What’s in season April

Food

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April 25, 2022

April’s biggest bargain is fresh, green garlic

If you love the odorous bulb – and don’t mind your house smelling like a salami for a few days – now is the time to head out to the Middle East market, or shuk, and snatch up braided ropes of fresh garlic. Or braid your own, or simply hang it up to dry in a shady, dry place. It will keep for at least 9 months.

Think of all the delicious recipes there are with garlic – like our za’atar pesto.

Prices are about the lowest they’re going to go, so hurry to buy now, because garlic season will soon be over. And with a stash of dried local garlic, you can afford to ignore the bleached Chinese garlic in the supermarkets.

What fruits are in season?

Fruit: Avocados are still going strong. Strawberries are wonderful now, with prices going down. Now really is the time to make strawberry ice cream and jam (recipe for strawberry jam below).

Homemade Strawberry Jam Recipe

Cantaloupes, honeydews and watermelons are all excellent, just in time for hotter weather that approaches. Fresh green almonds in their fuzzy pods are now sold in the shuk. Crack their shells open and scoop out the milky, gel-like kernel. It’s a taste like no other, and doesn’t last long because the kernels begin hardening within a few days of harvest.

Loquats are still falling off trees in neighborhood gardens, as are oranges, clementines, grapefruit and pomelos. For those who don’t have those trees, look for the fruit in markets. Small, squat peaches just appeared, but prime peach (and apricot) season will come in the next weeks. Lemons are still abundant.

Bananas are good, with reasonable prices. There are local apples and green pears, but they seem to have come from cold storage. There are plenty of flavorless imported apples.

Vegetables in season in April

Vegetables: Cauliflower heads are full, fat, and white right now with good prices. Broccoli, however, looks sad and not worth buying unless you chance upon a new crop. Fresh, green ful (fava) beans are in, as are string beans, broad Italian beans and wax beans.

For some reason, all those fresh beans are still quite expensive, although in season and looking good. Root vegetables continue good: kohlrabi, beets, turnips, and red radishes. The exotic radishes such as daikon seem to be played out for now.

Cucumbers, zucchini, and corn are abundant and at good prices. Cabbages, both white and red, are very inexpensive right now – time to make sauerkraut before the weather goes really hot.

Artichokes are still available, but very much at the end of their season. All the nightshade vegetables are in and affordable: tomatoes, eggplants, and all the varieties of peppers. Fennel is in evidence and looking full and fat. Potatoes continue excellent, although the new-crop baby potatoes aren’t so new anymore.

Herbs in season in April

Herbs: Are much the same as in March, with the exception of new za’atar (chop some up to top pita, as in our recipe), oregano, and savory. The herb vendors display the usual lettuces (romaine, iceberg, ruffled white and purple), Swiss chard, leeks, mushrooms, spinach, parsley, sorrel, chives, wormwood, rocket, watercress, celery, parsley and green onions. Mint is especially big and beautiful now.

image-fresh-mint — *Fresh mint in season for tea, salads, lemonade*

Get a bunch of mint and put in cold water with a slice of lemon for a refreshing drink. You can also dry some for future teas, and put a few big sprigs in water to grow roots. Some markets carry fresh grape leaves now.

Foraging in April

Forager’s notes: Local trees are full of citrus blossoms. Gather a small handful to flavor malabi or warm, sweetened milk. Use the blossoms to bake in sweets or treats or cocktails, alcoholic or non. Plantain still hasn’t dried up. Wild oats are everywhere – pick the whole aerial part for a soothing tea, and to give to pet birds. Birds love pecking at wild oats, either fresh or dried.

You may find wild rocket (eruca sativa) for your salad. Capers have started to bloom – brave the thorns and pick a few buds that have opened just enough to show a white stripe. Place the bud in a little bowl of water and it will open into a beautiful white and purple flower in your home.

Wild hollyhocks are in glorious bloom: snip off a few leaves and flowers to dry as a cough-remedy tea for winter. Hollyhocks also grow easily from seed, so if you see any dry brown seed capsules, take a couple and plant them in your garden or in pots.

Recipes starring Middle-Eastern produce in season in April:

- - Strawberry Jam
  - Preserved Lemons
  - 3 Ways to Cook with Fennel
  - Baba Ganoush

Masdar’s developing green hydrogen plants with Egypt’s Sun

Energy

Karin Kloosterman

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April 25, 2022

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Hydrogen is a fuel of the future if it’s created with renewable sources like the sun.

With Tehran, Iran enveloped in black smog from dust and fuel and Cairo constantly being known as one of the more air polluted cities in the world, it is good to see that the United Arab Emirates, blessed with fossil fuels, making good on making the world better.

Masdar, a renewable energy company that built the net-zero energy city under its namesake, along with Hassan Allam Utilities, are investing in the future of renewable energy. They announced just now that they will develop green hydrogen production plants in the Suez Canal Economic Zone and on the Mediterranean coast.

What is green hydrogen?

According to experts at the World Economic Forum, green hydrogen is the only version of hydrogen that is sustainable. Hydrogen, around us everywhere in air and water, is the simplest and smallest element in the periodic table. No matter how it is produced, it ends up with the same carbon-free molecule.

However, the pathways to produce it are very diverse, and so are the emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4).

Green hydrogen is defined as hydrogen produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity. This is a very different pathway compared to both grey and blue.

Green hydrogen featured is a number of emissions reduction pledges at the UN Climate Conference, COP26, is a means to decarbonize heavy industry, long haul freight, shipping, and aviation. Governments and industry have both acknowledged hydrogen as an important pillar of a net zero economy.

The Egyptian organizations concerned include the New and Renewable Energy Authority, the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company, The Sovereign Fund of Egypt, and The General Authority for Suez Canal Economic Zone.

HE Mostafa Kamal Madbouly, Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt, expressed his happiness at this signing with the UAE, highlighting the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, to strengthen and consolidate relations with the UAE in various sectors, so as to contribute to achieving the interests of the two nations.

He stressed that the state is working to encourage investment in green energy projects, due to Egypt’s potential to become an important pivotal and regional hub in this vital sector, which is expected to transform the global energy system during the upcoming period. These projects will also accelerate energy transition process in the region.

Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change and Chairman of Masdar, said, “Today’s partnership agreements to explore the development of green hydrogen production demonstrates the strength of the close relationship between The United Arab Emirates and the Arab Republic of Egypt.

“These projects will build on the UAE’s and Masdar’s position as an early mover in the global hydrogen market and expand our capacity to deliver zero carbon energy solutions. As our two countries prepare to host the next two COPs [United Nations climate events], we look forward to working with our partners in Egypt to make practical advances in the energy transition that will provide significant benefits for the economy and the climate.”

Making hydrogen from Egypt’s sun and wind

Egypt has abundant solar and wind energy resources that would provide a suitable location for renewable energy projects at a competitive cost. Along with its proximity to global markets that are looking to import green hydrogen via the Suez Canal, this will allow significant growth for this sector in the future, and the agreements are in line with “Egypt Vision 2030” and its sustainable development strategy.

In the first phase of the project, Hassan Allam Utilities and Masdar aim to establish a green hydrogen manufacturing facility, which would be operational by 2026, producing 100,000 tonnes of e-methanol annually for bunkering in the Suez Canal.

