Christ’s thorn jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) also known as the sidr tree is a real, identifiable tree native to the Middle East, and it appears—directly or indirectly—in Islam, Judaism, and later Christian tradition. The connections between the three faiths are not theological agreements but overlapping uses, names, and symbolic associations rooted in the same landscape.
Air Tea is a new technology. Instead of drinking tea, you inhale herbal vapor through warm air extraction. There is no water and no combustion. The warm air releases essential oils that are often lost in hot water and digestion.
Health emerges from a continuous energy and material flow from water through food to human physiology. Technical energy systems support this cycle through water treatment, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Christ’s thorn jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) also known as the sidr tree is a real, identifiable tree native to the Middle East, and it appears—directly or indirectly—in Islam, Judaism, and later Christian tradition. The connections between the three faiths are not theological agreements but overlapping uses, names, and symbolic associations rooted in the same landscape.
Air Tea is a new technology. Instead of drinking tea, you inhale herbal vapor through warm air extraction. There is no water and no combustion. The warm air releases essential oils that are often lost in hot water and digestion.
Health emerges from a continuous energy and material flow from water through food to human physiology. Technical energy systems support this cycle through water treatment, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Christ’s thorn jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) also known as the sidr tree is a real, identifiable tree native to the Middle East, and it appears—directly or indirectly—in Islam, Judaism, and later Christian tradition. The connections between the three faiths are not theological agreements but overlapping uses, names, and symbolic associations rooted in the same landscape.
Air Tea is a new technology. Instead of drinking tea, you inhale herbal vapor through warm air extraction. There is no water and no combustion. The warm air releases essential oils that are often lost in hot water and digestion.
Health emerges from a continuous energy and material flow from water through food to human physiology. Technical energy systems support this cycle through water treatment, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Christ’s thorn jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) also known as the sidr tree is a real, identifiable tree native to the Middle East, and it appears—directly or indirectly—in Islam, Judaism, and later Christian tradition. The connections between the three faiths are not theological agreements but overlapping uses, names, and symbolic associations rooted in the same landscape.
Air Tea is a new technology. Instead of drinking tea, you inhale herbal vapor through warm air extraction. There is no water and no combustion. The warm air releases essential oils that are often lost in hot water and digestion.
Health emerges from a continuous energy and material flow from water through food to human physiology. Technical energy systems support this cycle through water treatment, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Christ’s thorn jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) also known as the sidr tree is a real, identifiable tree native to the Middle East, and it appears—directly or indirectly—in Islam, Judaism, and later Christian tradition. The connections between the three faiths are not theological agreements but overlapping uses, names, and symbolic associations rooted in the same landscape.
Air Tea is a new technology. Instead of drinking tea, you inhale herbal vapor through warm air extraction. There is no water and no combustion. The warm air releases essential oils that are often lost in hot water and digestion.
Health emerges from a continuous energy and material flow from water through food to human physiology. Technical energy systems support this cycle through water treatment, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Christ’s thorn jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) also known as the sidr tree is a real, identifiable tree native to the Middle East, and it appears—directly or indirectly—in Islam, Judaism, and later Christian tradition. The connections between the three faiths are not theological agreements but overlapping uses, names, and symbolic associations rooted in the same landscape.
Air Tea is a new technology. Instead of drinking tea, you inhale herbal vapor through warm air extraction. There is no water and no combustion. The warm air releases essential oils that are often lost in hot water and digestion.
Health emerges from a continuous energy and material flow from water through food to human physiology. Technical energy systems support this cycle through water treatment, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Christ’s thorn jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) also known as the sidr tree is a real, identifiable tree native to the Middle East, and it appears—directly or indirectly—in Islam, Judaism, and later Christian tradition. The connections between the three faiths are not theological agreements but overlapping uses, names, and symbolic associations rooted in the same landscape.
Air Tea is a new technology. Instead of drinking tea, you inhale herbal vapor through warm air extraction. There is no water and no combustion. The warm air releases essential oils that are often lost in hot water and digestion.
Health emerges from a continuous energy and material flow from water through food to human physiology. Technical energy systems support this cycle through water treatment, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Christ’s thorn jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) also known as the sidr tree is a real, identifiable tree native to the Middle East, and it appears—directly or indirectly—in Islam, Judaism, and later Christian tradition. The connections between the three faiths are not theological agreements but overlapping uses, names, and symbolic associations rooted in the same landscape.
Air Tea is a new technology. Instead of drinking tea, you inhale herbal vapor through warm air extraction. There is no water and no combustion. The warm air releases essential oils that are often lost in hot water and digestion.
Health emerges from a continuous energy and material flow from water through food to human physiology. Technical energy systems support this cycle through water treatment, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Tel Aviv’s seaside marathon set for February 28, 2025
The Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality announced that the Tel Aviv Marathon, Israel’s largest sporting event, will take place for the 16th time on February 2025. Early registration at a discounted rate is now open for all runners—both amateur and professional—across various race categories until December 1, 2024. Marathons in the Middle East are best enjoyed in the winter when the weather is cool. Get our best marathons guide here.
