Frankly, we’re hoping that the above image of holiday shoppers makes you a tad uncomfortable. To enjoy holidays as greenly as possible, buy or make meaningful gifts that add to joy, not more trash to landfills. Here are 10 ways you can reduce the inevitable waste that accumulates after the last gifts are unwrapped.
10 Ways To Reduce Holiday Waste
Qatari coastal city to double in size but won’t kill the mangroves (photos)
Qatar is spending billions of dollars to prepare for the 2022 World Cup and some of that money will be used to expand Al Dhakira, a coastal city just 37 miles outside of the capital Doha that has protected mangrove forests to the north and south.
Gorgeous green-roofed Ostim Eco Park is an incubator for clean tech in Turkey
A central hub of innovation is great for incubating clean tech breakthroughs. Abu Dhabi has Masdar City, Saudi Arabia has KAUST, and Turkey will soon have the Ostim Eco Park. ONZ Architects strike the perfect balance between nature and development with their incredibly efficient green-roofed design proposal for the park, slated for construction in Ankara.
Amazing “Atlas” tracks Arab world habitat destruction over time [video]
![Amazing “Atlas” tracks Arab world habitat destruction over time [video]](https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/coastal-development-united-arab-emirates-768x412.png "Amazing “Atlas” tracks Arab world habitat destruction over time [video]")
Commercial and private real estate development in the United Arab Emirates threaten whales, dugongs, coral reefs and all marine life in the Arabian Gulf. Now some 80 regions in the Arab world are being tracked by satellite to show us how much environmental destruction happening is man-made.
World’s longest undersea water pipeline uniting Turkey to Cyprus
Turkey has started constructing what will be the world’s longest undersea water pipeline. The 107 kilometer pipe will draw water from the Dragon River and unite the Turkish mainland with northern Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea. Proponents are hoping it will unify the island, divided for the past 39 years.
Cyprus kills 1.5 million migrating songbirds to eat in fetish dish
It’s illegal to serve this disgusting delicacy in restaurants, but despite being outlawed some 1.5 million songbirds will have been killed in Cyprus this year to make a dish called ambelopoulia.
Lesbian penguins “out” at the Israeli zoo
Unlike Gulf states nearby, and Kuwait which is hoping to start a gaydar test to ban gays from moving to the country, Israel is extremely tolerant when it comes to its gay community. So much that it’s promoting the “free” love of its latest lesbian couple, two penguins at the zoo.
Domino’s vegan pizza makes global first in Israel
It could be because the country eats kosher, and many people strictly avoid pizza with both cheese and meat.
Or it could be because Tel Aviv seems to be becoming the vegan capitol of the world. But Domino’s pizza chain is rolling with it and delivering what Israeli customer’s want: a vegan pizza.
Tunisia’s environmental progress slides back 25 years
Tunisia was the first Arab country to talk about environment policy. Green Prophet attends a local conference on water and pollution and stunningly sees how there is no framework for Tunisia to make environmental change and progress. Read our report.
Sloughi, ancient desert hunting dogs, beloved but disappearing
Although confused with the Saluki, the Persian hound, the Sloughi is an ancient sighthound breed endemic to North Africa. For thousands of years the Sloughi has been the trusted hunting companion of the nomadic tribes of the Maghreb.
Alchemist Lauren Bowker’s clothes change with climate
Alchemist Lauren Bowker has created an ink that changes color based on the environment around it. She impregnates her dye into fabric and feathers, then constructs clothing (and sculpture) that reacts to chemicals in the surrounding atmosphere. Now you can wear climate change and pollution on your sleeve!
The Nile River and who’s giving a “dam” over its future
Egypt has been in danger of losing a part of its water lifeline the Nile River. Ethiopia is dead set on constructing a giant dam over their part of the mighty river. And both parties still don’t see eye to eye.
Dubai exposed as major wildlife trafficking hub [video]
![Dubai exposed as major wildlife trafficking hub [video]](https://www.greenprophet.com/wp-content/uploads/endangered-orangutan-768x512.jpg "Dubai exposed as major wildlife trafficking hub [video]")
The United Nations now classifies the illegal trafficking of exotic wildlife as second only in scale to the illegal drug trade, with Dubai emerging as a major smuggling center for the world’s most rarefied creatures.
Save a tiny Syrian’s life by giving online
Listen up. Several Syrian children froze to death this past week because they lacked adequate clothing. The UN predicts that more Syrians will die this winter from exposure to the elements than from the violence of the last three years. There needs to be more sustainable ways of treating refugees. But let’s start with the reality.