We’ve covered plenty of food choices to spice up your love life with ancient wisdom suggesting aphrodisiac qualities. We’ve even reported about the map of love in the brain. Now if you ask anyone from Tel Aviv they will tell you that the perfect place for a first date is at the beach. Now, science supports that claim.

The new discovery from TAU may lead to future practical applications, such as UVB treatments for sexual hormone disorders. The breakthrough opens up for further discoveries in basic science, “As humans, we have no fur, and our skin is thus directly exposed to sunlight. We are only beginning to understand what this exposure does to us, and the key roles it might play in various physiological and behavioral processes. It’s only the tip of the iceberg,” says Prof. Carmit Levy Tel Aviv University who led the study.

Researchers have found that exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight enhances romantic passion in humans. In the study, men and women were exposed to UVB (ultraviolet radiation type B) under controlled conditions, and the findings were unequivocal: increased levels of romantic passion in both genders.

The post Scientists say the sun is an aphrodisiac appeared first on Green Prophet.

The city of Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean Sea received the advanced grade A- in the ranking of the CDP, the largest international platform for measuring, managing and reporting the environmental data of companies and cities. This is a significant step up compared to the grades the municipality received in previous years, and its position is higher than the global average of all the reported cities.

The CDP is an international non-profit organisation based in the United Kingdom, Japan, India, China, Germany, Brazil and the United States that helps companies, cities, states, regions and public authorities disclose their environmental impact.

Tel Aviv has been reporting to the CDP voluntarily for a decade, and after joining C40 in 2018, an international network of cities committed to reducing the effects of the climate crisis and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reporting became mandatory.

The report to the CDP includes the presentation of consumption and performance data on carbon emissions, energy consumption and runoff management, along with the presentation of a comprehensive climate plan that includes adaptation to climate change and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions while meeting the municipal goals of this plan.

Tel Aviv is a city that makes a lot of sense in the face of climate change. First of all the moderate weather means less heating in the winter. The environmental footprint of city-goers is low thanks to e-scooters, above ground trains and buses. New projects make Tel Aviv very walkable. Food is hyper local, usually sourced from farms not more than 50 miles away. The Mediterranean Diet! Low key, low cost recreation at night and on the beach make it a great city for locals and travellers. You can live in flip-flops. There are impact investors and super cool startups dealing with climate and the environment.

We interviewed Tel Aviv visitors this summer about climate change. Here is what they say.

Problems in Tel Aviv? Asbestos is everywhere. Noise pollution. Violence from electric scooters on the sidewalks in Tel Aviv and Jaffa. Pollution and plastics in the sea. High cost of living, rents and dining out. Over-fishing.

More good sides? Its sister sister Jaffa. Ariel Weil writes a green guide to Jaffa here.

Tel Aviv’s mayor Ron Huldai says, “Thinking about sustainability, green energy, runoff management and climate change assessments is part of the DNA of the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, and the significant increase in the ranking in the CDP index proves this.

“The city of Tel Aviv-Yafo is one of the leading cities in the world in climate protection policy and we are members of the C40 leadership organization along with a network of leading cities in the world, working together on the issue. These are not words, we are committed to actions. We will continue to promote and implement the urban climate plan, formulate new plans and expand the green areas in the city, to ensure that we, our children and grandchildren can continue to enjoy life in the city and in Israel as a whole.

There is no doubt that the municipal efforts that include climate risk assessment, the implementation of the action plan to prepare for climate change in broad municipal cooperation, together with the channels of action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions place the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo on the international map. Reporting to the CDP plays a significant role in promoting sustainability and corporate responsibility.

Having a great CDP score means taking responsibility on the urban carbon footprint and encourages it to take significant steps to improve performance and reduce emissions, including risk management from climate change. Investors are increasingly considering environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors when making investment decisions in the city. Reporting to the CDP demonstrates the municipality’s commitment to addressing climate-related risks and can improve investor confidence in the assets and companies that operate within it.

