Arwa Aburawa

Reporters Notebook: The Ethical Aspects Of Islamic Banking

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Business & Politics »

islamic-banking-ethical-arms-industryAre Islamic banks anti-war? Islamic banks discourage investment in the arms and military industry as well as speculation and taking excessive risks

A couple of weeks ago, I was asked by a fantastic organisation to look into Islamic banking and how ethical it really is. Whilst I learnt that most Islamic banks may not have the best environmental record, I did discover that they do have some distinct ethical selling points. One of which is their reluctance to invest in the arms industry as well as an aversion to speculation and excessive risks which can destabilize the market. At a time when no-one trusts their bank, Islamic banking doesn’t look like such a bad alternative to the conventional profit-driven financial system.

Continue reading: “Reporters Notebook: The Ethical Aspects Of Islamic Banking” »

Tafline Laylin

Dubai Breaks its Own Record for the World’s Tallest Hotel

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Travel & Nature »

Dubai, green building, unsustainable development, tourism, Emirates Airlines, JW Marriott Hotel, Dubai, Gold, United Arab EmiratesWhen it is complete, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai Hotel will be the world’s tallest.

Never mind that scientists have discovered giant plumes of methane that could speed up global-warming, which could contribute to even higher temperatures in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other countries.

Pay no attention to the fact that hundreds of partially unoccupied towers already line the Gulf shoreline: JW Marriott is building the world’s newest tallest hotel in Dubai.

72 Stories tall, the Rose Reyhaan Rotana on Sheikh Zayed Road currently holds the record as the world’s tallest hotel, but it is soon to be surpassed.

When the twin 1,165 feet JW Marriott Marquis Dubai hotel towers are complete, they will have ten additional floors each and 1,608 rooms between them.

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Karin Kloosterman

Akrya Resort for Japanese Sensibility on Koh Samui, Thailand

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Travel & Nature »

akyra hotel review
An excellent time to get away from the cold weather, Thailand can easily become the Cancun or Ibiza for the Middle East. This week I’ve landed at the Japanese-influenced resort called Akyra. And while it is not a certified eco-hotel, which I am going to seek out and review later, there are a few elements of the resort that are in line with some of the values we might be looking for when looking to tread lighter on the planet. Of course sleeping on a beach bungalow without air-con is the best option for eco-travel in Thailand and something I do in Sinai. But not for me at this point in my life with a baby who’s now walking. I am looking for simplicity, quiet aesthetics and the kind of quality that will stand the test of time.

Continue reading: “Akrya Resort for Japanese Sensibility on Koh Samui, Thailand” »

Tafline Laylin

Palestinians Attempt to Build Secret Renewable Energy Plants

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Cleantech, Science & Technology »

Renewable energy, Israel, Palestinian Authority, solar power, green design, sustainable design, eco-design, Palestinians living in Masafer Yatta who do not have access to the electrical grid have been developing home grown renewable energy plants.

Palestinians living in the Masafer Yatta village have been secretly pursuing wind and solar energy projects in order to mitigate a serious shortfall of energy in the village.

But the 150,000 residents that live in Area C, which has been under Israeli control since 1993, live in constant fear that Israeli authorities will demolish their projects. Why? Because Israelis are opposed to any new infrastructure projects that are built outside of construction and planning laws.

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Tafline Laylin

Siemens Headquarters at Masdar City Scoops Coveted Architecture Award

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Architecture & Urban »

green design, sustainable design, eco design, Masdar City, Siemens, architecture,The LEED-hopeful Siemens headquarters in Masdar City has been awarded the coveted 2012 MIPIM future projects award. 

It wasn’t long ago that the first batch of photographs depicting the new Siemens headquarters made its way through the virtual world, but the LEED Platinum-hopeful building designed by Sheppard Robson has already scooped a coveted architecture award, Zawya news reports.

The MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Award in the office category acknowledges the resource-efficient construction’s contribution to Masdar’s overall goal to become a leading center of all things renewable and sustainable, and the designers will receive their prize at the MIPIM international real estate even in Cannes, France, on March 7.

