Lebanon’s ‘Weak State’ Supports Construction Boom, Environmental Bust

An interesting report published at the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Middle East institute by Waltraud- Frommherz-Hassib called “No Plan?…. Money rules” (links to PDF) reveals alarming issues concerning the lack of regulation of construction practices in Lebanon that are undermining the quality of life its people and are steering the country towards an environmental and urban […]

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Israeli Technology Creates The Basil Tree

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Flavorful basil for cooking now grows on trees, says Hishshtil, Israeli garden and agricultural nursery. I’m used to growing a handful of basil sprouts in a window box, never enough for two batches of pesto (see our delicious pesto recipe here). It seems like a dream to stroll over to a tree and pluck off […]

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Pamukkale for Liquid Relaxation the Turkish Way

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Think Egypt’s White Desert meeting Mont Blanc.  Three days of heavy snowfall hit downtown Amman, fat flakes screaming for clothes not found in our closets.  Schools shut and offices closed.  Icy roads wrought havoc on the annual Dead2Red bike and running race. Park aside historical significance, religious connotation, and cultural pride: I say this waterbody’s main value is as […]

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Arava’s 40 MW Solar to Power a Third of Touristy Eliat’s Peak Power

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Arava Power Company’s application was approved last night by Israel’s Public Utility Authority for their 40 MW, $150 million photovoltaic solar farm at Kibbutz Ketura, just north of the tourist destination city of Eilat in Israel’s Arava Valley. Able to ship out one-third of the electricity consumption during Eilat’s peak daylight hours, the solar farm will […]

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Saudi Potato Battery Could Be Commercially Available in One Year!

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Saudi researchers have produced a potato-powered battery that could be commercially available within the next year! Taking cues from a 2010 paper published by Israeli and American researchers that showed the benefits of potato-powered batteries in rural areas, a Saudi researcher produced an even more efficient potato cell that could be commercially available within the next year. Professor of […]

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