Outlining Tel Aviv’s journey

The first step jump in the Tel Aviv- Yafo municipality’s score in the CDP index occurred in 2020 after the publication of the action plan for preparing for climate change. This program is the first program in Israel for preparing for climate change, and was built after mapping the main threats that the city faces in the context of climate. The action plan focuses on two key tasks – cooling the city and water management.

The channels of action include a variety of nature-based solutions such as planting trees as part of an urban goal of 100,000 trees by 2030 (well Tel Aviv also wants to cut down important trees, let’s not forget) and improving natural percolation in the city by adding runoff retention ponds. This year’s report included a reference to all the actions that were taken, and the high score received indicates a good implementation of the plan in the municipality, and meeting the goals while referring to the climate risks.

We would like to add that this is the first year that the municipality has reported on actions included in the mitigation program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The plan will soon be published to the public and includes reference to three main sectors: energy, waste and transportation with measurable targets for reducing emissions. The goals set in the program are ambitious goals that are in line with leading cities in the world and refer to a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and zero emissions by 2050.

The high rating received by the Tel Aviv- Yafo municipality in this year’s index indicates that it places the climate and sustainability field at the top of its priorities. The municipality invests resources in the field of climate and deals with it in a serious and professional manner; Both in terms of analyzing the risks and understanding them, setting ambitious long-term goals and in terms of applicable channels of action in the variety of sectors and arenas of action.

CDP-ICLEI Track is the world’s leading climate reporting platform and progress accountability mechanism for cities. Tracking over 1,100 cities’ climate action in 2021. There are now 119 cities on the ‘A List’, show that action to tackle climate change is becoming mainstream for many of the world’s urban areas, including in the Global South.

Amman, Istanbul (great for second hand clothes!) and Kadıköy also made the A list.

The post Tel Aviv gets an A- for sustainable city appeared first on Green Prophet.

Everything counts in large amounts: July 13, near a beach in Turkey. Campers and locals creating a dump they will later burn. This eco alert hopes to stop widespread illegal dumping of consumer trash.

There is nothing more annoying than getting out of the town or city and going to nature for a stroll or swim and then coming upon a pile of garbage. Or nothing more annoying than thinking you are going to paradise and then end up in a dump. Unlike pollution such as microplastics that can’t be seen, or industrial pollution causing high rates of suspected cancer cases, when you see garbage in plain sight being contributed to by everyday people, you know there is a big problem with local awareness.

This Eco Alert come from Sandra Brinuma, who went for a swim at the beach in Keşan, Edirne, Turkey. “The place on internet was called as ‘hidden paradise’. It was hidden plastic hell,” she reports.

The bay where she found the piles of trash is called İtalyan Koyu or Kale Koyu and it is close to Mecidiye and Erikli villages. “A sand road goes there from the main road,” she tells Green Prophet, and to find it on the GPS you punch in: 40°35’47.2″N 26°30’40.4″E.

The last time we went to Turkey the nature was pristine and clean. But this is changing with the growing use of plastics and our throwaway culture. This is what we want to see. Not the pile of garbage above.

She explains: “Across the hill on the other side there is Uzunkum beach which is with the payment fee therefore there was no trash. Where municipality steps in is clean but not official beaches (however crowded ones) are not taken care of at all.

“I wish I have taken more pictures as on the sides of the beach there was a lot of trash too and also trash was swimming in the water.

As it is not an official beach, there are no trash cans and where the cars were parked there was this huge hole in the ground full with trash. When I went there to take a picture, a man with his son was going there to throw more bottles in it.  I  told him that he should not do this, then he said that campers have made this trash here and that municipality burns it later. He did not understand that he is a part of the problem nor that burning is bad,” Brinuma explains.

Her boyfriend Umut Üntürk sent a message to the Keşan Municipality and she is waiting for a reply. “Locals seem to not care,” she says. “They were ok with trash and not to pay entrance fee.”

Consider that Turkey beaches are rated the best in the world for Blue Flag. How can we keep it that way?