Over 40,000 runners are expected to participate in one of the five scenic urban routes throughout the city, including along the iconic coastline: Marathon (42.195 km), Half Marathon (21 km), 10K Race, 5K Race, and a Kids’ Mini Marathon on February 26, 2025 (800 meters and 1.2 km).
The marathon takes you through Jaffa along the seashore
“The 2025 Tel Aviv Marathon will return with full force in February 2025,” says the city’s mayor Run Huldai. “This marathon is an important event for our city, a city that breathes and lives sports. In these times, we need to remind ourselves that sport is not only for physical health but also as a remedy for the soul. Through sports, we allow ourselves to both feel pain and find comfort, and we remember that both body and spirit have enabled us to overcome many challenges before.
“This time too, we will succeed and rebuild, and we are proud to continue hosting this unique marathon that unites the entire nation. I invite everyone to join us, and I hope we will soon see our hostages back with us, together.”
How the Tel Aviv Marathon will be Sustainable
Reducing bottle usage by over 60% by using of biodegradable cups at water stations along the course, The empty 1.5-liter bottles used for refilling will be collected and recycled after the race.
Recycled non-woven fabric bags will be used for race kits. During registration, participants will have the option to either purchase an official running shirt from a leading brand or receive a discount on the registration fee, thereby reducing demand on the global textile industry. If the plastic non-woven bags are the ones they are mentioning, note that these bags are not green at all and usually take more plastic with them to landfill.
“Pay It Forward” a social green project will also take place as part of the marathon, inviting all participants to bring sports clothing (excluding shoes) for donation on race day. The donated items will be laundered, folded, and given to charities for distribution to those in need
Reducing print as part of its green initiative, runners will receive the marathon guide in digital format, and all promotional signage along the course will be recycled at the end of the event.
There are so many ways to do sustainable tourism in the Middle East. Get our Middle East marathon guide here.
Lovegrove’s parametric cardboard pavilion for Dubai Design Week.
You know the old saying: I can’t afford to dress so poor as I am not so rich? This looks like the take by British designer Ross Lovegrove’s when creating his parametric cardboard pavilion for Dubai Design Week.
The pavilion is to mark the debut of Deond, the design studio he co-founded with creative director Ila Colombo after moving to the United Arab Emirates.
The centerpiece of this project is their Enfold pavilion, a striking structure that captivates the eye with its 945 sheets of recycled cardboard. Each sheet has been meticulously hand-folded into trapezoidal modules that gracefully overlap, forming a stunning design around a circular timber frame meant to resemble a palm tree.
Remember when this $9 cardboard bike from Israel took over the design world by storm? Design doesn’t need to be permanent. Especially in a city and environment that is so opulent and over the top. Sometimes simple and natural is the most deluxe.
Pieces of a 3D created wetsuit the firm is creating.
A Jewish woman in Damascus, Syria when Jews were allowed religious freedom in Syria. Her shoes are better than Lady Gaga’s. (1865, hand colored photo from the Institut du Monde Arabe).
We didn’t meet a single Jew when we visited Syria because it’s not safe for them under the Captagon-pushing Assad Dynasty, and it’s not allowed to even say the word Israel when you are out and about but we would like to see these shoes make a comeback and dancing again in Damascus.
Rainwater tanks have become an essential item in Israel where people are afraid that an Iranian attack will threaten their domestic water supply. But like the ancient Nabateans who knew how to sequester water in the desert, the modern Swiss collect water from farm roofs and homes to water their gardens. They may pay a tax in Switzerland, but the rain is either free or cheap and it’s charged with beautiful ions that plants love.
It might seem obvious but in countries starving and on the brink of disaster from an internal terror group taking over, Yemeni farmers are finding relief in growing their harvest but getting access to basic farming tools such as rainwater collection systems. The UN is helping give them the know how to build rainwater tanks. The Houthis in Yemen are using water as a weapon in war. But a not so sophisticated water pool can pull people out of misery
A farmer’s field in Yemen. With the construction of rainwater tanks farmers can now grow vegetables year-around in Utmah district, Dhamar Governorate.
The UN reports that Yemen’s agriculture sector, a lifeline for millions and a cornerstone of the nation’s economy, has been severely affected by extreme climate change. Continued conflict with the Houthis has further exacerbated the situation, contributing to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises and widespread food insecurity.
In an effort to address water scarcity caused by climate change, two rainwater harvesting tanks were constructed in in Bait Al-Samhi Village, Dhamar Governorate, improving access to water for community members. Each rainwater tank has the capacity to hold 940 cubic metres of water.
