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Saudi Arabia Goes “Green” To Celebrate National Day

Lifestyle

Zaufishan

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September 27, 2011

Saudi Arabia Goes “Green” To Celebrate National Day

Saudis raise flags and wear green to celebrate 81 years of their eco-kingdom

Almost a hundred years ago, somewhere between 1900-1930, the tribes and sheikhdoms of the Arabian Peninsula were consolidated into the modern-day Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. And on the 23rd of September, Saudi Arabia takes this National Day as a great reason to decorate their streets in a renewable green.

Eighty one years later, the Unification of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an annual celebration for Saudis. People living in Saudi agree that ‘green’ is king of all the colours as even though the festivities are over, we still see children dressed in green t-shirts, cars painted green, and green lights illuminating buildings at night.

Saudi Women Granted Right To Vote (And Save Planet)

Business

Arwa Aburawa

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September 26, 2011

Saudi Women Granted Right To Vote (And Save Planet)

Why women’s right to vote is important not only for gender equality but for the planet

It been a political roller-coaster of a year for the Middle East and it doesn’t look set to stop just yet. Yesterday, an event many thought would never happen in their lifetime finally happened- Saudi women were granted the right to vote. Not only did this de-bunk claims made by ‘Ethical Oil’ that Canadian tar sands were better than Saudi oil due to the latter’s gender bias but it also meant that women in the country were strengthening their ability to fight climate change and better resist the devastating impact it could have on them.

3 Eco-Svelte Energy Slashing Contracts Awarded in Lebanon

Tech

Tafline Laylin

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September 26, 2011

3 Eco-Svelte Energy Slashing Contracts Awarded in Lebanon

Slashing energy consumption and improving efficiency can be eco-svelte too!

Energy efficiency is to svelte new solar fields what a grey tweed coat is to a bright cherry one: decidedly dull in comparison. But shaving off a few kilowatt hours here and there can dramatically improve either a home or business’ bottom line, even without adding an array of shimmering solar panels to the roof.

While some businesses look to cherry-colored changes to enhance their sustainability profile, the Four Seasons Hotel in Beirut, along with both the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Lebanon are taking the grey approach by refining their energy consumption.

King Abdullah Gives Saudi Women the Right to Vote – Just to Battle EthicalOil.org

Cities

Susan Kraemer

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September 26, 2011

King Abdullah Gives Saudi Women the Right to Vote – Just to Battle EthicalOil.org

Last week Canadian fossil-fuel lobbying group EthicalOil vaunted its ethical superiority to Saudi oil, because Saudi women can’t vote. Today, Saudis evened the playing field.

Saudi King Abdullah announced on Sunday that he was giving women the right to vote and run in municipal elections. What a coincidence. One week after it seemed that Canadian oil was going to beat the Saudis to the gigantic American market by making an inane comparison between the relative ethicality of the two fossil fuel purveyors, according to Zawya: King Abdullah has given Saudi women the right to vote. Suddenly now, dirty energy lobbying group EthicalOil doesn’t have a marketing leg to stand on. If Saudi women can vote, then Canadian dirty fossil fuel is no better than Saudi dirty fossil fuel.

Turkey Tells Egypt to Bypass Israel and Cyprus With Long Pipeline to Europe

Business

Maurice Picow

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September 26, 2011

Turkey Tells Egypt to Bypass Israel and Cyprus With Long Pipeline to Europe

Turkish PM Erdogan on recent visit to Egypt; more energy influence at Israel’s expense. AP photo by Maggie Michael and Lee Keeth

In a continuation of his anti-Israel and anti-Cyprus governmental and economic policies, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is trying to persuade Egypt to ship its natural gas to Europe, via the Nabucco Pipeline scheme that is being hailed as a “gas bridge” between Europe and Asia. It will bypass Israel and Cyprus, of course.

The idea to send Egyptian natural gas to Turkey has been the subject to acts of sabotage and terrorism to Egypt’s pipeline sending natural gas supplies to Israel may or may not have resulted in Turkey’s fast deteriorating relations with Israel, and changes occurring in Egypt since the overthrow of former president Hosni Mobarak during the so-called Arab Spring. These uprisings also resulted in the storming of the Israeli embassy in Cairo by Egyptian demonstrators. The drastic change of events in Egypt has forced Israel to concentrate more on developing its own natural gas resources from undersea fields offshore from its Mediterranean coastline.

