The United Arab Emirates is no longer just a story of oil wealth and desert skyscrapers — it’s a case study in how sovereign wealth can accelerate the global clean-energy transition. In just two decades, the UAE has turned its hydrocarbon legacy into one of the world’s most ambitious green-finance ecosystems, creating opportunities that now extend far beyond its borders.

At the heart of this transformation is Masdar, the UAE’s flagship renewable-energy company jointly owned by ADNOC, Mubadala, and TAQA. Once known for building the futuristic Masdar City, today it leads projects in over 40 countries across six continents. Masdar’s renewable portfolio has exceeded 50 GW, with a target of 100 GW and one million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030. Its $1 billion green bond in 2025 — oversubscribed 6.6 times — shows how global investors are voting for its credibility.

Backing this is a surge of sovereign-level finance. At COP28, the UAE launched the Alterra Fund, a $30 billion climate-investment vehicle designed to mobilize $250 billion by 2030. The UAE Banks Federation has also pledged AED 1 trillion (~$270 billion) toward sustainable finance by 2030. Few countries have matched this scale of capital alignment between government, banks, and business.

The regulatory environment is catching up fast. Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and the Securities & Commodities Authority (SCA) have all adopted frameworks for green and sustainability-linked bonds, ESG disclosure, and carbon trading. The AirCarbon Exchange, launched in 2022, became the world’s first regulated carbon-credit trading platform, positioning the UAE as a bridge between Asian and European carbon markets.

Why does this matter to investors? Because green finance in the UAE is not just policy — it’s deal flow. The market now channels billions into renewable energy, electric mobility, water security, and sustainable real estate. For global investors, this means access to well-structured, de-risked opportunities with sovereign backing — and proximity to the fastest-growing markets in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Get our report: https://lnkd.in/dFKHYUfx

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Looking to save money and the environment simultaneously? Embrace sustainable living with deals that are both economical and eco-friendly. Swap wasteful practices for resourceful ones without sacrificing your comfort or budget.

EarthWeb.com is your ultimate guide to green savings by turning everyday purchases into easy and efficient efforts towards a greener future.

The advantages of sustainable savings are twofold – you’re able to stretch your dollar further, while also reducing your personal ecological footprint.

AAA Eco-Friendly Discounts

Did you know AAA Living offers an advantageous discount guide specifically for eco-friendly purchases?

Eco-Friendly Purchases Made Affordable

This marvelous tool assists AAA members in their transition towards environmental preservation, promoting cost-effectiveness at the same time.

All about ‘Going Green’

Ready to “go green” but worried about costs? Their comprehensive guide ensures both your budget and planet remain healthy.

Genuine Savings, Genuine Care

This helpful resource not just aids in making wise choices, it also enhances your efficiency and broadens your knowledge base.

Value-Adding to User Experience

The reliability of this guide enables users to make informed decisions, ensuring a valuable and enriching user experience.

SeaWorld Sustainable Initiatives

SeaWorld is dedicated to nurturing the environment while motivating people to follow suit. They actively collaborate in efforts to conserve the environment.

Through a combination of financial support and scientific backing, SeaWorld Orlando contributes to organizations aimed at animal rescuing, rehabilitation, and nature focused education.

Additionally, protecting habitats and researching species are part of their environmental concern. They also show considerable effort towards maintaining clean oceans and healthy coral reefs.

SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has currently donated over $19 million, fuelling animal conservation projects worldwide on every continent.

1. Contributing to Coral Reef Restoration: They emphasize on preserving underwater ecosystems like coral reefs.
2. Preventing Coastline Erosion: Efforts are put into preventing coastal erosion thereby preserving the fast depleting natural resource.
3. Habitat Shielding: Taking in-depth measures to safeguard varying ecosystems.
4. Promoting Clean Oceans: SeaWorld keeps promoting efforts for maintaining the health of our oceans, sustaining life within them.

Prioritizing sustainability, they seek eco-friendly food sources for their park guests and rescued animals. Placing high importance on ongoing animal rescues is vital for them.

Their initiative extends well beyond their park parameters; it resonates with broader environmental conservation goals. SeaWorld’s contribution provides a valuable example for other large-scale organizations to emulate.

Organic Mattress Deals

Looking for eco-friendly mattress options? Explore deals from leading organic mattress brands that prioritize your comfort alongside the planet’s wellbeing.

The Nuvanna Organic Mattress offers a 100-night trial, and is made from GOTS certified organic cotton and natural latex. It features adjustable firmness and advanced cooling technology.

