TIME Magazine paid allegiance to the brave hearted souls in the MENA region who rose up against despotic regimes by naming “The Protestor” as their 2011 person of the year. Known now as the Arab Spring, this powerful movement was sparked by the self-immolation of a college-educated fruit vendor in Tunisia who was fed up with corruption and dismal living conditions. Since the subsequent Jasmine Revolution, the country has teetered between its tainted past and uncertainty, but these five stories point to the very real possibility that its residents can look forward to a freer and greener future.

1. Tunisian Graffiti Artist eL Seed Breaks Down Stereotypes of Arab Culture

Tunisian graffiti artist eL Seed was born in France. According to Green Prophet writer Laurie. he played around with graffiti as a hobbyist but only became serious about the controversial art form within the last decade or so. He enjoys this medium for its immediacy and accessibility and for its very public nature. Graffiti isn’t hidden behind doors or restricted to fancy art galleries. His “calligraffiti” is designed to promote Arab culture and break down erroneous stereotypes.

2. The Bedouins Convert an Ill-Begotten Mansion into a Skate Park

Once the glittering home of the country’s former Construction Minister and nephew-in-law of ousted dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, a giant mansion had been trashed by protestors during the Jasmine revolution. So a team of skaters and locals known collectively as “The Bedouins” converted the ill-begotten space into an inspiring skate and art park. Led by Nathan Gray, The Bedouins promote cross-cultural collaboration, self-expression, and a healthy working through of post-revolution issues.

3. Tunisia Announces 4th Desertec Deal and 2 GW of Solar!

Tunisia may be pursuing one of the most ambitious renewable energy sectors on the planet with the possible exception of Scotland and a series of Scandinavian countries. Truly, their plans are staggering, and their willingness to float a substantial amount of money to support alternative energy programs even more so. One recently announced project is the 2 GW TuNur Concentrating Solar-thermal Power (CSP) plant from the Mediterranean solar developer - and founding member of MedGrid – Nur Energie.

4. Tunisia Among World’s Top 50 Tourism Destinations

The recently released 2011 “Travel and Tourism Competitiveness” report by the World Economic Forum compiled in conjunction with Booz & Company demonstrates a noticeable shift that tourists around the global are heading to the East, with Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Asia rising in rank, and sustainability continues to establish itself as a key tourism trend. While eco-tourism has taken a back seat to other pressing issues in the Middle East, Tunisia placed 47th on the list of desirable destinations.

5. Tunisian Eco-Retreat Offers Warm Ecological Hospitality

This beautiful Dar HI eco-retreat in Tunisia designed by Matali Crasset demonstrates just one reason that Tunisia is one of the most accessible and desirable holiday destinations for eco-aware travelers. Set astride a clip of the Sahara desert and nearby a salt lake, it was built using local knowledge and local materials and features a soothing minimalism that takes the edge off any greater uncertainty. Hit the title to learn more about this beautiful space.

Are 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.

Islamic banking is based on Sharia or Islamic law which stipulates that making money from money is forbidden and that risks and profits must be shared. The first principles means that interest is not allowed but neither is investment into schemes where the source of the profit is vague. Islamic banks are consequently only allowed to invest in assets- real things like commodities, properties and natural resources. Although this means that there are less shady investments, there is a lot more investment in things like oil, gas and the mining of natural resources – something which is not good for the planet.

In fact, a close link between Islamic banks in the UK and the Middle East means that a lot of investment is in the oil producing industry which is polluting and harmful to the environment and future of this planet. There is only a vague understanding of the concept of environmental responsibility and that doesn’t go beyond recycling at the office to actually considering the kind of companies that they invest in.

Many of the banks I was commissioned to look at (those based in the UK) did however take a firm stand on investing in things like the tobacco industry and the arms and military sector. Nigel Denison, the Head of Wealth Management and Treasury at the Bank of London and the Middle East said, “Our bank complies with Sharia’a principles meaning that we aim to share reward and risk and not to act against the interest of the wider community. For example, we don’t invest in the arms and military industries, we don’t gamble or don’t take excessive risks or speculation with our investments.”

