أهم 7 فوائد لإعادة تدوير بقايا القهوة

نحن كعشاق للقهوة نقوم باستخدام أجهزة ووسائل متعددة حتى نحصل على القهوة التي نرغب و نستلذ بها، هذه الأجهزة والأدوات مثل آلة صنع القهوة أو وعاء الموكا وصولاً للكوب أو حتى ماكينة الباريستا، كلها تؤدي بالمحصلة إلى إنتاج كميات كبيرة من بقايا القهوة والتي بالعادة تكون نهايتها القمامة.

وبالرغم من ذلك، يمكننا الاستفادة من بقايا القهوة المطحونة بطرق متعددة، مثلاً كاستخدامها كسماد طبيعي أو مُنّظف، وهنالك عدة خيارات أخرى أيضاً. لذلك، فيمايلي وددنا أن نشارك بعض الطرق الرائعة والسهلة لإعادة تدوير بقايا القهوة لنحافظ على البيئة.

used coffee grounds

  1. سماد ذو نوعية جيدة للحديقة

للعلم فإن القهوة المطحونة تعتبر من مصادر النيتروجين المفيد للنباتات المُحبة للحموضة، بما في ذلك عدداً لا حصراً الخضروات والفواكه والأزهار، حيث أنه بالإمكان استخدامها مباشرة على أنواع من الأزاليات والورود والرودودندرون.

ومثالاً على الفواكه والخضروات فإن السبانخ، التوت والطماطم يمكنها الاستفادة من بقايا القهوة المطحونة. والجزر أيضاً على سبيل المثال ممكن أن يكون أفضل بإضافة بقايا القهوة للتربة عند زراعته، حيث أنه يمنع عنه الآفات بالاضافة لانتاج جزراً ذو جودة عالية.

قم بإضافة بقايا القهوة بنفسك إذا كنت تقوم بالتسميد في منزلك لتحصل على سماد أفضل وأرخص.

تقترح بعض الدراسات الجديدة أن نقوم بحفظ القهوة لمدة 100 يوم قبل وضعها على النباتات واستخدامها كسماد، لأن القهوة المطحونة تحتوي على مستويات عالية من الكافيين وحمض الكلوروجينيك اللذان ممكن أن يكونا ساميّن على التربة والنبات. وبعد هذه المدة تكون مستوياتها قد انخفضت فتكون مفيدة للنباتات.

  1. الحفاظ على الرائحة الزكية في منزلك

لإزالة أي روائح غير مرغوب فيها في منزلك، يمكنك إعادة تدوير  القهوةوتحويلها إلى مزيل للعرق، وأيضاً ضعيها فيوعاء في الثلاجة أوعلى المنضدة لأنها تقوم بامتصاص الروائح غيرالمرغوب فيها والتي تنتج عن الطبخ أو تخزين الطعام.

معلومة مفيدة (إصنعها بنفسك): باستطاعتك استخدام القهوة المطحونة لزيادة فعالية الكشط بالمواد المستخدمة للتنظيف داخل المطبخ.

  1. قم بإنعاش منزلك باستخدام القهوة المطحونة

يمكن أن يكون تفل القهوة بديلاً عطريًا للزيوت العطرية الموجودة في الشموع. استخدمي تفل القهوة القديم لصنع شمعة معطرة ومنعشة واستمتعي برائحة القهوة.

يمكن أن تساعدك بقايا القهوة الرطبة على تقليل  الغبار أثناء تنظيف المدفأة، قومي برش بقايا القهوة الرطبة حول المدفأة وبعد ذلك تستطيعين أن تكنسي الرماد المخلوط مع بقايا القهوة لتخفيف مستوى الغبار الناتج عن الكنس.

  1. إستخدام تفل القهوة للعناية بالبشرة

يمكن لبقايا القهوة أن تكون مقشراً رائعاً للبشرة، استخدمي بقايا القهوة أثناء الاستحمام وفقط قومي غسلها بالماء بعد ذلك.

نصيحة من محترف: استخدم تفل القهوة كمقشر لكلبك – إن كنت تمتلك واحداً – بعد الاستحمام، فإن هذا يقوم بتحفيز جلد الكلب ويبقيه نظيفاً، لأنه يعمل على طرد العديد من الحشرات مثل النمل والبراغيث.

استخدمي تفل القهوة كقناع للوجه، لأن المواد المضادة للأكسدة الموجودة فيه تجعل بشرتك نضرة ومشرقة. تستطيعين القيام بذلك بعجن القهوة الدافئة والرطبة مع زيت جوز الهند غير المكرر وحليب اللوز الطبيعي، وزعي العجين على وجهك بحركة دائرية ثم إغسليه بالماء بعد 10 دقائق.

أفركي بقايا القهوة بين يديكِ لإزالة أي رائحة غير مرغوب فيها، هذه العملية مفيدة جداً بعد تقطيع البصل مثلاً، لأنه سيترك رائحة كريهة حتى بعد استخدام الصابون.

coffee waste recycling

  1. إبعاد وطرد النمل

قم برش بقايا القهوة المستعملة في زوايا المنزل من حيث يأتي النمل، وبما أن رائحة القهوة تزعج النمل وتعمل كمبيد طبيعي دون الإضرار به، فإنك لن تراه ثانية.

  1. قومي بصنع القهوة الممتعة مع أطفالك

يمكن استخدام تفل القهوة في  الفن والاشغال اليدويةكصبغة بسبب لون القهوة الزاهي. يمكن أن تكون مادة مثالية وآمنة للمشروعات اليدوية لأطفالك، هنالك العديد من الخيارات التي لا حصر لها لقضاء وقتاً ممتعاً مع أطفالك.

