Ecotourism Industry in the Middle East

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Ecotourism is one of the fastest growing segments in the global tourism industry and the Middle East is no exception. The ecotourism industry, catalyzed by advancements in transportation and information technology, has brought hitherto unknown geographical landscapes into public limelight, thus bringing tourists to pristine natural locations across the Middle East.

Dead-Sea-Jordan

Middle East has also been witnessing growing popularity of ecotourism among native and expatriate populations. Some of the Middle East nations popular with ecotourists include Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Egypt, Oman and Tunisia. Due to its sunny climate, unique landscape, distinct culture and rich history, the region offers wealth of opportunities for ecotourists including but not limited to vast deserts, special flora and fauna, exotic animal species and stunning beaches.

In recent years, there has been significant increase in the number of eco-retreats in countries like the UAE, Qatar and Oman. Local tourists are showing keen interest in staying at resorts that focus on environmentally-responsible and sustainable practices. In addition, tourists from the region, especially families, are traveling to far-off places, such as Southeast Asia and Cyprus, for nature-based activities like snorkeling, kayaking, trekking and bird-watching which is a welcome sign for the natural tourism industry.

Jordan – A Role Model

Jordan has been one of the earliest pioneers of ecotourism in the Middle East. The country has acknowledged ecotourism as a key cluster that can mainstream economic and social development within environmental protection. Jordan has 10 natural reserves that provide tourists with exceptional experience in enjoying nature and helping communities.

Middle East offers attractive opportunities for ecotourists

The Jordanian experience in ecotourism has gained global recognition and became a model for partnerships between the government, NGOs and local communities. Infact, the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) has reported that its sustainable tourism projects in 2015 generated more than USD 2 million, when 175,000 people visited the nature reserves, 65 per cent of whom were foreigners.

Key Enablers

For ecotourism to flourish and achieve its development vision in the Middle East, several enablers need to be in place. “Governments, private sector and international agencies would need to work together to provide a conducive legal and regulatory framework, access to land, financing instruments, local human and institutional capacity development, attractive investment climate as well as convenient and affordable transportation”, explains Ruba Al-Zu’bi, Scientific Research Director at Shoman Foundation. “In addition, enabling more local innovation and social entrepreneurship would really be the added value to sustain the future of ecotourism in the region”, she adds.

Exaggerated extravagance is another key issue that needs to be addressed by stakeholders in eco-tourism industry in the Middle East. “I think elegant architecture and interior furnishings are perfectly acceptable elements of an ecotourism attraction, and usually the locals do it best, but there is a tendency in the Middle East to be excessively flashy which may be discouraging to nature tourists”, says Tafline Laylin, an environmental journalist and travel writer.

Air Conditioning Repair: Important Signs to Watch For

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There are plenty of homeowners out there who make the decision to purchase an AC unit for their home, without necessarily understanding how best to care for the unit. After all, it is often as simple as turning it on and letting the AC unit get the job done. While there is generally no trouble with letting a brand new unit cool the air around your home, there is always a chance that something might go wrong. If you do not understand the warning signs, you might end up paying much more than you normally would for repairs to your HVAC.

If you want to ensure that you are never blindsided by expensive air conditioning repair in Austin, it would be a good idea to learn all about the warning signs. Here are just some of the things to watch out for to ensure that your AC unit is running at its full potential.

Any strange or foul odor is a clear warning sign

Perhaps one of the most significant warning signs when it comes to keeping your AC unit well-maintained is the presence of strange or foul odors around the unit. Whether it happens to be a leak which eventually grew mold, or perhaps one of the circuits that burned out, neither scenario is good for your AC unit.

The mold, in particular, can be a health hazard if you continue to neglect your air conditioner. As soon as you start to smell something strange coming from the unit, it would be best to contact experts in AC repair.

When it is not functioning as it should

While it is obvious that an air conditioner that is incapable of cooling the air around your home as it used to is due for repair, it can be easy to underestimate just how serious of a situation it can be. There could be all manner of issues causing trouble within your AC, and it is often something you cannot fix on your own. If it is not functioning as well as it should, call a professional to see if they can find the root of the problem.

When your AC is producing excess moisture

As a follow-up to the first warning sign, many people tend to ignore moisture around the AC as it is a natural part of the cooling process. However, keep in mind that an excess of moisture is a tell-tale sign that your AC needs immediate attention. It is not typically something homeowners notice, which is why they end up paying more for repairs than they should.

Conclusion

From excess moisture to the potential for mold, it is a shame how some homeowners neglect the physical state of their AC unit until it is too late. Fortunately, the tips above will help you catch some of the warning signs before it is too late. For those who want the best experience when it comes to heaters and air conditioners, this article offers plenty of options to ensure your AC unit lasts.

