonishing and creating a more distributed model of production does seem daunting. Deep Economy doesn’t advocate an immediate switch from our current model of almost complete centralized energy production and transmission to an entirely distributed model…yet. Rather, the author suggests a middle ground, or “something in between the individual cell powering the individual home, and the great power station feeding the whole state.” After all, transporting a head of lettuce 1,500 miles makes about as much sense as transmitting electricity the same distance. Centralized Esnergy Deep Economy also addresses the heavy toll that centralized energy has had on the world along with its accompanying security concerns and deleterious effects on the environment. Gone are the days when solar power was code for, in McKibben’s words, “a set of panels up on the roof and a set of batteries down in the basement, supporting a grinning, graying hippie happy in his off-the-grid paradise.” By distributing power generation amongst several options (even if we keep fossil fuels in the mix), we can hedge our bets should one central generation facility fail. We wouldn’t need to depend on building another power plant that would only be used as backup 10 percent of the year. Today, Finland, the Netherlands and Denmark generate between one-third and one-half of their power through decentralized projects. The book is filled with examples of similar projects that are taking place in communities that rarely make the news cycle. Their MacGyver like solutions to either food or energy scarcity are a testament to the adage that “Necessity is the mother of invention.” What is fascinating about many of these examples is that they have no impact on their nation’s GDP, so they fly under the radar and in the face of what most American politicians on both side of the aisle are seeking – double digit economic expansion. You don’t need a degree in economic theory or environmental engineering to appreciate Bill McKibben’s Deep Economy. But you do need an open mind. Some interesting factoids I gleaned from the book:

Nature attempted to set an economic value on ‘ecosystem services,’ such as pollination and decomposition, that had always be counted as free. The estimate was a whopping $33 trillion annually, far larger than the human economy combined.

In an effort to ‘get prices right,’ professor Bob Costanza estimated that the real cost (based on damage from production and use of the environment) of a gallon (1 US gallon = 3.785 litres) of gasoline should be $7-$8/gallon.

Exemplary of the merging between social sciences and economics, Daniel Kahneman won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2002 despite the fact that his training was in psychology.

People born in advanced countries after 1955 are 3 times as likely as their grandparents to have a serious bout of depression.

Read more by David Goldman:

Review on Strategy for Sustainability 5 Tips for PR Companies to Gain Credibility Friedman’s “Hot, Flat and Crowded” – The Perfect “Green” Starter Book

*** David Andrew Goldman currently works as director of global communications at Expansion Media, an integrated PR/SEO firm that focuses exclusively on clean technology clients including Entech Solar, BioPetroClean, CASTion, AeroFarms, Airdye Solutions, Advanced Telemetry, Variable Wind Solutions, GreenRay Inc. and FreeGreen.com.

Some Foresights on Protecting and Nurturing Water Resources in the Middle East

Karin Kloosterman — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:19:40 +0000

1. Give us a brief overview on what Strategic Foresight Group aimed to achieve at this meeting? SFG hosted its first meeting as part of the Water Security Initiative in the Middle East in Montreux, Switzerland in February 2010. Two workshops were held attracting the participation on 60 leading policymakers, Members of Parliament, former Cabinet Ministers and heads of leading institutions across the region. The workshops discussed broad ideas of action to tackle the growing water crisis in the Middle East. The participants presented several innovative ideas for this end. Following this in May, in Amman at the WANA Forum, SFG aimed to move from general ideas for action to prioritising which ideas have implications for policy changes. The overall purpose was to create a concrete feasible roadmap for policy initiatives. 2. What are any updates or considerations you can recommend since your last meeting in Switzerland? Following the last meeting in Montreux, HRH Prince Hassan of Jordan has presented a new approach to break the political deadlock. He has proposed the creation of concentric circles of cooperation – where each circle consists of countries that are a part of the same political dynamic. For this the first circle would revolve around Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan for sustainable management of water resources. The circle would be based on a shared conceptual premise where water would be treated as a cornerstone of cooperation similar to the manner in which coal and steel formed the basis of regional cooperation in Europe in the 1950s. Water would be examined as an instrument of partnership, driven by need and sustainability of the entire population in the region. Experiences around the world show that good ideas need sound institutional mechanisms to transform into actions. 3. What are the broader ideas you discussed for action at Amman? Can you give us 3 examples? One of the key ideas discussed was the creation of a regional entity that would – undertake an assessment of water resources in the first circle; create regional protocols; harmonize water laws for better joint management in the future; and enable projects of a regional nature such as a regional climate change model. The regional entity would be the first of its kind, involving Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan, and would essentially be a concept group of high level policy makers. It is important to mention here that this would be a political mechanism for regional cooperation and not a platform for studies and training, as is already being done by several other organizations in the region. The participants also identified other areas for action in the area of sustainable water management. Some priority areas include – mitigating conveyance losses; partnership with the private sector to effectively use and gain from modern technology; creating a sphere of awareness and education on sound demand management practices. Participants also advocated the development and use of small scale solar-powered waste water treatment and desalination plants at the household and community level, and similar solutions that do not require major policy changes and are easier to implement. 4. What nations/regions are the most water stressed right now, and what do you propose for change? Several regions across the world are water stressed in different ways, from regions of Latin America, to Africa and the Middle East, and several countries in Asia. In parts of Asia, the manner of stress is different, where countries like Nepal face the problem of too much water but too little water, and China and India face a problem of extremely high population growth. In the Middle East, Jordan and the Palestine Territories are some of the worst in this crisis due to drought and related problems, whereas in Iraq water problems arise of out war and poor distribution. Even Australia, a country that normally does not surface in the discussion on water stress, has faced severe water problems due to the Murray River running low. As is well known, cities and regions across the world are affected by high demand, over exploitation of resources and gross mismanagement. Most water related problems are inter-linked, where rivers and underground resources follow no boundaries. The UN Convention of 1997 is weak and not mandatory, and hence has not been ratified by all members. In the absence of an international law, there is an urgent need for instruments of regional cooperation. Concerned Countries sharing common resources have to develop these instruments voluntary, for them to work. There is a dire need for current scientific data and fluid exchange of collected data, as well as creation of mechanisms to obtain the required data. For example, in the Himalayas there is a big debate on the melting of glaciers, where the projections made by the IPCC were highly criticised; but the main problem is that there aren’t simply any monitoring stations in central and eastern Himalayas where the glaciers are located. Therefore all discussion on the melting of glaciers is based on conjecture. The first requirement is to establish the monitoring stations so we can obtain relevant scientific data on the retreat of glaciers. To do this in transboundary areas, one needs cooperation between countries. Secondly, China has separate agreements with India and Bangladesh for sharing flood control data, only twice a day for four months. If data can be exchanged separately it will make much more sense to develop an integrated system for frequent sharing not only in the flood months but also in the lean period. Thirdly, we need cooperation in the areas where people living in a basin can benefit from the flow of the river, irrespective of which ever riparian they belong to. This involves developments of hydro-electricity, water efficient agricultural practices, eco-tourism, preservation of wetlands, and disaster management. These activities can lead to optimum use of water resources. 5. What's next for SFG and water? For the Middle East, following the proposal of a regional entity as was discussed in the WANA Forum in Amman, SFG is holding consultations in the region to explore the feasibility and practicality of establishing such an entity. SFG is also exploring other means of using water as a tool for regional cooperation. Specific to Israel and Palestine, SFG is facilitating informal dialogue between both parties and exploring ways to make a breakthrough on problems related to shared water resources. As part of its Asian Water Security Initiative, SFG launched its first report “The Himalayan Challenge: Water Security in Emerging Asia” on June 28, 2010 at the Singapore International Water Week. The report is a result of in-house research and participatory dialogue with experts in workshops convened at Kathmandu in August 2009, and Dhaka in January 2010. The report examines water security of the Himalayan Rivers in China, India, Bangladesh and Nepal, for the next 20 years. It assesses implications of the likely decline of 275 BCM of renewable fresh water in the four countries by 2030 for food security, health, migration, bio-diversity, social stability and interstate relations in the region. The SFG report on the Himalayan river basins provides projections for the next 40-50 years and recommends means of cooperation. The next step will be to calculate benefits of cooperation, including opportunity loss from non-cooperation. Our experience from the Cost of Conflict series proves that if people are provided with hard facts they do get sensitised and begin to explore alternative strategies. It obviously takes sometime for the change of mindset to be reflected in the change of policy, but we have to begin somewhere.

homemade organic sunscreen

Karen Chernick — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:49:34 +0000

combatzone

Tafline Laylin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:29:26 +0000

Iraq Combat Zone

Tafline Laylin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:31:47 +0000

Garden of Eden

Tafline Laylin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:34:52 +0000

Nature Iraq's Conservation in A Combat Zone

Tafline Laylin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:43:44 +0000

These soldiers escort conservationists protecting the lapwing bird in active Al Qaeda territory. The Middle East's conservation warriors are diving to restore coral and boating to protect sharks in the Red Sea. But in the western Iraqi desert, where Al Qaeada operatives are active in a region called the "triangle of death", Omar Fadhel and his team risk their life for birds. Escorted by a galley of stalwart soldiers wearing bulletproof vests and some carrying assault rifles, Fadhel and 2 other conservationists trek to a region that is a safe haven for the lapwing, a rare bird. The only Non Government Organization (NGO) doing regular field work in the region, according to Richard Solash, Nature Iraq receives funding from The US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and the Italian Environment Ministry. Priorities in the combat zone The Iraqi Environment Ministry, however, is less sympathetic to this work. "How can you go to the command center of the Iraqi police asking them to provide you with men -- and these men will face the chance of fighting with Al-Qaeda just looking for a bird or doing environmental work?" Fadhel says to Solash. "This is a very, very unsuitable mission or task to make them understand what you are doing." Toppling Hussein's Poor Environmental Policies Fadhel's work is important though. In Southern Iraq, the marshlands thought to be the biblical garden of Eden were almost completely destroyed under Saddam Hussein's rule. Nature Iraq resuscitated half of them, despite constant military batterings, after the famous statue of Hussein came crumbling down. The organization was founded by Azzam Alwash, who grew up in the region but left to study in the United States, writes Solash, but still faces numerous obstacles. Although he insists that Iraqis are aware of and respectful of nature, and that they're not gun-wielding barbarians, he tells Solash that "Nature Iraq needs to refresh and rehabilitate the Iraqi environment and teach the people how to deal with wildlife instead of dealing with guns and weapons." Conservation in a nicely wooded park on happy lane is challenging enough, but protecting a rare bird in the midst of a potential enemy is something else. We think it's something more akin to heroism. :: images and story via Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty More About Middle Eastern Critters: What Tagged Hawksbill Turtles From Qatar Tell Us Owls Unite Arab Farmers in Palestine, Israel and Jordan Half of UAE’s Falaj Mualla Camels Choked on Plastic Bags

Tafline Laylin — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:41:03 +0000

Lia in Nature

Sophie Ohana — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 19:12:44 +0000

green-focus-ecomum-green-parenting

Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 06:55:32 +0000

EcoMum's 7 Focus Points for Green Parents

Sophie Ohana — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 06:57:52 +0000

Busy moms can lose their "green" focus. Green Prophet's EcoMum goes over 7 focal point tips to keep over-stretched moms on their "eco" pointe. It's been a while since this EcoMum reported her tips on Green Prophet. I've been in my "mummy bubble" and from here I take it for granted that most people these days have a much greener outlook to life and are slowly but surely making positive changes to their environment. But I seem to think my bubble maybe bursting as I find myself answering more and more questions about the basics of green parenting. This made me think of getting back to my core beliefs of eco-parenting. Read on about my thoughts on green food, education, toys, diapers, cleaning chemicals and transport. I've provided 7 focal tips to keep any green parent, or want-to-be green parent on track. 1. Food Glorious Food (breastfeeding and organic food) No matter which way you look at it, breastfeeding is the best way to first feed your baby. I understand there are mothers who simply cannot and formula is a savior for them but do not let us be fooled by profit driven companies: formula is not the healthiest option for your child or yourself. Going organic: Next, even if you cannot afford organic food all the time at least make sure that the first food you introduce to your babies is organic. You will be buying small amounts, so cook bulk and freeze. Avoid plastic bottles and containers that do not specify that they are BPA free as there is a danger that it will leach and the news just gets worse and worse about BPA. Ditch the canned food, especially tomatoes as the cans are lined with plastic which contains BPA. Steer clear of processed foods, apart from all the additives, because the salt content is very high and this can be far more damaging to your child than sugar. So get cooking. Green Prophet has a wonderful series of recipes. Look through our archives. 2. Toy Town I have to admit on a tight budget this can be a very frustrating and at the same time a satisfying task, that of keeping the toys green. News reports are being constantly updated with toxic toys from the Far East, lead paint in toys is appearing even in the most reputable company's toys, so choosing and buying toys has become somewhat of a mine field. So how do I do it? First of all I really don't think that you can beat good old pots and pans and wooden spoons. My kids love them and do not seem to bore from them; another useful fact is to have a few quality toys and swap and change from day to day, quality not quantity, is a constant truth. Try buying wooden toys and steer clear of soft plastics too as they may contain PVC, another nasty. 3. Teach your child to be an environmentalist When I am out and about on holiday with my children it makes my heart sing to watch my daughter, age 4, picking up rubbish and putting it in the bin while muttering about naughty people. She's my star! At home we wash all plastic containers and reuse for storing all her bits and pieces, stones, odd shells and pretty ribbons. If anything gets broken it goes to Dad first for a fixing treatment not the garbage bin or it may not reincarnate as something new. We have taught her to love and appreciate nature, not to waste water and most importantly to make the most of what we have and not to crave new things. She knows about recycling, from home and nursery. Children are incredibly curious and listen with bated breath and absorb all these crazy little facts we bombard them with, so make them worthwhile and the next thing you know your children will be teaching you how to look after the planet for their future. 4. Stuff and Nonsense This is the long list of all the things that companies tell us we need to have happy children, starting from day one of all the must haves, enough to make your head spin and your overdraft at the bank grow. Please start to ignore them or at least take with a pinch of salt. This is consumerism gone mad. Nursery furniture has been in the news recently with some worrying facts about chemical fumes from glues, stains and fire repellents, so if you are buying a cot or bed try to find the most natural option, in this case second hand is not always the best case. Mattresses should always be new and preferably made from a natural foam or wool with organic cotton liners. Co-sleeping is another option. Clothing lists can be covered by good second shops which are increasing in their numbers around the world,thankfully. If you really must have new, try to go down the organic cotton road. Paint your nursery with natural or low VOC paints and don't do it the day before baby of child moves in, air the room well. In general keep your home well ventilated and remove shoes at the door, they are the biggest carrier of pollutants into the home. 5. Green Clean This is really very important, ditch those chemical cleaners, laundry soaps and personal toiletries. All they do is feed your body a chemical cocktail. I have not used a chemical, non-eco friendly product in my house for years, my health and the health of my family has never been better, our home is full of natural smells and our laundry is now whiter than white. Our shopping bill is also smaller. Vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and hot water, that’s all I use for cleaning. Steer clear of health and beauty products that contain parabens, the choice of natural products now available is great, or olive oil works just fine for me. 6. Walk and Go Slow Yes I know it is hot outside in the Middle East, even cold and wet sometimes (if we are lucky) but seeing people drive 500 meters to the shops or the school is ridiculous. Please walk or carpool, get together with your friends and go together shopping or fill the car with kids for the school run, even organize a "walking bus." And if it is a question of time, dare I say it, maybe reexamine your timetable, slow life down a bit or it'll be over before you realize. The kids will have grown and left and your memories will be of racing around in the car. Try staying in one place, find entertainment at home and in each others company, and enjoy your local environment. 7. Nappies (diapers for Americans) I will end my 7 focus tips with my favorite subject and one that I know still causes heated debates. Disposables are user friendly and yes, do save time and effort for parents but and this is a very big but, they are very, very unfriendly to the environment. They demand a lot of resources to be made, including water, and they are not biodegradable. Today there are better environmentally friendly disposables available in the Middle East and they do not demand a second mortgage. And cloth nappies today really are not as scary as nappy deniers like to contend, if my husband (half Moroccan, half Iraqi) can change a cloth nappy, then anyone can. My final tip, please stop using conventional baby wipes, either make your own or buy the eco-friendly option. They are packed full of nasty chemicals that apart from not being an healthy idea to leave them on your child's skin should most definitely not be used to clean faces or hands. Signing out. - Sophie, your EcoMum Top image via pinksherbert

Strategic Foresight Group's Forecasts for Water in the Middle East

Green Prophet Staff — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 07:35:23 +0000

Policy makers, water experts and peace lovers might be interested in the Strategic Foresight Group's research on water as a means to resolve conflict in the Middle East. Read about their latest efforts in Jordan. WANA, a North Africa and West Asia forum convened not long ago in Jordan to discuss the environment, a green economy, sustainable development and the revival of Hima, an Islamic environmental conservation practice. The West Asia - North Africa WANA Forum is a long-term initiative that brings together Middle East decision-makers to enact change, including environmental ones, in the Middle East region. Based in Jordan, the facilitator and guardian of the forum is Prince of Jordan El Hassan bin Talal. At their latest gathering, Green Prophet's friend the Strategic Foresight Group was there joining over 130 participants, representing over 50 nationalities. Strategic Foresight is focused on water. And it was thanks to their invitation, we were able to join a large delegation of water experts from the Middle East at the beginning of this year, in Switzerland. Continuing its important mission to help alleviate Middle East conflict over water, the Strategic Foresight Group gives us its update on what it presented at the WANA forum, along with its vision for the future. 1. Green Prophet: Give us a brief overview on what Strategic Foresight Group (SFG) aimed to achieve at this meeting? Ambika Vishwanath: SFG hosted its first meeting as part of the Water Security Initiative in the Middle East in Montreux, Switzerland in February 2010. Two workshops were held attracting the participation on 60 leading policymakers, Members of Parliament, former Cabinet Ministers and heads of leading institutions across the region. The workshops discussed broad ideas of action to tackle the growing water crisis in the Middle East. The participants presented several innovative ideas for this end. Following this in May, in Amman at the WANA Forum, SFG aimed to move from general ideas for action to prioritising which ideas have implications for policy changes. The overall purpose was to create a concrete feasible roadmap for policy initiatives. 2. What are any updates or considerations you can recommend since your last meeting in Switzerland? Following the last meeting in Montreux, HRH Prince Hassan of Jordan has presented a new approach to break the political deadlock. He has proposed the creation of concentric circles of cooperation – where each circle consists of countries that are a part of the same political dynamic. For this the first circle would revolve around Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan for sustainable management of water resources. The circle would be based on a shared conceptual premise where water would be treated as a cornerstone of cooperation similar to the manner in which coal and steel formed the basis of regional cooperation in Europe in the 1950s. Water would be examined as an instrument of partnership, driven by need and sustainability of the entire population in the region. Experiences around the world show that good ideas need sound institutional mechanisms to transform into actions. 3. What are the broader ideas you discussed for action at Amman? Can you give us 3 examples? One of the key ideas discussed was the creation of a regional entity that would – undertake an assessment of water resources in the first circle; create regional protocols; harmonize water laws for better joint management in the future; and enable projects of a regional nature such as a regional climate change model. The regional entity would be the first of its kind, involving Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan, and would essentially be a concept group of high level policy makers. It is important to mention here that this would be a political mechanism for regional cooperation and not a platform for studies and training, as is already being done by several other organizations in the region. The participants also identified other areas for action in the area of sustainable water management. Some priority areas include – mitigating conveyance losses; partnership with the private sector to effectively use and gain from modern technology; creating a sphere of awareness and education on sound demand management practices. Participants also advocated the development and use of small scale solar-powered waste water treatment and desalination plants at the household and community level, and similar solutions that do not require major policy changes and are easier to implement. 4. What nations/regions are the most water stressed right now, and what do you propose for change? Several regions across the world are water stressed in different ways, from regions of Latin America, to Africa and the Middle East, and several countries in Asia. In parts of Asia, the manner of stress is different, where countries like Nepal face the problem of too much water but too little water, and China and India face a problem of extremely high population growth. In the Middle East, Jordan and the Palestine Territories are some of the worst in this crisis due to drought and related problems, whereas in Iraq water problems arise of out war and poor distribution. Even Australia, a country that normally does not surface in the discussion on water stress, has faced severe water problems due to the Murray River running low. As is well known, cities and regions across the world are affected by high demand, over exploitation of resources and gross mismanagement. Most water related problems are inter-linked, where rivers and underground resources follow no boundaries. The UN Convention of 1997 is weak and not mandatory, and hence has not been ratified by all members. In the absence of an international law, there is an urgent need for instruments of regional cooperation. Concerned Countries sharing common resources have to develop these instruments voluntary, for them to work. There is a dire need for current scientific data and fluid exchange of collected data, as well as creation of mechanisms to obtain the required data. For example, in the Himalayas there is a big debate on the melting of glaciers, where the projections made by the IPCC were highly criticised; but the main problem is that there aren’t simply any monitoring stations in central and eastern Himalayas where the glaciers are located. Therefore all discussion on the melting of glaciers is based on conjecture. The first requirement is to establish the monitoring stations so we can obtain relevant scientific data on the retreat of glaciers. To do this in transboundary areas, one needs cooperation between countries. Secondly, China has separate agreements with India and Bangladesh for sharing flood control data, only twice a day for four months. If data can be exchanged separately it will make much more sense to develop an integrated system for frequent sharing not only in the flood months but also in the lean period. Thirdly, we need cooperation in the areas where people living in a basin can benefit from the flow of the river, irrespective of which ever riparian they belong to. This involves developments of hydro-electricity, water efficient agricultural practices, eco-tourism, preservation of wetlands, and disaster management. These activities can lead to optimum use of water resources. 5. What's next for SFG and water? For the Middle East, following the proposal of a regional entity as was discussed in the WANA Forum in Amman, SFG is holding consultations in the region to explore the feasibility and practicality of establishing such an entity. SFG is also exploring other means of using water as a tool for regional cooperation. Specific to Israel and Palestine, SFG is facilitating informal dialogue between both parties and exploring ways to make a breakthrough on problems related to shared water resources. As part of its Asian Water Security Initiative, SFG launched its first report “The Himalayan Challenge: Water Security in Emerging Asia” on June 28, 2010 at the Singapore International Water Week. The report is a result of in-house research and participatory dialogue with experts in workshops convened at Kathmandu in August 2009, and Dhaka in January 2010. The report examines water security of the Himalayan Rivers in China, India, Bangladesh and Nepal, for the next 20 years. It assesses implications of the likely decline of 275 BCM of renewable fresh water in the four countries by 2030 for food security, health, migration, bio-diversity, social stability and interstate relations in the region. The SFG report on the Himalayan river basins provides projections for the next 40-50 years and recommends means of cooperation. The next step will be to calculate benefits of cooperation, including opportunity loss from non-cooperation. Our experience from the Cost of Conflict series proves that if people are provided with hard facts they do get sensitised and begin to explore alternative strategies. It obviously takes sometime for the change of mindset to be reflected in the change of policy, but we have to begin somewhere. ::Strategic Foresight Group

tehran-bazaar

Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 08:10:09 +0000

tehran-bazaar

Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 08:10:45 +0000

tehran-bazaar-1873

Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 08:14:02 +0000

Problems With Rehabilitating the Historical Grand Bazaar of Tehran

Mehrdad Parsipour — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 08:22:53 +0000

Green Prophet's newest writer, Merhdad, explores some of the "urban" issues in giving the ancient 500 year old Bazaar of Tehran, sustainable by design, a modern facelift. Plans in a new $20 million budget call for bike paths, trams, and a strengthened infrastructure for Tehran's beating heart. In July 2010, Nader Karami, the mayor of Zone 12 of Tehran announced that a budget of about $20 million USD has been allocated to the rehabilitation and regeneration plan of the Grand Bazaar of Tehran. This was discussed in a meeting with the city council of Tehran. The necessity of executing such a plan has been felt by the people of the Bazaar, especially the businessmen there, over the last 50 years. This 500-year-old economic heart of Tehran and Iran has an old physical fabric and infrastructure. It's considered the largest bazaar in the world. However, due to problems like accessing the inner cores of its infrastructure, strikes over taxes, permission from the retail shop owners, budget problems, and so on, successful execution of the similar rehab plans has not been possible. How precious is the Bazaar of Tehran? The bazaar, or shuk as it's called in some places, is an important element of any traditional Islamic and Iranian city. The common form of any bazaar is sustainable by design: it includes pedestrian corridors whose main activity is trade and business. And there have also been residential neighborhoods built around the bazaars. For example the bazaar of Tehran has had a population of between 30,000 to 40,000 people in the early 1940s (this population is now about 7,000). The more important bazaars of the cities of the Middle East are roofed, so that the shoppers are protected from the harsh climate, particularly during the hot summers. The heart of Tehran then, and now: The Tehran Grand Bazaar, circa 1873. Via wikipedia About 500 years ago, in the era of Shah Tahmasb, one of the kings of the Safavid dynasty, the bazaar of Tehran was built. It has not been as brilliant as the bazaars of major Iranian cities like Isfahan, Tabriz, Shiraz, and Yazd, but it gained importance when Tehran was selected as a capital city in the early nineteenth century by the Qajar kings. The oldest parts of the bazaar were built in this age. In order to give prestige to the bazaar of the new capital city, it was roofed in mid-nineteenth century. At this time, the bazaar was extended to north and north-west. The European travelers, who visited Tehran in nineteenth century noted that it had economic, social, political, and religious importance. The word “bazaar” itself is derived from Persian, which is pronounced in the same way and is used in some languages. Traditional Values Versus Contemporary Problems Today, the necessity of preservation and revitalization of the bazaar is recognized. It is still the center of economy of not only Tehran, but also Iran. It is also center of other activities: The Tehran Bazaar includes about 70 mosques. Explore the Grand Bazaar in this great video: [youtube]http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=G0LBvW5LIEI&feature=related[/youtube] And according to Nader Karami, this 110-hectare bazaar is the vastest pedestrian area of Iran. Every day more than one million urban travels with the destination of bazaar of Tehran are made. However, in spite of the mentioned importance of this old element of Tehran, little attention has been paid to maintenance and repair of the infrastructure of the bazaar. The combination of old narrow pedestrian corridors with the non-standard infrastructure like electricity networks and sanitary and sewage systems has resulted in complicated problems for planners and authorities. Every year some fire accidents occur just because of the old electricity cable network and the nearby flammable materials warehouses. In the last 10 years the number of such accidents has risen by 25 percent. Although similar rehabilitation plans have been considered over the last 50 years, this time around the Municipality of Tehran has claimed it will provide a tramway around the bazaar, a new bicycling space, a rehabilitation of its crumbing infrastructure and an improvement of its electricity network. Green urban planners, like myself, can only hope the plan will come to light. More green stories on Iran: Iran Looks to Create Biofuel Iran Inaugurates Its First Solar CSP Plant Celebrate Spring and Iranian New Year

Khajoo Bridge

Mehrdad Parsipour — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 09:57:57 +0000

Khajoo Bridge in Esfahan, Iran

Khajoo Bridge

Mehrdad Parsipour — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 10:05:06 +0000

People take a rest under Khajoo Bridge

Khajoo

Mehrdad Parsipour — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 10:09:50 +0000

On the pedestrian deck of Khajoo Bridge

siose pol

Mehrdad Parsipour — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 10:14:04 +0000

sun-god-ra-egypt

Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 10:31:11 +0000

Egypt to Build Two 100 MW Solar Energy Plants

Green Prophet Guest — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 10:32:18 +0000

More news to make Ra, the Egyptian sun god proud: Egypt gets serious about building solar energy plants on top of its 500 MW plant, with bids open for 1,000 MW more. The Egyptian government hopes two new projects will help push forward solar and wind energy in the country. According to the country’s Electricity Minister Hassan Younis, Egypt is planning to build a 100-megawatt solar power plant in order to meet the growing electricity needs facing the country. Hassan Younis was quoted last weekend by the official Middle East News Agency as saying the project will cost about $700 million and will be financed by the World Bank and the African Development Fund. Younis said the photovoltaic power plant will be built in Kom Ombo, near the Aswan High Dam hydroelectric plant in southern Egypt. Elsewhere, wind power initiatives apparently have gotten a push, with the ministry reporting that bids for the construction of a 1,000 Megawatt energy park in the Gulf of Suez will open this Septemeber. The new facility will be located on the Gabal el-Zeit area and will be a “build-own-operate” idea that will give more incentive for companies to put forward tender bids, said ministry spokesman Aktham Abou el-Ella. “Ninety percent of the land in Egypt is empty and is suitable for setting up wind farms,” Abou El-Ella said. “With solar power, plant costs are very high, and with hydraulic power reaching its maximum capacity, wind farms remain the best option for renewable energy in Egypt.” Wind is not new to Egypt, with a 500 MW power plant already established in the Zaafrana are of the Gulf of Suez, however, the ministry believes that this new effort will spark more interest in the budding field. “We believe that through the incentive idea, companies will be more willing to enter the market because they will get the profits from their construction as well,” el-Ella told Bikya Masr. Despite the positive efforts made by the North African country to have 14 percent of its power from renewable sources of energy, the ministries of electricity and environment believe the country can double this by 2025 if options are made available. According to an environment ministry official in the Red Sea, Egypt has the potential to “show the world how renewable energy can be profitable and sustainable.” More green news from Egypt: Egypt Nears Completion of Solar Thermal Hybrid Plant Cold Peace May Keep Egyptian-Israeli Solar Projects Together, On Ice Egypt and Abu Dhabi To Build Wind Farm Near the Suez (This post is published courtesy of Bikya Masr) Above image via checco

croc eye

Naomi Ben-David — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 11:00:02 +0000

milk

Naomi Ben-David — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 11:05:03 +0000

PetroGulf Misr Denies Responsibility For Red Sea Oil Spill

Tafline Laylin — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 11:36:40 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpcxn3PKlps[/youtube] The Egyptian Government has failed to provide concrete answers regarding the Red Sea oil spill that occurred last month. One month after oil leaked on to Hurghada's beaches along the Red Sea, popular among tourists for reef diving, the Government-run oil company Petroleum Misr denies responsibility for the spill despite footage that incriminates them. Oil in visible regions was quickly cleaned up by local groups, but there is concern that oil continues to threaten the out-of-sight but sensitive ecosystem North of Hurghada. No Accountability Although the leak was originally reported June 18th, scientists suspect that the oil had been simmering for several days before a local skipper, Hamdy Shahat, accidentally discovered it. Amr Ali, the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Agency (HEPCA) Director, criticizes responsible parties for failing to draw attention to their mishap. “This is not just about the spill — it’s about how crises like this are handled with zero transparency,” he told Global Post reporter Jon Jensen. “Whoever caused this spill should not get away without a penalty.” Despite video footage which demonstrates oil trickling from an offshore drilling platform, which resembles a Petrogulf Misr platform near Geisum Island, PetroGulf Misr's Khaled Boraie told Global post that they "have no relations with the oil spill in Hurghada." Explanations for the spill ranged from older sludge that melted because of high temperatures, or a spill from a passing oil tanker, but scientists are not convinced. Tourism vs. Oil The "official" cause unknown, oil was washed to shore by strong winds and currents and caused minimal damage. However, a professor of Marine Sciences at the Suez Canal University, Mahmoud Hanafy, is concerned that the ecosystem supporting turtles, fish, and the vulnerable white-eyed gull, may already have been disrupted. “The problem is that the spill happened in an area with a sensitive ecosystem. This is a very valuable piece of land for diving, as an ecological site and for oil production,” Hanafy explained to Jensen. “The challenge for Egypt is to figure out how to reach a balance between oil production and conservation of the Red Sea.” Jensen notes that while 70% of Egypt's 685,000 barrels per day are taken from the Red Sea, this industry faces stiff competition from Egypt's tourism industry, which fetched $7.6 billion in 2007; the competition is so stiff that Egypt's Petroleum Minister might limit oil concessions in the Red Sea. But this could just as easily be lip-service to quell dissenting voices. The Chairman of the Red Sea Hotel Association represents a community for whom oil spills are relatively common, and who worry about what a spill like that which has wreaked havoc for the Gulf of Mexico's ecosystems, industries, and residents would mean for them. “We only found out about this the minute oil hit the beach. We put down booms and cleaned the sand, but that’s not the solution,” he told Global Post. “The solution is to stop the oil platforms from operating so close to our beaches.” :: Global Post Other News From Egypt:

Egypt to Build Two 100 MW Solar Energy Plants

Poor Egyptians Find Innovative Ways to Build Solar Water Heating Protection Legislation Endangers Red Sea Sharks

Protect Yourself From the Middle Eastern Sun with Homemade Organic Sunscreen

Karen Chernick — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 11:59:08 +0000

Getting burned? Make your own organic sunblock. [image via: Gadi Yosef] It's mid-July in the Middle East, and unless you plan on being a hermit in an air conditioned cave for the next few months you're bound to get hit by some serious rays of sun. Sooner or later, you've gotta go to work, buy groceries, buy ice cream, and socialize. And when you do, you should be protected. If you're feeling ambitious and crafty, why not protect yourself with some homemade organic sunscreen? It's less complicated than you think to make. To make your sunscreen you will need:

a water pot
empty aluminum can
2 tablespoons coconut oil
a few drops of tea tree oil
2 tablespoons bee's oil
2 tablespoons zinc oxide
sealed container to store the sunscreen in (like a glass jar)

Watch the video below (via The Huffington Post but produced by Korduroy TV) to see what to do with those materials:

How to Make Organic Sunblock

The next steps? Coat your skin generously with your awesome homemade sunscreen, and show that Middle Eastern sun who's boss! Read more about sunscreen and the beach:: Ingestible Sunscreen by LycoRed's Based on Tomatoes So You Don't Become One Chemicals and Your Baby's Skin: Ecomum at the Pharmacy Israel Cleans Up Its Act and Recycles Its Beach Waste

Three "Natural" Masks and Cleaners For Soothing Summer Skin

Naomi Ben-David — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 12:11:52 +0000

Does your skin sometimes feel as cracked and scaly as this? Well there are some natural "mask" solutions, naturally. Image via Photos8.com If you pay attention to the ingredients of your skin products, you will realize that you are buying something twice the ordinary price because it is especially designed for summer. Then there are those products out there, which claim to be 100% natural, but if you take a peek at the ingredients, you are in for a surprise. Well there are some other homemade completely natural options (like Karen pointed out earlier today with her homemade sunscreen recipe), which can save your skin. Before I came to the Middle East, I never had problems with skin. Now all of a sudden not only do I find myself needing extra tips on hair care, but my skin is also demanding extra care. This can be expensive, but luckily, there are several things you can do to help your skin, using ingredients you probably have in your kitchen.