Fouad, a farmer in Bait Al-Samhi Village, is confident that the project will significantly increase production in the coming season. He explains, “We rely on rainfall to irrigate our crops. During the winter, our lands become dry, and agriculture ceases due to the lack of irrigation water. Before the project, the situation was very difficult. We had no source to irrigate our crops after the rains stopped, which led to crop failure and financial losses. Now, after the project, the situation has changed. I can farm even after the rainy season.”
Working against the Houthis to give rainwater to the Yemenis
Rainwater harvesting tanks enhance food security for families by supporting farmers to reclaim degraded agricultural lands, and improve irrigation systems. Mutee, the coordinator of the local community committee, says, “Climate change has affected agricultural lands in the region. Due to water scarcity, many people have abandoned farming.”
Mutee explains that the project was implemented to ensure continued farming activities of the local population, which is their primary source of income.
He adds, “The project has positively impacted community members by expanding their cultivated lands, increasing crop production, and improving their living conditions.”
Saeeda, a mother of five, pictured below, was strongly affected by land degradation due to climate change.
She says, “I grow corn and vegetables during the rainy season, but in winter, farming stops due to water scarcity.”
She explains how the rainwater harvesting tanks will enable her to continue farming after the rainy season.
“Now, I have been able to cultivate two plots of land and will increase the cultivated area with the irrigation from the tanks. Things have changed, and I feel happy when I see my farm green and the crops thriving without damage.” Saeeda hopes her land will remain green enough to cultivate several times in a single season.
The project has created job opportunities for local community members in Bait Al-Samhi, providing income and helping them to acquire new skills through a cash-for-work program.
Bader, a father of six and a community member who worked on the rainwater harvesting tanks project, says, “The project provided me with a temporary job for 45 days, which helped me support my family and meet their basic needs while serving the community.”
“In addition to improving agricultural production in the long term, the rainwater harvesting tanks have created job opportunities to help people financially,” says Abdullah, an engineer and project officer with UNDP’s local partner, SFD. Pictured below.
The project has increased local farming areas and improved food security by providing approximately 124 farmers with access to alternative water sources.
A great start. Now how can all farmers get access to this beautiful and easy opportunity?
Study the opportunity to help Yemen below (in Arabic).
At the Hindu cow dung festival via the Hindustan Times
Rise in nitrous oxide emissions endangers pathway to 1.5°C, the ozone layer, and human health
Nitrous oxide (N₂O), a potent greenhouse gas, is rapidly accelerating climate change and damaging the ozone layer, jeopardizing the 1.5°C warming target and posing a serious threat to public health, according to a new United Nations report.
Launched at the COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Assessment, published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), signals that emissions are rising faster than expected, and that immediate action is required to curb the environmental and health impacts of this super pollutant.
Nitrous oxide is approximately 270 times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of warming the planet, and currently responsible for approximately 10 percent of net global warming since the industrial revolution. Primarily emitted from agricultural practices such as the use of synthetic fertilizers and animal manure (cow farts), N₂O is the third most significant greenhouse gas and the top ozone-depleting substance still being released into the atmosphere.
Sum up on nitrous oxide
The report warns that without urgent action on rising N₂O emissions, there is no viable pathway to limiting global warming to 1.5°C and provides tangible tools to reduce emissions by more than 40% from current levels.
The Assessment shows that N₂O is currently the most significant ozone-depleting substance being emitted, risking exposing much of the world’s population to higher UV levels and an increase in skin cancers and cataracts.
Taking ambitious action to reduce N₂O emissions could help prevent up to 20 million premature deaths globally by 2050 due to poor air quality and avoid the equivalent of up to 235 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions by 2100.
Implications and recommendations
The findings from the Assessment are clear: urgent action on N₂O is critical to achieving climate goals, and without a serious reduction in emissions, there is no viable path to limiting warming to 1.5°C in the context of sustainable development as outlined in the Paris Agreement. Abating N₂O emissions could avoid up to 235 billion tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions by 2100 – the equivalent of six years’ worth of current global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels.
This Assessment identifies practical, cross-sectoral abatement strategies that could cut N₂O emissions by more than 40 percent from current levels. Through transforming food production systems and rethinking societal approaches to nitrogen management, even deeper reductions could be achieved, offering a critical opportunity to move the world closer to its climate, environmental, and health goals.
The Assessment also shows that N₂O emissions from the chemical industry can be quickly and cost-effectively abated; agricultural and industrial practices impact the natural nitrogen cycle, leading to increased N₂O emissions.
Simultaneously reducing nitrogen oxide emissions and ammonia would also significantly improve air quality, potentially avoiding up to 20 million premature deaths globally by 2050. Abatement measures would also enhance water quality, improve soil health, and protect ecosystems from the impacts of nitrogen runoff.
The Assessment underscores the need for immediate and ambitious action to reduce N₂O emissions, as part of a broader strategy to tackle super pollutants, which, alongside efforts to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions, will put the world on track to meet long-term climate, food security, and health goals.