Whilst not all the banks take such a firm stand against investing in the arms industry, quite a few did which I found encouraging. So the Islamic banking sector may not have great green credentials but if you are also worried about those bankrolling the arms industry, than Islamic banks wouldn’t be a bad place to start.

: Image via Bitzi/flickr. 

For more on green and Islamic banking see:

Islamic Banking and Why It’s (Theoretically) Good For The Environment

Get a Green Loan From the Green Palestine Investment Company

Which Solar Technologies Have The Most Investment Appeal

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.

Tel Aviv’s first Tu B’shvat celebration, in 1910, was celebrated by school students who threw flowers at each other in a singing parade.  This green historical anecdote about the city, along with others, will be part of the Tu B’Shvat tour’s reference to local ecological traditions.

Since Tel Aviv was planned by a botanist (Scottish Sir Patrick Geddes), it is blessed with a “belt” of green avenues that includes popular Rothschild Boulevard (pictured above).  The tour will travel along these green stretches and touch upon the city’s original plan as a “garden city”.

The English-language tour is being organized by Discover Tel Aviv and will be held on Saturday, February 11th.

:: Ynet

Read more about the Tu B’Shvat holiday:
Celebrate Tu B’Shevat, the New Year of the Trees
Tu Bishvat: Is the Jewish New Year of the Trees Green?
Plant a Tree for Tu B’Shvat… Online

Image via: Or Hiltch

The Jewish holiday of Tu Bishvat begins as the sun sets on the 7th of February 2012.  This holiday has its origins in some ecologically-focused passages in the Talmud.  Deuteronomy 14:22-29 requires that one tenth of all that a field produces in a year should be set aside as a tithe and that every third year’s tithe should be stored in towns so that widows, foreigners and Levites (who have no land allotment) would have food.

Leviticus 19:23-25 warns that when a tree is planted, its fruit should not be consumed during the first three years and that the fourth year’s fruit belongs to God.  Only after the fifth year is the fruit to be consumed.

Tu Bishvat, also known as “New Year of the Trees”, was the day used to calculate the age of a tree.  A count of fruit and blossoms on this day was used to calculate these tithes (taxes) for the following year.

Tu Bishvat was also a time for planting and preparing for the spring season.  Some people prepare a traditional Tu Bishvat seder (meal) consisting of fruit, nuts and a symbolic combination of red and white wine.  Because there is no solid Talmudic basis for this seder, anyone can create their own green Tu Bishvat seder.

Tu Bishvat remains focused on the environment.  Children plant trees in a celebration reminiscent of arbor day and make nature-themed crafts.  Adults pledge to cut greenhouse gases or try to win an environmental Nobel prize.  Some of these activities have been criticized as being little more than greenwashing.  In this part of the world, even the simple act of planting a tree can have a complicated political dimension.

Image via virovets

The 15th day of the Jewish month of Shavat signals the launching of new Jewish eco-education programs.

A potent mystical, ecological, legal and historical mix  runs through Tu B’Shvat, a date known as the New Year For The Trees. For more on the meaning of Tu B’Shvat, read this post.

According to Jewish tradition, it’s the day on which each tree is judged as to the amount of water it will receive over the year. It’s also the cut-off date when determining the age of the tree. As man is compared to “the tree of the field,”  Tu B’Shvat is a good day to inaugurate ecology studies.

Jewcology’s Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment.

Jewcology, a project which provides materials and tools to support the Jewish environmental movement, announced today that it will launch a “Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment” from Tu b’Shevat 5772 until Tu b’Shevat 5773.  (Feb. 7-8, 2012 – Jan. 25-26, 2013). Jewcology will launch the resources in coordination with Canfei Nesharim, its parent organization. Jewcology invites Jewish organizations, including websites, publications, and communities, to join its “Year of Jewish Learning on the Environment.”

To learn more  and for a full schedule of topics and posting dates, email info@jewcology.com.