Read more about local environmental movements in Turkey:

As He Battles Lawsuit, Grandfather of Turkish Environmental Movement Receives Right Livelihood Award
Istanbul’s Main Square To Become Lifeless And Isolated In New Urban Plan, Opponents Warn
10,000 Turks Gather To Protest Coal-Fired Power Plant
“Anatola Won’t Be Blackened” Declare Turkish Anti-Fossil Fuel Groups

You might think that little reports of environmental neglect go nowhere. We disagree. Have an environmental gripe or violation to report? Email us ecoalert@greenprophet.com

The post Beach called hidden paradise is plastic hell appeared first on Green Prophet.

It’s summertime and the weather is fine, goes the odd song and after a heat wave this week, Israel remembers how amazing and simple it is to spend your days away at the beach. Beaches are great activities for kids, for teens, for parents. Bring a picnic or sit up at one of Israel’s beach bars, and you have a day, or even a week of fun. Of course you need to wear sunscreen and be mindful of sun exposure, but for that you can bring or rent a beach umbrella. Where to choose when Israel has so many beaches to offer? Even the City of Tel Aviv has about a dozen beaches to choose from, so we like to recommend the beaches with the Blue Flag.

The Blue Flag is an international symbol for environmental conservation at the beach. This designation is given to 21 beaches in Israel that have demonstrated eco-standards for their sandt and seaside boardwalks. Water cleanliness, wheelchair accessibility and trash management are all criteria for getting a Blue Flag. So if you see one blowing, you know stewards of that beach are adhering to strict standards that are tested twice a month. 

Some of the standards via Israel’s Ministry of Environment Protection include:

Blue Flags are awarded every year. Tel Aviv consistently gets a number of Blue Flags, usually at Metzitzim — Tel Aviv’s northernmost beach, and which also happens to be the city’s only man-made lagoon, where it’s safe for kids and dogs to come and jump in the water; and Tel Aviv’s Jerusalem Beach, which is great for walking to, but which is also wheelchair accessible and includes a workout spot for adults.

Haifa and Eilat tend to pick up a Blue Flag every year, including Dado Beach in Haifa which offers, beach couches, free WiFi services, lots of shade and a mile and a half of beach promenade.

Down in Eilat, which will get scorching hot is the Blue Flag Shchafim Beach, located along the promenade beside the Dan Hotel one of many Israel luxury hotels. It’s a magnet for international travellers and Israelis who jump on a plane from Tel Aviv for some low cost staycations.

The Dan Hotel in Eilat, while a large hotel chain, is a good place to stay since Eilat offers little in the way of boutique or eco hotels. A feature from Dan is great programs for kids, which keeps them happy while parents get to relax. This hotel has also made a commitment to sustainability with some projects and features such as:

•  Thermal windows to reduce air conditioning costs. It get smoking hot in Eilat!
• Heat recovery systems that use energy emitted from the air conditioning systems to heat swimming pools
• Equilibrium pools in all their hotels to save energy and water

The post The best (eco) beaches in Israel appeared first on Green Prophet.

Sharm el-Sheikh already relies on solar power for 70 percent of its lighting, but the Egyptian government wants to improve this figure even more.

The Governor of South Sinai, Khaled Fouda, has indicated that Sharm el-Sheikh hopes to be fully powered by solar energy within the next three months.

Last week Egypt launched a new power plant generated by solar energy in Siwa in the  west of the country.

The move towards alternative energy sources has been a growing trend by the Egyptian government due to an energy shortfall within the country.

Egypt has been facing an energy crisis for years. It aims to build solar power plants and wind energy facilities within the next three years, with a capacity of generating 4,300 megawatts.

Egypt has also signed an agreement with Russia that will assist in the building of a nuclear power plant.

Sharm el-Sheikh will host a major investment summit from 13th-15th March with hopes that there will be investments to help Egypt’s economy.

The government recently said that it expects to start signing deals for solar PV projects at the conference.

The post Sun, sea and…solar power for Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh appeared first on Green Prophet.

