Page 47 – Green Prophet

Six “Green” Reasons To Drink Camel’s Milk

Health

-

February 11, 2025

Six “Green” Reasons To Drink Camel’s Milk

One hump or two? Feisty camels might have a bad rap, but their milk is low in fat, and full of vitamin C and iron. The next thing to hit Whole Foods?

At the tail end of breastfeeding week, we thought we’d draw attention to another kind of milk widely touted in the Middle East to be the magical elixir of health.

A staple of their diet, along with dates, camel milk has long provided Bedouins with the proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins necessary to survive a desert-dwelling existence.

And unlike cow’s milk, which creates allergies in many consumers, camel milk is blessedly allergen free. Camelicious bottles this humped concoction in different flavors and sizes that are available at supermarkets throughout Dubai.

1. The healthier choice:

Considered to be the closest substitute for mother’s milk, camel milk is not only low in fat and full of vitamin C, but it doesn’t curdle in the stomach. Therefore, it’s easy for the body to process it.

2. The Bedouins swear by it:

Travel to any Bedouin home, and you’re likely to find a camel nearby. After giving birth, mama camel can easily produce 5 liters of milk a day, though friendly coercion and good diet can stimulate more production. The Bedouins insist on the milk’s holistic properties, as indeed, it was used as a moisturizer and sunscreen as well as food. The Bedouin have plenty of health hacks. Find lots more here.

3. Free range:

The Emirates Industry for Camel Milk And Products (EICMP) Have Diversified Camel Stock, which is relatively free range.

No business in their right profit mind would admit to dodgy conditions for their animals, but the company Camelicious claims that their animals are happy and healthy. In addition, the camels bred for milk are interbred with camels from Pakistan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, producing a superior genetic strain.

4. Camel milking is potentially more humane:

Camels are typically milked for 12-16 months after giving birth, before they are encouraged to breed again; the equipment used to milk them is designed to be safe for their udders and to avoid mastitis – a common condition among dairy cows.

5. Camel milk tastes good too!

Free of cow’s allergens, and milder than goat’s milk, camel milk just might be the perfect compromise. It’s not too sweet, and drinking it won’t cause an upset stomach either.

6. No chemicals added:

MERS risk 2024. No camel milk, meat or camels, allowed into Japan. Tokyo airport.

With 5 times the amount of Vitamin C in camel’s milk, and full of iron, camel’s milk needs no nutritional help. It has a shelf life of 5 days before pasteurization, after which it will survive for up to 3 weeks. Camel’s milk is just as versatile as other milk, used as it is to produce low-fat varieties of cheese, chocolate, and a fermented delicacy that is used in areas that lack refrigeration.

So, put away your carton of steroid-infused cow’s milk and genetically modified soy, and find yourself a liter of choco-camel milk instead. That is, for those who observe Ramadan, after the sun has set.

Fermented camel milk products include chal or shubat in Central Asia and Iran, khoormog in Mongolia, garris in Sudan, suusac in Kenya, leben (lben) in Arab countries, and ititu and dhanaan in Ethiopia

Updated, Feb 2025

More Food and Health News From the Middle East:

Chemicals Colouring Our Food – A Rainbow to Avoid

Organic Farms Growing in Dubai

Interview With Locavore Expert Leda Meredith

Ivanpah: the value of first-of-line green energy projects, even when they fail

Energy

Karin Kloosterman

-

February 11, 2025

0

Ivanpah CSP gif

A major solar power plant project called Ivanpah, that was granted over a billion dollars in US Government federal loans is now on the road to closing two of its three units, with energy experts labeling it a “boondoggle”. While critics argue that the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility is another example of government waste, it’s essential to recognize the role such first-in-line projects play in advancing clean energy.

In 2011, the US Department of Energy (DOE) under former President Barack Obama issued $1.6 billion in loan guarantees to finance the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility, a project consisting of three solar concentrating thermal power plants in California. At the time, then-Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz called it an “example of how America is becoming a world leader in solar energy.”

The Ivanpah Solar Power Facility, a $2.2 billion concentrated solar plant in California, was once hailed as a breakthrough in renewable energy. However, it underperformed, requiring natural gas backup and failing to meet energy production targets. Pacific Gas & Electric canceled its contract early, citing cost concerns, putting the plant on track for closure. Despite its financial struggles, Ivanpah provided valuable insights into large-scale solar thermal technology. — The Ivanpah Solar Power Facility, a $2.2 billion concentrated solar plant in California, was once hailed as a breakthrough in renewable energy.

It was a time when spending on green energy projects was flush, starting with a boon around 2006 and 2007. Investors and government subsidizers were looking to fund dreams and Ivanpah promised a world with free energy harnessed from the sun.

Solar thermal versus photovoltaic PV panels

Solar thermal technology uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight, generating heat that produces steam to drive a turbine for electricity. It is known to kill birds that pass by it, attracted to the light. In contrast, photovoltaic (PV) panels convert sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor materials. While solar thermal can include energy storage with molten salt, PV is generally cheaper, more efficient, and easier to scale.

Ashalim is producing power but local financial estimates say it was not worth the cost.

Ashalim power plant, failed solar thermal — Ashalim producing power in 2022. You will see a blinding light when you drive by it in the desert

Now, after more than a decade, Ivanpah is set to shut down 2 out of 3 of its units. The facility never lived up to its energy production goals and required backup natural gas to stay operational. Its primary buyer, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), has canceled its agreement 14 years early, citing cost savings for customers. Critics argue that the plant was not only financially unsustainable but also had environmental drawbacks, such as harming wildlife in the Mojave Desert.

The plant’s operators plan to begin closing units in early 2026, with decommissioned units potentially being repurposed for photovoltaic solar energy production. Operator NRG Energy plans to shut down two-thirds of the Ivanpah Solar CSP plant after Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) decided to terminate two power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the facility to save ratepayers money.

But while Ivanpah may not have been a commercial success, dismissing it entirely as a failure ignores the bigger picture. Groundbreaking energy projects often face immense technical, financial, and environmental challenges—many of which only become apparent through real-world implementation. These projects are bold experiments that inform future innovations, providing invaluable lessons that improve the next generation of technology.

Ivanpah isn’t the only example. The solar thermal plant at Ashalim in Israel also fell short of expectations, proving too costly to compete with newer photovoltaic solar technologies. Similarly, MASDAR City in the United Arab Emirates, envisioned as a fully sustainable zero-energy metropolis, has struggled to achieve its initial ambitions and remains sparsely populated. We have an intern dispatch what it’s like. However, these efforts have contributed to advancements in green energy, from refining solar technology to informing large-scale urban sustainability planning.

