Dior highlights recycled materials, regenerative agriculture, circularity initiatives, and digital traceability, but the luxury fashion business model still depends on constant consumption, global supply chains, fashion shows, and high-carbon production.
Shawarma is one of the world's most popular street foods, but the greatest health risk may not be the meat, pickles or tahini. Scientists are increasingly concerned about PFAS "forever chemicals" and microplastics that can migrate from food packaging into hot, greasy takeaway meals. As awareness grows about hidden toxins in everyday products, even your favorite shawarma wrap may be part of a much larger environmental and public health story.
Could the humble contact lens become a sustainability breakthrough? Researchers in Korea have developed a self-healing hydrogel lens that repairs scratches with just one hour of UV light exposure. Beyond reducing waste from disposable contacts, the technology could one day help extend the life of solar panels, water filtration systems, and other plastic-based products.
Immersing religious idols in Canada's lakes, rivers and coastal waters remains a contentious issue. While the practice is an important tradition for many Hindu communities during festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, environmental regulations in many jurisdictions prohibit the disposal of foreign materials into natural waterways, even when the objects are intended as religious offerings.
Dior highlights recycled materials, regenerative agriculture, circularity initiatives, and digital traceability, but the luxury fashion business model still depends on constant consumption, global supply chains, fashion shows, and high-carbon production.
Shawarma is one of the world's most popular street foods, but the greatest health risk may not be the meat, pickles or tahini. Scientists are increasingly concerned about PFAS "forever chemicals" and microplastics that can migrate from food packaging into hot, greasy takeaway meals. As awareness grows about hidden toxins in everyday products, even your favorite shawarma wrap may be part of a much larger environmental and public health story.
Could the humble contact lens become a sustainability breakthrough? Researchers in Korea have developed a self-healing hydrogel lens that repairs scratches with just one hour of UV light exposure. Beyond reducing waste from disposable contacts, the technology could one day help extend the life of solar panels, water filtration systems, and other plastic-based products.
Immersing religious idols in Canada's lakes, rivers and coastal waters remains a contentious issue. While the practice is an important tradition for many Hindu communities during festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, environmental regulations in many jurisdictions prohibit the disposal of foreign materials into natural waterways, even when the objects are intended as religious offerings.
Dior highlights recycled materials, regenerative agriculture, circularity initiatives, and digital traceability, but the luxury fashion business model still depends on constant consumption, global supply chains, fashion shows, and high-carbon production.
Shawarma is one of the world's most popular street foods, but the greatest health risk may not be the meat, pickles or tahini. Scientists are increasingly concerned about PFAS "forever chemicals" and microplastics that can migrate from food packaging into hot, greasy takeaway meals. As awareness grows about hidden toxins in everyday products, even your favorite shawarma wrap may be part of a much larger environmental and public health story.
Could the humble contact lens become a sustainability breakthrough? Researchers in Korea have developed a self-healing hydrogel lens that repairs scratches with just one hour of UV light exposure. Beyond reducing waste from disposable contacts, the technology could one day help extend the life of solar panels, water filtration systems, and other plastic-based products.
Immersing religious idols in Canada's lakes, rivers and coastal waters remains a contentious issue. While the practice is an important tradition for many Hindu communities during festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, environmental regulations in many jurisdictions prohibit the disposal of foreign materials into natural waterways, even when the objects are intended as religious offerings.
Dior highlights recycled materials, regenerative agriculture, circularity initiatives, and digital traceability, but the luxury fashion business model still depends on constant consumption, global supply chains, fashion shows, and high-carbon production.
Shawarma is one of the world's most popular street foods, but the greatest health risk may not be the meat, pickles or tahini. Scientists are increasingly concerned about PFAS "forever chemicals" and microplastics that can migrate from food packaging into hot, greasy takeaway meals. As awareness grows about hidden toxins in everyday products, even your favorite shawarma wrap may be part of a much larger environmental and public health story.
Could the humble contact lens become a sustainability breakthrough? Researchers in Korea have developed a self-healing hydrogel lens that repairs scratches with just one hour of UV light exposure. Beyond reducing waste from disposable contacts, the technology could one day help extend the life of solar panels, water filtration systems, and other plastic-based products.
Immersing religious idols in Canada's lakes, rivers and coastal waters remains a contentious issue. While the practice is an important tradition for many Hindu communities during festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, environmental regulations in many jurisdictions prohibit the disposal of foreign materials into natural waterways, even when the objects are intended as religious offerings.
