Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
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 state, does teach compassion towards every single animal- even dogs and pigs which face so much stigma in the Muslim world. In an effort to educate myself more about my faith and arm myself with information against those who justify those abuses- I did what journalists do best. I did some research. I stumbled across Richard C Foltz’s book during my search and his book instantly won points by have a title which recognised the difference between Islamic teachings and Muslim culture. In fact, it turned out to be a little gem of a book and even had some interesting things to say about Islam and the environment!
The thirst for water in an arid region means embracing waste water recycling
Altogether the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman are projected to need to spend US$60 billion on expanding waste water collection and treatment capacity over the next six years, according to international strategy firm Booz & Co speaking to Middle East Utilities.
Saudi Arabia alone is on track to become the third largest water reuse market in the world after the United States and China, says Walid Fayad, partner at Booz & Co.
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 relationships with Arab partners, Big Oil had till now avoided the possibility of any political blow-back from finding any potential oil and gas in Israel.
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 latter half of the nineteenth century.
The trouble is, asbestos has deleterious effects on human health and on the environment. As such it finds itself on the list of materials that are known to be dangerous to humans.
Banned 21 years ago in the United States and in various stages throughout the western world, entry into the European Union also requires its prohibition.
Accordingly, Turkey has completely banned asbestos production, use, and supply.
In Egypt, where no regulations exist to prevent it from happening, producers slap high tags on their products and call them organic or biodynamic – even when they are not. In response to complaints, the Ministry of Trade and Industry has introduced new certification regulations that should curtail this process.
A new kind of trust vehicle for investors is showing that solar contracts are a secure investment
Israel’s Israel’s Sunflower Sustainable Investments (TASE: SNFL) has developed a unique business model for investors: they sell trust funds that invest only in sustainable income projects. Sunflower has just completed its latest deal to buy and build three small solar farms in Italy, from each of which they will generate a set rate of 34 Euros per kilowatt hour for the next 20 years.
The tastiest olives are the ones you pickle yourself. Read on for ways of upgrading store bought olives too.
Olives are eaten with almost every meal in the Middle East, sometimes even at breakfast. Organically grown olives are the most delicious. You might be growing an olive tree in a container, but be realistic. If your tree gives fruit, there will probably not be enough for pickling.
Dried and salty or plump and succulent, glowing in gem-like green, black, brown, and purple, olives have their own displays in supermarkets and open-air markets everywhere (see Karin’s post on Israeli fresh food markets). Some people like their olives hot with fiery chilis. Some prefer them tangy with preserved lemons, or mellowed with bay leaves. You can pickle and season fresh olives by the kilo if you want, and it’s not hard.
Foraged black and green olives in Jaffa by Karin Kloosterman. Salt the black olives, and
It’s in autumn that olives are harvested and appear in the markets. But if you missed the season, a recipe for improving supermarket olives follows this one.
The olives sit in plain water, changed daily, for a week. During that time their original bitterness will leach out into the water. In the following 4-8 weeks, they marinate in fresh brine and seasonings.
Ingredients for fermented (pickled) olives:
1 kilo fresh olives
water
After a week, you will need:
Fresh water
Salt
Olive oil
4 cloves garlic, peeled and halved
1 lemon, sliced
chili peppers to taste
2 bay leaves
Optional: oregano, thyme, rosemary, grains of black pepper, allspice
Equipment:
Knife or clean rock
Mason jar or other large jar with a tight-fitting lid
Rinse the olives and drain. Discard any spoiled ones.
Either cut three slits in each olive or crush them with a clean rock, a few at a time. If crushing, only press hard enough to crack them open, not mash them.
Put the olives in the jar. Cover them with water. Make sure there are none floating – weigh them down with a small saucer or drape a clean recycled plastic bag over the surface of the water to keep them under.
Change the water every 24 hours. Do this for a week.
The olives will lose their bright color as their bitterness leaches out. When the olives are uniformly darker, taste them to judge if they’re ready for brining. If they’re still bitter, soak them and change the water for another few days.
Once the olives are ready, drain them and put them in a large bowl while washing out their jar. Make a brine. This is 1/4 cup kosher salt to 4 cups fresh water.
Mix well.
Replace the olives in the clean jar. Pour the brine over all. Add herbs and spices to taste.
