“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“Let the world see the openness of Israel,” wrote one participant. Fortunately, mostly positive press dominates the Naked Sea photoshoot, which took place on private property along the shores of the salty lake.
Prior to the Spencer Tunick photo shoot at the Dead Sea this Saturday, international coverage of the famed artists latest installation was as barren as the landscape surrounding the world’s lowest point. Now that the Naked Sea project went off without a stitch, the world outside of Israel is reacting. And that’s good news for the Middle East’s only democracy.
In a bold move to stop food wastage, the Marmar Restaurant in Dammam, Saudi Arabia will charge you fines if you don’t finish your food.
Super-sizing it is still really an American patent, even though large portions of food are still the norm in the Middle East. Now to curb food wastage even further, there is a new food savings trick we like: A Saudi restaurant has started charging diners if they order more than they can eat, according to an article in Gulf News.
It seems that restaurant eaters were ordering extravagant amounts of food to impress their guests. Fahad Al Anezi, the restaurant owner said: “There are many clients who make large orders in order to impress the people around them and boost their social prestige.”
The fine is more of a symbolic one, and meant to hurt the ego of diners whose eyes are bigger than their bellies. The move has been endorsed by Saudis. And Green Prophets everywhere.
Alex Gutman, a participant of the Naked Sea Spencer Tunick photography happening yesterday sends Green Prophet his personal account of the event.
The excitement was building all day Friday as a friend (we attended Burning Man in 2006) and I were getting ready for Spencer Tunick’s historic Dead Sea photo shoot early on Saturday morning. We kept checking the web all day to hear of any last minute developments that would prevent the shoot from happening.
We were assured by the organizers that it will happen and the 1,000 plus people will be boarding buses throughout Israel on schedule early Saturday. We arrived at the Arlozorov train station in Tel Aviv a bit early at 11:30 PM on Friday night to join up with the masses awaiting to board the many buses in line to depart.
The departure time that was communicated to the TA group was 1AM. We ended up leaving a bit after 3. Given the hordes of people, ID cards and paperwork to be checked, the operation ran very smoothly. While waiting, we bumped into friends, made new ones and connected with people on many levels.
We were all very excited (and tired), but the thought of disrobing for the sake of art and history was awakening! Yes. We were doing this for the sake of art and being part of history, but most importantly, we wanted to bring attention to the plight of the Dead Sea, a candidate for inclusion in the world-renowned list: The Seven Wonders of the World. At current estimates, the Dead Sea will disappear within 50 years due to its draining resources by companies looking to exploit it for the sake of money.
You can feel the excitement in the air!
So, here we were. I would say there were more than 500 people leaving from Tel Aviv with the remainder leaving from such cities as Be’er Sheva, Netanya, Jerusalem and Haifa. Most of the organizers and even some of the drivers didn’t even know where our final destination along the sea would be, as the project in the past few weeks had hit some snags. But, that did not deter Spencer, Ari Fruchter (curator for the event) and the rest of the Naked Sea 2011 team.
When there’s a will there is a way. This was going to be the climax of many months of planning.
When we arrived to the spot by way of Jerusalem, we were greeted and steered by organizers and security personnel who guided us to the bathrooms and the beach where chairs were set up (most of us sat on the beach) for the clothed observers and the soon-to-be-naked models.
We were briefed by a few of the Naked Sea 2011 team and then by Spencer who explained how it was going to go down as far as choreography and safety. Don’t drink the water, splash and move slowly were some of the things repeated many times.
Even before Spencer told us to disrobe, people were already undressing. We had only a few hours to get this done as the permit only lasted till 8AM. We hit the water just before 6AM. Spencer and his team were battling time and the sun. There were some people my friend and I spoke to that just did not see the meaning behind what we were about to do: This was not pornography. This was art. Everyone was extremely respectful and cool. Sometimes, it takes a provocative act of this sort to wake people up.
Much more than being naked
This was more than just being about 1,000 people in the buff. This was about bringing attention to the cause of the Dead Sea and its rapidly impending demise. This was about waking people up and a call to action.
