For centuries the Jordan Valley was renowned for being one of the most lush and productive lands in the world. But years of over-grazing and drought have left it arid and with high salinity levels. To reverse this decline Australian permaculture expert Geoff Lawton has embarked on an ambitious project that he calls ‘Greening the […]

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Some experts contend that the sludge, which is used as fertilizer, presents health risks and say its use should be limited – or even stopped altogether. By Zafrir Rinat Following successful attempts to increase the use of purified waste water for irrigation, Israel has also started to reuse the remaining sewage sludge. Some experts contend […]

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By Hana Namrouqa AMMAN – Water experts on Monday called for expanding grey water use in the Arab world, as it can help address the region’s acute water shortage and improve the agriculture sector. Experts and policy makers urged the private sector to invest in the treatment and reuse of grey water – non-industrial wastewater […]

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Study shows the open spaces in cities go unused because they’re unpleasant. Solution: Allocate less land and invest more in it. By Zafrir Rinat Next week the Israeli Association of Landscape Architects will be holding its annual convention in Herzliya. One of the issues on the agenda is planning and designing communal space in cities. […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 11/01/2011 23:50 Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan praises vehicle inventor Louis Palmer as global educator for ‘better life.’ Talkbacks (3) A blue capsule of a car hitched by trailer to solar panels rolled through the Tel Aviv garden courtyard of the Council for a Beautiful Israel on Tuesday afternoon, with Swiss “solartaxi” […]

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By Hana Namrouqa AMMAN – The Ministry of Water and Irrigation has started installing water-saving devices in public schools in Amman to reduce consumption of water by 30 per cent, officials said on Wednesday. The campaign is part of a pilot project that entails installing high-efficiency water fixtures in mosques and schools, which are categorised […]

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The Dead Sea certainly deserves to be considered one of the wonders of the world. But Israel and Jordan currently are unworthy candidates to care for it. By Zafrir Rinat A miracle has been taking place before our eyes. In less than 100 years, the people living around the Dead Sea have managed to dry […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 10/25/2011 23:32 PM: Becoming one of the “New 7 Wonders of Nature” will bring crucial tourism. Talkbacks (2) Students and teachers around the country logged online on Tuesday morning for 40 minutes of virtual learning about the Dead Sea, as part of the government’s broad campaign to make the salty body of […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 10/27/2011 03:19 Green groups praise Lands Administration new head Benzi Lieberman for brokering agreement to keep western Galilee area commercial free. Talkbacks () Following widespread appeals from government ministers, green groups and the general public, the Israel Lands Administration (ILA) has decided to cancel plans to construct a vacation village and commercial […]

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By JPOST EDITORIAL 10/28/2011 13:55 Protecting our environment should not lead to the trampling of private business rights. Talkbacks (3) It took nearly four years of protests, including a petition signed by more than 28,000 concerned citizens, a human wave one-kilometer long, and regular picketing. But finally the objective was achieved. Grassroots activism, a testament […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 10/27/2011 02:48 Beit Yannai artist Walter Ferguson hopes his display will help increase popularity of animal artwork in Israel. Talkbacks () A gazelle mother snuggles her milking fawn, amid pink and yellow flowers and under the avid watch of her male partner, with the lush northern Israel mountainside outstretched in the distance. […]

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By ALONA VOLINKSY / NO CAMELS 10/29/2011 05:33 An Israeli company is teaching African countries agricultural techniques and building greenhouses to increase food production. Talkbacks () Alona Volinksy writes for No Camels. An Israeli company is helping African countries become self-sufficient by teaching them agricultural techniques they say can significantly increase food production. Green 2000, […]

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The Interior Ministry has drawn up a list of possible sites for constructing Mediterranean gas treatment facilities. Local residents object to all of them, and say they should be built at sea. By Zafrir Rinat The Interior Ministry recently presented a list of alternative sites for establishing gas facilities, including in the Haifa Bay area […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 10/23/2011 23:37 Mediterranean Shipping Company is fined NIS 1m. after one of its ships spilled oil into the Port of Haifa; indictments are dropped. Talkbacks () The Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has received a fine of NIS 1.01 million – the largest fine ever charged to a ship on Israeli waters […]

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BEIRUT: Hezbollah MP Nawwaf Moussawi called on the Cabinet Sunday to resolve the issue of Sidon’s notorious seaside dump and build a railway between the border coastal town of Naqoura and Beirut and another one between Naqoura and the Bekaa town of Riyaq as well as a transit port in Naqoura. The Marjayoun MP called […]

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Pick expected to face criticism from green groups. By Zafrir Rinat and Chaim Levinson A special search committee has recommended the chairman of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, Shaul Goldstein, to head the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Goldstein lives in the West Bank settlement of Neveh Daniel. If the cabinet approves his appointment, most […]

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By Taylor Luck JORDAN IS reaching out to Iraq to explore the import of natural gas as the country continues to struggle to meet its rising energy needs. According to Ministry of Energy Secretary General Farouq Hariri, energy officials have contacted Baghdad regarding supplying Jordan with natural gas for electricity generation and domestic use. Iraqi […]

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By Taylor Luck AN AMENDED natural gas deal between Cairo and Amman has yet to be fully enforced, leaving Jordan with a fraction of the gas supplies outlined in the new agreement, according to energy officials. The lack of enforcement of the amended deal has prevented the full resumption of gas supplies to Jordan, which […]

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By Laila Azzeh AMMAN – Jordan’s nuclear programme was a hot-button issue on Tuesday, igniting heated debates between supporters and root-and-branch opponents of plans to establish a nuclear reactor in the country. The 4th International Symposium on Nuclear Energy (ISNCE-11), which opened yesterday, provided a platform for experts, academics, NGOs and international nuclear manufacturers to […]

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By Zafrir Rinat The Arab Samech Het neighborhood in Lod reminds a visitor more of a developing country than a district in a city a short ride from Tel Aviv. But things have been looking up: Samech Het’s homes have just been connected to the municipal water system. Residents now have running water regularly, though […]

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