The electrolyser facilities in the Suez Canal Economic Zone and on the Mediterranean could be extended to up to 4 GW by 2030 to produce 2.3 million tonnes of green ammonia for export as well as supply green hydrogen for local industries, according to materials released to the press.

Masdar and Hassan Allam Utilities see Egypt as a hub for green hydrogen production, targeting the bunkering market, export to Europe, and boosting local industry. Egypt enjoys abundant solar and wind resources that allow generation of renewable power at a highly competitive cost –a key enabler for green hydrogen production.

Active in more than 40 countries across the world, Masdar is invested in a portfolio of renewable energy assets with a combined value of more than US$20 billion, and a total capacity of more than 15 GW. In December, it was announced that Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA), Mubadala Investment Company and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) will partner under the Masdar brand to create a truly global, clean-energy powerhouse intended to spearhead the drive to net-zero carbon by 2050 while cementing the UAE’s leading role in green hydrogen.

Humans possess intelligence when it comes to selecting a nutritious diet

Food

Karin Kloosterman

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April 25, 2022

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forest mushrooms hunting variety — *A quest for mushrooms might mean your body wants Vitamin D.*

New research shows humans possess surprising nutritional intelligence: they “know” how to pair food for the right micronutrient combinations. The new research started out as a disagreement between food researchers.

Pioneering research has shed new light on what drives people’s basic food preferences, indicating our choices may be smarter than previously thought and influenced by the specific nutrients, as opposed to just calories, we need.

The international study, led by the University of Bristol, set out to re-examine and test the widely-held view that humans evolved to favour energy dense foods and our diets are balanced simply by eating a variety of different foods.

Contrary to this belief, its findings revealed people seem to have “nutritional wisdom,” whereby foods are selected in part to meet our need for vitamins and minerals and avoid nutritional deficiencies.

“The results of our studies are hugely significant and rather surprising,” says lead author Jeff Brunstrom, Professor of Experimental Psychology. “For the first time in almost a century, we’ve shown humans are more sophisticated in their food choices, and appear to select based on specific micronutrients rather than simply eating everything and getting what they need by default.”

The paper, published in the journal Appetite, gives renewed weight to bold research carried out in the 1930s by an American paediatrician, Dr Clara Davis, who put a group of 15 babies on a diet which allowed them to “self-select”, in other words eat whatever they wanted, from 33 different food items. While no child ate the same combination of foods, they all achieved and maintained a good state of health, which was taken as evidence of “nutritional wisdom.”

What about the Dorito effect?

Its findings were later scrutinised and criticised, but replicating Davis’ research was not possible because this form of experimentation on babies would today be considered unethical. As a result, it has been nearly a century since any scientist has attempted to find evidence for nutritional wisdom in humans – a faculty which has also been found in other animals, such as sheep and rodents.

To overcome these barriers, Professor Brunstrom’s team developed a novel technique which involved measuring preference by showing people images of different fruit and vegetable pairings so their choices could be analysed without putting their health or wellbeing at risk.

In total 128 adults participated in two experiments. The first study showed people prefer certain food combinations more than others. For example, apple and banana might be chosen slightly more often than apple and blackberries. Remarkably, these preferences appear to be predicted by the amounts of micronutrients in a pair and whether their combination provides a balance of different micronutrients. To confirm this, they ran a second experiment with different foods and ruled out other explanations.

To complement and cross-check these findings, real-world meal combinations as reported in the UK’s National Diet and Nutrition Survey were studied. Similarly, these data demonstrated people combine meals in a way that increases exposure to micronutrients in their diet.

Specifically, components of popular UK meals, for example ‘fish and chips’ or ‘curry and rice’, seem to offer a wider range of micronutrients than meal combinations generated randomly, such as ‘chips and curry’.

The study is also notable as it features an unusual collaboration. Professor Brunstrom’s co-author is Mark Schatzker, a journalist and author, who is also the writer-in-residence at the Modern Diet and Physiology Research Center, affiliated with Yale University. In 2018, the two met in Florida at the annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, where Schatzker delivered a talk about his book, The Dorito Effect, which examines how the flavour of whole foods and processed foods has changed, and the implications for health and wellness.

Interestingly, Professor Brunstrom and Mark Schatzker’s research originated from a disagreement.

Professor Brunstrom explained: “I watched Mark give a fascinating talk which challenged the received view among behavioural nutrition scientists that humans only really seek calories in food. He pointed out, for example, that fine wine, rare spices, and wild mushrooms are highly sought after but are a poor source of calories.

Fast food is turning nutritional wisdom against sus

“This was all very intriguing, so I went to see him at the end and basically said: ‘Great talk, but I think you’re probably wrong. Do you want to test it?’ That marked the start of this wonderful journey, which ultimately suggests I was wrong. Far from being a somewhat simple-minded generalist, as previously believed, humans seem to possess a discerning intelligence when it comes to selecting a nutritious diet.”

Mark Schatzker added: “The research throws up important questions, especially in the modern food environment. For example, does our cultural fixation with fad diets, which limit or forbid consumption of certain types of foods, disrupt or disturb this dietary “intelligence” in ways we do not understand?”

“Studies have shown animals use flavour as a guide to the vitamins and minerals they require. If flavour serves a similar role for humans, then we may be imbuing junk foods such as potato chips and fizzy drinks with a false ‘sheen’ of nutrition by adding flavourings to them. In other words, the food industry may be turning our nutritional wisdom against us, making us eat food we would normally avoid and thus contributing to the obesity epidemic.”

Key transportation challenges for modern businesses

Transportation

Bhok Thompson

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April 24, 2022

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Key transportation challenges for modern businesses

Road train, truckers in California — *The Road Train can help you get better fuel efficiency. Using a GPS can help as well.*

Now, the logistics sector undoubtedly plays an integral role in the supply chain and all the industries including healthcare, manufacturing and all are getting the benefits of it. But the innovation speed and technology that is evolving each passing day has become a concern for modern businesses. They need to complete the rapid demands of their customers and companies find it struggling to keep up with the fast-paced up world according to the latest developments in the technology. Though the best local moving companies like A-1 Auto Transport are trying to adopt the latest innovations still there are many challenges that all the transportation organizations are facing right now. If you want to know these then have a look here:

Completing the customer’s expectations

As technology is becoming more and more advanced, this has also changed the expectations of the people. this makes the entire industry go under tremendous pressure. of course, they need to go out of the box to make their clients happy and satisfied and have to improve both the efficiency and delivery speed.

Digital requirements

Evolving IT technology is also a concern for companies. Many companies present there stick to the traditional logs, paperwork, and records and are not using the digital technology but now it is required at the government level which is putting pressure on companies to get digital. The industry needs to be at the top in the advancement and have to make all the improvements in processing.

To reduce the transportation cost

To have happy and satisfied customers, organizations are required to offer their services at a less costly but the truth is that transportation is very expensive in logistics. But when considering the bright side, certain ways can help an organization to reduce the cost like coordinating incoming orders, optimizing the shipping routes as much as possible, meeting dock time, predicting the weather and traffic conditions, and many others that can be specific to your company only.

