The Magreb nations have a bright solar future: don’t miss your chance to be part of it! Solar Maghreb in Casablanca, Morocco on 24-25 May 2011 is the must-attend utility-scale solar conference to make contacts within the five Maghreb nations – meaning “the Western” ones, in Arabic – of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania and the […]
After recovering from the shock of motherhood, Karin tries an eco-compromise by using washable diapers half of the time. It’s been 4 months since I’ve given birth and I decided that I was fit enough to try washable, reusable diapers. My daughter is exclusively breastfed, an undertaking that completely overwhelmed me for the first few […]
Is mate choice determined by bugs in our gut? The latest research from Israel is revealing some unexpected insights about attraction and partner selection. If sparks aren’t flying between you and a potential mate, could the problem may be as close as the bugs in your gut? Right now the findings apply only to fruit […]
Three years of extra snow has weakened Ireland’s salt stocks, demonstrating an overall lack of preparedness for the effects of climate change. Outline of Birket Maraqi salt lake in the oasis of Siwa, Egypt Facebook status updates from the UK read like this: “go away snow”, “does anyone know if its safe to drive to […]
Egypt finally harnesses a power that it understood centuries ago Egypt now has one of the very first entire towns in the world to be powered exclusively with solar power. And actually, it is a pair of towns, so it is a world first. The two villages were not previously on the national grid. Oum […]
Predictions of water loss in Yemen by 2020 threaten lives and agriculture – Children must still fetch water for towns that are increasingly parched and dry. According to experts cited by CNN, Yemen could be the first nation to completely run out of water in as little as 10 years, a prospect that creates a […]
Reef sharks in the Gulf are especially vulnerable without sanctuaries to ensure their protection. Red Sea sharks are threatened by Yemenese poachers who sell their fins to Asia for a fit price. But it turns out that Persian Gulf shark species are also vulnerable. So much so that conservationists have advised regional environmental groups and […]
The park which was opened by the country's Vice-President Dr Najah Al-Attar, is located in Dummar, a suburb of Damascus and is planted with various drought-resistant flora. It is hoped that the park will be used as model for public and private parks and help rationalize the consumption of water and energy.
Chefs without borders: now anyone can cook for the crowds. What if we told you that there is a way, if you’re as industrious as the Dutch founders of a website called Tweetjemee, to buy meals from your neighbors? Frankly, if such a service existed I’d harass Miriam every day for her spinach and mushroom […]
Daniel Birns, international activities advisor at the U.S. Department of Energy, speaks Dec. 15 at a US-Israel environmental symposium at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC. Virginia’s largest electric utility is eagerly seeking Israeli “clean-tech” partners that offer innovative technologies aimed at slashing the world’s dependence on fossil fuels through the development of renewable energy […]
The issue of raw sewage may not be hitting the headlines in the Middle East like concerns over water scarcity, but in the Palestinian territories and Israel it’s a real problem. Inadequate waste water treatment plants in the Palestinian territories means that only 22.5 million cubic metres out of around 150 million cubic metres of […]
Do wind turbines cool crops below? In a new study with applications for the Middle East, a pair of US researchers finds wind turbines could help to reduce the adverse effects of climate change on agriculture, during the hotter summers that we expect in our future. We already know that wind power is a way […]
How far are you willing to go to maintain anti-public peeing social conventions? This is a question that plagues me at night, when I’m camping, and the bathroom is on the other end of the campground. On the one hand, watering a bush seems better than flushing a toilet, but sends untreated pollutants, which will […]
A fungus good to grow for sexual health: the company is donating 5% of their proceeds to support breast cancer research. A California startup called Back to the Roots is now offering a grow-your-own mushroom garden kit that can be kept inside on a windowsill for anyone with a penchant for urban farming. Consumers from […]
If you’re looking to rest your laurels somewhere warm and eco-friendly, why not consider Tunisia, the world’s most egalitarian Arab nation. Tunisia is the Arab world’s best secret. Not only does it boast high home ownership, high literacy, and good health care coverage, but it is so egalitarian that the First Lady boasts they don’t […]