Dior highlights recycled materials, regenerative agriculture, circularity initiatives, and digital traceability, but the luxury fashion business model still depends on constant consumption, global supply chains, fashion shows, and high-carbon production.
Shawarma is one of the world's most popular street foods, but the greatest health risk may not be the meat, pickles or tahini. Scientists are increasingly concerned about PFAS "forever chemicals" and microplastics that can migrate from food packaging into hot, greasy takeaway meals. As awareness grows about hidden toxins in everyday products, even your favorite shawarma wrap may be part of a much larger environmental and public health story.
Could the humble contact lens become a sustainability breakthrough? Researchers in Korea have developed a self-healing hydrogel lens that repairs scratches with just one hour of UV light exposure. Beyond reducing waste from disposable contacts, the technology could one day help extend the life of solar panels, water filtration systems, and other plastic-based products.
Immersing religious idols in Canada's lakes, rivers and coastal waters remains a contentious issue. While the practice is an important tradition for many Hindu communities during festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, environmental regulations in many jurisdictions prohibit the disposal of foreign materials into natural waterways, even when the objects are intended as religious offerings.
Dior highlights recycled materials, regenerative agriculture, circularity initiatives, and digital traceability, but the luxury fashion business model still depends on constant consumption, global supply chains, fashion shows, and high-carbon production.
Shawarma is one of the world's most popular street foods, but the greatest health risk may not be the meat, pickles or tahini. Scientists are increasingly concerned about PFAS "forever chemicals" and microplastics that can migrate from food packaging into hot, greasy takeaway meals. As awareness grows about hidden toxins in everyday products, even your favorite shawarma wrap may be part of a much larger environmental and public health story.
Could the humble contact lens become a sustainability breakthrough? Researchers in Korea have developed a self-healing hydrogel lens that repairs scratches with just one hour of UV light exposure. Beyond reducing waste from disposable contacts, the technology could one day help extend the life of solar panels, water filtration systems, and other plastic-based products.
Immersing religious idols in Canada's lakes, rivers and coastal waters remains a contentious issue. While the practice is an important tradition for many Hindu communities during festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, environmental regulations in many jurisdictions prohibit the disposal of foreign materials into natural waterways, even when the objects are intended as religious offerings.
Dior highlights recycled materials, regenerative agriculture, circularity initiatives, and digital traceability, but the luxury fashion business model still depends on constant consumption, global supply chains, fashion shows, and high-carbon production.
Shawarma is one of the world's most popular street foods, but the greatest health risk may not be the meat, pickles or tahini. Scientists are increasingly concerned about PFAS "forever chemicals" and microplastics that can migrate from food packaging into hot, greasy takeaway meals. As awareness grows about hidden toxins in everyday products, even your favorite shawarma wrap may be part of a much larger environmental and public health story.
Could the humble contact lens become a sustainability breakthrough? Researchers in Korea have developed a self-healing hydrogel lens that repairs scratches with just one hour of UV light exposure. Beyond reducing waste from disposable contacts, the technology could one day help extend the life of solar panels, water filtration systems, and other plastic-based products.
Immersing religious idols in Canada's lakes, rivers and coastal waters remains a contentious issue. While the practice is an important tradition for many Hindu communities during festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, environmental regulations in many jurisdictions prohibit the disposal of foreign materials into natural waterways, even when the objects are intended as religious offerings.
Dior highlights recycled materials, regenerative agriculture, circularity initiatives, and digital traceability, but the luxury fashion business model still depends on constant consumption, global supply chains, fashion shows, and high-carbon production.
Shawarma is one of the world's most popular street foods, but the greatest health risk may not be the meat, pickles or tahini. Scientists are increasingly concerned about PFAS "forever chemicals" and microplastics that can migrate from food packaging into hot, greasy takeaway meals. As awareness grows about hidden toxins in everyday products, even your favorite shawarma wrap may be part of a much larger environmental and public health story.
Could the humble contact lens become a sustainability breakthrough? Researchers in Korea have developed a self-healing hydrogel lens that repairs scratches with just one hour of UV light exposure. Beyond reducing waste from disposable contacts, the technology could one day help extend the life of solar panels, water filtration systems, and other plastic-based products.
Immersing religious idols in Canada's lakes, rivers and coastal waters remains a contentious issue. While the practice is an important tradition for many Hindu communities during festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, environmental regulations in many jurisdictions prohibit the disposal of foreign materials into natural waterways, even when the objects are intended as religious offerings.