Bridging the Gap: Empowering Farmers with Accessible Patented Technologies

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Mixing cutting-edge technology with good old dirt-under-the-fingernails farming is one of the perfect ways to grow not just plants but the whole industry. We’re talking about bridging the big old gap between high-flying patented tech and the everyday heroes who feed us—our farmers.

So, it is only natural for farm enthusiasts to look out for methods to sprinkle some innovation across those fields like it’s fertilizer for progress. The good news is that there are some super cool ways to implement tech upgrades in farming, and here are some of them.

farm tool patents

Sharing the Tech Wealth with Open Source

Imagine if farmers could tap into a treasure chest of tech like it’s a community garden. That’s the magic of open-sourcing patented farm tech. It’s basically tech companies saying, “Here, take our high-tech tools and make your crops sing.”

Instead of keeping all those smart innovations locked up, they spread them around so even small-scale growers can get in on the action. This way, rather than each farmer reinventing the wheel (or the tractor), they can just download blueprints for greenhouses or seed-planting gadgets and get their hands dirty, making things grow better.

Breaking Down the Jargon Jungle

Let’s face it: patent lingo can be as thick as pea soup. It’s like trying to read ancient hieroglyphics — confusing and a bit intimidating! So, here’s an idea: Let’s translate all that legal mumbo jumbo into regular talk.

Imagine patents written so farmers could actually get what’s going on without scratching their heads too much. We mean clear guides showing how to file patent applications in Canada, the U.S., and other countries. You can even complement these resources with how to use the cool tech stuff in plain words or maybe even with some friendly pictures or videos thrown in.

This way, instead of patents collecting dust on a shelf, they become real tools farmers can use day-to-day. Making things straightforward helps bridge the tech gap big time!

Providing Practical Education and Training

Providing farmers with shiny new tech is never enough. It is like handing someone a spaceship and forgetting to teach them how to fly it. That’s where the need for some good old education comes in.

We’re talking hands-on workshops, online classes, and maybe even some ‘how-to’ YouTube series that walk farmers through the nuts and bolts of using their new gadgets. Show them the ropes in ways that stick, whether it’s planting sensors or drone scouting or using mobile apps.

With this kind of practical know-how flooding into farming communities, we’ll see tractors buzzing and productivity soaring. And because knowledge is power (literally), these educational efforts help turn technology into real results out there in the fields.

Tiny Licenses for Big Farming Dreams

You’ve probably heard of micro-loans, but what about micro-licenses? Think bite-sized permission slips that let farmers use patented tech without the financial migraine. Micro-licensing deals could be the golden ticket for growers who usually can’t afford the fancy stuff.

These easy-on-the-wallet agreements give small-scale farmers the green light to innovate without breaking the bank. They get to play with the big boys’ toys, like precision agriculture tools or new crop varieties, and all it takes is a little bit of dough and a handshake deal.

Imagine this: better farming through technology, now accessible even if you’re not rolling in cash. This kind of move flips the script—transforming patent access from a pipe dream to everyday reality on farms everywhere.

benefits of hydroponic farming

Cash for Farming Innovators

Incentivizing the local geniuses to innovate right there in their backyard through grants is another way to empower farmers with accessible patented technologies with the aim of bridging the gap. That means all those smart-as-a-whip folks get a boost with some sweet grant money specifically for cooking up new farming tech.

This isn’t about importing shiny gizmos—it’s about fueling homegrown talent to solve local farm snags. It’s like saying, “Here’s some cash, now go invent something that’ll make your tomatoes happier or your cows healthier.” These grants can kickstart creativity and maybe even lead to inventions other farmers will want in on, too.

Grants are like seed money (pun intended) that can grow into tech tailored just right for the regional challenges. And the best part is? They might even sprout up as tomorrow’s must-have farm tool patents!

Role of Artificial Intelligence in Environmental Sustainability

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In recent years, the environmental issues have triggered debates, discussions, awareness programs and public outrage that have catapulted interest in new technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence. Artificial Intelligence finds application in a wide array of environmental sectors, including natural resource conservation, wildlife protection, energy management, clean energy, waste management, pollution control and agriculture.

Artificial Intelligence (also known as AI) is considered to be the biggest game-changer in the global economy. With its gradual increase in scope and application, it is estimated that by 2030, AI will contribute up to 15.7 trillion of the global economy which is more than the current output of China and India combined. India outputs around a million engineers every financial year, 20% of whom are jobless. AI has grown so much that it can place a jobless engineer in an industry-based company, if he has done an artificial intelligence course.

artificial-intelligence

The UN Artificial Intelligence Summit held in Geneva (2017) identified that AI has the potential to accelerate progress towards a dignified life, in peace and prosperity, for all people and have suggested to refocus the use of this technology, that is responsible for self-driving cars and voice/face recognition smart phones, on sustainable development and assisting global efforts to eliminate poverty and hunger, and to protect the environment and conserve natural resources.