The increasing cost of fuel

eco shipping freight cargo — *Stacks of freight cargo*

With each passing day, the rates of fuel are increasing at a rapid rate which has become a challenge. Earlier, it was easier to run transport companies as fuel prices were low so they can generate a significant amount of money via it. Now, fuel prices have hit the roof and are affecting the margins of the companies making it challenging for companies to provide services efficiently while generating profit. This also makes them increase the cost of their services which makes them lose their customers and decreases the demand for services in the market.

*American ethanol is driving food prices up globally. Time to rethink the allure of biofuels?*

Unforeseen delays

The sector is affected by unpredictable things as the certainty is not there. The sector gets affects by traffic, weather, poor conditions on the road, and so on. Though yes, these things are predicted before embarking on the process but the accuracy is not a hundred percent. These uncontrollable factors increase the cost of service and also delay the process making unsatisfied clients.

Environmental issues

*A Tesla semi? The next wave of transport?*

The transportation industry has to follow a lot of protocols set by the higher authorities and government. Considering the environmental impact of transportation, carriers face significant compliance regulations that have been imposed thereby federal, state as well as local authorities. The emission of CO has put it necessary for higher authorities to set some standards.

Automation

There is the rise of automation in the industry. Both automation and AI are going to be big components of the company of the future. Automation helps companies to have more satisfied clients as it helps in fulfilling orders tracking the products and much more. But the transportation industry is experiencing the change too rapid making it tough for all the companies to stay up to date with the latest technologies to complete the demands of the customers.

Wrapping it all up

The transportation industry is growing at a rapid rate but is not without challenges. Upgraded technology is one of the main concerns. Though the industry is also enjoying the benefits of the innovation and also understands its benefits they are facing issues as they don’t know how to implement these technologies and how to get the advantage of them. Also, this leads to investing which currently they are not ready to make.

Just How Important Are Small Businesses?

Business

Bhok Thompson

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April 24, 2022

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Small businesses provide 75% of new jobs in the U.S. They also offer 40% of jobs and pay 44% of payroll taxes. The smallest companies create 13 times more patents per employee than large companies. 99.7% of employer firms are small businesses. If you have an idea for a startup, the first thing to ask is should this be a startup at all, or should it be a small business? There are dozens of reasons why you must support small businesses.

We’ve discussed them below;

Benefits of Small Businesses

Create more job opportunities

Startups play a key role in the creation of jobs. This is especially important during a recession when unemployment is high. The U.S. Small Business Administration states that small businesses create two out of every three new jobs in the country. That’s a huge number, now that startups comprise 98% of all businesses in the U.S, in accordance with SBA. According to SBA estimation, one in every two employees in the U.S. owns a small business.

Contribute to the development of the local economy

Small businesses also benefit the local economy by purchasing goods and services from other local companies, creating a cycle of economic growth within the community. Local businesses are more likely to support community programs

Thanks to small businesses, consumers have a chance to support their local community and keep money within it. Money spent at small businesses can be re-spent in the local economy rather than being sent away to corporate headquarters or investors. This helps build a stronger local economy and encourages further business development and growth.

Highly flexible

Small businesses can be more flexible than large corporations. Some small companies can make changes quickly, such as implementing new business processes or shifting directions in response to market demands.

Besides, when starting, you have everything to gain and little to. You don’t have to worry about corporate politics, making the numbers on a quarterly report, or pleasing anyone but yourself. If there’s a project you want to undertake or a new way of doing things you want to try, there’s no one standing in your way except for your own beliefs and fears.

Easy to change direction

With a startup, you can opt for a different direction with ease. If one part of your business isn’t working for you, it’s easy to shut it down and start over. Because you’re not tied down by large overhead expenses or investors’ expectations, it’s easier for you to make decisions based on what feels right for you and your business.

Innovation

Small businesses can innovate faster than large corporations because they typically have a flatter organizational structure and less bureaucracy, allowing them to make decisions with greater agility.

Essentially, one thing is for sure- big companies are not good at innovation. Although they seem like a great place to find innovation due to the availability of resources, they struggle with innovation. But resources are a double-edged sword. The more important a project is to a company’s future, the more risk-averse they tend to be. To get an idea of how this works in practice, just look at the corporate world’s record in adopting new technologies: it’s pathetic. Innovation has little to do with funding. When it comes to coming up with new ideas, you can’t beat small groups of clever people working on problems that interest them.

Key Takeaway

Starting a small business is the best decision. That’s because startups contribute to the growth of the local economy, lead to job creation and offer personalized customer service. Because small companies have fewer employees, customers often receive customized services that a large corporation may not be able to provide. Besides, they promote an entrepreneurial spirit. Working for a small company can empower employees who want to contribute on many levels of the business and grow professionally in ways that may not be possible in larger companies.

Tehran wins “world’s most polluted city” in April

Health

Karin Kloosterman

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April 24, 2022

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The Iranian city now passes as one of the world’s most polluted cities, as smog, dust and smoke overcomes it.

Kids were allowed to go back to school in Tehran in April but despite the freedom from Covid’s endemic status the students were told to stay indoors as the air pollution surpassed all global limits, making Tehran in mid-April, the most polluted city in the world in terms of air quality.

Al Jazeera reported that Tehran’s “very unhealthy” average real-time air quality index was 236, according to global air quality monitoring company IQAir.

The Swiss company’s index showed an “unhealthy” reading of 183 by noon on Saturday mid-April, but local estimates on Friday at one point indicated an index of more than 500, the maximum level that can be read by the scale.

Old vehicles, smokestacks from factories and low-quality fuel used in Tehran were not the main cause this time. Storms and strong winds carried dust mainly from Iraq, and the effects of the more than normal dust is likely caused by climate change, drought and desertification.

air pollution tehran, iran — *A woman in Tehran wearing a mask years before Covid struck. She is protecting herself from the air pollution.*

Some years ago Iranians opted to try car-free Tuesdays to curb air pollution. In 2016 it was estimated that 26 people a day die from Tehran’s poor air quality.

Tuesday was the day picked because it is in the middle of Iranian week when traffic congestion is high and air pollution is at its worst.

According to the New York Times air pollution in megacities is hitting an all-time high and it is causing unprecedented rates of early deaths:

“In many megacities, pollutants increased between 8 and 14 percent year to year, which is up to three times as high as national or regional rates of increase. And the vast majority appeared to come from industrial and residential sources, not from agricultural practices like biomass burning that have historically driven air pollution in tropical regions.

“Some 180,000 premature deaths in large tropical cities in 2018 alone were attributable to increased exposure to pollutants since 2005, according to researchers at University College London.

“That number, they noted, is made all the more alarming by the fact that nearly three-quarters of megacities, those with 10 million or more residents, are expected to be in the tropics by the end of the 21st century.”

Learn How to Schedule Instagram Posts (and Free Up Your Time for Other Things!)

Business

Bhok Thompson

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April 24, 2022

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beth moon trees — People like Beth Moon who took this shot travel the world photographing trees. If Instagram is how you grow your eco and green business, find new ways to keep the business flowing while freeing up some of the time needed for social media.

