A new fund based in Abu Dhabi to accelerate clean tech has just closed its first round of financing. Masdar City is expected to get a big boost. Abu Dhabi’s “Masdar Clean Tech Fund” just completed its first closure, and was successful in raising an impressive $265 million. The fund is co-managed by Masdar Venture Capital […]
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Pipe use and smoking is increasing in the Middle East, but new research shows this habit is bad for your heart. While westerners are already too aware of the dangers of smoking, the Middle East culture has a long way to go in education and smoking laws. In some countries, such as Iraq, more and […]
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Predicting peak oil? Saudi water desalination plants like this one to be powered by the sun. You would imagine that a desert country like Saudi Arabia would have to rely a lot on desalination for a good part of the fresh water it uses. For example, a previous Green Prophet article told about the Kingdom […]
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With its year-round sunshine and high temperatures, Eilat and the region are a perfect location for the deployment of alternative energy projects. Here, Aora fires up its sun-focusing flower and solar collectors. While Israel generates numerous headlines as a solar energy innovator, the country still has plans to build additional coal plants, and there’s relatively […]
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Yemen’s water crisis is worsening as the country struggles with armed conflicts on three fronts. Above: a village well almost runs out of water. As delegates head to the United Kingdom for a key conference on Yemen, experts warn that Sanaa could become the first capital in the world to run out of water within […]
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Ma’moul means “filled” or “stuffed” in Arabic, and these tender, crumbly pastries are stuffed with dates or nuts. Traditionally, they’re made in special wooden molds that imprint the pastry with individual designs – so you know if your ma’amoul is stuffed with walnuts, dates, or pistachios, without having to take a bite. People all over […]
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These steel cans will take years to oxidize completely Let’s face it everybody: recycling, or the lack of recycling that is, is one of the biggest environmental problems this planet faces after climate change. This situation is a very acute one here in the Middle East, as noted in some previous Green Prophet articles such […]
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A culinary heritage centuries old is preserved in this cookbook. This is a Jewish collector’s cookbook. It contains 100 old-fashioned recipes that evolved out of the centennial Jewish presence in Iraq, plus a synopsis of Jewish history there. Through the book run parallel threads, the main one being the recipes. Around the recipes are comments […]
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Cleaner Than Coal? We Doubt it. But Israel mulls nuclear power. It’s not just Abu Dhabi looking to build a nuclear power plant for generating electricity. According to the business newspaper Globes, Israel is considering building a nuclear power plant of its own in the Negev desert region. Instead of looking to cleaner energy sources, […]
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Calcium and mineral-rich oatstraw tea nourishes, soothes – and stimulates. Wait – that’s supposed to be “sow your wild oats” – isn’t it? It makes more sense to reap them. At this time of year in the Middle East, native Avena sterilis sends up its nodding seed heads in empty lots, fields, and neglected gardens […]
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White Almond Blossoms Make A Unique Liqueur All over the Mediterranean and Middle East, wild almond trees in fields and along highways are becoming clouds of pink and white blossom. They’re the first to bloom at winter’s end. Although rain and dark skies may return a few more times, tentative sunshine warms our faces, and […]
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More western countries are banning circuses with animals, and allow only humans to perform. Can Lebanon and the Middle East change their passion for this cruel form of entertainment? The circus came to town in Beirut Lebanon; but will have to leave in a hurry after it was discovered that animals brought to participate in […]
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When Jordanian EU Ambassador Ahmad Massadeh’s name was proposed as the new head of the Mediterranean Union Project on Tuesday, everyone applauded. The project has been stalled due to infighting, and other representatives are hopeful about Massaadeh’s ability to make progress. The Mediterranean Union Project, which was launched by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris […]
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Taste of Beirut blog features authentic Lebanese cuisine and a great give-away. I love this blog. I love Lebanese food, and author Joumana, a Lebanese ex-pat living in the States, presents recipe after delicious-looking recipe, Slow Food style. Just a small example – the Toom garlic paste, a staple flavoring in Lebanese kitchens. Whirl garlic, […]
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The World Future Energy Summit is about to take place in Abu Dhabi. Siemens Corporation has announced that it will launch a number of new and “innovative” initiatives to help fight against climate change and carbon emissions at this year’s World Future Energy Summit. It says it will present “its prove, highest-efficiency industrial solutions” at […]
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