Permaculture power couple Nadia and Geoff Lawton, currently based in Jordan, have released a series of great (and free!) Permaculture videos online. The videos are basically a how-to guide of applying Permaculture principles, things to consider before buying a property and how to grow on a budget. They are all well produced and are a great, practical guide to growing using Permaculture principles. All you have to do is sign up (and they promise never to sell, rent, give or divulge your email information to anyone) and then you’ll have access to the videos as well as pdf downloads.

The videos are all well produced, easy to follow and cover :

- Surviving the Coming Crises

- Property Purchase Check List

- 5 Acre Abundance on a Budget

- Urban Permaculture: The Micro Space

Each one also comes with a pdf version if you prefer to read in your own time or to keep a guide to refer back to. According to the website, these are only available for free for a limited time so get to his website quickly to claim your freebies! Geoff Lawton is also offering to answer all your growing-related questions on a weekly basis. So if you’re struggling to grow in cold or hot weather, can’t get enough water or dealing with flat land, he’s on hand to help.

Click here to view the embedded video.

You can hear Geoff Lawton’s TEDx talk about the importance of Permaculture in the Middle East above. Since 1985, Geoff has designed and implemented permaculture projects in 30 countries for private individuals and groups, communities, governments, aid organizations, & multinational corporations. He has taught the Permaculture Design Certificate course and designed permaculture projects in 30 countries.

For more on Permaculture in the Middle East see:

Permaculture is the Silver-Green Bullet – Nadia Lawton Interview

Organic Farming Boom in Palestine

Permaculture and Sustainability Project Takes Off In Jordan

Working in Qatar has clearly given the academic Mari Luomi access to lots of information about the climate change rhetoric and reality of the Gulf. It also puts her in a rather awkward position in terms of being able to voice her criticism. After interviewing Luomi for Green Prophet around a year ago, however, I was really interested in reading her forthcoming book. And I wasn’t disappointed. It’s an honest portrayal of the region with a focus on Qatar and Abu Dhabi and the complex factors at play which mean the two countries have taken rather divergent paths to dealing with climate change.

The book, which is very readable, charts Qatar and Abu Dhabi’s shift from passive players towards a somewhat more active and moderate climate policy. It explores the social contract in many of the Gulf countries based on fossil fuels (political obedience is exchanged for cheap energy and money) as well as a lack of domestic demand for a more active climate policy. This is reflected in the fact that cutting fuel subsidies, which would make conservation and a greater push toward efficiency feasible, is often seen “as an uncrossable line.” (p.91)

‘The Gulf Monarchies and Climate Change’ highlights this bind as something of a chicken or egg situation. The countries need a stronger civil society to influence the government to take more action but government discourages this through the fossil fueled social contract and then say civil society aren’t pushing it and they need more domestic support. Luomi finds that although action is being taken, the issue is still not a priority in terms of national policy. In fact, global mitigation against climate change is often seen as a bigger threat to the countries than actual climate change (due to a loss of revenue if they have to stop selling oil).

Indeed, due to the complex set of interests around the issue most of the green campaigning is very non-controversial and focuses on conservation and beach clean-ups rather than emission. Luomi focuses on various case studies such as Abu Dhabi’s nuclear programme, Masdar as well as Qatar’s strong position in terms of natural gas and the impact of this on climate policy. One of the author’s real strengths is being able to weave a story about how these countries operate socially, economically and also environmentally. Luomi also takes a rather pragmatic look at what motivates action/inaction which I think reflects the reality of the situation in the Gulf. She is also keen to point out that the region has a tiny impact in terms of emissions (historically and also today) and won’t be able to stop dangerous climate change alone.

I found the reporting on the nuclear project in the UAE particularly interesting and the book is a mine of useful data and statistics. The data coming from Qatar was particularly interesting as there is so little information on the country’s developments. The penultimate chapter looked at the Gulf monarchies role in the UNFCCC negotiations; the influence of Saudi Arabia, the growing focus on CCS, the continued influence of negotiators from the oil-sector, Bahrain and Oman’s rapidly declining oil which marks the beginning of divergent interests in the GCC, UAE cultivating an image a clean tech leader in the region and need to move away from the ‘Saudi position’. All really interesting stuff and a must read. Although some would criticise the huge a focus on energy, I think this a well-written and well-researched book on the emerging and often contradictory position Gulf nations take on climate change.

For more green book reviews see: 
A No-Nonsense Guide To Climate Change by Danny Chivers
Book Review – I’m With The Bears
Earth Architect Nader Khalili’s Book: Racing Alone
‘Beacons – Stories For Our Not So Distant Future’

Campaigners step up their lobbying for a nuclear-free Jordan as the final decision with regards to the chosen firm approaches. The Jordanian government will pick the firm which will build Jordan’s first nuclear station in May.

Greenpeace campaigners in Jordan have urged the government to consider “the dire risks” the proposed nuclear project will have on current and future generations. “Nuclear reactors can never be safe. That is the reality,” said Safa’ Jayoussi, Greenpeace Climate and Energy Campaigner in Jordan. “It is time the government takes seriously our proposition for an energy policy based on renewables.” Greenpeace have issued a report entitled ‘The Future of Energy in Jordan’ illustrating the vast potential for renewable energy in the form of wind and solar energy.

The report states that Jordan’s lack of nuclear expertise alongside serious challenges such as a lack of cooling water, existing grid weakness and seismic concerns, make the proposed nuclear project a real threat to Jordanians. Renewable energy resources – particularly solar, however – can technically provide sixty times more than Jordan’s electricity consumption in 2050.

Greenpeace asserts that a vision for a nuclear free Jordan is possible, and a bold vision for 100% renewable is in fact attainable by 2050 and will contribute significantly to the local economy with the creation of more than one hundred thousand direct and indirect jobs, and a saving of over $19 billion (on a present value basis) by 2050.More than 20 million Jordanian Dinars being spent over the past five years on the nuclear power program.

Hoda Baraka, Greenpeace Communications Officer said; “Jordan has tremendous potential for utilizing wind and solar sources of energy making this a viable and safe substitute to nuclear. The Jordanian people deserve a bright future away from the nuclear gloom.”

Greenpeace calls on the Jordanian Prime Minister to listen to the people and issue a decision to stop the proposed nuclear program.

To sign the Greenpeace anti-nuclear petition, visit their website. They currently have over 5,000 signatories.