• Avocado Eco Organic Mattress: $999, 100-night trial, certified organic material, climate-neutral product. It blends hybrid design with coil support for ultimate comfort.
• PlushBeds Natural Bliss Mattress: At $1,099, enjoy a 100-night trial of this hypoallergenic mattress that uses certified organic cotton and natural latex for breathability and cooling.
• Tuft & Needle Hybrid Mattress: Priced at $1,425 offering 100-night trial. The mattress features adaptive foam and a removable cover made of organic cotton.
• Loom & Leaf Mattress: For $1,799, you get a 120-night trial, featuring natural latex and organic cotton. A hybrid design with coil support enhances breathability.

You can also opt for Zenhaven or Saatva Zenhaven mattresses with 180-night trials. They use natural latex materials and have a flippable design.

Eco-friendly memory foam mattresses like Nectar or hybrid options like Leesa are also available providing year-long trials for your convenience while helping the planet.

Fitness and Health Offers

Engaging in regular exercise is paramount for your health. It aids in appetite control, mood enhancement, and restful sleep, granting a wealth of short-term benefits.

Strengthening Seniors

Physical fitness is crucial for seniors to maintain healthy blood pressure and improve blood sugar levels. Additionally, it strengthens bones and keeps depression at bay.

Furthermore, habitual exercise can significantly enhance the quality of your sleep and sex life. Studies have also linked regular physical activity to extended lifespan.

Raising the Bar

The recommended start is 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly. If this seems daunting, you can gradually build up to it.

However, if you’re dealing with notable health issues such as osteoporosis, heart disease, or diabetes, it’s advisable to consult your doctor before starting any regimen.

Vary Your Routine

Endurance exercises tremendously benefit your overall wellness physically and mentally. Incorporating strength training into your program helps sustain wholesome vital stats.

Bone-strengthening activities aid in preventing falls, particularly essential for older individuals. To achieve wholesome heart health, incorporate both aerobic and strength-training into your routine.

Eco-Friendly Household Products

If you’re passionate about protecting the environment, consider using products from Ecovative. They provide eco-friendly microbial-based cleaning solutions including countertop cleaners and laundry detergent.

Parket is another great brand, known for reusable cleaning cloths. You can use their clothes with water or a plant-based cleaning solution as a paper towel substitute.

“Reduce waste and improve household sustainability with eco-friendly cleaning products.”

Do check out Blueland for a variety of plant-based cleaning products. They include plastic minimizing options like toilet bowl cleaners and multi-surface solutions.

With Clean Planet, you get refillable and compostable cleaning products. From all-purpose cleaners to hand soap, their product range is impressively green.

There’s also Grove Collaborative that delivers wide-ranging eco-friendly cleaning goods such as laundry detergent and dish soap. You’ll find many products matching your household needs.

Finally, Btak offers environmentally friendly cleaning solutions that are not only free from harsh chemicals but also come in refillable containers for maximal utility.

Sustainable Travel Accessories

Travel accessories are essential. It’s important to consider sustainability when choosing these items. Here are some eco-friendly options for your travel necessities.

What is a Sustainable Travel Backpack?

The Solgaard Shore-Tex Lifepack is a backpack made from recycled plastic. It also features anti-theft measures and a solar-charging battery pack.

How is Solgaard Contributing to the Environment?

They commit to remove 5 pounds of ocean plastic for every item sold. Products come in reusable tote bags instead of single-use plastics.

What’s a Convenient, Sustainable Power Charger Option?

Nimble’s 10-day fast portable charger packs a week and a half worth of power. It’s compatible with several devices and charges swiftly.

How Can I Store Snacks Sustainably?

Etee offers reusable snack bags and wraps. These organic-cotton containers, infused with beeswax, can help reduce your reliance on plastic bags.

Where Can I Get Affordable Travel Bottles?

Pack your toiletries in soft silicone travel bottles, available at Package Free Shop. They’re a cheap yet sustainable choice.

What are Essential Reusable Items for Travel?

Reusable Nation recommends items like water bottles, coffee cups, straws, containers and cutlery. Packing these items reduces waste when traveling.

Healthy Personal Care Products

Introducing the luscious dry body oil that absorbs in seconds and leaves no greasy residue. Chock-full of antioxidants, it enhances your skin’s natural glow.

This luxurious oil also creates a moisture-barrier, for long-lasting hydration. Its gentle formula is fragrance-free and non-irritating, making it perfect for sensitive skin.

