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“There Is Hope Now”- Conservationist On Egypt’s Post-Revolution Future

Arwa Aburawa
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4
“There Is Hope Now”- Conservationist On Egypt’s Post-Revolution Future

We speak to conservationist Mindy Baha El Din about the rise of the environmental movement in post-revolution Egypt, tourism and the challenges ahead

Mindy Baha El Din was born in the US and came to Egypt in 1988 armed with a degree in Arabic and Economics as well as a passion for birdwatching, to establish a conservation education centre at Giza Zoo. Through her work she met Sherif, Egypt’s foremost ornithologist, who she would later marry and together they formed a formidable team campaigning on everything from bird hunting controls, developing Egypt’s protected area networks to ecotourism.

“Over the years, we have witnessed massive changes and degradation to Egypt’s natural heritage,” remarks Mindy. “It’s shocking how one generation’s decisions about natural resources is affecting the present and all future generations of Egyptians. Both Sherif and I have a strong sense of civic duty- we have tried our best to make a difference but it is an uphill struggle.”

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Earth Architecture All The Way To Timbuktu

Tafline Laylin
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0
Earth Architecture All The Way To Timbuktu

earth architecture, mud building, timbuktu, green architectureSouth African architects chose mud as the main building material for an $8.36 million Islamic Research Institute project in Timbuktu.

Using the name Timbuktu in a phrase denotes a sense of something that is far, far away. And it is. Located near the Niger River Delta in Mali, Timbuktu is the gateway to the vast Sahara desert. But it is also, perhaps surprisingly, the seat of a long tradition of Islamic scholarship. (See the 5 Spectacular Eco-Mosques of the World)

Initially built in the 1970s, the Ahmed Baba Institute of Higher Islamic Studies and Research needed an uplift. With an $8.36 million budget to work with for the 50,000 square foot Institute, Cape-Town based dhk Architects chose mud as their primary building material for the project’s first phase.

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Tweets, Shares, And Dirty Searches That Destroy Earth

Tafline Laylin
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4
Tweets, Shares, And Dirty Searches That Destroy Earth

world wide web, carbon emissions, global warming, greenhouse gas emissionsEvery web search sends 10 grams of carbon into the environment, making the internet one of the most polluting “industries” in the world.

One of the most empowering and significant human developments, the Web is also one of the most destructive. Facebook (which eggs on eating disorders) and Twitter played an enormous role in the revolution that de-seated Hosni Mubarak, and worldwide people have unprecedented access to information. Green Prophet depends on the internet to share important news that brings us and our readers closer to a more sustainable future.

There is no doubt, seedy sites aside, that the internet is a remarkable tool. Craiglist search for instance helps us find housing and jobs. But all those online searches are also killing our planet. At present, every web search sends up to 10 grams of carbon into the atmosphere. That number multiplied by millions of shares, tweets, billions of emails, and one billion Google searches every day amounts to greenhouse gas emissions that soar almost as as high as the aviation industry.

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Planned Lion-Fight In Egypt Takes A Political Turn

Tafline Laylin
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4
Planned Lion-Fight In Egypt Takes A Political Turn

al-sayed-al-essawy, gladiator, lion fightThis young Egyptian man believes he is the strongest in the world, and hopes to use this gift to battle lions.

The surreal story of the Egyptian man who plans to fight a lion in order to generate revenue for his country has taken a bizarre political turn. Following the announcement that 25 year old al-Sayed al-Essawy from Daqahlia plans to fight an African lion in front of the Pyramids of Giza, hundreds of people signed petitions in protest.

Not only has the man broken wildlife trafficking laws by purchasing a lion on the black market for roughly $4,000, but he will most likely kill a magnificent and endangered animal for sport. Wild rumors proliferated that the modern-day gladiator was arrested, but not so. Our friends at Al-Masry Al-Youm interviewed al-Eassawy, who explains that Israel (“through all their atrocities” he grew up watching on television) led him to this fight.

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Leaked Poop Forces 2 Tel Aviv Beach Closures

Tafline Laylin
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2
Leaked Poop Forces 2 Tel Aviv Beach Closures

sewage, contaminated water, Israel, Tel Aviv, Mediterranean SeaLocals and holiday makers who love the beautiful Gordon Beach will have to leave their bikinis at home.

Contaminated waters off Gordon Beach and Charles Clore Beach in Tel Aviv are stinking up plans to get the summer fun started. Leaked sewage has forced the municipality to shut down the beaches, and signs have been posted discouraging bathers from entering the polluted water.

Considered one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in Israel, Gordon Beach recently received a major thumbs up from the Environmental Protection Ministry’s Blue-Green Flag campaign. An initiative launched to monitor beaches throughout Israel, the campaign awards a 0 to 3 ranking for beaches according to their cleanliness, accessibility, and popular appeal. 