Even failed projects serve as milestones on the road to a more sustainable energy future. Without Ivanpah and other early ventures, the solar industry wouldn’t be where it is today—producing cheaper, more efficient energy. Green innovation requires trial and error, and while not every project will be a financial success, the lessons they provide are often worth far more than their price tag. Saudi Arabia, for instance, is investing in hydrogen energy projects which may never be commercially viable without massive investments to sustain them. So let’s see “failing” as an outcome of bravery.

Ivanpah wasn’t the first to fail.

Ivanpah is connected to Israel through BrightSource Energy, the company that developed the solar thermal technology used in the plant. BrightSource is an Israeli-founded company specializing in concentrated solar power (CSP). The same technology used in Ivanpah was later implemented in Ashalim, a large CSP plant in Israel’s Negev Desert. Both projects faced challenges related to efficiency, cost, and environmental concerns, highlighting the difficulties of scaling solar thermal technology.

Ashalim, developed and owned by EDF Renewables, is operating today, but at a loss. There are more than 25 similar CSP towers across the world, including China, Spain, Morocco and the United States — but only one, in the United Arab Emirates, stands taller than the plant in Ashalim, Israel.

An Israeli business newspaper, Calcalist, called the Ashalim power plant “one of the saddest stories” in the history of Israeli infrastructure. Others say the tower’s more expensive energy is, in fact, almost imperceptible to Israeli citizens, since the higher cost is spread across the millions of consumers on the national grid.

Let’s look at a few failed power plants from the west:

1. Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project (USA)

Investment Cost: $1 billion
ROI: Negative – declared bankrupt in 2020
What Happened? Crescent Dunes, a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in Nevada, was backed by a $737 million federal loan guarantee. It was supposed to provide 10 hours of energy storage using molten salt technology, allowing it to generate power even after sunset. However, persistent technical failures—including leaks in the molten salt storage system—resulted in multiple shutdowns. In 2019, its sole customer, NV Energy, terminated its contract, leading to its financial collapse.

2. Kemper Clean Coal Plant (USA)

Investment Cost: $7.5 billion
ROI: Negative – converted to natural gas after exceeding budget by $5 billion
What Happened? The Kemper Project in Mississippi was designed to be the first large-scale “clean coal” power plant using carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. Initially estimated to cost $2.4 billion, expenses ballooned to $7.5 billion due to construction delays, cost overruns, and unproven technology. In 2017, after years of setbacks, the project was abandoned as a clean coal facility and converted to a conventional natural gas plant, making its CCS ambitions a complete failure.

3. Pelamis Wave Energy Project (Scotland)

Pelamis wave power

Investment Cost: Estimated £100 million+ (~$130 million)
ROI: Negative – company went bankrupt in 2014
What Happened? Pelamis was one of the first large-scale attempts at harnessing wave energy. It deployed snake-like floating devices off the coast of Scotland to generate electricity from ocean waves. While the technology showed promise, it struggled with durability, maintenance costs, and efficiency. After failing to secure further investment, the company went bankrupt in 2014, demonstrating the difficulties of making wave energy commercially viable.

These examples highlight the immense challenges of scaling up new energy technologies. Despite their failures, they provided valuable lessons that inform ongoing advancements in solar, clean coal, and wave energy.

Net Zero by 2050 a pipe dream with current tech advances and population growth

Green Prophet

-

February 10, 2025

0

Cabin in the mountains in Italy for skiing. Mountains in the background. — The analysis reveals that even when implementing an advanced scenario that combines major technological and behavioral changes, the nation’s mitigation goals will not be achieved given the current demographic trend

Most countries are relying on a combination of technological advances and infrastructure changes to meet their goals for greenhouse gas emissions reductions. However, a new model from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev environmental researchers shows that will likely not be enough and additional factors must be considered.

Their model was presented in Nature Sustainability.

Rising global populations and their increased consumption indicate technological and infrastructural changes will not suffice, according to Prof. Raziel Riemer, Prof. Meidad Kissinger and Dr. Na’ama Teschner.

Despite significant investment in technology and infrastructure, population growth and accompanying rising individual consumption will likely offset reductions leading countries to miss their 2050 targets.

The global population is expected to grow by 20% by 2050.

Israel is a particularly interesting case study because of the steady demographic growth the country experiences. However, the model is applicable to all countries.

The model examined the expected implications of population growth, changes in personal consumption habits in Israel, and the implementation of technological developments to reduce emissions related to areas such as electricity, transportation, water, food, and construction.

The findings indicate that despite the large investments in technology and infrastructure, the accepted steps are expected to contribute to reducing emissions per person by 65%, but due to the continued expected population growth, Israel’s carbon footprint will decrease by only 33% while water and land use will increase.

“Despite significant achievements in technology and infrastructure, the expected population growth and the increase in personal consumption may neutralize the reduction in emissions,” explained Prof. Riemer. “Our model shows that achieving 100% electricity generation from renewable sources is an essential step, but additional categories such as food production must also be addressed immediately.”

net zero climate change — Prof. Raziel Riemer

In addition, the model reveals that demographic processes will increase Israel’s dependence on food imports from abroad in an era when most food already comes from external sources and despite global food insecurity, which is increasing, among other things, because of the climate crisis.

These results emphasize the need to develop innovative agricultural solutions that will help reduce emissions and strengthen national food security.

Off-Grid Living: The Role of Sustainability in Modern Times

Bhok Thompson

-

February 10, 2025

0

Off grid in the woods. You might want a generator

Even die-hard skeptics now find it impossible to deny the presence of climate change. This is the very same reason why a growing number of businesses have decided to adopt a “greener” approach to their everyday operations. So, what can individual consumers do to lower their environmental footprint? One strategy involves what is commonly referred to as “off-grid” living. Let’s examine this concept in slightly more detail to appreciate the potential benefits that it can offer.

Is Off-Grid Living Truly Off the Grid?

The answer to this question can vary from person to person. For instance, one individual may employ a third-party service offering generator hire during power outages. Another might rely on solar cells to produce electricity. The main point here is that sustainable practices do not always have to be associated with entirely off-grid solutions. They are instead intended to reduce the consumption of traditional fossil fuels, and to mitigate carbon emissions.

How Realistic is Sustainable Living?

This is another question that should be addressed before moving on. Is the notion of sustainability a myth, or could it represent a reality? The answer partially involves the commitment of the individual (or family). We need to remember that developing environmentally sustainable solutions requires time, and a financial investment. Some methods can be rather expensive. For instance, installing solar panels on the roof of your home could require a significant amount of money. The good news is that these one-off costs will be offset by the long-term return on investment. In other words, sustainable practices often pay for themselves over time.