If you’re intent on growing your Instagram followers, whether it’s for business use or as an individual – perhaps you’re a budding Influencer? Staying active on this popular platform is a full-time job! You need to keep your brand name high in your users’ minds and help it to regularly appear on your followers’ feed. You also want to be discovered by all of those other Instagram accounts, by using hashtags, posting Instagram Stories, using IGTV and the LIVE feature.

As well as regular posts, you need to be creative and post relevant, useful information that catches people’s eyes. It takes time to craft the perfect post, take the best-looking image and decorate it with emojis, symbols and hashtags. Most people don’t have time to just focus on their Instagram account – but even a few, rushed Instagram posts at random times of the day could cost you dearly. If you aren’t keeping your followers engaged, they will go elsewhere and worse still, click the dreaded “Unfollow” button! Don’t forget – for best credibility, your Instagram account needs to be verified, especially if you’re a business or brand. Find out about Instagram verification in this useful link.

How to Schedule Instagram Posts

You may already know that you can schedule Instagram posts and if you didn’t know that – then you do now. There are various tools available online, and even through Instagram (if your account qualifies) that you could take advantage of to plan your Instagram posts for the future. Once you’ve spent time scheduling a few, attractive and exciting posts, you free yourself up to get on with other things that matter, such as building your brand or business – or just getting on with your regular tasks of the day.

Why You Should Schedule Your Instagram Posts

In this piece, we’re going to teach you how to schedule Instagram posts using a variety of innovative tools. Before we do so, let’s recap the benefits of learning how to schedule Instagram posts:

You can grow your social media presence and ensure that you’re targeting the right potential followers. To further boost your profile, did you know that you can also buy Instagram followers for $1? Alternatively you might want to try buying likes for Instagram and buy Instagram views cheap – but choose a reputable Instagram marketing company in order to do so successfully.
It frees up your time so you can focus on other things you want to do.
When you book out an hour of your week to plan your Instagram schedule, you can use the time to get creative with your posts.
You perfect your posts in the future, and schedule them at times you know when you get the biggest audience engagement.
You stay active on the platform, even when you’re not “there”!

How to Schedule Instagram Posts – Tools to Use

There are various online tools designed especially to help you with how to schedule Instagram posts. They are third-party tools that you need to download, and most are available on the app store as well, which keeps it nice and handy as you only need your tablet or smartphone.

Best Tools for How to Schedule Instagram Posts

We’d recommend the following programs for scheduling your Instagram posts:

Let’s go into a little detail on each Instagram schedule tool, some are free, some you have to pay for.

Later

This Instagram scheduling tool is free to use, but if you choose an upgraded package, prices range from $12.50 to $33.33 for the most advanced package. The beauty of Later is that it’s dedicated only to Instagram and gives you a generous social media planning calendar and the option to simply drag and drop your posts into your planner. You can also post automatically, or you can publish to Instagram at a later date. There’s another additional feature attached to Later and that’s the Linkin.bio feature, using this you can link certain Instagram posts to targeted product pages. We like this Instagram scheduling tool and rate it very highly.

Tailwind

This Instagram schedule tool is not free to use. It costs from $9.99 for the basic package, right up to $49.99 for the most advanced package. This tool is designed especially for use with the Instagram and Pinterest platforms. There are lots of excellent features available, such as uploading a large number of images at once and there’s a useful hashtag finder so you can discover the best hashtags to use for your content. You can also use the Tailwind calendar to plan and preview your posting schedule on one, easy-to-interpret dashboard so you see exactly what your followers see, before you hit the post button.

Buffer

This Instagram scheduling tool has a variety of packages to choose from. The free package, the pro package ($15), the premium package ($65) and the business package ($99). If you have other social media networks that you regularly use for business or personal content then it’s a useful tool to download as you can also schedule your posts for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Google+.

The tool gives you a useful dashboard and you may also include relevant hashtags. Additional benefits include an insights area to see what’s worked and what’s not worked for you and there’s an extension for your Internet browser.

Loomly

Another very well-regarded Instagram scheduling tool, Loomly is more expensive, with starting packages at $34 right up to the biggest package which costs a whopping $332 per month, however, if you’ve got the budget this is the very best scheduling tool of all because you can manage all of your content in one place. It’s not just an Instagram scheduling tool, there’s an abundance of interesting features to explore and you can use this across your social media platforms. Additionally, there’s an automated Instagram ad feature. The app provides notifications, so you know when a team member has worked on a post, which makes it great for collaborations. The app also provides inspirational ideas for your social media posting, including holiday ideas, trends, and events to name a few.

What About How to Schedule Posts on Instagram Using Instagram?

For this feature, you need access to a business page, and you need to have access to the Instagram Creator Studio and to do this, you’ll need to meet the criteria of having 10,000 followers as a minimum. Here’s how to connect up your Insta account with Instagram Creator Studio.

Click on this page to access Creator Studio.
Find the Instagram icon on the screen.
Login to your account.
Linke your Instagram account to your Facebook page and if you don’t have a Facebook page, create one on www.facebook.com.
Once you’ve linked up your accounts, you’re ready to use the Creator Studio which has a scheduling feature.

Use Creator Studio to create your posts, view all of your activity in one place and to gain insights into how well your Instagram posts perform (across all categories, LIVE, IGTV, Stories etc.). Here’s how to schedule Instagram posts with Creator Studio:

The Creator Studio – How to Schedule Instagram Posts Using Instagram

To schedule your posts in the future login to your Creator Studio account and follow these steps:

Locate the blue “Publish” button, it’s at the bottom of your screen on the right.
Select the arrow facing downwards.
A popup will appear, follow the prompts to select when you want your Instagram post to appear.
Check that your post is perfectly prepared and then schedule.
The Creator Studio keeps all of your scheduled content in the Content Library that you can access any time and edit posts if you wish.

More on Instagram Creator Studio in this useful link:

Final Words on How to Schedule Instagram Posts

Now you know how to schedule Instagram posts, you can streamline your working day to get on with other important things or give your marketing team the tools to work faster and smarter. Try out some of the tools above to see which one works best for you.

Frankincense resin could slow Covid impact

Nature

Green Prophet

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April 24, 2022

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Plants from the past and used in the Bible may help us against modern ailments. Research studies to produce medicines capable of fighting COVID-19 from frankincense trees in Oman are being jointly undertaken by the University of Nizwa in Oman and the University of Oxford in England according to the Bahrain News Agency.

Ancient trees and plants from the Holy Land in Israel and written about in biblical times may have the power to heal modern ailments. We have heard a lot recently about CBD and THC from the cannabis plant but there are thousands of natural sources of medicine all around us waiting to be discovered. A recent UN report list 12 wild plants in need of protecting and one of them is based on this new research.

The new research project is looking to isolate certain key compounds from frankincense – known for its healing properties – and to use them to make antibiotics.

The resin contains large numbers of naturally occurring chemicals that could be used to inhibit the ability of the COVID-19 virus to infect people, the researchers suspect.

“We realised that the properties of these compounds being anti-inflammatory can be very beneficial, because we could use these to inhibit the m-protease protein in the COVID virus,” Dr Ahmed Sulaiman Al Harrasi, the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Nizwa, said.

“This protein is present in the spike protein of the virus, which is used to enter the host cells, such as the lungs, in the case of humans. We ran models of the m-protease, in which we treated this with our active drugs,” he added. “We could see a very strong binding between the two, which means the inhibition of the virus by these compounds could be very strong.”