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Green Muslims Build Green Neighbourhoods

Arwa Aburawa
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2
Green Muslims Build Green Neighbourhoods

US Green Muslims embrace the notion of co-housing, an environmentally friendly (and Islamic) lifestyle which combines privacy with a more tight-knit community

Do you know the name of your next-door neighbour? What about what they do for a living? Do you know what their favourite pastime is?

If you answered ‘no’ to any of these questions, you shouldn’t feel bad because the reality is most people don’t know who their neighbours are, never mind whether they prefer to read a good book or go shopping on a Saturday afternoon. Living in busy towns and cities means that most people don’t go beyond the polite ‘hello’ to their neighbours over the garden fence, but are disconnected neighbourhoods good for the planet?

Green Muslims in the DC area of Washington argue that they are not and state that the key to sustainable living is sharing facilities and working together to improve our sense of community.

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Here Comes the Arava Sun at Kibbutz Ketura

Bracha Arnold
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5
Here Comes the Arava Sun at Kibbutz Ketura

arava powerScandals aside, it was a historic day in the sun at Arava Power’s launch on Sunday. Green Prophet’s new intern Bracha Arnold was there

VIP barbecue by the pool. Champagne. Red carpets. Internationally recognized musicians. No, it wasn’t a glitzy awards show, just the launch of Kibbutz Ketura’s solar field, the first of its kind in Israel. It marked a turning point for renewable energy in Israel.

We all know that Israelis love to boast how green their country is–after all, they say, every home has a solar panel on its roof! “We heat all our water with the sun!” they cry earnestly. However, in most other environmental areas, Israel has been lagging behind other countries. Indeed, it took Arava Power Company roughly five years to make their dream of a solar field a reality.

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‘Human Well-Being & the Natural Environment’ by Economist Partha Dasgupta

James Murray-White
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‘Human Well-Being & the Natural Environment’ by Economist Partha Dasgupta

DasguptaHow do you measure human well-being? How do you fully account for the impact of human interventions in poor regions like in Iraq? What costs are paid by the citizens of one country for the consumer demands of another?

Renown economist Partha Dasgupta’s recent book, ‘Human Well-being and the Natural Environment’ is not for the faint-hearted. It is academic in style and suitable for ‘economists, and students of economics, environmental studies, political science and political philosophy’, as is described on the jacket. It would also interest motivated readers.

Not being familiar with economic theory, equations or statistics, I did find this a challenging read and much was inaccessible to me. I am an intuitive person by nature and was attracted by the title. I am grateful that it had such appeal because it is unlikely that I would have picked it up if it had been called, ‘An in-depth theoretical study of how to evaluate policy change impact on social well-being and the natural environment in regions of poverty’, which may have been more accurate. Having said that, this book gave me much food for thought and stimulated a desire in me to speak with the author.

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Romantic Desert Lodge in Egypt Offers Fresh Eggs And Sanity

Tafline Laylin
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2
Romantic Desert Lodge in Egypt Offers Fresh Eggs And Sanity

eco-tourism, organic produce, desert, egypt, el-qasrTired of pollution and noise? Seek refuge and organic food at the Desert Lodge in Egypt’s western desert.

The stunning Desert Lodge en route to Luxor has everything the weary green-minded traveler looks for: friendly faces who will welcome you with a glass of delicious hibiscus juice, sustainably-built accommodations modeled after an ancient village, fresh food, and resplendent views of the nearby limestone mountains.

A twelve hour bus ride south of Cairo (travel overnight if you like), the lodge is great for artists or yogi masters seeking refuge from the noise and pollution further north, couples in love, or the single adventurer with a decent budget. Despite its remote location, the lodge offers a smorgasbord of activities that will keep restless children occupied all day, leaving parents free to bask in the desert’s rustic warmth.

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Should Green Organisations Accept Sponsorship From Big Bad Corporations?

Arwa Aburawa
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3
Should Green Organisations Accept Sponsorship From Big Bad Corporations?

From climate events to marine conservation projects, it seems that green organisations in the Middle East are happy to take money from not-so-green corporations

It goes something like this. A green organisation is set up with the good intentions of sorting out some environmental injustice be it pollution or marine destruction. That green and very credible organisation is then approached by a not-so-green corporation looking to sponsor it – the financially struggling organisation could really do with the support but is concerned that it will lose its credibility.

The corporation, which has caused a fair amount of environmental pollution of its own, claims that it wants to work with that organisation to change and insists that together they can achieve more. That green organisation agrees – the corporation gets it greenwashed press release earning it relatively cheap Eco points whilst the green organisation loses its credibility with real campaigners.

It’s a tricky and universal problem facing green organisations worldwide but after receiving another dubious greenwashed press release this morning, I couldn’t help asking myself why are there so many green organisations in the Middle East sponsored by large corporations?