• Postbiotic Body Lotion: Ultra-hydrating, this product nourishes your skin barrier and protects against premature aging caused by free radicals.
• Postbiotic Hand Cream: Infused with advanced biotics, this hand cream offers long-lasting hydration and nourishment while maintaining your skin’s natural pH balance.
• Postbiotic Hand Wash: Keep your hands soft and supple without any risk of drying out. Fortified with hydrating extracts, biome-friendly ingredients, and antioxidants.
• Dream Mist: Unwind and prepare for restful sleep with mood-enhancing ingredients like lavender and sandalwood.

Your daily skincare routine needs the replenishing qualities of our quarterly dry body oil. This product is rich, fast-absorbing, and intensely nourishing.

The lightweight, non-greasy formula boasts sunflower oil, organic safflower oils, squalene, prickly pear, and vitamin E to bring out your skin’s radiance.

Embrace Sustainable Savings

As you journey towards eco-friendliness, remember 86% of consumers are swayed by a coupon. Don’t hesitate to seize eco-friendly deals. Your wallet and our planet will thank you for your sustainable purchases.

The post Sustainable Savings with Eco-Friendly Deals appeared first on Green Prophet.

If you are starting to research getting a new mattress, you have probably run across the growing niche of organic mattresses. Reading the labels on them or about them on the internet can be confusing if you do not know what the words mean. Here is a quick guide to seven terms you may encounter.

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

The first government-set standard is the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). These mattresses must contain 95% certified organic products. There are stringent standards that companies must follow for the other 5%, including not using chemical flame retardants and polyurethane.

Some manufacturers use wool in their mattresses as it is a natural chemical flame retardant. Others use organic cotton to cover a steel innerspring. Some companies use food-grade polyethylene to create the outer cover for their mattresses.

Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS)

The second government set standard is the Global Organic Latex Standard. Manufacturers must make mattresses bearing this label from 95% certified organic latex. The government also sets strict limits on what other products they can use in these mattresses. They must use eco-friendly, sustainable manufacturing processes. Workers must harvest the latest at an organic rubber plantation that does not use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Inspectors check the entire process, including seeing that the company disposes of any waste from the manufacturing process in a way that does not harm the environment.

Oeko-Tex Standard 100

The Oeko-Tex Standard 100 does not ensure that the materials used to construct the mattress are organic. Mattress manufacturers can only add this label to mattresses that meet stringent regarding the amount of harmful chemicals that the mattress can give off. These chemicals often include formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds.

CertiPUR-US

Testing for the CertiPUR-US is done by the nonprofit Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, Inc. The nonprofit certifies that manufacturers have made these mattresses without ozone depleters, specific flame retardants, formaldehyde, heavy metals, and particular phthalates. Memory foam mattresses like these sold with this label must also meet strict standards for low volatile organic compound emissions.

This test performed by independent OEKO-TEX® partner institutes ensures there are no harmful chemicals in any mattress part. They update the stringent test annually by incorporating any new scientific evidence into it. Numerous locations perform the tests globally.

Greenguard

Mattress manufacturers can apply to UL Inc to have this label attached to their products as a symbol that the finished mattress puts off very low levels of volatile organic compounds. You may also see a Greenguard Gold label. These mattresses can put off even fewer volatile organic compounds.

To keep using the Greenguard or Greenguard Gold labels, at least one of each type of mattress must undergo annual testing to prove that it does not contain any of more than 10,000 individual volatile organic compounds. Air Quality Inc. developed the test, which workers at UL Inc. perform.

Organic Content Standard 100

Manufacturers use 100% organic cotton in mattresses tagged with Organic Content Standard 100 label. They may still have nonorganic flame retardants, volatile organic compounds, colorants and dyes in them. This verification can come from several independent organizations.

This certification is different from Global Organic Textile Standard because it sets standards for environmental issues during the manufacturing process, particularly how the manufacturer disposes of water during the process. Manufacturers must also prove that they are using international Labor Organization societal norms in their factories.

Now that you understand what the different terms mean, you will be able to pick out the mattress best meeting your needs. If you are worried about your family’s health and the world, you will want to look for these words on mattress labels. After all, you want to select a comfortable mattress that is healthy for you and your loved ones because you will be spending eight hours per night on it. Choosing the right mattress can make all the difference in your life because you will wake up refreshed and ready to tackle the day.

The post Understanding Organic Mattress Labels appeared first on Green Prophet.

Loofah, luffa, loof sponge. However you call it, the scratchy, fibrous plant has been used to scrub the body – and the dishes – for centuries. Its appeal hasn’t diminished in all that time. Today loofah is considered the most sustainable, greenest scrubber you can find.