Unique Off-Grid Hacks to Consider

rain catchment — In the city you can collect water form your air conditioner. Off grid, you’d better try the rain

Although sustainable living techniques will frequently vary between different locations, there are still some sure-fire practices to consider. For instance, rental services such as Boels can provide efficient sawing and cutting tools; reducing the amount of energy required to complete a project, and limiting waste materials. Those who live in areas prone to inclement weather could instead create a rain catch that can be used as an additional source of water. Some other interesting suggestions include:

A turbine can be struck by lightning and turned into a tiny home

Installing a ground source heat pump
Harnessing wind energy in the form of a turbine
Using double-glazed windows to reduce heating and cooling costs.
Growing food in a garden as opposed to relying solely on supermarkets

Do not hesitate to perform additional research, as there is plenty of information available online.

Steven Bethell Joins Board of SMART at Historic Conference in Dubai, highlighting the importance of textile reuse and responsible recycling

Fashion

Green Prophet

-

February 9, 2025

0

Steven Bethell, a globally recognized leader in sustainable fashion and textile reuse, has been appointed to the board of the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART) — Steven Bethell

The event reinforced the role of organizations like SMART in shaping a sustainable future for fashion and materials recovery.

Steven Bethell, a globally recognized advocate for textile recycling and sustainable fashion, has been appointed to the board of the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART). The announcement was made during the largest secondhand clothing and wiper conference ever held in Dubai, bringing together key industry leaders committed to driving sustainability in the textile sector.

“I am very passionate about the mission of this organization and keen to contribute to its growth and success,” said Bethell. “Used clothing is a force for good, and I am excited to help advance SMART’s vision for a more circular and responsible textile economy.”

SMART is a leading trade association representing the interests of the for-profit used clothing, wiping materials, and fiber recycling industries. The organization works to promote the environmental, economic, and social benefits of textile reuse and recycling while setting high industry standards. Its board comprises esteemed leaders dedicated to fostering innovation, sustainability, and ethical business practices within the sector.

Bethell joins a distinguished group of industry experts President: Brian London, Whitehouse & Schapiro. Vice President: Drew Weinberg, OVASCO. Treasurer: Brian Rubin, Erie Cotton Products. Immediate Past President: Steve Rees, Wipeco Industries. As well as others on the SMART board, including Gina Buty, Helene Carter, Harold Kalfus, Rick Wolf, Munir Hussain, Usman Kappaya, Marisa Adler all of whom bring valuable expertise and leadership to further the organization’s mission. With his extensive experience in the global secondhand clothing industry, Bethell’s appointment is expected to strengthen SMART’s initiatives in advocating for sustainable textile management practices worldwide.

SMART recycling fabric

The conference in Dubai underscored the growing momentum behind the second-hand clothing industry as a key player in the circular economy. By highlighting the importance of textile reuse and responsible recycling, the event reinforced the role of organizations like SMART in shaping a sustainable future for fashion and materials recovery.

::SMART

Travel by Valentine’s train on 5 romantic itineraries around Norway and Sweden

Travel

Julie Steinbeck

-

February 9, 2025

0

Up Norway, Scandinavia’s sustainable luxury travel curator, shares with Green Prophet, its top recommendations for romantic train journeys. The unforgettable escapes were designed for honeymooners, couples in love, solo travelers indulging in self-romance, or families embracing quality time together to experience the true magic of travel by rail.

Everyone is advertising rail travel these days as a slow mode to see where one travels, offering affordable journeys and local insights. Some trains like Saudi Arabia’s new slow train are also offering luxury options.

Blending intimacy, adventure, and the unhurried rhythm of slow travel, each recommended train route can be seamlessly integrated into any Up Norway itinerary or crafted into its own fully customized adventure, making them the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for a year-round romantic getaway.

Up Norway’s recommended train routes where the journey itself becomes as memorable as the destination include:

Head North:

Travelers can begin their journey in Oslo aboard the Dovre Railway, which winds through the scenic Norwegian countryside with views of rolling hills and forests. In 90 minutes, the train arrives in Brumunddal, near Hoel Manor, a lakeside estate on the Nes Peninsula where couples rediscover romance through farm-to-table dining, lakeside wellness experiences that include saunas, cold plunging and hot tubs, and scenic bike rides to Helgøya Island—a heart-shaped gem celebrated for its panoramic views and tranquil setting.

Continuing along the Dovre Railway for another 25 minutes brings couples to Lillehammer, a historic Olympic town known for its alpine landscapes. From the train windows, passengers can glimpse snow-covered peaks and frozen lakes, adding to the anticipation of their arrival. Here, the brand-new Nermo Hotel, launched late last summer and still relatively undiscovered, offers stabbur suites—converted Norwegian storage houses offering panoramic views, crackling fireplaces, and access to winter sports like skiing and bobsledding.

Further along the Dovre Railway is Otta, a gateway to UNESCO-protected farm culture, and Hindsæter Lodge, which invites guests to unwind with gourmet dining and spa indulgence amidst dramatic mountain trails.

Central Norway:

For a dramatic fjord experience, couples can transfer to the Rauma Railway at Dombås, a mountain town in central Norway, to embark on a one-hour, 40-minute journey through one of Norway’s most iconic rail routes. The train passes deep gorges, cascading waterfalls, and towering peaks before reaching Åndalsnes, where a short transfer leads to Storfjord Hotel. This Relais & Châteaux retreat offers outdoor hot tubs and private fjord cruises to immerse couples in the region’s breathtaking beauty.

Arctic Norway by train:

The Ofotbanen Railway offers a 43-minute journey from Narvik to Riksgränsen, Sweden, crossing the Arctic with snow-covered plains and towering peaks. Here, Niehku Mountain Villa offers activities like snowmobiling and snowshoeing by day, followed by magical moments beneath the northern lights on winter nights.

Southern Norway:

The Sørlandsbanen Railway provides a four-hour, 20-minute route from Oslo to Kristiansand—recently featured on this year’s New York Times list of 52 best places to visit— passing through coastal forests and charming towns before arriving at Boen Manor. This riverside estate combines gourmet dining with access to the historic Setesdal Line, where guests can embark on nostalgic steam train rides through Norway’s idyllic countryside. Guests can also visit Kunstsilo, Norway’s celebrated contemporary art destination, for an inspiring blend of heritage and modern creativity.

Western Norway:

Lastly, the Bergen Railway crosses Europe’s highest mountain plateaus on a three-hour, 45-minute route from Oslo to Ustaoset. Here, the exclusive Hallinghi Lodge near Geilo—where only one group or couple can stay at a time—offers a remote, off-the-beaten-path experience with secluded dining, scenic hikes, and sauna rituals, all set against awe-inspiring highland vistas.

