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Dubai Breaks its Own Record for the World’s Tallest Hotel

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Dubai, green building, unsustainable development, tourism, Emirates Airlines, JW Marriott Hotel, Dubai, Gold, United Arab EmiratesWhen it is complete, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai Hotel will be the world’s tallest.

Never mind that scientists have discovered giant plumes of methane that could speed up global-warming, which could contribute to even higher temperatures in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other countries.

Pay no attention to the fact that hundreds of partially unoccupied towers already line the Gulf shoreline: JW Marriott is building the world’s newest tallest hotel in Dubai.

72 Stories tall, the Rose Reyhaan Rotana on Sheikh Zayed Road currently holds the record as the world’s tallest hotel, but it is soon to be surpassed.

When the twin 1,165 feet JW Marriott Marquis Dubai hotel towers are complete, they will have ten additional floors each and 1,608 rooms between them.

Akrya Resort for Japanese Sensibility on Koh Samui, Thailand

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akyra hotel review
An excellent time to get away from the cold weather, Thailand can easily become the Cancun or Ibiza for the Middle East. This week I’ve landed at the Japanese-influenced resort called Akyra. And while it is not a certified eco-hotel, which I am going to seek out and review later, there are a few elements of the resort that are in line with some of the values we might be looking for when looking to tread lighter on the planet. Of course sleeping on a beach bungalow without air-con is the best option for eco-travel in Thailand and something I do in Sinai. But not for me at this point in my life with a baby who’s now walking. I am looking for simplicity, quiet aesthetics and the kind of quality that will stand the test of time.

Palestinians Attempt to Build Secret Renewable Energy Plants

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Renewable energy, Israel, Palestinian Authority, solar power, green design, sustainable design, eco-design, Palestinians living in Masafer Yatta who do not have access to the electrical grid have been developing home grown renewable energy plants.

Palestinians living in the Masafer Yatta village have been secretly pursuing wind and solar energy projects in order to mitigate a serious shortfall of energy in the village.

But the 150,000 residents that live in Area C, which has been under Israeli control since 1993, live in constant fear that Israeli authorities will demolish their projects. Why? Because Israelis are opposed to any new infrastructure projects that are built outside of construction and planning laws.

Siemens Headquarters at Masdar City Scoops Coveted Architecture Award

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green design, sustainable design, eco design, Masdar City, Siemens, architecture,The LEED-hopeful Siemens headquarters in Masdar City has been awarded the coveted 2012 MIPIM future projects award. 

It wasn’t long ago that the first batch of photographs depicting the new Siemens headquarters made its way through the virtual world, but the LEED Platinum-hopeful building designed by Sheppard Robson has already scooped a coveted architecture award, Zawya news reports.

The MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Award in the office category acknowledges the resource-efficient construction’s contribution to Masdar’s overall goal to become a leading center of all things renewable and sustainable, and the designers will receive their prize at the MIPIM international real estate even in Cannes, France, on March 7.

Green Tu B’Shvat Tour of Tel Aviv Celebrates the City’s Planted Areas

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"green boulevard tel aviv"An English-language ‘green’ tour of Tel Aviv will take place this weekend in honor of Tu B’Shvat, the Jewish New Year for trees.

The city of Tel Aviv is no stranger to green tours, in fact it has seen all kinds of them.  Tel Aviv’s eco-tourists can enjoy a running tour of the city, a biking tour, or an annual tour of the city’s green architecture.  This Saturday, in honor of the Jewish Tu B’Shvat holiday, a special green tour will guide people along the belt of Tel Aviv’s green, tree-lined boulevards.

Tu B’shvat, also known as the “Jewish New Year for trees”, marks the time that determines a tree’s age.  It also commemorates the beginning of spring, and trees are often planted in celebration.

Weekly Vegewarian Recipe: Asparagus and Mushroom Risotto

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image-vegan-risottoThis creamy vegan rice dish, dotted with little chunks of aromatic asparagus, satisfies the taste for something substantial and savory.

Asparagus has been in the markets for some time in the Middle East. It’s worth buying it for this low-fat, creamy risotto. And don’t forget another great vegan recipe – Chickpea and Artichoke Salad. Two great dishes for a vegan buffet.

Israel’s Bedouin Get Solar from Arava (+ Obama)

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Arava-Power-Tarabin-Bedouin

Arava Power Company pioneers first ever solar contract for Israel’s Bedouin minority

The first-ever license for a solar project has been awarded this week to Israel’s bedouin community by Israel’s Public Utility Authority. Yosef Abramowitz of Arava Power Company promoted and led the solar project, to make a solar energy dream come true for Bedouin living in the Israel’s Negev desert.

The Obama Administration is supplying 80 percent of the $30 million of financing it will take to build the small photovoltaic solar farm, using the little-known Overseas Private Investment Corporation of the US government: OPIC.

Gulf Municipality Pampers Villa Owners Who Don’t Get Green Building

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green building, sustainable building, energy, water, carbon footprint, Estidama, United Arab Emirates, villas, Abu Dhabi, pearl ratingGoing green doesn’t come naturally to wealthy villa owners in the Gulf.