  1. قم بإعادة تدوير القهوة في المكتب

من المؤكد أن مكتبك يستهلك كمية من القهوة أكثرمن إعتقادك، لذا. فمن الممكن أن تكون نفايات القهوة في المكاتب مصدرًا مهماً لإعادة التدوير، وبما أن الشركات في ايامنا الحالية تعمل على الانتقال والتحول الى العمل الرقمي وتقليل العمل الورقي لتقليل النفايات الورقية فإنه ولربما أن تكون إعادة تدوير القهوة هي الخطوة القادمة في الشركات والمكاتب.

إن التخلص من بقايا القهوة المستعملة في النفايات ليس خيارًا جيدًا في الوقت الحاضر، حيث بدأت بعض الشركات في يومنا هذا بفصل بقايا القهوة المطحونة لتحويلها الى سماد.

وربما لن يكون تحويل القهوة لسماد هو الخيار الأمثل، حيث أنه بالإمكان إستخدامها بالعديد من الامور الأخرى، مثل قدرتها على الاحتراق وبالتالي توفير الدفء، لانها تأخذ وقتاً أطول بالاحتراق فتعطي مزيدا من الحرارة.

خاتمة

تعتبر القهوة المطحونة المستخدمة ذات قيمة كبيرة جدًا بحيث لا يمكن رميها في سلة المهملات، وانه من الواضح أن منتجات التحميص ليست مجرد نفايات، بل يمكن إعادة تدويرها واستخدامها كألعاب، ومبيدات حشرية ومقشرات وأيضاً سماد.

قم باستخدام بقايا القهوة لتحافظ على البيئة ولتكن من أصدقائها.

ترجمة: ماجدة هلسه

أردنية متعددة الإهتمامات، لديها من الخبرة ما يقارب السبعة وعشرون عاماً في مجال المالية والإدارة في المؤسسات المحلية والدولية، وتعمل ماجدة حالياً مع التعاون الدولي الالماني كموظفة مالية. ومع ذلك كله وعلى الصعيد التطوعي، فإن لديها شغفاً كبيراً بالترجمة في كافة المواضيع والمجالات، وقد بُني هذا الشغف بالخبرة الشخصية والعملية على مدى هذه السنين.

Note: The English version of the article is available at this link.

The Role of Indigenous Knowledge and Innovations in Water Management

Our ancestors have created astounding water management systems and applications that helped them combat the harsh climate and scarce natural resources in many parts of this universe. Read on to know how ancient civilizations used indigenous knowledge in water management, and how innovation and entrepreneurship can ward off the water crisis facing the entire MENA region.

The Golden Past

Within MENA and since the 4th century BCE, the strongest civilizations made it through arid and semis arid conditions mainly due to their robust water technologies and hydraulic engineering. In the 14th century, the deliberations of the great Tunis-born social scientist and scholar Ibn Khaldun indicated that resilient dynasties were supported by the establishment of cities. He also highlighted the provision of freshwater as one of the few critical requirements for anchoring cities and sustaining civilizations.

The Nabataeans

Petra, a 2,000-year-old capital of the Nabatean Kingdom (South of Jordan nowadays), contains invaluable evidence of such indigenous innovations. Using sophisticated water technology, the Nabataeans were able to ensure a continuous water supply throughout the year and simultaneously mitigate the dangerous effects of flashfloods. They focused on the deep understanding of all sources of water available and on adopting techniques to best monitor, harness, maintain, and utilize those resources. They balanced their reservoir water storage capacity with their pipeline system and utilized particle-settling basins to purify water for drinking purposes.

water-management-petra

The Nabataeans’ extensive understanding of their constraints and strengths allowed them to create a system that maximized water flow rates while minimizing leakage and supported a prosperous life for many years later.

Oman

Innovation is not about engineering and science only; water markets and decentralized management of water resources are important aspects in times when regulatory bodies and water user associations struggle to master. Oman enjoys one of the most ancient community-based water management schemes that was based on water rights, institutions, and markets.

Water prices were adjusted to respond to changes in demand and supply. Well established water rights, transparent management and allowing for water trading were major contributors to improved management of irrigation water back then.

The Future is Here

While the potential to innovate in the water sector is limitless, it is still under exploited in the MENA region. Information technology, data management, telecommunication, artificial intelligence, and many other tools create opportunities to innovate and contribute to robust water management solutions and to socioeconomic development.

In the MENA region, innovation and entrepreneurship have never been as central to development plans as they are today. Creating an enabling environment for tech startups that would attract investment, create jobs, and boost socioeconomic development is a common goal across the region.  As far as water is concerned, and despite the strategic significance of the sector, water innovations that could enter the market and find their way within and beyond the region are very few.

Most recently, the trending concepts of green growth and climate-smart solutions are reigniting the spark for more locally anchored water innovations to help alleviate both the economic and social stresses associated with water scarcity and poor management systems. In parallel, impact investing is becoming more popular, and today’s investors are searching for companies with a strong environment, social and governance (ESG) framework to invest in.

impact-investing

If one is to find a positive side for the COVID-19 pandemic, it would be the refocus it brought to local production and self-dependence. Whether in food, energy, or water; availability and affordability cannot be jeopardized. Since 2019, programs targeting innovations and startups in the food security and agri-tech domain have been expanding. Special innovation hubs, accelerators, incubators, and competitions were launched to support the water, energy, and food nexus with a strong link to climate change and social inclusion.

One example is the WE4F MENA Regional Innovation Hub which supports innovators with proven solutions tackling water and/or energy issues in urban or rural food production to scale up through multiple financial and non-financial tools. As such efforts gain more momentum, local needs started to emerge including up-skilling and knowledge management. Young graduates carry a relatively enough theoretical information about a single topic/specialty, yet most of those engineering, science and business graduates lack the practical skills and understanding of the nexus and the interconnectivity between water, food, energy, society, and environment. This led to the design of several upskilling and training programs to bridge the knowledge gap and introduce the young generation to the future.