1. An active mask to sooth your skin This recipe will relax your skin and in summer when it is so easy to burn your skin can do with a little relaxing. If you take care of yourself, and you don’t burn, well this recipe can help prevent peeling, dryness and flakiness. Ingredients: ½ a medium cucumber 150ml mineral water 1 packet of peppermint tea 60ml aloe vera juice Method:

Using filtered water, make the peppermint tea and allow it to steep for 3 minutes

Puree the cucumber and combine it with the tea.

Add the aloe vera juice and shake well

You then apply this directly to your face

This mixture is easy to mix up so it is better to make it fresh. You can keep the same mixture for up to 3 days in the fridge but after that, it is better to make up another batch.

Sometimes a simple drop of milk is the key! Image via AMagill

2. Milk is the cleanser key What you need here is organic full fat milk, to be used as a natural cleanser. All you have to do is, using a cotton ball soaked in milk, wipe your face and you will find that this will leave your skin refreshed and glowing. Not only this but you can also safely rub milk over your eyes to remove any excess make-up without worrying about any burning after effects. There is no need to wash off the milk. However if you prefer to rinse your skin after, try using plain yoghurt, with no additives. Leave it on for a few minutes and then rinse. To give your skin an extra treat, try adding some honey to the yoghurt. Honey has many uses, and when applied to skin along with yoghurt, it makes a fantastic antibacterial cleanser.

3. Tomato mask for healthy skin We know tomatoes are amazing inside the kitchen, but outside this fruit, which is full of Vitamins A and C can also be put to good use. The natural acids in tomatoes help get rid of dead cells, shrink pores and tone your skin. Ingredients: 1 very ripe tomato Plain yoghurt Method: 1. Puree the tomato and then strain it through a cheesecloth so you are left with only the juice. 2. Add an equal amount of yoghurt to the juice and mix 3. Using soft cloth or cotton wool, dab this mixture onto your face, once a day for ten minutes. Then rinse.

Whatever you don’t use can be kept in the fridge but like all natural facemasks, it can only be kept for a few days, in this case 2 days. Seeing as the ingredients are so handy, it won’t be tough to make a new batch. Now you have no excuse to neglect your skin, these ingredients are fresh, 100% natural and easy to find. Scaly summer skin, is now a thing of the past. Read more on natural ways to use herbs and plants : 4 Unique Aloe Vera Juice Recipes for Summer and Health Cloves In and Out of the Kitchen

ecoQ qatar environment conference

Karen Chernick — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 13:06:46 +0000

Topography of Tehran

Mehrdad Parsipour — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 14:24:22 +0000

The mountains in north, east and south east of the city have blocked the way of the west wind.

Tehran air pollution

Mehrdad Parsipour — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 14:32:40 +0000

Pollution

Mehrdad Parsipour — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 14:36:51 +0000

Record High Summer Temperatures are also Scorching the Middle East

Maurice Picow — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:35:41 +0000

temp[1].records.053110

Maurice Picow — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:49:50 +0000

egypt-beach-guy-sun-middle-east

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 04:02:29 +0000

Record High Summer Temperatures are also Scorching the Middle East

Maurice Picow — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 04:15:07 +0000

A tourist soaks up the Egyptian sun. The Middle East is getting hotter, like the rest of the world, but when is too hot, too much? It's hot and getting hotter. But nowhere is the more evident than in Southern Asia and the Middle East. And while daytime temperatures are always hot this time of the year in areas like the Arabian Peninsula, and the Indian Sub-Continent, recording temperatures such as 53.7 degrees Celsius (136 degrees Fahrenheit) in places like Mohanjo-daro, Pakistan. Even European locations like the Canary Islands and Malaga Spain are recording abnormally high temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius or more, reports an article in the UK-based Guardian. A sign of global warming? Of course, there have been even higher temperatures recorded in previous years; including one of 57.8 C in Libya in 1922. But recent recordings in places all over the world seem to indicate that the temperatures in many parts of the world are hot and getting hotter. In some countries, like Saudi Arabia, high summer temperatures are perfectly normal, and may even help boost the development of solar energy as an alternative to using fossil fuels (said to be a partial cause of global warming). Solar energy, which works especially well in places where the sun shines more than 275 days a year is a natural in Middle Eastern countries where sunny weather is virtually guaranteed for more than 330 days a year. Look at the weather charts on the TV which forecast: Sun, Sun and more Sun. But despite media reports on solar energy plants being constructed in the Middle East, and current plans to construct a number of solar energy panel array farms in Egypt, in the Persian Gulf region and Saudi Arabia, nearly all the electricity currently being produced in these locations is still by conventional power plants that run on heavy fuel oil. During last December's COP 15 climate change conference in Copenhagen, one of the topics discussed was the future effects of climate change on Middle Eastern countries, especially Egypt, which has more than 159 metric tons of annual carbon emissions, and one of fastest growing populations in the world. Egypt in particular has been noted as a country that is facing a severe water shortage, due to plans for the building of a large dam across the Blue Nile in Ethiopia. Egypt is now constructing a large solar thermal energy plant in the country's desert region, about 100 KM south of Cairo. But even though the plant is projected to produce around 150 MW of electricity, this is only a small drop in the country's energy needs bucket; with the vast majority being supplied by fossil fuels. If the current heat waves affecting every continent in the northern hemisphere, are any indication, the world is definitely getting hotter. This phenomenon recalls a previous article on Green Prophet in which these warming trends and changing weather patterns bring to light a "made for TV" movie The Fire Next Time, that came out back in 1993. This film gave a very unpleasant look into the consequences of global warming in the year 2017 (not too far from now); and portrayed a world suffering from massive drought, unstoppable forest fires, and giant "mega storms" such as Hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans and other parts of the US Gulf Coast in 2006. The effects of global warming, as portrayed in this film, had turned most of Continental America into a parched desert. In such a scenario, one can only imagine what would be in store for other parts of the world - especially the Middle East. Regarding the situation in Pakistan, with the searing temperatures noted earlier in this article, people can only cope with this problem as noted by M. B. Kalhoro, a local correspondent for Dawn.com, an online newspaper: "It's very tough. When the power is out, people just stay indoors all the time." Image via __DODO Read more on climate change: Middle East and the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit TV Sci-fi Movie Predicts Results of Global Warming Yemen To Soon Have World's First Waterless Capital

canada-israel-beaver-fur

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 05:42:50 +0000

ecoQ Conference in Qatar (2011) for Clean Technologies and Sustainable Energy

Karen Chernick — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 06:02:06 +0000

Planning is in full swing for ecoQ, an international environmental protection expo taking place in Qatar in September 2011. (From left to right: Haitham Shehab, Dr. Saif Al Hajari, and a member of the ecoQ team) Next September, the Qatar International Environment Protection Expo (ecoQ for short) will be presenting an international showcase of eco-friendly technologies, products, and sustainable energy solutions. Environmental standards will be enforced in preparing for the exhibition that will take place at the Doha Exhibitions Center from September 17th-19th, 2011 and occupy a 10,000 square meter space. Still in its planning stages, the expo hopes to attract international companies and organizations within the fields of: renewable energy, waste management, recycling, marine environment protection, solar systems, energy-saving products, e-waste technology, green buildings, environmental consultancy firms and more. Dr. Saif Al Hajari, vice chairperson of the Qatar Foundation, led the press conference announcing ecoQ and said that "it is important to increase the environment awareness among communities, individuals as well as the business sector to encourage initiatives and efforts that aim to achieve sustainable development." "We are witnessing sincere efforts in Qatar," he continued, "toward developing alternative sustainable resources of energy and protecting the environment." EcoQ will be organized by Stallion Advertising and Exhibitions, and plans on coordinating social responsibility events and campaigns in conjunction with the Expo. Haitham Shehab, the general manager of Stallion Advertising and Exhibitions, said that "the climate change summit which was held in Copenhagen last year sent a strong and clear message not only about the environmental damages, but also a 'call' to coordinate efforts in order to face this challenge. EcoQ will reflect on that by presenting the latest technologies, products, sustainable energy that help in protecting the environment to businesses and institutions in Qatar." To obtain more information about the expo visit the ecoQ website. Read more about environmental activity in Qatar: Qatar's Petroleum Industry Going Into Eco-drive? Qatar Seeks to Solar Power the 2022 World Cup What Tagged Hawksbill Turtles From Qatar Tell Us

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Tafline Laylin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 06:07:18 +0000

Alaa Kamel Alwan

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 06:15:46 +0000

Green Prophet Flies To "The Iraqi Environmental Blog"

Moshe Terdman — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 06:26:48 +0000

Our weekly series looking at the Middle East Arabic blogosphere. This week: Iraq. And a green blog that began after Saddam Hussein's demise. After looking at Mazen Abboud's environmental blog from Lebanon and at SAWA for A Better Syrian Society, we are flying this week to Syria's next-door neighbor, Iraq, and to a blog written in Arabic called The Iraqi Environmental Blog, active from September 2008. This comes in due time, as we learn about Iraqi bird conservationists risking life and "wing" to save birds in the face of Al Qaeda infidels. This blog is a personal blog written in Arabic by Alaa Kamel Alwan (left), an Iraqi engineer. In his profile, Alaa writes about himself that he lives in Basra, Iraq, and that he is "an environmental activist and an informant as well as a member of the Arab Professional Informants League." In his first post titled "the Iraqi Environmental Blog" Alaa Kamel Alwan writes that this is a "personal initiative," which aims at supporting the realization of the 10th principle of the Rio Declaration from 1992 concerning the transparent distribution of environmental information among the civilians. As such, this blog informs the readers about: the Iraqi government ministries, newspapers, societies, and universities which deal with environmental issues; the Iraqi environmental legislation; the activities of the Iraqi environmental societies; the Iraqi environmental publications; and reports on the environment in Basra and the Marshes. The Iraqi Environmental Organizations According to this blog, there are many Iraqi organizations which deal with the environment. Those include:

The College of Environmental Science and Technology in the University of Mosul, which was established in 2006 Women & Environment Organization, which was established in 2005 The Organization for the Protection and Improvement of the Iraqi Environment, which was established on August 21, 2003 The Natural History Museum in Baghdad, which was established in 1946 The Society for the Protection of the Iraqi Environment, which was established on September 30, 2003 The Iraqi Environmental Ministry, which was established in November 2003 Together Society for the Protection of the People and the Environment, which was established in 2005 The Center for Environmental Studies in the University of Technology, which was established in 2004 The Center for the Research of the Marshes in Dhi Qar University, which was established in 2004 The Iraqi Meteorological organization and Seismologyin the Ministry of Transportation, which was established in 1923 The Center for Solar Energy Research in the Ministry of Sciences and Technology The Center for Energy and Fuel Research in the University of Technology, which was established on November 20, 2004 The Center for Maritime Sciences in the University of Basra, which was established in 1976 and the Nature Iraq Organization

In spite of the fact that there was almost no environmental activity during Saddam Hussein's rule, it is impressive that, according to above mentioned list, the current Iraqi organizations and institutions dealing with the environment include a whole array of governmental institutions, research centers, environmental societies, and civil society organizations. It is noteworthy that none of the these Iraqi environmental institions and organizations were established during the rule of Saddam Hussein over Iraq from 1979, until theafter the American invasion of Iraq, and the fall of Baghdad and the Saddam Hussein's regime in April 2003. A few of these organizations were established before Saddam Hussein rose to power in 1979. Iraqi Environmental Legislation The Blog also gives information concerning the environmental laws that have been promulgated in Iraq recently. These environmental laws include: The Law of the Joining of the Iraqi Republic to the Agreement On Biodiversity from August 19, 2008; The Law of the Ministry of Environment from September 13, 2008; The Forests Law from 2009; The Law of the Agreement of the Iraqi Republic to Join the Basel Agreement from January 14, 2009; The Law of the Joining of the Iraqi Republic to the UN Framework Agreement for Combatting Desertification from April 14, 2009; The Law of the Environment's Protection and Improvement from September 29, 2009; and The Law for the Protection of the Terresetrial Animals from January 25, 2010. The environment was part of the Iraqi constitution too. In a post titled "the Environment in the Iraqi Constitutions" Alaa shows that even under Saddam Hussein's rule, the environment was very important. In the 64th clause of the 1991 Draft Constitution of Iraq, it is said that "secondly, all the state's mechanisms and all the people have to protect the environment from pollution and from damages to its beauty and function." This draft constitution was never promulgated, but, still, it shows that even Saddam Hussein understood that the First Gulf War caused a lot of damage to the environment in Iraq. Then, at the same post, Alaa cites the 33rd clause of the 2005 Iraqi constitution, which says that "first of all, everyone has the right to live in healthy environmental conditions and, secondly, the state guarantees the protection of the environment and biodiversity." The Iraqi Environmental Publications Alaa enumerates some environmental written publications which have been in existence during the last five years. The first of these publications was "The Environment and Life." This is the first Iraqi environmental magazine, which is issued by the Center for Environmental Information and Awareness, which belongs to the Iraqi Environmental Ministry. The first magazine was issued in December 2005. This is a monthly magazine which includes articles, researches, environmental reports, local and global environmental news and details about the projects conducted by the Ministry of Environment throughout Iraq. Another publication mentioned in the blog is the "Iraqi Magazine for Aquaculture." This bi-yearly magazine is issued by the Center for Maritime Sciences in the University of Basra. It is issued both in Arabic and in English. Reports On Environmental Events and Projects This blog serves also to inform the public about environmental events and projects which are taking place or will take place in Iraq. A good example is the report concerning the first environmental international conference on radioactive pollution and its implications on the environment and health in Iraq. This conference will be held in Baghdad on November 23 - 24, 2010 under the slogan "towards a real treatment to decrease the suffering of the victims of the radioactive pollution." This conference is organized by the Iraqi Center for International Studies together with the Department of Geography - Ibn Rushd Cultural Faculty - University of Baghdad. This report follows many other articles posted in the blog on the campaign to clean Iraq from the radioactive pollution, which started in 2009 and is still continuing. Since Basra and its environs suffered from radioactive pollution more than any other area in Iraq and the author of the blog is from there, it is no wonder that he dedicates many posts to this issue. Another example is the report about a new environmental-friendly regulation that the supervisor over the Iraqi elections to the parliament issued in December 2009. In the third chapter, which talks specifically about the conditions of the election campaigns, one can find also conditions for protecting the environment, such as prohibition to use glue, gum, and other materials; prohibition to write on the fences. Whoever breaks these conditions will have to pay a fine. Reports On the Environment in Basra and the Marshes Since Alaa is from Basra, it is not surprising that many of his posts describe the environment in Basra, the marshes, and the natural reserves there, such as al-Safiya Natural Reserve. Suggestions for the Upgrading the Situation of the Iraqi Environment The blog's author also makes suggestions how to upgrade the situation of the Iraqi environment. These suggestions include: activation of the new Iraqi constitution to convict whever damages the environment; establishing an environmental police as did Jordan; prohibition of import of materials and products that damages the ozone layer and imposition of a high tax on it; promulgation of a law that will force the car owners to maintain their cars according to the exhaust gas international standards as a basic condition for the renewal of their driving license as is done in Egypt; establishing factories for the recycling of waste as happens in the UAE; establishing environmental-friendly incinerators to treat the medical waste in all the hospitals; establishing an expert committee for ways to clean Iraq from the radioactive pollution. A Sum of the Iraqi Environmental Blog The Iraqi Environmental Blog is rich in details concerning the environment in Iraq and serves as a very good source to learn about it as from April 2003, when the Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled. One can learn from this blog that since April 2003 a lot of environmental organizations, societies, research institutions, publications, internet websites have been established and the environmental awareness among the Iraqi public has been increasing. In this way, the author, who is an environmentalist and an informant, really realizes the aims for which he opened his blog. He gives the Iraqi public a very detailed information about the issue of the environment in Iraq. The problem is that according to the Iraq Usage and Marketing Report, as of June 2010, there were only 325,000 Iraqi internet users out of a total population of 29,671,605 people, who comprise only 1.1% of the total Iraqi population. This means that for the time being the detailed environmental blog does not reach most of the Iraqi population. However, the number of internet users is growing and as a result the environmental awareness among them might increase too. ::Iraqi Environmental Blog More on Environment in Iraq: Nature's Conservationists in Iraq Work in a Firing Zone Killing in the Name of Water... in Iraq Will Zaha Hadid Start Thinking Green? Top image via joi.

Moshe Hertzberg

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:36:44 +0000

Palestinian and Israeli Researchers Get Reverse Osmosis Water Grant

Green Prophet Staff — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:41:39 +0000

America gives more than half a million dollars to Israeli and Palestinian water researchers to clean water in the West Bank. Ben Gurion University researcher Dr. Moshe Herzberg (above) and Prof. Mohammed Saleem Ali-Shtayeh of the Biodiversity & Environmental Research Center in Nablus, have received an American USAID-MERC grant of $659,410 to increase the clean water supply around Israel and the Middle East. This study brings together Israelis and Palestinians to address clean water issues in the West Bank area of Nablus over a five-year period. The team includes Dr. Moshe Herzberg (BGU), Dr. Osnat Gillor (BGU), Prof. Mohammed Saleem Ali-Shtayeh (BERC) and Dr. Helen Thanh Nguyen, a grant advisor and assistant professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The grant will address biofouling of Reverse Osmosis (RO) membranes during reclamation of secondary wastewater. Reverse Osmosis membrane filtration is normally used for desalination and reclamation of secondary effluents removing organics and undesired salts from water. The study, “Reclamation of Secondary Effluents with Reverse Osmosis Membranes (RO): Fouling Mechanisms and Control” will focus on the mechanisms by which microbial biofilm formation on RO membranes (“biofouling”) impacts the decrease in membrane performance. It will also suggest novel ways to mitigate biofouling and clean biofouled membranes. The team plans to characterize and develop novel ways to eradicate different biofilms grown on RO membranes. Biofilm characterization will include adhesion properties, microbial community structure, growth kinetics, and chemical structure. These techniques can be applied to increase access to clean water supply in the Middle East, especially in the Palestinian Authority and Israel. Purified secondary wastewater is an immediate resource for irrigation and after RO filtration, those waters can be used indirectly for drinking. Read more on desalination: The IDE Launches Desalination Plant in Israel Saudi Arabia to Use Sun Power at Desalination Plant New Hadera Desalination Plant Could Revive the Dying Jordan River Japan and Saudi Arabia Co-develop Desalination Technologies Read our series of interviews with Israeli water experts: 1. All the Water in Israel: Interviews with Government, Analysts and Researchers 2. Interview with Israel's past water commissioner, Shimon Tal 3. Gidon Bromberg on Water Security and Sustainability in the Middle East 4. Read our interview with Israel's Water Commission 5. Interview with Eli Ronen, the Chairman of Mekorot 6. Interview with Ranaan Borel (SPNI) on Water Security in Israel

Pollution

Mehrdad Parsipour — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 10:49:24 +0000

The air pollution of Tehran. Credit: Flickr/Iman Mirabzadeh

Rianne ten Veen - Author of '199 Ways to Please God'

Arwa Aburawa — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:39:20 +0000

199 Ways to Please God. Rianne ten Veen's book lays out principles which can be applied for a greener lifestyle

Arwa Aburawa — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:42:21 +0000

Muslim Green Wedding Amrufum

Arwa Aburawa — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:14:17 +0000

Wedding can be wasteful and energy-intensive events. Learn how to reduce your carbon footprint with tips from eco-Muslim Rianne ten Veen. Image via Amrufum

tisha-be'av-environment

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:15:05 +0000

5 Environment Stories To Weep Over (For Tisha B'Av)

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:17:39 +0000

The Jewish holiday Tisha B'Av starts tonight. It gives one license to be sad over the state of the environment. We know that it's not productive to dwell on environmental doom and gloom. Green Prophet readers are modern and hip people; we are environmentally responsible, but hey, not totally perfect. Every so often, we just need to cry. We can put on a Tori Amos album, curl up in a ball in our beds and weep like there is no tomorrow. And it can feel good, because sometimes the world and what humans do to it is just plain sad. Take today for example. Starting nightfall, starts Tisha B’Av or the Ninth of Av, the saddest day of the Jewish calendar. Major calamities happened on this day in Jewish history – such as the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem, and the expulsion of the Jews from Spain. To mark this day of tragedy, observant Jews fast starting nightfall today. They don’t wear leather, they don’t wash their bodies, they don’t use oil products and refrain from marital relations. Among the list of customs, one of the most pronounced is that Jews should be sad. Very sad. Playing music or participating in activities that bring joy are discouraged. Some people go to great lengths to be unhappy by reading unpleasant passages such as "Lamentations" in the Bible and by sitting on uncomfortable chairs. To get our Jewish readers in the right Tisha B’Av spirit, we have collected a list of the 5 saddest environment stories from the last year. Get your tissues out and let the tears pour. 1. Middle East camels choking on plastic bags One hundred years ago, there was no such thing as a plastic bag. They simply didn’t exist. The plastics revolution began slowly in 1868 but really pushed forward in the 1930s when acrylic resins were developed to create housewares, toys, and packaging. The industry exploded. The first plastic garbage bag was invented by Harry Waslyk in 1950. They weren’t supposed to be used at home since their original purpose was strictly commercial, but now they are ubiquitous. Surely Mr. Waslyk could not have predicted how much havoc his plastic child would wreck in a mere 60 years. (Click on title above to read the whole story.) 2. Bluefin tuna on the verge of extinction Nearly 80% of the large, migratory fish, which live in the Western and Eastern Atlantic as well as the Mediterranean, have been fished out according to a Greenpeace report. This is problematic since the tuna’s high metabolic rate ensures they consume large quantities of prey, which in turn plays an important role in the Mediterranean’s ecosystem balance. (Click on title above to read the whole story.) 3. The Jordan River is nearly dead ...None of us were prepared for what we would see next, when the bus reached a spot where an earthenware dam ended the river’s natural flow. Called the Alumot Dam, water is then removed from the river in large green colored pipes to be used for agriculture and other uses.

On the other side of the dam, we saw raw sewage literally spewing into what was now going to be the Jordan River until it reaches the Dead Sea. Just a few meters away was another outward flow of what our guide said was highly saline water from saline springs pulled out of the Galilee to make it more suitable potable water, and from fish ponds. (Click on title above to read the whole story.)

4. The dying dead sea

It’s pretty shocking when you are out there to see for yourself how this world’s natural wonder is shrinking year by year. It makes you want to scream. From the Dead Sea Spa we took a few minutes bus ride to the Dead Sea edge. The spa, about half a kilometre away used to be on the Dead Sea’s shore. The spa didn’t move, so what does that say? (Click on title above to read the whole story.)

5. Oil sands are trying to clean up a dirty business

The Alberta oil sands, or tar sands as some people call them, are top on the list of Greenpeace’s agenda. The same people who climb trees to stop loggers from chopping down Old Growth forests, are looking to stop the oil extraction operations in the Canadian province. The oil is located under Boreal forest, and some say that the amount of greenhouse gases emitted from the extraction process, will make China’s coal factories look like child’s play. The processing will also damage water and the air, not to mention birds and waterfowl (which have been killed in the thousands) say Greenpeace activists. (Click on title above to read the whole story.)

For more serious sadness, check out the JTA story that relates the Gulf Oil spill to passages from The Book of Lamentations:

And as we watch on disaster cams the oil boiling up from deep under the sea, or witness the hopefully engineered attempts to stop the flow fail, the lament continues: “Our steps were checked, We could not walk in our squares.” (4:18) A Gulf Eicha proclaims: “Let us lift up our hearts with our hands.” (3:41) As we ask, what of the animals? As of the end of June, according to the National Wildlife Federation, 1065 birds, 51 mammals and 436 sea turtles have died from the oil. We see them, blackened; what could be sadder now than these photos? And though these words were intended for us to examine human death and suffering, they fit here well enough: “Because of this our hearts are sick, Because of these our eyes are dimmed.” (5:17) The oil-saturated animals call us out on our Talmudic concept of preventing the suffering of living beings, "tzar ba'alei chayim."

Or the Washington Post blog also "lamenting" over the Gulf oil spill, where Evonne Marzouk from Canfei Nesharim writes:

The intent of removing these moments of joy is to startle us out of our complacence. Things are not all right. What must we do to change our ways? How can we improve ourselves and in so doing, bring about a better world? We need a similar shock to our system when it comes to the environmental challenges we face. The oil spill is yet another in a series of warning signs that our planet cannot bear the pressures we're putting upon her. How long will it take before we wake up and change our ways? ... In the face of overwhelming destruction, it is a natural human instinct to pray. Jewish prayer is intended to both reach our Creator and transform ourselves. So, if the oil spill is worrying you, pray about it. Pray that the leak is fixed, that the waters are healed, that the children get to go back to the ocean. Pray with all your heart, and take actions that will transform you. And may our prayers and actions during this time lead to the redemption of our world.