The scrubby feeling of a soapy loofah sponge massaging your limbs means that you’re stimulating blood circulation and exfoliating dead skin cells. You come out of the shower feeling super-clean and stimulated. While the loofah is too rough to use on the face or genitals, it’s great for controlling teenage acne on the back, as the fibrous sponge loosens oils and bacteria from the skin while the soap cleans up.

Here in the Middle East you can amble down to the local open-air market and choose a nice sturdy loofah from a bunch casually displayed in front of a shop.

Bring it home and either chop it up into convenient sizes, or leave it long if you prefer. Either way, the sponge needs to be soaked in warm, soapy water and rinsed before using it the first time, to free it of field and street dust.

Being a fibrous material with lots of openings, a loofah collects plenty of dirt. A damp environment like the shower stall will turn it into a bacteria breeding ground, so don’t leave it hanging from a string in the shower. Rinse it through and hang it up in a dry, airy place until the next time. You can also throw it in the washing machine every week, on the delicate cycle, but don’t put it in the dryer, as the heat will destroy it. 

In any case, dermatologists say that you don’t need to scrub yourself with a loofah every day: twice a week is plenty.

Keep in mind that like all organic matter, loofah sponges eventually gather bacteria and decompose. A loofah that’s gone moldy or smells musty should be thrown out or composted. But don’t wait to that to happen to replace it.  Start using a new one every 3-4 weeks. That goes for loofah pieces that you use for scrubbing dishes too. 

Did you know that loofah sponges are the skeletons of an edible gourd? Luffa is a species from a tropical and subtropical vine from the cucumber family. The luffa, also spelled loofah, usually refers to the fruit of the two species Luffa aegyptiaca and Luffa acutangula. The fruit of these species is also cultivated and eaten as a vegetable.

The fresh green gourd resembles a cucumber and is actually of the cucumber family. Loofah must be harvested while young and small if you want to eat it. It’s a popular vegetable around the globe, from South America to the Near and Far East. India has many curry recipes calling for fresh green loofah. In Japan, people grow it in building lots to create shady screens.

The scratchy beige object we know as loofah is the vegetable grown to maturity and left on the vine to dry. The fleshy part withers and falls off and the skeleton remains. Shake the seeds out and you’re good to go. 

If you have the right climate (hot summers, cool winters), you can grow loofah yourself. It’s easy to grow in well-drained, sandy loam. No seeds available locally? You can order luffa seeds online. 

The post Luffa Sponges, Nature’s Bath Scrub appeared first on Green Prophet.

According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz organic food only comprises one and half percent of Israel’s agricultural output. A whopping 90% of it is exported abroad, mainly to European markets.

An annual Agriculture Ministry survey in 2011 discovered that 37.4% of the organic produce sold in Israeli stores was mislabeled. The produce may have contained pesticides or in other ways fallen short of the ministry’s organic regulations. This may be part of the problem.

Organic chain supermarkets the paper points out struggle to compete with private farmers and open markets. Shuks [or markets] such as Machane Yehuda in Jerusalem, are cultural symbols and centers in Israel, each brimming with its own traditions.

It’s impossible for a store to replicate the diversity, communal chaos, smells and hustle, the haggling and booming voices of the shuk. Even beyond traditional shuks, through budding programs like Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Israeli farmers can now take their produce directly to consumers without the hassle of a middleman, which generally provides superior freshness for the customer and higher profits for the farmer.

Despite these difficulties five major Israeli chains specializing in organic food emerged over the past two decades.

The oldest, Nitzat Haduvdevan (The Cherry Bud in English), opened its first branch in 1986. They now have 17 stores throughout Israel. Next came Teva Castel, established in 1999, which now operates five outlets in and around Tel Aviv. These were later joined by Eden Teva Market, with 20 locations including nine branches within mega supermarkets.

There are also the eight venues of Organic Market, which was bought up by Super-Sol in 2011. The fifth and final company is a sub-organization within Super-Sol called “Green.” It is essentially its own section within 15 regular Super-Sol supermarkets.

Prices for organic produce from a store are drastically more expensive than their conventionally grown counterparts or organic produce purchased at a market. As with many industrialized food distributors, the larger companies typically offer the lowest prices. Of the five Israeli chains Super-Sol’s ‘Green’ generally offers the cheapest organic produce. Organic cucumbers that cost merely NIS 6 per kilo at ‘Green’ cost NIS 13 per kilo in Organic Market – a 116% difference.