The project is led by Dr Al Harrasi, who also serves as the Chair of the Natural and Medical Sciences Research Centre, which he helped found, and is conducting this research, and Dr Christopher Schofield, the Head of Organic Chemistry at Oxford.

“It starts with the isolation of active ingredients from the frankincense resin,”Al Harrasi said.

“It then has to go through several procedures conducted here. Some of these are self-developed methodologies and protocols that helped us isolate these bioactive components, purify them, and then characterise them. We came to know their structure through different spectroscopic techniques such as nuclear resonance, X-rays and mass spectrometry. Various techniques are used to identify and elucidate the structure of those components used to make drugs isolated from frankincense.”

The resin was chosen for this research as it contains a high number of boswellic acids, known to be excellent anti-inflammatory components, which have been used to treat ailments such as diabetes, cancer, joint pain and Crohn’s disease.

“Some of these are about to reach pharmacy shelves as real drugs.”

The next step of the research will involve testing the quality and strength of the compounds isolated from frankincense.

Protecting wild plants

There are wild ingredients found in your home that are now under threat and which could be the medicine of the future. Brazil nuts, argan oil, and shea butter are now classified among a dozen wild, threatened and at risk plants known as flagship species that need protecting.

A new report published by the UN called Wild Check: Assessing risks and opportunities of trade in wild plant ingredients, sheds light on twelve flagship species – the so-called “wild dozen” – that are hidden in our everyday products.

Thousands of species are at risk primarily due to habitat loss, as well as other factors such as climate change and over-exploitation.

Of the 21 percent of medicinal and aromatic plant species whose vulnerability status has been assessed, nine percent are considered threatened with extinction. About 1 billion of the world’s most vulnerable people are thought to depend on them for their livelihoods.

The wild dozen and why you should care about these plants

Karin Kloosterman

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April 24, 2022

0

There are wild ingredients found in your home that are now under threat. Brazil nuts, argan oil, and shea butter are now classified among a dozen wild, threatened and at risk plants known as flagship species that need protecting. A new report published by the UN called Wild Check: Assessing risks and opportunities of trade in wild plant ingredients, sheds light on twelve flagship species – the so-called “wild dozen” – that are hidden in our everyday products.

Developed in collaboration with TRAFFIC, a non-governmental organisation working globally on trade in wild animals and plants, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the report aims to raise awareness about the sustainable use of wild-harvested plants. It can help consumers choose fair trade labels or opt out using these products altogether.

There is a surge in global demand for wild plant ingredients (an increase of more than 75 percent in value over the past two decades).

Thousands of species are at risk primarily due to habitat loss, as well as other factors such as climate change and over-exploitation. Of the 21 percent of medicinal and aromatic plant species whose vulnerability status has been assessed, nine percent are considered threatened with extinction. About 1 billion of the world’s most vulnerable people are thought to depend on them for their livelihoods.

“The sustainable use of wild plants has critical implications for food security and for millions of livelihoods around the world. It is time that wild plants are given serious consideration in our efforts to protect and restore habitats, promote sustainable agrifood systems and build inclusive, resilient and sustainable economies, particularly as countries work on the post-COVID recovery,” said Sven Walter, who heads FAO’s Forest Products and Statistics team.

Supply and demand

Plants make up around 80 percent of all biomass on Earth and play a fundamental role in supporting humans and other animals by providing food, medicine, oxygen and shelter. In some parts of the world, wild plants are collected by some of the most vulnerable people, often using traditional methods that date back generations.

Meanwhile, demand for wild plant ingredients keeps growing, especially in wealthier countries. Consumers in the United States alone spent an estimated 11.3 billion dollars on herbal dietary supplements in 2020, while preliminary evidence suggests the COVID-19 pandemic has renewed interest in the use of wild species as ingredients in traditional and modern medicine.

Overall, it is estimated that up to 5.8 billion people may be using wild or semi-wild plants globally, according to a study by Rhodes University in South Africa.

Despite their ubiquity, importance, and the threats they face, wild plant ingredients are often obscured from consumers and escape companies’ due diligence due to a lack of awareness and traceability.

The report aims to address these challenges by providing detailed information on a selection of ‘flagship’ wild plant ingredients, dubbed the “Wild Dozen.”

What are the wild dozen?

The 12 wild plants singled out in the report are:

Beth Moon Portrait of Time — *Beth Moon, Frankincense tree*

Frankincense: Found in north-eastern parts of Africa, as well as in Oman, Somalia and Yemen, its resin is used for incense, aromatherapy, cosmetics, perfumes and traditional medicines. Conservation status: near threatened

Pygeum: Also listed in ingredients for medicines and herbal products as Prunus, African cherry, red stinkwood or African almond, this tree grows in forests across tropical Africa. Conservation status: vulnerable

Shea: Grows across Africa, from Senegal to Uganda. Used widely in the food industry as a cocoa butter equivalent, it is also popular in cosmetics. Locally, it is used as a healthy cooking oil. Conservation status: vulnerable

Jatamansi: A perennial, aromatic plant that grows in the Himalayas, its roots are harvested for their medicinal properties. Conservation status: critically endangered

Gum arabic: This species grows in Africa and is primarily used in the food and pharmaceutical industries as an additive, emulsifier or stabilizer. Conservation status: not assessed

Goldenseal: Also known as hydraste du Canada or ground raspberry, this species is native to eastern North America and is primarily used for medicinal products. Conservation status: vulnerable

Candelilla: Found in Mexico and confining parts of the United States, candelilla wax was a common ingredient in chewing gum. It is used as a food additive (E902) and in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, as well as industrial waxes and polishes. Conservation status: not assessed

Argan: Also known as Moroccan oil, and rumored to be processed inside a goat’s butt, argan oil‘s anti-ageing properties make it a popular choice among European and North American consumers of cosmetics and hair products, while its oil is also used to treat a number of ailments, from acne to arthritis. It grows in Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco and the Western Sahara territory. Conservation status: vulnerable

baobabs, Madagascar, were a primary leafy green food for people centuries ago — *Beautiful alley of baobabs during sunrise in Morondava, Madagascar.*

Baobab: The A. digitata variety of this species is native to mainland Africa and famously eaten by our ancestors. Baobab powder is used as a food and beverage ingredient, while its seed oil is used as a cosmetic ingredient. Conservation status: not assessed

Brazil nut: Harvested entirely from the wild, the tree is primarily exploited for its nutritious, edible nuts packed with nutrients and antioxidants such as magnesium, zinc, protein and selenium. Its harvesting has contributed to preserving millions of hectares of Amazonian forests, which is why it is often called the cornerstone of Amazon Forest conservation. Conservation status: vulnerable

Liquorice: This perennial herb is native to Eurasia, northern Africa and western Asia, and is primarily used for medicinal purposes, as a sweetener and in the tobacco industry. Conservation status: least concern

Juniper: Juniperus communis is a species of the temperate and subarctic northern hemisphere. Its berries are a key ingredient in gin manufacturing. They are also used as a food flavouring, an essential oil, an ingredient in cosmetics, and have a long history of use in traditional medicines and for religious purposes. Conservation status: least concern

Finding Top-Paying Eco-Friendly Jobs

Good Job

Bhok Thompson

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April 21, 2022

0

forest bathing, woman hipster contemplating nature in dark green forest — *Feel you are reaching out to a forest of abyss? Even greentech companies like solar energy need good sales skills. Here’s how to find the dream job.*

These days, more and more people have become concerned about the environment. This is something that they worry about not only in terms of their personal lives but also their professional ones, and many want to do their bit to ensure a safer and greener future for everyone. This includes doing things such as getting a job with a greener company, and you can find some eco-friendly jobs that offer very good pay. Working towards improving your skills and creating a solid resume using online resume examples can help you to secure jobs such as these.