Despite appeals from Lebanese leaders, Gulf states are advising their citizens not to travel to Lebanon and those already there to leave, thus boding ill for this summer’s tourism industry. Beirut, once known as the Riviera of the Levant, has thrived through turmoil as a place where visitors from the oil-rich states like to spend their summers and a few billion dollars on everything from renting luxurious apartments on the waterfront, to fancy cars, restaurants, clubs and hotels.

But current political turmoil and security developments in Lebanon have forced many Gulf Arabs to cancel their summer bookings or put them off until the situation in the country stabilizes.

On top of that, Beirut has now replaced Abu Dhabi as the most expensive city in the Middle East, according to the new Mercer’s 2012 Worldwide Cost of Living Survey released last week.

To make matters worse, swaths of the country including Beirut, Tripoli and Sidon plunged into darkness as one of the country’s major electric power plants broke down this week. The perpetual electricity crisis caused tempers to boil over this time and protestors blocked main highways across the country with burning tires.

And to add pain to misery, Foreign Policy released a study Monday saying Lebanon was “one of the least stable states in the world.” The country was ranked 45 on the list of most failed states in the world, which is better than the 18th position it received in 2008, but not yet up to its post-2006 war level of 65.

The index ranked countries around the world by their potential for failure based on 12 indicators of state stability, including human flight, security apparatus, and public services.

The Lebanese Ministry of Tourism advertises the country as the “land of golden beaches and stunning mountain landscapes.” That may be, but their Internet page hasn’t been updated since last year. Still, last week they launched a media blitz on international television stations to promote Lebanon.

The UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, citing security concerns, have urged their citizens to avoid travel to Lebanon, where clashes linked to the conflict in neighboring Syria have left several people dead in recent weeks. Emiratis who were currently in Lebanon were also advised to leave.

Evidence of the rebellion in Syria spilling over into Lebanon was again seen this weekend when gun battles broke out between the predominantly Sunni neighborhood of Bab Al-Tabbaneh and the majority Alawite neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen in Tripoli.

In the nearby Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr Al-Bared, two Palestinians were killed on Monday in clashes with the army. These incidents threaten to drag the country into a deepening security crisis and further summer chaos.

The British Foreign Office issued an advisory back in May against all but essential travel to most parts of the country, but not Beirut. The US State Department has also urged its citizens to completely avoid travel to Lebanon.

But the country long ago gave up on European and Western visitors, relying mainly on the wealthy, jet-setting Gulf Arabs, who appear to be heeding their governments’ advice and quit the country.

Kamal Mohammad, manager of the Dubai-based travel agency Dan Travel, confirmed to The Media Line that bookings to Lebanon were down and trips were being cancelled due to the travel warnings.

“It is only a general trend that usually happens when there is political unrest in the area and this is usually an up-and-down situation,” Mohammad said.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati has said that there was no reason for Arabs to avoid visiting his country and called on Arabs to come and fast during the holy month of Ramadan in Lebanon because “we have to cooperate together to shake up this summer. It’s going to be full of festivals and events that we must support.”

The holy month of Ramada is expected to start in the first week of July and Mohammed said that most of the bookings were Lebanese citizens who wanted to see their families for the holidays.

“Ramadan time is an event for social interaction with family and friends and usually people prefer to postpone their travel plans until Ramadan so that they have time to spend with their families. It is seasonal. It is like the Christmas season,” he said.

Lebanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Adnan Mansour has urged the Gulf countries to review their decisions because the security situation in Lebanon does not require such steps.

Furthermore, the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar reported on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia and Hizbullah have struck a deal to shield Lebanon from regional tensions and attempt to preserve tranquility, despite the rising social tensions.

In the southern ancient resort town of Tyre, there was a cautious optimism with the opening of the summer season with crowds swarming the beaches. But many restaurants and cafes have reportedly caved into threats and have decided not to serve alcohol. The popular beaches are still smarting from a series of bombings last year targeting establishments that serve liquor. This predicament certainly isn’t a positive incentive for tourists. An annual international festival has been cancelled this summer.