While offering organic produce in stores and major outlets are a step towards public awareness and general accessibility, CSAs and open markets provide the most sustainable outlet for Israel’s organic market to continue expanding.

In a culture where the shopper’s battle cry is “Ani lo friar!” (I am not a sucker!”), hunting for the best and cheapest from a diverse spectrum of sellers is half the fun.

::Haaretz

Images by Wikimedia Commons and Leigh Cuen

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Are you prepared for what could happen in the event of a total economic collapse or natural calamity, a terrible war, or serious civil descent into anarchy generated by a prolonged food crisis as already occurring in a number of Middle Eastern countries such as Syria, Afghanistan and even in Egypt?

These subjects are not very pleasant to think about. But in today’s uncertain environment exacerbated by the effects of climate change and global warming, even former “bread basket” agricultural countries like Egypt may soon be in dire straits due to a serious lack of food, clean water, and other basic necessities.

The unthinkable becomes reality

Doomsday and after-apocalypse movies have been around for some time. A post-nuclear holocaust Television movie entitled The Day After came out in 1983 and was later followed by a film on global warming and then on ozone depletion. How to survive events such as these was depicted in the 1993 movie The Fire Next Time.

I don’t want to frighten all of you, but the idea of how to survive catastrophe, as graphically portrayed in yet another post apocalyptic movie, The Road brings home the reality of what people might do (to themselves and to others) in order to survive.

Survival is only for the fittest

Many of us now live in modern urban environments and are totally dependent on supermarkets for food, cars and other motorized vehicles for transportation, and electricity and gas to cook and preserve our food, light our homes, and keep warm in winter or cool in summer.

Computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices are needed just to communicate with one another. Even going to a doctor is dependent on modern clinics and medicines manufactured by large pharmaceutical companies.

In a post-apocalyptic world, none of these modern conveniences would be available; and only people who know the basic skills needed for survival would be able to carry on.

These basic skills include rudimentary medical care, including performing some types of surgery, resuscitation, and making home remedies from available plants and other materials.

Lighting a fire using flint and steel sets, the sun’s rays via a magnifying glass, or by the ancient method of a bow-like device making friction on a piece of wood would be very handy in a situation where no matches or other fire starters are available.

As for finding food for self preservation, possessing some kind of firearm or even a bow and arrow set  could mean the difference between life and death.

Unfortunately, outside of countries like the USA, Australia, and a few others, few families possess any kind of firearm due to strict anti-gun laws in the countries they live in. This is especially true  in the Middle East – including Israel.

Some basic preparations, aside from those mentioned above, include having a small garden at home, even if only on a balcony.

It’s a good idea to store enough basic food and water to last for at least a couple of months.

Bottled water, canned and dried food, and herbs are good things to keep in your pantry, and enough first aid and other basic medical supplies and medicines are also necessary.

And for those who need certain prescription medicines, try to get extra amounts over normal prescriptions.

This is not an easy subject to write about; but then again, we do not live in an easy world. In fact it’s getting more difficult all the time and it behooves us to face this unpleasant reality.

Read more to prepare you for the worst:
Iran Sanctions Bolster Nuclear Ambitions, Pollute Environment
Food Geo-Politics Hits Middle Eastern Streets
End Hunger: Food and Vertical Farming in the Middle East
5 Supermarket Vegetables You can “Upcycle” and Grow at Home

The post Preparing for Societal Collapse from Environmental Breakdown appeared first on Green Prophet.

Environmentalists have been telling us for years that we need to stop focusing on the economy and consider nature. Will a ‘Green GDP’ help us do just that in the Middle East?

GDP is probably one of the very few widely recognised abbreviated economic terms in the world. It stands for Gross Domestic Product and basically denotes the economic growth of a country. This measure is widely used to record (and compare countries on) everything from economic success, standard of living to the size of a nation’s carbon footprint. However, environmentalists have noted for years that this unhealthy focus on economic growth means that the cost to the planet is consistently overlooked.

Egypt and Its GDP Obsession

Hala Abu Ali, professor of Economic and Political Science at Cairo University told Al Masry AlYoum that Egypt is a classic case of a country obsessed with its GDP growth figures. “Weighing and measuring Egypt’s environmental losses – and accordingly responding with the required environmental measures – remains at the bottom of the government’s priority list,” she explains. “We are still locked into a vicious cycle whereby economic growth is prioritized over environmental protection, even if environmental problems stand to obstruct the potential to grow economically.”

