10 refugee shelters we hate to love
Refugees spend on average twelve years in their temporary homes, which got us thinking: what makes a good shelter?
The best reason for growing rhubarb that we’ve ever heard
While we contemplate whether GMO engineers can free our world from its glaring lack of light emitting houseplants and radiant pigs, we overlook far more amazing secrets of nature which make our best bio-science minds look like rank amateurs. The humble rhubarb plant is one such example.
Stylin’ gel wristbands sniff out chemicals killing your body
Pack away the clunky radon-detectors and carbon monoxide alarms! Silicone wristbands have emerged as the simplest of environmental warning devices – cheap to manufacture and damn stylin’ too. Not quite Fitbit –– Pop on some plastic bling and know what exactly you’re breathing!
Fatwa saves tigers! Hunting rare creatures, dear Muslims, is now Haram
Could a fatwa, a religious Muslim order, save a tiger? Watch and see, because the Indonesian Council of Clerics (ICC), the country’s highest Islamic body, has just proclaimed that hunting endangered animals is haram!
How green is your abaya?
Designers from around the world will parade their latest collections in Abu Dhabi’s first-ever Eco Fashion Show, a five-day event featuring couture-with-a-conscience this April.
Shapeshifting shelters for refugees in hot and cold climates
With roughly 600 Syrian refugees crossing into Jordan every day, it’s no surprise that local architects are designing various housing solutions for the devastating influx. Abeer Seikaly’s collapsible woven shelter is lightweight and mobile, while Yahya Ibraheem’s shapeshifting shelters can be customized to fit a suite of climate conditions.
Is fruit juice shortening your life?
Ah…a cold glass of orange juice, first thing in the morning. Gives you energy, vitamin C and zest to start the day. Right? Is that glass of juice really good for you? Maybe. What’s for sure is that juice gives you lots and lots of sugar. To start with, the vitamin C content in orange […]
Ten months, 7000 miles of earth, a bike, and a Tunisian passport
In 2010 Arafet Ben Marzou, like an increasing number of Tunisians, began to reach his personal limits of frustration when he saw his home country digress towards a political, religious and economic system that was draining Tunisians from their liberty, thoughts and creativity.
DIY chocolate fruit-nut clusters for Purim baskets
The Jewish holiday of Purim 2018 begins this coming Wednesday night, the 28th of February, and continues through Thursday the 29th. In Jerusalem and other ancient walled cities, the holiday is called Shushan Purim and occurs on Thursday night, the 1st of March, through Friday.
Dubai’s huge green mosque polishing off for eco-Muslim masses
Construction of the first eco-friendly mosque in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is nearly complete and Tayeb Al Rais, secretary-general of the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation said the green mosque will soon open its doors to worshipers.
Tel Aviv hosts first-for-world Vegan Congress, without the blood
Veganism has gone viral in Israel – the number of devotees doubling in the past two years! With over 2% of the population off meat and dairy, it’s perfect timing for animal rights activists to join up with no-animal-product eaters at an inaugural congress of the vegan movement, held last Friday in Tel Aviv.
Would you use glowing plants or glo-pigs to replace street lamps?
Biotechnology company Bioglow has developed the world’s first autoluminescent (light producing) plants. The US-based company’s vision is developing ornamental plants that serve as green alternatives to electricity-consuming lights. These guys take “green” literally.
Reusable, stackable emergency shelters for Syrian refugees in need
Our breakaway story about collapsible woven shelters (click here) designed to restore dignity to refugees around the world was so popular, we decided to look around for similar projects. Cue Exo emergency shelters by Reaction Housing, which has partnered with the Maram Foundation to deliver short-term security to Syrians in need.
Egypt’s ghostly abandoned theater – litter writ large
On the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, tucked in the dusty foothills of an Egyptian mountain range, sit hundreds of seats in an abandoned outdoor movie theater. The arrangement is eerie, like a long-ago movie set awaiting Fellini to shout, “Azion!”
Dream green awards for oil companies
Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil and gas producer and most valuable company estimated at $10 trillion USD, pockets three of the six environmental awards during the 2014 Offshore Arabia Conference & Exhibition, in Dubai. Did we hear right?