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Karen Chernick

Green Tu B’Shvat Tour of Tel Aviv Celebrates the City’s Planted Areas

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Religion »

"green boulevard tel aviv"An English-language ‘green’ tour of Tel Aviv will take place this weekend in honor of Tu B’Shvat, the Jewish New Year for trees.

The city of Tel Aviv is no stranger to green tours, in fact it has seen all kinds of them.  Tel Aviv’s eco-tourists can enjoy a running tour of the city, a biking tour, or an annual tour of the city’s green architecture.  This Saturday, in honor of the Jewish Tu B’Shvat holiday, a special green tour will guide people along the belt of Tel Aviv’s green, tree-lined boulevards.

Tu B’shvat, also known as the “Jewish New Year for trees”, marks the time that determines a tree’s age.  It also commemorates the beginning of spring, and trees are often planted in celebration.

Continue reading: “Green Tu B’Shvat Tour of Tel Aviv Celebrates the City’s Planted Areas” »

Miriam Kresh

Weekly Vegewarian Recipe: Asparagus and Mushroom Risotto

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Food & Health »

image-vegan-risottoThis creamy vegan rice dish, dotted with little chunks of aromatic asparagus, satisfies the taste for something substantial and savory.

Asparagus has been in the markets for some time in the Middle East. It’s worth buying it for this low-fat, creamy risotto. And don’t forget another great vegan recipe – Chickpea and Artichoke Salad. Two great dishes for a vegan buffet.

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Karin Kloosterman

Mekhala’s Slow Boat Gives Us a Soft Landing into Bangkok

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Cars & Transportation »

mekhala-cruise-bangkok-boat-chao-praya-1
The winter months in the Middle East are the perfect time to travel to Thailand, especially with this year’s cold snap. Warm tropical temperatures hovering around 30, paired with a pineapple strip and a beach anywhere south of Bangkok can cure anyone’s winter blues. While Bangkok is fast, furious and very polluted, like the slow food movement, instead of lingering in Bangkok we decided to take a slow boat up the Chao Phraya River to the Ayutthaya province to see marvelous 4,000 year-old ruins and the spirit of ancient Siam. And on this slow boat, The Mekhala Cruise  (with an overnight luxury cabin) you can learn about good environmental stewardship by being among Thai people, and people of the river.

Continue reading: “Mekhala’s Slow Boat Gives Us a Soft Landing into Bangkok” »

Susan Kraemer

Israel’s Bedouin Get Solar from Arava (+ Obama)

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Business & Politics »

Arava-Power-Tarabin-Bedouin

Arava Power Company pioneers first ever solar contract for Israel’s Bedouin minority

The first-ever license for a solar project has been awarded this week to Israel’s bedouin community by Israel’s Public Utility Authority. Yosef Abramowitz of Arava Power Company promoted and led the solar project, to make a solar energy dream come true for Bedouin living in the Israel’s Negev desert.

The Obama Administration is supplying 80 percent of the $30 million of financing it will take to build the small photovoltaic solar farm, using the little-known Overseas Private Investment Corporation of the US government: OPIC.

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Tafline Laylin

Gulf Municipality Pampers Villa Owners Who Don’t Get Green Building

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Architecture & Urban »

green building, sustainable building, energy, water, carbon footprint, Estidama, United Arab Emirates, villas, Abu Dhabi, pearl ratingGoing green doesn’t come naturally to wealthy villa owners in the Gulf.

An online real estate  company listed a seven bedroom villa in Dubai’s neighboring Emirate Abu Dhabi for $95,300 a year, which amounts to nearly $8,000 a month. Anyone who can afford to spend that much money on rent probably has little incentive to turn off the lights in order to conserve energy or shorten their showers, which may explain why the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council sometimes has to meet with villa owners six times before they grasp the minimum requirements of the country’s mandatory Estidama green building code.

Continue reading: “Gulf Municipality Pampers Villa Owners Who Don’t Get Green Building” »

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