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Dine with an Unconventional “Green” Sheikh

Green Sheikh
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5
Dine with an Unconventional “Green” Sheikh

the Green Sheikh, Dubai, environmental awareness, sustainable development, Blue PlanetThis image was taken from our interview with the Green Sheikh in Dubai earlier this year. And this is his first column on Green Prophet

We are thrilled to announce that the Arab world’s most famous environmental activist will pen a monthly column for Green Prophet. Born H.E. Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, he is probably better known as the Green Sheikh (who knows how to treat a lady!) Drawing from a strong background in environmental sciences (and boundless energy), Abdulaziz travels extensively to promote cultural, environmental, and spiritual awareness.

In concert with our own philosophy, the Green Sheikh’s somewhat unconventional approach transcends borders, politics, and religion. For this, he is deeply loved both in his home country, the United Arab Emirates, and throughout the world. And for breaking down the barriers associated with Arab royalty in order to help save what he calls the Blue Planet from human destruction, he is enormously respected.

In his first column, the Green Sheikh introduces Dine with an Unconventional Sheikh, a cross-cultural exchange program, and speaks a little bit about what he hopes to achieve during his current visit to Brazil. He cherishes public participation, so please don’t be shy to add your comments and questions to his posts. The first one is below.

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Green Love “Sticks” In Jaffa

Karin Kloosterman
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6
Green Love “Sticks” In Jaffa

jaffa tel aviv loveA Ukranian woman and an Israeli man (a couple in love) pose for green love in digital times, in Old Jaffa overlooking Tel Aviv.

I’ve been singing Lovers In A Dangerous Time by the Canadian singer Bruce Cockburn over the last week or so. A perfect song, an anthem for my trip around Jaffa yesterday as I activated my friend’s project Love in Digital Times. Green stickers, sustainable cities. Conflict. Peace. World Environment Day. A lot of messages.

Stephen Ibbott, a painter and artist from Toronto had sent me some “green” stickers in the mail, and I had an assignment to place them around the city and photograph them. I like these interactive art happenings, like the peace box sent to me by a New York artist a few years ago (picture below). Using World Environment Day yesterday as my D-Day, I set off with baby on my back to stick Stephen’s hand-painted stickers around the city. I guess I am advertising myself as a vandal. But in the name of love? Worth it. Some more images follow, with brief explanations why I chose the spots I chose.

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Food Geo-politics Hits Middle East Streets

Rola Tassabehji
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3

food politics middle eastThe international aid and development organization Oxfam recently revealed some alarming facts and future predictions on world hunger, warning that the world faces a real crisis in agricultural production and nutrition, with climate change exacerbating the crisis. The Middle East is cited as a “taste of what may be to come” as rising food costs contribute to a growing dependence on imports, widening social inequalities, food deprivation and social unrest.

Other observers are echoing the concern that food scarcity is becoming the new norm. Already in 2011, the UN Food Price Index has surpassed its previous all time global high, as of March climbing for eight consecutive months.

Today’s price hikes are driven by several factors, including what Oxfam refers to as a “broken agricultural system” driven by a minority of investors, whose primary purpose to deliver profit, a rapidly expanding population, temperature increases, and irrigation wells running dry.

Last month’s deadly tornadoes in the US, largest Icelandic eruption in 100 years, droughts and warming temperatures in wheat growing areas in parts of China, US and Western Europe add further evidence to the IPCC’s predictions that the number of natural disastrous are on the increase.

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Arab Spring May Boost Chance for Desertec Solar Power

Maurice Picow
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2
Arab Spring May Boost Chance for Desertec Solar Power

desertec arab springPolitical stability, as well as sunshine is needed for Desertec solar projects.

The “Arab Spring” uprisings that have turned several Middle Eastern countries literally upside down may actually become a boost for the Desertec solar energy project that could eventually provide much needed electrical power to several Middle East North Africa countries – and Europe to boot.  What began last year as optimistic news that Egypt was planning to earnestly develop solar energy by building two 100 MW solar energy plants began to look futile as that country and others in the Middle East began to reel under the chaos of civil unrest and even civil war. This had led many to wonder if there is a future at all for solar energy in Egypt and other MENA countries. And investors today are obviously very uncertain about how the sands will shift in the coming months, and years in the region. Especially now as new leadership styles, democratic, autocratic and bureaucratic come to light. 

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Israeli Enviro Minister: Please Keep Politics Out of Water!

Green Prophet
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1

israel erdan water parisIs it possible to keep politics out of water negotiation in the Middle East? Israel enviro minister (center) thinks so

In a statement to the panel Hydro-Diplomacy: A Path to Peace, at the For’UM Conference on Innovation, which took place in Paris on May 31, Israel Minister of Environmental Protection Gilad Erdan called for keeping the water issue out of the political conflict. He noted to other ministers in the room from the Midde East North Africa Region that water scarcity and water source pollution threaten both the Israeli and Palestinian populations and said that if the issues of water supply and political conflict are not separated, cooperation and a solution to the water problems plaguing the entire population of the region will not be reached.

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