Want to start booking your train? Try Rail Ninja for scheduling and prices in Europe.

Banish Bad Breath and Save Money With Natural Mint Infusion

Miriam Kresh

-

February 5, 2025

0

Banish Bad Breath and Save Money With Natural Mint Infusion

Over-the-counter medicines are getting more expensive and harder to obtain. Think how much you regularly pay for mouthwash and pills for indigestion and flatulence. Natural mint infusion (long-steeped tea) helps keep your mouth and digestion sweet, and costs laughably little compared to OTC remedies. Here we’ll tell you how to use fresh or dried mint to save money and make your presence more agreeable in society.

Note: This post discusses the use of fresh or dried herb only, not oils, capsules, or other commercial products.

The two most commonly used mints (out of hundreds of varieties) are peppermint and spearmint.
Peppermint is the stronger, with more medicinal menthol and methyl salicylate, the active ingredients that sweep bacteria, fungi and virus out of the mouth and reduce them in the gut. It’s also the more antispasmodic of the two mints, relieving diarrhea and stomach cramps. Peppermint flavors many brands of toothpaste and commercial anti-acid remedies for those reasons.

Spearmint shares peppermint’s properties, but in milder form. It’s the safe mint to give to kids. Half a cup of tea every few hours is safe for children as a soothing warm drink when they’re down with a cold, or to control diarrhea; or, as a rinse after brushing teeth. NEVER give peppermint, in any form, to infants and young kids. The menthol content of peppermint may cause them difficulty breathing.

Swishing the mouth out with mint infusion after brushing (with an SLS-free toothpaste) completes daily dental care by treating teeth and gums to an antibacterial bath. Adults use peppermint infusion, and kids get spearmint. Most kids, by the way, enjoy the rinse-and-spit routine.

A bonus from mint infusion when combined with sage is as a mouthwash that prevents cold and flu viruses from latching on. Although safe to rinse and spit, it’s not to be swallowed. Mint/sage infusion won’t keep Covid or similar life-threatening viruses at bay, but with its antimicrobial properties, it’s amazingly effective in helping to evade the common cold. Think of overheated, crowded, under-ventilated classrooms and work spaces: hotbeds of illness. It’s worth the twenty minutes to steep the infusion and the few seconds to rinse the mouth. Recipe for mint infusion below.

Bad breath sometimes has other origins. Post-nasal drip can make the breath unpleasant. An inhalation of strong mint infusion opens nasal passages and can help relieve the condition.

Either mint, but especially peppermint, relieves indigestion, nausea and flatulence, as tea or even by chewing on a couple of fresh green leaves. Being antispasmodic, peppermint soothes stomach muscles and improves digestion, so food passes through more easily.

If you’re worried about flatulence before a social occasion, drink mint tea or chew on a mint tablet, or pluck a couple of fresh leaves off that mint plant on your windowsill and and chew them up. You’ll be worry-free for hours afterward.

Some caveats with regard to peppermint: if you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peppermint may make your heartburn worse. This is because peppermint, in relaxing the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, might allow more stomach acid to escape into the esophagus.

In other words, a bout of heartburn after overindulging in spicy, greasy food can be safely treated with mint tea, but if you suffer from chronic heartburn, forgo peppermint and talk to your doctor.

Peppermint may interact with certain medications. It should not be taken with cyclosporine, a drug taken by organ transplant patients. It may also reduce the effect of medications metabolized in the liver or drugs that reduce stomach acid.

Parsley and Mint Mouthwash
Blend:
2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons of chopped fresh mint
1 cup of filtered water
1 tablespoon of vodka.
Strain. Keep the herbal refrigerated between uses: can be kept for 3 days.
Rinse the mouth with 1 tablespoon of the herbal mouthwash. Do not swallow; spit it out.

Mint tea with fresh herb:
Boil 2 cups of water.
Put a handful of fresh mint leaves in a teapot or saucepan.
Steep, covered, 5 minutes.
Sweeten to taste.

Mint tea with dried herb: Use 1 tablespoon dried leaves. Or use a commercial mint teabag, keeping the tea covered until you drink. Check the production date on the box: if the tea’s over a year old, the mint will have lost most of its properties.

Drink mint tea hot in the winter and cold in the summer. Add a healthy slice of lemon, either way, for lemony tang and added vitamin C.

Mint infusion:

Chop a handful of fresh leaves or use 1 tablespoon dried mint.
Put the herb into a teapot or saucepan.
Boil 1 cup water. Pour it over the mint.
Cover the teapot or saucepan. Steep 20 minutes before straining.
Take 2 tablespoons every 2-3 hours.

The infusion is excellent, reheated, as a decongestant inhalation. Place a bowl of steaming tea on the table. Lean over the bowl and cover your head with a towel to trap the steam. Inhale the tea for 5 minutes. Take a breather out of the tent if it’s too hot, but return to the steam for 5 minutes’ inhalation.

Interesting fact about mint nutrition: mint has as much vitamin C by weight as oranges. While no one expects to eat that much mint at once, here’s a good winter salad with tender spearmint leaves (peppermint is too strong):

Orange and Mint Salad
2 fresh, juicy oranges, peeled and sliced
1 large tomato, sliced
Small handful of spearmint leaves, coarsely chopped
Your favorite salad dressing
Intersperse the orange and tomato slices on a flat dish.
Scatter the chopped spearmint over the orange and tomato.
Drizzle your favorite dressing over all, and serve.
Can’t find tomatoes at this time of year? The salad’s good without them too.

And a mild, minty note for next summer: Steep a healthy handful of whole mint leaves, plus a thinly-sliced lemon, in filtered room-temperature water for an hour. Refrigerate before serving, or serve over ice. Many like it just as it is, without sweetening.

Image of mint tea by jaida-stewart-Bmek6EYG9Uk via unsplash

Image of mint leaves by anna-hliamshyna-VDR-uVIHP_8-unsplash

More cool herbs and how to use them:

5 ways to eat iron-rich nettles

7 Natural Herbs that help with Anxiety

How degraded is the Saudi desert?

Travel

Green Prophet

-

February 5, 2025

0

Saudi Arabia is home to desert truffles. — Truffle hunting in the desert of Saudi Arabia

The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) has launched a project to study and assess degraded sites in Saudi Arabia using internationally recognized methods and advanced technologies.

The NCVC stated in press release today that the project aims to develop rehabilitation plans for areas in the eastern and central regions, specifically within Riyadh and the Eastern Province. It is part of a broader national strategy aligned with the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative and Saudi Vision 2030.

The project focuses on identifying degraded areas, analyzing the causes of deterioration, and implementing future plans for monitoring and restoring these lands using cutting-edge technologies and best practices. It encompasses short-, medium-, and long-term strategies to rehabilitate affected areas and ensure the sustained effectiveness of restoration efforts over time.