AI Applications in Environmental Sector

Many organizations like Microsoft, Google and Tesla, whilst pushing the boundaries for human innovations, have made considerable efforts in developing ‘Earth Friendly’ AI systems. For instance, Google’s very own DeepMind AI has helped the organization to curb their data center energy usage by 40 percent making them more energy efficient and reducing overall GHG emissions. As data centers alone consume 3 percent of global energy each year, development of such AI’s not only improve the energy efficiency but also assist in providing energy access to remote communities, setting up microgrids and integrating renewable energy resources.

Installation of smart grids in cities can utilize artificial intelligence techniques to regulate and control parts of neighborhood power grid to deliver exactly the amount of electricity needed, or requested from its dependents, against the use of conventional power grids that can be wasteful due to unplanned power distribution.

With AI-driven autonomous vehicles waiting to break into the automobile market, techniques like route optimization, eco-driving algorithms and ride-sharing services would help in streamlining the carbon footprint and reducing the overall number of vehicles on the road. But AI is already broadly used in the production of electric vehicles, with a zonal architecture solution making it easier for auto manufacturers to build and manage the critical software.

Viewed on a macro scale, the emergence of smart buildings and the smart cities in which they are built can leverage built-in sensors to use energy efficiently, and buildings and roads will also be constructed out of materials that work more intelligently. Taking a nod from natural patterns, material scientists and architects have developed innovative building materials from natural resources, such as bricks made of bacteria, cement that captures carbon dioxide, and cooling systems that use wind and sun. Solar power is increasingly present within cities and outside to supply larger urban area. These are the first early steps towards sustainable infrastructure cutting costs and helping to make us environmentally conscious.

Controlling industrial emissions and waste management is another challenge that can be dealt with the advanced learning machines and smart networks that could detect leaks, potential hazards and diversions from industrial standards and governmental regulations. For example, IoT technology was incorporated into several industrial ventures, from refrigerators and thermostats and even retail shops.

As scientists still struggle to predict climate changes and other potential environmental hurdles or bottlenecks due to lack of algorithms for converting the collected useful data into required solutions, Microsoft’s AI for Earth, a 50 million dollar initiative, was announced in 2017 with the sole purpose to find solutions to various challenges related to climatic changes, agriculture, water and biodiversity.

Other similar AI infused Earth applications are iNaturalist and eBirds that collect data from its vast circle of experts on the species encountered, which would help to keep track of their population, favorable eco systems and migration patterns. These applications have also played a significant role in the better identification and protection of fresh water and marine ecosystems.

There are various institutions, NGOs and start-ups that work to deliver smart agricultural solutions by implementing fuzzy neural networks. Besides the use of both artificial and bio-sensor driven algorithms to provide a complete monitoring of the soil and crop yield, there are technologies that can used to provide predictive analytic models to track and predict various factors and variables that could affect future yields.

Berlin-based agricultural tech startup PEAT has developed a deep learning application called Plantix that reportedly identifies potential defects and nutrient deficiencies in soil. Analysis is conducted by software algorithms which correlate particular foliage patterns with certain soil defects, plant pests and diseases.

Artificial Intelligence can provide invaluable assistance in environment protection and resource conservation

AWhere and FarmShots, both United States based companies use machine learning algorithms in connection with satellites to predict weather, analyze crop sustainability and evaluate farms for the presence of diseases and pests. Adaptive irrigation systems in which the land is automatically irrigated based on the data collected from the soil via sensors by an AI system is also gaining wide popularity among the farmers for its important role in water management.

Developments in the Middle East

As more countries drastically shift towards the use of AI and other advanced technologies, this enormous wave has hit the Middle East region too. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Qatar have shown a promising commitment towards the development and implementation of technologies like information technology and digital transformation, to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the healthcare sector and to provide citizens with knowledge and skills to meet the future needs of the labor market.

By 2030, the Middle East countries are expected to be one of the major players in this field as the volatility of oil prices have forced the economy to look for new sources for revenue and growth. With numerous untapped markets and sectors, the future investments in AI in the MENA region are estimated to contribute to around 15 per cent of their combined GDP. It can also be expected that with this rapid growth, the Governments will also consider a much more aggressive approach towards using these technologies for putting together an effective model for environmental sustainability.

With many countries in the Middle East strongly committed to protect the aquatic diversity of its surrounding waters, an intelligent tracking system could help to prevent overfishing and contamination, and implement much more effective aquaculture techniques, innovations in sea farming and better utilization and protection of freshwater resources.