If you want to find top-paying eco-friendly jobs, you need to make sure you take all the necessary steps to boost your chances of success. By finding the right job, you can do your bit for the green cause as well as earn a good income and benefit from job satisfaction. You can also help to do your bit to make the world a better place while enjoying the chance to earn a good living doing something you are proud of doing. In this article, we will provide some tips on finding top-paying eco-friendly jobs.

Some of the Things You Can Do

There are a few different factors that you should keep in mind if you want to find a well-paid eco-friendly job. Some of the main ones are:

Look at the Area You Want to Work In

One thing to remember is that there are eco-friendly jobs and businesses in all industries, so one of the things that you will need to do is to work out what sort of industry you want to work in. The good news is that you can find eco-friendly jobs in many industries, which means that you have far more leeway when it comes to your career choices. Once you know what sort of industry you are most interested in, you can then start looking for eco-friendly businesses and jobs within that industry.

Study for Relevant Qualifications

Another thing you should do in order to help you to secure top-paying eco-friendly jobs is to ensure you have the skills, knowledge, and qualifications you need. If you already have a job in mind that you are interested in, you should do as much research as you can to find out what is needed to improve your chances of success. You can then turn to internet training and educational sites to get what you need in order to get into the industry and job you are interested in.

Gain Some Work Experience

One of the other things that you can do in order to aid your chances of finding a top eco-friendly job is to gain some work experience. This is something that you can achieve in various ways such as applying to green charities, asking around local businesses, and registering your details for voluntary work online. This can make a big difference when it comes to securing a relevant job.

These are some of the steps that you can take in order to boost your chances of finding an eco-friendly job with a great salary.

Top Tips On How To Use CBD Products To Boost Sleep

Health

Bhok Thompson

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April 18, 2022

0

Top Tips On How To Use CBD Products To Boost Sleep

sleeping CBD — *CBD can help you sleep, say some*

Do you have trouble sleeping at night? Are you constantly tossing and turning, unable to get comfortable? If so, you may want to try using CBD products to help you sleep. CBD is a natural compound that is effective in helping people fall and stay asleep. This blog post will discuss some of the best ways to use CBD products to improve your sleep. Keep reading for more information.

Take edibles before bedtime

One of the best ways to use CBD products for sleep is to take edibles before bedtime. Edibles are a great option because they allow you to get a consistent dose of CBD throughout the night. This can help you fall asleep and stay asleep for the entire night. Take the time to explore online sources where you may come across different CBD gummies for sleep with instructions how to use and the list of ingredients. Gummies prove to be an effective sleep aid due to their high potency and long-lasting effects.

Just make sure that you are purchasing CBD products from a reputable source. This will ensure that you are getting a quality product that will be effective in helping you sleep. You will know that you are getting a quality product if it is third-party lab tested and comes from a reputable source. This means that the product has been tested for purity and potency and is safe for human consumption.

Use CBD oil before you sleep

Another great way to use CBD products for sleep is to use CBD oil before bedtime. CBD oil can be taken orally or applied topically. If you choose to take it orally, start with a low dose and increase it gradually until you find the dose that works for you. If you choose to apply it topically, simply massage a small amount of oil into your skin before bedtime. The CBD will help relax your muscles and calm your mind, preparing you for a good night’s sleep.

Try using topicals

Topicals are another great option for those looking to use CBD products for sleep. Topicals are applied directly to the skin and can provide a localized effect. This means that you can apply them directly to areas where you are experiencing pain or discomfort. This can help you fall asleep and stay asleep more easily. There are a variety of topicals available on the market, so be sure to do your research to find one that is right for you.

In choosing the right CBD topical, it is important to find one that contains a high concentration of CBD. You may also want to look for a topical that contains other ingredients that are known to be effective in promoting sleep, such as lavender or chamomile. This way, you can get the most out of your topical application.

Smoke or vape CBD

hipster reads book while smoking a joint — *Covid has created a lot of loss, pain, depression and anxiety. Some people have turned to safer self-medicating using CBD, others need help with harder problems.*

Smoking or vaping CBD is also a great option for those looking to use CBD products for sleep. Smoking or vaping CBD allows the compound to enter your bloodstream quickly, which can help you fall asleep more easily. If you’ve never taken CBD before, it’s important to start with a low dose when smoking or vaping CBD. This will help you gauge how your body reacts to the compound. Once you know how your body responds, you can increase the dosage if needed until you find the amount that works for you. You should also keep in mind that smoking or vaping CBD may not be right for everyone. Thus, if you have any respiratory conditions, it is best to avoid smoking or vaping altogether.

Keep a journal

Finally, it’s important to keep a journal when you’re using CBD products for sleep. This will help you track your progress and make sure that you’re getting the most out of your experience. Be sure to record how much CBD you’re taking, how often you’re taking it, and how it’s affecting your sleep. This way, you can make adjustments to your routine as needed until you find what works best for you. More often than not, it takes a bit of trial and error to find the perfect CBD routine for sleep. But once you find what works, you’ll be able to get the restful sleep you need and wake up feeling refreshed and well-rested.

If you are looking for ways to improve your sleep, consider using CBD products. CBD products can be a great way for you to get a restful slumber. Be sure to try some of these tips to see what works best for you. Rest assured that when used correctly, CBD products are safe and can provide you with the sleep you need.

A Quick Guide On How To Clean A Dab Rig

Lifestyle

Bhok Thompson

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April 18, 2022

0

Cannabis oil is a natural medicine that can have a profound affect on mediating pain and anxiety. One of the latest ways of delivering the medicine is by “dabbing” which is basically vaporizing cannabis oil.

As dabbing becomes more popular for using medical cannabis, so does the dab rig. It’s a water pipe that vaporizes cannabis concentrates. Dab rig filters the condensed vapor through the base’s water. Dab rigs are commonly smaller than bongs, which results in less drag, allowing the vapor to reach the lungs more quickly and retain its potency.

Cleaning a dab rig may appear complicated, mainly if you are new to dabbing. If this is your first-time dabbing, you might be concerned about the cleaning process for your dab rig. If this is the case, worry not, here’s a guide on how to clean your dab rig properly.

How To Clean A Dab Rig With Alcohol

Here’s a step-by-step guide for cleaning dab rigs with an alcohol solution.

1. Make Your Salt-Alcohol Mixture

Fill halfway with sufficient isopropyl alcohol to fill your dab rig, typically 16oz or less will suffice. Then, add approximately 14 to 12 cups of salt to the solution and stir until the salt has dissolved. Leave a small amount to add grains that aid in cleaning the solution. If you need more tips, here’s a great site to visit online.

