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 December, 2011

Resumption of Egyptian gas supplies ‘unclear’ – Jordan Times

By Taylor Luck AMMAN – It is “unclear” when Egyptian gas supplies to Jordan will resume, energy officials said on Monday, amidst growing concerns over the viability of the Kingdom’s main energy source. According to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, energy officials in Cairo have indicated that the resumption of pumping hinges on […]

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Japanese-French reactor bid clears legal hurdle – Jordan Times

By Taylor Luck AMMAN – A Japanese-French bid to build Jordan’s first reactor cleared an international legal hurdle on Tuesday as nuclear officials narrow in on their selection of a nuclear technology vendor. The Japanese parliament approved a cooperation accord with the Kingdom yesterday, paving the way for the export of nuclear technology to Jordan, […]

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‘Core workers exposed to year’s radiation in day’ Jerusalem Post

By JPOST.COM STAFF 12/07/2011 19:33 Former Sorek nuclear worker Dr. Byrne gives testimony, says state should have settled instead of going to court. Talkbacks (4) Dr. Thelma Byrne, former head of safety at the Sorek nuclear research center, said Wednesday that the amount of nuclear radiation workers were exposed to was significantly more than today’s […]

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Beautiful Israel council honors development towns, donors – Jerusalem Post

By GREER FAY CASHMAN 12/08/2011 03:21 Philanthropists Morris Kahn and Geneva-based Phillippe Nordmann received Council for a Beautiful Israel awards at President’s residence. Talkbacks () Philanthropists Morris Kahn and Geneva-based Phillippe Nordmann received Council for a Beautiful Israel Yakir (Distinguished Citizen) awards on Wednesday at the annual ceremony at the President’s Residence. The council recognizes […]

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Rare flock of singing swans spotted in Northern Israel – Haaretz

The last time singing swans were spotted in Israel was in 2001; They are named so for their loud call, which is used for courting and to strengthen the ties between the adults and the young. By Eli Ashkenazi After more than a decade, a flock of nine singing swans was spotted in the Hula […]

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EU grants €310,340 to support environment and eco-tourism activities in Lebanon

Source: ENPI info centre 08-12-2011 Four municipalities in Lebanon will receive an EU grant amounting to €310,340 to implement socio-economic activities in the fields of environment and eco-tourism that will benefit 12,000 people. “By their proximity to citizens, local authorities are true agents of change,” said EU Head of Delegation Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst. “The support […]

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Sharpening skills to improve waste management in the Mediterranean [ENPI info centre]

Horizon 2020 organises training workshop in Ramallah 07-12-2011. Source: ENPI info centre Increasing understanding of the complex and multidimensional challenges of Integrated Sustainable Waste Management was the main objective of a training workshop held in Ramallah between 22 and 24 November, with the support of the EU-funded initiative Horizon 2020. “The objective is to incorporate […]

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Israel government to approve economic measure to lower cost of living – Haaretz

Cabinet to vote on plan to increase amount of gas stations, though Environment Protection Minister Erdan opposes the proposal. By Zafrir Rinat The government is due to approve a series of economic measures today recommended by the Trajtenberg Committee, including a proposal to allow for more gas stations to be built as a means for […]

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Better Place secures $200M in financing – YNET

Israeli-American electric car company says new infusion will will nearly double its value to $2.25 billion. Associated Press An Israeli-American company says it has secured an additional $200 million in financing to create the world’s first network of charging stations for electric cars. New investors include General Electric Co. and UBS AG. Ahead of Rollout […]

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Lebanon Green Again launches new campaign – Daily Star

BEIRUT: Environment Minister Nazim Khoury Sunday attended the launch, in Jbeil, of a Lebanon Green Again campaign to increase greenery across the country. The non-governmental organization kicked off their latest program, the “National campaign to increase green space in Lebanon 2012” at the International Sculpture Center in the village of Amsheet, followed by the dispersal […]

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Israeli greens make final effort to bury planned hotel in scenic Arava valley – Haaretz

Environmental groups say Tourism Ministry favoring business interests over environmental considerations in Sasgon Valley. By Zafrir Rinat The struggle between environmental groups and the Tourism Ministry over a proposed hotel complex in the Sasgon Valley in the Arava desert has intensified ahead of a meeting next week to decide the project’s future. The Tourism Ministry […]

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Israeli Plan to Establish Park On Mount Scopus – WAFA / Maan / Jordan Times

Newspaper Review: Dailies Report on Israeli Plan to Establish Park in Mount Scopus – WAFA RAMALLAH, December 7, 2011 (WAFA) – The three Palestinian Arabic dailies reported on a new Israeli plan to establish a national park on land that belongs to Palestinians in Mount Scopus, in East Jerusalem. Al-Quds front page story reported on […]

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Gov’t to probe Ramot Shapira for sewage dumping – Jerusalem Post

By SHARON UDASIN 12/06/2011 23:28 Environmental Protection Ministry opens public investigation against Ramot Shapira for allegedly dumping sewage into the public domain. Talkbacks () The “Green Police” at the Environmental Protection Ministry has opened a public investigation against the Ramot Shapira Educational Institution and its administrators for allegedly dumping sewage into the public domain, the […]

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Water Authority finds high levels of pollution near former munitions plant – Haaretz

Authority finds pollution caused by organic materials and explosives, detecting traces of the highly poisonous RDX compound, used in the production of explosives, at a level three times higher than legally allowed. By Zafrir Rinat Environmentalists are concerned that past military industrial activity near Be’er Tuvia has left ground and water in the area polluted. […]

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New technical unit to manage Zarqa River rehabilitation – Khayyat – Jordan Times

By Hana Namrouqa AMMAN – The Ministry of Environment is creating a new technical unit in charge of rehabilitating the Zarqa River Basin, one of the Kingdom’s major environmental hotspots, according to Minister of Environment Yaseen Khayyat. Based at the ministry, the unit will be supported by several government agencies and will coordinate efforts to […]

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‘70% of Disi project completed’ – jordan Times

By Hana Namrouqa AMMAN – Seventy per cent of the Disi Water Conveyance Project has been completed after work on the mega-project resumed earlier this week, according to a source involved in the implementation of the venture. Mechanical and construction work on the project resumed after authorities introduced security measures to protect teams operating in […]

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Water level drop brings garden watering ban – Jerusalem Post

By SHARON UDASIN 12/06/2011 22:54 The Water Authority institutes a temporary ban on irrigating public and private gardens. Talkbacks (3) The Water Authority has instituted a temporary ban on public and private garden irrigation, which it says will be key to water conservation efforts in an era of rapid water loss and drought. The four-month […]

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UfM regional desalination plant project gets land in Gaza [ENPI info centre]

05-12-2011. Source: ENPI info centre The Palestinian Land Authority has allocated the land needed for a landmark desalination plant in the Gaza Strip, a project directly supported by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM). A press release from the UfM said the decision, taken on the directives of the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud […]

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Keeping Palestine Cool A Different Kind of Underground Movement – This Week in Palestine

By Khaled Al Sabawi In 2007, I first arrived on my simple quest to bring green energy to Palestine. I am the son of Palestinian refugees who were fortunate enough to immigrate to Canada; and I was raised on the imperative that we Palestinians – who were lucky to grow up in one of the […]

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Activists call for open nuclear debate – Jordan Times

By Taylor Luck AMMAN – Activists and environmentalists on Saturday called for an open debate on the country’s atomic energy programme, voicing concern over the feasibility of Amman’s nuclear drive. At a protest in front of the Prime Ministry yesterday, some two dozen environmentalists demanded a dialogue over a project they say may have unforeseen […]

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