Ever since returning from Italy, Ilana and I have fallen in love with Pesto! Pesto has many wonderful heath benefits. Basil, the main ingredient, contains flavonoids that protect cells from radiation and oxidative damage. It also contains potent volatile oils that are anti-bacterial and effective at warding off unwanted bacteria, as well as containing anti-inflammatory properties. Basil is also a good source of iron, calcium and vitamin A.
But to avoid the unhealthy elements of bought food, preservatives and such, it’s much better to make your own. It’s also lots of fun! Pesto is fantastic to have in your fridge to spread on some crackers for a quick snack, make a toast sandwich, or add to your soups and sauces. It makes everything taste better and look classy!
Moving into a dorm is one of the first chances many students have to create a space of their own. It’s also the perfect opportunity to build greener habits that can save money, reduce waste, and make your room healthier and more comfortable.
Reduce
College life can encourage overconsumption. Before buying anything, ask yourself: Do I really need this?
Skip single-use coffee pods and invest in a reusable mug. Avoid disposable water bottles and bring a refillable bottle instead. Share appliances like printers, mini-fridges, and kettles with roommates rather than buying duplicates.
A student budget and a sustainable lifestyle often go hand in hand.
Furnish with Second-Hand Finds
You don’t need a Pinterest-perfect dorm room.
Look for used furniture through campus groups, Facebook Marketplace, thrift stores, or neighborhood giveaway networks. A second-hand desk chair, lamp, or bookshelf works just as well as a new one and keeps perfectly usable items out of landfill.
Creative students have even built bed frames, shelving, and seating from reclaimed pallets and shipping crates. Just make sure any materials are clean, safe, and approved by your residence rules.
The mix-and-match look has personality and costs far less than buying everything new.
Choose Better Bedding
Dorm rooms can get stuffy. If your budget allows, look for natural-fiber sheets and blankets made from cotton, linen, hemp, or bamboo. These materials tend to last longer and feel more comfortable than synthetic alternatives.
If you’re buying new, choose quality over quantity.
Reuse Before You Buy
Before heading to a big-box store, ask family and friends what they have sitting unused.
Many students can borrow:
Lamps
Fans
Kitchen supplies
Storage bins
Rugs
Hangers
Small appliances
You’ll probably move again in a year or two, so think temporary rather than permanent.
Recycle Smarter
Even in a digital world, students still generate a surprising amount of paper.
Set up a small recycling bin beside your desk for:
Notes
Drafts
Packaging
Flyers
Better yet, reduce printing whenever possible by using digital notes and cloud storage.
Save Energy
Small changes add up.
Turn off lights when leaving.
Unplug chargers when not in use.
Use power strips to eliminate phantom energy use.
Choose LED desk lamps.
Open windows when weather permits instead of relying on air conditioning.
Bring Some Green Indoors
Bring plants in to join your roomates
A small plant can improve mood and make a dorm feel more like home.
Easy options include:
Pothos
Spider plants
Snake plants
Herbs such as basil or mint
If your dorm lacks sunlight, choose low-light varieties.
Rethink Food Waste
College dining often creates unnecessary waste.
Keep reusable:
Cutlery
Food containers
Shopping bags
Coffee cups
If your campus offers composting, use it. If not, encourage your student union to start a food-waste collection program.
Sustainability isn’t about buying eco-products. It’s about using what already exists, buying thoughtfully, and creating habits that you’ll carry long after graduation. A greener dorm isn’t just good for the planet. It’s usually better for your wallet too.
Now that Barack Obama is on his way to the White House and the US seems poised for a “New Green Deal”, could things start heading in that direction in Israel as well?Â
In August, Dov Khenin announced his candidacy for Mayor of Tel Aviv with A City for All (Ir Licoolanu), and since then has been very busy spreading the word in the city.Â
Khenin is proposing alternatives to current policies in a number of areas, including transportation, urban planning and affordable housing. In this video interview, Khenin discusses his vision for the city, his political worldview and the differences between himself and his opponent Mayor Ron Huldai.
Besides the wonderful team of people I get to work with, one of the best aspects of working with the newservice ISRAEL21c is that they le” me report on environment news and breakthroughs. Their support of the environment started about 5 years ago, when not a single paper in Israel was covering the beat. One of the most exciting stories I’ve got to cover lately is that of EWA.
A Green Prophet writer dug up the story (reporting on their solar air conditioning project), and by the time I’d contacted them the business had changed focus. Here is their story on a water collecting solution that promises to democratize the uneven distribution of the world’s fresh water resources:
For Dr. Etan Bar, CEO of EWA, it was a question of priorities. His company, which focuses both on solar energy and clean water extraction from the air, had already developed a new solar energy air conditioner that was sparking interest in the industry, but Bar realized that clean water was a far more pressing need.