As it is, beach access in Lebanon is not gratis, and to make matters worse, entry fees have risen by about $3.30 this year. The Daily Star reported that entry to beaches costs between $13 to more than $30 per person, which shows that despite everything, the Lebanese are pinning high hopes on the visits home by wealthy expatriates and Gulf Arabs.

“Gulf citizens mainly travel to Lebanon during the festive season which is after the end of the month of Ramadan so during this three day holiday there will be a whole spectrum of activities night and day so the Gulf region inhabitants usually go to that place to have a sort of vacation after the end of Ramadan,” said Mohammed.

Mohammed said that the political and security unrest was affecting tourism to Lebanon, but he didn’t think it manifested a “major change.”

Teacher Ahmad Aladdine said he and his family are heading to Beirut on July 6 — despite everything.

“Everybody I speak to in Beirut says the situation is ordinary although the country is empty of tourists, unlike the last few years,” Aladdine told Gulf News.

This story is reprinted courtesy of the Middle East news source, The Media Line

Image of Beirut beach from Shutterstock

The post Lebanon Tourism: Not this Year Say Gulf States appeared first on Green Prophet.

Beach season is now beginning in Middle East countries sharing beach fronts on the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Along with problems like beach littering;  and increasing and even record high summer temperatures in the Middle East due to global warming (?), those who love to sun bathe have to protect themselves adequately from the sun’s dangerous ultraviolet rays.

Various commercial sunscreen preparations, while claiming to provide good protection against the sun’s harmful rays, also contain ingredients which may be harmful in themselves to the skin as well as other parts of the body. These ingredients include Octinoxate  which can cause acne, skin rash, inflammation of hair follicles and skin irritation; as well as allergies and dry skin.

Another potentially harmful ingredient in commercial sun screen preparations is oxybenzone which is said to penetrate into the skin and result in the increase of free radicals under the sun’s strong illumination. With this in mind, consider using a number of natural ingredients for protection against the sun. Here are a few that are said to be very beneficial:

Green tea: This wonderful natural product contains flavonoids such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)  which help prevent skin inflammation, reduces signs of aging (age spots), and may even help cure skin cancers. It does this by neutralizes major free radicals in the skin caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays. You can apply a formulation under your natural sunscreen.

Silymarin, or “milk thistle” contains flavanolignans (collectively known as silymarin or silybin), flavonoids and other compounds that are good against free radicals and promote healthy skin. Silmarin is also good tor healthy liver function which ultimately affects the condition of your skin; especially against skin cancer.

Proanthocyanidins made from grape seed extract and pycnogenol are very beneficial for cardiovascular health, and provides protective antioxidant effects, improved eye health, and anti-inflammatory action in the skin which helps retard skin aging. Proanthocyanidins are also found in red wine and natural grape juice and are excellent for reducing varicose veins and improving arterial circulation.

Curcumin, a very old antioxidant and mentioned in my previous article on medicinal plants and herbs helps to prevent skin cancer while reducing skin inflammation. Due to its yellow color (it’s used a lot in food dishes) a colorless version called tetrahydrocurcumi is available and is said to lighten skin “aging spots”.

Rosemary, another common herb used often in food dishes, contains antioxidants and and helps protect the skin against UV sun radiation which causes skin cancers.

A number of vitamins, including vitamins C, D, and E help the skin maintain protection against the sun. Vitamin E  prevents the formation of free radicals in skin tissue. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble fatty acid and is found in a number of vegetable oils, including corn and soy bean oils.

By checking out stores selling natural skin products, preparations can be found that contain most of these ingredients. Or you can simply make your own sun screen preparations (see Karen’s recipe here —> on organic sunscreen). The best protection is simply not over-exposing your skin to the sun during the summer, especially between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm.

