Prime minister Katainen wants to overhaul Finnish economy using Israel high-tech model. Reuters Published: 02.18.14, Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen is determined to overhaul his economy, and cites Israel’s success as a “start-up” nation brimming with high-tech innovation as his model. With just 5.4 million people, a world-class education system and an international mindset, Finland […]

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HEBRON, West Bank — It was not your usual Holy Land tour, but surely one of the most revealing I’ve ever had. A team from Friends of the Earth Middle East took me around to see how waste, sewage and untreated water flow, or don’t, between Israel and the West Bank. I never realized how […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 02/10/2014 Since the 10-day mega-storm that drenched the country in mid-December, Israel has experienced almost no rainfall. Drought Israel is currently experiencing an unprecedented drought – so extreme that such conditions this time of year have never been documented, according to the Water Authority. Since the 10-day mega-storm that drenched the country […]

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by Hana Namrouqa | Feb 11, 2014 The current dry conditions and prolonged unseasonable high temperatures are a cause of concern for water and agriculture officials (Photo by Muath Freij) AMMAN — The Kingdom is facing a drought threat which will have a negative impact on water storage and crops if it persists, officials warned […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 02/10/2014 “I intend to bring a new reality in which plastic bags will disappear from the landscape and culture,” environment minister says. After MK Michal Rozin (Meretz) submitted a bill to the Knesset on Monday morning regarding a plastic bag prohibition in stores, the Environmental Protection Ministry announced that afternoon that the […]

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by Mohammad Ghazal | Feb 13, 2014 Amman Mayor Aqel Biltaji (2nd left) attends a meeting held by EDAMA Association in Amman on Thursday to discuss the potential of using waste as an energy source (Petra photo) AMMAN — The potential for generating money from garbage is “huge” in Jordan, as several international companies have […]

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A report by the Israel Union for Environmental Defense says the plan to enlarge the Haifa Port would use 50% more sand than necessary. By Zafrir Rinat | Feb 10, 2014 | 04:20 PM A plan to expand the Port of Haifa would severely damage the marine ecosystem and shrink nearby beaches, according to a […]

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y SHARON UDASIN 02/10/2014 Senior vice president of engineering Ron Weiss: “The IEC is working to preserve the environment.” The Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) has completed construction on a biological wastewater treatment system on the grounds of the Ramat Hovav power plant. The Ramat Hovav power complex produces about 100 cu.m. of wastewater a month, […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 02/09/2014 Study of beach cleanliness for 2013 indicated half of country’s shores ranked between “medium” and “very dirty” Standing by his motto of integrating social and environmental justice, Environmental Protection Minister Amir Peretz decided on Sunday to allocate a budget of NIS 2 million to keep Israel’s beaches clean. The ministry will […]

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Controversy over Ashkelon beachfront kiosk raises questions as to the state and local authorities’ abilities to protect public spaces. By Zafrir Rinat Can a real estate developer annex a part of the natural coastline that was intended to be public property, then turn it into a prosperous commercial enterprise? What are the state and local […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 02/12/2014 New project aims to bridge the legal and institutional gap in the implementation of Mediterranean Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) protocol. In order to optimize coastal management along the Mediterranean’s shores, educating the public effectively and adapting protocols to local needs will be crucial, experts agreed at a conference on Wednesday. […]

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Water Cannot Wait campaign launch EcoPeace/ Friends of the Earth Middle East, together with the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) held a conference in Tel Aviv as part of the launch of our “Water Cannot Wait” campaign. The conference, entitled “Cross Border Environmental Issues and Water Resources in the Context of the Peace Process”, […]

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‘MCA-Jordan completes 45% of wastewater network rehabilitation project’ by Hana Namrouqa | Feb 03, 2014 | 23:20 Once the expansion of the Samra Wastewater Treatment Plant is completed, the plant will become one of the largest wastewater treatment plants in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the Millennium Challenge Account – Jordan AMMAN […]

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Mark Zeitoun | 28 January 2014 he suffering of the Palestinians forced off their land is not due to climate change or drought; it is the result of unchecked political forces. There are at least two features to note in the way that power underlies the conflict over freshwater between Israel and the Palestinians in […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 02/04/2014 Dry winter is caused by a phenomenon called “blocking,” in which most rain systems are “stuck” in Western Europe, expert says. Although the northeastern US may have spent January pummeled by snowstorms and frigid temperatures, Israel last month was troublingly dry, experts from the Water Authority and Israel Meteorological Services said […]

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Ecologist says ‘this is the first time we’ve seen the process of drying up happen already in January.’ By Zafrir Rinat | Feb. 6, 2014 | 11:27 AM The dry winter has nature conservancy groups worried about the fate of winter pools and the wildlife that depend on them for survival. The Society for the […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 02/04/2014 The National Council for Planning and Building decided on Tuesday to promote the construction of large wind farms and turbines on 30 sites around the country. The decision was made after an interministerial team that was reviewing the topographic effects of establishing wind farms submitted its recommendations to the council last […]

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As the only country in the world to rely on a boat for its emergency energy supplies, Israel is dangerously close to the tipping point: Expected to complete the shift to natural gas from coal. But can it work for a nation under constant military threat? Permanently anchored in the choppy waters of the eastern […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 02/04/2014 Environmental Protection Ministry investigates production of dangerous chemical preparations and pesticides by Or Hayeshua factory. Inspectors from the Environmental Protection Ministry’s Green Police raided a Kiryat Gat factory over the weekend that was allegedly producing dangerous pesticides and marketing forbidden chemical preparations to the public. The weekend raid occurred at the […]

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Critics of the government’s efforts say the sludge should be disposed of at a regulated waste management facility, not nearby. By Zafrir Rinat | Feb. 4, 2014 | 3:40 AM Work is scheduled to begin soon to remove the uranium-tainted sludge at the bottom of the Kishon River in the Haifa area, where a new […]

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