However, Abu Ali insists that the application of a concept such as the ‘Green GDP’ or its successor the ‘GDP quality index’ would be useful for furthering an environmental agenda in the country. Rather than waiting for government action, independent research on the country’s ‘Green GDP’ could then be used to pressure government into pursuing greener policies. She adds, “We missed the agricultural and industrial revolutions and I am not sure where we will be if we miss out on the coming green revolution as well.”

‘Green GDP’: What It Means & Who Came Up With It

The concept of a ‘Green GDP’ was fully explored in China in the mid-2000’s. In 2006, China even published its own ‘Green GDP’ for 2004 which took into consideration the environmental cost of air and water pollution and their implications on the cost of healthcare. Criticism that the calculation excluded the cost of resource depletion and contamination (as well pressure from provincial leaders that their GDP achievements would be tarred by their environmental costs) meant that the project was prematurely killed off.

Chinese senior economist and government advisor Niu Wenyuan who was behind the ‘Green GDP’, however, returned undaunted in 2011 with the ‘GDP Quality Index’. Although more ambitious (as it also looks at quality of life, management of resources and social equality amongst other), he states it is simplier as it relies on government statistics alone.

Moving On From Economy-focused Policies

With Arab economists and engineers meeting up last week in Cairo ahead of the Rio+20 summit to talk about sustainable development strategies, there seems no better time to question the rule and dominance of the GDP in the region. Clearly the concept of a ‘Green GDP’ has its downfalls but anything which challenges our focus on economic growth and reminds us of the environmental impacts is surely a good thing.

:: Al Masry Al Youm and Guardian.

: Image via phillipeput/flickr.

For more on green economy issues see:

Yerukin Forms A New Green Economy With Green Money

Islamic Banking & Why It’s (Theoretically) Good For The Environment

US Study: Toxins In Kids Costing The Economy Billions

West Bank and Gaza’s Economic Growth Isn’t Sustainable

The post Could A ‘Green GDP’ Transform The Middle East? appeared first on Green Prophet.

An act of God, arson, or negligence? A lot of questions are being asked by Israelis as to why they needed to suffer the worst fire in the nations’s histrry this weekend  – a fire that gobbled about 5,000 hectares of land. Scouts in the forests planted to watch for arsonists reported young men on horseback hurling molotov cocktails into fresh parts of forests to stoke the flames. But this is something you might not hear in the media for fear of political backlash.

Moving on to the conditions that allowed the fire to rage out of control, reporting from Haifa University, part of the UNESCO bioreserve in the Carmel Mountain is Dr. Lea Wittenberg and Dr. Dan Melkinson. They say that from all the fires on the Carmel over the past 30 years a total of about 3,000 hectares of forest were burnt. The present blaze has burnt down some 5,000 (12,350 acres) hectares.

“The extent and intensity of the fire depend on the conditions in the forest, on climate and topography. A young and damp forest will not burn. A mature forest that has accumulated many combustive materials and that is very dry due to a lack of rain, along with strong winds, will cause extensive fires. Nothing would have been able to stop this great fire from reaching the proportions that it did,” the researchers said.

“Since 1978 the Carmel Mountains have seen some 500 small and medium fires and 9 large-scale conflagrations, which are considered such when over 100 hectares are burnt. All these fires together burnt some 3,000 hectares of forest, while the present fire has burnt some 5,000 hectares,” says Wittenberg who has been researching the Carmel Forest for 20 years.

According to researchers, what determines the force of a fire is the forest conditions, and at times even the best human deployment cannot help: The extent and intensity of the fire depend on the conditions in the forest. A young and damp forest will not burn. A mature forest that has accumulated many combustive materials will burn easily.

“With no rainfall for the past eight months, the forest became extremely dry, and along with the strong winds, the present fire grew so wild. Nothing could have stopped it from reaching its great proportions. The smoke began at 11 a.m. and by noon we had a full view of massive flames,” the researchers report.

Even in this sort of enormous fire, there are locations that are burnt to a cinder and other places where the forest is only singed, they say. The problem with fires in the Carmel is that there are some areas that have been burnt twice or even three times over the past thirty years. It will be very difficult to revive these areas because of the extreme damage to their soil and vegetation.

Both have begun scouting the field in order to map out the region’s sensitivities. “The approach is not to ‘go out and bring back the green,’ but to observe the ground and consider where to plant anew and where not,” they noted.

If you don’t think this fire is a big deal, read what was lost – last year I wrote a feature on the United Nations protected Carmel Forest, pointing out species diversity in plants and animals, and how important it is for the local Druze communities.