A promising example of such upskilling modules is the one implemented through a partnership between The Sahara Forest Project and Al Hussein Technical University (HTU) in Jordan. This Upskilling Program for Female Engineers in Agritech and Food Security is being piloted on 30 young females from various Jordanian governorates that got selected based on an open application and preset criteria. The participating trainees are exposed to field training at The Sahara Forest Project in Aqaba, technical lectures and seminars by practitioners, mentorship by female leaders, and inspirational talks by market experts.

sahara forest project

The objective of such programs should not be to only help the unemployed youth find jobs but rather to widen their perspective to be able to create opportunities for themselves and for their peers and local communities. Re-anchoring the value of agriculture, water, energy, and nature is by itself a trigger for transformation in the future of work in the MENA region.

Algae-Powered Buildings: A Futuristic Invention

In an environment where the carbon footprint is becoming increasingly large, we need to start developing sustainable solutions which can keep greenhouse gases at bay. It is estimated that the building industry contributes to almost 40% of all of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions! To put this into perspective, this consists to a whopping 90 megatons of emissions that are emitted annually in constructing new buildings and maintaining the infrastructure of pre-developed ones.

It is time for us to take action!

At EcoMENA, we believe in creating a sustainable future so that the building industry can thrive and support our future generations. For this to occur, innovation is key and algae is the solution to significantly reduce the carbon footprint.

algae powered buildings

How is Algae Helpful?

Not only is algae one of the fastest growing organic materials, but if utilized within the building industry, it has a huge impact on reducing the carbon footprint

  • Is a powerful tool that can be used to improve air quality through absorbing CO2
  • Buildings will be able to power itself as it can be used to produce algae biofuel as a byproduct

Let us have a look at three innovative algae-powered inventions:

Algae-Powered Buildings

Algae Powered Buildings is an exciting invention to help you reduce your heating bills to a startling zero! As sunlight hits your building, the algae multiplies generating biomass and heat.

This is stored within the management center that can be used to reduce your electricity and power requirements, thereby reducing the greenhouse gases that are usually released.

Algae-Powered Breathing Pavilions

Air quality is a challenge that many industrialized cities face currently. To eliminate this significant issue, breathing pavilions are to be created in order to produce breathable oxygen.

This powerful invention by Adam Miklosi – oxygen bars – is used to help make our ecosystem sustainable and environmentally friendly!

Algae-Covered Buildings

To create biofuel on a larger scale, Algae Buildings can filter air in its vicinity and improve its quality in surrounding areas. As outlined by the 2009 report released by The Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the recommendation of the cultivation of algae on the sides of existing buildings has been made. They say it is one of the most promising methods to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations.

The BIQ House in Hamburg is the first algae-powered building in the world

Currently, our building sector is focused on designing structures that are contemporary and technologically advanced. However, we need to redirect our focus towards creating innovating plans that are sustainable and will reduce our environmental footprint as well as eliminate sickness of buildings.

At Certified Energy, we deliver to this mission. Constantly aspiring to find renewable materials that will help make our environment more ecological, we are experts in ESD consulting.

Water Scarcity in Jordan: An Overview

Being one of the most arid countries in the Middle East, Jordan is facing severe water shortages. The current per capita water supply in the country is 200 cubic meters per year which is almost one-third of the global average. To make matters worse, it is projected that Jordan’s population (currently at 6 million) will reach 9 million by 2025 causing a drastic decline in per capita water availability to measly 91 cubic meters. Read on to know more about water scarcity in Jordan:

water scarcity in jordan

 

State of the Affairs

Groundwater resources account for 54% of Jordan’s total water supply, and are being threatened by pollution due to over-pumping of aquifers, seepage from landfill sites, and improper disposal of dangerous chemicals. Agricultural sector is responsible for about two-third of Jordan’s total water consumption.

Jordan is currently ranked among the top five countries most threatened by water shortages. More than 75 percent of the population lives in cities which are often located away from water bodies.

Management of water resources is therefore a big challenge for the Jordanian government which has been trying to reduce the rising demand for water through public awareness campaigns. A large fraction of freshwater supplies is contributed by aquifers which are threatened by overpumping and pollution. Managing the supply as well as the demand end of water resources has assumed tremendous importance in the country.

Future Strategy

The government may start water supply management initiative by enforcing regulation on water extraction from groundwater aquifers. The absence of strict laws is leading to illegal well drilling, reckless use of water and unsustainable extraction of water from aquifers. Aquifers in Jordan are being used at twice the recharge rate which is hampering natural replenishment process and may eventually lead to drying up.

The Jordanian government may also take initiative in renovating old and rusted water pipes that supply private homes with domestic water supplies. For example, in the United States alone, water leaks are responsible for wastage of 1 trillion gallons of water every year, which is equivalent to the annual water usage of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami combined.

Furthermore, rusted pipes can cause a change in the color and taste of the water, triggering additional water loss through the disposal of dirty water. Therefore, repairing old water pipes, and replacing them after 2-3 decades is very important.

A key component of water supply management is utilizing alternative sources of water such as wastewater treatment plants, which allow reuse of wastewater. This not only creates an additional water supply source, but also reduces the reliance on the natural water supplies, such as ground water, giving aquifers more time to replenish and recharge. Importantly, wastewater treatment is a potential source of energy, through harnessing the methane/biogas produced by municipal and industrial sewage.

wastewater treatment plant

Furthermore, wastewater treatment plants reduce environmental pollution by extracting wastewater that is usually disposed off into rivers and aquifers in the form of runoffs. The government has been planning to build wastewater treatment plants across Jordan, such as the Amman-Zarqa wastewater treatment plant. However, these plants have yet to be built, and Jordan has yet to use wastewater treatment to its full potential.