Future Outlook

Researchers and scientists must ensure that the data provided through Artificial Intelligence systems are transparent, fair and trustworthy. With an increasing demand of automation solutions and higher precision data-study for environment related problems and challenges, more multinational companies, educational institutions and government sectors need to fund more R&D of such technologies and provide proper standardizations for producing and applying them.

In addition, there is a necessity to bring in more technologists and developers to this technology. Green AI is steadily becoming a part in our daily lives, and its impact can be seen through the advancements made in the field of environmental sciences and environmental management.

Environmental Research in Arab World: Perspectives

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The Arab world is facing many environmental pressures ranging from challenges in resource management and water scarcity to air pollution and climate change, which all require serious scientific environmental research. Arab nations contribute 1.7 percent of the total value of budgets embarked for environmental research worldwide.

Leaders in Environmental Research

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Tunisia are the most active research countries in general science and environmental research. Scientific research has increased in the last ten years, with Egypt leading the Arab world, followed by Saudi Arabia for both the number and rate of publications produced.

environmental-research

Egypt has contributed at least double the amount of publications compared to other Arab countries since 2008, effectively contributing on average 26 percent of environmental publications cumulatively by 2015. This can be attributed in part to the size of Egypt’s population, accounting to a quarter of the Arab countries combined. Saudi Arabia has been enjoying a linear increase in research rates since 2008 (1.67 percent average annual document contributions per year), followed by Morocco (0.59 percent), Iraq (0.35 percent), and Qatar (0.18 percent).

Key Areas of Focus

Health and pollution as well as water science and technology are the fastest growing research subjects under environmental science in the Arab world, where research has increased twofold on average since 2008, with Egypt leading the Arab world in both disciplines. The slowest growing subjects are climate change and environmental policies, as well as biodiversity and conservation.

Research and Society

Beyond the numbers, results of research projects and publications in Arab countries are rarely reflected in policies, and they seldom contribute to solutions to environmental problems. In contrast to the weak contribution and impact of researchers working in the Arab countries, Arab researchers working abroad contributed well in many areas related to environmental science, with a profound impact on society.

Results of research projects and publications in Arab countries are rarely reflected in policies

Roadmap for Success

The enhancement of environmental research to produce impact in the Middle East requires creating enabling conditions and a stimulating work environment, and linking research to policy. A fundamental step towards achieving this goal is building an infrastructure that connects research institutions, industry and society and creates an integrated system that ensures sustainable development.

Budgets dedicated to environmental research should be enhanced, centers of excellence created, and research collaborations among Arab countries and with other centers worldwide strengthened. Publication mechanisms for research institutes have to be improved and modernized in order to facilitate the publication process.

In order to fill a growing gap, research in the areas of policy development and climate change should be encouraged. Finally, in order to reverse the brain drain caused by a large proportion of Arab students who study abroad never returning, investment in young researchers and intellectual capital should be promoted.

Note: For more information, please download the full AFED report from this link

Environmental Best Practices in the Cement Industry

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Worldwide, cement production  has almost tripled during the last 15 years, mainly on account of high population growth rate, rapid urbanization, increasing industrialization and large-scale infrastructural development. The growth of cement industry in MENA is marked by factors that are directly connected with sustainability, energy efficiency and raw material supply. Although the factors differ from country to country and cannot be generalized, there are major concerns regarding shortage of raw materials, GHG emissions, dependence on fossil fuels and lack of investment in technological innovations.

For the cement sector, key points for an environment-friendly industry are use of alternative raw materials and alternative fuels, energy-efficient equipment and green technologies. As the use of alternative fuels and raw materials is still uncommon in the Middle East, guidelines and regulatory framework have to be defined which can set standards for the use of alternative or waste-derived fuels like municipal solid wastes, dried sewage sludge, agricultural wastes, drilling wastes etc.

Saudi-Cement-Sector

1. Sewage Sludge

An attractive disposal method for sewage sludge is to use it as alternative fuel source in a cement kiln. Dried sewage sludge with high organic content possesses a high calorific value. Due to the high temperature in the kiln the organic content of the sewage sludge will be completely destroyed. The resultant ash is incorporated in the cement matrix. Infact, several European countries, like Germany and Switzerland, have already started adopting this practice for sewage sludge management.

The Middle East region produces huge quantity of municipal wastewater which represents a serious problem due to its high treatment costs and risk to environment, human health and marine life. Sewage generation across the region is rising by an astonishing rate of 25 percent every year. Municipal wastewater treatment plants in the Middle East produce large amounts of sludge whose disposal is a cause of major concern.