Ormat Gets DOE “Solyndra” Loan Before Tea Party Shuts Down Program

Cities

Susan Kraemer

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September 25, 2011

Ormat Gets DOE “Solyndra” Loan Before Tea Party Shuts Down Program

Ormat will grow Nevada’s geothermal power 25% with a US Department of Energy loan guarantee

Three geothermal projects totaling 113 MW from Israel’s geothermal giant Ormat got approvals just in time to get US government support under the Recovery Act Section 1705 loan guarantee this week. Nevada has some of the best geothermal potential among the US states, but has barely begun to develop it: the 113 MW will increase Nevada’s geothermal power production by nearly 25%.

Under the same program as Solyndra if Ormat Nevada Inc could line up an investor with up private financing by September 30th, the US Department of Energy would provide a US government guarantee to back the loan in the unlikely event that Ormat was not able to repay its investors.

However the loan guarantee has been anathema to the party that now controls the US congress (Utility-Scale Renewable Projects Become a Casualty of Republican Hostage-Taking) and will end this week.

No, Canada – There is No Ethical Oil

Cities

Susan Kraemer

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September 25, 2011

No, Canada – There is No Ethical Oil

Lobbying group EthicalOil.org is challenging Saudi Oil on the basis of women’s rights.

A Canadian lobbying group is claiming that Canada’s oil is somehow more “ethical” than Saudi Arabian oil because the Saudis don’t just destroy the climate we evolved to live in but also abuse women’s rights. Now, I am as feminist as they come, but the civil rights of women living now in Saudi Arabia are insignificant, ethically, compared with destroying the climate our civilization depended on.

Canada Muzzles Climate Science Cheney/Bush-Style

Energy

Susan Kraemer

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September 24, 2011

Canada Muzzles Climate Science Cheney/Bush-Style

Bush era US climate science policy seems to have moved north to Canada, argues Susan.

A student researcher at the University of Toronto has exposed a draconian shut-down of climate science in Canada. This is a first for Canada – an advanced democracy, but a democracy that has the resource-curse of vast oil sands potential. James Birch does research in a thirty person lab focused on climate change research and adaptations headed by Dr. Brad Bass, the co-recipient of the IPCC Nobel Prize for climate science.

Egypt Declares a State of Emergency Following Oil Spill

Travel

Tafline Laylin

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September 22, 2011

Egypt Declares a State of Emergency Following Oil Spill

Who needs terrorism when we’ve got oil spills?

“The Mega Leisure Destination on the Red Sea” has sprung an oily leak so serious that the Egyptian authorities have declared a state of emergency, according to Almasry Alyoum. General Petroleum Corporation reported that one of their wells is leaking in three Gamsha spots north of Hurghada – a spot that is popular among tourists and the scene a very serious oil spill covered up by authorities last year.

Called a development comprised of “environmentally conscious design” by property developers eager to turn the area’s 39 kilometers of shoreline into the next Dubai, Gamsha is just one among numerous developments along the Red Sea that compromise its long term health. We recently reported that temperatures in the Red Sea (in concert with rising air temperatures) are escalating faster than the global average. This latest oil spill won’t make it hotter, but it’s bound to kill off coral a lot sooner. Authorities are still working on the spill, among numerous other emergencies.

:: Al Masry Al Youm

More Red Sea Stories:

Red Sea Oil Spill Cover Up Worse than Expected

The Red Sea is Getting Hotter and Faster than the Rest

Post-Revolution Development in Egypt Destroys Popular Red Sea Resort

image via SOS (Save Our Shores)

Rosh Hashanah 5772 Green Gift Guide for 2011

Lifestyle

Karen Chernick

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September 22, 2011

Rosh Hashanah 5772 Green Gift Guide for 2011

Instead of standard apples and honey, put some creative green thought into your Rosh Hashanah gifts this year.

The Jewish New Year, or Rosh Hashanah 2011 is quickly approaching next week on September 28, and for many Jewish people this is a time of gift-giving in the new Jewish calendar year 5772. Gift giving is hard enough – it is difficult to find that perfect gift to show someone that you love them and understand their tastes. But it can be even more difficult when you’re faced with the task of giving a gift or gift box to someone who is eco-conscious (and who, therefore, may be against commercial gifts that use up various resources).

So here’s a helpful gift guide for some different types of greenies: the Compulsive DIY-er (or DIY Appreciator), the Foodie, the Interior Design Junkie, and the Eco Fashionista. Read on!!!

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