Canaan Fair Trade Creates Sustainable Community of Palestinian Farmers

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Bigger isn’t always better.  Canaan Fair Trade helps small-scale Palestinian farmers survive and thrive. With the modernization of agriculture, farming has become an industry instead of a small-scale, community effort.  All over the world, small-scale farmers who have retained traditional (and many times organic) methods of agriculture have been pushed out by larger, industrial farms.  […]

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Mediterranean Countries Shut Down Coral Protection

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For the sake of trade in red coral such as this, several Mediterranean countries opposed a measure that would have protected precious coral. Already plagued by a bucketful of ecological maladies, the Mediterranean faces further degradation of its precious coral, Bikya Masr reports. In December several Mediterranean countries were among those that shot down a […]

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Can An L-Shaped Skyscraper Scrub The Jordan River?

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This building is designed to accommodate residents, commercial activity, and clean the Mapocho River. Is this what the Jordan River needs? Despite valiant efforts by Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) and other worthy organizations, the Jordan River is in a perilous state. This 156 mile long river is ecologically essential to Israel, Jordan, […]

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Eco-Lessons To Empower Women In Abu Dhabi

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 As the environmental movement in the Middle East blossoms, women are being encouraged to take a more active role in environmental protection We have already profiled the lovely ladies at Naqa’a, an environmental group based in Saudi as well as the Eco-Chicks of Abu Dhabi who are making strides in introducing the climate agenda […]

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Blondes Have More Fun Composting

Maybe blondes really do have more fun, and more fun composting too. It’s easier to get Israelis excited about blondes than about composting, but if you get their eco-attention using a blonde?  That’s a different story.  Atar Friedman, a beautiful young Israeli blonde with a mission, has been trying to get Israelis more conscious about […]

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Book Review: Animals in Islamic Tradition and Muslim Culture

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Arwa reviews the book by Richard C. Foltz, Animals in Islamic Tradition and Muslim Culture, Oneworld Publications Following the controversy during Eid Al-adha and allegations of animal mistreatment in Egypt, I found myself questioning how my faith which teaches compassion towards animals could become so inextricably linked to clear animal abuses. Islam, despite what many […]

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Israel’s Leviathan Gas Find Will Have Widespread Repercussions for World Power

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The gigantic $45 billion Leviathan gas find tosses out Israel’s previous relationship with the world. The biggest deep-water gas find in a decade has enough reserves to supply Israel’s gas needs for 100 years. Oil and gas exploration that might benefit Israel has long been stymied by political fears. Because of worries about antagonizing current […]

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21 Years After US, Turkey Finally Bans Asbestos

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Somewhat belatedly, Turkey bans the procurement and use of asbestos throughout Turkey. Asbestos was once considered the darling of building materials given its extraordinary resistance to heat, its absorbent qualities, and its tensile strength. Commonly used in roofing, tiles, paper production, ceiling and floor tiles, in packaging, and in gadgets, asbestos became popular in the […]

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Lots Of Green Challenges Ahead In 2011

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Our individual efforts to stem global warming seem mighty inconsequential when China is burning billions of tons of coal. As we reflect back on the past year and look forward to a greener 2011, it is tempting to believe that environmental awareness is gradually and inexorably growing, as reflected in recent Green Prophet reports about […]

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