Sviva Israel’s Eco Connection programs in 15 different cities  in Israel, the United States and South Africa.

Implemented in over 50 schools in Israel and the U.S.A, Sviva Israel partners schools to learn together how they impact the environment. We ensure the success of the Eco Connection with teacher training and onsite support and exciting workshops from our staff throughout the school year.

The curriculum includes lessons on the Ecological Footprint, Jewish Environmental traditions and Israeli Clean-Tech innovations, workshops on Judaism and the Environment, Alternative Energy, Eco crafts, video conferences and joint events for visiting students.

Learn how your school or community can join the Eco Connection, the largest global environmental network of Jewish schools. Contact: Carmi Wisemon, Executive Director, Carmi@svivaisrael.org Tel. 1-212- 444-1504

 This year, Tu B’Shvat falls this coming Tuesday night, the 7th of February, lasting through Wednesday.

More on environmental education in Israel, and Tu B’Shvat:

• Celebrate Tu B’Shvat with a TuB’Shvat Seder
• English International MA Program in Environmental Studies at Tel Aviv University
• Khan of the White Donkey, Eco-Retreat in Safed, Israel

Photo via SvivaIsrael.

Miriam also blogs on Israeli Kitchen.

Raha Shirazi’s film Acqua is almost guaranteed to make you never take water for granted again. In it, a woman walks through snow in search of water with a jar on her back. Everywhere there is water, but after reaching a specific destination, she experiences some kind of trauma that especially resonates with us given our region’s tremendous water scarcity.

“In both Iran, and where I was in Italy, a long time ago women would travel from their village to bring back water,” Shirazi told Twitch Film. “Fetching water was always a woman’s job. Even now for purpose of vigil in these areas, women travel to a specific place and bring back water,” she added. Take a look at this beautiful film clip and let us know if it makes you re-evaluate your relationship to water.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Water, life, and death

A Toronto-based Iranian-Canadian filmmaker and the Co-Artistic Director of Plural Productions, Shirazi made the super short film in a workshop that she completed in Italy with Italian filmmaker Michelangelo Frammartino. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2011.

She told Twitch that the film is a “reflection of spiritual traditions” that “organically brushes the portrait of a young woman’s journey with water through the cyclical meditation of life and death.”

Shirazi is one of many artists in or from the Middle East who are responding to cultural, environmental, and social issues in surprising ways. Last year Iranian artists protested against the country’s terrible pollution with the Tehran Monoxide Project – a series of posters depicting the detrimental effects that city smog has on people’s health.

And in Gaza, several murals have created a collective outpouring of the region’s water woes – exacerbated by a host of political problems.

Dwindling water sources

Unlike many other projects though, Shirazi’s film evokes the sacred, a pre-condition, we’ve often argued, of convincing people to re-think the role that nature plays in their lives so that they will be willing to protect it.

Through Acqua, we find ourselves not only eager to nurture our dwindling water resources, but also the traditions that have preserved nature by default. Women may not always be responsible for gathering the water, but in parts of the Middle East and North Africa, they are often the earth’s custodians.

In Turkey, beekeepers on the Balyolu honey road are tending to an ancient tradition that has enormous ramifications for agriculture and human well-being, and in Morocco, the Berbers’ water management system is far superior than any western intervention.

Raha Shirazi has screened several other short films and is currently at work on a full-length documentary entitled Prisoner of Tehran.

More on art and the environment in the Middle East:

Zabaleen Film Portray’s Cairo’s Garbage City People

The Stunning Water Murals of Gaza (Photos)

Iranian Artists Fight Smog With the Tehran Monoxide Project

If you are newly engaged and contemplating your ideal wedding,consider this: if every couple in the world made just one small green choice – and we’ve given you at least seven simple and chic ways to do it already – there would be millions of greener weddings in the world with a noteworthy reduction in our collective carbon footprint.