2. Torch The Tip Of Your Nail

Dismantle your dab rig and clean each component individually. A simple method to clean a nail is to heat it with a torch until all residual carbon has been burned off. If there is only a small amount of buildup, torching a nail should suffice to remove it. Additionally, you can clean the surface of your nail with an alcohol-soaked cotton swab.

3. Put Your Caps Or Bags On

Now that you’ve loaded your cleaning solution, it’s time to secure your dab rig. This is where resealable caps and plastic bags are advantageous. If you have resolution caps, simply place one in each of your rig’s openings. If you do not have them, no worries, just simply secure the opening with a rubber band and wrap a plastic bag tightly around it.

4. Agitate The Cleaning Solution

After everything is sealed and secured, agitate the solution inside the rig. It helps to initiate the process and dislodge any significant buildups of cannabis on your rig. This is exceptionally advantageous and will expedite the soaking process.

5. Allow It To Soak Before Rinsing

Allow your rig to soak in the cleaning solution for at least 30 to 60 minutes, preferably overnight. Thoroughly clean your rig with room temperature water. Water that is too cold or too hot can cause cracks in your glass. Allow plenty of time for thorough rinsing to remove all of the alcohol and resin. At times, soaking your rig a second time may be necessary to clean it thoroughly. If you cannot thoroughly rinse your rig with water, you can remove any remaining debris using pipe cleaners, paper towels, or Q-tips.

6. Dry Your Dab Rig

While you wait for the interior to dry, focus on the exterior with your microfiber cloth. Due to the importance of cleanliness, the exterior should be just as spotless as the interior. It ensures that your first session following the cleaning is a success. After cleaning the area to an acceptable level, dry any excess water. Allow for complete drying of your glass and rig before using them again.

How To Clean A Dab Rig Without Alcohol

If you prefer not to use alcohol to clean it, here’s an alternative solution to do it.

1. Vinegar And Sodium Bicarbonate

Using vinegar and baking soda is another extremely effective cleaning method. However, the smell will be unpleasant during the process because you’re still using vinegar. The time required for soaking is comparable to salt and vinegar. White vinegar and baking soda will not only clean your prized dab rig but will also eliminate lingering odors once it’s dried. Due to the acetic acid content of vinegar, you can be confident that undesirable odors will be eliminated.

2. Lemon Juice And Water

The acidity of lemon juice is well-known as a powerful cleaning agent. However, it is the least effective method of cleaning your rig on this list. It smells divine, but be prepared to soak your rig overnight and possibly twice more. If you’re not in a rush and lemon is readily available to you, you can opt for this method.

3. Vinegar And Salt

Similar to salt and alcohol, but with a less pleasant odor. Additionally, dislodging the buildup takes a little longer. However, it’s not too bad with a minimum soak time of two hours.

Takeaway

To ensure that you continue to receive high-quality doses for an extended period, it’s critical to learn how to clean your dab rig properly. Fortunately, the entire procedure is straightforward and requires only a few simple pieces of equipment and cleaning solutions. Use this guide to help you thoroughly clean your dab rig and enjoy a fresh rig experience every time.

8 Team-Building Exercises to Start the Week Off

Business

Bhok Thompson

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April 13, 2022

0

teams renewable energy — *Team building to change the world! The best renewable energy companies are ones that function.*

There’s nothing like starting the week off with a little team bonding. By bringing your employees together in a fun and collaborative environment, you can jump-start productivity and creativity. Here are 8 great team-building exercises to get your week off to a great start:

Play a game

This is a great way to get everyone interacting with each other in a fun and light-hearted way. It’s also a great opportunity to build team morale and just have some fun. You can play anything from traditional games like charades or Pictionary to more modern ones like Cards Against Humanity or Scrabble. If, while playing the latter, you find that people are having trouble shaking off the weekend rust a little bit, you might suggest using a word unscrambler tool like Unscramblex to help come up with winning word combinations.

High-intensity tactical activities are perfect for groups that want a change of pace while still encouraging communication and quick decision-making. Team managers often visit the Gel Ball Undercover store to gear up for scenarios that feel immersive without being overly complex to organize. These sessions give participants a shared challenge that naturally promotes cooperation and trust.

The start of the week meeting

This is a great way to get everyone on the same page and ensure that everyone is aware of what needs to be done that week. It also allows for any questions or concerns to be addressed so that they don’t become roadblocks later on.

Monday morning breakfast

This is a great way to start the week off on a positive note and get everyone in the right mindset. It’s also a great opportunity to catch up with each other and build rapport.

You (or the company) should be footing the bill for breakfast. You can order in or if there is a breakfast place close by that you all like, take the team there. How about an organic or fair trade restaurant that supports your local economy? It helps to alleviate some of the stress and malaise of Monday morning and gets everyone off to a good start. Plus it shows your values.

Team huddle

This is a great way to check in with each other, see how everyone is doing, and make sure that everyone is on track. It’s also a great opportunity to identify any potential problems and address them before they become bigger issues. It is usually nice to plan these sorts of gatherings for just before lunch so that people can take off right after.

Afternoon walk

This is a great way to get some fresh air, clear your head, and move your body. Walking also has a lot of health benefits, and it makes you a better worker, so it’s a win-win for everyone. Forest bathing is a therapy and a thing in Japan. Offer your team to try.

Plus, it’s a great opportunity to catch up with each other and bond. If you can, try to go to a park or somewhere with some nice scenery.

Brainstorming session

This is a great way to get everyone’s creativity flowing and come up with new and innovative ideas. It’s also a great opportunity to build team morale and get everyone working together towards a common goal.

People may have had some great ideas over the weekend that they want to share, so this is the perfect time to do it.

Group project

The beginning of the week is a great time to plan a weekly group project. This is a great way to get everyone working together towards a common goal and build team morale. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to learn new skills and improve upon existing ones.

The project doesn’t necessarily have to be work-related but can be a nice way to bond with your team and have some fun.

woman in glass at the office — *Your company might be building solar panels but is the environment a healthy one for corporate culture?*

Weekend share

This is a great way to get everyone to share something about their lives outside of work. It’s also a great opportunity to build relationships and get to know each other on a personal level. You can have each team member share a little bit about what they got up to on the weekend, even if they just stayed home.

It’s a good way to show the team that their coworkers are all normal people and lead lives outside of the work context just like them. Often, especially with remote work, we can lose that human element when we only interact with people via screen all day.

Conclusion

In summation, there are a lot of great team-building exercises that you can do at the beginning of the week to help with productivity and collaboration. Try out a few of these exercises and see which ones work best for your team. There’s no need to do all of them; just pick the ones that seem like they would be most beneficial for your team. And, as always, have fun.

UN climate conference forgets faith, women and youth, say MENA groups

Act

Karin Kloosterman

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April 13, 2022

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The UN’s climate change conference, with the worst names, COP27, will happen in Egypt this year.

The Middle East region holds its own climate platforms via the UN (recently the MENA climate week in Dubai), not that most industries like oil and gas are listening, but did want to send a message to the UN’s mother event about to take place:

“If countries are to achieve effective climate action at a global level, COP27 and COP28 climate negotiations must include the most vulnerable communities across faiths, like women and youth,” said an announcement put together by a number of local groups.