Sad enough yet? Above image via xctmx

oil-spill-lebanon-coastt[1]

Maurice Picow — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:54:18 +0000

Dust Swept Into Arabian Gulf Delivers Key Nutrients

Tafline Laylin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:28:19 +0000

Although dust could fill up the Gulf in the next 20-40 years, according to scientists, at the moment it feeds the food chain. [image via treehugger] Whether from nearby construction zones puffing up plumes of dust and contaminating homes, or a sweeping sand storm, dust permeates every crevice of Middle Eastern life. But recent research suggests that dust swept into the Persian Gulf provides crucial nutrients that are then converted to organic carbon - necessary to fuel the marine ecosystem. In regions blessed with rain and rivers, water feeds the ocean iron, phosphorous, and nitrogen, which in turn feeds cyanobacteria. But in Abu Dhabi, where water is scarce, wind transports approximately 5.5 million tonnes of dust to the Persian Gulf each year. “It means that after 20 to 40 years, the Gulf will be filled up,” Dr Hamza, a senior biologist with UAE University, told the National. This dust is driven from The Empty Quarter, the Hajar Mountains, as well as the coastal sabkhas, carrying nutrients that "under certain conditions, will dissolve out of the dust particle and into the sea water. More dissolves into the water the deeper the particles are submerged," writes journalist Vesela Todorova. Although this is good, and necessary to stimulate algae growth, in 2008 too much dust caused a large algae bloom that not only disrupted the local fishing industry, but local desalination plants as well. Instead of waiting at the bottom of the ocean for nutrients to sink, an influx of nutrients brought by the most excessive dust storms in 10 years seduced huge swaths of algae blooms to the surface causing a "red tide." Dr Anbiah Rajan, an associate scientist for marine ecology at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, said he was unable to comment on Dr Hamza’s findings until they were published in a scientific peer-reviewed paper. But he confirmed that his own research suggested a link between dust storms and blooms of Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae. If confirmed, these findings will finally explain the long-standing puzzle of how the Persian Gulf receives the nutrients necessary to support its food chain. :: The National More Environmental Stories From Abu Dhabi: Gulf Emirates Spending Billions on Defense When Their Environment Suffers Abu Dhabi’s Costly Desalination Plants Prompt Wastewater Treatment Plans Abu Dhabi Municipality Launched Successful Paper-Less Day Campaign

israel-lebanon-natural-gas

Karin Kloosterman — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:53:53 +0000

UN To Mediate A Natural Gas "Standoff" Between Israel and Lebanon Gas Fields Dispute

Maurice Picow — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:55:25 +0000

Fights over rights to a natural gas field between Israel and the Hezbollah, has gone to the higher powers at the UN. Israel has struck natural gas, and a new cause for conflict with its northern neighbour Lebanon which also lays claim to the massive gas field. The current Leviathan natural gas field dispute between Israel and Lebanon has now reached the United Nations since Hezbollah is laying claim to the gas fields as well. Located off the eastern coastline of Israel, Lebanon and Hamas controlled Gaza the gas, potentially worth billions, is causing such an increasing rift between Israel and Lebanon; so much that the Lebanese government has filed a complaint with the UN after Israel unilaterally placed a line of buoys extending two miles into the sea off the two countries’ land border, citing security reasons. The complaint reported in the Israel financial new Globes is now said to be part of worsening relations between the countries which are still in a formal state of war. The complaint was filed after Israel marked off a further two mile section of water with buoys, which it says is the actual maritime border between the two countries. For its part, Lebanon, which is strongly influenced by the Shiite controlled Hezbollah, has people like Nabih Berri, the Lebanese Speaker of Parliament who was quoted by the UK based Financial Times as stating that “Lebanon’s army, people, and resistance will be ready to thwart any attempt to steal its natural resources.” These statements are being countered by Israeli Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau who is declaring that "Israel will not hesitate of use force if necessary ," to back up its claims to the gas fields, said to contain as much as 16 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The fields are being developed by a number of companies in Israel, as well as Nobel Energy in Texas. Berri, whose Amal faction is closely allied to Hezbollah, has considerable influence in the Lebanese parliament. This influence, coupled with the control that the Hezbollah now has over much of Lebanon, can only mean that the Hezbollah itself wants a piece of the disputed energy pie. It must also be noted that presently, Lebanon has no laws dealing with undersea mineral exploration and development in the waters off its coast. Natural gas exploration also takes a huge investment of resources, and by the time a "find" is made, considerable resources have been laid down, and are at stake. Many Green Prophet readers may be wondering why this topic has relevance for an environmental and clean technology website. The answer to this lies in the reality of what could happen if current gas producing platforms by tNoble Energy company, together with Yitzhak Tshuva’s Delek Energy subsidiary are destroyed in a future military confrontation between Israel and the Hezbollah. The result could be an environmental catastrophe on a similar scale to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Natural gas wells can release benzene, which causes leukaemia, for example. A whole host of nasty chemicals from the process - before even a catastrophe - could damage the Mediterranean Sea. If Israel and Lebanon were at peace with one another, and groups like the Hezbollah were not so influential, it might be possible for the two countries to reach some kind of agreement over sharing these energy resources. As is the case now, this dispute only adds fuel to the fire of animosity and hatred that has prevailed between the two countries for so many years. More articles on Israel and Lebanese energy issues: Corruption Plagues Lebanese Environment Movement and Energy Exploration Tshuva's Yam Tethys Gas Company Wins, but the Environment Suffers Hezbollah Interferes With Israel Energy Exploration

Tips for a 'Greener' Muslim Wedding

Arwa Aburawa — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:35:49 +0000

Learn how to reduce the carbon footprint of your wedding with tips from eco-Muslim Rianne ten Veen. Image via Amrufum The sun is shining and the days are long right now in the Middle East, which can only mean one thing- it's wedding season! Invitations are flooding in and every night there seems to be wedding party going on into the small hours. Fireworks, food, fancy clothes and fights is how I would usually sum up an average Muslim wedding in the Middle East but is this leaving behind a trail of waste and carbon emissions? I spoke to Rianne ten Veen of the book '199 Ways to Please God' who came up with some practical advice for couples on how to 'green' their wedding as well as their future together. A Muslim convert with a long-standing passion for the environment, Rianne's suggestions are all based on principles she outlines in her book which are organised around four key areas of Islamic life: beliefs, worship, transactions and moral character. There are already some great eco-traditions at Arab Muslim weddings which means that waste is minimised. Buses are provided for guests to travel to the wedding location if it is far, any leftover food is given out and you'll find an array of young children after your empty can of juice which earns them a couples of coins when they get recycled. Honeymoons also tend to be in a neighboring country which cuts down the air miles. However, the following Rianne's tips to fully 'green' a Muslim wedding and -more importantly- to encourage couples to become more conscious of the need to make green decision in every aspect of their lives. DO

Worry about the weather: Bear in mind the weather when planning your wedding and avoid mid-winter or summer when it would you be forced to heat or cool the venue. Not only would this cut your carbon footprint, a spring and autumn wedding is bound to be cheaper!
Organise Transport: Guests travelling to the venue tends to be one of the most carbon-intensive aspects of a wedding so make sure that the wedding venue is reachable by public transport and encourage attendees to arrive on foot/ bus/ train. Include information on public transport on the invite and mention that the venue has a place to freshen up. If this isn't possible, then follow in the footsteps of Middle Eastern weddings and arrange for a coach or bus to take people to the event and back.
Green your Vows: Ask the imam doing the nikah (matrimonial contract) to include the Islamic duty of humans as guardians towards all creation, and incorporate a commitment by both the bridge and groom that they will do everything in their capacity to faithfully fulfill this duty and strengthen each other to have the best record on Day of Judgment in this respect.

DON'T

Accept Gifts: “Instead of accepting commercial gifts, propose donation to have trees planted which could include having trees planted 'back home' in case of diaspora or in poorest areas of the world through a charity. This wouldn't just offset some of wedding CO2, but also ensure that the poor and those away benefit from the wedding in the form of shade, erosion prevention and a better livelihood.”
Waste Food: The other most energy-intensive aspect of a wedding is the food so its important to be organised and use local and organic produce. “Also, make arrangements beforehand with a homeless charity to arrange for them to take any leftover food from the wedding feast.” Whilst its best not to have any leftovers in the first place, sometimes this is just unavoidable and although Islamically it shouldn't be a feast, I guess we have to take one step at a time!
Buy Everything New: “If you're having several events (such as girls night, walima, nikah party), instead of buying new outfits for each occasion, organise a 'swap party' where attendees swap clothes they no longer wear. Also suggest that the bride and groom and family wear organic/ recycled clothing.”

Finally, continue the green theme to the entertainment by organising environmental poetry such as as Rabi'a Al-Adawiyya or Rumi! Hopefully applying these tips - which can be used by anybody- will not only affirm the couples commitment to the environment but also inform and influence the guests into taking practical action to protect the environment in their daily lives. :: Rianne ten Veen's Book '199 Ways to Please God' Read More on Green Islam: Cambridge to Build Europe's First Eco-Mosque “Inspired by Muhammad” Is Islam’s Green Message to Break Terrorism Water Conservation Values in Islam The Muslim World Wants to Green Hajj Breast Feed Baby in Hijab

Environmentalists Say "No, No!" To Red-Dead Canal

Green Prophet Staff — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:47:26 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3xqfNNYjl8&feature=player_embedded[/youtube] A group of Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian environmentalists have put politics aside to fight a $15 billion World Bank plan to revive the Dead Sea, which is dropping by about three feet a year. The bank's plan proposes building a canal or tunnel to link the salt-laden sea to the Red Sea in the south. It may look calm, but the Dead Sea is shrinking rapidly and there's a battle brewing among those who hope to save it. The environmentalists, members of Friends of the Earth Middle East, along with prominent businesses like Israel's Dead Sea Works, believe the canal could destroy the sea's fragile and unique ecosystem. The Dead Sea, one of the saltiest bodies of water on the planet, is bordered by Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. While it doesn't support marine life, it is bursting with minerals and salts which provide healing therapies for people suffering from cystic fibrosis to psoriasis. Find out why the Dead Sea is shrinking and what plans are afoot to save it in ISRAEL21c's report, featured above.

Critiquing Recent Renovations of the Khaju Bridge in Esfahan, Iran

Mehrdad Parsipour — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:49:25 +0000

Built by the the Safavid Dynasty in the 1650s as a dam and a bridge, Mehrdad asks how the Khaju (or Khajoo) Bridge in Iran can be restored more sustainably. Eventually all historical monuments and treasures will need preservation and renovation, like the Grand Bazaar in Tehran, but this should always be done with regards to the original aesthetics, sound engineering and sustainability practices in mind. In some cases it has been observed that poor renovation can cause bad reputation for a monument or even cause damage to some parts of it. This is exactly what happened to the Babylon Palace in the time of governance of Saddam Hossein in Iraq. An Iranian example of this phenomenon is the renovation of Khajoo Bridge in Esfahan, a city about 340 km south of Tehran. The renovation was started in 2009 by the Iranian Organization of Cultural Heritage and it is still going on. Some experts and cultural activists believe that the method of the renovation can cause serious damage to the structure of the bridge in the long run. The work is being done using of cement instead of the original lime, which was used between the stones in the historic construction. The use of cement is in definite contrast to the sustainable restoration of the monument that was built by natural materials. Construction of the Khajoo Bridge by the Safavids Located in center of Iran, Esfahan (also spelled Isfahan in English) has had a brilliant era in the age of the Safavid dynasty in 16th and 17th centuries. At that time, after Esfahan was selected as the capital city of Iran, some structures were added to the city to promote the reputation and fame of the capital city of the empire. Khajoo Bridge was one of these constructions, which was built by Shah Abbas II in 1650. From Wikipedia:

The Safavids (Persian: صفویان; Kurdish: سەفەوییەکان,Sefewî; Azerbaijani: صفوی‌لر; Georgian: სეფიანთა დინასტია) were one of the most significant ruling dynasties of Iran. They ruled the greatest Iranian empire since the Islamic conquest of Persia and established the Ithnāˤashari (Twelver) school of Shi'a Islam as the official religion of their empire, marking one of the most important turning points in the history of Islam. This Shia dynasty was of mixed ancestry (Kurdish, Azerbaijani, Georgian, Greek) and ruled Iran from 1501/1502 to 1722.

It was built as both dam and bridge. With a length of 150 meters and width of 14 meters, it includes a walkway of the deck that has a width of 6 meters. This way is still used by pedestrians. Under the Khaju Bridge. The water passes through the bridge along 26 paths. Between the water paths, there are 51 room-like spaces on each side of the bridge (see below image). These spaces are still used by people and tourists to enjoy the river and the landscape. Three hundred and fifty years ago, these rooms were given to local governors during the ceremonies to settle and enjoy the rowing matches and other events. In case of aesthetics, Khajoo is one of the most important monuments of Esfahan and is more beautiful than other Safavid bridges of the Zayandeh Rood River, which flows through Esfahan. It is even more eye-catching than the Siose Pol Bridge. It was built on one of the deepest parts of Zayandeh Rood in Esfahan, done on the place of an older bridge related to Timurid age in 15th century. Therefore Shah Abbas II did himself a reconstruction job with new engineering methods, which can be seen in other constructions of 16th and17th century Esfahan. Renovation or Reconstruction? Some critics believe that the recent renovation lowers the originality of Khajoo. It is a well-known principle in the renovation techniques that it should not lead to major change in the structure and characteristics of the historic monument. This is the point that is focused in the recent criticisms about the plan. Some stones of the structure are replaced and have been dropped into the water. This has made the depth of the water become less. The careless renovations have fatal results for Khajoo, in my opinion, which has already survived mid-nineteenth century renovations and reconstructions. Read more on green Iran: Iran Looks to Create Biofuel Iran Inaugurates Its First Solar CSP Plant Celebrate Spring and Iranian New Year Above image via Farrokhi

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Karin Kloosterman — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:54:09 +0000

khajoo-bridge-iran

Karin Kloosterman — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:04:11 +0000

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Karin Kloosterman — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:24:57 +0000

watermelon nails

Naomi Ben-David — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:20:13 +0000

watermelon israel

Naomi Ben-David — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:25:32 +0000

5 Good Reasons to Eat Watermelon this Summer

Naomi Ben-David — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:44:39 +0000

Just can't wait to get your hands on some watermelon this summer? Well all for good reason. Image via dreamglow pumpkincat210 Summer is here, we are all melting in the heat and humidity of the Middle East, with our skin drying up so one of the main things on everyone’s mind is cooling down. And then out comes the watermelon, no matter how it is cut or presented this is a popular dessert being both sweet and refreshing. But did you know that it is also incredibly nutritious? We are all well aware of the fact that watermelons are over 90% water with the remaining less than 10% being sugar. Like many other types of fruit, is a great source of Vitamin C, but there is a lot more to this melon which you might not be aware of, like Vitamin B6 and potassium. Read on. 1. B6. One of the other vitamins found in watermelon is Vitamin B6, which is used by the body in multiple ways including manufacturing certain brain chemicals. This busy vitamin, working with other enzymes helps is beneficial to certain developmental disorders. As if that isn’t enough, it also reduces water retention, balance hormones and strengthens your immune system. 2. Potassium. By eating about 2 cups of watermelon, you are also giving yourself a good dose of potassium. This mineral is a vital part of water balance in the body and can help alleviate muscle cramps as well as regulate blood pressure. Two cups of watermelon are a good start, but this is will not give your body the amount it needs for a day. Some other foods rich in potassium are cucumbers, lima beans, bananas, tomatoes and oat bran. You can buy a juicy slice at your local open air market and enjoy the refreshment. Image via Shoshanah 3. Beta-carotene. Watermelon has a high concentration of an antioxidant called beta-carotene. It is this which gives various vegetables and fruit including watermelon and carrots that strong red, orange colour. Beta carotene helps vision and relating eye problems as well as fighting various cold and infections. Recent research shows that it might also play a part in cancer prevention; all in all, this is definitely something which your body finds useful. 4. Lycopene. This luscious fruit is also a great source of an antioxidant called lycopene. What it does is neutralise what are known as free radicals. Free radicals are partially responsible for issues with cholesterol and hardening blood vessel walls which can eventually lead to heart problems and stroke. Research in this area is still ongoing, but the positive impacts of lycopene are definitely being felt. 5. Arganine and citrulline. One of the ways watermelon impacts heart conditions is through the content of two elements called arginine and citrulline. Together they help with healthy flow of blood which can reduce the chance of certain cardiovascular problems. Citrulline is also a great way of boosting energy levels and the function of the immune system. Even if all this sound foreign to you, the most important piece of information to take away is that watermelon is more than just a great afternoon snack. It is full of vitamins which boost your health in a multiple of ways. So enjoy the juicy slice and focus on the fun of fruit. Read more on different healthy food options: 4 Unique Aloe Vera Juice Recipes for Summer and Health Cloves In and Out of the Kitchen

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Karin Kloosterman — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:59:00 +0000

cars-tehran-air-pollution

Karin Kloosterman — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:08:33 +0000

Making "Green" Peace In The Office

Karin Kloosterman — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:42:25 +0000

Greening your office space is also about creating the right "peace" of mind. Read on for tips and inspiration. Why is it that your office colleague, once so sweet, now grates on your nerves? How could it be the long bus ride to the office, which used to be a relaxing hour to catch up on reading, is now your biggest waste of time? Why did the last staff meeting end in tears? You wonder, "Is it me, them or just the office?" There are things you can do on both the physical and mental levels to connect the spirit, mind and body at work to effect positive change - which can lead to us treading gentler on Planet Earth. Life is precious and everyone wants their work hours (usually most of your day) to be filled with love, compassion, respect and fulfillment. It can be hard sometimes though. Working with spirit and keeping peace in the office can be like walking a tightrope, especially in the Western world where work is associated with 'having to do…' or just as a means to make money. Unlike time spent in prayer or while meditating, time at the office is not measured by spiritual epiphanies but metered by real-world results. Often the situation is that someone is paying you to do something and you have a responsibility to get that task done to the best of your abilities. While you may have already adopted mind-body balancing techniques, chances are your boss won’t like it if you extend your coffee break to practice Thai Chi in the sun. But you don’t have to search too deep into your soul to make some very basic improvements to the health and well-being of you and your office workmates. First of all consider your work environment. Is there enough natural light in the office, and can you replace fluorescent lights with full spectrum light bulbs? Is there fresh air? Does everyone agree that soothing music could be played in the background? Have you finally tackled ways to sort out the office clutter and the tangled mess of wires connecting to all the technological equipment? We’ve all heard about the benefits of Feng Shui in one’s home. But at work, a place where one might spend the majority of their most productive hours, Feng Shui also has its importance. Angi Ma Wong who wrote Feng Shui Dos & Taboos offers some office-healthy tips. Ma Wong says, keep your back toward a corner or a wall for support and don’t face away from the door if you are conducting business from a home office. "Business will symbolically come to you through the door, so don't turn your back on it," she says. Do put your computer in the North or West area of the office, if possible, to enhance your creativity; it should be situated in the Southeast if it is used to generate income. Other income generating tactics include the use of an aquarium or tabletop fountain to activate business and career success. "Keep mirrors from your office," says Ma Wong, as they can reflect negative energy from clients to other people in the room. And treat your files and office equipment with respect; keeping the cords to your office equipment well hidden will "eliminate clutter and allow for the free flow of chi." Another book, Office Feng Shui: Creating Harmony in Your Work Space by Darrin Zeer offers on-the-go and quick help guide sections for Feng Shui in the office. "Office Feng Shui is a pleasure to read," says one reviewer. "It's a fantastic gift for co-workers or for yourself. It will help you rediscover the peace of mind and calm your hectic life lacks." Put plants to work! Invest in some plants to clean pollutants from the air: Peace Lilies, Parlour Palms and Dracaena Janet Craig are the most potent ones. Essential oils can be used to stimulate the brain and to give you physical benefits. For instance lavender is reportedly helpful in increasing productivity in your office. Once you have the office flowing with positive energy, it’s time to think about your physical self. How can you be kind to your work mates if you are cranky from sitting in the same position for the last 5 hours? Take a break, every hour, even if it is to just stand or stretch your arms. Every few hours go outside and take a 10-minute walk to invigorate your body and get the blood flowing. To avoid eyestrain, stretch your eyes too. Look into the horizon from a window to let your eyes focus on your long-range goals. Desktop Yoga: The Anytime, Anywhere Relaxation Program by Julie Lusk is perfect for Internet addicts, office slaves and stressed out students. "Just like your computer screen needs a screen-saver to keep it from burning out, your body needs a body-saver ... so you aren't victimized and tortured by your work," writes yoga instructor Lusk, who dedicates her book to "mouse potatoes." Fisk adapts hatha yoga principles of breathing and posture to be done in a chair. In her book, she presents stretches and movements, organized by body parts. Have you ever thought about the Infinity Neck Stretch by drawing an infinity sign (sideways figure "8") with your nose and eyes? There are many more… Rekindle your spirits Another approach to keeping the office space healthy is taken by Howard Schechter who wrote Rekindling The Spirit in Work. Schechter uses narrative examples and creative exercises to help readers find inspiration in their work. "It urges us to discover the higher self as the real source of spirit in work and thus the best perspective from which to conduct our life in relation to work," explains the forward of the book. Howard Schechter's exercises teach people how to handle material as it naturally unfolds in the workplace - from moment to moment. His live workshops show how a group of work colleagues interacting together is the main tool for "assisting the development of individual awareness, facilitating healing and growth, and helping the group to be a rich environment for individual development," says Schechter's website. Participants, it continues, will learn how to assist each other's growth within the group context: how to use conflict and cooperation to deepen relationships, and how to read group signals and promote the health of the whole system. In his workshops, Schechter garners techniques from gestalt practice, process oriented psychology, authentic movement, art therapy, the diamond approach, and the circle techniques of native peoples. With tact and respect At the end of the day, keep in mind that any changes, subtle or extreme, done to a shared office space need to be done with tact and respect. You can’t expect all of your co-workers to appreciate your choice of essential oils, the deployment of a "lion pose" yoga move as a new client walks in, or the installation of new water fountains. Sometimes the best and simplest way to keep good spirits in the office is by giving encouragement and thanks, where due. It could mean that a small note of appreciation, or the giving of your time will make all the difference in the (office) world. Want more green guides? See: Green Prophet on the Living Room Green Prophet on the Bedroom Green Prophet Greens Your Kitchen Green Prophet Greens Your Bathroom Above image via pe5pe

Climate Change in the Middle East

Arwa Aburawa — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:45:52 +0000

Despite facing issues such as water scarcity and pollution at poisonous levels, the Middle East is still sending mixed message about climate change. Images courtesy of NASA.

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Karin Kloosterman — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:45:54 +0000

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Arwa Aburawa — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:55:59 +0000

beach-israel

Lisa Damast — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:37:11 +0000

Israel Cleantech Intelligence: Motorized Bikes and 9 More Headlines

Lisa Damast — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:42:15 +0000

New water conservation faucets, solar-powered residential construction, Red-Dead Canal protests and more headlines related to Israeli cleantech and the environment. Image via n0nick. During the week of July 13, 2010, researchers from Ben-Gurion University received the first US - Israel energy independence grant for their light water reactor research. Motorized bikes are catching on in Israeli cities and a new estimate places the potential electricity demand that wind turbine usage can meet at two-thirds overall. For these stories and more, see this week's headlines below. Water Palestinian and Israeli Researchers Get Reverse Osmosis Water Grant New water saving faucet enters local market Solar MST becomes 1st Israeli technology firm to connect to grid Geotectura designs SunSail solar-powered residential building for Israel Wind '2/3 of electricity demand can be met with wind turbines' General UN To Mediate A Natural Gas “Standoff” Between Israel and Lebanon Gas Fields Dispute Environmentalists Say “No, No!” To Red-Dead Canal Texans tip their Stetsons to Israeli business In Israel Blue water and sand: Israel's best beaches Israel is catching on to motorized bikes as the next best urban solution Missed last week’s headlines edition? Catch up on Israel's top fresh markets, the Israeli government's latest plan to reduce energy consumption and more.

map_of_Tehran.svg

Mehrdad Parsipour — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:56:48 +0000

administrative map of Tehran with zone 8 in the east, Via Wikipedia

bicycle in bazaar

Mehrdad Parsipour — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:00:54 +0000

bicycle

Mehrdad Parsipour — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:08:20 +0000

Geotectura Design Israel 1

Tafline Laylin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:18:12 +0000

Geotectura Sun Sail 2

Tafline Laylin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:27:01 +0000

Geotectura Sun Sail 3

Tafline Laylin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:28:28 +0000

Geotectura's Residential Building Set to Sail

Tafline Laylin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:33:37 +0000

Is Geotectura's Sun Sail just another clever design, or is it redefining Israel's building policy? Bold and innovative, the Israel-based firm Geotectura produces otherworldly designs with a social conscience that even Bill McKibben might endorse. Their CT-cubes and hovering high-rises rival any science fiction graphic, while the X2S shelter, designed to provide physical and medical refuge in disaster zones, is nothing short of genius. But can their fancy become sustainable reality? Founded by Dr. Joseph Cory, Geotectura designed the 12 unit residential building Sun Sail to be built in Haifa, a port city north of Tel Aviv where Arabs and Jews live as neighbors. "The building aims to become a flag ship to the city of Haifa and to Israel by increasing the awareness to social, energy, and ecology design in residential buildings," according to the company literature. With their signature flair, the building's south facade is rounded out to mimic a sail. Not only does this increase its aesthetic appeal, but incorporates design components that are crucial to sustainable building. "Embedded with photovoltaic cells resembling a sail to maximize the solar exposure. This unique shape of the PV facade functions also a roof, rain catchments, shading canopy, heat isolator and as an iconic figure," according to Geotectura. The southern facade collects heat and daylight from the morning and afternoon sun, which translates to less electricity consumption. Meanwhile, positioning the north end towards the valley (and view), provides a natural, passive cooling effect. Water efficiency, water reuse, and recycling waste programs also contribute to the building's sustainability ethos. In order to be high-performance, a step up the sustainable ladder, The Sustainable Building Industry Council suggests that buildings should be: "sustainable, safe/secure, function, aesthetic, historic, productive, accessible, and cost-effective." To this end, Geotectura comes remarkably close. Though they don't list either the initial building costs or anticipated rent prices, and the building is new, and therefore not historical, they have stressed that Sun Sail units will be accessible to people of all ages and abilities. In addition, the building will be adjacent to an existing green space, a park, in order that mobile residents can take advantage of bicycle and walking paths.Though particularly exciting for the firm and the city, the Sun Sail also demonstrates that Israel is moving definitively towards economically, ecologically, and socially conscious building. More Exciting Architecture News: Cambridge to Build Europe’s First Eco-Mosque Sharing Eco-Friendly Construction Techniques is So’Eco Studied Impact’s Power Plant Fit For Living

texas-star-clean-tech

Karin Kloosterman — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 04:36:41 +0000

The History of Clean Tech Business Between Texas and Israel

Karin Kloosterman — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 04:38:34 +0000

The Texas Star meets the Star of David: Two Lone Star states have a history of doing business together. They now look for clean tech opportunities. While at first glance Israel and Texas may seem worlds apart culturally and in their approaches to business, consultant Arie Brish, an Israeli-American businessman who has spent more than two decades in the State of Texas, doesn't see any dissonance. He sees tremendous potential for business deals between the two, especially in the emerging field of clean tech. "There are cowboys in Texas and it's very casual. Like in Texas and in Israel you don't have to wear a suit and tie, and this combination fits the Israeli culture," Brish, who built his career and raised his family in the oil state after growing up in Israel, tells ISRAEL21c. He has spent more than two decades in the second-largest US state, working at Israeli high-tech companies, and later at his own company, and five years ago he was one of the founders of the Texas-Israel Chamber of Commerce. In February, the chamber had a big success, when it organized a delegation of 25 Israeli clean tech companies to Texas. It was the largest delegation of its kind to reach American shores expressly to coincide with a local conference. Brish says that deals are already in the works with the US state, which is number one in wind energy in America. Although Texans are known for extravagant living, fueled by their lucrative oil industry, they are similar to Israelis in their keen interest in developing renewable energy, Brish says, adding that "Texas now produces enough wind power to power the state of Israel - about nine gigawatts." Personally representing Israeli clean tech companies, Leviathan Energy, and WindSL, the Israeli clean tech companies and their Texan matches are currently going through what Brish describes as a "pregnancy." While they aren't prepared to announce any deals, he says that they are in the works. Connecting through clean tech and bio tech Many of the Israeli companies that caught the eyes of Texan investors and strategic partners specialize in water technology, like metering company Arad Technologies (a smart grid like Greenlet) and wind and solar companies such as Interdan, which four years ago, in conjunction with the Ministry of National Infrastructure and the Negev Development Authority made the Palestinian Arab village of Drijat in southern Israel the first town in the world to be outfitted with a multipurpose solar electricity system that provides power to the entire village. Notable speakers at the conference included Israel's chief scientist Eli Opper, the lieutenant Governor of Texas, and the head of the Land Office of Texas. Clean tech is still only a recent focus. The chamber has hundreds of members from both sides of the pond, comprising large Texan or Texas-based companies, organizations and individuals in various fields. Beyond their mutual interests in developing clean technology partnerships and businesses, the two states share much in the biotech business in pharmaceuticals and medical devices, says Brish. "The goal of our organization is for Israeli companies to open their US offices in Texas or create their US headquarters in Texas and there are a lot of good reasons for doing so," he declares. "Of course it depends on the technology. Energy, oil and gas, now clean tech and water are big in Texas, as well as its medical business. The industry is advanced in Texas and it's a good location for Israeli companies to do clinical trials," he states. Lone Star States are kindred spirits Texas Governor Rick Perry told the chamber: "I want Texas to become the preferred location for Israeli companies doing business in the US. Like Texas, Israel has a long history of growing new technology companies through partnerships that include universities, government and private investors and entrepreneurs. Strengthening relationships between these two 'Lone Star States' will benefit our respective economies and increase understanding." The relationship is already two-way, with Texas exports to Israel totaling about $1 billion each year Brish says, mainly in high-tech exports from Dell, IBM and HP all of which have major facilities in Texas. "There is lots of military and defense [business] in Texas that goes to Israel," he adds. Interestingly, some American companies with a significant presence in Texas can also be found in Israel. Semiconductor Motorola spinoff Freescale has a large R&D center in Israel and Intel does, too. "All the big high-tech companies that have a big presence in Texas are also found in Israel," Brish relates. For that reason it's not uncommon to see high-tech executives at Intel in Texas hailing from Israel. This is true for Freescale, Alon and Delek, the gas companies from Israel which have a major presence in Texas with their oil refineries and gas stations. Brish also mentions Elbit Systems, the Israeli defense company whose headquarters are in Texas. Not to mention that the latest natural gas discovery in Israel was made in partnership with Texas energy company Noble Energy. Twenty-one years ago when Brish first moved to Texas, there was virtually no activity between Texas and Israel. He says he watched the relationships developing over the past 10 or 15 years, but that since the creation of the chamber there's been a surge in business cooperation. The opening of an Israeli economic consulate in Texas has been very helpful as well. Informal, affordable networking Brish estimates the number of Israelis living in Texas as being in the thousands, with many of them starting out at the massive University of Texas at Austin. "Younger people are coming to study and stay; they don't go back," he says. His own involvement with Texas began when he worked for Motorola Semiconductors and moved to Texas with his Israeli wife. After leaving Motorola, he began his own startup and then become the CEO of an Israeli chip firm, Tehuti Networks. Moving beyond the mindset of the Israeli who thinks that to do business in America you have to be in Silicon Valley, Brish managed to convince many of his high tech colleagues that Texas is the place to be. Now, with a clear business pipeline in place, doing business with Texas can include working with partners in Mexico, which he says can be a big bonus. There are also political and religious explanations for the mutual attraction between Texas and Israel, according to Brish: "From a political point of view, Texans think like Israel in terms of homeland security; the culture of it. We talk to Texans and they understand our problems and why we do the things we do. "Other angles that are less known, perhaps, are that the south in general is very religious; there are Christians, and they adore Israel," he continues. Brish who confesses to owning a cowboy hat that he doesn't often wear, says that joining the chamber is an affordable and informal way to network with Israeli and Texan businesses and stresses that his door and email box are always open to new ideas and proposals. (This story was first posted on ISRAEL21c - www.israel21c.org)

simcha-blass-wikipedia

Karin Kloosterman — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 04:52:25 +0000

Why 27 People A Day Die From Air Pollution in Tehran

Mehrdad Parsipour — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:00:16 +0000

Lack of urban planning around its natural landscape keeps air pollution locked into the city of Tehran, Iran – one of the most polluted cities in the world. Tehran is one of the most polluted cities of the world –– with higher levels of sulfur dioxide than India and Bangladesh. Air pollution in the Iranian city of Tehran is not new. In the 50s, 60s and 70s, along with a rapid population growth of Tehran, automobile ownership raised dramatically. Establishment of Iranian car production factories like Iran Khodro and Pars Khodro, and also foreign car import caused massive inflow of cars into the streets of Tehran. On the other hand, many industrial factories were established in the same period of time around Tehran, especially in south, south west, and west of the city. Cars and factories have a major role in the dangerous pollution in Tehran. However, some other factors like land-use planning, urban form and weak public transit encourage residents to use personal automobiles.In addition to the mentioned factors, the geographical characteristics of the location of Tehran make the air pollution problem of the city harder to solve. During the recent years academic researchers have stressed the geographical impacts on Tehran’s pollution. Both studies were published in Geographical Research journal in Iran. The first one was authored by Dr. Pour Ahmad from the University of Tehran in 1998, and the second one was conducted by Dr. Safavi from Imam Hossein University and Dr. Alijani from Tarbiat Moallem University in Tehran in 2006. Cars don't help. In a city of about 13.5 million people, an estimated 3 million cars vie for the road. Image via hamed The studies show how geographical specifications of Tehran like direction of wind, rainfall, inversion, topography, and so on, affect the quality of air. Among these factors, it seems that the wind direction and topography, which work together, have the most influential role in the in the air pollution of Tehran. A BBC report (in Persian) says that 27 people a day die in Tehran from air pollution-related diseases. The north of the city is blocked by Alborz Mountain and the eastern and south eastern parts of the city are captured by some shorter heights like Bibi Shahrbanoo Mount in the south-east. The dominant wind of Tehran blows from west to east. And most of the industries of Tehran are placed in west and south west. So the wind brings the pollutants to the city and there is no escape way through the eastern heights. In the meantime, if there were a way out in the eastern mounts, the western winds could clean a part of the emissions of the automobiles. Shortage of rainfall of Tehran is another factor that could have reduced the pollution. In Tehran, in every 3 days of fall and winter, there is a probability of a rainfall greater than 5 mm. It is believed that rainfall of more than 5mm is effective in washing the air. The rain is less important in cleaning the air in comparison with wind, because the rain washes the air pollutions to the soil. But the wind directs the pollutant to the outer limits of the city. The number of inversion (read more here on inversions) and smog days of Tehran seems to increase every year and this is an alarming sign for the city and governmental authorities. Some strategies have been implemented but the number of dangerous or polluted days have not dropped during the recent years. Tips to improve air quality in Iran? Fewer cars, and newer ones that meet today's emissions standards, and better urban planning. Read more on green Iran: Iran Looks to Create Biofuel Iran Inaugurates Its First Solar CSP Plant Celebrate Spring and Iranian New Year Image via kamshots

Nahal Poleg 020

Maurice Picow — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:33:47 +0000

Is the Middle East taking Climate Change Seriously?