Read more on the Israel Carmel Fire:
Israel Carmel Fire Kills 40 People
The Worst Fire in Israel’s History Rages Out of Control
Israel Carmel Fire Raging Out of Control Friday Morning

The post Israel Carmel Fire – Taking Stock of How It Happened appeared first on Green Prophet.

Fasting is a natural, religious and spiritual affair which is practised by many people all over the world. Muslims give up food and drink between sunrise and sunset for an entire month during Ramadan, Christians give up luxuries during Lent, and Jews abstain from food during Yom Kippur. But can these practices be transferred onto the green agenda to help protect the planet from the worst effects of climate change? Well, one UK-based Christian organisation thinks so and on 3 October, it is launching an Oil Fast as part of its ‘Carbon Exodus’.

Operation Noah is a Christian organisation providing focus and leadership in response to the growing threat of climate change. It states that it is informed by the science of climate change, motivated by faith, and driven by the hope that society can be transformed and enriched through radical change in lifestyles and patterns of consumption. The organisation highlights the need to urgently decarbonise the economy by 2030 so that catastrophic climate change does not endanger God’s creations.

A Modern-Day Carbon Exodus

They state that we are all simply ‘hooked’ on oil, dependent on it in our daily lives and yet few of us actually realise the serious consequences of this addiction. (No, we’re not taking about that lovely green-tinged stuff that you add to your salads but the tarry, nasty slick stuff that comes from the ground.) In response, Operation Noah is “calling on Christians to stop for a day and take stock of our joint and personal complicity in the ongoing drive to exploit ever more challenging and inaccessible oil reserves.”

As part of their ‘Carbon Exodus’- inspired by the journey of Moses away from bondage in Egypt- they are taking a journey away from carbon dependence. Part of this includes the Oil fast where churches around the country will hold a service highlighting the dire consequences of oil-dependence on the people and planet. The Spring 2010 oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico that caused environmental destruction, loss of livelihoods as well as incurring huge costs, perfectly illustrates the real costs of dependence on oil.

A brilliant guide has also been put together to help provide guidance and practical advice on how to reduce your daily dependence on oil. Firstly, the depth to which our daily lives are intertwined in oil is examined: crude oil is refined into gas, petrol, tar, plastics, synthetic clothing, medication, piping for water, sewage and gas supplies and is even used in candles. So what can you do?

Simple Steps Towards A Sustainable Lifestyle

Well, suggestions are broken off into six sections for various areas of our daily lives. For example for travel, they recommend that you lift share, cycle or even rediscover the joys of walking. For food, local and organic produce is recommended as well reducing the consumption of meat and produce that is out of season.

To reduce the carbon-footprint of our homes, they suggest switching to green electricity, installing solar panels and saving water using flush savers and drinking tap water rather than buying bottled water.

To minimise the impact of the stuff we buy, the guide states that it’s best to buy clothes made from natural products, to carry around a re-usable bag or maybe have a ‘stuff’ free day where you don’t buy any more things. Finally, some carbon-free fun is encouraged in the form of picnics, book reading, sketching or arranging a communal activity such as football!

So switch off your TV, get outside and enjoy nature. Although the event is aimed at Christians, it’s such a great initiative that everyone- religious or not- should consider joining in. After all, we could all do with reducing our destructive addiction to oil.

:: Top image via Marinephotobank and lower image via Horia Varlan

For More On Faith and Sustainability See:

Jordan To Host Islam And Environment Event

Great Examples Of ‘Hima’ Or Protected Are as In The Middle East

And Ye Shall Live in Sustainable Booths

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Frustrated and worried about the state of our environment, we chomp at the bits and engage in frothy conversations about irresponsible citizens and politicians, but few of us have enough nerve to let it all go: to let go of the cash, let go of the car, and all of the associated conveniences that defines modern life. But Mark Boyle did. For over a year he has lived in a caravan on an organic farm between Bristol and Bath, where he works in exchange for parking there.

He either grows or forages for food, gets around on a bicycle, presses mushrooms into a pulp for paper, and overall demonstrates that it is possible to live without money. Though penniless, Mark is a very rich man who has become an international inspiration. After James reviewed his book ‘The Moneyless Man – A Year of Freeconomic Living,’ we approached Mark with a few questions. Though he scarcely has enough time to make his nettle tea these days, he was kind enough to share his insights about the Middle East.

For the benefit of readers in the Middle East who may not be familiar with your lifestyle and philosophy, can you briefly describe what you set out to do when you sold your home and adopted a money-free life?