For more on Jordan and it’s nuclear plans: 

Jordan’s Nuclear Plans Doomed Says Industry Expert

Greenpeace Assess Jordan’s Energy Future Without Nuclear

Basel Burgan – A Force Behind Jordan’s Anti-Nuke Movement

A great collection of short stories inspired by the ecological crisis which are honest, creative and sometimes really funny

I don’t know if it’s just me but whenever someone recommends a book that is for charity or even a song that is ‘worthy’ – alarm bells go off. Alarms that tell me to stay away and to avoid contact at all costs. ‘If they want money, then just ask and don’t put us through the hassle to reading drivel written by virtuous people or music designed for hippies with only the strongest stamina’ I reason. As such, you can imagine my delight when I did actually read a book of climate-inspired short stories which is not only giving all the royalties to the ‘Stop Climate Chaos Coalition’ but is also genuinely worth recommending. This can’t happen often – or I hope not, as I might be missing out on some great stuff.

There are 21 stories in ‘Beacons – Stories For Our Not So Distant Future’, one of which is a graphic short story, with contributions from the UK’s greatest short story writers. There’s a story with a time machine, one with a Scottish Chief, a story about a vanilla sundae with hot chocolate sauce, one about suicide-inducing TV presenters, Marco Polo, about children, death, unfulfilled love and loads more about people navigating a quickly shifting landscape where the norm is no more.

Here’s what you need to know (in a format inspired by the short stories):

1. You need to read more stuff by Adam Marek, David Constantine, Liz Jenson and A.L.Kennedy. Holly Howitt and Jem Poster were pretty good too. They all have great stories in the collection, but that’s obvious isn’t it.

2. There are only two, maybe 3, stories which are duds which isn’t bad considering there are 21 stories in the collection.

3. The editor has done a great job. It also seems that all the writers all have taken the theme seriously and thought hard about the issue of climate change before putting pen to paper/hand to keyboard(?).

4. I have been informed by a reliable friend that my criticism that most of the authors mention the weather is unfair as this collection is about climate change.

5. I love short stories and also happen to know the editor Gregory Norminton so I might be a tad biased. But only a tad.

6. Helen Simpson, who has written a great short story collection on climate change titled ‘In Flight Entertainment’, is missing from the collection. Maybe she was all out of climate stories. Who knows.

7. All the stories are new commissions. No reprints, no nothing – all in all, you get your money’s worth.

8. The editor decided to put together the book to support the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition back in 2007. The collection has been a long time coming but I think the final product was worth the wait.

9. It’s only £8.99/ $14.99 and you can buy Beacons – Stories For Our Not So Distant Future here.

10. If want to read another great collection of environmentally inspired stories after you’ve read this collection, you could do worse than to read Verso’s ‘I’m With The Bears’ which was reviewed here.

Title: Beacons – Stories for our not so distant future
Editor: Gregory Norminton
ISBN:9781851689699
Publication Date: 07/03/2013
Binding:Paperback
256 pages

For more book reviews see: 
A No-Nonsense Guide To Climate Change by Danny Chivers
Book Review – I’m With The Bears
Earth Architect Nader Khalili’s Book: Racing Alone

Campaigners in Lebanon are asking for support to protect an ancient Phoenician coastline which is under threat due to a port project

Lebanese environment campaigners are calling on nature lovers far and wide to help them protect an important piece of their natural heritage along the Mediterranean Sea. It seems that a beautiful part of the Southern coastline, the Naqura cliffs and beach, which is home to turtles is the site of a possible petroleum port development project. In an online petition they are calling on the government to declare the coastal area in south of Lebanon that stretches from the Naqura Cliffs to the Tyre Reserve a nationally protected area.

“Endangered species of turtles have been coming from all around the Mediterranean for thousands of years to lay their eggs and reproduce on these beaches [Mansouri beach and Kolaila beach],” explains campaigners.

According to the campaign material, the Lebanese coast is not more than a mere 210km long. Many parts of the coast are polluted and/or affected by illegal constructions. Less than 5 % of the coast remains clean and untouched. As such protecting this section currently under threat is of extreme importance as it is one of the last remaining natural spots on the historic ancient Phoenician coast.

The ancient Phoenician coast with its unique rock formation at the Naqura Cliffs is being endangered by a port project. A project campaigners are calling absurd and destructive.

You can help support the campaign by following developments here and also signing this petition. So far, over 7000 people have signed the petition bringing them pretty close to their 10,000 target.

For more on environmental issues in Lebanon see: 

Lebanon Joins CITES: Can We Stop Killing Everything Now?

Vertical Gardens Green Lebanese Restaurant

World’s Oldest Living Olive Trees in Lebanon

Live Art and Polemical Politics on the Lebanese Coast

Religious organisations are working with conservation groups to help end the consumer demand for products supplied by the illegal wildlife trade

A major initiative linking religions and conservation groups in opposing the illegal wildlife trade, which is annihilating the world’s rare and endangered species, has been launched. Leaders of 34 religious traditions presented the Alliance of Religions and Conservation founder Prince Philip with statements of their support. (This news comes as Jerusalem starts its First Annual faith-based Green Pilgrimage).

Illegal wildlife trade is the fifth largest illicit transnational activity worldwide after counterfeiting and the illegal trades in drugs, people and oil. The religious leaders called on their followers to do all they can to end the illegal trade and to ensure that they don’t support the industry in any way. Although the intiative is focused in key countries in Asia and Africa which are affected by the trade, the Middle East is one region where wildlife had been smuggled in – with cheetahs being kept as pets in Dubai and animals held at airports where they were being trafficked in.

The statements of support came from various religious leaders across the world incuding the Muslim communities in Bangladesh, the Muslim women’s communities of Uganda and the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims.

“We ask all the faithful to protect those species in our own lands that are most threatened, such as the elephant, tiger, primates, pangolins and many others, and to assist in the prevention of poaching and the illegal wildlife trade in order that on the Dreadful Day of Judgement, when the community of creatures stand before Allah, we will not be condemned by their words. The richness of this world is a gift and a blessing from Allah. May we in turn be a blessing to all that Allah has made and given to our care.”

- from the statement made by the Indonesian Council of Ulema (Muslims)

At time when the Muslim world and the Middle East in particular are regularly criticised for their poor animal rights record (read this story on animal abuse in Jordan), it’s good to see religious leaders taking a clear stance and encouraging their followers to do the same.

ARC is a secular international organisation founded by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1995 to help faith groups develop conservation programmes based on their own beliefs, teachings and practices. It also helps the religions link up with key environmental organisations, creating powerful alliances between faith communities and conservation groups. It now works with 11 major faiths through the key traditions within each faith.

Crucially, the wildlife partnership focuses on undermining consumer demand in China and other Asian countries for medical ingredients or luxury items made from rare and endangered species.

ARC Secretary-General Martin Palmer said: “All faiths believe that our place in nature is to protect as much as it is to use the gifts that have been given us. This is why 34 major religious traditions from around the world, each driven by their own spiritual understanding of our responsibility to the rest of nature, have joined together to combat this most pressing of assaults on the diversity of nature – the illegal wildlife trade.