For example, in the US alone, Greenbrideguide.com estimates that the 2.5 million weddings a year produce an average of 62 tons of carbon dioxide and 400-600 lbs of garbage. Weddings in the Middle East may look a lot different from country to country from their western counterparts, but the problems from this billion dollar industry exist globally.

That’s because these celebrations add up to a lot of waste after the event is over: from single-use dresses for brides, to paper invitations, to diamonds and jewels harvested under questionable circumstances, to the toxic beauty rituals, how we tie the knot could use a makeover.

But wait – the benefits are more than environmental.

Here are three additional reasons for why making your wedding day green is timely, chic and sensible.

1. Economically Smart: Greening your wedding day is first and foremost a way to save money.

Financially speaking, many families are stressed by costs can rival that of a third world country’s budget. I’ve heard of too many couples mortgaging their houses to host a big party, friends who complained about money spent on pre-wedding parties and gifts, or families caught in unpleasant discussions about who needs to pay for what. Going green by following just one or two of the green wedding suggestions can add up to significant greenbacks left in your wallet.

2. Socially Conscious: Greening your wedding day is a way to inspire your family and guests and feel good about making and difference and setting an example at the same time.

According to GreenBrideGuide.com, “Having a green wedding is an opportunity to make a difference by supporting companies that actively incorporate social and environmental responsibility into the way they do business. When you start talking to vendors about green choices, and explain your choices to your guests, you support the green economy and change the way people in your community think. You can showcase how easy it is to be eco-chic and share your favorite eco-friendly products with your guests.”

Fashionable and conscious make good bedfellows for your starting your married life together.

3. Memory Rich: Greening your wedding day is a way to reveal the uniqueness of your love and relationship.

Each wedding is a joyful, unique celebration, at least to the couple tying the knot. The rest of us can be honest and say that after a while, all those weddings, with rare exception, blur into one memory of food, dancing, and celebrating.

One reason people may plan extravagant weddings is to make them stand out in our memory banks, but do the consequences to your pocket book and the planet really make that worthwhile? Try another point of view and create a wedding that leaves a lasting impression for everyone who attends but not on the planet.

For more ideas about how to bring a little green into your day of love, we suggest you read 7 ways to green your wedding day.

Read More Green Romance and Wedding News:
Israeli Born Natalie Portman Sports Green Engagement Ring
Mass Weddings Are Going Green

Above image via muslimpage

Tinamarie is the Green Love and Sex Columnist for Greenprophet.  She blogs at www.tinamariebernard.com.

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, now is the time to educate yourself about what makes a pleasure aid green before you surprise your beloved with that extra-special something. From the ins and outs of vaginal lubrication to designing a vibrator of Amazonian proportions, many manufacturers are now offering uncompromising pleasure with the wellbeing of your health and the planet in mind. When it comes to sex toys specifically, things get a bit trickier. In part that’s because social morays in the Middle East are more conservative and what is Halal for some isn’t the same for others.

What pickles things up is that sometimes what’s good for the planet may not be best for your sex life or vica versa.  Take heart: If you are part of that growing community who wants to make sure your pink parts are green, we’ve done the research for you to recommend specific toys (individual readers must decide on the halachic merits) that have been vetted by advocates in the industry.

These include Shelly Lyon, former owner of an adult shop in the states and a 15-year veteran for revolutionizing the toy industry, Tanja Diamond, an intimacy and business coach trained in the ancient, classical art of Tantra, and Deborah Anapol, PhD, an internationally recognized educator on topics related to human sexuality.

What to consider when shopping

Our experts pointed out that there are several essential factors to note when shopping for a safe, eco-sexy intimacy aid.

Let’s start from what your toy does to the planet and what it does to your body.  Is it solar-powered, rechargeable or not? Made from natural, recycled or recyclable or medical grade materials? What’s its expected lifetime? Are any of the compounds potentially toxic or not?

Toxicity is an important consideration, says Lyon.  The main culprits are Phthalates, additives used to soften plastics that are linked to disruptions in the endocrine system, and Bisphenol-A.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that at least one of the companies we recommend is local to the Middle East, and several others do deliver overseas for those who prefer to shop more discreetly.