Conclusion

Water shortage has significantly increased stress on water resources in Jordan. Aquifers have reached historically low levels, water demand is rising exponentially, water pollution is rising and mismanagement of water resources continues unabated. Water scarcity is a big threat to Jordan’s industrial development, economic growth, food production and overall well-being of its population.

Jordan has already been forced to tap into non-renewable water resources from fossilized deep-water aquifers. The government and citizens should work together to find plausible solutions to tackle the water scarcity plaguing the country.

Water Shortages in MENA: A Trigger for Resilience & Innovation

Water has been – and will continue to be – a key shaper of life on earth. It is a major driver for the rise, dismantle, and displacement of civilizations. History has shown that water could be a cause of peace and conflict among nations.  From a more practical perspective, water is at the heart of socioeconomic and environmental development agendas. The MENA region is the most water-scarce region in the world, a situation being magnified by climate change and political instability. While the impacts of such amplified water challenge are becoming more visible, the indirect and unmeasured impacts on security and stability are expected to increase dramatically and rapidly in the coming years.

Most of the water resources existing in the Middle East are transboundary, a comprehensive and integrated water cooperation on the regional level seems like a far-fetched dream. Moreover, internal (state level) water hotspots that continue to grow and expand at an alarming rate are anticipated to trigger social unrest and migration challenges.

Some examples of countries and areas where internal water hotspots have been magnifying political, human and development challenges include Yemen, Jordan, Palestinian Territory, and the southern part of Iraq.

Global and Local Water Partnership

Water is essential for our survival

Water in MENA – A Factsheet

  • Almost 4.5 % of the world’s population lives in the Middle East but they have only 1% of the global water resource availability.
  • 60% of the population lives in areas affected by water shortages and 71% of GDP is produced in these areas.
  • 12 out of the 17 most water-stressed countries in the World are in MENA.
  • 18 out of 22 Arab States stand below the renewable water resources scarcity annual threshold of 1,000 m3 per capita, and 13 below the absolute water scarcity threshold of 500 m3 per capita per year.
  • 60% of its population lives currently in areas of high-water stress, compared to the global average of 35%.
water scarcity in mena

MENA is world’s most stressed region

The Positive Side to Water Scarcity

When the concept of water diplomacy is put on the table, the MENA region forms a perfect multi-dimensional platform to bring such concept to practice as it embraces several examples of jointly held water resources. Water cooperation can bring countries together, build bridges between people, and avoid conflicts.

A positive side to severe water shortages in MENA is the endless potential for more innovation and cooperation for resilience and adaptation within the various water using sectors. The MENA region is acknowledging the water, energy, and food nexus as a key determining factor for the region’s wellbeing and prosperity. The COVID-19 pandemic is only confirming that and expediting action on a more synergetic approach for tackling energy, water, and food insecurities.

A resource that was once considered sacred by ancient civilizations is back in the scene with more emphasis on its value as a human right, economic enabler, and peace maker. Unlike many other development goals that may vary between oil-producing and non-oil producing countries, water security seems to be the common factor across the MENA region.

water-scarcity-jordan

Undoubtedly, such potential for innovation and adaptation demands several enablers to be in place, including streamlined policy reforms, data and knowledge management, capacity development, infrastructure investments, private sector engagement, and community participation. Amidst all this, science remains a solid base that would fuel all enablers and ignite action, assuming that a multi-disciplinary and inter-connected approach is followed and optimized.

Paper Bag Boy’s Message to the World

Abdul Muqeet, also known as the Paper Bag Boy, has risen from being just another ordinary student to an extra-ordinary environmentalist. Ten-year old Abdul Muqeet has demonstrated remarkable commitment to saving the environment in the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere, and has been a poster-boy for environmental campaigns in the Middle East. Here he shares his views on environment, recycling and public awareness.

It is said that you should break your goals down into small steps which you can accomplish each day. Set a goal, and approach it in a simple and basic manner. When I started my environmental campaign couple of years back, I had no idea that within a short span of time I would be invited to UNEP Tunza Conference in Indonesia or a film featuring myself will be run at CoP18 in Doha.

My endeavor began with collection of old newspapers and then making simple shopping bags out of it. My main objective was to spread environmental awareness and educate people about the harmful effects of plastic bags. Public awareness is essential to the success of any waste management program as people will start caring for the environment only on realizing ecological and health impacts of their day-to-day activities. Industrial pollution, environmental degradation, water scarcity, climate change are some of the burning issues nowadays which, if not tackled, will have serious effects on the coming generations.

Plastic wastes, as you may be aware, as one of the biggest source of pollution nowadays. We must not use it for our convenience; rather have the commitment to avoid the usage of plastic. Let us discuss some of the major harmful effects of Plastic. The decomposition of plastic takes a very long time, running into hundreds of years.  When we throw plastics all around, animals like camels and cows eat these plastics which choke their digestive systems ultimately leading to a painful death. Our drainage system is also blocked by accumulation of plastic wastes thus making our city dirty.

Another important issue in that of global warming, i.e. emission of harmful gases like carbon dioxide, methane and carbon monoxide. The safe limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is 350 parts per million (ppm), but it is rapidly increasing day by day, and has reached high level of 392 ppm. A tough time is in store for humans if the carbon dioxide concentration reaches 400 ppm as the resulting temperature rise will aggravate melting of glaciers.

I would like to share few basic tips that may help us in reducing plastic consumption in our daily time. First of all, say NO to plastic, use eco-friendly bags for your shopping. Shopkeepers can start charging for plastic bags so customer will re-use bags again and again. Many companies use lot of plastic packaging to attract customers which could be avoided by implementing more creative ideas of marketing. Many supermarkets and packers unnecessarily use excessive amount of packaging which should be discouraged.

Any small action to save our Mother Earth would make a big difference to humanity. I believe that we all shouldn’t think about how I as a single person can save the earth, rather we should all believe that each one of us can make a difference by doing our part towards the environment. As our president, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said “Saving Climate, is not the responsibility of the government alone, it is the responsibility of each and every person, every citizen to save the environment.