“This ranges from the Daoists of China working to change the mindset of those who buy traditional Chinese medicine using ingredients from threatened species, to the Muslims of Indonesia calling on the faithful to safeguard over-exploited animals such as pangolins, primates and tigers, to faith leaders in Africa speaking out against poaching. For all of them this is a moral and spiritual issue.

“This marks a new and potentially highly significant development in the struggle to preserve the great species of our planet, or, as many of the faith would put it, those creatures that most need the protection of God.”

For more on animal rights and wildlife trafficking see:

Act Now to Help Jordan Learn To Befriend Man’s Best Friend 

269life Activists Etch and Burn White Calf Branding Into Skin

Interview: Illegal Wildlife Trafficking with Karl Ammann

Image of a street juggler entertaining people on the occasion of Eid in Pakistan via Naiyyer / Shutterstock.com

Muslims have been asked to encourage their spiritual leaders, imams, to devote this Friday Khutbah or sermon (19th April 2013) to celebrate the blessings, graces and beauty of all of Allah’s creation. Muaz Nasir from Khaleafa who is leading the effort is also hoping to raise awareness amongst Muslim of the environmental challenges facing humanity.

“The ‘Green Khutbah Campaign’ is aiming to challenge Muslims to become stewards of the environment by making changes to their daily routines,” explains Nasir. “Although the evidence of environmental damage is stronger than ever, the public is starting to tune out due to the recent economic crisis and a lack of political leadership. But Muslims cannot tune out from the environmental damage – tuning out would mean that we are disregarding our moral responsibility to Allah’s creation.”

The campaign requests that all Muslims commit to the 3 ‘C’ action plan:

1. Consume Less

2. Conserve More

3. Care for the Environment

Sample sermons and also resources to engage the Muslim congregation have been provided at the Green Khutbah site which includes a link to us. There are also Quranic verses and hadiths highlighting the importance of nature, conserving water, minimising waste and recognising our role as stewards of nature. The site also has a long and useful list of practical actions that Muslims can take to green their mosques and green their lives.

Here are some of the suggestions:

- Help protect the future of nature by calling on governments and other decision-makers to protect our natural heritage.

- Many household items, such as clothing, toys, and furniture, can be donated to social service or religious groups.

- Instead of letting the tap run until the water gets cold, keep a jug of drinking water in the refrigerator.

- Repair leaks in toilet tanks promptly. You can check for leaks from the toilet tank into the bowl quite easily. Put a small amount of food colouring into the toilet tank. If the coloured water appears in the toilet bowl without flushing, you should repair the leak.

For more on Muslim green actions see: 
Green Muslim Blogger Says Spiritual Connection With Nature Is Key (INTERVIEW)
What Can Islam Do for the Environment? Lots, Actually…
Host Greener Iftars at Mosque says Imam Zaid Shakir (VIDEO)
Sharing Eden – Green Teachings From Muslims, Jews and Christians
Sofiah Jamil  Talks Faith, Women and Climate Justice
London Mosques Start Beekeeping Trend – Interview

In the lead up to World Water Day which will take place next Friday, I have gathered some interesting water-based facts on the issue. The Middle East and North Africa region is famously one of the driest regions in the world and things don’t look like they are getting better. So what is there to actually celebrate? Read on for the bad news and also some rather great news…

Firstly, the bad news. According to the latest statistics gathered by IRIN, the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) is getting drier at an alarming rate. And whilst trading and importing food brings in ‘virtual water’, it also makes the region extremely vulnerable to trade disruptions caused by dwindling supplies, higher prices or lack of money to pay for the imports. As a report on the issue of climate change and the Arab Spring points out, a winter drought in China contributed to global wheat shortages and skyrocketing bread prices in Egypt, which is the world’s largest wheat importer.

The report also points out that as the region’s population continues to climb, “the water availability per capita is projected to plummet… Rapid urban expansion across the Arab world increasingly risks overburdening existing infrastructure and outpacing local capacities to expand services.” Whats more, the reliance of Gulf countries on oil sold at high prices to buy food and also remain resilience in the face of water scarcity can’t last forever.

As a the report at IRIN states, this trade has simply hidden the gravity of the water scarcity situation and made it easier to neglect the development of more sustainable solutions (that doesn’t include desalination). So is the region headed towards a perfect storm of water scarcity?

That’s not clear yet. For one, water scarcity is not new to the region. The Middle East has been slowly drying for thousands of years and people have always come up with strategies to survive. Adaptation strategies are slowly gaining more importance with Egypt investing more into its water infrastructure – the World Bank has granting Egypt US$6.7 million to improve its management of water resources. And Jordan is taking more measures to harvest rainwater. The water-scarce country is also leading the way in terms of collecting water use data, especially in the agriculture sector which is consuming a huge portion of their water. So it’s not all bad news.

Indeed another piece of good news is that predictions of bloody conflict over water have so far failed to materialise. Despite a growing population and more pressure on water resources than some predicated, people haven’t taken to their guns to secure their share of water. This is something we can all celebrate as it not only demonstrates the region’s maturity but also its willingness to tackle the issue with care and consideration.

For more on water issues in the Middle East see:

Water Scarcity Leads More To Peace Than War (INTERVIEW)

Severe Water Scarcity Could Hit Arab Region by 2015

Food Shortages Could Force World To Go Veggie

: Photo of man watering a plant in the desert via Shutterstock.

In a previous post, I raised concerns over what an Islamic worldview can realistically offer those looking for a new sustainability model. After reading Odeh Al Jayoussi’s book on the topic, I felt that there were a lot more lingering questions than answers. Would Islamic sustainability really be considered an option outside the Middle East? What about those wary of any religious-based doctrine? Also after years following the ‘Western model of sustainability’, did we really want to be promoting another universal model? I caught up with Al Jayoussi,  the current vice president of Jordan’s Royal Scientific Society, and put these very questions to him. Read on for his responses.

Tell us a little about yourself, and how your work informed this book?

Well, this journey started almost thirty years ago when the United Nations University were embarking on a project on water and Islam for which I drafted two chapters on this topics as well as international law and shared water resources. This included notions such as equity, Ihsan and this evolved into a new framework of sustainability. At the International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN) this developed further when I visited Yemen in 2004 and I was exposed to interesting notions of local knowledge and the early heritage in Yemen. I was fascinated with the contrast of the old and the new. That you could envisage the notion of unity within diversity. Also, the eight years I was privileged to work at ICUN I visited many parts of the world including India, Pakistan, Costa Rica, Europe, the Gulf States and Mexico.

So I got to see different parts of the world and I was trying to reflect on the notion of sustainability and all of this went into the book. My work at ICUN was aimed at developing a new notion of sustainability based on local culture. I have some critique of the current, dominant model of sustainability which talks about the three pillars – the social, economic and ecological. I felt that the model lacked an embedded local culture and also a spiritual dimension. I was also looking for a topic which would help create a dialogue between East and West and I thought that the environment and ecosystems would be a great vehicle to communicate harmony and interconnectedness between these two.

