The study ranked Israel sixth worldwide in buying land in poor countries – but the database on which the study was based may have been imprecise. By Zafrir Rinat | Feb.05, 2013 The authors of a study examining the phenomenon of “land grabbing” – land purchases in poor countries by wealthy ones – will reexamine […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 02/01/2013 While forging ahead on the path to popularizing renewable energy, the United States continues to find a true partner in Israel, which is capable of exporting its innovation to countries small and large, American Ambassador Daniel Shapiro said on Thursday. “We in the US government are extremely interested in opportunities in […]

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Lethal hydrogen sulfide accident at Paz Refineries showcases how despite technological advances, regulatory efforts, Israeli workers are still exposed to life-threatening chemicals on a daily basis Sigalit Shahar Published: 02.03.13 A tragic work-related accident claimed the lives of Michael Beliakov and Moshe Tal last week, at the Paz Refineries facility in Ashdod. Both men died […]

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February 05, 2013 BEIRUT: Fraud and unregulated imports are wreaking havoc on the olive oil sector, farmers warned Monday, calling on the government to clamp down on violators and pay for Lebanese Army purchases due since 2011. “The olive oil sector is being subjected to a dangerous scheme, whereby traders make huge profits re-exporting imported […]

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February 04, 2013 01:36 AM By Mohammad Zaatari SIDON, Lebanon: A new solid waste management plant in the southern city of Sidon will be fully functioning in less than two months, allowing the municipality to purge the heaps of waste that remain in the city’s notorious landfill. The plant is expected to be operating in […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 02/05/2013 About two dozen bird experts from all over the world enjoy a field day among Israel’s bird oasis ahead of avian conference. Eager to chomp on the pieces of white bread flying through the air, a flock of black-headed gulls engulfed the small wooden skiff carrying a pack of international birding […]

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Transportation Ministry says plan meant to take old, polluting cars off the road will kick start after new government is formed Shahar Haselkorn Published: 02.05.13 The Transportation Ministry announced that it was suspending its scrapping program – again – saying it will “most probably” be resumed after the news government is in place. The program […]

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By MATTHEW KALMAN Kibbutz Ketura, Israel Deep in a desert in southern Israel, more than a hundred miles from the nearest city, a tiny academic flower is growing. The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies is a small place with big ambitions: to help end the conflict between Israelis and Arabs by training a new generation […]

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By AFP Darkush / Syria Beset by a freezing winter and stifling fuel and electricity shortages, Syrian civilians desperate to stay warm in a northern forest have no choice but to cut down trees for firewood. Once a tourist destination for Syrians and other Arabs across the Middle East, the formerly pristine national park to […]

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Study, conducted by Italian and American researchers, warns land grabbing could cause environmental, economic damage. By Zafrir Rinat | Jan.29, 2013 Wealthy countries, and private companies from those countries, have been increasingly buying up land in poor areas for their own economic purposes, a new study says. And Israel turns out to be one of […]

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Jewish National Fund said over 600,000 new trees planted over holiday weekend; expects week-long events to see a million more new saplings Ynetnews Published: 01.27.13 The Jewish National Fund reported that a new record has been set this Tu Bishvat, as over 600,000 new trees were planted over the holiday weekend. According to JNF World […]

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Two employees of Paz Refineries in Ashdod exposed to toxic fumes while fixing hazardous material pipe sans protective gear Neri Brenner Published: 01.26.13 Michael Beliakov, 35, and Moshe Tal, 38, both employees of Paz Refineries in Ashdod, died Saturday as a result of hydrogen sulfide poisoning. An initial investigation revealed that the two were exposed […]

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by Mohammad Ghazal | Jan 31, 2013 AMMAN — The Jordan River Foundation (JRF) will hold a series of meetings with community-based organisations (CBO) in the country as part of a nationwide project to facilitate the installation of solar panels in households. “We will meet with all CBOs to inform them about the initiative and […]

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by Hana Namrouqa | Jan 30, 2013 AMMAN — The Dead Sea and its unique environment will witness continued deterioration if stakeholders of the Red-Dead project adopt a “no action alternative approach”, a recent study concluded. The World Bank-led study of alternatives, part of the Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance Study Programme, warned of the […]

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by SHARON UDASIN 01/30/2013 In 18 months, desalination will provide enough water for 80% of Israel’s urban drinking needs, experts say at CleanTech symposium. As the Israeli water management and treatment industries continue to grow, it is crucial to ensure that all facilities operate with maximum efficiency, to prevent the loss of valuable energy, experts […]

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IRBID — A team from the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) on Tuesday examined the possibility of carrying out a heating and cooling project using solar energy at the Irbid Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The environmental project is one of several that the GIZ is planning to implement in Jordan in cooperation with the […]

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January 31, 2013 12:41 AM By Osama Habib BEIRUT: As Lebanon prepared to invite oil companies to pre-qualify for bidding on upcoming tenders, a 3-D survey showed that gas reserves off its southern coast may be larger than previously thought, a senior executive at energy company Spectrum said Wednesday. “We have re-assessed the data we […]

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Environmental Protection Ministry slaps several top car importers with fines totaling NIS 1.5 million over lacking information given to consumers Ynetnews Published: 01.28.13 The Environmental Protection Ministry has slapped fines amounting to NIS 1.5 million (roughly $400,000) on several leading vehicle importers for publishing car advertisements that were either lacking or presenting inaccurate air pollution […]

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Israel’s main metropolitan area is way behind in public transportation compared to European cities, and traffic is expected to worsen significantly in the coming years. By Zafrir Rinat, Jan. 24, 2013 Among the environmental crises to confront Israel in the coming years, the transportation crisis might be the worst. At a recent conference held by […]

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In this guest-article, Dr. Christopher S. Clarke of the Osprey Foundation describes the Foundation’s work in Palestine and Israel to address the most pressing environmental needs of communities impacted by growing inequality and access to resources, and how such an ecological approach might be a means of overcoming despair. Source: National Geographic News Watch: http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/01/19/ecological-healing-in-the-holyland/ […]

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