Organised by ACT Alliance and Ummah For Earth, the side event “Multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder engagement for effective climate action” was held on 30th of March 2022 at Atlantis Hotel – Palm Dubai. Speakers included Tarek Al Olaimi (ally of Ummah for Earth), Ines Belliard (Global One), Dani El Obeid (ACT Alliance, Lebanese University), and Devar Sher (ACT Alliance), and was facilitated by Julius Mbatia (ACT Alliance).

The event provided the opportunity for Muslim and Christian faith actors to reflect on possible solutions and pathways to strengthen multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder engagement for effective climate planning and action. It also helped to identify the gaps to be filled in order to enhance multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral approach, including the lack of youth, gender and faith inclusion in climate policy and decision making.

“Climate change represents one of the most urgent global challenges we are facing today. In order to tackle its impact, there is a need for a whole economic and governmental approach that contributes to low carbon, climate resilient and sustainable economies in MENA.

“Youth and faith actors need to be brought to the decision table every day, in order to include them in sectoral planning, prioritisation, and policy frameworks,” said Tarek Al Olaimi, from Ummah for Earth and somehow connected to Greenpeace as he offers a Greenpeace email for correspondence. (Email him: [email protected])

Muslims climate change — The year before, Ummah announced what Muslims want for the earth

“We need to take a step back and take a snapshot of the MENA countries, specifically where armed conflict remains a living hell. We can’t expect conflict-affected communities to be aware of the climate hazards. The MS-MS approach must have the people’s awareness at the heart of its activities and making everyone understand what a crucial role we have to fix the climate crisis,” said Devar Sher of ACT Alliance.

The speakers highlighted the need for better coordination in order to achieve an overall transformation of societies at economic and governmental levels. They focused on the role of faith communities in terms of filling the gaps between different sectors, organising and responding to specific needs in planning and action.

Noticeably missing from MENA or Middle East North Africa events are members from Israel, and the Jewish faith, visibly very entrepreneurial in the renewable energy sector and for the Middle East, but also conveniently left by Muslim-majority countries.

Solar shade fabric to light public park in pilot

Technology

Karin Kloosterman

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April 13, 2022

0

Solar shade fabric to light public park in pilot

The city of Tel Aviv has installed a pilot of LumiWeave, a flexible and lightweight solar energy shade and energy system in Atidim Park in Tel Aviv to provide shade during the day and illuminate your path at night.

Initiated by Anai Green, an industrial designer, the idea is the winning project in the international technology competition of Women for Climate launched by the C40 organization. Sadly, women still need their own competitions to get noticed in clean tech and design.

At the heart of the development is a solar sheet that combines energy harvesting and lighting. The sheet is lightweight and flexible and allows immediate installation anywhere without the need to connect to main power outlets. The LumiWeave has no need for electrical infrastructure and allows the customer (in this case the city) to control the time and intensity of lighting and thanks to its simplicity (unlike let’s say the Solar Tree which isn’t at costs $100,000 per unit) the LumiWeave system saves at least 50% of the installation costs of standard lighting infrastructure and 100% of the electricity costs, according to Green’s estimates.

The system meets all safety standards, withstands all weather conditions and continues to provide lighting even after 3 days without sun.

The Lumiweave project is a unique project, as it combines addressing climate change and the growing challenge of shading in urban areas, with a technological solution that operates based on renewable and clean energy, and enables the supply of lighting that without the polluting fuels. Of course trees are the best solution for shade but in hot dry Middle East countries maintenance of trees comes with their own cost. Lighting is an issue in many desert communities only partially connected to the grid, or in Syria, where rolling blackouts have made solar panel energy the only mode of reliable energy for home owners and vendors.

Anai Green grew up in Israel, attended the Bezalel Academy of Art, and Worked in Japan before opening her independent design studio in Israel. Over the past decade, Anai’s interests have extended her work on lighting and furniture to the design of spatial objects and the relationship between materials, form and technologies to bring her designs to impact every day life in urban settings.

In 2010 She participated as a collaborator in Megama – a strategic design office – on an entry for the Landscape Urbanism Biennale called “32N Urban Shade” that focused on the significance of natural and built shade in the city of Bat Yam, Israel.

Creating public shade maps and shade walls, the installation offered respite from the sun in the industrial zone, as part of the event. Lumiweave and the preoccupation with climate and well tempered environments emerged from this early exploration. Lumiweave combines Anai’s unique interests in emerging LED lighting technologies, flexible PV cells, with the potential of textiles in outdoor uses to address the problem of rising temperatures in urban environments.

Following the win at the international competition, the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality is assisting and enabling the project to undergo a practical experiment, in collaboration with Atidim Park Tel Aviv and the Cityzone Innovation Laboratory, in which the experiment is currently being conducted. The venture is operated through LumiWeave and is overseen by designer and entrepreneur Anai Green, its founder, and Tal Perens, a serial high-tech entrepreneur.

The Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality is a member of the international city organization C40, a network of major cities in the world committed to urgent action to combat the climate crisis. Within this context, the municipality initiates many actions including the municipal climate plan, a municipal plan for climate change assessments and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a plan for massive tree planting, expansion of green areas, a program to remove polluting vehicles and ongoing educational efforts in schools and the public spaces regarding the consequences of climate change.

A press release issued by the city of Tel Aviv of course quotes its mayor Ron Huldai who will use any opportunity to tout his “green” projects to the international media while encouraging the endless building of mega towers in Tel Aviv. These commercial building products to create condos can forcibly remove residents who do not agree to sell their apartments in exchange for a unit in the newly constructed towers that can start at 30 floors.

Elderly suffer because they don’t want to leave their only homes and wait 4 years for a new tower to be built and usually have no interest in changing a small garden-facing apartment for one of hundreds of apartments in a new tower often just used as a second home or for AirBNB rental income.

Huldai has also made personal efforts to stop the funding of anthroposophical education in Tel Aviv, namely Beit Hinuch Aviv, a unique, wholistic method of teaching deep ecological values in children, citing that the system is encouraging segregation despite the students being from all faiths and socio-economic backgrounds. The school has started a program to teach Arab women how to become Waldorf teachers.

Huldai took the school to the Supreme Court in Israel so it would not receive municipal support. Meanwhile schools in Tel Aviv- Jaffa are segregated by Muslim-Jew, religious and non-religious.

Tel Aviv makes small steps in “green” progress only because Huldai wants to win favors in the international community.

Hot topics

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Hot topics

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Marketing

Politics

Strategy

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Protecting wild plants

What are the wild dozen?

Take edibles before bedtime

Use CBD oil before you sleep

Try using topicals

Smoke or vape CBD

Keep a journal

How To Clean A Dab Rig With Alcohol

1. Make Your Salt-Alcohol Mixture

2. Torch The Tip Of Your Nail

3. Put Your Caps Or Bags On

4. Agitate The Cleaning Solution

5. Allow It To Soak Before Rinsing

6. Dry Your Dab Rig

How To Clean A Dab Rig Without Alcohol

1. Vinegar And Sodium Bicarbonate

2. Lemon Juice And Water

3. Vinegar And Salt

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