Photo via DODO

More about climate issues that affect sun radiation exposure and using natural remedies:

Israel’s Beach Season Opens With Litterbugs
Killing Marine Life With Your Sun Screen
Record High Summer Temperatures are also Scorching the Middle East
Boost Your Natural Immune System With Medicinal Plants and Herbs

The post Going Green at the Beach? Use Natural Sunblocks appeared first on Green Prophet.

]]> https://www.greenprophet.com/2012/05/going-green-beach-natural-sunblock/feed/ 1 https://www.greenprophet.com/2012/04/litter-israel-beaches/ Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:17:57 +0000 http://www.greenprophet.com/?p=71603 Despite periodic volunteer clean up efforts, much of Israel’s beach front suffers from public littering Lawyer Amit Bracha, director of Israel’s Union for Environmental Defense,  was a recent guest on Israel’s Channel 10 morning TV show, speaking on the official opening of beach season for 2012. Bracha told the program moderators that despite greater efforts […]

The post Israel’s Beach Season Opens With Litterbugs appeared first on Green Prophet.

]]> Despite periodic volunteer clean up efforts, much of Israel’s beach front suffers from public littering

Lawyer Amit Bracha, director of Israel’s Union for Environmental Defense,  was a recent guest on Israel’s Channel 10 morning TV show, speaking on the official opening of beach season for 2012. Bracha told the program moderators that despite greater efforts being made to clean up the beachfronts many beaches are still very dirty, with the main responsibility for this situation falling on  the Israeli public.  This statement by Bracha come despite continuing efforts to clean up the country’s beaches with various clean-up projects that been ongoing since at least the summer of 2008.

A sample of left over trash on the Netanya beach

No truer words can be said due to the sad fact that the Mediterranean Sea, of which Israel shares a more than 220 kilometer western shoreline, is a very dirty body of water which also may contain large amounts of plastic debris and even its own “plastic garbage patch”. It appears now that Israel’s clean technology advances have not been applied enough torwards helping to clean up its part of the Mediterranean. This is especially true in regards to helping reduce the country’s regional carbon footprint  that could become even “heavier” due to drilling of undersea natural gas and increased reliance on desalination to produce adequate fresh water supplies.

Just taking a stroll along many beach areas indicate that one of the worst pollution problems is the public leaving their waste items there after a morning or afternoon beach session. While some public beaches try to clean up after people by hiring workers to pick up trash left there, other beach areas outside the “policed” areas are literally covered with food wastes, glass and plastic bottles, and large amounts of discarded plastic bags; much of which are afterwards washed out to sea during high tide.

Local marine ecologists, such as Dr.  Ruth Yahel with Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority, are warning that unless more efforts are made to clean up the Med, the pollution situation will be  out of control as far as being able to change it for the better. She told me recently: “Either we can improve the Med’s overall condition, or we will wind up losing control of the sea’s environment, which will have a major impact on us, from both a health as well as economic standpoint.”

Read more on Israel beach and Mediterranean pollution issues:
Israel Marine Ecologist Says Mediterranean Needs More Environmental Protection
Is the Mediterranean Harboring a Giant Plastic Garbage Patch?
Israel Can do More Than Cleantech to Reduce Regional Carbon Footprint
Israel Cleans up its Act And Recycles Its Beach Waste

Top image by Zalul; lower image by Maurice Picow.

The post Israel’s Beach Season Opens With Litterbugs appeared first on Green Prophet.

]]> https://www.greenprophet.com/2010/12/surfer-calendar-ecoocean/ https://www.greenprophet.com/2010/12/surfer-calendar-ecoocean/#comments Tue, 07 Dec 2010 09:02:35 +0000 http://www.greenprophet.com/?p=35694 New 2011 calendar proves that water conservation can be hunky. One young Swede who recently immigrated to Israel, and was perhaps unaccustomed to the beautiful Mediterranean beaches, decided that the breathtaking body of water deserves all the conservation efforts it can get.  And so she recently embarked on a project to raise money for two […]

The post Hunky Surfer Calendar Raises Money and Awareness for EcoOcean and Surfing4Peace appeared first on Green Prophet.

]]> New 2011 calendar proves that water conservation can be hunky.

