By Hana Namrouqa AMMAN – The Ministry of Environment on Sunday launched the Jordan Environment Fund (JEF), which starts today receiving applications from parties planning to start eco-projects. The JEF seeks to support socio-economic projects that improve the environment, rehabilitate degraded ecosystems and ensure the sustainability of the country’s natural resources, by partly financing the […]

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RAMALLAH (IRIN) — West Bank infrastructure projects have increased as a result of the Palestinian Authority’s state-building efforts and increased donor funding, although significant barriers to implementation remain, report officials from Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s office, PA ministries and donors. Infrastructure, intertwined with economic development, is seen as the backbone of a future […]

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Lowering prices isn’t everything: protesters and politicians should not trample the environment in race to lower protester’s rent. Haaretz Editorial The housing protest is ratcheting up the pressure on the government to come up with solutions that will impress the public with their extent and speed of implementation. There is a real danger that such […]

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An area three times the size of Tel Aviv will be required to meet the demand for housing over the coming decade, says TAMA 35 data. By Zafrir Rinat An area three times the size of Tel Aviv will be required to meet the demand for housing over the coming decade, according to data that […]

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Concerts commemorate Bryan Medwed, who died in 2002. By David Sheen The kibbutzim in the Southern Arava region of the Negev Desert are considered to be at the forefront of the fight to advance environmental awareness in Israel. Naot Smadar produces organic juices and wines, Lotan teaches tourists about ecological architecture, and Ketura just finished […]

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Editor’s Note: circulation of these opportunities does not imply endorsement of the perspectives and agendas that inform them. 1) The Cadieux-Léger Fellowship The Policy Research Division (POR) of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada is pleased to announce the 2012 Cadieux-Léger Fellowship. The Cadieux-Léger Fellowship provides direct experience in a policy planning environment to researchers […]

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By SHARON UDASIN AND JONAH MANDEL 07/26/2011 03:50 Christian, Jewish, Muslim clerics talk about environmental awareness; “We are tourists on this land, and will leave it one day.” Talkbacks (2) Representatives from Israel’s Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities met on Monday to talk about instilling their congregants with environmental awareness. “When a priest or rabbi […]

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Agriculture Ministry’s forestry service and Tel Aviv Municipality appraise eucalyptus tree in Beit Ramon as part of new policy placing price tags on mature trees in urban areas that need to be cut down for construction projects. By Zafrir Rinat The eucalyptus tree in the middle of the Beit Ramon parking lot in south Tel […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 07/27/2011 03:18 Housing plan will deteriorate the quality of life for all citizens, nature protection society says. Talkbacks (4) Green groups blasted Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s new housing plans announced on Tuesday, censuring him for destroying open space and relying on private companies rather than reforming government bodies to tackle the ongoing […]

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Ruling comes in response to petition submitted by Yesh Din on behalf of residents of the Palestinian village of Ein Yabrud against building the plant on their land. By Zafrir Rinat The High Court of Justice yesterday forbade operating a sewage treatment plant built illegally on privately owned Palestinian land in the West Bank settlement […]

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By Khetam Malkawi AMMAN – The population growth rate in the Kingdom stood at 2.2 per cent last year, dropping by 4 per cent since 1994, a national report said, underlining “improvement” in the related social aspects. The State of Jordan’s Population Report 2010 indicated that the Kingdom’s population almost doubled from 2.1 million people […]

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By Taylor Luck AMMAN – Amman and Cairo have yet to close in on an amended natural gas deal, according to energy officials, as repairs are ongoing following this month’s act of sabotage on the Arab Gas Pipeline. According to Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Khaled Toukan, Jordanian officials have yet to be informed […]

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By Taylor Luck AMMAN – Competition is on for the construction of the Kingdom’s first nuclear reactor as energy officials launch the programme’s technology selection phase. According to Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Khaled Toukan, energy officials are slated to receive financial bids from three shortlisted firms in mid-August as part of an ongoing […]

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By Taylor Luck AMMAN – The Kingdom’s first oil field may lie near the eastern city of Azraq, according to experts as geologists urged the government to step up exploration activities in the area. According to the Jordan Geologists Association (JGA), the concession field east of Azraq is promising for the presence of fossil fuels. […]

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By Lahav Harkov 07/28/2011 MK slams rising water prices, says gov’t agreed to subsidize more water for disabled people months ago, but has yet to act upon the decision. A bill allowing the Knesset Finance Committee to regulate water prices passed in its preliminary reading on Wednesday, after the coalition withdrew its opposition to the […]

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Bottle recycling up 26% in May – YNET Israeli public throws 15.2 million plastic beverage bottles into recycling bins throughout month. ELA recycling corporation says public awareness improved due to extensive PR efforts, increase in number of bins across country – including in Arab towns Yael Darel Published: 07.21.11, 14:24 / Israel Activism The Israeli […]

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ERUSALEM (AFP) — Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders in the Holy Land joined forces Monday to launch a multi-faith environmental campaign, citing religious injunctions to protect the Earth across their three faiths. Among their plans are the convening of an international conference of religious leaders in New York ahead of the 2012 UN General Assembly, […]

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By Omar Obeidat AMMAN –– In light of the energy, water and economic challenges facing the country, a national campaign was launched Saturday to urge Jordanians rationalise their consumption of several commodities and services. Launched for the fifth consecutive year by the Consumer Protection Society (CPS) ahead of Ramadan, when food consumption increases by 35 […]

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by SHARON UDASIN 07/25/2011 04:07 Officials aim to create exchange for research on maintaining water quality, availability on Lake Michigan, Kinneret Talkbacks (1) Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and National Infrastructures Minister Dr. Uzi Landau signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Jerusalem on Sunday establishing a “Sister Lakes” relationship between Lake Michigan and the Kinneret, to […]

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Despite being under occupation, Ramallah grows and thrives. Part of this progress includes caring for the environment. The city’s mission states: “We want the city of Ramallah to be beautiful, green, safe, clean, and environmentally friendly for the sake of all its residents, a city with a distinguished architectural style that preserves its cultural heritage […]

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