Arwa Aburawa — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:36:31 +0000

Despite facing issues such as water scarcity and pollution at poisonous levels, the Middle East is still sending mixed message about climate change. Image of Mideast and earth Courtesy of NASA. There is a constant debate in green circles over whether the Middle East is really taking climate change seriously. Some days the Arab world seems busy installing solar panels, planting trees, planning green cities and the next they are expanding airports, driving species to extinction and spending billions on the defense rather than the environment. So what is really going on? Well, the only honest answer is that its complicated. For one, there is the whole issue of the difference in attitudes between the numerous governments, businesses and the average person who is just trying to make a living. To me, it seems that against a backdrop of ignorance and lack of interest, there is real progress being made by innovative groups, individuals and government plans. But like in many countries, there is a lot of people who just don't get it. In a recent article published in Qantara, Joseph Mayton stated that the idea of conservation and environmental activism was 'unknown and almost nonexistent' in the average person living in the Middle East despite urgent issues such as water shortages and environmental pollution. He explained that “the environmental movement is often ridiculed and shunned by local media. In many ways, it is seen as foreign or Western, and it has yet to make a solid impact on the ground.” Whilst this may not be easy reading, it does ring true to many people working the field. Issues such as environmental pollution and water shortage may have an impact of the daily lives of Arabs but they are not making the connection between them and climate change. Well not yet, anyway.

Air pollution is a huge problem facing Egyptians living in Cairo and yet many don't make the link between pollution and protecting the environment. Image via ninahale.

Taking a quick look at businesses there is more to feel hopeful about but it's far from great. According to the latest report by the Sustainability Advisory Group (SAG), an international alliance of sustainability strategists and specialists, businesses are still complacent about several critical issues affecting the region. Whilst regional businesses increasingly view Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as something which can add value to their business reputation, sadly a relatively high number of business leaders continue to rate water conservation, climate change and waste as “un-important to their business.” Given the real threats that the region faces from climate change, these results are quite alarming. Maria Sellanpaa, Founding Director of the Sustainability Advisor Group, told Green Prophet that she had witnessed fairly uneven progress on the issue of climate change in the Middle East. “It appears that in some countries there is considerable activity 'on the ground' to explore for instance alternative energy solutions but mostly at micro generation level. This is obviously encouraging but what we are not really witnessing yet is strong government support and action or regional collaborative efforts.” Maria also added the link between desalinated water and carbon was not clear and new technologies urgently needed implemention to make water less carbon-intensive and cheaper. The CSR report is SAG's second CSR report and the research covered UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Yemen, Egypt and Jordan. This may all make for some depressing reading but it does illustrate my point that's complicated. Because against the backdrop of limited interest, things are starting to change. Green groups are forming all the time across the Middle East, the environment is climbing up governments and businesses' agenda and there are some great projects already making a difference. Support is growing, so we just have to accept that change of the magnitude that climate change demands is going to take time. :: Sustainability Advisory Group

Figs

Miriam Kresh — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:35:16 +0000

Nahal Poleg 019

Maurice Picow — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:48:52 +0000

Honey-baked figs, closeup

Miriam Kresh — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:03:56 +0000

Two Fresh Fig Recipes With Arak and Cream

Miriam Kresh — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:28:58 +0000

Light, fresh fruit is the sweet of choice to round off summer meals. Here's a fresh fig dessert for adults to savor, and one that will delight children too. Figs come into Middle Eastern markets twice a year, in July and in September, but their seasons are always short. We rush to get some organic ones when they appear, and love eating them out of hand, savoring their subtle tones of vanilla and cinnamon and, well, figgyness. But for a treat, or for guests, we buy a boxful and prepare them in one of these two quick and easy ways. Chilled Figs Drizzled with Frozen Arak 2 figs per individual serving (4 halves) The title says it all. But words won't prepare you for the surprising combination of sweet figs and anise flavor from the arak (like ouzo). Even people who don't like arak like these figs.

Put your bottle of arak (the Middle East's favorite distilled spirit) in the freezer for an hour.
Chill your figs for the same length of time.
Split the figs in halves, arrange the halves on a platter, and drizzle them with the thick, semi-frozen arak - just a drizzle does it.
Serve immediately.

Don't have arak in the house? Try gin instead! Baked Figs and Honey 2 figs per serving

Split each fig in half.
Drizzle each half with 1/2 teaspoon honey.
Dust with cinnamon.
Bake the figs for 1/2 hour at 350°F - 180°C.
Top the baked halves with slightly sweetened whipped cream - serve either warm or cold.

More summertime recipes on Green Prophet:

Tomato Confit

Shakshouka: Tunisian Eggs Poached in Tomato Sauce

Baba Ghanoush: Eggplant Dip

Photos by Miriam Kresh: www.israelikitchen.com

Mediterranean Sea

Tafline Laylin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:48:32 +0000

Mediterranean Sea II

Tafline Laylin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:52:21 +0000

Energy Giant BP Signs Gas Deal With Egyptian Government

Tafline Laylin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:00:21 +0000

Is the Mediterranean Sea fated to end up like the Gulf of Mexico? Like a giant herd of marauding elephants pounding through the forest, BP destroys everything in its wake. Despite the international outcry against one of the world's worst human-induced environmental disasters, the Deepwater Horizon spill that leaked 92 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, or the company's tar-sands ambitions in Canada, considered the biggest environmental crime in history, BP keeps on going. Their next target: the Mediterranean. Not only has BP recently committed to a $900 million USD exploration deal with Libya to exploit Africa's largest deepwater oil reserves in the Mediterranean Sea, but they have further sealed their hegemony by agreeing to tap Egypt's deepwater natural gas resources. BP's Influence in Egypt “Production from the West Nile Delta development is projected to reach up to one billion cubic feet per day, providing a major new source of gas for the domestic market in Egypt,” said BP in a statement. According to journalist Joseph Mayton, in the same statement BP claimed that it will use subsea infrastructure and a new purpose-built onshore gas plant on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast to develop the fields. Gas is expected in late 2014. Egypt has relied on BP services for 50 years, according to Mayton, and supply 35% of the country's domestic gas demand. It is also the largest single foreign investor in the country. And they are bound to stay. BP's "Expertise" During a speech delivered on 19 April, 2010 at Stanford University, BP's David Eyton acknowledged that the developing world relies on established multinationals to extract natural resources. "The first lesson we've learned is the importance of mutuality. Many countries with major new oil and gas discoveries lack the kind of expertise and technology that I just described as being deployed in the Gulf of Mexico," he said. "Governments realize that if they are going to extract those resources and profit from them, they need to partner with somebody who knows what they are doing," he continued, just 1 day before the Deepwater Horizon oil rig blew up, killing 11 people. What Happens When Technology Fails Despite being capped, the consequences of the leaked oil have not yet sunk in. In addition to possibly killing hundreds of turtles, and endangering the region's fishing and tourism industries, the slick edged onto the Gulf shore destroying marshlands and other ecosystems. The real economic and environmental impact, the World Wildlife Fund reports, is so dire that it "defies calculation." So what can we look forward to in the Mediterranean, where according to the Interdisciplinary Center for Bioacoustics and Environmental Research, 19 species of Cetaceans and other important marine creatures are already threatened by "habitat degradation mostly due to human activities, such as fisheries, ship traffic, water pollution, coastal anthropization"? “We have seen that BP and other oil companies do not adhere to regulations and requests from governments,” said an official from Egypt's Environmental Action Agency (EEAA), who asked not to be named due to security concerns. “Look at the Gulf of Mexico. That is horrific and here in Egypt we also struggle with oil spills on a daily basis, so giving BP this new deal is a sign that the government doesn’t care about the future of Egypt’s marine life and eco-systems.” :: Bikyamasr Read These Stories About Oil and Gas in Egypt: PetroGulf Misr Denies Responsibility For Red Sea Oil Spill Red Sea Spill Causes Oil Company Stocks to Drop

Don’t Cry Over Spilt Oil? Egypt Gov Says Red Sea Spill is from Old Oil

Can supplements improve a man's sexual wellbeing?

Tinamarie Bernard — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:36:45 +0000

Male Sexual Stimulants: Eco-Sexy Libido Enhancers or Dodgy Gimmicks?

Tinamarie Bernard — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:38:56 +0000

Do sexual stimulants really enhance a man's libido? Sexual stimulants are popular in the Middle East. When doing research for our recent article on the topic of Halal sexual aids geared to the Muslim communities, we noticed an emphasis on libido enhancers for both males and females on the sites we reviewed. These came with a variety of claims: Such intimacy aids were said to ensure overall health, enhance libido, increase mental and sexual energy, etc. Nothing novel here: the idea of boosting sexual wellbeing with natural foods is an ancient one, and aphrodisiacs have a long and venerated, sometimes controversial, history (and reputation). That is why we consulted various sources to find out about the most commonly listed ingredients in supplements geared towards men (Don't worry ladies - we'll get to your needs in the next installment of Green Love). Which herbs, vitamins and minerals really compliment a man’s vitality, or are the benefits all in his head? The Eco-Sexy Benefits From Arginine to Zinc Below is a list of the most popular natural enhancers. Please note: The information is for your personal use, and is in no way intended to substitute for professional medical advice. When in doubt, follow the links to learn more about each supplement. In some cases, we found conflicting information, which isn't surprising given the ambivalence in some parts of the medical community to conduct scientifically robust studies on the use of sexual stimulants. Please consult your personal physician before you use any of these, particularly if you have a pre-exisiting condition exacerbated by intimate activities. Arginine: “This amino acid, one of the building blocks of protein, is promoted to cure impotence, among many other things. It does boost levels of nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow - and this, in theory, may improve erections. This is similar to what Viagra does. But it's unknown whether enough of the supplemental arginine gets into the penis to make a difference. Indeed, at least two studies have found little or no improvement compared with a placebo.” (Source) Chinese Dodder: "Chinese dodder seed acts as an aphrodisiac and increases fertility. It has been used to treat premature ejaculation and impotence. There are no known side effects when using Chinese dodder seed." (Source) "This herb is a noted aphrodisiac (arouse sexual desire), demulcent (soothing), and diaphoretic. It is particularly used in the treatment of impotence, nocturnal emissions, premature ejaculation, vertigo, lumbago, frequent urination, decreased eyesight, and chronic diarrhea. Also used to nourish sperm, increase fertility, and is listed as a sexual enhancer in all traditional Chinese pharmacopoeias. It is widely used to improve vision, strengthen bones and sinews and to improve overall sexual functions." (Source) Damiana: "When Damiana’s ability to cure sexually related ailments had been scientifically qualified western medicine became interested in Damiana. The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia suggests Damiana for "anxiety neurosis with a predominant sexual factor, depression, nervous dyspepsia, atonic constipation, and coital inadequacy." Damiana has also shown strong effects in animal testing. Rats who were previously “sexually sluggish” or impotent increased their mating behaviors and became more fertile and virulent after ingesting Damiana extracts. However, already sexually healthy rats showed no difference after eating Damiana." (Source) Fenugreek: "Fenugreek has been recognized as a medicinal plant for centuries. The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used the aromatic seeds extensively. Traditional Chinese herbalists used fenugreek for male reproductive issues and kidney problems. It is interesting to note that in Chinese medicine the kidneys are considered to be the area where sexual energy is stored. Fenugreek lowers blood sugar, probably by increasing tissue insulin sensitivity. The rich combination of nutrients in Fenugreek include the steroidal saponin diosgenin, choline , trimethylamine (a sex hormone in frogs), Vitamins A, B 2, B 6, B 12, D, and essential oils. Diosgenin is an important precursor for the synthesis of a number of sex hormones, and also exhibits estrogenic effects. The aromatic compounds in the fenugreek seeds have a maple-syrup like odor, which freshens the breath; an added advantage in sexual encounters." (Source) Maca: "Maca is a cruciferous vegetable like Kale and Broccoli, that grows in the Andes Mountains in Peru. Native people dig up the root-like tuber and brew it into a strong drink. Both men and women partake of this brew shortly before going off in couples for connubial enjoyment. Incan warriors used maca before battle to increase strength and endurance. Laboratory studies have shown a significant increase in sexual function in rodents. Maca is high in essential fatty acids, minerals such as phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and zinc, along with vitamins B, C and E, various phytosterols, and other nutritional factors known for their importance to sexual function." (Source) Red Kwao Krua: "The raw extract from the root of Red Kwao Krua contains flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides demonstrating comparable benefit as that of the pill Viagra (TM), without any of the side effects. Studies revealed a strong vasodilatation effect, via production of nitric oxide. Enzymatic tests have shown Red Kwao Krua to be a potent inhibitor of c-AMP Phosphodiesterase which reacts directly at the corpus cavernosum in the penis enhancing blood flow to that area creating a more frequent, longer lasting, stronger male sexual arousal period." (Source) Yohimbe: “Made from bark of a West African tree, this has been used as an aphrodisiac for centuries and, in pre-Viagra days, was sometimes prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction (the extract is called yohimbine). It dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow, and thus, it's thought, may improve erections. It has been shown to increase sexual arousal in rats, but has had mixed results in human studies. Its side effects include a boost in blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, nausea, anxiety and sleeplessness. It is unsafe and ineffective, according to the Food and Drug Administration and the German commission that reviews herbal treatments. On top of that, an FDA test found that most yohimbe supplements contain little or none of it.” (Source) Zinc: "This is perhaps the most important single nutrient for a man's sexuality. It is crucial for the production of sperm and seminal fluid. Clinical studies show that men who supplement zinc experience a dramatic increase in testosterone levels. Zinc also reduces the pituitary's formation of prolactin, a hormone that stops testosterone production.” (Source) Once you do your research and decide that one or more of these vitamins, minerals or herbs are an appropriate addition to your vitality, it behooves us to leave you with one final reminder: Do your best to use organic and sustainably harvested supplements. It does a sexy man's body, and the environment, good. More eco-sexy articles for you to keep up with: The Ins and Outs of Eco-Friendly Vaginal Lubrication Green Pillow Talk: Sustainable Choices For Your Bed Are You an Eco-Sexual? Follow Tinamarie on Twitter and Facebook. Image via vramak

concert in the Khan of the White Donkey

Miriam Kresh — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:22:21 +0000

concert at khan of white donkey

Miriam Kresh — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:30:44 +0000

sexy-man-yoga

Karin Kloosterman — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:40:53 +0000

sexy-man-yoga

Karin Kloosterman — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:41:51 +0000

khan wall restoration

Miriam Kresh — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:07:54 +0000

restored stone walls and lime polished floor

Miriam Kresh — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:46:48 +0000

concert at the Khan of the White Donkey

Miriam Kresh — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:48:56 +0000

Entrance to Khan

Miriam Kresh — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:28:54 +0000

British-Jews-allotments-green-prophet

Michael Green — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:24:09 +0000

British Jews Get Their Hands Dirty Down the Allotment

Michael Green — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:01:58 +0000

More Jews in Britain are finding spiritual and culinary inspiration by growing their own food. Jews are known for their love of food, but less so for their love of farms. Most Jews in Britain live in big cities where, like many urban-dwellers, they are detached from the people and places producing their nosh. But the sterile fruit and veg in supermarkets and the economic pressure of the recession are inspiring more Brits to grow their own. In Israel, allotments are few and far between (probably owing to the fact that land is scare, water is scarcer and quality local produce is abundant). But in Britain, there are around 330,000 allotments – with some cities having a waiting list of several years. The Big Green Jewish website has an allotment blog following the sowing, composting and pruning habits of north Londoner, Alexei Charkham, and his green-fingered family. Last week, the Jewish Chronicle reported on the “grow-your-own revolution” which is inspiring everyone from suburban families to rabbis to work the land. With the help of local volunteers, Rabbi Natan Levy recently converted the backyard of the London School of Jewish Studies into a mini-farm as part of a “living Judaism” course: "I have found it very therapeutic. First of all I like that gardening requires emunah - you have to have a lot of faith. You put these seeds in the ground, water them and pray like crazy," says Rabbi Levy. "We live in a world that is very disconnected from what we eat and how it is produced. It helps me on many different levels to see where a carrot comes from. It just takes a little bit of that initiative, which gives a lot of empowerment. In the west of the city, the post-denominational Jewish community, Moishe House, has launched a box scheme, delivering fresh produce from local green grocers, as well as piloting raised bed horticulture in its back yard. This spring, I decided to try growing my own veg for the first time. With a few pots filled with compost, my small patio has been transformed into a thriving horticultural plot. I’m not giving up my day job yet, but the satisfaction of seeing a seed I planted with my own hands spiral into 10-foot runner bean is priceless. ::Allotment blog More farming articles: Farmigo Software to Manage the Organic Farm Keep Food Safe from Farm to Fork A Halal's Day Work for Organic Muslims Above image viawww.biggreenjewish.org

poleg-river-zalul

Karin Kloosterman — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 06:11:30 +0000

Pollution, Nature Reserve and Sea Turtle Estuary All in One (The Poleg Stream)

Maurice Picow — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 06:12:47 +0000

Stream to nowhere: The Poleg stops short of the sea during summer months Flowing with our series of Israel's coastal rivers and streams –– which has included the Kishon River, the Alexander and Yarkon rivers –– we travel to Poleg Stream (or Nahal Poleg), a small stream located by the coastal city of Netanya, 30 km north of Tel Aviv. Originating also in the West Bank, the Poleg Stream is now in the process of being turned into a nature reserve, the Poleg Stream Estuary. It runs between the Wingate Sports Institute and one of the City of Netanya's most upscale neighborhoods Ramat Poleg.Until recently, the stream was extremely pollutedand still has a long way to go before being considered to be a truly living stream again – as anyone living in the area can testify. The stream only flows into the Mediterranean during the winter rainy months, when there is enough fresh water flowing through it to enable the water to reach the sea. During heavy rain storms, the stream also carries large amounts of debris and rubbish from destinations upstream, including citrus orchards from area industries and settlements, as well as pollution from Arab cites on the West Bank.The ecological management of the stream is under the care of Nissim Almog, managing director of the Alexander River Rehabilitation Administration which also deals with other area streams including Nahal Tenanim (Crocodile River), and the Hadera River. "Nahal Poleg's overall ecological situation has very much improved although it still receives a lot of sewage and other wastes from the West Bank," he says. "There are also occasional 'breaks' in the industrial waste disposal systems of local industries such as that which occurred at the Abir Brewery in Ramat Poleg, when their system broke down and a lot of their wastes reached the Poleg stream via a smaller tributary, Nahal Udim." He added that a safe-guard system has now been constructed into the Udim Stream to prevent any future such occurrences from channeling wastes into Nahal Poleg. The Poleg Stream Estuary is a nesting spot for green and loggerhead sea turtles, which come there during the nesting season to lay their eggs. Schools of grey mullet also go upstream during the winter to spawn when the stream flows into the sea. The picture left, shows when it doesn't. (Via Zalul) The Netanya Municipality has plans to turn the area of the estuary into a marina and hotel resort area. Environmental groups, such as the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, Greenpeace (locally) have been fighting this move, however; and presently these plans have been put on hold. The question is, for how long until the building contractors finally get their way? "The rehabilitation of Nahal Poleg involves a cost of nearly NIS 30 million (about $8 million USD), of which very little has come from the Government ministries, who prefer to use available funds to maintain and repair roads and other facilities in the Negev, due to occasional heavy rains there," Nissim Almog added. Perhaps the largest potential waterway rehabilitation project yet to come will the one involving the Lower Jordan River, which was the subject of an earlier article last May. The river is dying and rehabilitating it could improve other local problems, such as peace processes and bringing life back to the Dead Sea. In the meantime, streams like the Poleg will hopefully continue to improve their ecological quality. Read more on Israel's streams and rivers: The Kishon: From Dead River to Nature Park in Just Ten Years Journalists Get a Reality Trip on Jordan River Media Tour Alexander River's Still Polluted; and Could Improve With Palestinian Help

khan-donkey-logo-white

Karin Kloosterman — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 07:19:47 +0000

Nahal Poleg 023

Maurice Picow — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:20:25 +0000

#13: July 22, 2010

Jack Reichert — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:58:14 +0000

Iraqi "Bird Brigade" Risk Al Qaeda to Save Feathered Friends

It's tough enough saving wildlife in normal circumstances.

But imagine being a conservationist in Iraq trying to save birds in Al Qaeda territory?

In the western Iraqi desert, where Al Qaeada operatives are active in a region called the “triangle of death,” Omar Fadhel and his team risk their life (life and wing) for the birds.

Read about the Iraqi bird brigade »

Green Your Muslim Wedding

There are guides for Christian and Jewish brides, and now a new book that's suited for the Muslim, and Middle Eastern style wedding.

Arwa interviews eco-Muslim Rianne ten Veen about her new book "199 Ways to Please God," which gives tips for Muslim women on how to green their weddings. Like: "Ask the imam doing the nikah (matrimonial contract) to include the Islamic duty of humans as guardians towards all creation"...

There are lots of tips for non-Muslims and the eco-curious bachelors too!

Read all about how to green your Muslim wedding »

It's a Natural Gas Standoff Between Hezbollah and Israel

Israel and international partners, including Nobel Energy in Texas have invested millions in exploring natural gas fields off the coast of Israel.

And they struck it rich!

But not so soon. The Hezbollah in Lebanon say that the natural gas, the cleanest form of fossil fuel, is in their territory.

Who's to solve the dispute? Who else. Bring in the United Nations.

Read about the natural gas standoff »

More Environment News from the Middle East: (click title to read)

CLEANTECH, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Record High Summer Temperatures are also Scorching the Middle East »

It’s hot and getting hotter. But nowhere is the more evident than in Southern Asia and the Middle East.

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE

Protect Yourself From the Middle Eastern Sun with Homemade Organic Sunscreen »

It’s mid-July in the Middle East, and unless you plan on being a hermit in an air conditioned cave for the next few months you’re bound to get hit by some serious rays of sun. What to do? Make your own protection, naturally.

Read more lifestyle & culture stories »

BUSINESS & POLITICS

Is the Middle East taking Climate Change Seriously? »

There is a constant debate in green circles over whether the Middle East is really taking climate change seriously.

Read more business & politics stories »

TRAVEL & NATURE

Dust Swept Into Arabian Gulf Delivers Key Nutrients »

Whether from nearby construction zones puffing up plumes of dust and contaminating homes, or a sweeping sand storm, dust permeates every crevice of Middle Eastern life. And there is good reason for it.

Read more travel & nature stories »

FOOD & HEALTH

Male Sexual Stimulants: Eco-Sexy Libido Enhancers or Dodgy Gimmicks?

Sexual stimulants are popular in the Middle East. When doing research for our recent article on the topic of Halal sexual aids geared to the Muslim communities, we noticed an emphasis on libido enhancers for both males and females on the sites we reviewed. What's in all these products?

Read more food & health stories »

ARCHITECTURE & URBAN

Why 27 People A Day Die From Air Pollution in Tehran »

Tehran is one of the most polluted cities of the world –– with higher levels of sulfur dioxide than India and Bangladesh. Air pollution in the Iranian city of Tehran is not new. And a big reason is the private car and urban planning.

CARS & TRANSPORTATION

Greenie Wants YOU to Become a Bicycle Courier in Tel Aviv »

Tel Aviv is no stranger to cycling, and in fact it is even considered trendy. A hip organization is calling on all cyclists to work those wheels and to make money as urban couriers.

Let's Keep in Touch!

If you fancy a Twitter or two here and there (just like a tickle), follow us on Twitter, or sign up for our RSS feed updated several times daily.

We thank you, and we love you.

- The Green Prophets

www.GreenProphet.com

If you'd like to advertise on this newsletter, give us news tips, or just say 'hi,' send us an email contact@greenprophet.com. We respond to queries within 24 to 48 hours.

auto

Mehrdad Parsipour — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:34:04 +0000

Smart grid graphic

Tafline Laylin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:03:35 +0000

Register Early For the "Smart Grids" Middle East Conference

Tafline Laylin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:11:57 +0000

Smart Grids are redefining the electricity future. Worldwide experts in the field will gather to share their know-how with the Middle East in Dubai this December. [image via GDS digital] When temperatures soar, so does electricity consumption. At the peak of a scorcher day, everyone at home or in their offices hikes up their air-conditioning units at the same time, putting enormous pressure on regional and national grids. Another challenge that utilities face is incorporating renewable sources of energy, such as solar power, into the same electricity network. An emergent solution to both problems? Smart grids. What are smart grids? Smart grids transport energy from suppliers to consumers using 2 way digital technology. Combined with smart meters, users can control appliances at home to save energy, and reduce costs. When air-conditioning junkies hike up their units at peak periods, their habit is rewarded with higher prices. Smart meters and smart grids allow consumers to keep track of these costs and adjust their use accordingly. In addition to incorporating renewables and using electricity transmission lines that are better conductors of electricity and therefore more efficient, smart grids are capable of keeping track of exactly how much electricity moves through the system. Sharing is caring However, this is an emergent technology and kinks are still being worked out. The Smart Grids Middle East conference will give utilities from the USA, Europe, and the Middle East an opportunity to compare notes with the most experienced and knowledgeable members of the field. "You will learn from real life case studies on how to plan for, implement, and scale-up your smart meter project, and how the smart grid will affect the way you do business," according to the conference literature. Industry smarts Hosted by Metering International Magazine, the conference will feature pre-conference workshops, panel discussions, and dynamic smart metering and smart grid sessions. Guest speakers will include: Eng. Ali bin Abdulla Al Owais, from the Ministry of Energy - UAE, Saeed Nassouri from ADWEA, and Shafi Zeitoun, from Saudi Aramco. "The conference aims to highlight the current achievements gained in the smart grids/ smart metering space in the Middle East and best practices from utilities from all over the world," according to organizers. Last year's conference drew representatives from Jordan, cyprus, Sudan, Palestine, Kuwait, Dubai, and Oman, thereby strengthening the entire region's smart grid enthusiasts network. To be held from December 6-8, 2010 at the Shangri-la Hotel in Dubai, industry analysts, regulators and utilities are invited to register before 16 September, 2010, in order to receive up to $400 USD off registration costs. Visit the spintelligent events website in order to register early and receive your discount. For more energy news visit these stories: Energy Giant BP Signs Gas Deal With Egyptian Government ecoQ Conference in Qatar (2011) for Clean Technologies and Sustainable Energy Global Post Names Ramallah’s Khaled Al Sabawi One Of World’s Top Energy Entrepreneurs

forest fire

Mehrdad Parsipour — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:26:00 +0000

The photo is not related to forest fire in west of Iran

Burning Man bigrigjig

Tafline Laylin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:33:19 +0000

mirror

Naomi Ben-David — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:39:52 +0000

Givot's Premature Oil Production Near Rosh Ha'Ayin, Israel

Tafline Laylin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:42:39 +0000

Givot Olam Oil Exploration LP push to production without reservoir report or stable production rates. In the face of serious climate change, Israel's Petroleum Law (1952) encourages haste where oil is concerned. We've seen it at Adullam, where IEI plans to rake up the earth for oil shale, and now we're getting another taste of it just outside of Tel Aviv. Givot Olam Oil Exploration LP has discovered oil near Rosh Ha'Ayin, and plan to begin assembly of production facilities by August 15, 2010. According to a recent Globes report, "Givot Olam Oil Exploration LP (TASE:GIVO.L) announced at the close of trading yesterday that there were commercial quantities of oil at its Meged 5 well, and that the partnership intended to prepare for production at the well." Incomplete assessments This despite the fact that the partnership has not yet announced the total size of the reservoir, which details will be released 15 August, nor do they have a secure estimate of how much oil will be produced at the site.

Givot told Globes that "during 189 hours of flow during the intermittent production tests at the well between July 4-20, the well produced 3,015 barrels of oil, which also contained gas. The gas was equivalent to 90 barrels of oil a day, which when added to the oil production enhances the commercial viability of the well."

However, they are unable to confirm the production rate, noting a potential 50 barrel fluctuation each day. The partnership claims that production is unstable because the well bore has not yet been properly cleaned.

They expect to finish cleaning the well bore on Monday, after which the testing equipment will be sent home and replaced with production equipment by August 15th.

How much is enough?

Furthermore, Givot admitted that flow rates from sections 1-6 of the well were lower than predicted, citing "geological factors and the circumstances of the equipment and devices used in the tests," as an explanation. According to a Globes' source:

This is a commercial well that is worthwhile to go into production, but it won't turn us into Saudi Arabia. Givot did not state the total size of the reservoir as it's waiting for the engineering report. I predict sales of shares tomorrow, because the market expected a flow of 500-600 barrels a day. The numbers are close to expectations, but there's no indication of the total size of the reservoir, and that's problematic.

Share prices did drop 14.7%, but more importantly, the partnership's rush to extract oil despite shortfalls in preparation is a serious concern. And although Givot believes their well is worthy for production, we disagree. In these days of economic and environmental uncertainty, the Meged 5 well seems like a dangerous drop in the bucket.

:: Globes

More Oil and Gas News in the Middle East:

Energy Giant BP Signs Gas Deal With Egyptian Government

UN To Mediate A Natural Gas “Standoff” Between Israel and Lebanon Gas Fields Dispute

PetroGulf Misr Denies Responsibility For Red Sea Oil Spill

[image via aturkus]

rose

Naomi Ben-David — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:50:38 +0000

hybrid-engine

Lisa Damast — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:43:33 +0000

4 Israeli Car Technologies Volkswagen Should Consider Buying

Lisa Damast — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:47:45 +0000

Volkswagon Group, the world's third largest car manufacturer is looking to Israel for cutting-edge technologies for its cars. We take a look at four technologies Volkswagon should consider. Image via Mike Babcock. Ynet is reporting that the Volkswagon Group, made up of SEAT, Skoda and Lamborghini and others, has hired an Israeli company founded by former minister Yossi Beilin to assist it in its search for Israeli tech companies to work with. According to the article, Volkswagon, which is the third largest car manufacturer in the world after General Motors and Toyota, is presumably looking at Israeli companies that can help it develop an electric car: "One of the areas in which the technology industries in Israel could aid The Volkswagen Group is in developing the electric car. On Tuesday, Volkswagen announced plans to launch sites around the world to develop electric cars, at an investment of five billion euro."< Here's four Israeli technologies that can help Volkswagon with its electric car and other green efforts: 1. Z5 Developed by Zion Badash when he was just 16, the the $208 Z5 is a small device that, once connected to a car's engine, can reduce gas consumption by 40% and give the car more power. The z5 has attracted the attention of several large car manufacturers around the world that are interested in adding it directly to their vehicles, including Ford and Mazda. The device is currently available online through the Z5 website. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_Ded9eoxIM[/youtube] 2. ETV ETV has created a new jet turbine engine that generates electricity that can recharge the battery pack. Different from other hybrid cars,

“it’s always electric power that powers the wheels, whereas with the Prius, sometimes it’s electric power, sometimes it’s the energy generated by the pistons,” says Arnold Roth, COO of ETV.

