Report on Israel’s environmental performance shows vast majority of garbage sent to dumps, not recycled or reused; pollution higher than in most other OECD members. By Zafrir Rinat The quantity of garbage produced in Israel grew by 15 percent over the past decade, and about 10 percent of drillings for wells had to be shut […]

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Volume 16, No.163, October 2011 5 Green economy and freedom (editorial by Najib Saab) 13 Green is not enough 14 15 tips to reduce food leftovers 22 Treated wastewater as a strategic resource in the Arab region (cover story) 29 Waste dumps back in Tunisia 30 NASA explores water under Kuwait’s desert 32 Who wins […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 11/03/2011 03:14 Environment Ministry: Israel already preparing its legislation to meet protocol demands to protect Mediterranean Sea against pollution. Talkbacks () The EU’s European Commission executive branch issued a proposal late last week that the EU accede to the 1994 Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution from offshore […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 11/03/2011 03:09 Head of European environmental unit: We hope partnerships with Israel will increase. Talkbacks (6) Environmental leaders and researchers from all over Europe and Israel came together at the University of Haifa on Wednesday to discuss the challenges and costs of climate change, as well as the European Union and the […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 11/04/2011 01:40 Agreement signed by national infrastructure minister will allow for exchange of information, experience, consultation and guidance in installation, operation of renewable energy systems. Talkbacks (4) National Infrastructure Minister Dr. Uzi Landau signed an agreement on Thursday with the Republic of Cyprus’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism for future cooperation […]

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Beirut, 28 October 2011 See also AFED home page: http://www.afedonline.org/en/ The Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) concluded its fourth annual conference on Green Economy in a Changing Arab World, held in Habtoor Grand Hotel, Beirut. AFED Secretary General Najib Saab announced the conference recommendations, which agreed with AFED report that forward-looking Arab economic […]

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By Hana Namrouqa AMMAN – Work on a major part of the Disi Water Conveyance Project remains suspended for over a month now due to security concerns and recurring armed attacks targeting workers, a source involved in the implementation of the project said on Wednesday. Work on the main part of the project, laying pipes […]

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KHAN YOUNIS (Reuters) — As the world’s population reaches seven billion, there are few places in the world where explosive demographic growth is having such a significant impact as Gaza. In less than half a century, the number of people on the planet has doubled, and sometime on Sunday the world’s population passed the seven […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 11/07/2011 12:22 Tourism minister urges Israelis to keep voting for Dead Sea in int’l contest: “We’re closer than ever to victory… We must not be apathetic.” Talkbacks (5) The Dead Sea is among the top 10 finalists in the international New 7 Wonders of Nature campaign, which will conclude on Friday 11.11.11 […]

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But residents say plan doesn’t address toxic waste left behind. By Zafrir Rinat The National Planning and Building Council yesterday approved one of the country’s largest construction plans, under which Israel Military Industries will move out of Ramat Hasharon and more than 20,000 housing units will be built on the vacated land. The building permits […]

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But critics say the plan to increase housing will siphon resources away from existing cities. By Zafrir Rinat The good people of Arad and Dimona had thought government investment in their towns would be growing. They’ll just have to keep waiting, it seems. The government would rather invest in building entirely new towns from scratch […]

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November 01, 2011 12:44 AM By Olivia Alabaster The Daily Star The green posters dotted around Hamra say, “Sukleen cleans up after you.” The green posters dotted around Hamra say, “Sukleen cleans up after you.” BEIRUT: Every day hundreds of Sukleen staff work to clean the streets of Beirut, emptying rubbish bins and picking up […]

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According to the research some sea anemones use a gland next to their stinging cells to increase the intensity of their attack by also excreting venom into the water. By Zafrir Rinat Sea creatures that attack their prey by means of poison may at times use two mechanisms to do so, according to new research […]

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November 05, 2011 02:08 AM The Daily Star BEIRUT: The city of Tripoli will be “car-free” next Sunday, thanks to an initiative by a local youth group and the Environment Ministry. While the entire city will not be closed to traffic, the main thoroughfare of Mina Street, linking Tripoli to the neighboring city of Mina, […]

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October 14, 2011 12:45 AM By Olivia Alabaster The Daily Star Traffic is one of the biggest contributors to pollution in Beirut with over 400,000 cars entering the capital each day. Traffic is one of the biggest contributors to pollution in Beirut with over 400,000 cars entering the capital each day. BEIRUT: As the temperatures […]

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By Khetam Malkawi AMMAN – Listing the Dead Sea as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature would be a boon to the Kingdom’s tourism industry and economy, according to Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Nayef Al Fayez. He noted that if the Dead Sea earns a spot on the list, more tourists will […]

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Knesset By SHARON UDASIN 10/31/2011 23:53 Environment experts call bill ‘step in the right direction’; aims to preserve sea, maintain salty waters, curb plunging water levels. Talkbacks (2) MK Dov Henin (Hadash) submitted a bill to the Knesset on Monday morning that outlines a plan for the future protection and rehabilitation of the Dead Sea. […]

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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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