Setting up a business is now more effortless, especially with the emergence of the internet paving the way for a digital world. Even traditional brick and mortar shops are also easier to put up these days because of the wide variety of information online that can guide those novice in the business world. If you are keen on setting up your own business, but don’t really have an idea on which venture will probably bring forth more revenue, here are some ideas that can get you started.

Be a green app developer

If you are considering setting up an organic business, but you are geared towards technological innovations such as web or mobile app development, then it is best to infuse these two sectors together. Try out being a green app developer and create a web or mobile app that will aid people on how to grow their own food. Make the app both educational and engaging for your target market. You have the option of charging a certain fee for the app you created or selling it to bigger companies. You can also make your app downloadable for free, and earn revenue through the ads of companies who want to be associated with your app.

Sell organic plants online

The online world truly revolutionized the retail industry, with more and more products now being available online. This goes true even for organic products such as dairy or poultry goods, as well as plant-based merchandise, including CBD merchandise at www.relaxation.co, along with other exclusive retail websites, offer organic products such as CBD oils and tinctures. With the popularity of several products nowadays from the likes of CBD, you will definitely be able to make a decent profit selling online, without the need to put up a physical brick and mortar shop. Apart from your own website, there are already several channels where you can sell products such as eCommerce or social media platforms.

Create an educational blog

Another profitable business is creating innovative and educational blogs that have a fair reach of audience. If you are like many others who refer to blogs in search for answers to various queries, then it may be a good idea to start your own educational blog about anything organic. If your blog appeals to more people, then you can gain revenue through advertisements and sponsorships from companies willing to explore a partnership with you, or looking into investing into your advocacy. Thereby, it will help if your blog gains a significant number of followers. Thus, it is important to create relevant content perhaps about organic farming, or a lifestyle transformation in going green.

Trying your luck in setting up a business venture may or may not prove to be successful. Nevertheless, with a failed business comes several learnings that can help you on your next business adventure. On the other hand, a successful one will definitely encourage you to grow your business more and serve a wider range of market. Consider one of the business ideas above, which are proven to rake in more profit and revenue, especially in the long run.

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In the past year, several Kuwaiti bloggers have stood trial after posting tweets deemed offensive to the Emir during the opposition versus government stand-off over changes to the 2006 electoral law. Under the amendment, voters could elect only one candidate instead of four as was previously permitted.

The post Four Tweets Get Female Kuwaiti Blogger Jailed for 20 Months appeared first on Green Prophet.

Fancy the chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to attend Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in the United Arab Emirates? Well, here’s how.

Masdar, the renewable energy company based in Abu Dhabi, has launched an international blogging contest to raise awareness of the critical issues of water security and energy. “This is your chance to share with the world your thoughts, or a call to action for how to address the water – energy nexus,” they explain. “And a winner will be selected to travel to Abu Dhabi this January to participate in the largest gathering on sustainability in the Middle East [The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week].” To enter all you have to do is write and publish a 400-600 word blog on what you think individuals, businesses or world leaders can do to address water and energy challenges. Post the link to the Masdar website by the end of this month and then get your friends to vote for you!

How to enter:

1) Write a 400 – 600 word article addressing the following question: What steps can individuals, businesses or world leaders take to address the most pressing and often interrelated water and energy challenges? For example, in the Middle East, the current process to purify seawater to produce drinking water is hugely energy intensive, expensive and unsustainable. What policies or technologies could address this pressing issue? This is just one example of the relationship between energy and water. Be creative. Tell us what you think.

2) Publish your story on your blog and post a link on Masdar’s website. You can also email your story to press@masdar.ae. The deadline to receive entries is December 31, 2012.

3) Promote. Tell your readers, friends and network to vote for and share your story featured on the Masdar website: www.masdar.ae/engage. Voting ends January 3, 2013.

A judging panel will review each entry submitted. The winner will receive an all-expense paid trip to attend Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, January 13 – 17 in the United Arab Emirates. The winner will join more than 30,000 people – including leading thinkers, policymakers and companies – focused on addressing the critical energy, climate and sustainability issues the world faces.

To learn more, and for a full list of terms and conditions, visit: www.masdar.ae/engage.

Here are some energy and water facts to get you thinking:

• 40% of the world’s population is expected to live in water scarce-regions by 2025.
• 27% of the urban population in the developing world does not have piped water in its house.
• Globally, we use 70% of our water sources for agriculture and irrigation, and only 10% on domestic uses.
• Total electricity consumption of the water and wastewater sectors will grow 33% in the next 20 years.
• 99.7% of all the water on earth is not available for human and animal consumption.
• 52% of total global water desalination occurs in the Middle East.

For more on Masdar see: 

Interview with Masdar’s Director of Sustainability – Nawal Al-Hosany

Masdar Looks To Make Good On Solar Power in Saudi Arabia

Masdar Unveils Plans for 100% Renewable Energy Micro-Grid

The post Calling All Green Bloggers – Masdar Competition Wants Your Ideas! appeared first on Green Prophet.

New amendments to the Press and Publications Law would require online news sites to register with the government, obtain costly operating licenses from the Ministry of Information, become members of the press association, appoint a chief editor and pay annual membership fees.

According to Avaaz,  a global web movement dedicated to bringing  “people-powered politics to decision-making everywhere”,  the expanded ministerial powers could gag Jordanian bloggers, restrict or block public access to international sites and allow governmental monitoring and potential restriction of individual blog comments.

Activists conducted SOPA-inspired website blackouts last week and they’re staging sit-ins today and tomorrow to halt the censorship.  Participating websites include Jeeran, Jo24, Wamda, and BeAmman, and a few hundred others. The goal of #BlackoutJo is to attract sufficient attention from mainstream media outside of Jordan to convince the government to withdraw its draft bill.

The activists have support from high profile Jordanians, including Queen Noor Al Hussein, who tweeted, “Hypocrisy, lies, intolerance, hate, violence – all unhealthy evils. Where does it start and end. #censorship #BlackOutJO

They contend that the bill would allow government to block any international website deemed to be in violation of the law.  It will allow the state to censor and monitor viewer comments and hold website owners responsible for the comments posted on their sites (effectively demanding self-censorship of user content). Websites will also be required to archive all comments for at least 6 months.

The scope of the law is ambiguous, covering “online media”, which, at the government’s discretion, include social networks, photo and video sharing sites, blogs and news sites.

Avaaz commenced an internet blitz to “strengthen the call on MPs not to gag the net”.  Within 24 hours of their email campaign, they attracted over 2,000 new signatures to their online petition.  Their website states that Parliament has already passed the amendments, but “if we turn up the pressure on the Senate and His Majesty King Abdullah, we can stop it from becoming law”.

Activists are working to galvanize public pressure to influence the vote,  keeping the Kingdom’s internet free.

Jordan’s emergent IT&T sector has the kingdom frequently tagged as the “Silicon Valley of the Middle East”.  Almost half of Jordanian households have personal computers, a figure expected to double if government promises to cut sales tax on PCs and internet service are realized.  Mobile phone penetration exceeds 120% of the population. Jordanians are fully plugged in.

Failing to halt these restrictive internet policies puts Jordan in line with Iran, Bahrain, and Tunisia (three of the seven worst nations for internet freedom, according to annual findings from Reporters without Borders and Freedom House (pdf) in association with the United Nations Democracy Fund).  This is an important week for Jordan civil rights.

Sample of a blacked-out website screen shot via TechCrunch

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