The company is made up of several engineers from the former Soviet Union who played a significant role in the Russian jet turbine industry. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR6SeLkQbmw[/youtube] 3. Silicon-powered Battery A professor at the Technion-Israel Institute of Science published last year his research on a new portable electrochemical battery that can generate thousands of hours of electricity using silicon, an environment-friendly fuel source. The technology is currently several years away, but can eventually be used in the batteries of electric cars. 4. Piston-less turbine engine Agam Energy Systems has developed a piston-less turbine engine. Using a new kind of compressor, the liquid gas turbine-like engine consumes 1/5 of the fuel while releasing only a tenth of the emissions. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enJ-3gEYozU[/youtube] ::Ynet

"Khan of the White Donkey" An Eco-Retreat Along the Ancient Silk Road

Miriam Kresh — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 06:42:31 +0000

The renovated Khan of the White Donkey in Safed, Israel was the last stop on the Silk Road between Acre and Damascus. Now it's a center for ecological activity, courses, and concerts. We pushed open the brightly-painted wooden door and walked into a cool stone hall. The roof was a series of arches, in the ancient Arab style. A few steps down, in a big open space surrounded by niches built into the walls, a women's yoga class was taking place. Located in the mystical city of Safed, Israel, this ancient caravan inn "Khan of the White Donkey" obviously houses very up-to-date activities, most focused on ecology education and health. What isn't immediately apparent is that it's also a modern example of clean technology. Here's our interview with Andy Alpern, restoration manager at the Khan of the White Donkey since 2009. GP: Tell us something about this building's history.

Andy: It's at least 700 years old and said to be Safed's oldest building in active use. The main structure goes back to the Mameluke period (a.d.1266), with a "cave" in the back that may be even more ancient. It was a traveler's hostel and market place. (The arched niches in the right-hand walls, above photo, may have been sleeping places or kiosks.) There's an ancient mosque and a spring nearby. Safed was an important mercantile center then, and we think the building was on the main street, serving as khan for travelers and the main mosque. It was known as the "Khan al-Juma", Juma being Friday in Arabic. The courtyard was where the weekly shuk took place. After Israel's independence in 1948, the building was abandoned and fell into disrepair.The government offered it, and other sites, to whoever would take it. Whoever took it constructed the equivalent of a 1960s apartment inside the structure, placing dry-wall over the ancient stones, closing off the niches, and covering the beautiful stone floor with cheap tiles.

GP: Who began the renovations?

Andy: Moshe Tov Krebs, a Safed resident and ecology activist, purchased the building two years ago and began the renovation.

GP: What did Krebs and his crew find inside?

Andy: A lot of garbage. Even the niches were stuffed with garbage. The stone had been damaged by water infiltration from the concrete walls.

Under the tiles, two ancient water cisterns were discovered. One is ready for rainwater collection.

GP: How do cement and concrete damage stone?

Andy: First of all, production of cement is partly responsible for global pollution and climate change. (GP: according to Wikpedia, cement manufacture is responsible for 5% of global CO2 emissions.) Where building is concerned, it's a material that doesn't "breathe." It seals moisture in behind it. In the case of the Khan, there is ambient moisture from part of the floor being under ground level, near the spring. The stone behind the impenetrable concrete absorbed the mineral-laden moisture and became corroded. We now work with an expert in stone restoration, Kimi Maman.

GP: Who designed the new look?

Andy: Yarom Friedland, architect. He uses natural materials like lime mortar instead of concrete, as well as mud for outside walls, and wood. Lime mortar allows moisture to evaporate instead of infiltrating stone. We have the biggest polished-lime floor in Israel.

GP: What other ecological improvements are being made in the Khan?

Andy: We provide accommodation for workers, volunteers, and occasional guests. The grey water from showers and the kitchen are being channeled into a system for flushing toilets.

The restoration of the building to beauty and functionality is an ecological activity in itself, but the Khan hosts many others.

The non-profit Halevav organization dedicated to environmental education offers a permaculture course, organic gardening programs in local schools (with a program for special-needs kids as well), recycling sites, and more.
People with aches and pains find affordable acupunture in the Khan's Health and Movement studio.
Yoga for men and women.
Storytelling hour for children.
Reviving the old tradition, there's a Friday shuk where local crafts, organic food (including shushi!), seedlings, and more are sold.
A monthly Freecycle event.

The Khan of the White Donkey is located on R. Tet-Vav, the Artists' Quarter, Safed. Tel: 054-447-3540 and 077-234-7519. (Remove the first 0 and add 972 if you are calling from abroad). ::Khan of the White Donkey website More on renovations and eco-building in the Middle East from Green Prophet: The Khaju Bridge in Esfahan, Iran The Historical Grand Bazaar of Teheran Planning the Sustainable City: Bogota, Colombia Photos above courtesy of Eliahu Alperin and by Miriam Kresh www.israelikitchen.com

Some Tips to Consider Before Buying Beauty Products

Naomi Ben-David — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:00:27 +0000

Ever look in the mirror and wonder what exactly was in those products you are slathering on your skin? Image via antkriz Part of most women’s morning regime involves walking into the bathroom, looking into the vanity mirror and trying to figure out how to minimise her so-called defects and play up her best features. Well, with all the products we use, have you ever really thought to read the ingredients? There are some chemicals in your beauty products that you definitely could do without. It isn’t an easy job reading the ingredients in the miniscule print at the back of the bottle, but it is a task you should incorporate into your shopping routine. Many products out there try to persuade you that their product is “natural”, “herbal” or “organic” but don’t let this fool you. There is no legal definition for these words, so companies are free to use them randomly. Toner: Of course there are ingredients in your beauty products which you will recognise but necessarily realise are not healthy for you. For instance did you know that alcohol, which appears in most skin toners, really dries out your skin? Even if you have oily skin, you don’t want to purposely dry out your skin. So the next time you are looking for a toner, try one designed for sensitive skin, since these usually don’t have alcohol. Smells: Next consider the fragrances. We all know that a rose by any name would smell as sweet, but what if that name was a long complicated chemical concoction as Green Prophet's EcoMum points out? Some point to cancer and disruption of the immune system. Knowing this, would you really think it smelled as sweet? So here you have the first thing to look out for; any product whose label claims it has beautiful fragrances, you should avoid. There are many home made skin care options available, just as much as there are ways to cope with your hair in summer without dousing yourself in multitudes of products. Two women who were concerned about their beauty products, Siobhan O’Conner and Alexandra Spunt, actually wrote a book about their experiences entitled No More Dirty Looks. There they give you tips about products as well as safe, healthy alternatives. Of course it isn’t easy to completely change around your routine entirely. So try to start with some of the smaller things, like products that you don’t use that often. And next time your run out of a particular product, don’t go running to the store for the same thing, try looking for a safer, healthier option with fewer ingredients. As food author Michael Pollan says for prepared foods in his book Food Rules: if you can't pronounce it, don't eat it. Think the same way for beauty products. Read more on natural ways to boost your health: 4 Unique Aloe Vera Juice Recipes for Summer and Health 4 Tips for Relieving Migraines Naturally

Broken Earth Heart

Tafline Laylin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:03:02 +0000

brecciated jasper in shape of a little heart

Masdar And The Dicey Science Of Carbon Credits

Tafline Laylin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:07:01 +0000

Are oil and gas companies seeking carbon credits simply opportunists looking to make a profit? [image via oedipusphinx] It makes some sense that Masdar City, a carbon neutral city being built in Abu Dhabi, should receive carbon credits. But rewarding large oil companies such as Abu Dhabi's ADNOC even though they continue to emit carbon into our choking atmosphere, is a much tougher sell. Carbon Neutral is good According to The National, the UN-administered carbon credit scheme will reward Masdar with $1.45 million in carbon credits each year. These credits are rewarded for emissions saved through its 10MW solar panel array at Masdar City, and an energy efficiency initiative at a power station in Taweelah. "The two projects have kept a total of 94,268 tonnes of emissions out of the atmosphere over the past 12 months," according to monitoring reports uploaded earlier this month on the UN climate body’s website. Masdar has translated their own carbon credit learning into an opportunity to help other businesses and projects implement the same. While at first this seems like a noble and worthwhile effort aimed at reducing emissions, their intentions are murky. Carbon intensive is not "Earlier this year it proposed a huge project for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) that would reduce gas flaring and cut emissions by 151,408 tonnes a year," writes Chris Stanton. The credits would " boost the rate of return on the US$29.5m (Dh108.2m) investment in the gas capture technology from 4.3 per cent to 9.6 per cent," according to the project’s registration documents. The average power plant, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), emits 1,392 lbs of harmful greenhouse gases for every MWh of electricity produced. In comparison to Masdar City's carbon neutral city, and despite considerable, noteworthy emission reductions, ADNOC's carbon contribution should not be celebrated. Profiting from pollution Giving credit to oil and gas companies for negligible reductions is an inappropriate approach to climate change, according to sourcewatch.org, resulting in "substantial profits for corporate greenhouse gas polluters." Stanton claims that "... the carbon credit industry remains riddled with regulatory and bureaucratic risks, as Masdar learnt last year when it abruptly withdrew registrations for three ADNOC projects." Charlie Coghlan, vice president for SCC MENA told Stanton that "investors can wait years for registration, auditing and credit award processes to unfold," though no one seems certain why. We at Green Prophet hope that the UN's reluctance to award credits willy nilly to potential profiteers reflects the agency's genuine commitment to rewarding true innovation, and true efforts to halt and then reverse climate change. :: The National More Masdar Stories: GE Ecomagination Centre in Masdar City Vertical Farming in Masdar City? AeroFarms’ Soil-less Solution

Masdar City: A Diversion from the Crucible of Climate Change

ekotribe corporate green gift

Karen Chernick — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:01:16 +0000

Dubai's Ekotribe To Open Online Mideast Ecostore (Usable Bag Giveaway!)

Karen Chernick — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:19:46 +0000

Live in the Middle East and not sure where to get eco-friendly products? Check out the Green Eco Store. Ekotribe, a Dubai-based company started earlier this year, aims at bringing a variety of thoughtfully selected green products into every aspect of people's lives. In order to achieve this goal, Ekotribe will soon be opening up the Green Ecostore - a one stop shop for people living in the Middle East where they can purchase eco-friendly products in the following categories: home & garden, bags, babies, kitchen, gadgets, pets, personal & books, office & stationary, kids & toys, and eco gifts. Customers will soon be able to purchase items directly through the Ecostore's website, but in the meantime the products can be viewed on Ekotribe's website. (Above is a selection of environmentally friendly promotional items that can be branded as corporate gifts.) In Ekotribe's own words, "We'll help you live a greener lifestyle and reduce your carbon footprint through the products you use on a regular basis. Our goal is to offer products we all use every day at home and at work that can be replaced with those that are kinder and gentler on the environment." The company feels, however, that living a green lifestyle does not necessarily mean giving up quality and design and that being eco-friendly and enjoying high-end products can go hand in hand. For a limited time, those who sign up for the Ecostore's email newsletter will be entering a raffle to win a designer reusable shopping bag - so sign up quick! : The Green Ecostore : Ekotribe Read more about green products and gifts: Nagaya Organic Gifts: Give the Gift of Sustainability Sde Eliyahu's Organic Gift Package and Tour Get Green Website Helps Israelis Go Green

egypt

Tafline Laylin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:28:53 +0000

northern bald ibis

Tafline Laylin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:31:36 +0000

Turkey Helps Syria Revive "Thoth" - The Northern Bald Ibis

Tafline Laylin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:39:37 +0000

God "Thoth" or the northern bald bis negotiates its way back from extinction in the Middle East [image via isawnyu] Syria is toiling to improve its environmental record. An internet service provider there is educating the public, and they have created a Master Plan for Renewable Energy. However, conservationists are unable to resuscitate the critically endangered Northern Bald Ibis without a little help from their Turkish friends. The bird that was worshipped as the god Thoth during Pharonic times was thought to have gone extinct in the Middle East. But then in 2002, 7 precious birds were discovered near the ancient city of Palmyra. Apart from 2 wild colonies living in SW Morocco, according to our friends at wildlife extra, they were the only northern bald ibises left in the world. Now they are on the brink of extinction. Very excited, but still aware of the birds' vulnerability, all 7 were put under the watchful eye of conservation experts to ensure their safety. Today, only 3 of the Syrian population remain. "There is increasing evidence that hunting and other pressures outside the breeding grounds have driven this decline, and satellite tracking the birds is a major tool for understanding and addressing the problems," according to Wildlife Extra. Bringing the birds back from the brink In order to buoy the barely extant wild Syrian population, Turkey's Nature Protection and National Parks donated six semi-captive birds. They hope that even though their wild brothers and sisters don't usually take kindly to strangers, the new birds will become friendly with and follow the wild birds. [image courtesy of RSPBimages.com] "Due to the complicated social system and behaviour of northern bald ibis, it was always going to be a huge challenge to integrate the birds, although it was agreed that this should be tried if at all possible," Wildlife Extra reported. The wild birds left for their usual migration 2 weeks earlier than usual, but did interact with the Turkish flock beforehand, raising hopes that integration could be possible. Species Action Plan The Species Action Plan was decided by the International Advisory Group for the species (IAGNBI) - hosted by the Syrian General Commission for Al Badia Management and Development (GCB) and made possible by the cooperation of numerous NGOs, Governments, researchers, funders, and individuals. In ancient times, the god Thoth was considered the diplomat for godly disputes. Today it's role is no different. The victim of hunting and habitat displacement, the northern bald ibis is negotiating its survival. If conservationists can encourage the captive and wild populations to interact and breed, they will be escaping the clutches of extinction. And this will be a boon to biodiversity everywhere. :: Wildlife Extra More Wildlife News from the Middle East: Pollution, Nature Reserve and Sea Turtle Estuary All in One (The Poleg Stream) Nature Iraq’s Conservation in A Combat Zone Protection Legislation Endangers Red Sea Sharks

niloofar-waterlily

Mehrdad Parsipour — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:23:44 +0000

Waterlily in carvings of Persepolis, the ancient capital of Achamaenids, near Shiraz. Waterlily was a symbol of Mehr (Mitra). It opens when it is daytime and closes when it is night. it worked like the sun, so ancient Iranians used it as the symbol of Mehr. Also its 12 petals show 12 months of the year.

autumn

Mehrdad Parsipour — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:42:03 +0000

Credit: Flickr/~My aim is true~ downloaded under a Creative Commons license

Tesla model S

Maurice Picow — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 09:13:57 +0000

Tesla model S

Maurice Picow — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 09:16:46 +0000

Tesla model S

Maurice Picow — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 09:17:38 +0000

Egypt Map

Tafline Laylin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 09:24:25 +0000

egyptmap

Tafline Laylin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 09:27:00 +0000

The Nile

Tafline Laylin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 09:44:25 +0000

kayakers

Tafline Laylin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 10:20:32 +0000

kayakers

Tafline Laylin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 10:23:02 +0000

Nile Awareness Mission: Aswan To Alexandria In a Kayak

Tafline Laylin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 10:37:59 +0000

Aly Morad and Salah El Din Helmry to kayak 27 days in January, 2011 to draw awareness to the polluted Nile River [image via David Berkowitz] It takes a special kind of person to stop, take stock, to imagine how our actions today will translate tomorrow, the next day, and even 100 years from now. In Egypt, with its bulging population of at least 80 million, climate change could drastically impede the quality of life. And already, Egyptians can't trust their tap water. But 2 friends aim to change all of that by kayaking from Aswan to Alexandria in 27 days. Plying the Nile It's not every day that Egyptians will see a kayak plying the Nile's waters, competing with cruise ships, faloukas, and other larger vessels. And it is even more unlikely that said explorers would be paddling for an environmental awareness campaign. This, at least, is what Aly Morad and Salah El Din Helmry are hoping for, they explained to Heba El-Sherif with the Daily News Egypt. “I’m hoping to turn heads,” said Morad, who studies petroleum and energy engineering at the American University in Cairo. He will be joined by fellow rower and kayaking extraordinaire Salah El Din Helmry, a marketing student. Preparation for the journey The pair have set a rigorous, measured schedule for their trip, which will commence on 1 January, 2011. They will kayak 50km each day in 6 hours, breaking in between, and spending the rest of their days on land in either tents or hostels. In addition, they expect to blog about their event. To prepare for their trip, "the duo are undergoing nine training sessions a week, split up between the morning and afternoon, with each lasting about three hours. Sessions include running, biking, weight lifting as well as kayaking short distances," writes El-Sherif. "I am very scared that the distance turns up to be too big. I am worried of fatigue,” said Morad. The cause So why would 2 youngsters put themselves through so much trouble, when they could cool off in a hipster, air-conditioned lounge in Cairo? For Morad, it's simple. He loves the river, while El Din Helmry hopes that people will stop throwing their waste into it. The Nile River is the source of almost all of Egypt's water for agriculture, tourism, and industry, according to American University's Inventory of Conflict and Environment (ICE), but it is beset with problems. "Industrial establishments do not comply with the law and dump their wastewater untreated into surface water bodies or inject into groundwater," according to a 2007 ICE report. Furthermore, given low levels of sanitation service in rural areas, "7% at most," locals dump their sewage into streams, canals, and drains, leaving behind a veritable cesspool. Although they are only 2, there is hope that more people will become interested in the country's environmental concerns, with a particular emphasis on the Nile. “Besides the personal achievement, I wish that what I am doing will make a difference, that it would change how people think, even if it’s a small difference … and that step by step they [Egyptians] feel for more issues,” explained Morad. :: lower image and story via The Daily News Egypt More News From Egypt: Energy Giant BP Signs Gas Deal With Egyptian Government PetroGulf Misr Denies Responsibility For Red Sea Oil Spill Egypt to Build Two 100 MW Solar Energy Plants

solar panel

Mehrdad Parsipour — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:46:37 +0000

credit: Flickr/Lauren Manning

solar panel

Mehrdad Parsipour — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:51:11 +0000

credit: Flickr/Lauren Manning

hezbollah-hizbollah-flag-poster

Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:51:48 +0000

Natural Gas "War" Between Israel and Lebanon Could Lead to a "Drill Race"

Benjamin Joffe-Walt - The Media Line — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:53:00 +0000

Hezbollah's stake in the "cleaner" natural gas wells at sea expose "government inefficiency, incompetence and corruption and the lack of adequate services in transportation, water, education, health." Israel’s northern neighbor is scrambling to set up a legal basis to challenge the Jewish state’s discovery of a gigantic natural-gas reservoir in the Eastern Mediterranean. Lebanese leaders are scrambling to pass legislation to govern offshore gas and oil exploration, following the discoveries of two gigantic natural gas reserves off the coasts of Israel and Lebanon, two countries in a state of war for decades. The Lebanese parliament is set to discuss two draft laws that could manage offshore gas and oil exploration on Monday. The two versions of the bill differ over who will control potential revenues from offshore gas and oil discoveries: the President, through the Ministry of Energy and Water, or an independent body. In January 2009, an Israeli oil company discovered the first large natural gas reservoir, Tamar, some 55 miles off the coast of the northern city of Haifa. Earlier this year, another offshore gas field, Leviathan, was discovered to contain 16 trillion cubic feet of gas, double that of the Tamar prospect. Once exploited, the fields could more than provide for Israel’s domestic demand and turn the country into one of the world’s top 10 exporters of natural gas. The Lebanese were quick to notice that their enemy’s new discoveries extend into Lebanon’s maritime territory, and that Israel had licensed the oil companies to explore (and eventually drill) in Lebanese territory. Indeed, a US Geological Survey study earlier this year claimed that there are 122 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas off the coasts of Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Gaza Strip. Headlines like “Israel preparing to steal gas fields in Lebanon’s waters” and “Zionist Entity Robs Arab Resources” appeared across the Arab world within days. Lebanese politicians jumped in to make a plethora of provocative statements, fanned by Hezbollah, the armed Shi’ite political movement, which pledged to defend Lebanon’s natural resources. Israel responded in kind, with the country’s Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau stating that the army “will not hesitate to use force” to defend the gas fields. The Israeli navy meanwhile extended a line of buoys two miles into the sea off the Israeli-Lebanese border. “This is a very large discovery which extends into Lebanese waters,” said Dr. Manouchehr Takin, a senior petroleum upstream analyst at the Centre for Global Energy Studies. “They could do it jointly through what is called unitization, and have outside oil companies evaluate the total resource and estimate how many cubic feet are on the Israeli side and how many cubic feet are on the Lebanese side. Then the reservoir could be developed jointly with the profits shared according to each side’s relative portion, but they’d have to agree and be in a good, cooperative mood.” Asked what would happen if Israel and Lebanon do not enter a good, cooperative mood in the near future, Dr. Takin said that “one side can drill for itself, the other side can drill for itself and have a race... In the end this will be damaging because if you produce too rapidly you end up not producing as much as you would otherwise.” Beyond the militaristic oratory and bravado on both sides, there are significant domestic political challenges to Lebanon moving forward with offshore oil and gas exploration, as the country has no law to regulate offshore resources, effectively killing any chance that international oil companies would risk drilling. “They don’t have a legal system for oil and gas,” Dr. Takin said. “Who does it belongs to? Should it be exploited by government or the private sector? If private, how should it be taxed or regulated?” Saad Oueini, general manager of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists, said Lebanon’s business community would be unable to access the potential impact of Lebanese gas exploration until the political debate settles down: “It’s only a project now and we don’t know the feasibility of it,” he told The Media Line. “We can’t analyze its business impact yet because we don’t know if it will work or where it will go.” Dr. Louis Hobeika, an economics professor at Lebanon’s Notre Dame University, said Lebanese politicians are getting way ahead of themselves: “In my view, the problem is we are not sure if we even have oil or gas, so what are we fighting about?” he told The Media Line. “Why do you need a law to organize something you don’t even know you have. Logically you send an exploration team to see what we have, where and how much.” “They are spending their time fighting over nothing,” Dr. Hobeika said. “It’s only an issue because it hides the other more serious problems facing the country – government inefficiency, incompetence and corruption and the lack of adequate services in transportation, water, education, health.” “In my view it has nothing to do with Israel,” he continued. “If Israel discovered something, what’s the problem? This is an economic issue that can be settled easily, as, if there is oil or gas between us and Israel, then the United Nations will have to intervene to divide the proceeds because we are in a state of war.” Tala Al-Khatib, an education and outreach officer for the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon, argued that given the recent BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Lebanese should be more focused on the environmental implications of offshore drilling. “The Lebanese coast is very important for fish spawning and sea turtle nesting, including the green sea turtle, which is an endangered species,” she told The Media Line. “The Mediterranean sea is already contaminated and is subject to threats including climate change, dynamite fishing, etc.” “I personally believe that any potential pursuit of that kind could lead to a catastrophe similar to that caused by British Petroleum’s Deepwater Gulf of Mexico oil spill,” Al-Khatib continued: “Thousands of tons of oil leaked into the sea as a result of the 2006 Israeli air raid on the Jieh power plant in the South of Lebanon. This spill had a huge negative impact on the Mediterranean marine environment.” “Drilling oil and gas off the Lebanese coasts could be dangerous,” she continued. “Having suffered huge environmental and economic losses, Lebanon cannot afford one more catastrophe... So why venture in risky endeavors?” Read more on the natural gas saga:

Israel Strikes Natural Gas Pocket, Promising Independence

Natural Gas in Israel Changes the Game Israel's Oil Tycoon Seeks Higher Ground Tamar's Natural Gas Could Fuel Better Place Cars Israel Strikes Massive Natural Gas Pocket

mehregan_iran-persia

Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 05:32:44 +0000

momandbaby.jpg

Hannah Katsman — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 05:35:45 +0000

momandbaby_thumb.jpg

Hannah Katsman — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 05:35:49 +0000

10 Tips for Breastfeeding Your Baby in Public in the Middle East

Hannah Katsman — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 05:35:51 +0000

Act confident when nursing your baby in public. Breastfeeding is good for you, your baby, and the environment. If you're living in a middle Eastern country, or visiting one, you might assume that breastfeeding in public is not accepted. It's true that nursing in public is best avoided in some places like Iran, where the Islamic government sent officials to chop breasts off mannequins in a clothing stores. But in places where breastfeeding is considered the normal way to feed a baby, people don't give a second thought to a nursing mother and baby. When you are breastfeeding your baby, you'll want to feel comfortable feeding her everywhere. Breastfeeding is enjoyable for baby and mom and helps keep you both healthy. You're helping the environment too, because the manufacture of formula and bottles uses precious water supplies and generates pollution and waste. Wherever you live, you might be nervous the first time your baby gets hungry at the market or in someone's home. Here are Green Prophet's top ten tips for public breastfeeding in the Middle East or anywhere in the world:

1. Try and find out the norm in the place you are visiting. But in the end, it's your choice whether to stay or move. 2. A crying baby is more disturbing than a calm, nursing baby. 3. Your first priority is to your baby. Avoid nursing a baby in a bathroom or a stuffy closet just to please others. 4. You're most likely to expose your breast when your baby first latches on. Practice at home in front of a mirror. When out, you can get started in a private place or turn against the wall, then return to your original spot. 5. Lifting up a loose t-shirt exposes less than opening a button-down shirt from the top. The baby will cover your torso. 6. A tank-top with large sleeve holes covered by an unbuttoned shirt or jacket gives more coverage from the side. 7. You can cut slits in a t-shirt or tank, then layer another shirt on top. 8. Act confident in your choice. If you ask permission or apologize, people are more likely to object. But don't hesitate to ask if you need a private place to sit. 9. Remember that breastfeeding is normal, and that nursing mothers don't have to hide away until their children grow. 10. Nursing your baby is a great way to reach across cultural barriers. Why expect criticism? You may be surprised at the positive reaction, especially from parents with fond memories of their children's nursing years.

By choosing to nurse in public, and supporting breastfeeding moms, you're encouraging future parents to choose breastfeeding for their own babies. And what can be "greener" than that? More green articles on breastfeeding: Why Baby's First Gift Shouldn't Be Formula from the Hospital Breastfeed Your Baby in a Hijab: Public Breastfeeding in the Middle East Is Breastfeeding Immodest? An Orthodox Jewish Perspective Photo credit: banspy

Celebrating Mehregan, The Persian "Nature" Festival of Autumn

Mehrdad Parsipour — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 05:37:15 +0000

Mehr was a goddess and symbol of a religious belief in Indo-Iranian culture associated with the creation of the world. Many from Iran look to their roots of this nature-based celebration with preparations already starting next month. The Mehregan Festival or the Persian Festival of Autumn is an ancient Persian fest which is dedicated to Mehr (or Mithra/Mitra), the goddess and symbol of light, friendship, faith, love and kindness. It is celebrated each year at the beginning of Autumn on the 16th of Mehr in the 7th month. This year October 8. But in some regions, it is celebrated earlier, like in September in the United States. And like in some religions, such as Christmas, preparations can start early. In ancient Iran, there were two great national festivals that both were celebrated when the length of day and night were equal (solstice). The first is exactly in the beginning of spring (summer solstice), which is called Nowruz. This festival is still the greatest national festival of Iran, despite it being an Islamic state, and is celebrated widely in the first day of spring with special ceremonies. It is also the first day of Iranian calendar and the day that the nature is alive again after winter. Nowruz is on March 21. Both Mehregan and Nowruz, derived from the Zoroastrian religion, rejoice nature and that's why we think it's the perfect holiday to "celebrate" on Green Prophet. We're still in the heat of summer, but Mehregan is the winter solstice. On this day the ancient Persians and many nationals that were in cultural or political contact with Persians celebrated the festival with music, special dances, and by giving gifts to each other. In both Nowruz and Mehregan the families gather some signs and symbols of the revival of the nature and the gifts of god on a cloth and spent the fest around it. During Mehregan, Iranians used a burgundy-colored cloth and put some flowers on it, which were called the “ever-lasting flower” and around this flower was adorned with other flowers. Today we do not know much about this flower. According to some researchers, it might be a flower that bud several months of the year. The tradition of putting meaningful signs on a tablecloth is still continued during Nowruz, but Mehregan was paid less attention during the past millennium. After the Arab invasion to Iran and the change of the religion from Zoroastrianism to Islam, many cultural traditions survived and some were weakened. Mehregan is one of those that hardly survived and our knowledge about it its related history is scarce. The Time of Mehregan Fest As mentioned before, today Mehregan is celebrated on 8th of October. This day has been a day for the fest for the last 2,000 years. There is evidence that shows before this time, in the age of the Achaemenid Dynasty, the exact day was on the first day of autumn –– the 1st of of Mehr or the 23rd of September. Later, the date changed to October 8. Why mention this? In the Zoroastrian calendar each day of the month had a special name and some of them were similar to the names of the months. The 16th day of the month of Mehr was called Mehr. This day was called the Mehr-day of the Mehr-month. So if someone heard this, it was clear which day of the year is mentioned. The system of the festival of Persia in the age of Zoroastrianism was that every day, which had a similar day name and month name, was a day for happiness and celebration. Therefore, the Mehr-day of the Mehr-month or the 16thof Mehr became a national fest and gradually take the place of the first day of autumn. The Origins of Mehregan Mehr was a goddess and symbol of a religious belief in Indo-Iranian culture, which was associated with the creation of the world. This religion is called Mithraism in Mitraism, which was the religion of Iranians before Zoroaster in the 6th century BC. In fact mitra or mithra are the Old Persian forms of modern Mehr. The time of beginning of this religion is not known, but it was the main religion of Iranians up to 6th century B.C. Mithraism has also an undeniable share in Zoroastrianism. Avesta the religious book of the Zoroastrians has a part called Mehr-Yasht, which is a poetic worship of this great Persian goddess. This phenomenon was combined with respect to sun as a sign of Mitra. In 3rd and 4th century AD Mithraism spread through the Roman Empire through the Hellenic World. In many parts of Europe like Britain, Spain, Germany, and lands near Danube, Mithraism was the official religion. When Constantine accepted Christianity, Mithraism was forgotten but its impact on Christianity still exist. Many Christian notions which are now believed by Christians are dervived from Mithraism. For example, Christmas Day is the same day as the birth day of Mehr (Mitra). Also the day Sunday is believed to be derived from Mehr or the Sun. Today in modern Persian language the word Mehr has the meanings of sun, kindness and love. Mehregan Fest in Modern-Day Iranian Culture In the past 200 years the attention of Iranians to Mehregan Fest has declined. But in the recent decades because of political and cultural transformations, people are interested in the ancient Persian values. Many people, especially in countries outside Iran celebrate this fest. Some of these celebrations are held every year in Orange County in California and Munich, Germany. :: "Mitrakana Festival, Mehregan Festival" by Reza Moradi Ghiasabadi (in Persian) More on green Iran: The Windcatchers of Yadz Iran Creates Biofuel from Algae Iran and Qatar Align to Help the Environment Above image via Parsarts

cycling-iran-boys-bike-photo

Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 05:58:49 +0000

The Difficulties of Developing Cycling Routes in Iranian Cities

Mehrdad Parsipour — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:06:33 +0000

Tehran has bikes routes in place, but people aren't using them because they're needed in dense urban cores. We all know about the importance of cycling for health and for creating sustainable cities and communities (like Vauban the German car-less city) that encourage carbon-free transport.

