The Middle East faces dire water scarcity and in some places energy comes at a premium too, but we have yet to see simple solutions that address both issues at once – until now. Check out the Photoflow by NOS below.
iLAND’s Solar Packs for Peace-keepers, Festivals, Eco-jocks and Alpha Wolves Who Travel with the Sun
Whether you travel alone or in packs, there is a new range of portable solar solutions by the Swiss company iLAND (said island) that will put crummy little solar panels on your backpack to shame: iLand has developed and now manufactures portable solar power packs for events with thousands and those small enough for one.
Israel Shines at First Solar Decathlon in China
It was the first time that a team from Israel participated in a Solar Decathlon intercollegiate architecture competition but the group, which represented several higher education institutes, recently took fourth place overall in China.
Reyoutilizer App Simplifies Dubai Recycling
Absurdly tall skyscrapers, overfishing and other environmental issues tarnish Dubai’s green image, but projects such as the new Reyoutilizer app at least makes recycling a bit easier.
New Rotating, Vertigo-Inducing Dubai Tower Back on Track
Dubai’s record-breaking skyline is the stuff of imagination bolstered by immense wealth, a powerful combination that mostly results in epic fail architecture. A new rotating skyscraper is in planning stage, an investment in gimmickry over game-changing sustainability, moving this city a step closer to its looming 22nd Century reality as the world’s best bad building burial ground.
Cairo’s Coptic Solar Power Project Fades Amid Turmoil
The flame of an initiative launched in the largely Coptic neighborhood of Mokkatam in Southwest Cairo is at risk of flickering out amid ongoing political turmoil that has enflamed the city once again.
Watermelon and Feta Are an Odd Couple
Opposites attract; just ask salted caramel, chocolate-covered pretzels, or kettle corn. These treats are all sweet-and-salty food combinations and here’s a new one to add to summer – just before the season ends.
Watermelon and feta cheese may not seem like the perfect pair, but you’ll have to trust me when I tell you that they are. I tried the combination when I traveled through Israel and became a believer in their seemingly unbecoming food relationship.
The sharp tanginess of the feta nicely complements the juicy, sugary flavor of the watermelon. The cheese needn’t be feta, but it should be salty.
For a get-together with family or friends, you can make a tray of hors d’oeuvres to pass out. Cut the watermelon and feta into bite-size pieces – a small circular cookie-cutter will make cute round shapes – and stack them, in that order, adding a fresh basil leaf on top of each bite.
Stick toothpicks or cocktail picks in the mini-masterpieces for the final step. This starter is essentially like the classic Italian tomato-mozzarella-basil antipasto, except sweeter and saltier.
In a salad, practically “anything goes,” and if you try tossing watermelon and feta with arugula, you won’t be disappointed.
Other flavors to include in such a salad or in different ways with watermelon and feta are cucumber, kalamata olives, red onion, fresh mint, and balsamic vinegar – and that’s certainly not the end of the list.
Experimentation is the only way to create something new and refreshing. After all, the simple two-ingredient creation of watermelon and feta cheese was probably an accident, one of those culinary “mistakes that worked.”
Some odd couples do end up withstanding the test of time. Marry the darling fruit of summertime with the choice cheese of the Mediterranean, and you’ll taste the love.
JewGlass: A Google Glass App for Observant Jews
Rusty Brick is planning ahead for the day that Google Glass is released onto the market with a new app for modern observant Jews.
Deadly Middle East Coronavirus May Come from Camels
Researchers eager to trace the source of a deadly coronavirus that has spread to various countries in the Middle East and beyond have found that dromedary camels may be responsible for spreading the disease to humans, BBC News reports.
Qatar Solar Buys into Germany’s SolarWorld
Qatar Solar has purchased a stake in SolarWorld AG to give the firm a much needed fiscal boost. Called the BMW of solar panel producers, the German firm has been struggling to compete against China’s flood of cheap, generic photovoltaic panels.
Exodus from Syria Casts Dark Shadow on Muslim Holiday
The day that the month long fast called Ramadan ends is normally a joyous occasion for Muslims across the globe, but this year, with nearly two million of their Syrian brothers and sisters stranded, and strife roaring through North Africa and the Levant, a deep shadow has grabbed hold of this year’s Eid al-Fitr holidays.
Palestinian Company Harvests Naked Sea Salt for Israeli Activist
Israeli activist Ari Leon Fruchter has launched a new Kickstarter campaign, but instead of getting Israelis naked with Spencer Tunic, this time he is raising funds for Naked Sea Salt – a sustainable new brand of salt from the Dead Sea.
First Electric Bus Brightens Tel Aviv’s Streets
Don’t be surprised to find a bright orange bus rolling around Tel Aviv if you’re there; it’s new and it’s electric! The first of its kind in Israel’s busy Mediterranean city, it won’t be the last. Check out what the bus company Dan has in store.
Puri Water Bottle Makes Potable Drinking Water at Sea
During my travels throughout the Middle East and North Africa, I dreamed of having a magical bottle that could purify water without the need for any gross tasting tablets, and here it is: Puri.
Middle East Shipping Lands Prince Charles in Hot Water
Britain’s Prince Charles lectures long on climate change and the local food movement, but a recent discovery about one of his businesses suggests the title “His Royal Highness” is just a nod to his carbon footprint.