For example, Kuwait has 6 wastewater treatment plants, with combined capacity of treating 12,000m³ of municipal wastewater per day, which produce around 250 tons of sludge daily. Similarly Tunisia has approximately 125 wastewater treatment plants which generate around 1 million tons of sewage sludge every year. Currently most of the sewage is sent to landfills. Sewage sludge generation is bound to increase at rapid rates in the Middle East due to increase in number and size of urban habitats and growing industrialization.

wastewater-treatment-plant

The use of sewage sludge as alternative fuel is a common practice in cement plants around the world, Europe in particular. It could be an attractive business proposition for wastewater treatment plant operators and cement industry in the Middle East to work together to tackle the problem of sewage sludge disposal, and high energy requirements and GHGs emissions from the cement industry.

the use of sludge in cement kilns will led to eco-friendly disposal of municipal sewage. Sewage sludge has relatively high net calorific value of 10-20 MJ/kg as well as lower carbon dioxide emissions factor compared to coal when treated in a cement kiln. Use of sludge in cement kilns can also tackle the problem of safe and eco-friendly disposal of sewage sludge. The cement industry accounts for almost 5 percent of anthropogenic CO2 emissions worldwide. Treating municipal wastes in cement kilns can reduce industry’s reliance on fossil fuels and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

Municipal Solid Wastes and Biomass

Alternative fuels, such as refuse derived fuels or RDF, have very good energy-saving potential. The substitution of fossil fuel by alternative sources of energy is common practice in the European cement industry. The German cement industry, for example, substitutes approximately 61% of their fossil fuel demand. Typical alternative fuels available in the Middle Eastern countries are municipal solid wastes, agro-industrial wastes, industrial wastes and crop residues.

The gross urban waste generation quantity from Middle East countries has crossed 150 million tons per annum. Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Kuwait rank in the top-ten worldwide in terms of per capita solid waste generation. Solid waste disposal is a big challenge in almost all MENA countries so conversion of MSW to RDF will not ease the environmental situation but also provide an attractive fuel for the regional cement industry. Tens of millions of tyres are discarded across the MENA region each year. Scrap tyres are are an attractive source of energy and find widespread use in countries around the world.

MSW Fuel Pellets

Agriculture plays an important role in the economies of most of the countries in the Middle East and North Africa region.  Despite the fact that MENA is the most water-scarce and dry region in the world, many countries in the region, especially those around the Mediterranean Sea, are highly dependent on agriculture. Egypt is the 14th biggest rice producer in the world and the 8th biggest cotton producer in the world. Similarly Tunisia is one of the biggest producers and exporters of olive oil in the world.

Such high biomass production rates should be welcomed by the cement industry since these materials comprise cotton stalks, rice husks and rice straw which serve ideally as alternative fuels. However it is ironical that olive kernels – the waste from Tunisian olive production – is exported to European power plants in order to save fossil fuel-derived CO2 emissions there, while Tunisia imports approximately 90% of its energy demand, consisting of fossil fuels.

Drilling Wastes as an Alternative Raw Material

The reduction of clinker portion in cement affords another route to reduce energy consumption. In particular, granulated blast furnace slags or even limestone have proven themselves as substitutes in cement production, thus reducing the overall energy consumption. The Middle East oil and gas industry has made a lot of effort in order to reduce the environmental impact of their activities.

Drilling_Waste_Management

Drilling muds can be used in cement industry as a source of energy

The use of drilling wastes and muds is preferable in cement kilns, as a cement kiln can be an attractive, less expensive alternative to a rotary kiln. In cement kilns, drilling wastes with oily components can be used in a fuel-blending program to substitute for fuel that would otherwise be needed to fire the kiln.

Conclusions

The cement industry can play a significant role in the sustainable development in the Arab countries, e.g. by reducing fossil fuel emissions with the use of refused derived fuels (RDF) made from municipal solid waste or biomass pellets. The cement companies in the Middle East can contribute to sustainability also by improving their own internal practices such as improving energy efficiency and implementing recycling programs.

Businesses can show commitments to sustainability through voluntary adopting the concepts of social and environmental responsibilities, implementing cleaner production practices, and accepting extended responsibilities for their products.

The major points of consideration are types of wastes and alternative fuels that may be used, standards for production of waste-derived fuels, emission standards and control mechanisms, permitting procedures etc. Appropriate standards also need to be established for alternative raw materials that are to be used for clinker and cement production.

Building a Plastic Bottle Village From Rubbish

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This is an inspiring true story that demonstrates a solution to the rubbish problem, especially discarded plastic bottles, plaguing our planet! We hope it will encourage and inspire other visionaries to take similar actions around the world!

Robert Bezeau moved to the tropical paradise of Bocas del Toro, Panama, after he grew tired of the cold weather in his home country of Canada. He loved Panama, but at the same time, he was dismayed by the rubbish removal left behind by more than 100,000 tourists visiting the area every year. While he walked the beaches, he began collecting discarded plastic bottles. Over the course of a year and a half, he collected more than one million of these littered plastic bottles.

plastic-water-bottles-middle-east

 

While he litter picked, Robert contemplated the enormous scale of the ugly problem. He could see it was only going to get worse without intervention. The plastic bottles were accumulating on land and going out to sea. Some were breaking into smaller bits and being eaten by animals. His heart told him he had to find a way to rid the island of this rubbish removal. Further, he needed to find a solution that would not only work on the island but could be replicated around the world.