Your Nose Can Help

Lyon suggests a quick ‘sniff test’ to find out if the toy – dildo, vibrator, anal insert, etc. – is toxic or not. If it has a strong ‘plastic’ smell, this indicates the likelihood of these not-good-for-you compounds and should be avoided, she insists.

Be aware of tricky labeling too. One way companies get around their responsibility is to label the product for recreational use outside of the body only; of course, many times consumers disregard these instructions, which puts them at risk.

For those thinking that they only safe toy is a firm bit of produce, please not that not all ‘man-made’ products are ‘bad’ for you when it comes to adult play. Some materials that aren’t degradable (e.g., silicon doesn’t degrade) do make for a greener option because they are chemically inert, and can be used intra-vaginally. “Medical-grade silicon, if cared for properly, can last 15 years or more,” says Lyon.

The Israeli firm, TOY-thinkingofyou.com designs and manufactures elegant and avant-guard vibrators that in addition to being made entirely of medical-grade materials are rechargeable (saving thousands of batteries over the lifetime of the product), and the silicon overlay is recyclable.

Created by award-winning industrial designer, Ofer Zick, T.O.Y.’s Calla Lilly line of vibrators are sold online and in stores in Israel, and were featured in the Milan Design Show in 2011, a first for any vibrator in the world.

Not all plastic is a total no-no according to Lyon. Those made without phthalates are non-toxic for the body, though there are environmental concerns with plastic. According to her, the Hitachi magic wand is the King of Vibrators in this category, having been on the market for over 30 years. Silicon attachments give this product a lot of play versatility and make it a popular choice.

What if you don’t want a buzz? Tanja Diamond recommends Pyrex dildos, “because of the ability to have a difference in temperatures,” she says. “I can have it cold by putting it in the fridge or warm it up in warm water. Temperature play is a great way to bring your focus and awareness to your body parts very quickly.” This material is hygienic, easy to clean, and eco-friendly for your body too.

Pyrex has other benefits too. “I love the smoothness and the super sexy soft glide of a very well lubricated toy, as well as the difference of texture when I want something a little grittier,” says Diamond. This makes glass great for use as a massage too, solo or with a partner, and for inside or outside play.  She recommends people get two, one smooth and one with texture.

Lyon, points out that consumers must be careful and buy pyrex, not glass because the latter can shatter if exposed to extreme temperatures, which is why many dildos labeled as ‘glass’ are actually made from Pyrex, a material that responds better to heat and cold.

One concern oft mentioned is that vibrators can be associated with a temporary loss of sensitivity in some users. For this reason, Dr. Anapol recommends the Lucite crystal wand massage tool by Nectar Products.

“It uses no batteries, doesn’t wear out ever, is easily sterilized, and best of all, increases sensitivity instead of decreasing sensitivity as most vibrators do,” she says. What’s more, the ‘S’ shape makes it easy to reach the G-spot or prostate, and helps “prevent fatigue or repetitive motion injury when used with a partner.”

Dr. Anapol also recommends the Taoist jade egg, which she calls very ecosexual because, “It exercises the vaginal muscles, and increases awareness of subtle internal sensations, leading to greater health as well as stronger orgasms for the woman and more pleasure for the man.”

This long-lasting toy is also made from organic materials – jade and a string – which means it’s the ultimate in environmentally friendly.

Additional recommendations

Our story wouldn’t be complete without pointing out that the industry is rising to the occasion to produce safer, sexier intimacy aids. All our experts were keen to recommend manufacturers, if not specific toys, to lovers in the market for something special this Valentine’s Day.

Those that made our panel’s grade include Tantus, Lelo, Fun Factory, Emotional Bliss and Aneros (which specializes in toys for men).  For an enjoyable shopping experience, we suggest you visit “Good Clean Love” (they will deliver to addresses in the Middle East for additional shipping charges – please inquire). Another highly recommended site is, “As You Like It: The Pleasure Shop.”

