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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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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by Moshe Terdiman, October 2011 [Excerpts…] Sheikh Ali Gomaa is the Grand Mufti of Egypt since September 2003 and one of the highest ranking and respected religious authorities throughout the Sunni world. He holds the second highest religious position in Egypt, after that of Sheikh al-Azhar. As the Grand Mufti, he oversees the premier institution […]

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http://deserts2011.sciencesconf.org/ Objectives This first conference will gather about twenty-five Jordanian and international invited speakers to give presentations on the state of scientific knowledge about the natural environment, the human presence, and issues of management and conservation with a focus on the Wadi Rum Protected Area and its region. The conference will also propose a strategy […]

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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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