He put aside the air conditioner and began working on a new technology that could collect humidity naturally present in the air and turn it into clean water.
It sounds like a far-fetched idea, but it’s actually thousands of years old. It was mentioned in the Bible and in ancient Jewish prayers, and archaeologists still find the stones Israelite farmers used thousands of years ago to collect dew for watering their crops.
The leader of the Atid Yarok (“green future”) environmental group in the Merkaz Hamagshimim community center in Jerusalem is leaving. Now Atid Yarok must have a new leader, or the group will fade away.
The initiatives of Atid Yarok have included the Jerusalem of Green project, which James reported on last February; and perhaps the biggest achievement of the group is that it was instrumental in convincing the Jerusalem municipality to put recycling bins all over Jerusalem in the course of a two-year campaign.
The Holy City is rich with history, but it is poor in environmental advances. Jerusalem is a place where an activist with brains and heart can truly make a difference. To apply for the leadership position, contact finkelwoman at yahoo dot com.
I love the rain. It cleanses the city. Everything looks and smells clean and fresh. My biggest problem, though, with the rain is that so much of it goes to waste. With Israel’s future rain forcasts in question waiting for rain can be nerve-wracking. And when it finally comes, so much of it goes to waste. It’s sad.
If there were a way to collect all of that rain and make sure that it goes where it needs to go… Now we’re talking! If we could collect all of the water that falls in the streets and rooftops of a city during a rainy season, could we live off of that for the coming year?
Not much different from political views or soccer favorite, people are very conservative when it comes to their laundry, or at least on how to dry it.
Those who favor laundry lines claim that the tumbling electric dryer damages the clothes, (the residues left in the filter prove that), consumes electricity, which is bad for the carbon dioxide footprint (global warming) and unfriendly to the wallet too.
The other group says that hanging the laundry in the sun causes the colors to fade and exposes the laundry to the mercy of birds and to dust; one cannot hang clothes when it rains and it simply is unaesthetic to display all your underwear for people to see. Plus it takes a lot longer and there is no softener so clothes come out a little rough.
An Israeli company, Aytec Avnim, offers a compromise in the form of a solar clothes dryer.
The dryer, made of lightweight materials looks like a bright box from the outside; the laundry is hanged within and therefore invisible and is not subject to direct sun light which fades colors. It is also protected from dirt and weather. There is no tumbling and therefore no wear. The construction inside the box enables the utilization of the sun’s heat for drying the clothes within a time period which resembles that of the electric dryer, and electric backup enables drying at night and even when it rains.
The dryer comes in two configurations; Foldable and mobile, for easy storage and for putting out of the way while in use. This format is for the DIY market. The other option is more rigid and involves adding the dryer to the building construction itself either as a laundry drying balcony-rail or as substitute for the building’s laundry cover, which is actually often used as air-conditioner cover and not for hanging laundry because it blocks the sun and not always installed facing it.
According to the company, the electric backup can be replaced by the use of the apartment’s hot water tubing and thus reduce heat energy loss when nobody uses the hot water in the house.
Hanging laundry out from a window in Sicily to dry
All in all it is a green gem which reduces the use of electricity even when using it for backup. And therefore the Green Prophets expect it to have a bright green future.
College students don’t usually need a justifiable reason for studying abroad. And study abroad in Israel? There’s the sun, the beach, the good food, the beautiful people… all very educational, of course. But for those students who are looking for a justifiable reason (at least one they can tell their undergraduate advisors or parents), how about a study abroad program with a conscience?
Living Routes, a program that coordinates study abroad in eco-villages all over the world, has a wonderful program in Israel based out of Kibbutz Lotan. The program is titled “Peace, Justice, and the Environment” and focuses not only on various aspects of environmentally friendly living and farming practices, but upon non violent communication and cooperation between Palestinian-Arab, Bedouin, and Jewish Israeli communities. Essentially, the program focuses on sustainability in Israel on a very broad scale.
We’ve seen that environmentally conscious tourism is becoming more than a buzz word, what with government initiatives stepping in, and the various alternatives in eco-tourism that Israel now offers–including Kazakh yurts!
Australian-born tour guide Zel Lederman customizes personal tours for groups and families with Israel Travel Company: Israel Off the Beaten Track, including tours with environmental themes. Tours can include an exploration of organic agriculture, clean technology, walks along the Israel National Trail, bike riding adventures, and tours on horseback.