Kaveh Zahedi
“Addressing nitrous oxide emissions is essential for ensuring sustainable, inclusive and resilient agriculture that simultaneously helps countries achieve their climate and food security goals. As the Assessment clearly shows, there are ways to produce more with less, by improving the efficiency of nitrogen use in agriculture and reducing excessive nitrogen application,” said Kaveh Zahedi, Director of FAO’s Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment.
“Abating N₂O emissions could avoid up to 235 billion tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions by 2100,” stated David Kanter, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, NYU and Co-Chair of the Assessment. “This is equivalent to six years’ worth of current global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels.”
“A sustainable nitrogen management approach not only reduces nitrous oxide emissions but also prevents the release of other harmful nitrogen compounds,” said A.R. Ravishankara, chemist and atmospheric scientist, Colorado State University and Co-Chair of the Assessment. “This could improve air and water quality, protect ecosystems, and safeguard human health, all while maintaining food security.”
“The ozone layer is crucial for all life on Earth. For decades, parties to the Montreal Protocol have worked hard to safeguard it. This Assessment highlights the need for continued vigilance, commitment and action for the ozone layer to recover as soon as possible to its pre-1980 levels,” said Megumi Seki, Executive Secretary of the Montreal Protocol Ozone Secretariat, United Nations Environment Programme.
“This Assessment sounds the alarm on a relatively forgotten super pollutant that contributes greatly to climate change and air pollution,” said Martina Otto, Head of Secretariat of the UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition.
“By using the abatement tools highlighted in the Assessment that are already available to us, we can yield multiple benefits across climate, clean air, and health,” she added.
Me and my family travelled to Ethiopia this past April. People were dirt poor and happy for small handouts and our business, but they were happy. It was clear that if they could many people in Ethiopia would leave. One must be in a terrible place to want to leave one’s home and culture. Instead of focusing on refugees, the world needs to put more attention in helping people stay in their country, supports the UN. Happy, healthy people don’t want to leave home.
Hiking in Ethiopia, not far from Addis Ababa
“We must come up with better ways to help people and communities become more resilient to climate change’s impacts, to ensure that people who are especially vulnerable have the chance to adapt and thrive,” said Director General Amy Pope of the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM).
As world leaders gather at the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (known as COP29) in Azerbaijan this year this organization says they need more concrete and sustainable solutions for the communities most affected by the impact of climate change to help them stay.
Climate adaptation and resilience measures are needed for people who want to remain in their home, ensuring their livelihoods can sustain and recover from the impacts of climate change: “We must come up with better ways to help people and communities become more resilient to climate change’s impacts, to ensure that people who are especially vulnerable have the chance to adapt and thrive,” she said.
Flooding in Spain and North Carolina this year makes people worry about how unprepared we are when climate events hit. Climate migration is not just a concern of the future, it is the present reality for millions globally, DG Pope noted. Last year alone, disasters caused more than 26 million internal displacements (GRID 2024, IDMC). Syria is a prime example.
In the Horn of Africa, for instance, recurrent droughts and flash floods have pushed entire communities, especially pastoralists and smallholder farmers, to relocate in search of water and grazing land. In Bangladesh, rising sea levels and frequent cyclones have led to the displacement of coastal populations, forcing families to migrate to urban areas in search of stability.
Meanwhile, parts of Central America have experienced severe droughts that have decimated agricultural livelihoods, compelling thousands to move in search of work and resources. These examples demonstrate that climate migration is a pressing issue today, affecting diverse populations across continents.
Rewilding in Ethiopia. People finding eco-tourism in Wenzi, not far from Addis Ababa
Around the world, climate change is influencing how and why people move. It prompts some to move for job opportunities as its impacts change livelihoods. In extreme cases, communities dealing with extreme impact of climate change and are no longer possible to adapt are compelled to relocate to safer areas. It is important that there are solutions in place that protect and support those who want to stay, those on the move and those needing or wanting to move.
“The Azerbaijani government’s contempt for civic freedoms is putting independent groups and critical media on the path of extinction,” said Giorgi Gogia, associate Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “This is not the image the government should be projecting of itself on the eve of COP29.
“It is not too late for the government to improve its reputation by freeing imprisoned critics and immediately ending the use of spurious charges against civil society, but it needs to act now.”
According to the group the authorities aggressively targeted three of the independent online news platforms that remain in Azerbaijan, including Abzas Media and Toplum TV. They arrested and criminally prosecuted at least 12 of these 3 platforms’ media professionals and several other affiliated individuals. They have hacked social media accounts and blocked websites. They have also arrested reporters with other outlets and leaders of several unregistered groups, as well as trade union activists and others who dared to criticize or protest government policies.
Among those arrested and in detention is veteran human rights defender Anar Mammadli, who in the weeks before his arrest co-founded a climate justice initiative with the aim of advocating civic freedoms and environmental justice in Azerbaijan ahead of COP29. He is awaiting trial on spurious smuggling charges.