Bocas del Toro has only one landfill and the people on the island simply can’t keep up with the rubbish removal left behind by tourists who litter the beaches. They truly can’t afford to build another landfill either. Plus, landfills are toxic places that allow toxins to escape into the air and groundwater. Robert thought deeply about this problem and what solutions might impact the enormous volume of plastic bottles littered on the Panamanian landscape.

Suddenly one day, Robert had an epiphany! He saw in a dream an entire village made out of plastic bottles.

Some people have great ideas but they never act on them. However, Robert is a doer and he began to put his grand idea into action immediately. His dream of building a village from discarded plastic bottles, the primary component to the rubbish removal left behind by tourists, began to become a reality. On an eighty-three acre parcel of land nestled into the Panamanian jungle, and spreading out to the sea, Robert has planned the development of community with twenty plastic bottle houses.

Robert and his team have already built some model homes, including one in the design of a medieval castle! In addition to the twenty houses, Robert is building a community center for yoga classes and a centralized garden for fruits and vegetables. People are coming from all over the world to see this remarkable plastic bottle village in the making! Some of them are going back to their own communities to try to instigate similar projects.

The construction of these plastic bottle houses is a very unique type of constructions. Lightweight wire cages are built. The cages are then filled with PET bottles and attached to steel rebar. They are then assembled to create the outer and inner walls of the houses and buildings. Cement is then applied over the cage and rebar walls. When the construction is all finished, the houses look very much like a traditionally built house. However, the “bones” of the house are anything but traditional!

There are some other unique construction features of these plastic bottle homes that make them perfect for the hot humid climate of the Panamanian tropical jungle. Vents are placed near the floor and also at the top of the walls to create a chimney effect for air circulation and ventilation. This ensures that mold spores do not take hold, a common problem in a tropical humid environment.

It may be hard to imagine at first that houses built from plastic bottles are actually stronger than traditional houses, but it’s true! In fact, these unique houses are far more earthquake resistant than a traditionally built home since the cage and rebar design gives a unique combination of great strength mixed with flexibility. In other words, the ground can rumble during an earthquake and the flexible cage design will rumble right along with it without breaking the structure of the house!

Plastic bottles accumulates on land but culminates its journey in water bodies.

Another amazing attribute of this unique construction is how energy efficient these houses are. It turns out that AIR, as in the air inside the plastic bottles inside the cages used to build the walls, is one of the best insulators in the world! Readings have been taken on hot days where the temperature differential between the inside of these plastic bottle homes and the outside was SEVENTEEN DEGREES CELSIUS!! This is with no air conditioning in a hot tropical climate. Amazing!

Think of all the energy this will save, not to mention that they are using solar panels to capture sunlight for electricity! On a day when the outdoor ambient temperature was an almost unbearable forty-eight degrees Celsius (one hundred eight degrees Fahrenheit), the inside temperature was thirty-one degrees Celsius (eighty-eight degrees Fahrenheit).

One of the reasons Robert Bezeau has been so successful is he has a special way of communicating. He can grab people in their heart and soul. He express things in a way that makes people think about things from a totally different perspective than they’ve ever thought about them before. In an interview for a documentary, Robert stated:

“When a bottle of plastic is standing on a shelf in a store, that bottle is not a threat to the planet until someone buys it. When you buy that bottle and you break that seal, YOU are the threat.”

By building his village of plastic bottle houses, and inviting people in to see them, Robert is giving the world a blueprint to what to do about this plastic rubbish problem. He is hoping that people copy his methods and he’s even offering workshops to people who want to learn how to build plastic bottle houses. He has found a solution to a plastic waste removal problem that has seemed so enormous and so daunting that many experts have felt there would never be a satisfactory solution… as they say, NEVER SAY NEVER!

Robert doesn’t want to stop at building plastic bottle houses from rubbish. He wants to build warehouses, business complexes, shelters, barns, and other structures. He basically wants to round up all the plastic waste removal in the world and put it to good use. He’s even advocating for food manufactures to redesign their bottles so they interlock like puzzle pieces to make this type of construction even easier!

If in your travels, you have the opportunity to see a plastic bottle house or building, made out of rubbish, please post a picture of that structure to the Clearabee social media pages, Facebook and Twitter. This is the type of story that needs to go viral in a big way! Clearabee is an on demand rubbish removal company based in the UK. They are on a quest to divert as many plastic bottles and other rubbish from landfills as possible. They current divert about ninety percent of the waste they collect from landfills! This ranks at the very top of their industry among all countries.

