Green Economy is Re-Branding of Sustainable Development Nairobi, 21 February 2012 – AFED’s Secretary General Najib Saab was a panelist at a ministerial roundtable on Green Economy, during the UNEP Governing Council and the Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF) in Nairobi on 21 February. In face of some expressed doubts about green economy, in a […]

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Volume 17, No.168 5 Environment and public relations (editorial by Najib Saab) 10 How to protect your children from home poisons personal tips 18 Climate refugees (cover story) 24 Sinking Rufisque a city in Senegal devoured by the ocean 26 Natural gas for vehicles in Egypt 28 Dutch embassy in Amman, first LEED certified building […]

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The Eastern Mediterranean gas discoveries: conflict or cooperation? see: http://www.bitterlemons-international.org/index1.php Individual articles: The jury is still out Mamdouh G. Salameh The dispute is mostly a demarcation issue. http://www.bitterlemons-international.org/inside.php?id=1516 Cyprus: there may be some truth to the rumors an interview with Chris Pelaghias A liquefaction plant in Cyprus could change the balance of energy power in […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 03/14/2012 00:55 Public Utility Authority approves 9 licenses for fields; Arava Power confident it will complete first field by 2014. The Public Utility Authority approved on Monday afternoon nine licenses for the country’s first large photovoltaic solar fields, the regulatory body announced on Tuesday. The fields will amount to 385 MW, bringing […]

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Council agrees to scale back construction of new tourism facilities. By Zafrir Rinat A plan for tourism development along one of Israel’s most beautiful beaches has been significantly scaled back in response to a battle waged by local residents. The compromise reached over Habonim Beach by residents and the Hof Hacarmel Regional Council will now […]

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Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED), a regional not-for-profit organization based in Beirut, is recruiting a Business Development Officer and a Program Officer. For more details please see http://www.afedonline.org/en/inner.aspx?contentID=730# The Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) is a not-for-profit regional non-governmental organization, grouping experts together with the civil society, business community and media, […]

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competition By JUDY SIEGEL 03/14/2012 05:47 Pair of Netanya high school pupils developed a system using solar rays to disinfect and clean water supplies. Avishai Katko and Maya Braun By Sasson Tiram A pair of Netanya high school pupils who developed a system using solar rays to disinfect and clean water supplies so they are […]

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15-03-2012 The European Investment Bank (EIB)is supporting the international solidarity initiative for the Palestinian people, which aims to provide Gaza with an ambitious seawater desalination plant. According to a press release, the EIB is offering its technical expertise on the technical definition of the project and its operating environment and for the management of grants […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 03/15/2012 04:18 Energy and water minister Landau at global water forum, hopes to see partnership with Electricite de France. Energy, Water Minister Uzi Landau at press confere By Gidon Sharon This week in France, Energy and Water Minister Uzi Landau has been forging dialogues with international energy partners, as well as learning […]

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by Hana Namrouqa | Mar 15,2012 | 22:22 AMMAN — Mobile phone users will start soon receiving SMSs guiding them on ways to improve their water use efficiency, an official at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation said on Thursday. The SMSs will be sent to Jordanians as part of a campaign that seeks to […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 03/15/2012 04:12 In total, Israel collected about 77% of all beverage containers in 2011, exceeding the government’s target of 73%. Israelis recycled 50 percent of the country’s plastic bottles in 2011, overtaking Europe and the United States, with figures of 48% and 29%, respectively, the ELA recycling company reported. While the country […]

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Researchers have found a treasure trove of rare plant species thriving in the Hebron area. Chalk it up to traditional farming methods. By Zafrir Rinat When a farmer plows and sows the land, he ostensibly changes the order of nature. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. A new survey shows that the agricultural […]

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JERUSALEM, March 13, 2012 (WAFA) – French Prime Minister François Fillon said his country has allocated €10 million to fund a project of a desalination unit in the Gaza strip, said a statement released on Tuesday by the General French Consulate. Fillon made the announcement at the opening of the 6th World Water Forum held […]

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PARIS – French Cooperation Minister Henri de Raincourt met with the Palestinian Minister for Water, Shaddad Attili, and with Deputy Secretary-General Rafiq El Husseini at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France, to discuss development projects in the water sector and prepare for the forthcoming World Water Forum to be held on 12 March in […]

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MARSEILLE, France — Israel said Tuesday it backed Palestinian plans to build a desalination plant in the Gaza Strip and was willing if requested to provide its skills for the project. Asked by AFP on the sidelines of the World Water Forum if Israel supported the scheme, Energy and Water Minister Uzi Landau said, “By […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 03/12/2012 06:04 Landau: We will challenge other countries to double their rate of sewage treatment by 2025. Energy, Water Minister Uzi Landau at press confere By Gidon Sharon Energy and Water Minister Uzi Landau will head to the Mediterranean coastal city of Marseilles, France, on Monday to take part in the Sixth […]

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Jordanians, Japanese mark anniversary of Fukushima atomic disaster by Hana Namrouqa | Mar 12,2012 | 22:53 Jordanian and Japanese environment activists mark the first anniversary of Fukushima atomic disaster at the Amman Citadel on Sunday (Photo courtesy of Greenpeace) AMMAN — One year after the earthquake and tsunami that triggered the Fukushima atomic disaster, Jordanian […]

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March 12, 2012 01:09 AM By Mohammed Zaatari The Daily Star SIDON, Lebanon: Several residents of Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp became ill over the weekend after drinking water suspected to have been contaminated by sewage. Among those who fell ill – experiencing vomiting, diarrhea and fever – were four siblings from the Shaker family. […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 03/12/2012 22:56 Bill will regulate preparedness and response routines for coping with marine and beach-side oil spills. The Environmental Protection Ministry issued a bill on Monday to regulate preparedness and response routines for coping with marine and beach-side oil spills. If passed, the bill would obligate all authorities that have stretches of […]

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Move means fuel bill for motorists who opt for electric cars in Israel will be much cheaper than gasoline-powered vehicles. By Daniel Schmil The fuel bill for motorists who opt for electric cars in Israel will be much cheaper than gasoline-powered vehicles, thanks to the Electricity Authority’s decision to charge the same rate for charging […]

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