Environment and Climate in the Middle East

news, conferences, policy discussions and academic publications on environmental issues and climate change in the Eastern Mediterranean

Environment and Climate in the Middle East

Archives for June, 2011

With its oil treasure, Israel gets a shield from tyranny – Globe and Mail (Toronto)

NEIL REYNOLDS OTTAWA— From Wednesday’s Globe and Mail, Tuesday, Jun. 28, 2011 The London-based World Energy Council says Israel’s Shfela Basin, a half-hour drive south of Jerusalem, holds 250 billion barrels of recoverable shale oil, possibly making the energy-vulnerable country (as expressed by The Wall Street Journal) “the world’s newest energy giant.” With reserves of […]

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The Threat to Adullam – saveadullam.org

The Adullam region is in danger of destruction from oil-shale extraction. A multinational oil company is set to build an extraction plant at the Biblical site where David battled Goliath, in the Valley of Elah. After the experimental first stage of oil extraction assesses economic feasibility (estimating damage to water, parkland, air, and antiquities is […]

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State to promote Dead Sea hotel rescue plan, but questions remain over who pays – Haaretz

Will the hotel owners find that they have ‘friends in low places’? By Zafrir Rinat The government will promote a plan to harvest the salt from industrial evaporation pools near the Dead Sea, in a bid to prevent the pools from flooding the hotels at the sea’s southern end, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced yesterday. […]

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Dead Sea hotels at risk of flooding – Haaretz

Dead Sea Works decides to launch its first-ever campaign to explain that the southern part of the Dead Sea would have dried out because of the pumping of water for regional use and that it is unconnected to industrial activities. By Zafrir Rinat If the recent decision to harvest the salt in its pool in […]

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PM tours Dead Sea to find solution for water levels – Jerusalem Post

By SHARON UDASIN 06/27/2011 21:02 Netanyahu evaluates flooding problem that may threaten hotels; green groups praise PM support for harvesting 20m. tons of sea salt. Talkbacks (6) Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu toured the Dead Sea region on Monday morning in order to evaluate first-hand the impact of the flooding problem that could potentially threaten the […]

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Dead Sea Panorama Complex switches to solar power – Jordan Times

By Hana Namrouqa AMMAN – The Dead Sea Panorama Complex will operate fully on solar power by the end of the year to conserve energy and reduce its carbon footprint, officials said on Monday. Construction work on a $2 million project to switch the complex from running on electricity to solar energy is currently under […]

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What will it take to green Israel’s cities? – Haaretz

While some ecological initiatives have been introduced in Israel’s urban areas over the last few years, the country is way behind its counterparts in the developing world. By Daphnee Hacker Israel’s notoriously hot summer began as humid as usual this year, but to the shock of many Tel Aviv residents, even the beaches could not […]

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Greens campaign to enforce proper use of bus lanes – Jerusalem Post

By SHARON UDASIN 06/20/2011 03:05 Campaign aims “to fight police’s refusal to enforce” rules in these lanes so taking public buses becomes less of a burden, helps improve environment. Talkbacks (6) The Green Movement has launched a campaign to bring greater enforcement to public transportation lanes in order to give the public more of an […]

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Authorities gear up to tackle road congestion – Jordan Times

By Khaled Neimat AMMAN – With almost a million cars expected to enter Kingdom this summer, concerned authorities are gearing up to tackle the challenge. Both the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) and the Public Security Department’s (PSD) Traffic Department have drawn up plans to deal with road congestion, officials said on Tuesday. Khaled Hadadin, director […]

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Israeli Better Place, Renault sign deal for electric car – Jerusalem Post

By SHARON UDASIN 06/22/2011 11:58 Expensive gas, high mileage, lack of popular fuel efficient vehicles make Fluence Z.E. a good deal for Australia. Talkbacks (2) Better Place and Renault announced Monday that the French car company will import its electric car with switchable battery, the Fluence Z.E., into Australia, where the Israeli group will be […]

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Driven crazy? – Jordan Times

Summer is upon us and with it, thousands of tourists who come to visit, especially from the Gulf countries, and thousands of expatriates, mostly from the same part of the world. With them, according to official figures, we also get about a million or so extra cars on the roads. Apart from the family reunions, […]

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Struggle Over the Nile – Al Jazeera

editor’s note: follow the link to a mutlipart video and text feature. Al Jazeera introduces it this way : It is the world’s longest river. A 7,000km life-line for almost 400 million people. It runs through 11 countries, including South Sudan, from the highlands in the heart of Africa to the shores of the Mediterranean […]

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Eilat oil spill exposes risks to gulf – Haaretz

Friday oil spill in Eilat port from leak in docked Turkish ship brought under control yesterday; ministry now investigating cause of the leak. By Zafrir Rinat Though a weekend oil spill in Eilat port apparently did not damage the coral reefs, it did provide a warning of the potential risks posed by the movement of […]

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Sewage from IDF, government facilities damaging Palestinian crops – Haaretz

The raw blackwater emanating from security services’ facilities is imperiling the environment as well Palestinian foodstuffs. By Zafrir Rinat The olive grove next to the fence abutting the Israel Defense Forces base near the ancient palace and fortress Herodium, south of Jerusalem, is one of the primary sources of income for the Jardal family. But […]

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Pilot project seeks to reduce energy consumption at treatment plants – Jordan Times

By Hana Namrouqa AMMAN – The Madaba Wastewater Treatment Plant will witness a 40 per cent reduction in energy consumption and improved environmental conditions as part of a pilot project finalised on Sunday. Under an agreement signed yesterday, the treatment of wastewater at the plant will be improved by using technologies that will be applied […]

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Israel to expand solar energy power – YNET

Arava Power building more than 40 new plants, which will begin providing electricity to some 1,000 residents this summer Associated Press Published: 06.26.11, 07:29 / Israel Activism Share on TwitterShare on Facebook share Israel is planning an expansion of its solar-generated electricity with preparations to bring the first of more than 40 new solar plants […]

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Did Moses miss the good stuff? – Jerusalem Post

By SHARON UDASIN 06/24/2011 04:03 Israel’s tremendous oil shale could lead to energy independence, scientist says. Talkbacks (8) In an auditorium filled to capacity with those interested in solving the world’s power needs, Dr. Harold Vinegar pulled out a cylindrical lob of stone and a narrow test-tube filled with rosé liquid and proposed the two […]

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‘Useable solar technology will be ready in about 5 years’ – Jerusalem Post

By SHARON UDASIN 06/27/2011 01:47 Organics could be cheap alternative to silicon in solar panels, says expert. Talkbacks (1) While far less absorptive then the inorganic silicon panels currently used across the globe to transform the sun’s rays into useable energy, organic materials are extremely inexpensive and might provide an effective alternative to silicon in […]

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Water Situation Deteriorating Significantly in Gaza – WAFA

EDDAH, June 22, 2011 (WAFA) – The water situation in the Gaza Strip is severely deteriorating due to the infrastructure destruction caused by continuous Israeli attacks on Gaza and the establishment of wastewater treatment plants over fresh water reservoirs, said a report by the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The report called for the establishment […]

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Gaza Strip is facing “severe water crisis” – Middle East Monitor

A report issued by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has revealed that the Gaza Strip is currently facing a “severe water crisis which constitutes a cause for concern”; particularly in light of the rising temperatures during the summer months. According to the report issued on Wednesday, June 22, the water situation in Gaza […]

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