You bring Islam to the centre of the debate on sustainability – was it difficult to make that connection?

Well, for me it wasn’t difficult at all. It’s all about how you view the world and I don’t see Islam as purely a religion but also as a worldview and a way of life. In that sense the aim of the book is to influence policy and enable scholars to talk to people and broaden their perspective from one which sees Islam just as a local religion to one which recognises that it is a worldview. It’s about looking at sustainability in a broader sense.

Do you see the model that you have put forward as a universal model or something that is particularly suited to the Middle East- North Africa region?

The intent is to present and articulate a universal discourse so that humanity can utilize Islam not only for harmony and tranquility but also for a dialogue to talk with others. We believe that Islam is mercy for the whole of humankind and is also a continuum of other religions and part of the human journey of knowing his destiny and having a sense of purpose and meaning.

I can see that there will be a real difficulty in applying this model in the West where Islam is seen only as a religion. Do you agree?

You are absolutely right. There is a difficulty in the West as there was a historical separation between church and state, man and woman etc. So this type of fragmentation was part of the Western journey in terms of knowledge. In this book, I was trying to look for unity or tawheed rather than separation and also looking at ways of overcoming this fragmentation. This includes the unity of disciplines, the unity of the now and hereafter, the unity between art and science – I was looking for synergies and complementary relationships rather than looking at things in pieces.

There is a growing recognition in the West that the current development models are not fit for purpose and that the growth economy is destructive. Do you think that now is a good time to be promoting new models and frameworks?

I think part of the challenge between East and West in terms of epistemology is two things – one is biology and the other is economic. In terms of biology we don’t agree with the West about evolution – we believe in creation and that man is dignified. The other dimension is money – the value of money and how it is generated in terms of interest. We believe that part of the ecological crisis stems from the fact that the current economic model doesn’t tells us the ecological truth as the metrics is based on GDP which as you know doesn’t reflect the wealth and health of nations or happiness. So we need to develop new metrics for sustainability or what I call the good life and so in order to define sustainability we need to define what a good life is. That’s why the notion sustainability needs to look at the notion of life generally to life with dignity, peace and harmony.

Do you get a sense that this is already a shift occurring in the West? For example, you hear a lot about the Happiness index and the Green GDP as there is a greater recognition of the flaws of the GDP.

Yes. I think it’s becoming increasingly clear that there is a need for a paradigm shift as the current economic model has a lot of flaws and defaults.

During this interview and also in your book, you talk about the importance of a local connection yet you also want this model to be universal. Are you hoping that if nations looks to apply this model in say Latin America that they would bring their own, local culture and interpretation into it?

Yes. In terms of the model and its universal applicability, it is all about unity within diversity. Part of that is talking to each other as we share the same destiny and there is a clear statement in the Qur’an which says that we are all created from nations and tribes so that we may get to know each other. So there is a universal message in the Qur’an which says that the prophet was sent as a mercy to the whole of mankind – not to Arabs or Muslims but to the whole humanity. However due to the degradation of civilisation we lost thing kind of universal message and we now it is time to revive a new discourse of universality and sustainability could the right medium through which we communicate this message.

What would be the benefits for the MENA region if they adopt this model?

I think that part of the challenge is that this part of this world was influenced by colonialism and after all these decades we are still affected by that way of thinking. Development in the South is mimicking and following the West in terms of consumerism and there is an disillusion in the Middle East that the Western model is the best model. This is a root cause of all sorts of social and ecological degradation and a general lack of human dignity. You cannot detach the issue of the environment from other issues such as poverty and social problems. So definitely this part of the world has been negatively impacted by following in the footsteps of the Western economic model and in a sense this part of the world lost its identity and has no pride or confidence in its local values. That’s why it has failed to have an ecological model that has local roots.

Is that the reason between the gap between the principles and practice in reality?

Absolutely, the Newtonian model looks at nature and plants as machines and part of the colonialism was that the region borrowing that type of thinking which brought with a whole host of problems. Now we need to revisit and rethink our whole social DNA and have our local roots in our local soil.

What have the reactions to the book been like?

I have had a lot of positive feedback from many scholars and people from the region and in Europe. Like you they were concerned with issues of relevancy, applicability and scalability. I think when we talk to people on a local level and with community organisations, there is real resonance and people appreciate notions such as Ihsan which is about inner beauty and unless we have that, we can reflect that onto the rest of the world. We can’t communicate harmony with the rest of the world if we don’t have an inner harmony. So having the right terminology is important and when I used the word hyat tayyebah which means a good life, it has more resonance within a local context. I think the real challenge is how we bring confidence and pride and a sense of appreciation of our local knowledge and I think in that area, a lot still needs to be done.

For more on Islamic perspectives on sustainability see:

Islam and Sustainable Development, A Book Covering These New Worldviews
Sharing Eden – Green Teachings from Jews, Christians and Muslims
London Mosques Start Beekeeping Trend – Interview
The Eco-Mosque Checklist – 7 Steps to a Greener Mosque
Consumerism, Ecology and the Sabbath

:: Photo of young South Asian women praying via Shutterstock.com

Back in 2012, the Ministry of Agriculture in Egypt made the bold statement that no Genetically Modified (GM) crops were to be planted in Egypt. Although this may have been a relief to various campaigners and the average Egyptian concerned about their food, it now emerges that things are not as straight forward as they first appeared. According to Greenpeace a new report has found that Egypt is actually Africa’s third largest country to commercialise a GM crop. So where does that leave Egyptians?

“This is a situation of grave concern, our government is assuring us that they are taking precautions to protect the Egyptian people, environment, and economy, and according to this report what was promised was not fulfilled,” says Ahmed El Droubi, Sustainable Agriculture campaigner for Greenpeace.

The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, released its annual Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops report and found that Egypt planted 1,000 hectares of GM maize in 2012.

However, the Minister of Agriculture announced that the only licensed shipment of a GM crop to enter Egypt in 2012, a 40 ton shipment of MON 810 of GM maize, was to be withheld and executed by his Ministry.

Something isn’t adding up and Greenpeace say they want answers. They want to know why there are inconsistencies in the findings of the report and statements made by Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture.

“The Egyptian people are entitled to know what is planted on our land and what we are eating!,” added Ahmed El Droubi . “The risks of GMOs and the threats they pose are unquestionable, this already banned activity by no means should continue. We demand the Egyptian government puts in place clear biosafety laws banning GMOs.”

The recent GM development comes at a particularly precarious time in Egypt as food poverty is on the rise. According to a recent government survey, 86% of Egyptians say that their income is insufficient to cover their monthly food, clothes and shelter bill. This was a rise from 74% in 2011. Households are adopting radical strategies to cope with the widening gap which include cutting out meals or reducing the portion sizes.