We all should realize our duties and responsibilities towards conservation of natural resources. A small step in our day-to-day life can make a big difference for the environment. It is our sole responsibility to care for Planet Earth and make it a better place to live for the present and future generations. 

I humbly request you to join my campaign to stop use of plastic bags. Say NO to Plastic, and insist on eco-friendly bags. You can also give me more ideas how we can work together for a better future. Our late Baba Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may his soul rest in peace) was very keen to save environment and trees. He changed this land from desert to a lush green place which we enjoy today. He once said that man has to be kind not only to humans but also to animal and plants, as God bestows kindness on those who show kindness to others. Hence, we all should follow his footsteps and make sure do our best to save environment.

My concluding message to all of you is

  • Plant more tree
  • Use less water,
  • Do more recycling
  • Avoid use of plastics.

Last but not the least, I would like to remind one and all that Everything on Earth can be Recycled but not Time. So please dont waste time, act as fast as possible to save the Environment.

5 Simple Ways You Can Help Stop Wildlife Poaching

Poaching is defined as the unlawful capture, shooting, and killing of wildlife. It has already been performed for a variety of purposes, including seizing the territory for human benefit, but more frequently, this has been done for a variety of ludicrous reasons, such as the desire for rare species items like ivory, wool, body parts, leather, skeleton, or teeth. However, many wildlife organizations around the globe are creating Anti poaching laws and techniques, to help to save rare species.

Many creatures are added to the brink of extinction list each year as a result of poaching and international wildlife violations. Tigers, rhinos, and elephants are some of the world’s most severely endangered animals, and they are all attacked by formidable wildlife poaching organizations.

Illegal-wildlife-trade

Wildlife trade is a serious conservation problem worldwide

As a result of increased public pressure for tighter rules and procedures, governments worldwide have focused on conserving these magnificent species in recent decades. You may show care for these rare species in need all over the world by doing a variety of activities without putting in a lot of effort. There are also choices for you if you are a highly responsible individual!

If you are looking for some motivation to discover ways for helping conserve these rare animals, here is all you need to know for playing your part in stopping the poaching of wildlife.

1. Purchase Only Certified Goods

Unexpected products, such as paper and furniture, may lead to dangerous wildlife activities. Goods with the Forest Stewardship Council certification guarantee that all trees in the area that are being cut are replaced or allowed to re-grow naturally. Also, it implies that those areas of the original forest must be left unharmed, native folk’s rights are protected, and that local employees are paid fairly.

2. Buy Eco-Friendly Pets

Pets that are good for humans, animals, and the ecosystem are listed in the Eco Health Alliance collection. Many species are stolen from their native environments and supplied in pet markets in great quantities. This could cause damage to the wild species, and also cause distress for the living creatures themselves.

tarantula-pet

3. Petition For Restriction Of Legal Ivory Selling

The United States imposed new, rigorous controls on the local ivory trade in 2016, prohibiting the trade of ivory over national borders and restricting ivory trophy purchases to two per hunter annually. Unauthorized ivory is frequently sold as historic, circumventing federal regulations.

California, Nevada, New Jersey, Hawaii, New York, Washington, and Oregon have ivory restrictions by the federal legislation. Push your regional legislators to focus more attention on both legal and criminal Ivory Trades By Contacting Them.

4. Report Unlawful Trading Of Wild Species

The Internet has highly reduced the wideness of the world in terms of communication. So, now it is simpler and easier to uncover illicit wildlife marketing whenever you see it. Wild leeks are an organization that was created by the Elephant Action League, which enables everyone to submit a complaint of wildlife violations anywhere in the world anonymously.

help stop wildlife poaching

5. Sustainable Seafood

Many marine animals are pushed to the edge of extinction because of overfishing. Despite the fact that some of the rare marine species are now illegal to be fished, many of them are still legally sold in markets. You should always look for sustainable seafood items through the Marine Stewardship Council before buying any seafood.

The Rapid Degradation of Wadi Gaza

In recent years, environmental crisis has worsened in the Palestine, Gaza Strip in particular, with solid waste, sewage and air pollution being the major issues. The key reason for environmental degradation in the Gaza Strip has been the difficult economic situation and an unending Israeli blockade. Wadi Gaza (or the Gaza Valley) which is located in the middle of Gaza Strip has been transformed from being the most substantial natural ecosystems in Palestine to the most deteriorated regions.

Wadi Gaza can be described as one of the largest natural wetlands in Palestine with a length of 105 km. This area has been represented as a natural habitat, encompassing a wide variety of fauna and flora species. Such eco-region is aiming at preserving the wetland ecosystem as well as minimizing the deterioration of its natural resources.

wadi gaza

Due to its significance as a natural region, Wadi Gaza was declared as a natural reserve in June 2000. However, Wadi Gaza and its wetland ecosystem are degrading at an alarming pace with each passing day with major threats posed by the discharge of large amounts of wastewater and municipal solid waste along its bed.

Wastewater comes as an effluent from two sources around Wadi Gaza; wastewater treatment plants and sewer systems. When those two effluents combine, they form a river of wastewater, more than 5 km long, before its discharge into the Mediterranean Sea. Besides wastewater, Wadi Gaza is being used as a landfill for disposing huge amounts of solid waste and construction debris. The leachate generated from accumulated solid wastes has high contaminant concentrations which makes the situation more dangerous.

The worsening pollution in Wadi Gaza is having devastating impacts on the ecology, wildlife as well as the public health of the communities around the valley. The widespread use of pesticides, due to increase in agriculture in Wadi Gaza, is posing serious threats to wildlife and biodiversity. Poaching activities are also affecting many species, causing them to become extinct

In terms of potential solutions, governments and many organizations have tried to solve the problems as much as possible or at least alleviate the effects. Despite the delay of its establishment due to the political and economic situation in Gaza Strip, interim central wastewater treatment plant can be considered as one of the most efficient solutions to Wadi Gaza and Gaza city as it aims at improving the environmental situation.