Cover the olives with plenty of olive oil (as in the image above) to exclude air and prevent spoilage. Close the jar. You can use the olive oil later.
Leave it alone for a month, then taste an olive every week or so till you’re satisfied.
Olives and tapas
Always remove olives for serving with a clean, dry spoon. Keep the majority in their brine and seasonings – they will only improve.
How To Make Cheap Olives Delicious
Make your own tasty marinade, no matter what olives you have at home.
Pour out the brine they came in, and as above, season with garlic, peppers, bay leaves, and lemon. Pour 1/4 cup dry red wine over them if you wish. Cover them with olive oil. Store in the fridge and eat after 1 day to allow the flavors to penetrate. The olives will stay good 1 week.
Ever heard of Boughezoul? Nor have we, but hold on to your ride, because this low-carbon city is about to rival Masdar as the new kid in town.
Trumped up by a sophisticated publicity campaign, Masdar City might be the only Middle Eastern city outside of Dubai, Jerusalem and Tehran that is internationally known. Certainly, it is the only “green city” that has received any kind of attention.
But there’s a new kid in town. Algiers might not have Masdar’s press power has, nor Foster & Partner’s star power. But their new initiative is still significant. The new city Boughzoul will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but Algiers intends to use that model for all future city developments in the country.
Following the success of various tagging programs since 2005, the EAD captured and fit another Greater Flamingo named Yasmeena with a satellite device that will enable researchers to track her migration route and stopovers.
Today’s announcement from Noble Energy of its gigantic Leviathan gas find in disputed territory will exacerbate tensions in region
They say that fossil fuel riches become a curse to any country that possess them. Where fossil fuels flow – corruption, reduced democracy and increased inequality follow. It is such a recognized pattern that it has become a cliche: the resource curse. No nation is immune. Even one-time staid and fair-minded Canada has now succumbed to this corruption of democracy, under the pressure from its oil sands provinces.
US Legislative troubles impact several Ormat projects
Due to uncertainty about how much time permitting for a US loan guarantee program will take, Ormat Nevada Inc has removed its application for a DOE loan guarantee of $300 million for three of six geothermal projects in the state. The three projects of the Nevada subsidiary of Ormat Technologies Inc (NYSE: ORA) are currently under construction: the Wister, CD-4 and Dead Horse Wells projects, and total between 80 and 90 MW.
They would have been eligible for the Financial Institution Partnership Program (FIPP) but geothermal projects backed by the loan guarantee program need to have all the permitting complete by September 2011. That now looks unlikely.
Is a Living Earth Simulator fed with reams and reams of data a viable solution to our environmental woes?
Every day, those of us who write for Green Prophet and other green news sources, or who write books, like the Moneyless Man, are trying to reach out to the public, calling for some kind of action. Do this, and this, and that, all of you, and we might not have such a bleak future.
And yet, Cancun failed to produce any meaningful agreement on carbon emissions. People are still drivin’ and buyin’ and the storms keep a comin’. Statistics, emotional pleas, and living by example have mostly failed. So, might a Living Earth Simulator (LES) powered by supercomputers crunching data succeed?
Samples taken from arugula in 64 different stores literally contained million of E. coli bacteria.
Although fledgling, Dubai’s organic farming is growing, and Yael Mejia with Dubai’s Baker and Spice is doing her part to help that along. Though critics question the wisdom of using desalinated water for farming, the water-strapped Emirates don’t really have a choice.
But it is not certain whether the samples of arugula from 64 different stores throughout Dubai and Sharjah were imported or grown locally. But officials will need to find out soon, because one researcher has discovered that every single leaf is covered in E.coli.
Arwa meets three Muslim vegetarians from around the world whose views, lifestyles and paths to vegetarianism couldn’t be more diverse and distinct
When I was 16, I discovered the horror of factory farming and decided to become a vegetarian. That was 8 years ago and I have been a vegetarian ever since. Thankfully, I no longer have to explain why I- as a Muslim- have chosen to become a vegetarian amongst my family and friends or face a barrage of questions before I tuck into my veggie dinner. However, for many people the concept of a Muslim vegetarian is still confusing. So I wanted to introduce you a few – an eco-warrior, one of faith, and one vegetarian for animal rights.
Arwa reviews the book by Richard C. Foltz, Animals in Islamic Tradition and Muslim Culture, Oneworld Publications