Jordan’s Journey Towards Climate Action

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Jordan has the distinction of being the third Arab country to submit its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) prior to Paris COP21, in addition to being the first Arab country to address climate change and its implications on vital sectors through a national policy (2013 – 2020). Moreover, Jordan is taking serious steps to mainstream climate change into development policies and strategies starting with the National Women Strategy (2012) and the National Poverty Reduction strategy (2013), the Jordan Vision 2025 which is considered to be the overall developmental blueprint for the country (2015) to the recently launched National Water Strategy (2016 – 2025). On another front, Jordan is preparing a National Green Growth Strategy (NGGS) through the Ministry of Environment and a number of sectoral action plans to drive its green economy agenda.

Jordan_Global_Warming

Jordan’s INDCs Highlights

Due to it participatory and bottom-up approach, Jordan’s process of preparing its INDCs was perceived as a good case study by the GIZ/UNDP international partnership on Mitigation and MRV. While the process started by soliciting technical input and conducting national consultations, this consequently led to a state of creating wide political support.

The INDCs process was the first climate change process in Jordan that included a national target for reducing GHG emissions, an objective that was considered out of reach only a few months before. An inter-Ministerial breakthrough was accomplished during the process by bringing together four Ministers and five from Secretary General level to the INDCs validation meeting.

Within its INDCs, Jordan commits to 14% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 compared to “business as usual” (BAU) projected emissions, 12.5% of which is conditional upon availability of finance and enhanced support. The two targets will be achieved based on implementing at least 70+ projects (43 sectoral projects resulted from the mitigation scenario assessment articulated in the 2014 (TNC) Report to UNFCCC and another around 27+ sectoral priority projects proposed concurrently or newly planned and not listed in the TNC Report, i.e., proposed after the development of the TNC. USD 5,700,000,000  is the total financing needs from which Government has already secured USD 542,750,000 to meet the unconditional target, which means the Country is in need of USD 5,157,250,000 to fulfill its conditional target.

Sectors covered within the INDCs include: energy (including transport), waste, industrial processes, agriculture and land-use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) and solvents. Thus, a large share of the measures will be implemented through sectoral strategies under the responsibility of the sector’s ministries (energy, water, agriculture, health, and others). The National Committee on Climate Change is mandated to monitor the progress in the implementation of the Climate Change Policy on the national level and thus the INDC.

Climate Governance Framework

For Jordan to continue as one of the climate leaders in the region, not only in developing policies and setting targets, but also in realizing them; climate change mitigation and adaptation needs to become everybody’s business. Mobilization of resources and finance is closely linked to the mobilization of actors. The ability of various stakeholders and sectors to relate to the issues and impacts of climate change is crucial and forms a high priority. Such mobilization would be orchestrated by the Ministry of Environment but performed by several Ministries, Civil Society Organizations and other partners.

An efficient and effective governance framework should be put in place to allow for more productive and measurable interaction amongst various stakeholders and across key sectors. Linkages with the existing national and institutional platforms within targeted sectors are necessary to optimize efforts and reduce redundancy. This may include the green economy steering committee and technical groups, other committees related to the Rio conventions etc.

Jordan can utilize this opportunity to trigger non-state actors to get organized and thus, to have stronger impact on climate action. The Paris climate process is considered a successful example of global environmental governance. It is time this is cascaded and localized in Jordan on a solid base of transparency, accountability and representation.

Private Sector Perspective

Private sector and climate change enjoy a multi-dimensional relationship that needs to be well understood by policy-makers and business leaders. Type, size, location, environmental performance as well as socioeconomic impact of companies are all factors to be considered when mobilizing climate action.

The Ministry of Environment (MoEnv) – as the national climate change focal point – may bear the responsibility of compiling information about the Jordanian private sector players. In consultation with the National Climate Change Committee and sector-specific business associations, businesses should be classified according to their climate action priority and urgency.

Active businesses associations should proactively engage in the process by organizing themselves through the formation of a climate coalition or network that includes representatives from key sectors impacting and impacted by climate change (i.e. energy (renewable energy, energy efficiency, transport, power generation), industry, water, tourism, agriculture etc).

green-economy

Considering the strong momentum in the energy sector from local and international companies, below are some of the private sector needs when it comes to climate action:

  • Clear Market Mechanism and coherent legislative measures according to national preferences to trigger and incentivize low-carbon investment.
  • Assessments of resilience to climate risks and call for new financial instruments to stimulate alternative energy and efficiency projects as well as green bonds.
  • Clear and consistent policies and robust monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) — that will complement business efforts to stimulate innovation as well as collaborative actions across value chains.
  • Transparency and disclosure regarding financial investments and policies in relation to all energy-related activities — including fossil-based and alternative.
  • Develop and scale up alternative and renewable energy sources, promote energy efficiency, end deforestation and accelerate other low-carbon options and technologies such as ICT.
  • Hastening the shift to a low-carbon economy in an economically sustainable manner will generate growth and jobs in both the developing and developed world.