Maraya desert mirrors venue for concerts, flowers — Maraya, a mirror of mirages in the desert

As part of the project, the NCVC will carry out a thorough assessment using remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) to determine the extent of degradation. Fieldwork will involve sampling soil, plants, and water, as well as conducting economic and social impact studies in the targeted areas. Based on the findings, the center will prioritize sites for rehabilitation and develop detailed restoration plans.

According to the release, the NCVC is committed to protecting and enhancing vegetation cover across the Kingdom, focusing on biodiversity restoration and sustainable resource management. It manages rangelands, forests, and national parks, tackles illegal logging, and promotes the sustainable use of natural resources. These efforts align with its vision of fostering vibrant vegetation cover that supports environmental sustainability and improves the quality of life.

Saudi Arabia initiates a wild plant survey

Make bug bite balm that soothes skin with foraged herbs

Recipe

Karin Kloosterman

-

February 5, 2025

0

Herbalist, bug bite cream video shows you how ot use foraged herbs to make your own bug bite cream — Herbalist Miriam Kresh makes bug bite cream. In this video shows you how ot use foraged herbs to make your own bug bite cream

Bug bites from ants, mosquitoes, deer flies and the dreaded Canadian black fly can keep you up at night with the itch. Green Prophet’s herbalist author Miriam Kresh explains in detail how she makes this effective green balm using foraged herbs such as plantain and marigold.

She explains how to pull the medicine from the plants and how to combine your oil of choice with beeswax to make this glorious, green anti-inflammatory cream. She can’t promise to keep the bugs away, but it’s a natural way to make the itch less of a nuisance.

Plantain leaves are edible for a short time in spring, while they’re still small and tender. Mature leaves are too tough to enjoy as a vegetable. The great thing about plantain is its multiple uses as medicine, its numerous potential health benefits, and its versatility (it can be naturally processed to extract flavanoids, tannins, and terpenes in bulk.)

A poultice of crushed plantain leaves, or a cotton pad soaked in strong plantain tea and applied to the irritated part brings down insect bites, rashes, acne, hemorrhoids, or swellings around wounds. For example, a gargle of plantain tea will reduce the swelling and pain in the mouth after a tooth is removed.

And get all of herbalist Miriam Kresh’s wonderful recipes and herbal advice here.

Can Muslims drink kombucha?

Julie Steinbeck

-

February 5, 2025

0

Kombucha is it halal or haram? — Kombucha contains some alcohol. Is it halal or haram?

Kombucha is a probiotic superdrink that you can find in every health store and it’s even available in mainstream Costco and Walmart. While Muslims can’t drink alcohol, it is haram, and not halal or allowed. Is kombucha, with very low amounts of alcohol allowed?

What is that strange brew known as kombucha?

Is kombucha halal or haram? — The kombucha mother which ferments tea and sugar into booch.

Kombucha is a fermented tea that contains probiotics, making it popular for its health benefits. We have a recipe here for making it at home. However, its halal status is a topic of debate due to the small amounts of alcohol produced during fermentation. While biofuels, a product of alcohol are under debate, the answer among Muslims about kombucha, is maybe. When in doubt, look for a halal certifcation. When making kombucha at home, as your local authorities.

Here’s a breakdown of the key points to ask about kombucha.

Why Kombucha Might Be Considered Halal:

Low Alcohol Content: The alcohol in properly brewed kombucha is typically less than 0.5% ABV (alcohol by volume), and it’s safe for children to drink and similar to non-alcoholic beverages. This amount is not enough to cause intoxication, which is the primary concern in Islamic law regarding alcohol.
Natural Fermentation: The alcohol is a byproduct of the natural fermentation process, not added intentionally. Many Islamic scholars consider this different from beverages where alcohol is the main purpose.

Why Some Muslim Authorities Might Consider Kombucha Haram:

Potential for Higher Alcohol Levels: If kombucha is over-fermented or homemade without careful control, the alcohol content can exceed 0.5%, potentially reaching up to 3% or more.
Different Scholarly Opinions: Some scholars argue that any amount of alcohol, regardless of its source or concentration, is haram if it exists in a consumable form.

Scholarly Consensus:

Many modern Islamic scholars and halal certification bodies consider commercially produced kombucha with controlled fermentation (under 0.5% ABV) to be halal.
Homemade kombucha requires more caution because it’s harder to control alcohol levels.

Conclusion:

For Muslims who want to enjoy kombucha:

Check for Halal Certification: Some brands have official halal certification.
Mind Homemade Brews: If making it at home, limit fermentation time to keep alcohol levels low.
When in Doubt: Follow your personal or local scholar’s guidance, as opinions can vary.
Or make your own non-alcoholic drinks.

10 alcohol-free mocktails for summer

https://www.greenprophet.com/2010/07/aloe-vera-recipes/

Trump’s Gaza should use hemp concrete, solar power and smart grids

Julie Steinbeck

-

February 5, 2025

0

For Gaza to move beyond short-term recovery and embrace long-term resilience, sustainable technologies must be at the heart of US President Trump’s reconstruction efforts. If Donald Trump and a US administration were to spearhead rebuildng Gaza into the Riviera of the Middle East, America could set a precedent for eco-friendly development in conflict zones and a dry Middle East.

Here are key technologies that could drive this transformation:

Renewable Energy Solutions

Solar Power: With abundant sunlight year-round, Gaza is an ideal candidate for large-scale solar farms and rooftop solar installations. Trump’s history with energy projects could support public-private partnerships to develop off-grid solar systems, reducing dependence on fragile power infrastructures.

Wind and Wave Energy: Coastal access makes wave and wind energy viable options, creating diversified renewable energy sources to ensure consistent power supply. Eco-Wave Power exists in the port of Jaffa as a pilot. This project could be replicated.

Water Desalination and Recycling

Desalination and power plant powered by the sun. Shebara island, Saudi Arabia.

Advanced Desalination Plants: Israel is a leader in desalination technology. Utilizing energy-efficient reverse osmosis technologies, Gaza could turn seawater into potable water, addressing its severe water scarcity. Solar-powered desalination could make the process sustainable and cost-effective. Consider the waste ramifications and look to this American solution (OceanWell) of harvesting water from pods deep down under the water.

Greywater Recycling Systems: Implementing decentralized water treatment facilities would allow communities to reuse household water for agriculture and sanitation, easing pressure on freshwater resources. Israel is a leader in greywater recycling, reusing this water for irrigating plants.