Traditionally Iranian cities have had a rich culture of bicycling in the first decades of the twentieth century. In Tehran and some other cities like Yazd and Esfahan with its beautiful bridge in center of Iran, many urban trails were made by bicycle.But this culture was weakened in the 50s and 60s when modernization became the base of governmental strategies in Iran in several fields like architecture, urban design, and urban transportation. The automobile became the main mode of transportation. The use of bikes died out.

This happened first in Tehran, then in other big cities. The situation was more complicated when small and medium-sized cities were affected by presence of automobile. Now Tehran is choking on car exhaust.

Sustainable biking lost many users, who started to use cars instead of bicycle. Nowadays, Iranians do not use bicycle as a main transportation mode. In absence of reliable data, it is not so obvious how many urban travels are made by bicycle. Such data is really rare.

In the municipality of Mashad, the second big city of Iran in north east, they say that 5 percent of the urban travels of the city are made by bicycle. This data looks very optimistic for this city, which has a population of less than 2.5 million people.


But what's the problem? Why don't more people in Iran get on bikes?

Although the planners usually emphasize the necessity of bicycle planning, particularly in the historical core of the cities, it is hard to find suitable space for this planning in the dense urban fabric of the greater cities.
Of course some suggestions have been made for developing bicycle routes and facilities in central part of Tehran like the one presented by Dr. Fereidoun Gharib from the University of Tehran in 2004. These suggestions have not been executed yet.
Most of the developed plans are located in east and west of Tehran (see above), which have less density and population in comparison with the center of the city. At present 8 from the 22 zones of Greater Tehran Area have bicycle routes. According to Jafar Tashakkori Hashemi, the deputy mayor of Tehran, there are 150 km of bike routes in the city, which 60 km of it are in Zone 8 in east of Tehran. It seems that this is possible to encourage people to bike more by developing attractive and safe bicycle routes in dense urban cores. This is especially possible in the neighborhood scale. So what are you waiting for Iranians? Get on your bikes. Or eco-tourists to the region - show Iran how it's done by bike. Read more on green Iran: Iran Looks to Create Biofuel Iran Inaugurates Its First Solar CSP Plant Celebrate Spring and Iranian New Year Image via kamshots

bedouin-beduin-israel-camel-shadow-sun

Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:51:42 +0000

Israel's Bedouin Want Their Rightful Share of the Sun

Karin Kloosterman — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:56:36 +0000

It would create jobs and better dividends for the marginalized Bedouin in Israel's Negev Desert. So will the Israeli Government allot a lease-land quota for solar energy on Bedouin-settled land? Arava Power, based on an Israeli kibbutz, recently signed a solar energy land lease deal with Israeli Bedouin (previously nomadic people). The deal, it seems has prompted the Bedouin to want a bigger or guaranteed share in Israel's solar energy land lease market. According to the Jerusalem Post the Bedouin city of Rahat and its Mayor Sheikh Faiz Abu Seheban called a press conference last Thursday to publicize his community's intentions to the Israeli government. “I sent a letter asking for a special quota of solar energy specifically for Bedouin,” the mayor said. Should the Bedouin get it? “Entering the solar energy market would create jobs for Beduin residents and save on electricity. The Beduin are the poorest community in Israel,” he added. The Beduin would lease their land to private solar developers and would work at the solar fields. The Israeli government has plans to have 10% of its country's energy to be from renewable sources by 2020, and has since guaranteed attractive feed-in tariffs for medium-sized projects attracting international investment and interest. Clearly the Bedouin people in Israel are no chumps. They want a share in the solar energy gold rush. Since land-rights issues for the Bedouin are still a very dodgy issue in Israel, we can foresee this topic being a very political one. We are also concerned how these land-leases will be managed. BrightSource has already learned that it can't just put up solar panels wherever it pleases in the Mojave Desert. Similar restrictions should be put in place in Israel's somewhat small Negev Desert. Read more about Israel's Bedouin: Cycling for Peace With Israeli Bedouin Meet Israel's Green Bedouin Immersion Arabic Course in First Solar Bedouin Village in Israel Ben Gurion University Helps Green Bedouin City of Rahat ::JPost Image via jocelyndurston

blur bike

Naomi Ben-David — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:30:09 +0000

relax

Naomi Ben-David — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:34:15 +0000

6 Tips to Cutting Down Stress

Naomi Ben-David — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:05:16 +0000

Does it sometimes feel like you are constantly racing, while life passes by in a blur? There are natural ways to avoid this stress. Image via Stig Nygaard Rising blood pressure, muscular tension, fraying nerves, trouble sleeping and killer migraines, does this sound like your life? Well, stress is a killer and in today’s modern age we seem to be willing to accept it as a normal part of our lives, especially here in the Middle East where life wouldn’t be complete without it. It doesn’t have to be part of your daily existence though; there is a natural way of getting rid of stress so you can avoid all the side effects that go with it. Just as much as you can get rid of migraines naturally, there are some simple keys to avoiding stress. Read on for our tips. 1. Cut down on the coffee – So that cup of coffee in the morning is the only thing that gets you out of bed in the morning, still it should not take the place of any of the major food groups. Caffeine and sugar bring about the release of stress hormones and pump up adrenaline to keep you on your toes, but too much can cause damage. Logically speaking, if you are constantly jazzed by coffee, your body does not have the time to unwind, and you may find yourself anxious and depressed. 2. Exercise – This is the next step and before you try thinking about where you can fit it into your busy schedule, just remember, even a 5-minute walk is beneficial. Doing some form of exercise or sport loosens muscles and releases endorphins which promote a relaxed feeling. If this isn’t enough, it also improves blood circulation which increases brain activity. 3. Stretch and sing – If you insist that exercise doesn’t fit into your daily routine, the very least you can do for your muscles is stretch. Stretching releases cramped muscles and allows your body to relax for those few moments. Strange as it may seem, singing gives you a larger intake of oxygen which your body needs to help you relax. Stress usually makes people breathe shallow breaths so singing encourages breathing deeply which allows you to calm down. Is relaxing at the top of your list? Is it even on your list? Maybe you should change that. Image via SashaW 4. Just relax – It is as simple as that. Take relaxation off your list of things-to-do-that-I-don’t-have-time-for, and put it in your life. Actually schedule 15 minutes a day for yourself to relax. Whether it means taking a walk, listening to music, painting or gardening, escaping for a few minutes is beneficial. It gives you a chance to focus on something else, giving your mind a break from your stress-related issues. 5. Soothing oils – At the end of the day give yourself the luxury of a bath or a hot shower and instead of rushing through like you are racing, take your time and let the heat ease the tension in your muscles. Then try adding lavender or lemon balm oils. These oils are used in aromatherapy for good reason, they impact nervous tension. Try adding it to your bath water, or rubbing some on your skin after your shower. 6. Cup of tea – If oils aren’t really your cup of tea, you might try drinking herbs, an actual cup of tea. Instead of having another cup of coffee, get yourself a cup of herbal tea (also great during pregnancy), which doesn’t have any of the caffeine which keeps your body so wired. The simple act of taking a minute away from your desk, gives you a chance to concentrate on something else, which is in itself a relief. It is a new lesson for us to learn in this life with a crazy pace. We need to learn how to switch off and relax. This doesn’t mean pretending to read while your mind is really going over your list of things to do tomorrow, it means actually relaxing. It might seem like a small, step to take, but the impacts of a stress-low life are far reaching, so it is worth while trying to incorporate some of these easy steps into your daily life. Read more on natural remedies: 4 Unique Aloe Vera Juice Recipes for Summer and Health Feel Better with Herbs of Kedem and Ancient Hebrew Medicine

Green Prophet Flies to "The Ornithological Society of Kuwait's Forum"

Moshe Terdman — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:50:35 +0000

After looking at a personal blog from Lebanon, at a Syrian environmental initiative, and at a personal environmental blog from Iraq, we are reaching now Iraq's neighbor, Kuwait. Here, we will take a little break from environmental blogs and move to review a very unique Kuwaiti and Arab forum which is dedicated to the birds and which is administered by the Ornithological Society of Kuwait. It is called "The Ornithological Society of Kuwait's Forum. This forum is written in Arabic and has been active since January 2008. According to its website, the aims of the Ornithological Society of Kuwait include: "bird studying, protecting, watching, and identifying for all the free flying birds in Kuwait; establish and run bird reserves in important bird areas and liaise with government officials; publish a bilingual full annual bird report to include all sightings of birds and the status of their habitat; educate the public by lectures and meetings; publish flyers, posters to educate the public for the protection of birds; and establish a library to include most important birding books and magazines. Top image via joi.

KB portrait

Arwa Aburawa — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 17:45:59 +0000

zolaykha sherzad afghanistan fashion

Karen Chernick — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 19:16:16 +0000

zarif design afghanistan fashion

Karen Chernick — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 19:40:46 +0000

streetlight-tehran-iran-solar-energy

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:55:55 +0000

Iran Plans for Solar Energy in Tehran, But Cost's a Limiting Factor

Mehrdad Parsipour — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 05:01:59 +0000

In the face of nuclear sanctions, Merhdad reports on Iran's renewable energy agenda. Time to invest in Iran's sun? Above image of streetlights in Tehran. These days the news about using renewable energy are heard more than ever before in the Iranian media. One of the most talked about news item is related to the production and consumption of solar energy in public and private sectors. Although the media and the universities emphasize the use of clean and renewable energy, some governmental organizations insist that the price of technologies like solar panels, is just way too high. According to Mohammad Behzad, the Iranian Deputy Minister of Energy, the production of solar energy in Iran needs $2,000 USD investment for every KW of electricity produced, and this amount can be reduced for mass production. Behzad, who was speaking in the opening ceremony of the Center of Applied Education and Research for Solar Energy in Tehran in June 2010, also mentioned that the Ministry of Energy is ready to buy energy produced by solar technologies from the private sector. At the same time that everyone is lecturing about the advantages of solar energy in seminars and conferences, there is a tension in a more practical ground between the City Council of Tehran and the Municipality of Tehran about the consequences of using this energy. There are disagreements are about the legislation around committing to solar energy use and high price of its production. A Green Light for Tehran's Streets In December 2008, the City Council handed out legislation and obliged the Municipality to provide a master plan of lighting for the urban spaces of Tehran. One of the items of the regulation specified that at least 15 percent of the lighting energy should be obtained from new and clean sources like solar energy and also solar energy plants should be activated. But this act seemed to be an overestimation of what the City can really do. Again a year later, the City Council modified the regulation and obliged the Municipality to use solar energy for 10 percent of the needed energy for urban parks and street lighting. This amount should increase by 10 percent each year. However the authorities of the Municipality, who have not been able to reach the percentage so far, announce that the costs of for using solar energy is so high that it is not possible to implement the plan. In July 2010, Hossein Safaei, the head of the fruit sales plazas organization, who is one of the authorities of the Municipality, announced his organization will not be able to use solar energy in the fruit sales plazas. At present about 7 percent of the energy of lighting of the urban spaces of Tehran is being consumed in traffic lights. This is what Mohammad Hadi Heidarzadeh, the environmental consultant of the Municipality of Tehran says. Yet, some 3 out of 22 zones of Tehran have used solar energy for lighting of urban parks. Although some efforts have been made to start using this energy in Iran and particularly in Tehran, it seems hard to add 10 percent to solar energy use each year with regard to the present trends. Of course Iranian good experiences on solar power should not be neglected. Previously the construction of the first solar plants of Iran in Shiraz and Yazd had been started. Read more on green Iran: Iran Looks to Create Biofuel Iran Inaugurates Its First Solar CSP Plant Celebrate Spring and Iranian New Year Above image via hamed

LN-greentech-klara-oren

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:55:07 +0000

LN Greentech Creates a Cleantech Click Between Ohio and Israel

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:56:41 +0000

Israel's LN Greentech and Ohio develop a clean tech cooperation agreement. Klara Oren (above), the CEO of the Israeli clean tech-focused incubator LN Greentech, started the company in her living room in the early '90s. She thought it would be a good way to help Israel's new immigrants from Russia to integrate. Back then the focus was on biotech, and the government liked her approach so much that it provided funding to help transform research ideas into companies. Unlike the American incubator model, LN Greentech, now privatized, is Israel's only incubator that's focused on promoting the development of clean tech companies in the country. And according to company reports, it's about to branch out in the US via a new partnership with businesses in Ohio. Following business trips from Israel to Ohio, and those bringing Ohioans to Israel, last month LN Greentech signed a deal with the Ohio Clean Technologies Group, which is designed to create more than 2,000 sustainable jobs in the Midwestern state's Mahoning Valley. The group's vision includes plans to bring clean technologies in alternative energy and clean energy to market. And it includes Israel as well. The unusual partnership between Israel and Ohio started early this year, when the founders of Ohio Clean Technologies visited Israel as part of a delegation that included the mayors from Youngstown and Warren, Ohio. The delegation also included representatives of local businesses and of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber. The Ohio-Israel click The Israeli group had previously received offers of partnership from other companies and groups, but there was something special about the chemistry with the Ohio delegation, that just 'clicked' with the Israelis. "Some of the most innovative technologies we've seen have come out of Israel," Jack Scott, a founder of the Ohio Group told an Ohio newspaper. "What they've done is partnered with their defense department." And it is that partnership which has bred innovation across the board, well beyond military, he said. Among the innovative LN Greentech companies that impressed him were the young companies promising advances in laser technologies, wind energy and solar cells, and remote sensors. Scott said, "We want to create a link with the Israeli incubator companies and identify and transfer those technologies back here." Lena Schneider, Oren's assistant at LN Greentech tells ISRAEL21c: "The idea here with the US group is that we want them to, and believe they can, promote our projects and programs in the US. Part of the agreement signed is that they will be able to commercialize them. We all know what each side has. Israel is for us - a home - but the market is in the US. We are aiming to get into the market in the US." Among the dozen or so companies being helped financially in the incubator are two from the Israeli Arab community: TransBioDiesel, which is developing catalysts for the biofuel industry; and Agrobics, that develops wastewater treatment technologies. Referring to the two Arab firms Schneider, also an immigrant from the Ukraine, tells ISRAEL21c, "We welcome any Israeli company to come to the incubator; we look at the individual projects themselves. And we are happy to have these two brilliant ideas in the incubator." A boutique incubator from A to Z Unlike in Ohio, where incubator facilities offer very basic services and facilities, Schneider explains that a different structure is in place in Israel. "Here an incubator provides you with a whole set of everything. For two years we receive the projects to our incubator and we give them guidance in tech, budgeting, admin, looking for funding, approaching VC's... we give them the whole structure so that they can be focused on their project." The Ohio group was fascinated by the Israeli approach, she says, and the "way we operate." Plus, over the past three years, "our incubator has focused only on clean tech and this is what makes it special." Oren founded LN Greentech in 1993 and it quickly became part of the local incubator system, helping to support technologies created by highly trained Jewish Russian physicists and engineers during a mass immigration to Israel after the lifting of the FSU's infamous Iron Curtain. Well-known for her service in the Israel Air Force, Oren became the go-to woman for the new immigrants. Today, 70 companies later, about 50 people are members of the LN Greentech team, including a dedicated administrative operations staff of four, based in Haifa. There's a team of from three to five people for every project. Investors in LN Greentech include the Altshuler Shaham investment house, Zeev Bronfeld, and private investors. One of the most recent successful exits has been wound management company Polyheal. The next step is for the Israeli company to head over to the US to check out American projects: "We are very happy not only with the cooperation, but also personally, with the people in Ohio we are working with," Schneider concludes. ::LN Greentech (This story first appeared on ISRAEL21c - www.israel21c.org).

damavand

Mehrdad Parsipour — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:10:11 +0000

With 5671 meters, Damavand is the highest mount of Iran

masdarcity

Tafline Laylin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:28:00 +0000

Masdar CEO Admits An End To Oil

Tafline Laylin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:36:50 +0000

Masdar's CEO acknowledges oil and gas are finite, yet the energy provider continues to exploit UAE's natural resources to fund renewable projects with the same quest for fame and fortune that kept us glued to oil [image via GDS Digital] Given its celebrity status and our skepticism of its real sustainibility, we at Green Prophet endeavor to keep abreast of Masdar City's progress. We questioned the Masdar carbon credit scheme as another attempt to justify the world's interminable pursuit of black gold, but recently it seems that oil-fed businessmen such as Masdar's CEO are beginning to catch up and acknowledge that yes, oil is a finite resource. So when an energy company propelled by one of the oiliest economies on the planet says that oil will not always be around, what alternative does he offer? According to the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, the Middle East holds 66% of the world's remaining oil, while the United Arab Emirates has the 3rd largest oil reserve. "But that does not mean oil and gas will be there forever," Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Masdar's CEO told media in Toledo following a recent speech to an American university in Ohio. In response to this revelation, the UAE is developing one of the grandest, most ambitious renewable projects in the world. "We will make it [alternative energy] commercially viable and offer it to the world," said Al Jaber. He also assured his audience that the $22 billion carbon neutral Masdar City project - designed to be the first of its kind - is on task to provide 7% of the United Arab Emirates' power with renewable energy sources by 2020. However, Al Jaber admits that they are slightly behind schedule, albeit within its planned budget, because "All the experts, the architects and contractors, none of them knew how to make [Masdar City]. It's never been done in the history of the world." Though Masdar recognizes the impermanence of oil resources, we can't help but notice the irony that those same resources are financing a $22 billion "sustainability" project that will only benefit 45,000 people. :: Arabian Business More on Masdar:

GE Ecomagination Centre in Masdar City

Studied Impact’s Power Plant Fit For Living

Masdar Awards $600 Million Contract for ‘World’s Largest’ Thermal Solar Plant in UAE

pentulum-wind-israel

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:07:56 +0000

pentulum-wind-israel

Karin Kloosterman — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:07:58 +0000

Israeli "Wind Prediction" Company Pentalum Raises $9 Million

Matt Khoury — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:15:01 +0000

One of the main problems both in planning and running a wind farm is knowing where the wind will come from and how strong it will be. Pentalum thinks they have the solution. Pentalum Technologies Ltd have raised an additional $9 million from three venture capital fund, the Israeli business daily Globes is reporting. The company has developed what they call a SpiDARTM: “a revolutionary, cost effective, patent pending, Lidar system, for remote sensing of wind. “The system targets all three main wind farm applications: wind resource assessment, wind farm operation optimization and wind forecasting.” LIDAR stands for light detection and ranging and the technology is used for establishing the range as well as other information of a target by using laser pulses. When used in the wind power industry to measure the oncoming horizontal winds the system proactively adjust the blades to both increase power and to protect the rotor from damaged caused by excessive winds. “The SpiDARTM unique architecture allows simultaneous measurements of wind speed in a multitude of selected sites, with a cost per site significantly lower than existing technologies,” the website advertises. A pilot study of the SpiDAR is planed for early 2011. Pentalum Technologies is run by Sagie Tsadka, Co-Founder and CEO and Former General Manager of Finisar Israel (Nasdaq FNSR) and Nathan Sela, Co-Founder and COO is a serial entrepreneur and executive in several innovative, cutting edge medical equipment companies. While the Israeli wind turbine market is relatively small, especially for a country which is at forefront of the technical development a problem often attributed to an extensive and complicated bureaucracy, with 6 MW of production capabilities installed, there is great potential elsewhere. At moment Egypt is at the top of the "wind" class in the Middle East and North Africa with 450 MW already installed and another 200 MW in the planning stages; the total capability for the region is estimated to be 835 MW. However the advancements in the Middle East and North Africa are tiny when compared to the global leaders such as Germany with 25,000 MW and Spain with 18,000. ::Globes ::Pentalum website Read more on the wind: Can Israel's Wind Compete With Solar? Egypt's Government to Invest in Wind Turkey Blowing and Going on Wind Energy

squash stuffed with freekah

Miriam Kresh — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:18:38 +0000

freekah pilaf

Miriam Kresh — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:27:30 +0000

Freekah, Delicious Ancient "New Grain."

Miriam Kresh — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:57:39 +0000

Folks seeking new taste sensations are going wild over the flavor of freekah, Arabic smoked green wheat - a staple in the Middle East for thousands of years.


Where wheat grows in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, and Egypt, people set aside part of the harvest to make freekah.
It's young wheat, gathered before the grain matures. Dried and briefly toasted over open fire, the grain gains a smoky, almost-sweet flavor and a greenish-gold color. It also delivers a powerful supply of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Modern chefs in Israel and the States are now discovering dozens of ways to highlight this traditional slow food's unique flavor in cooked dishes and salads. The Atlantic's Nomi Abeliovich gives a recipe for freekah and sweet potato salad. The Lebanese-cuisine blog, Taste of Beirut, shares a vegetarian recipe for squash stuffed with freekah, bell peppers, and spices. The site also features a mouth-watering recipe for lamb with freekah and tomato sauce.These recipes are in the spirit of traditional Lebanese flavors. And here's an original freekah pilaf from the Harmonious Belly blog - freekah from the Western point of view.
If pure freekah is too smoky for your taste, try mixing it with rice, as Sarah of the Foodbridge blog did: Farik with Rice.
Look for freekah in ethnic Arab stores, health food stores, and your local shuk. Try combining it with cooked root vegetables, as salad. Or as a stuffing for vegetables or meat, instead of rice. Or even as a hot breakfast cereal with chopped dried fruit and nuts.

Just remember that 1 cup of the smoky-flavored grain needs 2 to 2 1/2 cups of water to cook thoroughly and still be a little chewy, as for pilaf. 3 -4 cups are needed for the freekah to burst open and become soft, as for hot cereal.

Enjoy!
More on traditional Middle Eastern food from Green Prophet:

Moroccan Stuffed Artichokes

Za'atar-Topped Pita

Ful and Choumous

::Taste of Beirut blog ::The Atlantic Magazine :: The Harmonious Belly blog ::The Foodbridge Blog

Photo of Freekah-Stuffed Squash by Taste of Beirut blog Photo of Freekeh Pilaf by Harmonious Belly blog

flamingo

Tafline Laylin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:08:21 +0000

Flamingo2

Tafline Laylin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:13:24 +0000

Dubai Is For The Birds (And The People Who Love Them)

Tafline Laylin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:21:25 +0000

More than a playground for the rich, Dubai's Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary protects a wild selection of birds [image via mape_s] Dubai. The very word evokes a sense of plastic dread: tall, extravagant buildings shimmering in the sharp sun, the tallest buildings, the trendiest, and one of the worst environmental offenders we can think of. And yet, Dubai's 3900 sq km hosts a plethora of migratory birds traveling between Africa and Asia, as well as various year-round species. We've always thought of this particular emirate as a wealthy wasteland, but can it actually support a healthy variety of wildlife as well? Dubai is surprisingly diverse, according to Wildlife Extra. Its mountains, off shore islands, and rocky outcrops, as well as the mangrove swamps, tidal wetlands, lagoons, mud flats, and desert scrub all support an equally impressive array of birds. Among them are gleaming kingfishers, predatory eagles, bee-eaters and owls. And in winter, it's possible to travel just outside of the city glut to view flocks of salmon-colored flamingos with their black-tipped beaks. A sanctuary for birds Part of the 10 km tidal creek that flows from the Gulf and Dubai city was set aside as the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary and includes nutrient rich tidal mud flats and lagoons, along which mangrove saplings were planted in 1993. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed established the sanctuary and continues to be responsible for its managment. They take their management seriously here. Police patrol the area to ensure that visitors do not disturb the wildlife and visitors are required to apply for a permit 3 days before their visit in order to enter. These measures allow conservation managers to maintain the sanctuary's ecological integrity. Plan ahead, get your permit But the trouble is worth it. Against the backdrop of the infamous skyline, parents can take their children on a peaceful outing, get fresh air, and teach their children about the spunky life of birds. There is the Spoonbill, whose long beak resembles a spoon, and who favors lakes, marshes, swamps and mud flats. Or the Purple sunbird so named for the racy splash of color on its rump. So if you're heading to Dubai and want to escape the rat race, head for the sanctuary, winter is best, and immerse yourself in the flighty world of our feathered friends. :: Wildlife Extra More Wildlife News: Turkey Helps Syria Revive “Thoth” – The Northern Bald Ibis Nature Iraq’s Conservation in A Combat Zone What Tagged Hawksbill Turtles From Qatar Tell Us

air pollution-tehran-milad

Mehrdad Parsipour — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:31:27 +0000

Milad Tower disappears in smog, Flickr/Please! Don't Smile

Zolaykha Sherzad Resurrects Traditional Afghan Crafts Via Modern Fashion Design

Karen Chernick — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 05:36:46 +0000

Zolaykha Sherzad revives Afghan artistic culture and trains women with her Zarif Design company in Kabul. Fashion can be environmentally friendly in a few ways. Green-ifying your outfit can be as simple as obtaining it from your local second-hand store, or using eco-friendly detergents and cold water to wash it. Alternatively, it can mean that your clothes are made from organic and sustainably produced materials, or that the designer who made your clothes created them out of recycled fabrics (a la Ziad Ghanem). For Zolaykha Sherzad, fashion is a local, handmade (and therefore low carbon-emission) endeavor and this can be seen in her Zarif Design company in Kabul, Afghanistan. Zarif Design, which means "precious" or "fine" in Dari, aims at "using traditional Afghan fabrics and custom wear to render elegant modern designs". In short, the company hopes to bring back traditional Afghan methods of textile production by making them palatable to a modern aesthetic. [image via: Reuters] Keeping the project strictly local, the collections are all designed and produced in Kabul, made by local Afghan women, and made with fabrics original to Afghanistan. As Zarif Design eloquently explains, the company hopes to restore cultural heritage that has been lost in the recent past due to war and conflict. In Zarif Design's own words,

"Afghanistan's unique identity and culture has been greatly afflicted as a result of twenty-three years of war and conflict. A significant number of artisans and their centuries-old traditions have disappeared or are in danger of being lost. "Zarif Design" demonstrates the tremendous possibilities of intersecting new creative designs with these time-honored arts to satisfy contemporary taste. While promoting cultural preservation, this endeavor also provides a platform where traditional and high quality Afghan craft becomes a source of economic development."

On a more global level, Zarif Design helps share Afghanistan's rich cultural heritage with the world. : Zarif Design Read more about environmentally friendly fashion:: Lebanese Designer Ziad Ghanem Creates Recycled Couture Keep Things Sexy More Energy Efficiently with Delta Galil Underwear The Bedouin Ladies of Lakia Weave Together Women and Tradition

tel-aviv-green-hi-rise

Lisa Damast — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:01:19 +0000

Israel Cleantech Intelligence: Green Hi-Rises and 7 More Headlines

Lisa Damast — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:03:50 +0000

Tel Aviv's first green hi-rise, Ohio-Israel partnership, Volkswagon and more headlines related to Israeli cleantech and the environment. Image via [nivs]. During the week of July 20, 2010, "wind prediction" company, Pentalum raised $9 million. Tensions between Israel and Lebanon over natural gas in the Mediterranean heated up and Rosetta Green and Seambiotic are partnering to develop improved algal strains for the biofuel industry. For these stories and more, see this week's headlines below. Wind Israeli “Wind Prediction” Company Pentalum Raises $9 Million Partnerships and Funding Israelis win prestigious ERC grants LN Greentech Creates a Cleantech Click Between Ohio and Israel Natural Gas Natural Gas “War” Between Israel and Lebanon Could Lead to a “Drill Race” Electric Car Volkswagen Group seeking technology in Israel Biofuel Rosetta Green and Seambiotic Will Collaborate in the Development of Improved Algal Strains for the Biofuel Industry EBOOM CAPITAL: KHOSLA VENTURES - ONE VC’S BETS ON NEXT-GEN BIOFUEL In Israel Israelis win prestigious ERC grants Green hi-rise to hit Tel Aviv Missed last week’s headlines edition? Catch up on motorized bicycles, Israel's best beaches, the Red-Dead Sea canal and more.

Zolaykha-Sherzad-fashion

Karin Kloosterman — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:15:24 +0000

Green Prophet Flies To "The Ornithological Society of Kuwait"

Moshe Terdman — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:49:26 +0000

A weekly Green Prophet series that looks at the Arabic "green" blogosphere and online communities. After looking at a personal environmental blog from Lebanon , at a Syrian environmental blog that raises environmental awareness among the Syrian public, and at a personal Iraqi environmental blog, we are flying this time to Iraq's neighbor, Kuwait. Here, we will take a little break from environmental blogs and review a unique environmental forum, which is all about birds. Called "The Ornithological Society of Kuwait's Forum," this site is dedicated to birds only, and is administered by the Ornithological Society of Kuwait. It is written in Arabic and has been active since January 2008. According to its website, the aims of the Ornithological Society of Kuwait include "bird studying, protecting, watching, and identifying for all the free flying birds in Kuwait; establish and run bird reserves in important bird areas and liaise with government officials; publish a bilingual full annual bird report to include all sightings of birds and the status of their habitat; educate the public by lectures and meetings; publish flyers, posters to educate the public for the protection of birds; and establish a library to include most important birding books and magazines." If you're a birder, this site is for you. The Ornithological Society is divided into 4 forums, which are divided in their turn to several smaller forums. The big ones are: Bird Forum, Bird Monitoring, Wildlife, and Environment Protection.

The Bird Forum includes several smaller forums, which are: the general forum, bird photos & comments, ID forum, books and literature, bird equipment, and bird photography and editing. The Bird Monitoring Forum includes two smaller forums: Rare Birds and Bird Sightings. The Wildlife Forum includes three smaller forums, which are: the Plants Forum, the Wildlife Forum, and the Insects Forum. The Environment Protection Forum includes one small forum with the same name.