The Maiden Castle, Baku
In July 2023, the authorities arrested a renowned economist and anti-corruption activist, Gubad Ibadoghlu, who specializes, among other things, in revenue transparency in the oil and gas sector. Currently under house arrest, Ibadoghlu is awaiting trial on bogus charges related to counterfeit currency production and extremism and faces up to 17 years in jail if convicted.
Under international law, the Azerbaijani government has obligations to protect the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association. This includes the ability to form a legal entity to act collectively in a field of mutual interest.
The European Court of Human Rights has issued numerous judgments finding that the Azerbaijani government’s failure to register independent NGOs violated the right to freedom of association. In at least one of these cases, the court found that authorities restricted rights with the “ulterior purpose” of punishing the applicants for their human rights activities.
“Through a combination of unjust detention and restrictive NGO rules, the Azerbaijani government is trying to eradicate civil society,” said Andrea Prasow, executive director of Freedom Now. “States and UN officials should urgently call on Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally free arbitrarily detained activists and commit to upholding human rights at COP29 and beyond.”
Selecting the right nursing home for a loved one is a crucial decision, and for families considering Santa Fe Care Center, understanding the facility’s ratings provides valuable insights into the quality of care residents receive. Ratings encompass various aspects of a facility’s performance, including safety, staffing levels, and resident satisfaction. Knowing these ratings can help families make informed decisions about choosing a supportive and reliable care environment.
Overview of Santa Fe Care Center
Santa Fe Care Center is a nursing facility that offers both long-term care and short-term rehabilitation services. The center provides around-the-clock medical care, assistance with daily activities, and physical and occupational therapy. For families looking for a place where their loved ones can receive quality care and support, the ratings of Santa Fe Care Center serve as an important benchmark.
Key Factors in Nursing Home Ratings
Ratings for facilities like Santa Fe Care Center are typically evaluated by state and federal agencies, and they reflect several key factors:
Staff-to-Resident Ratios: Sufficient staffing is crucial in maintaining a high standard of care. Facilities with strong staffing ratings, like Santa Fe Care Center, tend to have enough personnel to meet residents’ needs promptly, reducing the risk of neglect or missed care.
Safety and Cleanliness Standards: Nursing homes must meet strict standards for safety and sanitation. Facilities with high ratings in these areas demonstrate a commitment to creating a healthy, secure environment for residents.
Resident and Family Satisfaction: Ratings often include feedback from residents and their families, providing insights into how residents feel about the level of care they receive. Positive ratings in satisfaction suggest that residents feel comfortable, valued, and well-supported.
Even facilities with strong ratings, like Santa Fe Care Center, may face challenges in consistently meeting the needs of all residents. Some common issues include:
Staffing Shortages: While the center is rated well for its staffing ratios, maintaining consistent staffing levels can be challenging across all shifts. This is a common issue in nursing homes, as it directly affects the quality and timeliness of care.
Infection Control: High standards in cleanliness and hygiene are essential in preventing infections among residents. Regular inspections ensure that Santa Fe Care Center continues to meet these standards, keeping residents healthy and reducing the risk of communicable diseases.
Specialized Care for Diverse Needs: Nursing homes cater to residents with a variety of medical and personal needs. Adapting to these needs, from physical therapy to memory care, requires ongoing training and resources.
What Families Can Do to Stay Informed
Life Assure app helps seniors live sustainably at home
The current CMS rating for the Santa Fe Care Center is 1 out of 5. Understanding this rating is an important first step for anyone considering this home for their loved one. Once you’ve chosen a facility, it’s important to stay engaged with them while your relative is there. Here’s how families can stay engaged:
Review Publicly Available Ratings and Inspection Reports: Online platforms, including Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare, provide access to ratings and inspection reports. These documents reveal the facility’s strengths and areas for improvement.
Visit the Facility Regularly: Frequent visits allow families to observe the level of care firsthand, communicate with staff, and assess whether the facility maintains its rating standards.
Engage in Open Dialogue with Staff: Don’t hesitate to ask about the facility’s approach to addressing areas that may need improvement. Transparency with families is a key indicator of a facility’s dedication to providing quality care.
Conclusion
Choosing a nursing home like Santa Fe Care Center involves examining ratings and understanding the facility’s commitment to meeting high standards of care. By considering factors like staffing, safety, and resident satisfaction, families can make informed choices to ensure their loved ones are cared for in a safe, supportive environment. It’s important to stay engaged with the nursing home once your relative is there, because ratings are not the only indicator of the quality of care, and being engaged yourself can help ensure that the facility stays accountable.
It’s the greenest mosque in the Middle East Majid Al Futtaim, a leading shopping mall developer opened the Middle East’s first net-positive mosque under the name of its late founder, Majid Al Futtaim. The mosque, located in Dubai integrates sustainable and modern design practices in support of the UAE’s Green Agenda 2030, ensuring energy efficiency, resource optimisation, and minimal environmental impact.