Green Construction Techniques

Modular and Prefabricated Housing: Quick-to-assemble, energy-efficient modular homes could provide immediate shelter while promoting sustainability. These structures minimize construction waste and can be designed for energy efficiency. Homes could be built with local sustainable materials. Or Binishells!

Eco-Friendly Building Materials: Using recycled materials, natural insulation like hempcrete, and energy-efficient glass can reduce the environmental impact of reconstruction.

Smart Infrastructure and Urban Planning

Smart Grids: Implementing smart electrical grids would optimize energy distribution, reduce outages, and integrate renewable energy sources seamlessly.

Sustainable Urban Design: Planning green spaces, walkable neighborhoods, and eco-friendly public transportation systems can enhance quality of life while minimizing carbon emissions.

Agricultural Innovation

Red Sea Farms Founders Mark Tester, Ryan

Hydroponics and Vertical Farming: These soil-less farming techniques can maximize food production in limited spaces with minimal water use, crucial for Gaza’s food security. See Iryis (Red Sea Farms).

Climate-Resilient Crops: Introducing genetically modified or naturally resilient crop varieties can help withstand extreme weather conditions, ensuring a stable food supply.

Waste-to-Energy Technologies

Biogas Production: Converting organic waste into biogas can provide clean energy while reducing landfill waste and methane emissions. See HomeBioGas.

Recycling Facilities: Advanced recycling systems can help manage plastic and electronic waste, creating jobs and promoting environmental health.

Trump aims to make Gaza the new Riviera – can the US do it sustainably?

Julie Steinbeck

-

February 5, 2025

0

Gaza beach https://x.com/FatimaMshbair/status/1631686644918001666 — Gaza beach via FatimaMshbair

In a jaw-dropping annoucement, US President Trump announced that the US will take over the radicalization of the Gaza Strip and that the current population will need to be displaced as they rebuild and clear out the rubble. War and conflict has disasterous environmental implications and we can imagine that environmental organizations are scrambling to figure out how to deal with the humanitarian crisis and the 37 million tonnes of debris and hazardous material that covers much of the Gaza Strip area. The Gaza Strip is a wasteland.

After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump has declared that the US will “take over” the Gaza Strip envisioning a “long-term” US ownership of the territory after all Palestinians were moved elsewhere.

Gaza, he said, could be transformed into the “Riviera of the Middle East”. Trump did not explain how and under what authority the US could assume control of Gaza. “We will own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site,” he said, adding that the US would “level” destroyed buildings and “create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.”

Condom bombs set off by Palestinians to set fires in Israel. 2018

The Gaza Strip, was most notably in the news over the last year and a half after the violent terror attack against Israelis and foreign workers, where about 1200 people were killed and some 250 people taken hostage. The Strip is 25 miles (45 km) long and at its widest is 6 miles (10 km) wide. Its violent history and ruling of the terror regime called Hamas makes it untenable as a partner for peace. Israel retaliated in order to defend its country. Sadly, thousands of civilians and children have lost their lives in this battle in Gaza.

Australian women on the beach in Gaza, British Mandate Palestine, 1940 — Australian women nurses on the beach in Gaza, British Mandate Palestine, 1940

Reconstruction, under what authority, and how long it will take are many of the unanswered questions, but the time might be right for zero energy technologies and building practices envisioned and put into practice in cities like Masdar, might make for some excellent case studies. Hassan Fathy, a well-known vernacular architect who built New Gourna in Egypt offers some reasonable and sound ecological design and building practices for the Middle East.

Original photo from the mid-1940s of New Gourna

What this offers is a new promise for a better future: I hope that the future people living there will not live under a brutal, evil regime. I recall a story from about 15 years ago that I was working on after meeting Middle East water leaders at an event in Switzerland. I spoke with the mayor of Ashkelon, Israel who was developing a new wastewater treatment plant for his city and offered the blueprint and outside development grants to the mayor of Gaza City, not far down along the coast. But Hamas would not let the mayor of Gaza City out.

The Ashkelon mayor had also offered to meet at a third location in Europe so that they could discuss cooperation on treating their population’s wastewater. The Gaza City mayor wanted to go but the Hamas regime, not the people of Israel, wouldn’t let him out.

Some Palestinians and left-wing Marxists call working with Israel as “normalization” and any act of peacebuilding even for their mutual good is seen as an act of sabotage against their vision of owning all of Israel. Under this theory, if you work with Israel, Hamas will threaten your livelihood and life and this is why Trump understands that only a reset can bring harmony to the people living there. We’ve seen enough videos to know how Hamas treats people who criticize the regime.

Peaceful, normalization is a train that has left the building. “Normalization” of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia with the west –– and Israel –– is already happening at a breakneck speed. Saudi Arabia wouldn’t survive without moving in this direction.

By 2030, Saudi Arabia plans to be an open-minded, ecological superhighway of ideas and commerce, that spring forth out of its mega city Neom projects and head out of an oil economy. While early visitors are paid to live in Neom projects (X readers compare it to a penal colony) and stars like Will Smith and Tom Brady come out to endorse island paradise projects like Sindalah, Saudi Arabian’s sudden and moderate politics make us hopeful of the impact, and speed of America’s colonization of Gaza and sustainable development in the region.

Israeli irrigation expert Dr. Daniel Hillel with Palestinian leaders.

Establishing an American presence in the Middle East that is not in the corrupt Qatar will give a great chance for developing new clean water, energy and agricultural solutions for the entire Middle East (read how the Taliban killed the Japanese water bring clean water to Afghanistan). New Gazans could train all the Arab nations on these new fruits of success.

Up next: Lebanon. Make it free from the Hezbollah.

Want to work with a network of partners that rebuild Gaza sustainably? Send us a message if you work in sustainable development and land rehab. [email protected]

Using drones to know if whales are pregnant

Peace

Karin Kloosterman

-

February 4, 2025

0

killer whales seen pregnant by drones — Drones detect pregnancy in killer whales

New research published in Scientific Reports, describes a first-of-its-kind method of accurately detecting different pregnancy stages in killer whales using drone images. Understanding the reproductive success of whales is an important way of monitoring how vulnerable different populations are to threats such as vessel disturbance and food scarcity.

Prior to the introduction of this new method researchers have not been able to reliably detect early-stage pregnancy (before 11 months in a typical 17-month pregnancy for killer whales) without fecal-based hormonal analysis. This new approach promises to enable researchers to identify whale pregnancy earlier and at a significantly reduced labour cost.

In the northeast Pacific, three populations of killer whales – Bigg’s (or Transients), Southern Residents, and Northern Residents – have vastly different reproductive success rates. The Southern Residents are yet again experiencing the loss of another newborn calf, a total of three calves have perished within weeks of birth since December 2023, whereas the new Bigg’s and Northern Resident calves are thriving. Assessing how well calves are doing is only part of the picture – researchers also need a way of knowing how many pregnancies result in miscarriage.

