Pottery has been passed on for several generations in el-Qasr, an ancient village 12 hours south of Cairo. In the medieval village el-Qasr, set at the foot of a limestone mountain in Egypt’s western desert, pottery is taken very seriously. In their book Egypt, Civilization of the Sands, Pauline and Philippe de Flers quote the […]
The 49 days between the holidays of Passover and Shavuot are a stairway to spiritual renewal. Sefirat HaOmer – the literal counting of seven week’s days in Jewish tradition- is drawing to a close with the upcoming Shavuot holiday (Tuesday night). Reflecting the Biblical commandment to sacrifice a measure of the new barley harvest at […]
Surrounded by trash in a small enclosure, this village woman from el-Qasr, Egypt, bakes several loaves of bread in giant clay “jar.” Baking bread el-Qasr style isn’t great for the lungs, but it does wonders for the beleaguered soul. Twelve hours south of Cairo, past the enigmatic White desert, and past the lush Farafra Oasis, […]
Just in time for Shavuot, a goat’s-cheese quiche stuffed with fresh greens and mushrooms. The Jewish Shavuot holiday, which occurs on Tuesday night this week, celebrates receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai. All-night study sessions and prayer mark the holiday’s spirit. Other customs include decorating the home with fresh leaves and flowers, and eating dairy […]
Let kids get outdoors and color driveways and sidewalks with Nature Toy’s eco-friendly chalk. With the summer vacation from school fast approaching, many parents are trying to find ways to entertain their kids during the long break. Which means those eco-friendly parents out there are trying to find environmentally and kid-friendly toys for their kids […]
On the eve of its launch, Arava Power must prepare for a “real” solar war: Israel’s first solar field company loses building permit and prepares for battle –– over sun rights and tariffs The Israeli solar installation company SBY (Solar By Yourself) has effectively played a role in freezing Arava Solar’s building permit this weekend. […]
Today is Naksa Day, World Environment Day, and the day when Arava Power is launching its solar field in the desert. With Arava’s permits temporarily halted, Green Prophet looks at a powerful op-ed by Arava founders on 6 steps to creating a green war. June 5 marks not only World Environment Day and the anniversary […]
Turkish dams don’t just affect Turks — they cut off access to water in Iraq and Syria as well, forcing entire populations in those countries to resettle. Hydropower seems like the perfect solution to Turkey’s escalating energy demand: a clean form of energy and an irrigation source that can be harnessed from the many rivers […]
Protesters in Jordan are campaigning against the country’s plans to build a nuclear reactor which they state carries more risks than positive impacts Despite the disaster at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear station and Germany’s bold move to shut down all nuclear reactors by 2020, it seems the Middle East is still set on a nuclear future. […]
New animal research is significant: Chronic estrogen exposure leads to a build up of a compound in the brain that causes blood pressure to rise. For years, women were told that the estrogen they consumed in the form of contraception or hormone replacement therapy had heart-protective benefits. Recent research suggested otherwise: long-term exposure to estrogen […]
Gasoline engines still work fine in cars; but what if they ran hair dryers or computers? Renault and Nissan, who happen to be partner auto companies, and who both are developing electric cars the Fluence and the Leaf, came out with the same clever advertisement: “What if everything we use ran on gas?” The ads […]
Azzam Alwash (left), director of the environmental organisation Nature Iraq, talks with a Marsh Arab who lives in the Mesopotamian Marshlands of Iraq In the first part of this two-piece feature, Azzam Alwash the director of Nature Iraq, spoke to us about his warm memories as a child visiting the Mesopotamian Marshlands of Iraq with […]
Certain plants, especially those rich in phyto-estrogens, are being looked at more closely for their role in growing a healthier bosom. Using herbs and foods to enhance a woman’s form date back to ancient times, and some suggest that the use of tinctures, massage oils and brews were popular among Egyptian harems. Some of the […]
Watermen and women from 52 countries will unite this World Environment Day to raise funds for the Daram Marine Reserve in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Pull out your oars and go paddling this World Environment Day, June 5, 2011. Started by a crew of Dubai-based watermen distressed by the state of our oceans but determined to […]
Batroun is an outpost of beauty in Lebanon. The next generation of environmental activists want to make sure it stays that way. Georges “Junior” Daou belongs to the next generation of Lebanese. A long time nature-lover, he has devoted himself full time to rejecting toxic waste in Beirut, consistent oil spills that degrade the Mediterranean […]