In the past, campaigners of Bozoor Balady have also worked hard to promote the importance of local seed diversity and the value of native seeds and crops.

For more on food issue in Egypt:

Egyptian Seed Bombing Campaign to Hit Cairo and Alexandria

Egypt’s Frightening Food Poverty On The Rise

Zooba: Egyptian Street Food Goes Inside

Egypt Struggle to Supply Wheat to Hungry Country

Photo of young man selling vegetables in Aswan via ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock.com

Odeh Al-Jayoussi, the current vice president of Jordan’s Royal Scientific Society, has certainly had an interesting career. As well as working for the International Union for Conservation of Nature, he’s spent time at the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and been a consultant for the United Nations, the EU and the World Bank.

All of these positions as well as his personal experiences have clearly informed his book Islam and Sustainable Development: New Worldviews which explores “a new paradigm of sustainability that is informed by Islamic worldviews and Islamic ecological ethics”. Indeed, the book includes lots of topics and stretches itself a little too broadly with chapters exploring Islamic banking systems, the role of the Muslim artist and the Islamic perspective on evolution. Still, a highly recommended read for those interested in sustainability and particularly those new to Islam’s contribution to the debate so far.

Al-Jayoussi starts by pointing out something that most of us will probably agree with. The current development model isn’t working – more money seems to be spent on aid every year and yet poverty keep rising. With this in mind, he states there is a need for a new model that promotes prosperity without overconsumption and pollution. Again, I would say most of us agree. The model that Al-Jayoussi presents is based on four Islamic principles which are then explored across four chapters.

These principles are:

1) Adl or good governance

2) Ihsan or excellence

3) Arham or social capital and

4) Integrity without corruption or Fasd

Bringing these four principles together is quite new and interesting and whilst he sets out the Islamic backing and advantages of following these principles, I think there are lots of questions left unanswered.

Is this model meant to be universal or specifically tailored to the region? If the latter than great but I got a sense it was meant to be universal which I find problematic for a couple of reasons. What about those religious communities or atheists in the MENA region/globally who want to move away from faith-based models? Where do they fit in? Shouldn’t more localised solutions to tackle the problem of climate change be considered? After all, it was the dominance of the Western development model which seems to have cause widespread problems. Isn’t it time we recognized the value of diversity?

A video featuring Odeh Al-Jayoussi

Click here to view the embedded video.

Another issue which kept nagging me whilst reading this book is that the huge contrast between the Islamic principles and the way that Islamic countries actually operate.

Yes, colonialism has a lot to answer for and the author is honest that the framing of these Islamic principles around sustainable development is new but there were a couple of case studies which highlighted the consistent gap. For example, Al-Jayoussi points out the real compatibility between Islam and fairtrade principles. Yet a fairtrade movement emerged without Islamic principles and Islamic economies have played a limited role in the growth of the movement.

I was also worried that ‘a good idea’ wasn’t enough to make it reality. Although the author highlights the model as an Islamic worldview rather than faith-view, he didn’t fully explore its weaknesses or real life applicability. However, there’s a lot for also a lot of interesting bits of history and insights which I think will be referring back to regularly and would be of great interest to new readers exploring the Islam and sustainability nexus.

In terms of the unanswered questions, I got in touch with Al Jayoussi and spoke to him over the phone about these issues. The full interview and his insightful answers will be published shortly so keep an eye out for part two of this debate!

For more book reviews and green faith news see:

Sharing Eden – Green Teachings from Jews, Christians and Muslims
London Mosques Start Beekeeping Trend – Interview
The Eco-Mosque Checklist – 7 Steps to a Greener Mosque
Consumerism, Ecology and the Sabbath

According to a recent report, 81% of Egyptians don’t have enough to cover their monthly food bill

A recent government survey has revealed an increasing number of Egyptians are struggling to clothe and feed themselves whilst keeping a roof over their heads. The report by the Egyptian Food Observatory found that of the 1680 households surveyed in September 2012, 86% said their income was insufficient to cover their monthly food, clothes and shelter bill. This marked a rise from 74% back in 2012. In an effort to cope with this growing food divide, many families reported adopting extreme coping strategies such as borrowing food and money. Indeed, overall 81.4% of households surveyed said their income was insufficient to meet their monthly food needs.

“Consuming cheaper food items overtook “borrowing” relative to the previous quarter, suggesting that vulnerable households are adopting more radical coping mechanisms where incomes do not suffice,” said the report. “Other coping strategies adopted included; reducing food intake either by reducing food portions or the number of meals, buying on credit.”

The highest percentage of households surveyed stating their income was insufficient to meet their monthly food needs was recorded in Fayoum (93.3%), followed by Matrouh (92.9%). Average spend on food and beverages amongst vulnerable households constituted 61.7% of total household spend this quarter, compared to the national average of 40%.

Another major issue that the report highlighted was the inadequate Baladi (Local) Bread Subsidy System which fails to control how much bread a person can access and tends to produce poor quality bread. As such, this (and the very long queues) puts off many people and they are then forced to buy non-subsidised bread which is 5-10 times the cost.

The rising cost of basic food is what brought many Egyptians onto the streets during the Arab Spring. It’s also what seems to be keeping them there. Writing in the Arabist, Issandr El Amrani added that whilst the government has acknowledged across-the-board food price inflation on a range of commodities, the government has also advised citizens not to over-eat. “Really,” he remarked. “Still wonder why Egyptians are protesting?”

For more on food issues in MENA see:

Food Shortages Could Force World To Go Veggie

Arab Spring Countries Face Increased Risk of Food Price Shocks in 2013

Rising Food Prices Behind Riots in Tunisia and Algeria

: Rebel Economy

: Photo of Egyptian man walk in the market of Aswan via ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock.com

Cold weather and a booming industrial economy is making it hard to breath in the Middle East says NASA

Air pollution is a big problem in the Middle East particularly in cities such as Tehran, Cairo and the rich Gulf nations. The latest images from NASA, however, reveal the true extent of the problem with high concentrations of nitrogen dioxide lingering over cities and hospitals full of people with lung ailments.The NASA map above highlights the concentration of nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere in the first week of January 2013. Dark patches of orange reflect a high concentration of nitrogen dioxide which is a key emission from burning fossil fuels by cars, trucks, power plants and factories. I was really struck by these findings as Green Prophet writer Joseph Mayton published an article in late January after struggling with asthma attacks in Cairo. Surely not a coincidence?

“The doctor I went to and nursed me back to good health, was clear about what was causing my near constant asthma attacks: air pollution,” explained Mayton in his post.

“Unable to leave my flat during the day, I suffered and waited for my lungs to open and become used to the pollutants in the air. Finally, after nearly a week of treatment, I was in the clear and back able to walk the streets of Cairo. But it left me wondering the affects of pollution and asthma on Egyptians in the city.”