Read More Ecosexuality and Romance News:
Tips for a ‘Greener’ Muslim Wedding

7 Ways to Green Your Wedding

Israeli-Born Natalie Portman Sports Green Engagement Ring

Tinamarie is the Green Love and Sex Columnist for Greenprophet. You can follow her on @ModernLoveMuse and facebook. She blogs at www.tinamariebernard.com.

After being on the air for just a few weeks, “The Green Man” TV show has been temporarily shut down due to allegations of bribery and greenwashing. It is funded by an Israeli chemical company.

A new environmental television show called “The Green Man” debuted just a few weeks ago, hosted by well known Israeli news anchor Gadi Sukenik.  The promotional video for the TV show, shown above, shows Sukenik walking through all kinds of environmentally polluted areas and finally asking the viewers how long they can remain detached from the environment.  The real question may be, however, how detached from altruistic environmental goals “The Green Man” is.

Following numerous complaints, the show was temporarily suspended last week until further investigations can be conducted into whether the show received compensation for featuring certain companies, and the extent to which it is a conflict of interest that Israel Chemicals is one of the program sponsors.

The production company is currently being investigated under allegations that companies paid to be on the show, with prices dependent upon the amount of time that the company wished to be featured.  Documents were found suggesting that companies could purchase small amounts of time (such as five minutes) or even an entire episode.

The broadcasting company issued a statement saying that “The Green Man will not be broadcast until the investigation of the production company has been completed.  The results of the investigation will be send to us, and we will respond to the actions of the production company with great severity.”

The show may have been laden with problems since the very beginning, though, since Israel Chemicals is one of the main sponsors.  Sukenik, the host of the show, sees no problem with the sponsor, however, and said that “if you ask me, it’s good that a polluting company takes steps to partly rectify its actions… I believe eventually they’ll repair… I hope it won’t be too late.”

:: Haaretz
:: NRG online

Read more about eco-friendly TV shows and TVs:
Thirteen Part Television Series on Geography and the Environment Broadcast in Israel
Qatari TV Program “Stars of Science” Focuses on Environmentally Friendly Innovations
Israel Has Plans to Outlaw Dinosaur TVs

Eco-romantics about to tie the knot pay attention: Green Prophet has the scoop on making your day of love as green as possible without compromising on romance and style. From mass weddings in the Middle East to intimate ceremonies in your own backyard, here are 7 ways to leave a smaller carbon footprint when you walk down the aisle together. 

1. If you are exchanging rings, consider giving heirloom jewels or ethically mined and harvested diamonds, gold, gems and platinum.
2. Wear vintage gowns and suits or those made from eco-fabrics.
3. Use locally grown, pesticide free wildflowers and natural materials to decorate.
4. Serve food and beverages made from organic, locally harvested produce and vineyards.
5. If the wedding is to be indoors, rent out a building that is built to greener standards, or one that donates a percentage of profits to environmental causes. Consider a museum, an art gallery, botanical garden, historical home or cultural center for the reception.
6. As much as possible, consider how you can minimize the power requirements of your wedding by maximizing the use of natural lighting and cooling/heating options.
7. Instead of gifts, have your guests donate money to environmental or other causes that are important to the bride and groom.
8. If you are going to give your guests any party favors, make them eco-conscious. Candles made from soy, small planted seedlings, chocolate or other tasty morsel provided by a vendor that engages in conscious commerce.

We promised you seven, but we gave you eight. That’s because eco-weddings are about giving back more to your niche in this world. Going green is chic, fashionable, timely and likely to make you and your guests remember your wedding as something different from the norm. Give more in the ways that matter, and less in the ways that are wasteful.

Read More Green Wedding and Romance News:
Tips for a ‘Greener’ Muslim Wedding
Israeli-Born Natalie Portman Sports Green Engagement Ring

Top image by libertygrace; Tinamarie is the Green Love and Sex Columnist for Greenprophet. You can follow her on @ModernLoveMuse. She blogs at www.tinamariebernard.com.