“The opening of the first net-zero emissions mosque in the Middle East is an achievement that reflects our deep commitment to the principles of sustainability, this project represents a significant shift in the field of environmental sustainability and highlights our fruitful collaboration with Majid Al Futtaim in implementing this initiative,” says Ahmed Darwish Al Muhairi, General Manager, Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department.
Middle East’s greenest mosque in Dubai
“It serves as a live example of a successful partnership between the public and private sectors, setting a new standard for responsible innovation in building and maintenance, it also aligns with the noble Islamic values that advocate for environmental preservation and protection.
“As a result of a series of key sustainable features, the Majid Al Futtaim Mosque is set to become the first bespoke project to achieve BREEAM certification.
This assessment recognises measures of performance, which are set against established benchmarks, evaluating the building’s specification, design, construction, and use.
The mosque’s construction incorporates advanced mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems, renewable energy sources, and sustainable building practices designed to achieve a net-positive status.
Inside the Dubai green mosque powered by renewable energy
Key features include a robust renewable energy system with 203 solar photovoltaic panels, providing a total installed solar capacity of 116.73 kWp and generating over 204,121 kWh annually, providing more than 115% of the mosque’s energy demand. Related: Green Muslims need to read these 11 booksThe excess green energy is supplied back to the grid to be used across the communnity. Additional energy-efficient systems include a solar-powered hot water system, LED lighting, an efficient HVAC setup, EV charging stations and a Building Management System (BMS) to optimise energy consumption.
Water efficiency, air quality, and non-toxic materials have been employed to ensure a healthy environment, with responsibly sourced, low-carbon materials prioritised to reduce its overall carbon footprint.
The first of its kind structure reinforces Majid Al Futtaim’s commitment to building a cleaner tomorrow as the Group’s aim to achieve net positive in carbon and water for all its operating companies by 2040.
Embarking on a journey of remote work and travel requires more than just a passion for adventure; it demands a strategic approach to financial planning. As you navigate different time zones and cultures, managing your budget becomes essential to maintaining stability and enjoying your experiences. Careful budgeting is your key to ensuring that you can embrace exciting locales without financial stress.
Balancing savings and splurges is crucial in the digital nomad lifestyle. While it’s important to indulge in unique local experiences, maintaining financial discipline prevents overspending. Allocating funds for essentials like accommodation and food, while setting aside a stash for special experiences, helps you enjoy both daily life and memorable occasions.
Embracing flexibility in your financial planning allows you to adapt to the various cost-of-living scales across the globe. Having a flexible budget helps you make the most of affordable opportunities without compromising your overarching savings goals. This adaptability ensures that you can seize spontaneous opportunities that enhance your journey.
Crafting Your Remote Work Lifestyle
Designing a remote work lifestyle requires thoughtful planning and strategy. This involves evaluating your financial situation, creating diverse revenue channels, and forming budgets that align with your lifestyle goals.
Assessing Financial Readiness
Before committing to a remote work lifestyle, evaluate your current financial status. Start with a detailed audit of your savings, debts, and ongoing expenses. Create a list ofnecessary monthly costs such as rent, food, insurance, and subscriptions. Compare these expenses to your savings to determine how long you can sustain yourself without a steady income.
Consider creating an emergency fund. This should cover at least 3-6 months of living expenses. A spreadsheet may help you track your progress here. Knowing your numbers will provide peace of mind and prepare you for varied financial demands.
Strategizing Income Streams
Vending machines offer another avenue for generating passive income. Once you’ve purchased and placed the machine in a strategic location, it can generate revenue with minimal daily effort. This allows for a flexible schedule and can supplement other income streams while you travel or work on other projects. A good example is a niche market like Hot Wheels vending, which can attract a dedicated customer base and provide a steady, reliable source of income.
To maintain a mobile lifestyle, diversify your income sources. Consider freelancing, consulting, or remote part-time work. Platforms like Upwork or Fiverr offer numerous opportunities.
If you have specialized skills, think about offering online courses or digital products. Passive income can come from investments or real estate, though these often require upfront capital and research. The goal is not just to make money but to create a sustainable income that adapts to changes in work availability and location.
Setting Realistic Budgets
Covid makes us all push for staycations. How about a week in a #vanlife AirBnb?
Establishing budgets is crucial for balancing essentials with life’s pleasures. Begin with a basic budget that covers all fixed expenses, then allocate a portion for travel and leisure. Use a budgeting app to track expenses in real time while you are on the move.
Don’t forget to include healthcare and retirement savings. Regularly review and adjust your budget for changes such as currency fluctuations or unexpected costs. Stay flexible and allow some room for splurges that enhance your lifestyle, as long as they don’t hinder your financial safety net.
Travel Considerations and Cost Management
To succeed in balancing work and travel, focus on strategic destination choices, smart accommodation and transport planning, diligent management of daily expenses, and knowing when to save or splurge. Each of these areas requires careful attention to maintain financial stability while enjoying your adventures.