Naked Dead Sea
The vulturous paparazzi in a plane and via other flying vehicles swarmed above us for about half an hour snapping their own shots, sometimes hovering so low that it drowned out Spencer’s directions over a megaphone. They may have gotten many shots, but most of them were probably of two thousand middle fingers waving at them. The males were a bit jealous as the females got to pose for shoots covered in mud.
This morning as I scanned the web for articles, new ones were popping up every hour or so. Washington Post, the Israeli press, Reuters, NY Newsday, Green Prophet and a slew of others.
My friend and I discussed how it sorta gave us the same feeling that we had after Burning Man as far as being therapeutic and relaxing (the Dead Sea is a natural calming drug) and how we felt alive and rejuvenated (after our Shabbat afternoon nap).
Today I feel refreshed and inspired by what we all have done. As Israelis, tourists, as concerned citizens of the world. As Spencer said on more than a few occasions, this is the only place in the Middle East that an event like this can even be discussed. Let alone carried out.
As Spencer walked up to the gathering area being trailed closely by the press, we snapped photos with him and gave him a Hero’s welcome. It was a great day and one I and a thousand or so others will remember for the rest of our lives. Great job Naked Sea 2011 Team!
An aerial perspective of Spencer Tunick’s Naked Sea project 2011 at the Dead Sea. Photo by Itamar Grinberg.
Mazal Tov!
About Alex: Alex Gutman is a new immigrant to Israel via NYC and has been writing for over 15 years. He currently works in the High Tech industry as a Technology Evangelist/Publicist and a Copywriter. He has written short stories, travelogues and a variety of different styles over the years.
He has a BA in Speech Communications, is well-traveled, single and lives in Tel Aviv. He has also been involved in the Music industry since the mid-90s as a manager, promoter and concert producer working with some famous Israeli artists Internationally. His LinkedIn profile can be found here.
Spencer Tunick’s naked shoot at the Dead Sea in Israel: yes, some women even got covered in Dead Sea mud.
Cloaked in secrecy, they wouldn’t know the location until they got into the bus. While politics in the Middle East seems to overshadow environmental issues, some passionate Israelis decided to be a part of history, and photographer Spencer Tunick’s dream of his latest “Naked Sea” installation, at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth.
In a bid to join the UN, Palestine needs more funding to repair damage and mosques like “The Dome” in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip
Economical growth is evaporating in Palestine’s land. This year, donors to the Palestinian government have not transferred the money they pledged, according to a West Bank and Gaza World Bank report on Monday, 12th September. Despite this, local Palestinians contribute their man power to installing a new window or two.
As a birthday gift to famous model Naomi Campbell, Luis de Garrido from Spain designed an off-grid home complete with photovoltaic panels, a sophisticated geothermal system, an interior landscaped terrace, and – ahem – 25 bedrooms.
For those who believe that the Eye of Horus from Egyptian mythology is actually an illuminati cult symbol, this incredible project on the Isla Playa de Cleopatra in Turkey might be a bit hard to swallow. But for everyone else who sees it for what it is – a work of pure architectural genius – read on.
Although it comes with 25 bedrooms and five lounges, which is definitely well out of range for anyone whose name is not Naomi Campbell or maybe Sheikh Hamad (who inscribed his name into a Gulf beach so that it would be visible from space), it is a scaled example of what can be achieved in architecture when the goal is to achieve complete self-sufficiency.
Egypt and Turkey entered into several new energy-sharing arrangements on a recent diplomatic visit to Cairo by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Energy Minister Taner Yıldız. Analysts speculate that the new alliance comes in response to a perceived Israeli-Cypriot alliance over natural gas extraction.
Oil wars are so last century. The resource with the potential to stir up most turmoil in the Mediterranean region over the next year? Natural gas. In the last week alone, the Turkish government has launched three aggressive foreign policy initiatives regarding this precious (and polluting) fuel.