As can be seen from the subjects of the different forums, the forum includes posts on every subject which one might have on his mind and has to do with birds. It includes photos of many birds that can be sighted in Kuwait; travels to different parts in Kuwait in order to photograph birds and go bird sightings; the various kinds of cameras which are best to photograph birds; questions on kinds of birds and birds' identification; books about birds in Arabic and English Recruiting the Public to Support Environmental Campaigns In addition, the site serves to inform and ask for the support of the Kuwaiti public in the environmental campaigns run by the Ornothological Society of Kuwait. For example, on August 9, 2009 a post titled "Together We Will Stop A Project which Ruins Our Environment," calling thw Kuwaitis to support the Ornothological Society of Kuwait in its demands to stop the building project of 5,000 housing units in Jaber al-Ahmad City, as well as the building project of 1,750 housing units in the northern part of al-Dawha City and, to build there a national garden instead, which will be a tourism site. According to the Ornothological Society of Kuwait, these sites are unique in the framework of all the Arab Gulf. They are encircled by shallow sea beaches comprising of mud sediments, which serve as the main food of the fish and birds who are in the area. It is also a place of rest and stopover for the migrating birds and a place where rare plants can be found, which are fed by the sediments found in the area. In addition, the establishment of human presence near these beaches might pollute the ground water, which is naturally flowing into the sea and will pollute it due to its shallow waters, and, thus, will cause the death of the animals and plants, which, in their turn, serve as food for the human being. This post includes also pictures of the area, pictures of the birds and plants that can be found in the area and more information on the ecological importance of the area. This post is not the only one which campaigns to save the area of the Western Jadiliyat, where the cities of al-Dawha and Jaber al-Ahmad City are located. During the years 2008 and 2009, the Society posted more posts calling the public to support its campaign to save the area and informing the Kuwaitis about the area and what happens there. Informing the Public On Kuwait's International Green Conventions The Society also uses its blog in order to inform the Kuwaitis on international environmental conventions that Kuwait has joined. In a post published on July 18, 2009 –– "The CITES Convention" –– The Ornothological Society of Kuwait told the Kuwaitis that Kuwait signed the Convention On International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora only in 2002. The post includes links to the CITES website, the clauses of the convention in English, and the Kuwaiti people who are responsible for the implementation of the convention in the country. The Ornothological Society has used its forum not only for the purpose of informing the public concerning international environmental conventions that Kuwait is part of, but also concerning the conventions that it is not part of, but should be. One such post –- "Convention On the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals" –– which was posted on July 18, 2009, the Ornothological Society of Kuwait mentioned that Kuwait, Iraq, and Qatar are the only Arab countries that have not signed this convention or a MoU on this issue. Oman and the UAE signed an MoU on this issue. This, according to the author, shows the low environmental level of Kuwait in contrast to other Arab countries. In order to stress its point, the post includes also a link to the clauses of the convention in Arabic and two maps showing the signatory parties and the non-signatory parties on the convention. Kuwait's Forum In Sum The Ornithological Society of Kuwait's Forum is rich in details concerning the birds in Kuwait and together with the Ornithological Society of Kuwait's website, it serves as a complementary source to know more about the birds in Kuwait and on other issues that the Society is involved in. It also serves as a forum where the participants may ask questions and be given answers concerning every issue which has to do with birds in Kuwait. Indeed, as we saw in previous blog reviews, also in this case the Ornithological Society of Kuwait uses the forum as a means to educate Kuwaitis through the internet on birds and on why it is important to protect the birds and the environment. In Kuwait, unlike in its neighbor Iraq, the number of internet users in Kuwait (according to Kuwait Internet Usage and Marketing Report) is just less than half of its population –– 1,100,000 out of an over all population of 2,789,132 –– which is almost 40%. This means that many Kuwaitis are potentially exposed to this forum. As the number of the internet users in Kuwait is expected to rise even more, then the forum will have a lot of exposure. Hopefully this exposure will help the Ornithological Society of Kuwait in realizing its aims and in making this unique forum, which is the only one in the country which is dedicated only to birds, a platform for raising the awareness of the Kuwaitis to the importance of protecting the birds as well as protecting the environment. More On Environment in Kuwait Method To Seal Spill in Kuwait Could Work for Gulf Oil Spill Kuwait Still Cleaning Up Environment After Saddam’s Mess Kuwait Marine Life Degrading to Alarming Levels Top image via joi.

azouri ecotower tel aviv

Tafline Laylin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:42:53 +0000

accousticeye-israel-water-pipe

Karin Kloosterman — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:40:12 +0000

An AcousticEye to Diagnose and Stop Leaky Pipes From Within

Karin Kloosterman — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:42:43 +0000

Rusted, blocked or leaky pipes? An AcousticEye can see inside pipes for swift repair. What drives an engineer to spend sleepless nights devising solutions to life's twisted problems? Engineer Tal Pechter, CEO at AcousticEye, transformed his kitchen into a laboratory and his body into a test specimen in his quest for a method to detect holes and blockages in pipes. His obsession evolved from his work at two seemingly unrelated places - Israel Aircraft Industries and prior to that, a sleep apnea startup. Focused on 'tubes' in both jobs, Pechter was convinced that there had to be better methods to locate leaks and blockages in airplane pipes and blockages in a person's airways, than those currently in use. In fact, there are far more similarities between Pechter's two jobs than one might think. For example, systems within an aircraft, built with tubes and pipes, parallel the respiratory tract, circulatory and digestive systems in the human body. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QceFZl-9d2c&feature=player_embedded[/youtube] If something goes wrong in an aircraft's hydraulics system, fuel system or air pressure chambers (all of which involve pipes and tubes), aircraft technicians need to cut through and operate on the whole system. "There is a huge problem in finding the exact location without traversing all the tubes, so the attitude is: If it works don't touch it. We don't want to open panels and dig through the entire aircraft," Pechter explains to ISRAEL21c. Finding the source of a problem is thus a daunting task that can cost incredible amounts of man-hours and money. It's also very frustrating for engineers when it is so difficult to diagnose problems which may need only minor repairs. The same type of frustration is associated with attempting to locate the underlying causes of sleep apnea. With a person already suffering from interrupted sleep, here, too, 'technicians' are searching for non-invasive ways to detect the source of a problem. In sleep apnea - a phenomenon that disturbs a person's sleep up to hundreds of times a night, and which is also associated with snoring - sleep physiologists need to locate the blockage in the 'pipes' and fix it, to help a person to sleep easy. Sleepless nights produce a tube inspection technology These problems kept Pechter plugging away in his night kitchen lab. He combed the research to discover how holes and blockages in pipes might be 'seen' in a non-invasive way. No solution he found seemed to fit until, in 2005, he came across the research of Noam Amir, a young Israeli working on his PhD. Their collaboration led to the creation of AcousticEye, a company that's seen a $7 million investment, and whose clients include General Electric in the US. Based in Holland, with its R&D located in Israel, AcousticEye has developed the AcousticEye Eyesight, a tube inspection technology that non-invasively peers into tubes large and small and diagnoses blockages, pinholes, corrosion and irregularities that company engineers should be aware of. And according to Pechter, it does this faster than any solution on the market. Already in use in power plants and in the chemical industry, the company (which plans to break even by 2011) offers a tailor-made testing device that uses optical waves to find problems in any kind of pipe or tube. The tube inspection device resembles a large hand drill shaped like a dolphin's head. The optical sensor is a metal tube, protruding from the dolphin's 'mouth.' The sensor sends optical waves coupled with special algorithms in a software solution that quickly detects and diagnoses irregularities in the pipes. It is so difficult to locate the source of a problem in the twists and turns of the systems in power plants that operators tend to forego routine inspection and repair, Pechter claims. They spend time cleaning, but few resources are allotted to diagnosing deposits in the system, a major factor contributing to efficiency loss. Scale, marine algae, sea life, you name it - "Everything can get deposited inside these tubes," says Pechter, adding that according to what he's seen, not one of the existing technologies can tell you whether or not the pipes are clean. A core technology based on sound waves AcousticEye's core technology is called Acoustic Pulse Reflectometry (APR). It sends out sound waves and measures the Doppler Effect that reflects back to the inspection device. It can work on tiny pipes, large ones, those that are curved, bent, straight, made from plastic, metal, or virtually any material, says Pechter. He tells ISRAEL21c about a recent job at a power plant, where with AcousticEye the operator learned how 15 percent of the energy that the plant was losing could be saved, simply by performing a routine inspection. "Other technologies are subjective," says Pechter. "You need to be an expert to understand them. Ours is easy to use, creates results faster - in about nine seconds per tube." He estimates this is about 10 to 20 times faster than ultrasound, water jet solutions, magnetic field measurement-based devices and endoscopes, none of which are viable solutions in many situations. With 20 employees, AcousticEye currently has contracts with GE Energy and Hydrochem in the US, and with IST, a Canadian firm that welds pipes for the power plant industry. Other clients worldwide include Rico in the UK and HiTech, in India. In Israel, they include the geothermal clean tech giant Ormat, with headquarters in the US, and the Israel Electric Corporation. A boon for the world's GNP With a current special focus on heat exchangers, Pechter boasts that the solution is 'green' and could potentially affect the world's GNP. Explaining this seemingly grandiose claim, he says that power plants, oil refineries and chemical industries all use heat exchangers and that, "Good maintenance of the heat exchanger adds to greening the world. "Chemical and thermal exchangers are the heart of the power industry, and are in each and every power plant," says Pechter, who holds a first and second degree in engineering, as well as an MBA. One side of the heat exchanger is the hot side with the boiler, while on the other side there's a condenser that turns hot vapor into water to create a pressure drop. The efficiency of these boilers and condensers affects the price of the energy that is transported to our homes. Every percentage point of energy lost jacks up the prices we pay for power and increases the number of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. "People don't invest money in cleaning heat exchangers and the tests are too expensive," says Pechter. He relates that other solutions require highly trained individuals using probes such as endoscopes, magnetism, or ultrasound detection - all techniques that are both more time-consuming and expensive. The AcousticEye, says Pechter can be used by an untrained welder or maintenance worker, who can not only diagnose problems in operating systems, but also on the fly, as tubes and pipes are being welded together. "This is the only tool on the market that can measure deposits in the heat exchangers. And the efficiency problem in heat exchangers affects one-quarter of one percent of the worldwide Gross National Product. Good maintenance of heat conductors can save money," he asserts. Pechter forecasts additional applications in avoiding potentially disastrous chemical leaks and in the field of medical diagnostics, but stresses that here and now the focus is on saving energy. (This story first appeared on ISRAEL21c - www.israel21c.org)

eye

Naomi Ben-David — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:24:58 +0000

From Rockstars to Recycling: Interview with Kristiane Backer - An Eco-Muslimah

Arwa Aburawa — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:27:22 +0000

"For me green living is part and parcel of being a good Muslim- it's a spiritual requirement." Kristiane Backer has undergone various transformations in her life but none as big as the move from a rock and roll lifestyle as MTV reporter, interviewing the Rolling Stones and Lenny Kravitz, to an Eco-Muslimah promoting the green message of Islam. A fateful meeting with famous cricketer Imran Khan at the pinnacle of her success in the late '90s, drew her attention to Islam and also the realization that something was missing in her life. Inspired by the message of the Qur'an, travel to Muslim countries and the beauty of Sufi poetry, she decided to become a Muslim. Kristiane, who recently launched a campaign which highlights the Prophet's respect for the environment, took time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions about what it means to be an Eco-Muslimah. You recently launched the 'Inspired by Muhammed' campaign, how do you feel that Islam's green message will encourage a more positive and balanced understanding of Islam? KB: Islam’s message is so strong and clear when it comes to preserving the environment and respecting nature, these are inherent values of our faith. I think knowing this will at least make people think because the ecological crisis affects everyone. And any set of ethical principles that encourage green living, has to not only be respected but also looked into and encouraged for the common cause of saving the planet or living a life pleasing to God. Tell us some of the core green principles inspired by Islam. KB: Nature is God’s creation and a sacred space so respecting it is akin to charity- it is a way of remembering God. There are hundreds of verses in the Qur'an that speak about the earth, nature and its resources which tells us that the earth is a trust and we are its stewards which is a role we must fulfill responsibly. The Prophet Muhammad was sent as a mercy to all creation, including animals and plants. He had a very close relationship with nature. He taught us to observe the elements, to marvel and draw teachings from the nature around us. And he emphasized that we must be careful in using its resources, not to waste water even if standing next to a running stream and if the last hour comes and we have a sapling in our hand that we should plant it. That means till the very last moment we need to have hope and be involved in the renewal of life. People’s relationship with nature are governed by an ethical and spiritual understanding of nature as God’s Creation and must be based on contemplation and respect. Even in war he taught us to respect nature. How does Islam influence your personal environmental-awareness and day-to-day lifestyle? KB: I try to live as environmentally conscious as much as possible- I recycle, hang my washing out weather permitting and cycle around my area. For me green living is part and parcel of being a good Muslim- it's a spiritual requirement. Do you think that environmental awareness in the Muslim world is lagging in comparison with the rest of the world? What could be done to change this? KB: Yes! I think there are many more efforts to develop renewable energy in Germany for example than in the Muslim world. I think Muslims are largely ignoring this part of our faith. I went to the gulf the other day and was shocked to see many empty sky rises with all the lights on. I think we need to realize that a green consciousness is equivalent to God consciousness. Living green is living according to God’s commands. Once we realize this, insha Allah (god willing) the rest will follow. There are certain environmental activists who argue that the practice of Hajj (air travel) and the Muslim world's dependence on oil is incompatible with green principles. Would you agree? KB: Well, the whole world is dependent on oil and urgently needs to develop sustainable energy as well as cutting it's use of oil and other natural resources because it will run out. We are all in the same boat and need to collaborate for the common good, according to the Qur’anic principle: compete with one another in good deeds. I am sure ways could be developed to make the Hajj more environmentally conscious. Finally, If you could get all Muslims to do one thing for the planet what would it be? KB: Several things: Less pollution, more clean energy and much more respect and care for nature and animals. Okay, so Kristiane slightly cheated and got more than one wish but who could blame her! Green Prophet want to thank her for taking part and hopefully we'll be hearing from more Eco-Muslims across the world in future. ::Kristaine Backer's Website Read More on Green Islam: Cambridge to Build Europe’s First Eco-Mosque “Inspired by Muhammad” Is Islam’s Green Message to Break Terrorism Tips for a 'Greener' Muslim Wedding Water Conservation Values in Islam The Muslim World Wants to Green Hajj

The Toxic Touch of Beauty Products - 7 Chemicals to Avoid

Naomi Ben-David — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:33:44 +0000

Do you keep an eye an the ingredients in your beauty products? Well maybe it's time you did. Image via dreamglow pumpkincat210 Have you ever read the ingredients on the back of your beauty products? It is fairly common practice to check the ingredients of food, so why is it that the same doesn’t apply to cosmetics? After all, it does go on our skin on a daily basis. The truth is, that even if you do read the ingredients, those long chemical names probably don’t mean that much to you, but the cosmetics industry is filled with chemicals so there are a few items you should keep in mind to avoid. 1. Coal tar – For many women, part of the morning ritual involves putting on their favourite shade of lipstick, but would you be as attached to it if you knew that it contained harmful materials? Synthetic colours often listed as D&C or FD&C with a number in the ingredients. These are based on coal tars, which are carcinogens. Carcinogens are cancer-causing substances, so how much do you really love your lipstick? Maybe it’s time to switch. 2. Parabens – These are actually a group of compounds, which occur naturally in certain foods, however, rather than going through the expensive process of extracting it from fresh fruit and vegetables, they are synthetically produced. They are widely used as anti-microbial preservatives, but your skin can absorb the chemicals causing irritation. They disrupt hormone levels and while they are not the only cause of health problems, given the popularity of this chemical in beauty products, it is something to look out for. 3. Petrolatum – This is used as a moisturizer, which is ironic given that it clogs your pores, by coating your skin. In essence, this substance stops your body’s natural moisturizing system, which can in turn causes skin irritations. Of course, the reason for its popularity is that it is inexpensive. Here in the Middle East, where the sun is so strong, it is vital to take care of our skin, but this is one chemical that you don’t want be using daily in your skin care routine. 4. Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate – What this does is give your shampoo that nice foaming action which we all love, but in reality it is basically a harsh detergent. In fact it can cause skin irritations, eye problems and other allergic reactions. 5. Hydroquinone – It is very popular in certain cultures to lighten the skin and hydroquinone is key in many skin-lightening products. When you think about it though, anything that causes a permanent bleaching effect in your skin can hardly be healthy. 6. Propylene Glycol – A by-product of petroleum, what it does is act as a solvent on the skin making it popular in lotions and deodorants. It is highly toxic however and can lead to liver and kidney problems. If this isn’t convincing, consider the fact that it can be found in anti-freeze, now is that something you really want floating around your body? 7. Phenylenediamine (PPD) – This is found in permanent hair dyes as well as dark coloured cosmetics. Whether you dye your hair from the bottle or go to a salon, this chemical is just as common and can in fact cause scalp irritation and allergic reactions. Consider the fact that to dye your hair, you have to sit for at least half and hour with chemicals seeping into your scalp. Why put yourself through all this when there are natural alternatives to hair dye? When buying products there are several things to keep in mind, not the least of which is the chemicals in your products. So next time you reach for your favourite shampoo, have a glance at the ingredients and try to avoid the products with bright colours, synthetic fragrances and long scary looking chemical compounds. Read more about natural alternatives to beauty products: Sage Advice on Natural Deodorants (7 Tips) Three “Natural” Masks and Cleaners For Soothing Summer Skin

Azouri Brothers Eco-Tower Planned for Tel Aviv

Tafline Laylin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:00:05 +0000

The First Phase of Tel Aviv's first "Green" high rise to be completed in January [image via emporis.com] Although the Middle Eastern sustainable development agenda lags behind the western world, several recent developments and innovations demonstrate that we can keep pace. Studied Impact in Dubai has designed a renewable power plant that is fit for living, and So' Eco is spreading their green building skills,married with social equality, throughout Syria, Lebanon, and Tunisia. These initiatives reflect a willingness to join the global commitment to restore environmental damage while drawing urban dwellers back to the earth. Does the Azouri brothers' eco-tower in Tel Aviv express Israel's maturing eco-consciousness? Israel's First Eco-Tower Planning officials recently authorized the Azouri brothers' plan for their 20-story "eco-tower" to be built on Hamasger Street for NIS 200 million ($51.83 million USD). The high rise will have all the fixings of the most progressive buildings: solar panels on the roof to generate energy, potentially a wind-turbine, filtered fresh air with 6 air conditioning units as opposed to just one, and online climate control that will be monitored in real time, according the Ronen Azouri speaking at a press conference. Maximum Green Potential Designed by architect Keren Yedvub, the eco-tower will be built with materials that have "maximum green potential," including recycled materials. In addition, on-site recycling facilities will be available to tenants, as well as access to 2 botanical gardens. In order to save energy, according to Azouri, it is essential to insulate well. To this end, they will use dble silver sn62 glass which permits roughly 12% more sunlight than regular glass while deflecting 25% more heat. “If we provided green leafy atriums for clients in the past, now we are focused on green buildings,” Azouri said, adding that the project is not just about business, but also reveals the team’s values. According to Guy Battle, a UK green consultant on the project, a sustainability ethos has become the mainstream, and that increasingly organizations are submitting corporate sustainability reports to prove their green values. Back to Nature What’s fundamental about green building is not the energy or carbon savings, though that’s important. It’s making the link between environment, the quality of place and the people,” he declared. Studies have shown that people in green buildings are more efficient and more productive, he said. Expected to be completed in January, the initial phase of the development project, which strives for either Silver or Gold LEED standards, is already sold out. Clients include John Bryce Technical College and Mercedes. By "branding themselves green," both the College and Mercedes are throwing up their hands in the global wave. Though the eco-tower will only achieve a 25-30% energy savings, Battle says that "it’s important to remember that the green-building revolution will come in stages. This is a good first stage for Israel." :: Jerusalem Post More Architectural News From the Middle East: Geotectura’s Residential Building Set to Sail Problems With Rehabilitating the Historical Grand Bazaar of Tehran Sheikha Mai Saves Bahrain’s Architectural Heritage

happiness-forbes-poll-gallop-israel

Karin Kloosterman — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:31:01 +0000

happiness-forbes-israel

Karin Kloosterman — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:31:09 +0000

happiness-forbes-israel

Karin Kloosterman — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:31:49 +0000

Egypt crater site

Tafline Laylin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:09:44 +0000

Kamil Crater Discovered in Egypt

Tafline Laylin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:14:09 +0000

One of the most pristine crater sites in the world, Kamil teaches us to respect nature's superiority over our lives. With its wealth of whale fossils trapped within what was once the Tethys sea, and the River Nile, now subdued but previously an angry god that rose and fell at will, affecting millions of people, Egypt offers an important reminder that we are subject to nature's rules. When the rains don't come, we struggle to grow food. When the rain comes in a fury, we lose our crops; we lose our homes. But when the next meteorite makes contact with the earth, we will be ready for it, thanks to one of the world's best preserved craters recently discovered in the Sahara desert. Pristine preservation Of the 175 confirmed earth impact craters in the world, Kamil in southern Egypt may well be the best preserved, according to Clara Moskowitz, senior writer for SPACE.com. Usually craters on earth, compared to the moon or mars, for example, are subject to erosion and other environmental factors that either blow them away or fill them in. The 148 foot wide Kamil crater, on the other hand, is so well sheltered that geophysicists tasked with verifying the crater in February 2010 could trace the stripes made by shattering debris. It was first discovered in 2008, via Google Earth. "This crater is really a kind of beauty because it's so well-preserved that it will tell us a lot about small-scale meteorite impacts on the Earth's crust," Luigi Folco, meteorite curator at the Museo Nazionale dell'Antartide in Siena, Italy, told Moskowitz. When giant iron boulders crashes into the earth Based on the crater's size and shape, researchers calculated that it was probably "an iron meteorite about 4.3 feet (1.3 meters) in diameter traveling at 7,920 mph (11,732 kph)," writes Moskowitz, that slammed into the earth probably within the last few thousand years. This impact event occurred "relatively recent[ly], in geological terms," according to scientists, and could provide a lot of helpful information to prepare us for the possibility of a future event. According to Folco, "small impacts are rather frequent on Earth — on the order of one event every 10 to 100 years,"... "studying this crater is a good opportunity for scientists to get to a correct assessment of the hazard small impacts pose to the Earth and to devise mitigation strategies." Browsing through google earth satelite images, Vincenzo de Michele, a former curator of the Civico Museo di Storia Naturale in Milan, Italy, first discovered the crater, while Folco published details from the verification trip in February in the 23 July issue of Science. Objects crash through the earth's atmosphere fairly regularly, according to SPACE, and though they usually burst in flames over the ocean, they are still a decent threat; it's worth reminding ourselves that nature reigns supreme over everything we do. :: image and via SPACE.com More Travel and Nature News: Environmentalists Say “No, No!” To Red-Dead Canal Dust Swept Into Arabian Gulf Delivers Key Nutrients Nature Iraq’s Conservation in A Combat Zone

Zoroastrian-cemetery

Mehrdad Parsipour — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:59:46 +0000

credit: ISNA press, Iran

Towe of Silence-Yazd

Mehrdad Parsipour — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:17:29 +0000

credit: Flickr/N_Creatures

IBM-water-Israel-IT

Karin Kloosterman — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 05:15:24 +0000

IBM Transfer IT Know-how to Water Conservation in Israel

Matt Khoury — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 05:15:52 +0000

IBM to create new flow models and smart grid water solutions based on Israeli high-tech expertise. Scientists at IBM’s research facility in Haifa will launce a number of pilot programs both in Israel, the US and China that will use algorithms developed for the IT world to detect water leaks and ever predict possible pipe bursts, the Jerusalem Post is reporting. Pnina Vortman, senior manager and Smarter Planet Solutions leader with IBM told the paper that they have developed a number of algorithms that could be used to prevent water loss from broken pipes, streamline maintenance and reduce general water loss. However, this does not mean that the company will now start to manufacture sensors that will measure the water flow. Instead they will harvest the data already provided from sensors and smart vales that are already in use or will be in he near future; in many municipalities across the country and use that information to create flow models. The models will then be used create a ‘normal’ flow model that will then be used to compare to data of the day to day flow, so that in case of an leak or burst that water company will know of it instantly and be able fix it. As opposed to as today when most leaks are reported to the company by consumers complaining about not having any water and repair team is then dispatched resulting in a lengthy and costly leak. For a country such as Israel, where the streets and airwaves every summer are filled with campaigns urging its population to conserver water and winter rains are usually greeted with a sigh and the words ‘well lets hope it fills up the Kinnneret [Sea of Galilee]’, the implementation could be very important. And water experts in Israel are asking for such solutions. Another advantage of the new IBM algorithms is that it may be used to reduce the constant high pressure kept in water pipes that firefighters will have instant access in case of emergencies. The backside of this is however that the pressure wears the pipes down and increase both the risk of leaks and maintenance cost, the new system could be used keep the water less pressurized and if needed the pressure could be increase at a certain spot. IBM’s Smarter Planet Solutions initiative is also conducted research in energy, water, transportation, healthcare, finance and safety. Read more on Israeli water technologies: Arison Family Launches Miya to Save City Water Israel and China Create Water Pact The History of Israel's Drip Irrigation Company Netafim ::IBM's Smarter Water Management website ::JPost Above image via cote

Vegetarians Hit the Streets of Jordan Wearing Lettuce

Arwa Aburawa — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 05:28:47 +0000

Last Sunday in the bustling streets of Amman in Jordan, a young Muslim women wearing a hijab and a suit of lettuce made a stand for vegetarianism. Amina Tariq, who is a member of the animal rights group PETA: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, held up a sign playfully stating 'Let Vegetarianism Grow on You' which explains why she was covered from her neck down to her toes in lettuce. Part of PETA campaign to raise awareness in the Middle East, Amina didn't have long to make her point as she along with Ashley Fruno of PETA were quickly pulled to one side by the Jordanian police, questioned for around three hours and then released. Minus the lettuce suit, of course. Whilst Amena and Ashley were able to attract a large crowd of equally confused and curious passersby (as well as reportedly causing a traffic jam), did they manage to spread the vegetarian message to the masses? The logic behind introducing vegetarianism in the Middle East is fool proof- it's cheaper, healthier and will also end a lot animal cruelty in the factory-farming slaughterhouses of the region. People whose eat plant-based diets are better protected from heart disease, diabetes, obesity, strokes and cancer. Vegetarians also have stronger immune systems and live on average 10 years longer than meat-eaters do. Eat Less Meat, Save More Water It is also a lot better for the environment. As Fruno told reporters at the protest, “The consumption of meat, eggs and dairy products is the number one cause of climate change and a major contributor to resource depletion, pollution and even world hunger.” The Middle East and African nations are pouring precious water supplies into meat production while diverting it away from other essential services- in fact, livestock production worldwide accounts for 8% of global human water consumption. And according to PETA, each day animal agriculture consumes a shocking 2.5 trillion litres (550 billion gallons) of water which is enough for everyone in the world to take eight showers. Now, that's a lot of showers especially when you consider the increasing water difficulties the region is facing. In fact, water is an increasingly volatile issue in the region. In recent months, tens of thousands of Egyptians took to the streets to protest the increasing water shortages and pollution in the River Nile (which no doubt livestock contribute to) is rife. Whilst there have also been protests in the past due to the high price of meat in Egypt, when it comes down to it, you don't need meat to survive but you do need water.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="553" caption="Hummus, the staple dish of the Middle East is a great vegetarian option. Image via Basheertome"][/caption] Vegetarianism in Islam PETA has also been very careful to argue the benefits of vegetarianism within an Islamic framework. They have sponsored two websites (Islamicconcerns.com and Islamveg.com) which extoll the values of vegetarianism and maintain that a vegan and vegetarian lifestyle is compatible with Islamic belief. Whilst recognizing some ambiguity in rulings, they state that many Muslim jurists have issued legal rulings that show vegetarianism is permitted in Islam. Quoting Hamza Yusuf who remarks that traditionally Muslims would have been semi-vegetarians, they also highlight the need to at least moderate the intake of meat especially when excessive consumption is clearly discouraged in Islam. Personally, I'm a little dubious about whether the Middle East is ready for full-on vegetarianism especially when negative attitudes towards vegetarians exist worldwide but I do see hope for a message of moderation in meat consumption. In the words of Amina, I also want the Middle East to 'turn a new leaf' and embrace vegetarianism. Even if that is just semi-vegetarianism. ::IRIN News ::Middle East Online ::PETA

IAClogo

Jack Reichert — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:51:05 +0000

The Middle East Can Only Drool Over Tesla's Electric Sports Roadsters

Maurice Picow — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:56:19 +0000

Tesla Model S Coupe: Expensive bang for your bucks. The Middle East can only drool for now. Tesla electric sports roadsters floated a successful IPO stock offering and are now tearing down the roads in European countries like Turkey, Hong Kong, Japan, and Canada. Still considered to be an expensive recreational toy due to its high price (beginning at US $ 100,000) the car is nevertheless being bought by well-to-do people who love fast cars; especially ones that go from 0 to 60 mph in only 3.7 seconds, according to tests run by Tesla. The car was recently featured in the SPEC Smart Products Ecosystem Connections news site, reporting that Tesla has sold more than 1,200 of these roadsters to customers in 28 countries. One of the satisfied customers was Philip Liang, CEO of the Hong Kong based medical device manufacturing company, General Sensing, and who became the first Hong Kong resident to own one. Another buyer, Takao Ozawa, the serial entrepreneur and BizSeek business directory founder, enthusiastically endorsed his new Tesla roadster:

“As an early adopter, I wanted to invest my own money to show the rest of society what the electric car experience is like. And now that I own a Tesla, I've found that not only is it efficient and beautiful -- but it's really, really fast.”

Not only is it fast; the Tesla also has a declared cruising range of 245 miles per charge to its lithium ion battery pack. This is considerably more than the 160 kilometers (100 miles) of other electric models, including Renault's Z.E. Concept Electric models expected to be going on sale next year. The Renault models incorporate technology developed the Israeli entrepreneur Shai Agasi and his Better Place company, whose technology evolves around a network of battery exchange centers, which will enable a driver to exchange his used up battery with a freshly charged one in less than three minutes. I recently took a test drive at the Better Place Electric Car Educational Center near Tel Aviv. And was impressed. Although the Tesla Motors car has yet to incorporate a battery swapping option with its models, it does claim that its cars can be plugged into a regular electric socket in any country it is sold in, which is very user-friendly when special electric car "charging posts" are not available. In May, Tesla and Toyota Motors Corporation (TMC ) announced their intent to cooperate on the development of electric vehicles, parts, and production system and engineering support. Tesla seeks to learn and benefit from Toyota’s engineering, manufacturing, and production expertise, while Toyota hopes to learn from Tesla's "daring spirit" and futuristic innovations. The two companies plan to produce an electric version of the popular Toyota RAV-4 SUV which they hope to have in full production in 2012. Since the present models offered by Tesla are still only sports cars; and due to their high price tag, the consumer market for these cars is very limited. Even though the company has been in business for more than 7 years, and has 13 regional dealerships. Tesla has yet to turn a profit from the sales of their cars. This fact may have influenced the company to "go public" by initiating the IPO, which generated more than $188 million of sorely needed operating revenues. It may be faster than a Ferrari but at $100 K+ per unit, it's still out of most buyer's price league. Electric or now. My price league, for sure. Read more on Tesla and other electric car models: Maurice Test Drives the Better Place Electric Car: Like a Dragster Tesla Motors IPO Races Through Abu Dhabi Better Place Renault Fusion VS Chevy's Volt Electric Car Model

#14: July 28, 2010

Jack Reichert — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:27:17 +0000

From MTV to Becoming an Eco An Eco-Muslimah

Kristiane Backer has undergone various transformations in her life but none as big as the move from a rock and roll lifestyle as MTV reporter, interviewing the Rolling Stones and Lenny Kravitz, to an Eco-Muslimah promoting the green message of Islam. A fateful meeting with famous cricketer Imran Khan at the pinnacle of her success in the late ’90s, drew her attention to Islam and also the realization that something was missing in her life. Inspired by the message of the Qur’an, travel to Muslim countries and the beauty of Sufi poetry, she decided to become a Muslim. Kristiane, who recently launched a campaign which highlights the Prophet’s respect for the environment, took time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions about what it means to be an Eco-Muslimah. Arwa's exclusive interview.