Choosing Destinations Wisely
Selecting the right destinations plays a vital role in managing your travel budget. Look for locations where the cost of living aligns with your financial goals. Destinations in Southeast Asia or Eastern Europe, for instance, often offer affordable accommodations and dining options.
Research the local economy and currency exchange rates to maximize the value of your money. Consider the impact of travel seasons, as off-peak times can lead to lower costs and fewer crowds. Prioritize destinations that allow you to accomplish work goals while enjoying what the location has to offer.
Accommodation and Transport Budgeting
Accommodation and transport represent significant portions of your budget, so planning is crucial. Consider long-term stays at co-living spaces or serviced apartments for cost-effectiveness. For shorter stays, explore last-minute deals on cruises as an alternative form of travel.
When it comes to transport, research public transport systems in each city. Compare options such as rental bikes, carpool services, or metro systems. Factor in the flexibility and convenience they provide in addition to cost. Advance bookings on flights or trains can reap significant savings, too.
Managing Daily Expenses
Keeping track of daily expenses ensures that your everyday spending doesn’t derail your budget. Stick to buying local groceries and cooking meals as opposed to dining out frequently. Use budgeting apps to monitor and categorize expenses in real-time.
Seek out local experiences that offer both cultural insights and affordability, like free walking tours or community events. Establish a daily expense limit to prevent overspending. Carry cash in local currency to avoid foreign transaction fees, and be aware of exchange rates that might impact your budget.
Indulgence vs. Frugality in Travel
Balancing indulgence and frugality requires a plan for when to spend and when to save. Allocate portions of your budget for unique experiences that justify a splurge, like experiencing a famous local festival or trying an exceptional meal.
Consider the long-term financial implications before opting for luxury options. Prioritize spending on memorable experiences over material purchases. By indulging strategically, you can savor life’s pleasures without compromising your financial goals.
On the occasion of the president of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Morocco, the French company Veolia and the Kingdom of Morocco signed yesterday a MOA for the establishment of a strategic partnership to develop on an exclusive basis a seawater desalination project that will be the largest in Africa and the second largest in the world.
It will supply drinking water to regions of the Kingdom particularly affected by drought.
Located near Rabat on the Atlantic coast, a great surfing spot, the project will be structured as a public-private partnership, involving the construction, financing and operation for 35 years, by Veolia, of a seawater desalination plant. With a capacity of 822,000 m3 of drinking water per day, or 300 million m3 per year, it will ensure the supply of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra and Fès-Meknès regions to meet the water needs of nearly 9.3 million inhabitants.
This initiative is part of the Moroccan national energy strategy, launched by King Mohammed VI, which aims to strengthen water supply security and to face the challenges of climate change.
As a global leader in water technologies, Veolia will bring the best of its cutting-edge expertise in desalination for a reference plant in terms of efficiency, innovation and environmental protection. Its operational expertise will also ensure high plant performance by balancing investment and operating costs, thus ensuring the most competitive water price over the entire life cycle of the facility. The facility could be powered by low-carbon electricity, mainly from renewable sources.
Against a backdrop of climate change, which is particularly affecting the Mediterranean region, this partnership comes at a time when Morocco is facing unprecedented water stress. The country is experiencing its worst drought for 40 years, with rainfall continuing to decline and reservoirs at historically low levels, threatening agriculture, drinking water supplies and, more broadly, the country’s economy. Seawater desalination is therefore becoming an essential solution to these urgent challenges.
Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia, said: “With a long history of partnership, we are thrilled and honoured to write this new page with the Kingdom of Morocco and Moroccan citizens to meet the challenges related to the environment and water. We are fully aware of the urgency of the situation and proud to contribute to this major project, which will strengthen the country’s water resilience. We will put the best of our international expertise and our long-standing presence in the region at the service of the Kingdom for a reference project in terms of performance and sustainability.
An Aspen forest in Utah, Pando, is known as the world’s oldest living being.
Researchers have taken the DNA from ‘Pando’ — a vast forest made up of a single root system sprouting nearly 50,000 cloned quaking aspen trees in Utah and it seems to confirm that it is one of the oldest organisms on Earth.
The Latin name Pando means “I spread,” and the forest is one single living thing –– one one tree that has cloned itself tens of thousands of times. Pando consists of approximately 47,000 individual stems all connected by a single, vast root system.
Do those trees have eyes?
Aerial outline of Pando. (Lance Oditt/Friends of Pando)
Researchers sequenced hundreds of samples from the Populus tremuloides and found that it is between 16,000 and 80,000 years old. They were also able to track patterns of genetic variation spread throughout the tree, offering clues about how it has adapted and evolved over the course of its lifetime.
Located in central Utah on the Fishlake National Forest, Pando is approximately 1 mile southwest of Fish Lake on State Highway 25. Go on a road trip to see spots of nature, not cities. Your soul will thank you.