The most exciting finding of the study is the ability to reliably distinguish non-pregnant whales from those in the early stages of pregnancy.

“Historically, when a late-stage pregnant whale is observed in poor condition is it often too late to take action that will improve the outcome for the calf,” said Dr. Chloe Robinson, study author and Director of the Whales Initiative at Ocean Wise. “With this new method we are able to detect early-stage pregnancy, allowing us to provide the mother with the best chance of carrying that pregnancy to full-term and producing a viable calf.”

The conservation application of this approach is that it allows researchers to understand historic miscarriage rates and inform near real-time management measures in response to detecting pregnant whales. Early-stage miscarriages currently go undetected, meaning government agencies are unaware of the true extent of reproductive failures.

Lack of access to food is one factor that significantly contributes to low reproductive success, and making the connection between a female whale’s nutritional condition and history of miscarriages informs what protections need to be enacted to prevent future miscarriages. This is especially useful for at-risk species experiencing reproductive failures and prey shortages, such as Resident killer whales in the northeast Pacific.

“Our main goal was to create a reliable method to better identify miscarriages in Resident killer whales. We hoped that in the process we would be able to detect pregnancy sooner but were awestruck by the ability to distinguish between non-pregnant and early pregnant individuals. These early detections mean that we will be able to detect miscarriages throughout the entire reproductive cycle as well as recognize vulnerable whales sooner,” said Brittany Visona-Kelly, study author and Senior Manager of the Ocean Wise Whale Health and Monitoring Program.

While the study focused on the Northern Resident killer whale population, a major benefit of the shape-based approach is that it can be applied to other drone image datasets for other killer whale populations. Because the method compares shapes rather than conventional measurements, drone images collected from individual whales can be analyzed so long as the whale is flat underneath the surface and all species-specific identifiers (six for killer whales) are visible.

“We used a shape-based approach as we wanted to create a highly adaptable method for pregnancy detection of free-swimming whales. The method can be applied to other killer whale populations and even other species globally if aerial images and demographic data are available,” said Visona-Kelly.

Building on this study, Ocean Wise hopes to enhance this approach by using artificial intelligence algorithms to reduce the time taken from image collection to pregnancy detection. Ultimately, this approach can be added to the arsenal of other near real-time conservation actions, including Ocean Wise’s Whale Report Alert System (WRAS), to increase protection measures for whales when they need it most.

Fast Facts about killer whales

There are an estimated 50,000 killer whales in the world’s ocean with approximately 2,500 living in the eastern North Pacific Ocean.
Southern Resident killer whales, who make their home in the eastern Northern Pacific waters, are estimated to have had a historical population of 140 whales. Today the endangered population is just 72 whales.
Killer whales do not have specific breeding seasons, typically gestate for 15-18 months and have 2-6 years gaps between young.
Female killer whales typically go through menopause in their twilight years (i.e., 50+ years of age)

How to Make Your Rental Properties More Attractive to Eco-Conscious Tenants

Bhok Thompson

-

February 4, 2025

0

Stedsans, an eco property offers guests a trip on a floating sauna

Creating eco-friendly rentals may be a trend for some, but it’s also a smart investment that can attract a higher number of qualified applicants. Eco-conscious tenants already make up a significant portion of renters, and you can appeal to them by making sustainable upgrades to your properties.

While you could target any particular demographic, there are plenty of reasons to focus on attracting eco-conscious tenants. For instance, they tend to be more responsible and are driven by core values that align with being a good renter, like desiring a nice living space and valuing relationships. A quarter of this demographic has a net worth of at least $250,000, and since wealthy tenants are more likely to pay rent on time and in full, they present less risk for late or missed rent. Since the number of wealthy renters is increasing, there’s a growing opportunity to attract financially stable tenants by owning eco-friendly property.

If you’ve been looking for ways to attract great tenants, eco-friendly upgrades are worth pursuing. But before you start overhauling your rentals, here’s what you need to know.

Work with a professional property manager

When you’re new to the idea of offering eco-friendly rental properties, a professional property manager will be a huge help. Based on real-world experience with many tenants, they’ll help you choose which upgrades to get and which ones to skip. Not all upgrades will pay off or be a priority for tenants. For example, the absence of a smart refrigerator wouldn’t be a deal-breaker for most people, but 70% of tenants would pay more to rent an apartment with a smart thermostat.

In addition to helping you sort out what upgrades to pursue, a property manager will also help you market your eco-friendly rental property so your ads meet all legal requirements and attract the renters you want.

Hiring a professional property management company is helpful, even if you don’t need a full-service package. Many companies allow investors to select only the services they need without being forced to pay for more. For example, Green Residential, a well-known apartment property management company in Houston, manages a range of landlord duties for their clients, including marketing vacancies to eco-conscious renters.

Property managers know exactly how to highlight the benefits of moving into an environmentally-friendly unit.

Eco-conscious renters are more likely to take care of your property

One of the best traits you can find in a tenant is the desire to take care of their space, even though they’re just renting. They’re more likely to report problems before they become a nightmare, and they aren’t likely to be intentionally or carelessly destructive.

When you appeal to the growing demographic of environmentally conscious renters, you’ll have an easier time attracting and retaining quality tenants who will take good care of your property.

Use smart home technology

nest labs google — A smart thermostat by Nest

Home automation is now an essential component in an eco-friendly home. Although the numbers vary based on the source, using smart tech can significantly reduce electricity bills by saving energy.

For example, smart thermostats make it easy to save money on heating and cooling costs by regulating temperature through an app. This means if you want to leave for vacation in the winter, you don’t have to leave the heater on the whole time. All you need to do is use the app on your phone to turn the heater on at night when temperatures are low. Without a smart thermostat, the heater would run day and night.

Other types of smart home tech that save energy include smart refrigerators and dishwashers, smart washers and dryers, smart lighting systems, and smart electrical plugs. Instead of controlling all of these devices separately, you can wire the entire property using Google Home so that all smart appliances work from one single app.

The initial investment in energy-efficient appliances and technology is high, but your tenants will save money on their energy bills, and that’s a huge draw for good tenants.

Improve insulation, windows, and doors

Improving how well a property is insulated may sound like a basic task, but it will make a huge difference for increasing a property’s eco-friendly credibility. While thin insulation in the walls, floor, or ceiling allow heat to escape, windows and doors are a main source of drafts. When you’ve got cold air pouring in through a window or door, the central heat will run nonstop, increasing energy bills and making the home uncomfortable.

