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Urban Planning Conference at Tel Aviv University

Daniella Cheslow
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Urban Planning Conference at Tel Aviv University

beer-sheva-towersIf you’ve been wondering about the skyscrapers threatening to carve up Tel Aviv, or about the atrociously planned residential towers of Beer Sheva (see right), or even if you just want to hear about urban planning in general, then check out Tel Aviv University’s free upcoming conference, “Cities of Tomorrow,” held June 9-12.

This year’s focus is on environmental and planning justice. There’s also a research workshop for master’s and doctoral students.

Most of the conference is in Hebrew, but the opening sessions on June 10 and 11 are in English, and there’s a tour on the 12th.

From the program (in Hebrew): This multi-disciplinary conference focuses on exposure and analysis of the central events that impact the urban environment in the global age in general and in Israel, specifically.

The conference is organized as a meeting between the different players who influence the design and planning of the cities of tomorrow: academia, non-governmental organizations, planning instituions, philanthropic foundations and entrepreneurs, who will discuss during the conference sessions the relationship between sustainability, planning and justice in the cities of tomorrow.

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Scientists Find Oldest Patch of Land on Earth in Israel

Karin Kloosterman
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3
Scientists Find Oldest Patch of Land on Earth in Israel

old-desert-israel-negev

It gives us a little perspective in environmental issues: Hebrew University researchers have determined that a patch of land in Israel’s Negev Desert is the oldest piece of exposed land on earth.

Because of weather events, volcanic activity and long term effects of tectonic activity, the face of the earth is constantly changing. But not on this patch of land in Israel.

According to scientists the ancient patch of “desert pavement” has been sitting there, as it is today, for the past 1.8 million years, give or take a few thousand.

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Play With the Cross-Breeze

Jack Reichert
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1
Play With the Cross-Breeze

window-blowingSummer can be brutal in the Middle East, and not everywhere has EWA Technologies’ Air Conditioning. But no worries. Many homes DO have built in cooling systems that many people don’t bother taking advantage of. Cross breezes can be a very effecting way to cool down your house. The key is making sure that windows are open on multiple sides of the house, front and back, even if you are not in the room. Also make sure that there are no doors closed in the way. If you let the breeze blow through, the breeze will be kind to you

Eco Suit Company Bagir Makes Earth Friendly Deal With Egypt

Karin Kloosterman
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3
Eco Suit Company Bagir Makes Earth Friendly Deal With Egypt

ecogir-recycled-bagir-photo

A working relationship between the Middle East and Israel is possible and one innovative Israeli suit manufacturer Bagir has taken the initiative to extend its hands across the Egyptian border resulting in a union that is respectful, friendly and profitable.

The outreach has been successfully achieved by Bagir Ltd, an Israeli company, by way of its newest sustainable tailored clothing called ECOGIR, which is made from recycled plastic bottles and is manufactured at Metco, a tailored clothing factory in Port Said – 50% of what Bagir manufacturers in Port Said is exported to the United States with the other 50% going to the UK market.

We’ve written about Bagir in the past and are impressed by their organic suit lines, and recycled pop bottle suits they now sell at Sears in the US.

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Coming Soon: A Wall of Skyscrapers Between Tel Aviv and Jaffa?

Jesse Fox
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Coming Soon: A Wall of Skyscrapers Between Tel Aviv and Jaffa?

scan0001A year after a municipal planning committee decided to put plans for a row of skyscrapers near Jaffa on hold, the plans are back on track. A new policy document formulated by a Tel Aviv planning committee calls for the construction of a row of very tall buildings in the south of the city, some within a stone’s throw of ancient Jaffa.

The city also has plans for a series of new highways that will crisscross the area, in addition to the first line of the Tel Aviv light rail. However, residents of the area are less than enthusiastic about the idea, claiming that the new buildings will be out of scale with the existing character of the area.

A year ago, in response to protests by the residents, a district planning committee instructed the city to formulate a coherent policy for the entire area. Residents had argued that the city was promoting the buildings one by one, without a comprehensive master plan.