It can be difficult to sift through all the news and figure out exactly what’s going on, and how each case is connected. Read on for a simple breakdown of natural gas politics in the Mediterranean — and how it’s unlikely to get simpler any time soon.
The Masdar buildings that have been realized are impressive, but they comprise a shadow of the original, grandiose plans
Everybody loves to criticize the Abu Dhabi state-owned energy company Masdar, which has been forced to eat humble pie on numerous occasions for failing to realize the grandiose zero carbon, zero emissions city promised to the world when oil money was pumping in. Their small achievements are certainly impressive – see our exclusive Masdar images here – but few of the original specs have been incorporated into the buildings already erected.
As time goes on and mostly financial obstacles continue to emerge, the plans look increasingly less like the original. Bloomberg recently announced that Masdar is now in the process of revising Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill’s design for an energy-positive headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The firm behind Saudi’s ridiculously large tower along the Red Sea is expecting to hear within the month whether or not their design will survive the latest round of economic setbacks.
“Israel is not a theocracy, it is a democracy. We want to create a work that would probably not happen anywhere else in the Middle East.” Spencer Tunick, photographer.
If all goes according to Spencer Tunick’s plan, the Dead Sea will serve as the backdrop this Saturday September 17 for his next photographic installation: hundreds of Israelis appearing naked at what some have hailed as the world’s deepest natural wonders. Any would-be gawkers please take note: the exact location is top secret.
Scientists have always been worried about the runaway effects of climate change. Did anyone think that we might have rising concentrations of cholera-causing bacteria in our oceans as a result of higher temperatures?
Needed investment in desalination and water treatment will total a staggering $20 billion over the next four years. Massive amounts of energy are needed to power desalination, and water can potentially host massive renewable energy plants too. The two could be synergistic and could release the potential for a cleaner future.
So how much of this new water infrastructure could be run on clean renewable energy? Mark your calendars: October 16th to 18th, to attend the Power + Water Middle East exhibition to find out.
So it was with excitement that I opened a Press Release from Israel’s IDE Technologies touting “the first green Reverse Osmosis system” for water desalination. Great! Who better to solve this crucial issue than a company has been around since the dawn of desalination? IDE Technologies is the grandfather of water treatment plants, with 400 desalination plants in 40 countries built worldwide since 1965.
Energy subsidies keeping petrol and electricity prices low in the Middle East are jeopardizing the chances of renewable energy projects
The Middle East may be unique for many reason- the stunning souks, the hospitality of the people and explosive political mentality- but they are probably known for just one thing: oil. Indeed, Gulf nations have emerged from the wilderness and built entire economies and industries around their oil wells. The steady supply of cheap energy also means that petrol prices in Gulf nations are some of the lowest in the world, with many paying under $0.2 per litre at the pump. However, according to a new report by Carboun, these low prices are negatively impacting energy efficiency in the region and undermining the commercial viability of renewable energy projects.
A massive solar flare, like small one shown in this photo, could cause the world’s 440 commercial and 300 plus research nuclear reactors to melt down simultaneously.
But what would happen if things went terribly wrong in the event of a massive solar flare? According to a National Geographic report, a major solar flare known as the Carrington Event that was reported to have occurred in the year 1859 and recorded by a British astronomer Richard Carrington. It was so strong that people could read newspapers at night from its light. The latest report suggests if such a flare were to happen, the world’s power grids could fail. In long-reaching consequences, without power for days, or weeks catastrophes could happen.
You’d think the top clean tech investments come from the United States, China or Brazil. Look again on the right side of this chart to show how green economies actually perform. Israel is a top 4 with Denmark, Germany, and Sweden.
A new report called the Global Green Economy Index shows that although the perceived hot spots in clean tech investment appear to be in China, the return on investment is something else entirely. Since we cover the Middle East region we’d like to point out that Israel ranked particularly well on the cleantech dimension, according to the report, at slot #4 out of 27 national green economies.
A massive solar flare, like small one shown in this photo, could cause the world’s 440 commercial and 300 plus research nuclear reactors to melt down simultaneously.
