Beirut, 14 December 2012 The Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) has launched the documentary “That They May Have Life,” which discusses ecological footprint and survival options in Arab countries, as part of a series of environmental awareness documentaries that AFED produces. The seven minute film summarizes the findings of the “Survival Options: Ecological […]

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Second International Hula Valley Bird Festival in northern Israel proves a major draw from people and fowls alike Anav Silverman, Tazpit Published: 12.14.12 Israel hosted the Second International Hula Valley Bird Festival in mid November, to great success. The festival was organized by the Israel Ornithological Center, the Tourism Ministry, the International Center for the […]

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By GREER FAY CASHMAN 12/13/2012 KKL-JNF World Chairman Efi Stenzler offers proof of his right to describe himself as a diplomat. Florists around the world suggest that the best way to express affection or appreciation is with flowers. Keren Kayemeth Le’Israel- Jewish National Fund would rather say it with trees or shrubs, which would explain […]

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Tehran authorities forced to temporarily close dozens of factories over pollution violations; MP projects daily loss of 800 billion rials News agencies Published: 12.13.12 Tehran authorities were recently forced to temporarily shut down 40 industrial facilities, including cement and tar production plants due to alarming level of air pollution. Deputy Head of Iran’s Environment Protection […]

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Louise Sarant Tue, 11/12/2012 The Montazah public park in Port Fuad, located across the Suez Canal from Port Said, is suffering from ongoing destruction perpetrated by the local city council. Between 20 and 25 majestic 30-meter trees, have been systematically cut down for the past two weeks. Watter al-Bahry, an environmental photographer and resident of […]

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Rana Khaled Thu, 13/12/2012 Aiming to inspire, educate and empower citizens to work together to develop innovative solutions addressing the Nile Basin’s environmental, social, cultural and economic challenges, the Nile Project is launching its first event next month — a gathering in Aswan. The Nile Project was founded in August last year by Egyptian ethnomusicologist […]

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By Reuters | Dec.12, 2012 A letter of support from the Nature and Parks Authority was part of a petition heard by the High Court to order the ministry to reroute the planned barrier away from Battir village, south of Jerusalem. An Israeli government environmental agency challenged the Defense Ministry in court on Wednesday over […]

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By Zafrir Rinat | Dec.12, 2012 National Planning and Building Committee decides to slow down the approval process following stiff opposition from the Environmental Protection Ministry and local government heads, who say it would harm green spaces in the crowded center of the country. The planning authorities have stymied the Interior Ministry’s attempt to rush […]

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By Zafrir Rinat | Dec.12, 2012 Eleven percent of foods tested were found to have pesticide residues at higher-than-permitted levels, based on findings from over 5,000 samples of 108 types of foods collected between 2006 and 2010. Eleven percent of foods tested by the Health Ministry were found to have pesticide residues at higher-than-permitted levels. […]

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Justin Shilad Wed, 12/12/2012 The Middle East and North Africa region would seem to naturally benefit from a large-scale push toward renewable energy infrastructure. Egypt in particular was hit hard by power outages during the past summer, while fuel subsidies eat up large chunks of the budget. The Desertec Industrial Initiative attempts to develop renewable […]

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by Hana Namrouqa | Dec 12, 2012 | 22:27 AMMAN — A study is under way on the rehabilitation of the Jordan Biogas Company’s (JBC) biogas plant, according to JBC Director General Omar Arabiyat. The study, which will be supported and implemented by the German Development Bank (KfW), seeks to raise the generating capacity of […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 12/11/2012 The Treasury will transfer NIS 22 million to equip two ships to treat sea pollution along Mediterranean coast. The Treasury will transfer NIS 22 million to equip two ships to treat sea pollution, the Environmental Protection Ministry announced on Tuesday. After the Environmental Protection Ministry threatened it would not give its […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 12/12/2012 Negev Ecology inaugurates plant near Kibbutz Mishmar Hanegev that will treat sewage containing fats, organic matter, minerals. The firm Negev Ecology has announced the inauguration of a plant near Kibbutz Mishmar Hanegev that will treat “fatty” waste – sewage containing fats, organic matter and minerals. The first of its kind in […]

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Valentina Cattane Wed, 05/12/2012 Qarafa al-Arafa, or the City of the Dead, a centuries-old Cairo necropolis, is one of a hundred slums defining the informality of the city’s urban panorama. The monumental patchwork of tombs and mausoleums spread at the foot of the Moqattam Hills offers a peculiar case of informal settlement in which the […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 12/11/2012 Mekorot vice president says because Israeli market is small, Israeli innovators must adopt an international perspective. Because the Israeli market is small, Israeli innovators must adopt an international perspective, and some of their best opportunities may now be in sustainable development around the world, experts agreed at a panel on Tuesday. […]

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Volume 17, No.177, December 2012 CONTENTS 4 Development which does not plunder the future (editorial by Najib Saab) 8 What’s at stake? (by Mathis Wackernagel) 18 The Arab ecological footprint (AFED’s 2012 report) 32 OFID’s projects for water, energy and food security (by Suleiman Al-Herbish) 34 Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences 36 Desertec […]

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Residents of eastern Hasharon region say pirate dumpsters in adjacent Arab villages cause massive air pollution; area’s Arab residents join complaint, say enforcement virtually nonexistence Alpha Shauli, Hassan Shaalan Published: 12.10.12, The Israeli and Arab residents of Israel’s Triangle area, who have been complaining for years about various environmental hazards in the area, mainly air […]

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Project would decrease air and noise pollution, but excess radiation could derail it. By Zafrir Rinat | Dec.10, 2012 The project to electrify Israel’s trains, which has been considered one of the most important transportation projects of recent years, may be delayed or even scrapped if a solution to the problem of the radiation from […]

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Basic moral principles require that Israel cease destroying cisterns that are essential for the existence of dozens of Palestinian communities. Haaretz Editorial | Dec.10, 2012 Since the beginning of the year, Israel has destroyed 35 rainwater cisterns used by Palestinian communities, 20 of them in the area of Hebron and the southern Hebron Hills. In […]

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Rana Khaled Mon, 03/12/2012 Ameer Abdulla is one of Egypt’s most prominent marine experts. His vast experience and involvement in marine conservation science both outside and inside Egypt have made him a key figure in the field in many countries around the world. Apart from being a lecturer in a number of universities internationally, he […]

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