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Adam Teva V’Din and Zalul Push the Plastic Bag Bill

Marcus Sopher
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2
Adam Teva V’Din and Zalul Push the Plastic Bag Bill

plastic-bags-vietnam-israel

Every day, Israeli stores and supermarkets give away 14 million plastic bags, which is more than twice the size of Israel’s entire population.

While plastic bags may be handy for bringing back food from the shuk or transporting a cold beverage down to the beach, the question is, why do plastic bags have to be a necessity in Israel? Plastic bags require energy and raw materials to produce, they cost businesses money, and they are difficult to dispose of.

In the US, one can dispose of plastic bags at limited locations like Whole Foods markets, but in Israel there is no real way to dispose of the bags. The best case scenario is that the bag is thrown away in a garbage can, in which case it decomposes over many years in a landfill. This reduces landfill space, and causes the plastic to leach toxic chemicals into the soil upon decomposing.

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Rabbi Julian joins with other faiths to 'Love God, Heal Earth'

James Murray-White
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1
Rabbi Julian joins with other faiths to 'Love God, Heal Earth'

faith environment book cover

Twenty years, ago, Sally Bingham went to her local bishop and announced that she wanted to be ordained so that she could become the world’s first priest for the environment.

She was received with some skepticism. Undeterred, she embarked on almost a decade of study and became an Episcopalian minister in 1998. She went on to found Interfaith Power and Light (what a great name for an organization). Today IPL has some 2000 affiliated congregations in 26 states of the US.

In her recent book “Love God, Heal the Earth”, Bingham has brought together 21 leading voices speaking out about the about the religious duty to protect the environment. All are doers in the field, not just thinkers. Some are inspirational leaders. There a couple each of Muslims, Buddhists and Jews, and 15 Christians of all stripes and persuasions.

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Sustainable Design Seminar Starting at the Israeli Design Center Next Week

Karen Chernick
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3
Sustainable Design Seminar Starting at the Israeli Design Center Next Week
Sustainable Israeli Designer, Adital Ella
Sustainable Israeli Designer, Adital Ella

Sustainable design is popping up all over Israel, and we’ve tried to cover as many of these designers as possible.  Our survey of ten sustainable Israeli designers who reduce, reuse, and recycle covers tons of green, innovative, and aesthetic projects ranging from rubber tire handbags (that are surprisingly chic) to old suitcases-turned-shelving units.

So we were very happy to find out about a Sustainable Design Seminar starting at the Israeli Design Center in Holon next week, because that means that not only is the trend continuing, but it’s hitting the mainstream as well.

The five session seminar will be lead by Adital Ella and Yair Engel, both of whom are sustainable designers and experts in the field of sustainable design and industry.  The seminar, which will conduct one class per week beginning on Tuesday June 9, is intended for designers, students, and those interested in the field of sustainability.

The program of the seminar is as follows:

The Concept of Sustainable Design: An introductory lecture about the history, importance, and significance of sustainable design in a world of production and consumption.  The first session will also include an introduction to the concept of cradle to cradle.

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Doha's Stars of Science TV Show to Include Environmental Projects

Maurice Picow
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6
Doha's Stars of Science TV Show to Include Environmental Projects

qatar-foundation-tv

The Doha based Stars of Science television program got underway May 30 on 17 Arabic speaking TV channels, it was announced by Doha TV.

The program originally had more than 5,600 applicants, of which 100 were selected to vie for the 16 positions to be aired on the program.

Of these, 3 are environmentally related and include Sarah al Samak’s ‘Canito’ which is a combination garbage and recycle bin that will give people incentives to recycle their wastes.

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The Israel Conference in LA to Spark Deal Flow Between Israel Clean Tech and California

Karin Kloosterman
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3
The Israel Conference in LA to Spark Deal Flow Between Israel Clean Tech and California

israel-conference-clean-technologyOn June 4 in Los Angeles, the Israel Conference will spotlight Israeli clean tech, medical tech, high tech and more. Investors coming to the event represent about $20 billion in funds.

“Many Los Angeles and California business leaders and entrepreneurs will have their first opportunity to see first what Israeli companies, technologists and investors can bring to their enterprises,” noted Sharona Justman, conference co-chair and managing director of STEP Strategy Advisors, an acquisitions advisory and strategic planning firm.