One young Swede who recently immigrated to Israel, and was perhaps unaccustomed to the beautiful Mediterranean beaches, decided that the breathtaking body of water deserves all the conservation efforts it can get.  And so she recently embarked on a project to raise money for two organizations that work towards keeping Israeli beaches clean – EcoOcean and Surfing4Peace.  Instead of following usual fundraising tactics, Rebecca Kopelman decided to produce a calendar with 12 up-and-coming Israeli (and hunky) surfers (check out exhibit A in the pic above… let’s call him October).

The project was Rebecca’s brainchild, and she decided to “bring together a unique group of Israeli talent to collaborate, not for money, but for peace and clean waters.”

All of the people involved in creating the calendar (including photographer Dani Miller) volunteered their time and expertise, and all of the proceeds will go towards supporting EcoOcean and Surfing4Peace.

EcoOcean is an Israeli non-profit organization that acts to maintain a healthy eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea, and believes that education and research are the best tools for treating marine ecological problems.  Surfing4Peace is a cross-border cooperation initiative that hopes to bridge cultural and political barriers between surfers in the Middle East.

The limited edition 2011 calendars will be launched tonight at the Shesek Bar in Tel Aviv, and can be purchased afterwards via the project’s Facebook page.

For more information about the calendar, visit the “A Year with the Surfers” Facebook page.

Read more about EcoOcean::
EcoOcean’s Director Andreas Weil Goes Swimming With the Whales in Tonga
EcoOcean Opening a New Marine Research and Education Center This Week
Environment Educator EcoOcean Shows NGOs How to Create Advertising: Campaign Save the Turtles

The post Hunky Surfer Calendar Raises Money and Awareness for EcoOcean and Surfing4Peace appeared first on Green Prophet.

]]> https://www.greenprophet.com/2010/12/surfer-calendar-ecoocean/feed/ 1 https://www.greenprophet.com/2010/09/environmental-protection-israel-beach/ Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:27:33 +0000 http://www.greenprophet.com/?p=30000 How green is your local beach?  Soon you’ll be able to check its ranking. Israel’s Mediterranean beaches are an attraction for tourists and locals alike. The sand is soft, the water is usually pretty clear, the weather is great… but some beaches can be cleaner (and greener) than others.  And the Environmental Protection Ministry plans […]

The post Israeli Environmental Protection Ministry to Rank Israel’s Beaches on Green-ness appeared first on Green Prophet.

]]> How green is your local beach?  Soon you’ll be able to check its ranking.

Israel’s Mediterranean beaches are an attraction for tourists and locals alike. The sand is soft, the water is usually pretty clear, the weather is great… but some beaches can be cleaner (and greener) than others.  And the Environmental Protection Ministry plans on telling you which beaches are which. Starting this month, the Ministry has begun a new program, called the Blue-Green Glag, to rate beaches on a scale of zero to four.

The program is inspired by the Blue Flag program, which is a voluntary eco-label awarded to over 3450 beaches and marinas in 41 countries across Europe, South Africa, northern Africa, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada and the Caribbean. Countries in the Middle East that are already part of the Blue Flag program include Morocco and Turkey.

The Environmental Protection Ministry will be ranking beaches with the following criteria:

• Water quality
• Beach cleanliness
• Coastal facilities
• Parking
• Disabled access
• Sewage connection
• Public option

(The sewage connection criterion in particular is a touchy subject for Israeli beaches, since there are often sewage leaks into the ocean.)

Whereas the rankings have already begun this month, they will only be continued until the end of the swimming season in October. The criteria will then be expanded for next year’s bathing season.

Image via: Shai Barzilay

: Jerusalem Post

Read more about beachy environmentalism::
Palmachim Beach Campaign: “We Have Won”
World Ocean Day – 6 Tips to Clean the Seas
EcoOcean Opening a New Marine Research and Education Center This Week

The post Israeli Environmental Protection Ministry to Rank Israel’s Beaches on Green-ness appeared first on Green Prophet.

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