Moreover, the importance of this project lies on restoring the stream of the Gaza Valley to its normal nature reserve to receive rainwater only as well as reducing the pollution of seawater. The project also includes planting the area which is surrounded by the plant and setting-up an irrigation network in order to maintain Wadi Gaza as a natural reserve. However, the plant is facing serious issues in its operation, such as the shortage of electricity and diesel due to decade-long Israeli blockade of Gaza strip.

Environmental awareness can be an important tool in protecting ecological havens like Wadi Gaza. Environmental awareness is an effective educational method which may help Palestinians to realize the importance of conservation of Wadi Gaza as well as teaching them various techniques to understand the consequences of activities which can affect adversely to the valley.

One of these programs which relied on that concept is to research the history of Wadi Gaza to connect the outcome with the environmental strategies of the valley from different perspectives. This program has stimulated more interest among Palestinian people to enhance ecotourism as well as demonstrate the significance of Wadi Gaza through using public awareness techniques.

A good example is conducting youth tracks for the first time in Gaza Strip, Wadi Gaza in particular, under the umbrella of the Palestinian Sport and the Environment Committee and Palestine Wildlife Society – Beit Sahour (West Bank), by the Arab Youth Climate Movement “AYCM” – Gaza, Palestine, which is a part of the Arab Youth Climate Movement (AYCM). Such bodies aim to create a generation of educated youth who can recognize and deal with threats from climate changes which threatening nature.

  • The first environmental track in Wadi Gaza which is regarded as one of the most remarkable projects in environmental awareness programs in the strip, have had several advantages for the Palestinian environment as it aimed at emphasizing on the need for urgent procedures to preserve the natural reserves, including Wadi Gaza as well as maintaining the unique biodiversity available in such ecosystems. Beside these advantages, the participants on this track recognized at the first time the natural environment with watching the manifestations of biodiversity in the region. Consequently, some protective approaches have been proposed after understanding deeply the concept of the wildlife conservation. Thereby, such programs would be a perfect vehicle towards conserving the natural reserves as well as promoting ecotourism in that area.

  • The second environmental track in Wadi Gaza. This track had been implemented as a second phase in order to complete the first one as well as fulfill the core purpose of such tracks; namely, emphasis on the need for urgent action to preserve the Wadi Gaza and maintaining the unique biodiversity available in this area.
  • The Environmental exhibition entitled: “Protecting biodiversity and developing ecotourism in Palestine”. The program has been accomplished through environmental exhibition, which was held on May 19, 2016 and took place at the Gaza Zoo. The activity consisted of two parts. The first was carried out through a discussion among the participants about the impact of climate change on biodiversity as well as distribution brochures in order to inform the participants of the types of animals and plants which live in Palestine. The second part was showing a collection of photographs and information for the plants and animals and some photos of the recent environmental tracks. The participants concluded the activity with a tour in the zoo in order to recognize the animals more, especially those living in the Palestinian environment.

Conclusion

Wadi Gaza, one of the most significant nature reserves in Palestine, is witnessing rapid degradation due to anthropogenic activities including but not limited to discharge of municipal sewage, dumping of solid wastes, rampant use of pesticides and illegal poaching. Although many projects have been initiated to safeguard Wadi Gaza, some have not worked appropriately, the others have been closed for one reason or the other.

Consequently, urgent steps by responsible parties are needed to protect the reserve in a sustainable way. Effective environmental laws and legislation should be imposed to protect Wadi Gaza and other natural habitats in the Palestine. Last but not the least, Palestinians must be directly involved in Wadi Gaza conservation initiatives in order the handle the prevalent issues holistically.

What is the Best Temperature for an Air Conditioner During Summer?

Finding the ideal air conditioner temperature during summer can be challenging, yet it significantly impacts comfort and energy efficiency. The most cost-effective setting for your thermostat in summer is often 78 degrees Fahrenheit, according to recommendations by ENERGY STAR, a division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Setting your thermostat to this temperature can help balance comfort and efficiency, ensuring your home stays cool without causing a spike in your energy bills. Depending on personal preferences or specific conditions, slight adjustments can be made to find the perfect balance.

air conditioner efficiency

The experts at https://www.housepro.net/ac-repair/ also tell us that by utilizing fans and ensuring proper air circulation, it can help maintain a comfortable environment without overworking your AC. By making small tweaks and considering humidity levels, homeowners can create an ideal indoor climate throughout the hot months.

Understanding Air Conditioner Efficiency

Understanding air conditioner efficiency involves comprehending key metrics and ratings that indicate how effectively a unit uses energy. Primary factors to consider are the Energy Star ratings and the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER).

What Energy Star Ratings Mean

The Energy Star rating is a key indicator of an air conditioner’s efficiency. Products that earn this label meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These units typically use 10-30% less energy than non-certified models, which can result in significant cost savings.

Energy Star certification also means that the air conditioner has been tested for its energy consumption and cooling capacity. This ensures that it performs consistently well under various conditions. Choosing an Energy Star-rated unit not only reduces electricity bills but also minimizes environmental impact by lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Optimal Temperature Settings for Summer

Setting your air conditioner to the right temperature during summer involves balancing comfort with energy efficiency. Specific temperature recommendations and adjustments for humidity levels can make a significant difference.

The 78-Degree Benchmark Explained

Setting your thermostat to 78 degrees Fahrenheit is widely recognized as the ideal temperature for summer. It ensures a comfortable indoor environment while minimizing energy use.

Maintaining a 78-degree setting when you’re at home can keep the air inside cool enough without overburdening the system. For many, this balance helps conserve energy, leading to reduced electricity bills and a smaller environmental footprint.