“There are tremendous synergies in the technology communities in Israel and California and we expect this conference to ignite deals.”

Just 2 weeks ago, investors from California were in Israel scoping out opportunities in the clean tech arena.

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Emirate-Built Sanaya Amman Towers To Be Jordan's Tallest and First "Green" Building

Maurice Picow
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3
Emirate-Built Sanaya Amman Towers To Be Jordan's Tallest and First "Green" Building

sanaya-brochure jordan green building tower photo

Jordan’s capital city, Amman, will soon have a spectacular landmark: the Sanaya Twin Towers, which will tower more than 200 meters over the city and will be the country’s tallest landmark.

The project, which means starlight in Arabic, comes with a $300 million pricetag. It was begun in July, 2008, and has required the removal of 225,000 cubic meters of earth to erect the building’s massive foundations.

The excavation part of the project will be completed by mid-summer, 2009, and it will be Jordan’s first large eco-building project.

The buildings will combine energy efficient glass, sensor lights, central air conditioning, an waste management that is expected to save operating costs by as much as $2 million each year.

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Sunday And Ormat Build Largest Solar Roof in the Middle East

Green Prophet
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12
Sunday And Ormat Build Largest Solar Roof in the Middle East

sunday-israel-ormat solar energy clean technology homes photoSunday Energy, a solar energy service provider in Israel, and Ormat Technologies, one of the world’s largest geothermal power solutions companies, recently announced they will build a 1MWp photovoltaic solar installation on the roof of Ormat’s factory in Yavne, Israel.

Once complete, the 16,000 square meter installation will be the largest PV roof in the Middle East and will generate over NIS 60 million from solar energy sales over the next 20 years.

The project will cost approximately NIS 20 million to construct and is expected to be completed by the first half of 2010.

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UNESCO Biosphere Reserves Declared in Syria and Lebanon

Karen Chernick
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2
UNESCO Biosphere Reserves Declared in Syria and Lebanon

Jabal Moussa, Jordan Jabal Moussa, Jordan

So we all know that the Middle East is biospherically fascinating, but at the ongoing meeting of the UN International Coordinating Council of the Man and Biosphere last Tuesday, UNESCO took notice as well, adding more Middle Eastern sites to UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

In fact, for the first time, a site in Syria was declared.

So what is a Biosphere Reserve?  Biosphere reserves are sites recognized under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme, which innovate and demonstrate approaches to conservation and sustainable development. They are of course under national sovereign jurisdiction, yet share their experience and ideas nationally, regionally and internationally within the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. There are 531 sites worldwide in 105 countries.

The new Middle Eastern Biosphere Reserves are:

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A Virtual Graduation Speech to the Class of 2099 at Tel Aviv University

Green Prophet Guest
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4
A Virtual Graduation Speech to the Class of 2099 at Tel Aviv University

polarcities

“Forget Sunscreen, Be Resouceful”

Good afternoon, Class of 2099:

I can’t be here in person to address you, since I passed into oblivion long ago. But as a member of a U.S. graduating class of 1971 at a small college in Boston, I wanted to leave you with a brief message — from the past to the future — about global warming and climate change.

As the class of 2099 here at Tel Aviv University in Israel, you are about to enter the 22nd Century in a few more months, and you will bring with you not only your university experience but also your career expectations and personal anxieties as citizens living on a planet in the midst of a climate crisis.

I’m sure you’ve heard this term a lot in the past four years — “climate crisis” — but you should know that in my days as a student in the 1960s, we never used the phrase. Back then, we had not even heard of the term yet!

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Israeli University Honors Environmental Sculptor Dani Karavan

Maurice Picow
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3
Israeli University Honors Environmental Sculptor Dani Karavan

dani-karavan-desert-sculpture

Ben Gurion University of the Negev, one of Israel’s finest academic institutions, and one in which its environmental and alternative energy projects have received world-wide acclaim, honored six outstanding individuals with Honorary Doctoral degrees at the University’s 39th Annual Board of Governors Meeting at the Campus on May 25th.

One of these individuals, Dani Karavan, is one of Israel’s most outstanding environmental sculptors, who has won numerous awards for his monumental memorials which “blend into the environment” in which they are created.

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