Israeli scientists have found the earliest evidence for modern man, in teeth at Qesem Cave not far from Tel Aviv. Instead of 200,000 years of history in Africa, Homo sapiens are looking at 400,000 with early sources in the holy land. This news is just in from teeth located and dated by Israeli scientists in […]
Once considered an aphrodisiac drink, true sahlab is now becoming rarer. Sahlab, based on an increasingly rare orchid, is a popular winter drink all over the Levant, like hot almond milk. The tubers of Orchis macula are boiled, dried, then ground to a gray powder that, cooked in milk, makes a creamy drink something like […]
Animal activists urge meat derived from Halal and Kosher slaughter methods, such as this chicken at the Madani Halal Slaughterhouse, to carry labeling that points out the absence of stunning beforehand. A battle over the humanity of religious slaughter has boiled over in Europe, uniting Jews and Muslims fighting for recognition of their respective rituals. […]
Follow the top 10 Middle East environment news stories of 2010. With 2011 a few days away, we wanted to reflect on the stories that shaped the Middle East in 2010. As global warming transforms our climate and we scramble to catch up, we have found our region to be split in two camps: the […]
A new law in Israel could mandate manufacturers to take ensure their packaging is recycled, or reused. Despite its posh upcycled art installation, a quick visit to Israel’s Hiria dump demonstrates the extent to which materials that could be recycled, and should be recycled, are instead buried. There are cages available in some neighborhoods where […]
Ever wondered about the science of solar or wind energy, but feel overwhelmed by too much information? READ cuts through the noise with a guide that is both informative and inspiring. Who says the Middle East doesn’t have progressive leanings? There may be the odd dud who thinks mocking global warming with a water park […]
A pilot program will bring a greener hybrid bus to Israel’s Sharon region. Here’s some good green news for 2011 in Israel: In addition to the thousands of electric cars that Better Place hopes to bring to Israel next year, a hybrid bus will also be tested that offers a 50% reduction in emissions and fuel […]
For me, cloth diapers meant two or three extra loads of laundry a week. When I read that Karin decided to “walk the walk” and switch to reusable diapers with her young baby, I could see that she and her husband, along with readers, have the same questions that people asked back when I used […]
Green Prophet’s new writer Rebecca shares her personal experience raising 5 female goats. She shares an easy goat cheese recipe too! The first goats arrived to our garden by chance. Our friends needed to get rid of their goats urgently as their neighbours were complaining about the baahing. We weren’t sure what that meant, but […]
The annual Zayed Future Energy Prize, named for Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of modern Abu Dhabi who died in 2004, recognizes pioneering work in the field of renewable energy. Six finalists have been selected from an original pool of nearly 400 nominees for the 2011 Zayed Future Energy Prize. The winner […]
Because of an enduring myth, Bedouins in Jordan kill hyenas and owls; The Badia Center for Ecological Education is trying to educate locals and relieve pressure on wildlife. The desert area north of Amman, Jordan (the site of the King Hussein Park) which engulfs roughly 75% of the entire country, is under strain. In addition […]
When it comes alive, the Penyon Bay Ecovillage will overlook the Bay of Alhoceima in Northern Morocco. As economies and ecosystems degenerate, and spiritual malaise increases (as I’ve pointed out in my green Christmas wish list), communities worldwide are forming new bonds. Moving away from the consumer model, ecovillages incorporate various degrees of the old […]
Who’s responsible for this Tel Aviv tree? The local Tel Aviv environmental committee. Some of the red tape preventing local environmental issues from being resolved has to do with the fact that national government has too much on its plate. Even in a small country like Israel, local issues can often be seemingly ignored by […]
Desperation and an entrenched car-culture is pushing Cairenes towards outlandish solutions to their hellish traffic congestion In the bursting-at-the-seams megacity of Cairo, it seems that there is no escaping the traffic. Roads grind to standstill for hours most days and the traffic jams are only getting worse as the Egyptian population simultaneously heads to Cairo […]
What is the impact of development on the Gulf’s marine ecosystem and can oil companies really play a part in its preservation? As sharks face the threat of extinction worldwide, conservationists in Egypt have recently raised concerns over the need to protect reef sharks in the Gulf by establishing sanctuaries. Fifty years ago, the Gulf […]