Groups say creation of a new government body could be the answer to averting potential disaster on our beaches. By Zafrir Rinat wo groups who warn Israel’s coastline is in danger of being destroyed say they have the solution to salvage it. The Zalul Environmental Association and the Department of Marine Geosciences at Haifa University […]

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by Taylor Luck | May 03,2012 | 23:52 AMMAN — Jordan’s Egyptian gas supplies resumed on Thursday amid growing doubts over the reliability of the Kingdom’s main energy source. In a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Egyptian firm GASCO announced that Cairo has begun pumping gas to the Kingdom at “experimental levels” […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 05/04/2012 02:33 Green groups argue allowing more solar roof installations would be simple way of helping bridge gaps that may occur this summer. Eight environmental organizations appealed to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday asking that he promote an increase in the quota for photovoltaic rooftop panels, in light of the anticipated […]

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Israel Nature and Parks Authority confirms that the beach will be open without charge. By Zafrir Rinat The northern coast’s Achziv beach, which has been closed to the public for years and used to be an exclusive Club Med resort, soon will be reopened to the public free of charge, the Israel Nature and Parks […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 05/02/2012 04:09 The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel claims building plans would be hazardous to landscape in the area. The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) is vehemently opposing a plan to construct a large hotel and commercial center on Eilat’s southern Almog Beach, claiming that […]

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by Hana Namrouqa | May 03,2012 | 23:22 AMMAN — The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) has announced the opening of the adventure season at the Mujib Biosphere Reserve, a popular hiking and camping destination that is home to high-altitude summits and waterfalls. The reserve closes to visitors for safety reasons during […]

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Is it possible that there are no isolated places left in this country? Is there a single peak from which one can look north, south, east, and west without seeing a community, highway, electricity pole, antenna or army base? By Nir Hasson Daniel, the hero of a short story in Etgar Keret’s “Pipelines” collection, is […]

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AMMAN — Two boys took the initiative and made use of a non-operational bus lane in west Amman on Wednesday by turning it into a bicycle lane. Omar Ahmad and Mohammad Ali, both 14, from the Dahiyat Al Rashid neighbourhood, said they and other teens recently discovered the usefulness of the disused lane on Queen […]

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Organic produce market in downtown Beirut . By: Nidaa Hilal “Souk El Tayeb” is the first farmers’ open-air weekly market held every Saturday at Beirut Souks, Downtown Beirut, where fresh organic and traditional food is sold by producers from across Lebanon. Farmers’ markets are first about creating a link between producers and consumers. Food is […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 05/01/2012 10:09 Smartphone application is free, downloadable, will teach users benefits of green consumerism. The Environmental Protection Ministry has launched a free, downloadable smartphone application to teach users the benefits of green consumerism. The app, called “Environment – Lets think green,” attempts to guide consumers through different types of green behaviors that […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 05/02/2012 23:24 Nature and Parks Authority hopes to secure new funding to embark on additional cycle for program in North. After three years of forging cooperation among Arab and Jewish Israeli children over a shared need to protect nature, an Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) project in Alonei Abba came to […]

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Residents of Deir Istiya village say they plan to fight the order in court, arguing that it violates their right to work privately owned land. By Zafrir Rinat Israel’s Civil Administration in the West Bank has ordered Palestinian villagers to uproot more than 1,000 olive trees because they were planted in a nature reserve. Residents […]

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Jordanian Parliamentarians visit Bakoura On April 15th, FoEME took members from the Committee of Environment and Health in the Lower House of Parliament of Jordan to Bakoura, a military-controlled region near the border between Israel and Jordan. There, FoEME Amman Director explained the need to make the Bakoura region into a National Park, which would […]

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Residents of Tel Aviv complain of a harsh chlorine-like substance that could be felt in the air. By Ilan Lior and Zafrir Rinat Residents of Tel Aviv, Gush Dan and central Israel complained Thursday morning of a harsh chemical substance that could be felt in the air. Many people described the smell as similar to […]

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GAZA CITY (IRIN) — From factories to the fishing industry, the Gaza Strip economy is being affected by more than two months of fuel shortages and power outages, taking a toll on the livelihoods of its 1.6 million inhabitants. To make a living on the sea, Madlene Kollab needs 20 liters of fuel each day. […]

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By: Ibrahim Abdel Gelil Electricity for lighting is responsible for 19% of total end-use electrical consumption and for 6% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This equals the total emissions from Germany and Japan combined. Over the next 20 years, global electricity consumption for lighting is expected to increase by 60%. Shifting to efficient lighting […]

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By: Bashar Zeitoon Plans to establish green Islamic bond markets are being promoted in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, several news reports suggest. The use of Islamic debt instruments, known as sukuk, to raise capital for sustainable development projects in the MENA region would set a new precedent. It is hoped that […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 05/02/2012 19:33 Energy and Water Minister Uzi Landau visits the Lone Star State to strengthen ties with Israel’s natural gas industry. As Israel’s presence in the natural gas market grows, the country should continue to strengthen its growing ties with the state of Texas, a capital of development for the industry, according […]

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Company will seriously consider raising capital Petra | Apr 28,2012 | 22:46 AMMAN — Chairman-designate of Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) Munther Haddadin announced on Saturday that the company will be engaged in a major marketing activity this year, especially after breaking up the monopoly in the Indian market. During the firm’s ordinary and extraordinary […]

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Volume 17, No.169, April 2012 CONTENTS 5 Mohammad Al-Kassas, the conscience of Arab environment (editorial by Najib Saab) 14 Environmental causes of the Arab spring (cover story) 20 An Arab scientist who stirred up humanity 22 Efficient lighting activities in the Middle East and North Africa 26 Restoration of Wadi Hanifa wetlands in Saudi Arabia […]

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