How to Efficiently Heat and Cool Small Spaces

Balancing Comfort and Cost

Adjusting your air conditioner to different settings throughout the day can optimize both comfort and savings. When you’re away from home, increasing the temperature by a few degrees can save energy.

A programmable thermostat can automate these changes, ensuring that you return to a cool home without manually resetting the temperature. At night, slightly lower settings can aid sleep while still managing electricity costs efficiently.

Adjusting Settings for Humidity and Health

Humidity levels play a crucial role in determining the optimal temperature for an air conditioner. In regions with high humidity, setting the thermostat to 77°F at 40% humidity or 78°F at 50% humidity is advisable.

Indoor air quality also impacts health and comfort. Ensuring your air conditioning unit is set correctly will help reduce potential health risks like mold growth or respiratory issues caused by high humidity. Keeping doors and windows closed while the air conditioner is running further aids in maintaining optimal humidity levels indoors.

Health Monitoring With a Vegetarian Diet: Key Blood Tests

A vegan diet can become a great contributor to your overall health condition. Eating too much meat can raise your cholesterol and lead to obesity. While a vegan diet can have a lot of health benefits. Studies show that a plant-based diet full of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals can lower your risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and some cancers. This type of diet usually has less saturated fat and cholesterol, and more fiber, which helps with healthy digestion and weight management. However, there are some risks associated with a vegan diet. Humans are used to eating meat, which is also biologically justifiable. That’s why it’s important for vegans to get regular check-ups. In this article, we’ll talk about some of the important blood tests and exams you should get if you’re on a plant-based diet. Also, if you want to have access to all your medical records, you need to get into the idea of what is virtual phone number by eSimPlus. They’re the best virtual phone number provider, so you can stay connected to the internet anywhere.

tests for vegans

Tests for Vegans

There’s a list of things vegans should get checked out once or twice a year, at the very least.

1. General blood test

This is a basic test that can help you see if there’s anything wrong with your body. Even if you’re not on any special diet or following any specific guidelines, it’s still worth getting it done.

2. Protein

So, if you’re not eating enough protein, or your diet is wrong, that could also affect your total protein levels. If you don’t get enough protein from animal sources, like meat and dairy, you can try adding more plant-based options like soybeans and legumes. And you can also check your amino acid levels, which are the building blocks of protein.

Include the veggie protein sources, such as well as fortified veggie milk, soy foods, quinoa, chia and hemp seeds, and nutritional yeast.

3. Iodine

Iodine is crucial for the thyroid and metabolism, but vegans might have a problem with it because they don’t eat iodized food. Seaweed and seafood are good sources of iodine, but if you don’t include those in your diet and live somewhere with low iodine levels, you could get deficient.

4. Zinc

Zinc is mainly found in animal products and is essential for metabolism, the immune system, and cell repair. It has the same absorption mechanism as iron. It’s not well absorbed from plant-based foods, so vegans and vegetarians are at risk of zinc deficiency.

Vegan Recipes for College Students

5. Iron and Ferritin

A lot of vegans and vegetarians have a common problem, which is iron deficiency. It happens in 90% of cases. The best way to get this element is through heme iron, which is found in meat and liver. 60% of women have a latent iron deficiency, while 10% have an obvious one, leading to iron deficiency known as anemia.

Eat lots of iron-rich foods like beans, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Dark leafy greens and fortified breakfast cereals are also good. To help your body absorb more iron, try combining these foods with vitamin C-rich foods, like citrus fruits and bell peppers.

6. B12

Vegans and vegetarians are more likely to be deficient in this vitamin because it’s mainly found in animal products. Include foods that are fortified with B12, like veggie milk, cereals, and nutritional yeast. Also, make sure to take supplements or eat fortified B12 foods on a regular basis.

7. Calcium

Calcium is a mineral that’s important for strong bones and teeth. If you don’t get enough of it, it can cause problems like brittle bones or tooth decay. The most common reason for calcium deficiency is not eating enough dairy products. Choose plant-based milks like soy, almond or oats, which are all fortified with calcium. You can also go for calcium-fortified tofu and orange juice. Tahini, almonds and leafy greens like cabbage and kale are good sources of calcium too.

8. Omega-3

Omega-3 is something that vegans and vegetarians need to be careful about. If you’re on a strict diet and don’t eat meat, fish or dairy, you might be low on omega-3s. Usually, vegans have lower levels of omega-3 than non-vegans. If you really want to avoid supplements, that’s fine, but you should know that omega-3 comes from Antarctic krill, so it’s only in fish. A lot of vegans don’t want to take supplements made from fish. If you look at plant-based sources of omega fats, they have more omega-6s and omega-9s. So, the balance will be off.

Try to include plant-based sources of omega-3s like flax seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, and algae supplements.

If you plan your diet well, being vegan can be a great option if you want to help yourself and the environment. But it’s a big change that requires some sacrifices. That’s why it’s important to be aware of your health and get regular check-ups.

Easy Ways to Avoid Wastage of Food

Food waste has environmental, economic as well as social impacts. The rising per capita income and expenditure, living standards, affordability and our careless behavior towards food is taking a significant toll on our finite resources.

In shopping malls, restaurants and eateries, it is common to see plates piled up with uneaten or partially eaten food. Unfortunately, affordability is leading to rampant increase in food waste generation all over the Middle East, especially GCC.

food-waste-qatar

للنفايات الغذائية آثار بيئية واقتصادية واجتماعية

 

The gravity of the situation can be gauged from the fact that over 300 tons per day of food waste is being generated in Bahrain which constitutes around 11% of the total municipal waste. All this waste is dumped in bins and collected by Municipal Contractors and transported to Askar landfill site located some 25 km away from the city.