In a word, the impact of air pollution on the region is devastating. It kills 27 people a day in Tehran and it is believed that thousands, if not millions, of Egyptian children suffer asthma-related illnesses that go untreated. Air pollution also happens to be a bigger problem in the cold winter months. As NASA explain, during the winter people burn more fuel to keep warm and if that fuel is coal then you are left with more smog-producing compounds.

“In most times of year, the air higher in the atmosphere is cooler than the air near the ground, allowing warm air to rise and carry pollution up and away from its source,” they explain. “But in the winter, temperature “inversions” can form, where the air near the ground is cooler than the air at altitude. Polluted surface air rises a bit, but then runs into warmer air masses above and stays trapped near the surface.”

In sum, we are left with more pollution hovering over cities and the heads of its inhabitants.

For more on air pollution see:
Hospitalized From Cairo’s Air Pollution
Why 27 People A Day Die From Air Pollution in Tehran
Egypt’s Natural Gas Push Does Little to Curtail Murderous Air Pollution

Following the inauguration of Suntech’s new research centre in Arava, we speak to their Chief Technology Officer (pictured centre) about the future of renewables in the Middle East

As one of the largest producers of solar panels, Suntech is undoubtedly a world player. In Israel alone, out of a total of 220 solar megawatts produced, 100 megawatts are harvested by Suntech’s panels. Suntech panels were also used on the Ketura Sun field, the first commercial solar field in Israel. As such, the company’s decision to open a new research centre in the Arava region didn’t come as a huge surprise. Green Prophet caught up with Suntech’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Stuart Wenham to talk about their solar plans for the Middle East region.

According to the Clean Energy Business Council, there are more than 150 renewable-energy projects under way right now in the Middle East and North Africa. For a region which is known mostly for its oil and fossil fuels that is very impressive. Indeed, the region is gained something of a reputation for its increasing interest in renewables and particularly solar. Suntech, which recently opened its research centre in Arava, is in Israel with the hopes of doubling its power production from 100 to 200 megawatts. I spoke to Dr. Stuart Wenham about opportunities in Jordan and Saudi Arabia and the major restrictions they face in Israel.

GreenProphet: China has become world famous for its solar technologies and research. Why did you want to establish a research centre in Arava, Israel?

Dr. Stuart Wenham: Suntech is committed to technological innovation. Our investment in a testing facility is twofold; first to test our most cutting edge technology in some of the harshest conditions on earth, in the Arava desert. Secondly, to invest in a facility where we can work with other local companies to develop and test new technologies that can work to improve the efficiency of our cells and increase the output of our panels.

What restrictions are you facing in Israel and what can the government do to help encourage renewable technologies?

Israel is a land full of sun and harnessing the power of Israel’s most abundant natural resource is something that should be important for all players. Regulatory barriers, layers of bureaucracy and sudden changes in renewable energy policy all present substantial challenges to the sustainability of the market.

Do you hope to further expand your reach in the Middle East/North Africa region? Do you see it as an exciting market?

Yes, this is certainly a promising market. Saudi Arabia plans on installing several gigawatts of installations and we have recently completed the largest solar field in the country, 3.5MW at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center in Riyadh. Jordan is also a promising market as it has recently announced strong policies to support solar. It also lacks substantial fossil fuel reserves, unlike many of its neighbors and therefore needs to more heavily depend on resources like solar.

What countries in the MENA region do you see as having particularly good potential to develop their solar energy?

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates all have very good prospects for the development of solar.

Why should the region be considering solar and not other alternatives such as wind and nuclear?

The most abundant natural resources that the Middle East has by far is not oil, its sun. The amount of sunlight that shines on the Earth’s surface in one hour is enough to power the world for a whole year. It’s important to tap this unlimited power.

Are bureaucratic restrictions increasing or decreasing in the region?

Bureaucracy is certainly a challenge in many countries, especially for a new industry where many regulations and permitting procedures have yet to be developed. We encourage the development of wise, sustainable and transparent policies that can encourage the development of solar and sustain the industry as well.

Why should countries choose Suntech and not local solar companies and organizations? What are Suntech’s unique selling points?

Suntech’s technology is best suited for harsh desert climates. Suntech’s panels recently passed the desert sand test, which replicates the conditions of a desert sandstorm, the first and only solar power company to do so. Suntech is a global company with a local focus. We have the largest in installed base of panels in the world, over 7MW and have brought power to over 1 million people across the world yet we work with our local partners through our regional offices to bring customer service directly to our customers doors.

: Photo is courtesy of Suntech.

For more on solar in the Middle East see:

Saudi’s $109 Billion Solar Plan

Solar Mama – A Film About Jordan’s Solar Women

Gulf Nations Among Most Attractive Renewable Energy Markets

Bureaucracy Slows Israel’s Solar Energy Progress

According to experts, climate change and rising food insecurity are major contributors to the recent destabilization of Mali and southern Algeria

Over the last couple of years, there has been a growing link between climate change and political issues in the Middle East. During the Arab Spring there was a real recognition that rising food prices caused by droughts in Russia and the US brought ordinary people to the streets in protests like never before. In Syria, poor water policies were held up as a major contribution to the drought which forced 500,000 Syrians to flee their homes. Now, experts state that global warming is also playing a role in the destabilization of Mali and southern Algeria which has hit the news.

Writing at ‘Informed Comment’, Juan Cole states that although the conflict erupting in Mali is complex politically and socially, changing ecology caused by climate change is a major contributor to the region’s problems. The climate of the Sahel, which Mali is a part of, has fluctuated significantly over the last 100 years:

“In the first 7 decades of the twentieth century, the region got a fair amount of rainfall, and lower Mali where the capital of Bamako is could raise livestock, making Malians agriculturally relatively well off. The consequent rise in population (Mali is now about 15 million) probably made the country overpopulated for what it could sustain in the more arid decades after 1980, when the warming waters of the Indian Ocean produced dry conditions in the Sahel.”

As more and more carbon was (and still is) pumped out by countries all over the world, the climate of the Sahel has become drier. According to a report released October 2012 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on food security in Mali, things look set to get worse. Based on the worst case scenarios that they have evaluated, it is estimated that global warming could reduce the amount of food produced in Mali by as much as 16% by 2050. The report also found that the population sustained by agricultural production may encounter a reduced standard of living with an additional 1,130,000 people in rural areas falling below the poverty line by 2050.

Even more worrying, climate change is expected to pose an additional threat to 12% of the population who are currently food insecure and more broadly, to small marginal farmers in many sub-Saharan countries. And all this will no doubt have huge social and political implications.

As Cole points out in his article, climate change factors have already contributed to the political situation which Mali finds itself: ”The weakness of the Mali government likely is related to the drought years of the past decade, during which hundreds of thousands of Malians were forced to emigrate to other countries and the agricultural productivity and tax base of the more fertile south was devastated…The drought of the 1970s caused thousands of northern Mali Tuaregs to go to Libya. Col. Muammar Qaddafi organized them as a mercenary unit. Qaddafi, however, dissolved it in the late 1980s, at which time many Tuareg came back to Mali and participated in the 1990 coup.”