I had realised the inherent and inevitable social and environmental consequences of using this tool we call money back in 2007, and I felt a huge hypocrisy in talking about the issues yet not living according to my beliefs. So, as Mahatma Gandhi once said, I decided to “be the change I wanted to see in the world.”

You once mentioned that a major challenge you experienced during your transition to the freeconomic lifestyle was adjusting to not being able to give people material gifts; you describe how the Irish in particular like to buy each other drinks as a sign of goodwill. In the Middle East, we don’t have many big drinkers, but we do have gifts! Can you say how your friends and family have adjusted to this new materialistic absence?

My friends and family have been fantastic, and even though at the start they most likely believed I had lost my mind, now they really believe in it also.

They, like more and more people, are becoming aware of the major issues we now face in the world, such as peak oil, resource depletion and a warming climate, and want to change. My parents now have gone vegetarian and my dad grows his own food in the summer, even though he had never even planted a seed until last year.

I think one of the most compelling aspects of your story, Mark, is that you studied economics and thus people tend to take you more seriously than the usual environmentalist. From an economic perspective, if the freeconomic movement were to take off and people worldwide adopted it, how would that disrupt the current economic machine? Is it possible to predict what would happen if huge chunks of society stopped using money for their daily transactions?

It would act in the same way the current market system current acts – supply and demand, and the market responding to a change in social values. It’s about evolution, not revolution, about transition and transformation. My educational and career background is in some ways very fortunate – if you want to find solutions to the flaws of the current system, you must first understand how it works.

While some people think that your new lifestyle is “radical,” I see that you have reclaimed your humanity, that what you are doing is completely natural. However, the reality is that most of us are completely removed from understanding what nature can offer and how to go about finding it. What sort of advice would you give to a person (in the Middle East) who senses the need to live more naturally but doesn’t have the skills?

There are two sets of skills. The secondary ones, such as wild food foraging, food growing, green woodworking, permaculture and so on. These can easily be learned – I am probably the least talented person you will ever meet, but even I can get by, and if I can then – trust me – anyone can!

What is harder to learn are the primary skills – a care for the planet, for humans, for animals and other species, and a desire to live as gently as possible.

It takes 2 mins to teach a person how to plant a seed, but it can take years to convince them of the importance of planting that seed.

Many countries here have serious water shortages and the desert is expanding, thus a freeconomic lifestyle seems particularly daunting. Can you hazard a guess about what you might do differently if you lived in a desert environment?

A warming climate is going to exacerbate this problem, so the first thing is to stop consuming. Without knowing the terrain there, it is impossible for me to say how I’d get my water.

We are beginning to catch up with the Western World in terms of developing recycling programs, organic agriculture, alternative energy sources and such, but we still have a long way to go. Mostly this has to do – I think – with the prevailing attitude that we are separate somehow from nature. What do you think?

The overriding root cause of almost every major issue in the world today is our disconnection from what we consume. Money has enabled us to have huge degrees of separation between the consumer and the consumed. Until we reconnect with Nature, nothing will change.

Many philosophers in the past have really influenced people into thinking we are separate from Nature. We’re as much part of it as a mosquito, or a drop of water, or a tree. It is not our playground.

And to follow up on that question, do you think that the Middle East and other countries have to go through the same process of enlightenment as you did before becoming completely fed up, or is there a way to put cultures on the fast-track to a major paradigm shift?

I’m not sure – sorry.

On the other hand, might Mother Nature make those decisions for us?

Yes.

From what you know of the Middle East and based on your experience, what kind of obstacles do you predict we would face in trying to adopt a freeconomic lifestyle, or something that closely approximates it?

I think it is more likely to get adopted over there than here, as your culture places a much greater emphasis on sharing, community, helping each other etc. already. The major challenge is to show people that living more simply isn’t just better for the environment, it makes them happier into the bargain.

You believe that people should have the right to live without money and plan to petition for the right to pay taxes in some other way, such as with labor. What does this process look like for you and what kind of help are you getting?

I can’t comment on this at the moment, but yes I do believe that people have the human right to live without money if they so wish.

Any final words of wisdom?

Be the change you want to see in the world, whether you’re a minority of one or a majority of millions. Reconnect with your local environment and community. Surrender to the world and enter into the organic flow of giving and receive freely, and unconditionally.

Mark, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer our questions. You are an inspiration to a great number of people who share your sentiments but lack your courage to embrace what has become the unknown for so many of us. We appreciate your leadership and vision, and wish you the best of luck with your endeavors.

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