Will Abu Dhabi’s municipal plan to “beautify” old souqs forever alter its cultural flair? Not long ago I described my hometown in Virginia, where humble wooden houses were replaced with giant McMansions. In that same town, there was an old woman who sold ice-cream out of a tiny little house on the outskirts of Great […]
Ormat plans to harvest more power from the depths of the earth with additional funding from the US Dept. of Treasury. Despite failing to meet market expectations when its Q2 results were presented in August, the geothermal power company Ormat Technologies managed to secure an additional $108 million funding, according to the Israeli business daily […]
Piezoelectric crystal generators may one day power electric cars as well. The infrastructure needed to provide power for Better Place and other types of electric cars may soon get a boost with a unique form of under-roadway generators being developed by the Innowattech Company and the Technion – Israel’s Institute of Technology. The project being […]
Salon Mazal’s eco-activists may be a little extreme, but they can still teach you some cool recycled crafts. Salon Mazal, an information center in Tel Aviv that spreads information about a whole range of issues including social change, human rights, animal rights, consumerism, feminism, and gender issues, is known for bringing together a collective of […]
The California Energy Commission ruled that climate change and energy needs are more important than plants and tortoises. Confronting the joint need to protect biodiversity while expanding alternative energy projects, after three years of deliberation, a fourth BrightSource Energy Concentrated Solar Power Plant was approved by California’s Energy Commission. Impeding approval of the Israeli company’s […]
As both a cultural and natural marvel, if Wadi Rum’s candidacy as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is approved, sustainability will be easier to achieve. Concerned organizations have taken huge leaps towards preserving Jordan’s culture and wild heritage. The Royal Society for the Protection of Nature have set aside an additional nine protected areas in […]
A new “crop” of 70 turbines is slated to be planted in the contested Golan Heights. Earlier this year, we reported here about a partnership between the Israeli company Multimatrix and the U.S. energy company AES to build a wind farm on the Golan Heights. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave the state’s blessing to […]
Fashion label EcoGir says even polyester can be stylish. The oh-so-stylish and yet oh-so-eco-friendly Israeli design label, EcoGir brought sustainable fashion to New York Fashion Week this year by holding two runway shows in a prominent midtown Manhattan location. Both men’s and women’s fashions were flaunted with a total of 12 suits shown. The two […]
Most people consider citrus fruit, such as lemon, a delicious seasoning when it comes to flavouring a salad (like tomato coriander salad), however these fruit are a great deal more versatile than that. The health benefit of lemons and oranges are well known, making them both great additions to a cup of tea. But have […]
Next week leaders of various sects will discuss modern interpretations of climate change within the Islamic tradition. Next week, Jordan will be hosting a three day event on the ‘Environment in Islam’ which is the theme for the 15th General Conference of the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought. The event, held on the […]
Dr. Gotlieb describes a recent trip to his birthplace: Costa Rica Alajuela Province, July 22, 2010: For a Costa Rican-born Israeli geographer, a 36-hour lightning visit for a family event in San José afforded an opportunity to one of the most unique landscapes and ecosystems in the world. Atop the Poas Volcano situated in […]
It’s like finding an oasis in the middle of the desert: Haifa University explorers discover coral reefs 700m beneath the Mediterranean Sea’s surface; will they be able to protect the reef from oil and gas exploration? The scene of bickering between Israel and Lebanon over gas fields, and potentially harboring a giant garbage patch, the […]
Mark Boyle, otherwise known as the “moneyless man,” says that the Middle East’s emphasis on caring and sharing should make adopting a “freeconomic” lifestyle easier than in the West. Frustrated and worried about the state of our environment, we chomp at the bits and engage in frothy conversations about irresponsible citizens and politicians, but few […]
Which way is the Dead Sea heading? Will the tourism industry survive rising waters in the south? Although the Dead Sea is suffering a severe lack of water in its northern portion, the southern basin, where lucrative mineral extraction industries and most of the lake’s hotels and health spas are located, is suffering from a […]
The first Arab country to create one, Morocco’s new charter provides a blueprint for environmental protection and sustainable energy production. In a first for the Arab world, the Moroccan government announced a National Charter for Environment and Sustainable Development, becoming the first African country to launch any such ambitions. It is part of the country’s […]