An online real estate  company listed a seven bedroom villa in Dubai’s neighboring Emirate Abu Dhabi for $95,300 a year, which amounts to nearly $8,000 a month. Anyone who can afford to spend that much money on rent probably has little incentive to turn off the lights in order to conserve energy or shorten their showers, which may explain why the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council sometimes has to meet with villa owners six times before they grasp the minimum requirements of the country’s mandatory Estidama green building code.

Egypt’s Hottest Mountain Climber Goes Carbon-Neutral

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eco-tourism, Omar Samra, Mt. Everest, carbon neutral, carbon credits, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Wild Guanabana, green travel, sustainable tourismOmar Samra is an adventurer whose incredible pursuits highlight the importance of environmental awareness.

When Omar Samra isn’t running one of the few genuinely eco-friendly and socially responsible tourism outfits in Egypt called Wild Guanabana, he climbs mountains. Big ones. He was the first Egyptian to summit Mt. Everest in 2007 and by the end of 2012, if he secures the necessary sponsorships, he will also be the first from his country to reach the top of the world’s seven highest peaks – including the formidable Mt. McKinley in Alaska. If you’re aren’t already impressed by the man who graduated from the London School of Business but eschewed a life of high finance life for something more soulful, maybe this will help: all of Samra’s journeys are carbon neutral.

Egypt Launches Anti-Bird Flu Campaign

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aswan bird
H5N1 has infected 159 and killed 55 people in Egypt since 2006.

A nationwide campaign to stop the spread of H5N1 avian influenza in Egypt is to be launched by the government in a few weeks, say officials, but details are still sketchy. The new plan, which will involve coordination between the Health Ministry, the Agriculture Ministry and poultry producers, requires close monitoring and various bio-safety measures.

Tel Aviv Water Wells Polluted from Contamination

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israel water no walking, sea of galileeTwo-thirds of Tel Aviv’s water wells are too polluted to use.

A recent study discovered that many Tel Aviv wells are polluted beyond suitability as drinking water sources.  Data collected by the Health Ministry and Water Authority showed that 96 of a total 166 wells in the Tel Aviv area were closed due to contamination. Nearly two-thirds of the wells have been shuttered since 1980, when all 166 were in full operation.  The pollution has been caused by two types of activities.  First, contaminants from armament manufacturing, agricultural runoff and sewage systems seep into the groundwater table.

New Natural Gas Field in Israel on Lebanese Border Stokes Conflict Flames

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israel natural gas lebanonTanin 1 gas field, in large yellow area north of the Tamar field, is too close for comfort to Lebanese shores. Lebanon is going to the UN to complain.

Israel’s got natural gas. A lot of it. Cleaner burning than coal or bitumen, natural gas has a reputation for being more environmentally friendly. Countries like Qatar have a lot of natural gas and now Israel – with help from the American company Noble Energy – has found enough gas to make it energy independent for decades.

Following previous natural gas finds by Yitzhak Tshuva’s Yam Tethys Energy Exploration Company, as well as those by Texas-based Noble Energy Company in the Tamar gas field off Israel’s Mediterranean coast, the fortunes of Israeli billionaire Yitzhak Tshuva now appear to be increasing with the discovery of yet another large undersea gas reservoir.

Will Ancient Mega Lake Bring Peace to Sudan?

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darfur mega lake sudan

Can mega well bring peace to Sudan?

At least 300,000 people died and almost three million were displaced by the Darfur conflict in Sudan. Egyptian-American geologist Farouk El-Baz believes that limited access to water is one of the root causes of this conflict. Doctor El-Baz is director of Boston University’s center for remote sensing. He is known for his use of satellite images to search for water in the Mideast and North Africa. His work led to the discovery of a large underground water source in Egypt’s East Uweinat region near the borders with Libya, Chad and Sudan. This Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) contains over five million cubic feet of groundwater and is already bringing life and prosperity to a desolate part of the Eastern Sahara.

Tu Bishvat: Is the Jewish New Year of the Trees Green?

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almond blossoms israel tu be shevatSpring has sprung in Israel, marked by almond blossoms and Tu Bishvat

The Jewish holiday of Tu Bishvat begins as the sun sets on the 7th of February 2012.  This holiday has its origins in some ecologically-focused passages in the Talmud.  Deuteronomy 14:22-29 requires that one tenth of all that a field produces in a year should be set aside as a tithe and that every third year’s tithe should be stored in towns so that widows, foreigners and Levites (who have no land allotment) would have food.

Arabic Calligraphy – eL Seed’s Writing Is On the Wall

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el seed image from youtube videoeL Seed, a Tunisian artist who combines Arabic calligraphy and street painting, is making an imprint on the world street art scene.

I can’t remember how I found him. One of those idle internet ramblings where a sound or image grabs you by the hair and pulls you smack up to the monitor to find out more. I love when that happens. And it happened with eL Seed.

I’m a graffiti fan. Filthy subway cars in ‘70’s Manhattan made more tolerable by paint-sprayed shells.  Crumbling underbellies of bridges and tunnels, colorfully tagged, sound out visual wake-up calls.  People observe, and comment. I love public art.  The kind spelled in lower case.  Yarn-bombing, sidewalk chalk painting, Lego micro-installations, and graffiti.