The best thing about Japan is the Japanese toilet and the bathing scene called the onsen. Well there could be other things but this is what you will miss the second you leave Tokyo’s airport. Japanese toilets and bathhouses are clean, the seats are warm, they self clean, and if you are lonely they speak to you. Public bathrooms have seats for hanging toddlers and well, the whole scene even in the smallest grungiest noodle bars is uplifting. Now if you live in a small space, trust that Japan will make your bathroom better.
Bathtope by LIXIL, a Japanese company, is a portable Japanese bathtub that hangs, and then folds after the bath is clean and dry.
What kind of bathroom will enrich our lives in this era of diversifying lifestyles, the company asks?
“Simple yet luxurious and minimalistic yet free, where we have reached is a new bathroom space that balances the abundance of people and the earth,” they write.
LIXIL is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the domestic plumbing and tile business, and has created “bathtope,” a new concept for bathroom space, as a new step towards the next 100 years.
The company designers say their underlying question was: “Is it okay for the daily bathing habits that have been loved by many people in Japan to remain the same? Therefore, we considered how bathroom space could accommodate diverse personalities and lifestyles, how it can change flexibly, and explored bathing methods and frequency that would both reduce the burden on the global environment and provide enjoyment. And the concept we derived is an ambiguous style that is neither a shower room nor a bathroom, and the idea came from the traditional Japanese concept of haretoke.”
We create a sense of richness in each, by dividing the immersion bath to soothe the mind and body on special days as “Hare,” and the shower bath to wash away the dirt and stress of daily life as “Ke.”
A bathroom that allows us to freely transform into a single space brings freedom of choice according to time, season, and mood. We believe this is one of the answers to accepting diversity, providing new manners and customs, and connecting bathing culture to the next generation.
In an oil wealthy state like Saudi Arabia luxury has no limits. And the latest is LEED certified.
A new Red Sea resort in Saudi Arabia called Shebara Island is already taking pre-bookings for its glamorous pod hotels, a cool SAR 9,000 a night, which equals about $2,400 USD. No big deal if you’ve berthed your mega-yacht at its shores.
Powered by the sun, the resort features 73 pods that rival the best of luxury from the Maldives seeing a downturn in tourism for its racist policies on religious freedom.
With 73 overwater and beachfront villas powered by sunlight, this resort is where nature and sustainability come together at The Red Sea
Saudi Arabia is hoping to become booming hotspot for business and tourism and has started creating 15-minute cities like Neom.
Shebaya, the latest from dozens of new projects announced, is LEED-Platinum property which is built to “minimise its environmental and literal environmental footprint by cantilevering the accommodation spaces above the coral reefs with only a few square meters of ground impact at the base of the supporting column.
“The result is an aerial accommodation ‘pod’ that almost seems to defy gravity and suspends the guest directly above and within the beauty of an untouched marine eco-system; an observation platform for guests to witness the fish, birds and turtles that thrive in the area,” says a handout.
The entire project is powered by a centralized solar farm and fresh water is supplied from a solar powered desalination plant. Recycling of waste material takes place on the island minimizing the need to bring or remove materials from the site.
The design language of the resort compliments the uniqueness of the site. The approach to the façade design has been to minimize visual impact, employing a highly reflective stainless-steel skin polished to a mirror finish. These reflective orbs float, almost imperceptible, reflecting the colors and surface patterns of the ocean, the intense colors of the sky as they change throughout the day.
Desalination and power plant powered by the sun
This approach serves to lessen the visual impact of the architecture on the surrounding environment while also greatly improv the building’s energy performance with a near 100% reflection of the solar gain at the mirror surface. These heavily insulated spaces can be effectively cooled with minimal energy losses.
The interior space of the project provides spacious room for the guests, with detailing, and finishes inspired by the interiors of luxury yachts. The room offers panoramic views to the sea with sliding doors that open to a deck, a seating area and an infinity pool with uninterrupted views of the sea and horizon beyond.
The robot clipped off a piece of a fuel rod that weighed less than 3 grams from inside the Unit 2 reactor core and brought it back to the lab assess its radioactivity.
Analysing the melted fuel debris this way is essential to determine how best to remove, store and dispose of the roughly 800 tonnes that remain. Countries like Germany have shut down their nuclear energy plants while countries like Turkey, aligning with terror entities, fires up its first ones.
Workers at Fukushima watch the retrieval operation from the control room. Image credit: TEPCO
“From the results of primary containment vessel internal investigations, we have deduced that the accumulated debris on the surface of the floor inside the pedestal is solidified molten material that consists of fuel elements and also may contain a lot of metal,” TEPCO said in a statement.
“By analyzing the attributes of the sampled fuel debris we will directly ascertain information such as the composition of debris at the sampling location and radioactivity density,” added TEPCO.
Japanese teams have tried to isolate and retrieve bits of radioactive fuel in the past. This was the first successful attempt. Knowing more about the radioactive nature of the spent fuel will help TEPCO decommission the reactor.
Are you doing the #vanlife? 