One of Lederman’s tours was covered in Maariv (in Hebrew) — a five-day walk in the Golan for 15 members of a UIA Mission of Australian Jewish Doctors who walk every year both in Australia and Overseas. “They wanted to walk in Israel rather than in Tuscany or France,” says Lederman.
Lederman explains what an environmental awareness in touring Israel means to him:
“My personal experience with travelers has been that walking the land helps people connect both more deeply to themselves and to the land of Israel, and perhaps to understand more the environmental issues that we face–not as a heavy ideological issue, but as a walker who sees, smells and feels the beautiful and historically saturated landscapes and is confronted up close with the environmental challenges that confront us. ”
‘Slow Food’ is one of those elusive yet still useful terms: we’re able to grasp what it’s gesturing at even though we can’t define it precisely. Most of us recognize slow food experiences when we have them and feel, moreover that they are genuinely special and distinctive – this is proof enough that term, and the movement which gave rise to it, are onto something important.
Slow Food was founded by Carlo Petrini in Italy about twenty years ago; its membership now numbers tens of thousands and spans over more than 100 countries, including a chapter in northern Israel. The Slow Food collection, first published in 2001, gathers together some of the best writing from the movement’s quarterly journal, and includes short pieces on everything from wine to cheese-making to biotechnology. Taken together, these stories and articles offer something more complex and ambitious than a mere definition, an accounting of what slow food is through a cataloguing of its principles (though the principles are included as well): they are rhetorical, aiming to inspire by painting pictures so lush we cannot help but be drawn in.
Quinoa isn’t just for Passover anymore. Revered by the Incas as sacred, quinoa looks like a grain but is actually a plant related to beets, chard, and spinach. Its tiny seeds cook up into fluffy, nutty goodness in fifteen minutes, and can be used in any number of ways. Quinoa is fantastic for vegetarians and vegans because it is a complete protein (i.e. it has a full complement of amino acids). It also possesses the virtue of being rather seriously tasty.
Israel touts some of the world’s best solar technology advances (see our extensive solar energy company guide here), but its Middle East neighbor Dubai, says it is planning to set up the region’s largest solar energy manufacturing plant. They are expected to start producing by the last quarter in 2010, and will manufacture photovoltaic panels that can generate 130 megawatts of power annually.
The building plans call for a 1 million square foot plant, with solar panels to be produced as big as 5.7sqm. Similar plants will be built in China, Mexico and Bulgaria. The announcement was made during this week’s Green Dubai World Forum 2008.
The best way to defrost food is in the fridge. It not only keeps the fridge cool, meaning the fridge itself will use less energy to stay cool, but often people leave food out too long with defrosting which causes their food to collect unwanted bacteria.
Many other people use their microwave to defrost food. While it’s debateable whether microwaves are bad for your health it certainly is energy-wasteful.
The only problem with defrosting in the fridge is that you have to decide the night before what you would like to eat for the next day…
Looking to green your life? Find out more! Have a green-living tip to SHARE?
Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) is a longtime advocate of sustainability and environmental peacebuilding in the region. Â Fresh off the pages of Time Magazine, where FoEME’s directors were recently named Heroes of the Environment 2008, FoEME is hosting a conference next week as part of the Pro-Aquifer project.
Over the past two years, the Pro-Aquifer team has worked with pilot municipalities in both Israel and the Palestinian Authorities to assess threats to the shared Mountain Aquifer and develop policy guidelines for pollution prevention. Â From these initial case studies in Umm el Fahem on the Israeli side (seen above) and Tulkarm on the Palestinian side, FoEME developed general policy guidelines for all communities in the Mountain Aquifer recharge area.
You first heard it here on Green Prophet a few months ago – the Israeli Ministry of Tourism is spearheading initiatives to promote eco-friendly, green bicycle tourism. You may also remember that it announced in August that it would be allocating 100 million shekels towards developing the field (which, ahem, is not the number that appears in the title of this post). But have no fear – 100 million shekels have been allocated overall and 20 million will be invested in the first five years (2009-2013).
According to Tourism Minister Ruhama Avraham-Balila, “the Tourism Ministry is leading the way in promoting the cycling tourism industry with the objective of turning it into an essential component in the leisure and entertainment culture of Israel.”
The Ministry of Tourism has already got the wheels turning (so to speak) on this project and an interim report on the project was recently presented. The report includes plans to:
College students don’t usually need a justifiable reason for studying abroad. And study abroad in Israel? There’s the sun, the beach, the good food, the beautiful people… all very educational, of course. But for those students who are looking for a justifiable reason (at least one they can tell their undergraduate advisors or parents), how about a study abroad program with a conscience?
You first heard it here on Green Prophet a few months ago – the