By sealing gaps, fixing windows that were installed incorrectly and upgrading to triple-paned windows, you can create a space that more easily maintains its temperature. This will keep your tenants cool in summer and warm in winter without drastically raising their energy bills.

Focus on water flow

Eco-conscious renters want to save water, and that’s why low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets are attractive. These fixtures reduce water usage without compromising performance.

It’s also worth considering installing a rainwater collection system so your tenants can use rainwater for landscaping. Since water bills can get expensive, it’s yet another perk to advertise when you want to attract eco-aware tenants.

Use sustainable materials for renovations

Barrel sauna, panoramic window, serene beauty, lush forest, precision-crafted, cylindrical design, nature integration, wellness experience, unobstructed view, tranquil ambiance, rustic charm, modern functionality, charming retreat, contemporary luxury, natural splendor, rejuvenating journey, heart of the forest, sauna escape, forest sanctuary, soothing warmth, panoramic serenity. — A barrel sauna with a panoramic window.

When the time comes to renovate your property, use sustainable materials for the project when possible. For example, you can find beautiful flooring and cabinets made from bamboo, and cork is great for insulation and noise reduction. Recycled materials, like steel and glass, are also great eco-friendly choices for renovation projects.

Landscape consciously

Some of the most beautiful landscapes require a significant amount of water to maintain. However, you can create an equally stunning landscape with plants that don’t require much water or maintenance, like succulents, echinacea, yarrow, lavender, sage, and other drought-tolerant plants.

Build a green future for your rentals

Making your rental properties more attractive to the eco-conscious crowd is an excellent business decision that will pay off over time. By implementing sustainable upgrades, your rental properties will use less energy and support green living for the growing demographic of environmentally aware renters. Appealing to this market will help you get the high-quality tenants you want while supporting a healthier planet.

She makes Dead Sea Diamonds and farms crystals for ion powers

Art
Travel

Karin Kloosterman

-

February 4, 2025

0

She makes Dead Sea Diamonds and farms crystals for ion powers

Michal Rothschild, creator of Dead Sea Diamonds

“She sells seashells by the seashore,” is the first thing I want to say when I think of Michal Rothschild. I met her 15 years ago as a painter living and working in the mountains of Jerusalem. I recently met her again and she showed me her latest art project –– an attempt to create crystal wombs so she can grow crystals like the large crystal nuggets she has found buried in mud at the Dead Sea. She calls her wearable art Dead Sea Capsules.

Rothschild started selling bracelets and necklaces featuring Dead Sea diamond crystals at museum shops in Israel –– and also through her website, and the Israel Museum asked if it’s allowed for her to harvest them from the Dead Sea. She wondered if harvesting crystals was sustainable. It put her on an artistic quest.

In looking for the answer, she developed a way with the Israel Geological Survey as a partner, to farm Dead Sea crystals in mini crystal incubators at the Dead Sea: “My quest for getting the answer (if harvesting the salt crystals is sustainable) led me to my on-going artistic research of growing Dead Sea diamonds myself,” she told Green Prophet.

She creates a seed of a crystal inside the “womb” and over time the salty covered chamber sitting in the Dead Sea reveals a mini crystal in the center. You can see the chambers hanging in her studio outside Jerusalem. And below there are photos of the process she invented taking place at the Dead Sea.

Growing baby crystals inside these crystal wombs

Inside each bulb of hanging crystal is a treasure, an embryo of a crystal that is also wearable art: bracelets and necklaces that transmit Dead Sea ions to the body. “It’s kind of a life project and more of an artistic one than a scientific project,” she says.

There is no other salt lake on the planet that has the complete array of ions than what’s found in the Dead Sea, says Rothschild. When you wear her art a tiny part of the jewelry melts into your body. You can wear it and sweat, she notes, and some of the healing ions will be absorbed into your skin.

And wearers take note: you can’t wear this living art in the shower or in the rain. This unique crystal jewelry is an art form in itself carrying, what Rothschild says is an ecological message: “If you don’t take care of it it will disappear like the Dead Sea itself.

“It will last as long as you don’t get it wet. It needs your awareness.”

In ancient times, the Dead Sea was a favorite of King Herod and it was Queen Cleopatra’s beauty secret. People from all over the world, especially people with asthma and skin diseases, come to the Dead Sea for its curative salt, and air. It being so low, means that there is more ozone filtering out UV radiation so it’s hard to get a sunburn making it a safer way for people to soak up the sun.

The salt, minerals and the mud baths are not the only amazing thing about the Dead Sea. Its crystals contain magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc, bromide, sulfur and strontium. Rothschild understood that when you wear her crystal art, the salt crystal transmits its ions right to your body.

And while it will melt away in the shower or in the rain, this unique crystal jewelry is an art form in itself. It will last as long as you don’t get it wet.

“The crystal farming process from the cruise with the Israel Geological Survey to their research float in the middle of the Dead Sea where I deepen the sack 15m under sea level and left it hanging there for about 2 months.”

Dead Sea boat tour, floating on the Dead Sea, Dead Sea travel, Dead Sea experience, boat ride Dead Sea, unique Dead Sea activities, Dead Sea adventure, sailing on the Dead Sea, Dead Sea tourism, Dead Sea nature, Middle East travel, Dead Sea exploration, boat trip Dead Sea, Dead Sea water journey, salty water boat ride, Dead Sea floating experience, Jordan tourism, Israel travel, Dead Sea photography, wellness travel — Working off of vessels on the Dead Sea

Rothschild also uses her art to talk about the fact that the Dead Sea is being over-exploited and is dying. Lack of water, and intense industrial sequestration of minerals are the two main reasons why the Dead Sea is shrinking, causing spurious sink holes to pop up overnight.

Being a crystal whisperer is only one of her many talents. Rothschild is a gardener, painter, video art creator and installation artist, and soon to be beekeeper who studied art in New York. Her work can be found on her website, and she is taking custom orders on Dead Sea crystal necklaces (Dead Sea Diamonds) so you can wear a little bit of the Dead Sea mystery year long (they feel a bit witchy) –– just don’t wear them in the rain.

::Michal Rothschild

Hot topics

Finance

Marketing

Politics

Strategy

Hot topics

Finance

Marketing

Politics

Strategy

Solar thermal versus photovoltaic PV panels

The event reinforced the role of organizations like SMART in shaping a sustainable future for fashion and materials recovery.

What is that strange brew known as kombucha?

Why Kombucha Might Be Considered Halal:

Why Some Muslim Authorities Might Consider Kombucha Haram:

Scholarly Consensus:

Conclusion:

Renewable Energy Solutions

Water Desalination and Recycling

Green Construction Techniques

Smart Infrastructure and Urban Planning

Agricultural Innovation

Waste-to-Energy Technologies

Company

Headlines

Newsletter