For more on the politics and environment connection in MENA see:

Unsustainable Water Policies Crippled The Assad Regime (INTERVIEW)

Climate Change Could be as Dangerous to Syria as Bashar al-Assad

500,000 Syrians Flee Drought-Stricken Zone

#Occupy Climate Change: The Arab Spring & Occupy Wall St

: Image of young girl watering vegetables in Mali via abossuet/flickr.

: Informed Comment

The chairman of the Jordan Green Building Council Mohammad Asfour tells us why nature inspires him to deliver a practical message of action

If you have been keeping an eye on the green scene in Jordan, then there’s no chance that you could have missed Mohammed Asfour. As well as the chairman of the Jordan Green Building Council, Asfour is a talented photographer with a great eye for nature and the skill to be able to capture its beauty. At the latest TEDxAmman talks hosted in Jordan, Asfour delivered a personal presentation about his early foray in environmental action and how the country could take action on climate change.

Unfortunately the video is entirely in Arabic with no captions so I dropped Asfour a couple of questions about his work and what motivated him to do take part in the talks. “My love relationship with nature started at a young age. And when you love something it’s not easy to ask yourself why!” he explains. “Perhaps it’s because it makes me happy. I enjoy being in nature, I enjoy working with green activists and I feel my economic background helps me deliver a more practical message.” You only need to look at some of his photography to see his passion for nature emanates through all his work.

In the past, Mohammad Asfour was the Environment, Water and Energy Sector Lead at the USAID Jordan Economic Development Program (SABEQ). He has also been in key in ensuring that green spaces in Jordan are protected from further development and agricultural projects. In his talk, Asfour highlights the diverse flora and fauna that Jordan enjoys and remarks that it’s time that locals were able to enjoy this. He highlights a project in the German city of Freiburg which has transformed a former military base into a green area and says that this is something Jordanians could aspire to.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Asfour is also keen to point out that nature is not only trees and plants, it’s also about the energy we use, the buildings we live and our entire surroundings. As such, we need holistic solutions that take into consideration matters such as economic development and sustainable energy creation. Indeed this need for practical solutions is what led to the creation of the Jordan Green Building Council which works to raise awareness of green build not only in Jordan but the wider Middle East region. His final message at the TEDxAmman conference was that Jordanians need to lend their voice and support to the environmental movement – either by supporting green projects or taking practical action in their neighbourhoods and cities.

So, why take to the stage with this message? “What I hope to achieve, is simply: inner peace,” he admits. “Helping our world become a greener place and ensuring a better future for our children. Green is not only about emissions it is also about a better quality of life and about green governance. When people start thinking green, they show more respect to each other and more appreciation to God’s creation.”

For more on Green Campaigners in Jordan see:

Jordan’s Queen Rania Featured At World Future Energy Summit

INTERVIEW – Safa Al Jayoussi on Green Buildings & Nuclear Power

You Don’t Need That Plastic Bag – A New Campaign In Jordan

Jordan’s Green Fairytale – ‘Once Upon A Water’ Campaign

Meet Hana Faouri – The Upcycling Designer From Jordan

This healthy superfood filling up kitchen cupboards of ethical and vegetarian eaters comes at a high price for those in Peru and Bolivia 

If you’re a vegan or vegetarian or someone who is just trying to eat a little more consciously, you know that shopping can be something of a nightmare. Taking into consideration food miles, sustainability, water footprints, animal-friendly production as well as making sure the food is organic and healthy is a minefield. So when something as tasty and low fat (I remember ‘superfood’ was being bandied about) as quinoa comes along it’s something of a blessing. The fact it is high in protein is also perfect for those cutting out meat. However, new research has shown that affluent westerner’s love for quinoa is pushing up prices and denying Peruvians and Bolivians the crop which was once was a staple of the poor.

Since 2006, the price of quinoa has tripled and in Lima, Peru, the once unheard of grain now costs more than chicken. Overseas demand for the grain continues to grow which is all putting pressure on land in Peru and Bolivia that once produced a diverse range of crops to simply harvest quinoa. Writing in the Guardian, investigative journalist Joanna Blythman states: “the quinoa trade is yet another troubling example of a damaging north-south exchange, with well-intentioned health and ethics-led consumers here unwittingly driving poverty there. It’s beginning to look like a cautionary tale of how a focus on exporting premium foods can damage the producer country’s food security. ”

Another example that Blythman highlights is that Peruvian asparagus which is grown in the arid Ica region has depleted water resources on which the locals depend. She also adds that soya production is now one of the two main causes of deforestation in South America along with cattle ranching. It is worth pointing out however that according to a UN report in 2006, 97% of soya production was used for animal feed and not to fill vegetarian’s fridges. Even so, the food insecurity caused by the rising popularity of Quinoa is troubling and highlights the need for a more localised approach to food production and consumption. Especially when we are importing from countries with high poverty rates.

: Guardian

:: Tabbouleh Quinoa with Tomatoes via Shutterstock.com

For more on sustainable food see:

Eat Like A Sustainable Iranian

Globally, Obesity is Now More Deadlier than Hunger

7 Evergreen Books On Sustainable Food For Your New Year

Mushroom Farmers Start To Sprout Up In Iraq

A UK-based scientist has removed trees from world famous works of art to highlight the threat of deforestation

In the field of climate change, we are constantly asked to imagine nightmarish scenarios. Situations where water may run dry, where mass migrations are provoked by food shortages or where extreme weather events on the rise. These are all, however, future events we have to conjure up and not our present or past. But what if you had to edit the world’s history to reflect its future? What if there were no more trees? What would our past look like? What would world famous works of art look like without trees? An Edinburgh University scientist has used photo-editing software to imagine just that.

 Dr Iain Woodhouse has recreated famous paintings without trees and woodlands to draw attention to the threat of global deforestation and highlight the values of woods and forests. He photoshopped the trees out from Constable’s The Haywain (below), Seurat’s Sunday Afternoon on the Island of Grande Jatte (above), and Van Gogh’s Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun.

He told the BBC: “Trees are a vital global resource, providing fuel, shelter, clean water and food for many species including people, and helping to maintain a healthy atmosphere by harvesting carbon dioxide… It is crucial that trees do not disappear from our landscapes.”

Writing on Forest Planet, Dr Woodhouse explained that the project came about as an attempt to visually represent loss. “It’s one of the themes that I’ve been working on with the artist Alice Ladenburg,” he explained. “It is relatively easy to represent the importance of something that is present, but how do you capture or express the importance of something like deforestation that is all about the absence of something? It is not easy to focus a viewer’s attention on something that is not there!”

