Mathis Wackernagel, Phd, co-creator of the term ‘Ecological Footprint’, will be in Israel on Thursday, speaking at a Tel Aviv University Porter Environmental School presentation. Wackernagel completed his doctorate in Community & Regional Planning at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and his thesis research led to his development of the concept of […]
Clean water is a human right, a life giving force that should be universally available and commonly owned and managed. Right now, corporations pump billions of litres of water – water that belongs to everyone – out of underground aquifers each year and sell it back to us at a profit. Even worse, bottled water […]
Enviro-friendly folks like to extol the virtues of using Ecover. We use some of the products ourselves. Heck, the company’s even been recognized by the United Nations for their work in “cleaning” up the environment. The plant-based products, which include dish washing soap to floor detergent, are popular among the green types, especially those who […]
For better or for worse, Israel has become a leader in the technology industry. Innovations like solar power and drip-irrigation help to conserve scarce natural resources. But on the other hand, chemical-dependent intensive farming has polluted Israel’s soil and groundwater, not to mention putting the safety of farmers at risk of exposure to pesticides. So […]
Last week we reported the good news about a new environmentally friendly laundromat service in Tel Aviv. But what about those delicate items that you can’t just throw in the laundry? Things like silk, wool, or garments with sequins and embroidery? Usually you’d just take these to the dry cleaner’s, right? Well, think again. Most […]
“The Land, in its depth, does not forget” S.Yizhar (1916 – 2006) S.Yizhar (Yizhar Smilansky) was Israel’s foremost writer, professor of literature and education, and long serving MK, but primarily a man of the land. He served the State of Israel in many ways, as soldier in the War of Independence, as peacemaker, formidable politician […]
In earlier posts we’ve talked about what to feed your baby—but what about your infant? Breastfeeding is the number one choice for at least the first six months, and is recommended by many doctors for the first year. But this is not always an option for mothers, and that’s when baby bottles come into play. […]
The appropriately named “Angel’s Laundromat” chain in Tel Aviv just added a new kind of service to their list of offerings. Environmentally friendly laundry service. The service is eco-friendly because the laundromat provides a reusable cloth bag for the clothes instead of a plastic bag, uses dryers that are powered by natural gas as opposed […]
Green Prophet recently reported on the growing popularity of organic food in Israel, and the trend towards small farms who are delivering straight to people’s front doors to maximise freshness and reduce costs. Organic farming produces high quality food using natural processes instead of depending on synthetic chemicals, so it’s music to our ears that […]
It’s nice to know that on trendy Sheinkin Street in Tel Aviv, where many new clothing stores last only a few months, the Shtaim second-hand clothing store – a store with both an environmental and social conscience – has been able to thrive since 2001. (Update 2022 – the shop is out of business). Located […]
Cross-border environmental NGO, Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME), is getting work underway on establishing what it calls a ‘Peace Park’ to help rehabilitate the ailing River Jordan which runs along the border between Jordan and Israel (plus parts of the West Bank). The Jordan Valley is an area with a rich natural, historical […]
Want to know the best place to cloud-gaze in Canada, how to recycle bottles in Berlin, or where you can climb into a treehouse in Tel Aviv? The Green Map System gives us another way of looking at our world — and the movement is starting to take hold in Israel. (See our last post […]
Israel’s desert climate make keeping your car clean very difficult – especially when the sandstorms take hold of the region. When you wash your car don’t run the hose. Instead, use a bucket of water and a quick hose rinse at the end. It can save 150 gallons each time.
I was very excited to happen upon this Designboom’s feature article on the Israeli design student art exchange and training program in Chinese bamboo production and craft. Back when I first posted about it, I could only find photos of three bamboo toys. Now we can all drool at the super cool Metropolis cityscape set […]
With the world markets being down in the dumps it’s heartening to see that some are still making it. Israel Chemicals Ltd., which harvests minerals from the Dead Sea to make fertilizers and chemicals, said fourth-quarter profit jumped 82 percent as demand for potash and phosphate fertilizers led prices higher. Earlier this week we posted […]
We’ve seen how environmentalism can be applied to studies of literature, but what about Torah learning? While our Eco-Rabbi is one example that it’s possible to view Torah from an environmental perspective, there are other paths to environmental Torah learning blossoming all around us.
I recently spent a wonderful week relaxing and enjoying the green and quiet of Tuscany, an area of Italy steeped in viticulture and olive oil production. We went there to rest, write and read, dip into the pools of mountain streams, and kick back high in the quiet mountainous area outside Fivizzano, an ancient town […]
Yes folks, to celebrate the coming of spring, we here at Green Prophet have a great green giveaway! Thanks to the kind people over at Sourcebooks Publishers (sourcebooks.com), we have 2 copies of ‘Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style‘ by Christie Matheson to give away. See the recent Green Prophet review of ‘Green Chic’ […]
Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or for cleaning around your home. Use your creativity and save our planet one drop at a time!
“Embrace the fabulousness of green living” Green Chic – Saving The Earth in Style by Christie Matheson Don’t believe it is possible to remain stylish while going green and living a simpler, more planet-friendly lifestyle? Then this book is for you – writer Christie Matheson has aimed her new book precisely at this target […]
If your shower can fill a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, then your shower is probably not so environmentally-friendly. Replace it with a water-efficient showerhead and you’ll save lots of water… and money while you’re at it!
Jewish blog, Jewneric made the claim the other day that “Going Green” May Be Hazardous to Your Health. Their argument in a nutshell is such: Florescent lights contain mercury. Even though they save energy the mercury causes more damage to the environment, due to careless disposal, than the extra energy an incandescent gives off. Therefore they are […]
40,000 people cheered in Rabin Square last night as the Tel Aviv City Hall lights were turned off and the numerous cyclists powering the Earth Hour concert took their places. At exactly 8pm, Israeli President Shimon Peres ceremoniously turned off the lights in the Azrieli Tower and simultaneously the lights of the City Hall – […]
Israel Chemicals has signed a deal with the Yam Thetis consortium to buy 2 billion cubic meters of natural gas until 2015. And apparently being green can be profitable as well, because the company estimates that the switch will ultimately save them $100 million a year. Israel Chemicals, which manufactures fertilizers and specialty chemicals, bears […]
Our clothes are an integral part of our lives–they can reflect the type of work we do, our beliefs and even our moods. So it may come as a shock to know that our clothes can also pose a health risk and do serious damage to the environment. Most people prefer to wear 100% cotton […]