People in the Middle East must understand that we are importing major quantity of our food items and throwing it carelessly in the garbage is not feasible. It is estimated that around one fourth of all food purchased becomes rot and find its way to the garbage bin even before being used or eaten.

People tend to buy more than what they require or what they can consume and often leave the ‘ordered’ and ‘bought’ food half uneaten, which is in-appropriate to follow. Leaving the food behind is bad trend leading to more wastage as the food items bought are not being fully and efficiently utilized and ultimately end up in garbage bins.

In addition, the food wastage is more witnessed at buffets, where choices of dishes are many and quantity unlimited. The answer or attitude towards our food should be ‘take only what you can eat’.

iftar-party-food-waste

The cost of uncooked and cooked food has increased sharply in recent years, putting more pressure on domestic budgets of the bread earners who are already struggling to cope with other elevated costs of living, housing, medication, transportation etc. Food waste prevention is the number one task for us to help reduce the amount of biodegradable waste going to the bins and then to the landfill.

In addition, if we implement food waste collections, then we remove a large element of the biodegradable fraction from the waste bin. We also know that when food is sent to landfill it produces more greenhouse gases as it biodegrades.

The situation calls for developing better food habits and Take Only What You Can Eat attitude respecting Mother Nature. The “social and cultural solution” lies in the smart way of dealing with food and avoiding waste generation.

Let us practice the following easy ways to avoid wastage of food:

  • Buy specifically what you want and in actual quantities.
  • Buying food items especially fruits and vegetables in smaller quantities depending on use.
  • Optimize use of food items and eating the required food and even leftovers.
  • Don’t feel ashamed of taking/ packing ‘left overs’ in the parties, it does not affect your self esteem and reputation.
  • Daily checking the food items in your fridge/ deep freezer and in your fruit basket regarding items that may get rot/ expired. Utilize it or donate it before it becomes waste.
  • We need to follow our elders in “buying less and eating leftover food” which is becoming ‘out of fashion’ and ‘out of date’ due to our ‘modern day habits’.

Rationale for Solar Energy in MENA

The world is rife with news snippets concerning the development of solar power. The sun provides an infinite source of energy that takes off the burden on the renewable sources for power generation. In doing so, there are increased chances of conserving the limited energy reserves.

Already about 50% of the earth’s natural resources are in use. If this usage rate continues, we will run out of finite sources in no time. For instance, there is only enough oil left for the coming 46.2 years. Luckily, the development of solar energy serves as the light at the end of the tunnel.

gcc-solar

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) stretch has always been championed for its natural gas and petroleum deposits. Power generation from these sources has been significant. At the same time though, the West has taken to the development of clean energy sources and tech that furthers its penetration among the general masses.

A case in point is the work that Tesla is doing on solar roof tiling. These tiles resemble the traditional shingles. However, they collect 98% of the solar energy to generate electricity. Numerous regions are witnessing the growth of solar power like NJ Solar energy. The focus is on the use of solar power as a clean source of energy that lowers carbon emissions.

In this context, here is an in-depth look at the rationale for development of solar energy sector in MENA:

MENA – Potent candidate for solar power

The Middle East and North African region is responsible for delivering a third of the world’s petroleum supply. It produces about 2.5 million barrels of crude oil in a day. Along with this, the production of dry natural gas stands at 55 billion cubic feet daily. In addition to the rich fossil fuel reserves, the region is blessed with an abundant supply of sunlight too.

The direct solar radiation in the MENA region exceeds to 6 kWh/m2. Nearly all the countries in the Middle East and North Africa region have enough sunlight. This boasts substantial solar potential, therefore, setting the base for the development of solar power. The development of this clean energy source will also diversify the region’s power sources portfolio.

Meeting regional power demand

The development of solar power will meet the energy demands of MENA countries that do not have massive fossil fuel reserves. For instance, there are frequent blackouts in Egypt. Other countries, such as those in the GCC region, also feel the pinch. Although they boast vast natural reserves yet many of these are flagged for other priorities.

The infiltration of solar power will, therefore, help reduce the region’s reliance on energy imports. For example, Morocco imports roughly 90% of energy. Likewise, Jordan imports about 95% of its energy, which comes for a cost of nearly 16% of its gross domestic product.

Rising pollution levels

A recent study indicates that air quality in MENA is extremely poor. In fact, carbon dioxide emissions have nearly doubled. As per the study, some cities in the region rank as cities with the world’s worst air quality.

Air pollution in MENA is 5-10 times worse than the recommended pollution levels marked by the World Health Organization (WHO). Total carbon emissions in the region stand at 755.5 million. As of 2013, about 125,000 people died in the region due to household and outdoor air pollution. These whooping figures call for the need for the enhanced development of clean energy in MENA.

Global warming and climate change

Scientific investigations reveal that heat waves in the Arabian Gulf (or GCC) region can make it virtually uninhabitable. Researchers estimate that the wet-bulb temperature in this area would rise more than the human body’s threshold by 2070. The wet-bulb temperature is a measure of the humidity and heat matrixes. And it will rise above the tolerant levels if the carbon emissions continue at the prevailing rate.

These findings show that the MENA region is on the brink of facing severe implications of climate change. The midday temperature in the UAE alone has soared up to 5 degrees Celsius and more. As a consequence of global warming, the water resources of MENA are also threatened with only 1,000 cubic meters left for each person. Again, this syncs with the need of controlling carbon emissions, which is something that solar energy offers.

Key takeaways

All these factors encourage the development of solar power in the Middle East and North Africa region. Solar power provides a clean source of energy that minimizes carbon emissions and helps preserve renewable energy resources.

Although MENA is touted as an oil-rich area, several of its countries also face power shortage. The region suffers from poor air quality markers and a potential threat of climate change due to excess carbon emissions. Solar energy is a viable solution for all these problems. Fortunately, plans for the use of solar power are in the pipeline.