Well, I think he did a pretty good job of presenting loss. The Van Gogh piece is a particularly stark reminder of what we have to lose.

For more arts and culture with an environmental slant see:
‘Rain’ and Qatari Folktales of Nature
‘Wadjda’ – A Saudi Girl & Her Green Bike
‘Solar Mama’ – A Film About Jordan’s Solar Women
Film Review: The Blessed Tree – An Interfaith Meeting Under The Shade of Nature

Want to help support a green film festival in the Middle East? Well, here’s your chance

Over the last year, the Middle East has released some stunning green films. Whether it was a short animated film exploring the environmentally-focused folktales of the Gulf, a documentary following a Bedouin woman traveling to India to become a solar engineer or a film about a young Saudi girl’s dream to cycle, the Middle East has been keeping it green. So, what could be better than bringing these films together (or some a lot like to them!) and showcasing them at their very own green festival? That’s what the organisers behind the ‘Green Caravan Film Festival’ are hoping to do. All they now need is your support – financial or not – to make their dreams a reality.

“Green Caravan is a film festival showcasing the best environmental films from around the world,” explains Reham Al-Samerai who is a festival co-Producer. “We’re currently in our fourth year, and this year we’re trying crowd-funding for the first time, in the hopes of getting support from like-minded individuals rather than relying completely on corporate sponsorship.” The organiser are hoping to hold the festival at two locations – Kuwait City, Kuwait and also Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

“We feel crowd-funding would fit in well with a green themed festival,” continues Al-Samerai. “We’ve just launched the campaign a few days ago and watching to see how effective it proves to be… Maybe you’re worried about the planet you’re leaving to your children, and want to help change the world one audience member at a time.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

To pull off the festival, organiser are hoping to raise $35,000. The funds will be used to get screening rights for the films, to transport them and also publicise the film festival. Donations will also go towards renting equipments and furniture, providing snacks, goodies and festival memorabilia. If the campaign fails to meet its target, the money donated will be returned to contributors. For more about the festival and to find out how to contribute go to their indiegogo page.

The Green Caravan is not only the first film festival of its kind in the Middle East, it is also one of a small handful of film festivals worldwide dedicated entirely to environmental issues.

For more on arts and culture in the Middle East see:

The Life of Pi Films is a Visual Poem About Humans and Nature

‘Rain’ and Qatari Folktales of Nature

‘Wadjda’ – A Saudi Girl & Her Green Bike

‘Solar Mama’ – A Film About Jordan’s Solar Women

Film Review: The Blessed Tree – An Interfaith Meeting Under The Shade of Nature

What role can traditional knowledge play in climate adaptation in the Arab Region? The Jordanian Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature explores…

From traditional land conservation techniques to water channels reviving arid climates, communities in the Middle East have been creatively tackling environmental problems for centuries now. Whether it was extreme weather events or water scarcity, they have faced climate problems head on and accumulated precious knowledge about how to adapt and survive in the process. So how do we embrace that traditional knowledge and the advice it has to offer a warming world? Well, we start by acknowledging its usefulness and continued relevance. That’s exactly what the Jordanian Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature did at the recent ‘Hikma Hours’ event.

The event brought cases from Jordan, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar, that showcase community adaptation practices and explored the challenges of integrating traditional knowledge with other modern adaptation tools and approaches. The Hikma Hours event was held during the COP18 negotiations which took place in Doha, Qatar.

Case Study 1: Jordan’s Protected Areas

The Royal Society for Conservation of Nature (RSCN) in Jordan is in charge of eight protected areas in the country. Through four pilot sites in the protected areas of Al Yarmouk and Fifa and two in the Biosphere Reserves of Mujib and Dana. RSCN is conducting climate change adaptation planning oriented at finding ways and implementing measures based on traditional knowledge, to help reduce the uncertainty that climate change poses to natural ecosystems by rendering them more resilient and resistant. This case was presented by Mr Hussien M. Kisswani, National Climate Change Officer of the RSCN, Jordan.

Case Study 2: Oman’s Aflaj Water Channels

The Aflaj is a water management system created in many parts of the Arab world and is still active in Oman. Today, the Aflaj system not only brings water to distant areas without power requirement and in a sustainable way, but provides for 36% of water used for agriculture in Oman, a country falling below the water poverty line due to naturally occurring, historical water scarcity. The protection of the Aflaj system and its associated traditional knowledge and institutions is a matter of national relevance in Oman and holds universal value as it has been recognized by the World Heritage Convention. Nevertheless this system and its body of traditional knowledge require further protection and mechanisms to ensure their sustainability. There are 3,017 remaining active Aflaj in Oman. This body of traditional knowledge can be shared with other communities and countries, even distant ones, to help them adapt to climate change, improve agriculture, etc. This case was presented by Dr Saif Ali Al-Hajari of Friends of the Environment Centre.

Case Study 3: Traditional Fishing in Qatar

Fishing traditions have been very important in Qatar. Marine ecosystems across the Gulf region are facing high ecological pressures with consequences on the balance of these natural systems. Ms Kaltham Al Ghanem explained how existing environmentally unsustainable behaviours and the negative impacts of economic activities, as well as social and cultural habits, are affecting terrestrial and marine environments in Qatar. According to Dr Al Ghanem the oil discovery era dissociated people from their natural environment, which contributed to the disappearance of indigenous knowledge. There has been a decline in the use of local natural materials and their associated practices. Furthermore, changes in fishing techniques have had an adverse effect on the marine environment and its fauna in Qatar. This case was presented by Dr Kaltham Al Ghanem, Professor of Sociology at Qatar University.

Mr Hussien M. Kisswani, the lead organiser of the event, explained that the key message from these case studies was that traditional knowledge and practices in the Arab world represent a valuable asset for adaptation to climate change. “There is a need to better explore how to revitalize traditions, and especially how to maintain and revitalize value and ethical systems that were strongly present in Arab cultures but have deteriorated and are rapidly disappearing due to massive and rapid change occurring in Arab societies,” he says. Some of the suggestions that the forum came up with include effective law enforcement on matters related to the impact of industrialization on nature, better information sharing and for traditional knowledge to be included in national plans and strategies for mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

For more on traditional green techniques see: 

Aflaj: Ancient Channels Keep Water Flowing in The Desert

HIMA – A Traditional Arabian Conservation Concept Modernised

Great Examples Of ‘Hima’ Or Protected Areas In The Middle East

Hima: The Middle East’s Tradition of Environmental Protection

Do You WANA Green The Middle East? A Forum Report

: Photo of Wadi Dayqah, Massarah in Oman via prasad.om/Flickr / Photo of Dana Reserve in Jordan via robinpresta/Flickr / Photo of Qatar fishing via Omar Chatriwala/Flickr.

:Top photo of woman in Bethlehem via Ryan Rodrick Beiler / Shutterstock.com