Read about Becoming an Eco An Eco-Muslimah »

Azouri Brothers Eco-Tower Planned for Tel Aviv

Although the Middle Eastern sustainable development agenda lags behind the western world, several recent developments and innovations demonstrate that we can keep pace. Studied Impact in Dubai has designed a renewable power plant that is fit for living, and So’ Eco is spreading their green building skills, married with social equality, throughout Syria, Lebanon, and Tunisia. These initiatives reflect a willingness to join the global commitment to restore environmental damage while drawing urban dwellers back to the earth. Does the Azouri brothers’ eco-tower in Tel Aviv express Israel’s maturing eco-consciousness?

Read all about the planned Azouri Brothers Eco-Tower »

Iran Looks To Solar. Cost For Rich Oil Nation A Limiting Factor?

These days the news about using renewable energy are heard more than ever before in the Iranian media. One of the most talked about news item is related to the production and consumption of solar energy in public and private sectors. Although the media and the universities emphasize the use of clean and renewable energy, some governmental organizations insist that the price of technologies like solar panels, is just way too high. Some limited solar energy is being used on Tehran's streets however.

Read about Iran's solar plans »

More Environment News from the Middle East: (click title to read)

CLEANTECH, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Masdar And The Dicey Science Of Carbon Credits »

It makes some sense that Masdar City, a carbon neutral city being built in Abu Dhabi, should receive carbon credits. But rewarding large oil companies such as Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC even though they...

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE

Celebrating Mehregan, The Persian “Nature” Festival of Autumn »

The Mehregan Festival or the Persian Festival of Autumn is an ancient Persian fest which is dedicated to Mehr (or Mithra/Mitra), the goddess and symbol of light, friendship, faith, love and kindness.

Read more lifestyle & culture stories »

BUSINESS & POLITICS

Masdar CEO Admits An End To Oil »

Recently it seems that oil-fed businessmen such as Masdar’s CEO are beginning to catch up and acknowledge that yes, oil is a finite resource. So when an energy company propelled by one of the oiliest economies on the planet says that oil will not always be around, what alternative does he offer?

Read more business & politics stories »

TRAVEL & NATURE

Dubai Is For The Birds (And The People Who Love Them) »

Dubai. The very word evokes a sense of plastic dread: tall, extravagant buildings shimmering in the sharp sun, the tallest buildings, the trendiest, and one of the worst environmental offenders we can think of.

Read more travel & nature stories »

FOOD & HEALTH

6 Tips to Cutting Down Stress

Rising blood pressure, muscular tension, fraying nerves, trouble sleeping and killer migraines, does this sound like your life? Well, stress is a killer and in today’s modern age we seem to be willing to accept it as a normal part of our lives...

Read more food & health stories »

ARCHITECTURE & URBAN

“Khan of the White Donkey” An Eco-Retreat Along the Ancient Silk Road »

We pushed open the brightly-painted wooden door and walked into a cool stone hall. The roof was a series of arches, in the ancient ...

CARS & TRANSPORTATION

The Middle East Can Only Drool Over Tesla’s Electric Sports Roadsters »

Tesla electric sports roadsters floated a successful IPO stock offering and are now tearing down the roads in European countries like Turkey, Hong ...

FASHION & DESIGN

The Toxic Touch of Beauty Products – 7 Chemicals to Avoid »

THave you ever read the ingredients on the back of your beauty products? It is fairly common practice to check the ingredients of food, so why is it that the same doesn’t apply to cosmetics? After all, it does go on our skin on a daily basis.

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www.GreenProphet.com

If you'd like to advertise on this newsletter, give us news tips, or just say 'hi,' send us an email contact@greenprophet.com. We respond to queries within 24 to 48 hours.

dead-sea-7[1]

Maurice Picow — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:27:22 +0000

bu-tinah[1]

Maurice Picow — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:33:15 +0000

jeita-grotto[1]

Maurice Picow — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:50:12 +0000

bu-tinah[1]

Maurice Picow — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:11:42 +0000

jeita-grotto[1]

Maurice Picow — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:14:12 +0000

dead-sea-7[1]

Maurice Picow — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:17:18 +0000

jeita-grotto[1]

Maurice Picow — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:19:25 +0000

trains-track-lego

Karin Kloosterman — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:56:17 +0000

Keeping Public Trains on Track

Green Prophet Staff — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:57:23 +0000

A new research project aims to create an early warning system to save lives of people who take the train. Trains are one of favourite means of public transportation. See how Europe does it. Trains are fast, affordable and in the right country, they run on time. But as new tracks are laid down, new hazards emerge. A new research project looks to predict future disasters so that trains will continue to rule the public transportation track. Thousands of people around the world have died in train wrecks caused by natural disasters. In 2004, the tsunami in Southeast Asia derailed a Sri Lankan train, killing 1,700 people. But with modern advances, these tragedies can be avoided — and a Tel Aviv University researcher, working in collaboration with teams from seven countries, is leading the way. Prof. Lev V. Eppelbaum of Tel Aviv University's Department of Geophysics & Planetary Sciences and his colleagues are collecting high-tech sensing data from satellites, airplanes, magnetic and soil sensors, and unmanned aircraft to devise a solution that will provide a reliable early-warning system for train operators. It's all part of the European Project FP7 research, "Integrated System for Transport Infrastructures Surveillance and Monitoring by Electromagnetic Sensing," which includes participants from Israel, Italy, France, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and Romania. The international team of researchers aims to connect emerging technologies so that train accidents caused by avalanches, earthquakes and even terrorists can be avoided. A system to detect sabotage "Sinkholes, avalanches, landslides, earthquakes, flash floods — these disasters can cause train wrecks anywhere around the world," says Prof. Eppelbaum. "We are hoping to develop a platform that can be fitted to any railway, passenger or freight carrier, to better predict natural disasters and possible terror attacks on rail lines." He says that his part of the study should be completed by next year. "We are creating a new interpretation system — allowing us to integrate cutting-edge technologies from across Europe," he says, adding that the biggest challenge, right now, is eliminating background "noise" from the data being collected. Climatic features and parameters such as soil types and physical geography can be very different from one region to another, which makes the work even more of a challenge. Some of Prof. Eppelbaum's recent research advances have been reported in the Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, the Journal of Arid Environments and the Proceedings of the SAGEEP Conference (USA). On the right Amtrak The international team also hopes to examine the additional risk of terror attacks on trains. While all the other data collected by the research teams will be made public, this section will remain top secret. Prof. Eppelbaum expects their methods will be adopted by the world's railway systems. As the cost of fuel for cars and planes rises, and environmentally-friendly train travel is more heavily promoted, experts predict that more Americans will be riding the rails to work and between cities. In 2008, about 30 million passengers rode on Amtrak trains, and train ridership figures have been steadily increasing. At present, there is no monitoring system for either natural disasters or terror attacks on rail systems in America or anywhere else. Prof. Eppelbaum says he has his work cut out for him: putting together different geophysical measurements and formats of sensors, he is collecting very different kinds of data and trying to turn it into usable information. "It's complicated math and physics," says Prof. Eppelbaum. "And yes, it includes lots of scribbling and equations on the chalkboard." ::AFTAU Above image via pmiaki

Will AFED's Documentary "Wet And Dry" Catalyze Arab Environmental Action?

Tafline Laylin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:17:34 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osHCbW9orV0[/youtube] Even as they sound an important climate change alarm for Middle Eastern viewers, AFED's endorsement of MASDAR and KAUST deserves its own alarm. At Green Prophet, we have lamented environmental inaction in the Middle East for a long time. Ridiculous artificial island schemes and dying rivers, such as the Jordan, are only 2 examples from a long list that both reveal and threaten the region's stability. The Middle East does not spew the kind of emissions seen in the United States, China, or India, but many countries in the region are blinded by fossil fuel wealth, which obscures the attendant environmental decay. The Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) released a powerful 12 minute documentary that finally sounds the alarm. The wave of the future: higher temperatures and higher seas Called Wet and Dry, the documentary launches deep into the crux of climate change: the potential that human activities could lead to a 5 degree Celsius temperature increase by 2100 and a sea level increase of 59cm, according to statistics published by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). A "1m rise [in sea levels] will directly affect 3 - 4% of the population in Arab countries," according to Dr. Mostafa Kamal Tolba, the former Executive Director for the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), and overwhelm an area 4 x the size of Lebanon. Despite these pressing issues, the narrator draws attention to the irony that while the Maldives is moving their population in land, to prepare for future sea level increases, in the Middle East, Arab countries are "racing to build artificial islands." The nightmare scenario Najib Saab, AFED's Secretary General, narrates the importance of fresh water, which will become increasingly scarce, and food production, which is expected to drop by 50% if new crops are not introduced. Infectious diseases will increase. Malaria will spread. And there will be more cases of dyspnea and sun stroke as temperatures continue to rise. All of these statistics and images generate a frightening momentum for even the most dissident viewer, and then culminates in the typical bottom line for all economies in the throes of globalization: money.

Economics - the bottom line

"Tourism is one sector of the economy highly vulnerable to climate change," according to Saab. Rising temperatures will make many Middle Eastern destinations unbearably hot, subject to extreme weather and scarce water supplies, as well as ecosystem degradation. As such, tourism should push for inland activities centered more on culture and entertainment. Biodiversity is addressed as well, noting that after only a 2 degree rise in temperatures, 40% of species are already likely to become extinct. Another serious issue is land use and urban planning regulations. "Choices for construction materials used for buildings and roads do not take into account the risk of rising temperatures," according to Professor Hamed Assaf from the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, AUB. As a result, "75% of buildings, roads, and other infrastructure could be destroyed as climate change continues to morph our planet. Is there an upside? There is if governments take the hint and introduce serious measures to at least keep temperatures from surpassing a 2 degree increase. And they should ditch short-term thinking in favor of long-term planning. Wet and Dry draws attention to the absence of concerted research, which is good, as well as programs such as MASDAR and KAUST as anecdotes - not good. Both MASDAR and KAUST are flashy efforts to maintain the status quo, a cultural model that has to be reigned in if our quality of life is ever to be restored. More Responses to Climate Change in the Middle East: Syria’s Master Plan for Renewable Energy

Studied Impact’s Power Plant Fit For Living

Vertical Farming in Masdar City? AeroFarms’ Soil-less Solution

RECIPE: Moroccan Fish Stew, Perfect for the Heat of Summer

Miriam Kresh — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:30:42 +0000

This light, pleasantly spiced Moroccan fish stew is perfect for a summer lunch or dinner. We like a hot meal in the summer, but it has to be light, and it shouldn't require a lot of time in the kitchen. This herbed and spiced fish stew needs only a few minutes of preparation, then half an hour to cook. Use organic vegetables if available. Any firm, white fish fillet works well for this recipe. Just make sure it's safe fish, first. Your best bet is to get a local fresh fish and ask the vendor to fillet it for you. And the stew makes a delicious sauce, so serve plenty of good bread, like these pitas, alongside. Moroccan Fish Stew Serves 4 as a main dish, 8 as a hot first course.

Ingredients: 1 1/2 kg. firm white fish. 1 package of cilantro, or parsley if preferred 2 onions, halved if only medium-sized, quartered if large 4 large cloves of garlic, peeled and whole. Put in more if you love garlic. 1 large tomato, or 2 medium tomatoes, thickly sliced 1 red or green bell pepper, thickly sliced 4 medium potatoes, thickly sliced 4 carrots, quartered vertically 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder and 1/4 tsp. powdered cumin 1 Tblsp. sweet or hot paprika, according to your taste salt and pepper 1/3 cup olive oil

Method: Use a wide, shallow pot, if possible. This is important because the pot liquid is less likely to dry out. If you're using frozen fish, thaw it out and put it to soak in cold water to cover; squeeze half a lemon into the water. Let the fish soak for 10 minutes, then rinse it. Fresh fish doesn't need the lemon water treatment. Slice the fish into pieces about three fingers wide. Put the slices aside. Place the cilantro or parsley on the bottom of the pot. Place the vegetables on top of the greens and set the pieces of fish on top of the vegetables. Sprinkle vegetables and fish with the dry spices. Pour the olive oil over the whole thing. Add no water, nor any other liquid. The ingredients will release their juices and form a thin, but rich sauce. Cover the pot and set it over a medium flame. Check it after 20 minutes, making sure that it's not drying out. When the vegetables are cooked through and the liquid has cooked down to a thin sauce, it's ready: it should take about 30 minutes total. Serve it hot. Enjoy! More summery recipes from Green Prophet:

Image via stuff

New Wasp Dubai

Tafline Laylin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:56:04 +0000

New Beetle Species Dubai

Tafline Laylin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:59:30 +0000

New Beetle And Wasp Species Discovered In Dubai's Wadi Wurayah Protected Area

Tafline Laylin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:01:15 +0000

Don't swat the wasp! Insects are important links to the food web and deserve protection status too. As the world begins to pay closer attention to the importance of preserving biodiversity, more has emerged about the Middle East's wild side. Hundreds of birds flock through the UAE en route from Africa to Asia, while conservation efforts have drawn more negative attention to sharks in the Red Sea. But less is known about the insect world and why we even care. Often people see a creepy crawly and are moved by some kind of ancient DNA to squish the life out of it. But Anthony van Harten realizes that insects are crucial to maintaining healthy ecosystems and are fighting to protect them in Dubai. The Beetle and the Wasp The 2mm long aquatic beetle - Ochthebius wurayah - and the 5mm long wasp, known as a "velvet ant" - Nanomutilla wurayahensis - were discovered in Dubai's first mountain protected area Wadi Wurayah. "The findings come as part of an intensive inventory of the arthropod fauna (insects, spiders, scorpions, terrestrial crustaceans) of the UAE that is currently being carried out under the patronage of Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nayan, member of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi, " according to an envearth press release. UAE's Anthropods The project's research co-ordinator Anthony van Harten has published 3 volumes of Anthropod Fauna of the UAE, without which information it would be impossible to understand which species exist where, or why. Knowing this, however, is crucial to being able to protect both the arthropods and by extension the region's unique ecosystem. Commenting on the discoveries, Anthony van Harten stated: “The only way to protect the enormous amount of insect species from extinction is to preserve the areas that support a diversity of insect species, many of them so tiny that they cannot be seen by the naked eye, and Wadi Wurayah certainly is such an area." What's so special about insects? According to Dr. Christophe Tourenq,

As predators, preys or detritivores, they are essential elements of the food web. For example, geckos residing within Wadi Wurayah’s mountains are part of the diet of the endangered Wild Cat (Felis silvestris lybica). Geckos feed on beetles, some of which are coprophagous or necrophagous, meaning they feed respectively on the faeces (droppings) or carrion (dead body) of wild cats and geckos. Beetles help then in the decomposing of the organic matter and contribute to the nutrient cycles

Thankfully, the insects and greater species in Wadi Wurayah will have a better chance of survival as a result of the research being conducted, as well as the protected status given to Wadi Wuraya in 2009 by his Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi. Not a barren land, despite our preconceived notions of Dubai and surrounding emirates, the protected area contains extraordinary diversity as well as a permanent water source that has been vital to special creatures such as the Arabian Tahr and Arabian Leopard for thousands of years. So, the next time you see a creepy crawly, think twice before stepping on it. Your ultimate survival may depend on it. images courtesy of WWF :: envearth More From the Wild Middle East: Turkey Helps Syria Revive “Thoth” – The Northern Bald Ibis Pollution, Nature Reserve and Sea Turtle Estuary All in One (The Poleg Stream) Nature Iraq’s Conservation in A Combat Zone

upcycled fashion israel poplove

Karen Chernick — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:04:51 +0000

water conservation fashion

Karen Chernick — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:11:09 +0000

HSE Expo Poster

Mehrdad Parsipour — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:24:19 +0000

jordan-lettuce-lady-peta

Karin Kloosterman — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:18:38 +0000

"Thirsty for Change" Fashion Show Raises Awareness About Israeli Water Conservation

Karen Chernick — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:15:17 +0000

PopLove's recycled fashion did a double eco service during "Thirsty for Change" - it got people excited about upcycled design and aware of the need for greater water conservation efforts. [image via: Fashion Snake]

A few weeks ago a fashion show of PopLove's upcycled couture was paraded down one of the buildings at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) in Herzlia in an attempt to raise awareness about the need for water conservation in Israel. The event, "Thirsty for Change", was organized by an IDC student, Talya Friedman, as her final seminar project. The proceeds from the (fun) event were donated to Israel Water Treaty - a local organization that attempts to protect residents' right to quality water and provide educational programs about water.

“People spend countless hours worrying about what to wear and when it comes to water usage- something that really needs our attention, no one thinks twice about it,” Friedman said. “Since fashion is something people care about, it's a great platform for promoting change.”

[image via: Fashion Snake]

Eitan CKeter-Yaakov, CEO of the Israel Water Treaty, spoke at the event about the need for public involvement in water conservation. “We (the public) need to work with the local authorities to ensure that water remains as a public resource. Our organization has already made the efforts to gain politicians support for a law guaranteeing all citizens the right to water even if they cannot afford it. This is just the beginning though. Public participation in the water sector is a personal responsibility that everyone needs to account for.”

The event organizers said that they hoped the fashion show would remind the public that water is a scarce and necessary resource in order to "act together to prevent water scarcity, so that we can look at the glass half full, rather than half empty."

To learn more about the cause visit Talya Friedman's website at Israelgives.org.

kamil-crater-egypt

Karin Kloosterman — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:11:55 +0000

Solar Panels

Tafline Laylin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:41:30 +0000

Solar panel

Tafline Laylin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:11:33 +0000

Israeli Firm Gilatz To Build Another 2MW Solar Plant In Italy

Matt Khoury — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:23:20 +0000

Gilatz builds another solar plant in Italy, capitalizing on the country's hefty solar subsidies [image via Mountain/\Ash] Solar is going viral, and can be profitable too. Gilatz Investment, a publicly traded company on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, has signed a deal through a subsidiary for the construction of a third 2 MW solar power plant in Italy, according to a Globes report. Stellar subsidies According to the Globes correspondent, Gilatz expects that of the plant’s $1.1 million annual revenue, 85% will be profit. Partly this is possible as the new plant, which is should be completed later this year, will take advantage of the Italian government’s 20-year subsidiary of 38 cents per kilowatt-hour on electrical sales. The plant will be the company’s third asset in Italy following a similar deal last month when the company announced its first project outside of Europe in Northern Israel. Gilatz goes global In April, Gilatz signed a letter of intent to acquire seven solar plant parks in Italy with a combined production capability of seven MW. When completed the seven solar energy parks currently under construction will cover 213,000 square meters, and cost $33 million. The stock market reacted positively to the news as the company’s stock rose to give the company a market cap of $113 million. The incentives offered by the Italian government are reported to have been a major factor behind the company’s decision to expand its presence on the Italian market. According to Bloomberg, the decision has led to a veritable gold rush of foreign companies that are taking advantage of the price regulations that allows them to sell electricity at six times the price paid for coal or gas generated power. When the subsidies subside However, it should be pointed out that while similar initiatives in Germany allowed the country to climb to the top spot of MW of electricity generated from solar power, in a few years the government is expected to cut back on its subsidies. The plant will generate electricity with photovoltaic panels, which is currently the fastest growing sun–to-electricity conversion technique. :: Globes More Renewable Energy News From Israel: IBM Transfer IT Know-how to Water Conservation in Israel Israeli “Wind Prediction” Company Pentalum Raises $9 Million Israel’s Bedouin Want Their Rightful Share of the Sun

sunscreen

Naomi Ben-David — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:31:00 +0000

3 Good and 3 Bad Sunscreen Tips for a Healthy Summer

Naomi Ben-David — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:36:43 +0000

Is your sunscreen protecting you or do you need protection from your sunscreen? Image via Joe Shlabotnik So summer is here and the timing is right for dancing in the street, but not without first considering the impact of the blistering sun. The automatic instinct is to grab the sunscreen and slather it on, especially here in the Middle East where the sun is so unrelenting. But have you ever given a thought as to what is really in your sunscreen? Most unfortunately, despite the fact that sunscreen is supposed to protect our skin, there are chemicals in the sunscreen which are damaging for our health. There are many ways to protect our skin, but one of them should be reading the ingredients on sunscreen so that we can avoid some of the hazardous chemicals. 1. Parabens – This group of compounds can appear on the label in several forms such as methylparaben, butylparaben and propylparaben. It is widely used as a preservative, in beauty products and to give sunscreen and other products a long shelf life, however it is easily absorbed through the skin and can disturb hormone levels. Think about the effect this can have the next time you go to put sunscreen on yourself, or on a child. 2. Benzophenone – Either this or similar compounds such as oxybenzone are active ingredients in sunscreen. This is absorbed by the skin and produces free radicals which in turn play havoc with your body, damaging cells and leading to aging skin. Some of these compounds also have an estrogen-like effect which can not only disrupt your body’s hormone balance, but also cause have more adverse effects. 3. Cinnamates – These are often used together with benzophenones and have poor water solubility. This means that they are often used in sunscreens marked “water-proof” where they coat your skin. Quite apart from avoiding certain ingredients, there are other things to keep in mind when worrying about sun care in summer. 1. There are good ingredients – You might want to have a look for sunscreens with zinc and titanium both of which are natural minerals. Being natural they are both better options for skin protection then chemicals of any form. 2. Vitamin D – The sun is the main source of vitamin D which our bodies need to promote the absorbtion of calcium as well as to keep bones healthy and strong. Having enough vitamin D can also prevent osteoporosis later in life. Of course it is not good to get too much sun, but a little each day it ideal. 3. Cover up – One of the best ways to avoid too much sun, is to simply cover up. Try wearing a hat outside and t-shirts which don’t expose too much skin. It might be fun to wear skimpy summer clothing, but if you are planning a day outside, consider what that could do to your skin. With all this, burning still happens, so in that case try using aloe vera as a great natural way to soothe your skin. Before you have to deal with burns, finding a sunscreen which isn't loaded with chemicals and then you can avoid the pain altogether. Or like Green Prophet's Karen suggests – make your own organic sunscreen. Read more on chemicals in products: The Toxic Touch of Beauty Products – 7 Chemicals to Avoid Some Tips to Consider Before Buying Beauty Products

checklight-presentation

Lisa Damast — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:55:09 +0000

Omar Yousef

Tafline Laylin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:57:00 +0000

Omar Yousef's Crowded Architecture

Tafline Laylin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:02:27 +0000

Palestinian Architect Omar Yousef draws attention to the occupation's "forced ecology" at the Ecoweek conference in Israel [image taken by Tomer Appelbaum] Designed to teach young architects the most progressive building practices available, beyond borders or cultural differences, the Ecoweek conference taking place in Israel draws inevitable attention to disparities. Green Prophet's interest in natural building practices such as Hassan Fathy's Nubian-esque structures stems from our intellectual interest in and understanding of ecology. Yousef, on the other hand, explains how in Palestinian territories, natural building occurs out of necessity. Haphazard Architecture A Professor at Al Quds Palestinian University in Jerusalem, Omar Yousef is one of several guests slated to influence budding architects to incorporate greener principles into their design. But his presentation, entitled "Recyling Water in Gaza: Discrepancy between Sustainable Ecology and the Occupation," has a political spin, according to Haaretz reporter Esther Zandberg. Yousef grew up in East Jerusalem and lives and works in Shuafat. In his time, he has not witnessed a systematic building pattern, but rather a haphazard pattern that responds to daily happenstance. "It is an architecture of chaos, crowdedness, instability, temporariness and destruction, improvised building additions and a separation fence," he told Zandberg, "...an authentic reaction to necessities, a testimony to the survival instinct of Palestinian society." Ideology vs necessity Whereas we tout the benefits of green building techniques and earth-based architecture, advocating a healthy dose of peaceful harmony thrown in the mix, Palestinians can't afford to be so ideological. According to Yousef,

Ironically, Gaza's population is also very ecologically aware, involuntarily, and the consumer world could learn from it.For lack of conventional building materials, they build houses out of mud and straw. For lack of waste disposal sites, they use junk to build playgrounds for children and recycle overflowing sewerage for irrigation and watering vegetable plots (permaculture.)

Though the complicated political situation does not escape us, and we are deeply empathetic to all suffering, we provide environmental news and leave politics to the experts. However, what we did find interesting is this notion of what Yousef calls "forced ecology." Living and building simply Without the political spin, the description of houses built of mud and straw sounds like a community using the materials at hand to eke out a life. This is what we did before the Industrial Revolution. This is what we always should do. Our modern concept of architecture and design, on the other hand, assumes that there are no limits to where we can source our materials, no limits to how big we can build, because the earth's bounty overflows. This thinking has given us front row tickets to the uncomfortable, and sometimes frightening, theater of rising temperatures and seas. Earth architecture is sustainable "Currently it is estimated that one half of the world's population—approximately three billion people on six continents—lives or works in buildings constructed of earth," according to EarthArchitecture.org. Earth construction is worthwhile. It is sustainable. And I dare to say it only seems unfortunate when compared to the unsustainable high-rises and mansions built by wealthier nations. Of course, there is no excuse for ruptured infrastructure - such as mismanaged sewage or the lack of waste disposal facilities - that imperils health or happiness, and we hope these issues will be addressed. But we can all learn a lesson about simpler living from the people who have no other choice. :: Haaretz More on Sustainable Building: Geotectura’s Residential Building Set to Sail Cambridge to Build Europe’s First Eco-Mosque Sharing Eco-Friendly Construction Techniques is So’Eco

Israel's Water Industry at Crossroads As Its Head Focuses on Private Venture

Lisa Damast — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:12:59 +0000

The upcoming months are going to be critical for the success of Israel's water industry, including Ori Yogev's Whitewater Group. Image via CheckLight. Globes is reporting that Ori Yogev has resigned from his position as chairman of the National Economics Council to focus on his water venture, Whitewater Group. Yogev had taken on the advisory role on a voluntary, temporary basis as a favor to PM Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Yogev,"Israel has become a leading player in the global water industry, and I consider it a great privilege to promote this industry. Whitewater Group is making progress and growing as planned." In recent months Yogev has spoken about the continued promise of Israel's water technology industry, which can be an international leader, and the the growth of the industry in Israel, which is expected to reach $2.5 billion by 2011. Yogev clearly sees this as a pivotal time for the industry and for Whitewater Group, in particular. In a statement he made last month, Yogev said, "The Whitewater Group of companies has made a significant leap in the past year. We are moving from the R&D phase towards international market penetration including China and U.S.A. We are scheduled to meet with customers, representatives, distributers and leaders of the American market at the exhibition in order to extend our activity in the U.S." Whitewater Group invests in cutting-edge water technologies and has been aggressive in promoting its companies: Glacon Computerized Control Systems, Whitewater Security, Whitewater Well, and CheckLight. Women in Water Whitewater Group was founded by Yogev and Israeli businesswoman Hana Gertler in 2006. Gertler, who owns several successful media ventures, invested about $7.5 million in the company initially. Whitewater Group faces competition from Miya Group. Another company based in Israel, Miya, was founded by Booky Oren and Shari Arison in 2006. The company is backed by Arison's $100 million Arison Holdings Ltd. ::Globes More articles on Israel's water market Shari Arison Officially Launches Water Services Company Miya Israeli Heiress Shari Arison Says Goodbye to Wasted Water With Miya Checklight: Mighty Microbes Glow to Keep Water Safe

Safety and Health Exhibition 2010 Kish Island, Iran

Mehrdad Parsipour — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:50:43 +0000

Organizers of the Health, Safety and Environment Expo in October invite businesses, individuals, and organizations from all over the Middle East to participate in Iran. Clean tech and green conferences aren't just taking place in the US and Europe. From 12-15 October 2010, the First International Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Exhibition 2010 will be held in Kish Island in the Persian Gulf. The Expo will focus on topics such as safety, rescue, firefighting, crisis management, and environmental issues in all disciplines, particularly oil and gas industries. The expo invites all professional individuals and companies and also academic researchers from Iran and other countries of the region to join the event. The emphasis of the event will be on the health and safety problems of the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region but it is expected that some European companies will also join. In parallel with the Expo, a conference will be held and workshops and technical papers will be presented. According to the website of the 1^st International HSE Expo the major subjects of the conference will be the following:

Bringing new technology to the region from the rest of the world.
Introducing new topics and approaches to the field of Health, Safety and the Environment.
Considering emergency response with regard to fire fighting, rescue, safety and crisis management.
Environmental health within the oil industry
Exchanging views with experts within the field of safety standards.

The Expo will be presented by the Sweden-based company Europars HSEQ AB, which is a Member of the Commercial Development Organization of the EU; the Scandinavian Chamber of Commerce; the European Development and Export Centre and the Swedish International Fairs Organization. The principal office of the company and its manager, Mr. Mansour Satarzadeh, are located in Stockholm, and the local office in located in Tehran, which does the ticket and attendance services. More information about the Expo and the conference, as well as the organizer, can be obtained from the following links: The First International Health, Safety and Environment Exhibition 2010 Europars HSEQ AB More Environmental Conferences in the Middle East: Register Early for the "Smart Grids" Middle East Conference ecoQ Conference in Qatar (2011) for Clean Technologies and Sustainable Energy

morrocco-fish-stew

Karin Kloosterman — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:41:31 +0000

Temperature

Tafline Laylin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:36:37 +0000

Temperatures

Tafline Laylin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:36:51 +0000

BP To Drill Even Deeper Off Libya's Coast

Tafline Laylin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:47:03 +0000

With BP's leaky well in the Gulf of Mexico barely capped and Tony Hayward ousted, Libya will allow BP to commence drilling deep off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea [image via arenamontanus] While the BP oil spill off the Gulf of Mexico drew worldwide consternation, inspiring an ardent campaign to quit our dependence on oil, the Mediterranean Sea's Deepwater Horizon goes largely unnoticed. Though no singular spill so spectacular has occurred, the Financial Times reports that the hundreds of annual spills in the Mediterranean add up to the equivalent. Even so, beyond the reach of potent environmental watchdogs and beyond the scrutiny of the American press, Libya is ready to harbor BP's dangerous deepwater drills in the Mediterranean. Sealing the deal The $900 million deal was signed in 2007 by BP's now former Chief Executive Tony Hayward, who was recently dethroned for his handling of the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster. “Drilling will start within a few weeks,” BP confirmed. President Obama issued a moratorium against deep-water drilling in the United States, and Günther Oettinger, Europe’s energy commissioner, suggested a similar moratorium on deep-water drilling in European Union waters. The Mediterranean states, according FT, ignored his pleas. How deep do we need to dig? "At 1,700 metres below sea-level in Libya’s Gulf of Sirte, the well will be 200 metres deeper than the Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico," according to Guy Dinmore and Eleonora de Sabata. And Libya is not the only country eager to drill deep off-shore, despite its obvious perils. Dinmore and de Sabata report that Diamond Offshore is moving its drilling equipment to Egypt, Australia's APX is poised to drill between Tunisia and Italy, and Shell will settle in Western Sicily. Italy, meanwhile, has signed 21 new exploration agreements. Semi-enclosed as it is, mixing with the Atlantic only once every 90 years, the Mediterranean Sea's ecosystem is extremely fragile. In addition to frequent oil spills, development, urbanization, and land-based sources of pollution such as industry, human sewage and agriculture also contribute to its degradation. Which brings us back to the question that we have asked before: are our leaders taking climate change seriously? :: Financial Times More Oil Spill Stories Than We Care To Talk About: PetroGulf Misr Denies Responsibility For Red Sea Oil Spill Red Sea Spill Causes Oil Company Stocks to Drop Don’t Cry Over Spilt Oil? Egypt Gov Says Red Sea Spill is from Old Oil