While the main Paris outcomes attraction point to businesses might be financing; nevertheless, to the majority of leading companies the policy advocacy, and enhanced transparency and accountability are important enablers for increased competitiveness. While the MoEnv is currently engaging the industrial chambers, it should direct more effort to bring on board other associations like EDAMA, Farmers Unions, Green Building Council, Int@j, chambers of commerce and investors association. Other cross-cutting and supporting sectors such as ICT and consulting services may also be included in the process.

Upon organizing the private sector engagement platforms, the MoEnv can facilitate the following activities with support from international partners and agencies:

  • Prepare a climate finance strategy for Jordan with a pipeline of feasible private sector projects.
  • Develop – through a joint public-private effort – a short and medium-term capacity building and technical assistance plan for Jordanian businesses from all sectors related to climate change and green growth covering mitigation and adaptation needs.
  • Map innovation and technology development and transfer needs on sector and sub-sector levels to guide discussions and potential partnerships for achieving climate mitigation and adaptation.
  • Integrate private sector needs and priorities within various multi-lateral and bi-lateral cooperation strategies and plans.
  • Enhance linkages between businesses and business associations (from key sectors) and the climate experts to facilitate exchange of experience and deployment of solutions.
  • Enhance linkages between businesses, municipalities and NGOs/CBOs to support climate change priorities on community level.

While the Paris Climate Deal carries tremendous opportunities for businesses in the form of financing, technology development and transfer as well as capacity building. It also opens wide doors for climate leadership and enhanced policy dialogue.

NGOs Perspective

NGOs can play multiple roles within the climate action and environmental domain. They could act as agenda setters, lobbyists, domain experts, implementation partners and enforcers. While growing in number and scope with each passing year, environmental NGOs in Jordan are struggling to become a model in civil society participation, collaborative governance and social impact.

Those non-for-profits are challenged to not only be the watchdogs and outreach arms but also act as community organizers and change agents that would lead the transformation to green economy. On another front, many of the CBOs are acting on environmental challenges in their neighborhoods and demonstrating strongly the need for good governance and organized advocacy and implementation.

environment-NGOs-Jordan

Visionary NGOs are also potential connectors within the climate governance frameworks. They should proactively seek to organize themselves through formation of networks and/or coalitions in order strengthen their position and role towards various environmental issues and also enable them to defend their interests through proper platforms.  NGOs are leading environmental activism and policy advocacy around the globe. Jordan has the track record of several success stories in environmental protection triggered by civil society movement and action. Climate change forms a new complex topic that requires innovative and collective action across a number of sectors.

Role of Media

Despite being a global phenomenon, climate change coverage seems to be stronger outside the Arab region. Quality and timely engagement of media as well as credible investigation of issues are crucial for enhanced public awareness and access to information. Going beyond reporting events towards monitoring of progress and celebrating achievements is a priority to support climate action. Jordan has what it takes to lead the way in increasing the Arabic media content on climate change.

Through stronger networking and targeted capacity building activities, journalists and bloggers would benefit from exposure to issues raised and explained by experts and activists. Media should be part of every implementation step not only to cover an event but more importantly as a trigger for public attention around a credible fact. The National Committee should consider institutionalizing the communication with media and ensuring that media representatives are carefully selected to be part of the process.

Parting Shot

At the operational level, recent developments make Jordan’s progress in implementing renewable energy generation projects as impressive. Sustaining such momentum in the low-carbon domain and pursuing new opportunities based on the Paris Climate Agreement is becoming a strategic choice for Jordan. Thus, public and private sectors, civil society organizations as well as research and academia need to be part of the process and contribute to boosting climate action. Understanding the opportunities open for different players within different sectors is essential to move the exceptional policy work into implementation.

Note: The first part of the article can be read at this link

Disclaimer: Some of the information contained in this article has been based on content developed by the writer during an assignment with GIZ Jordan on the comparative analysis of Jordan’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) that was conducted in February 2016 in partnership with the Ministry of Environment.

Protecting Iraq’s Southern Marshlands

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In mid-January 2021, Iraqi President Barham Salih approved the country’s decision to join the Paris Climate agreement. Iraq signed on to the international climate accords in 2016 but has spent the past few years negotiating its ratification through its parliament. The Paris Climate agreement encourages signatory countries to cut their carbon emissions and invest in the sustainable energy sector. Such a move might prove difficult for Iraq, a country in which oil provides 90% of government revenue and amounts to 99% of national exports.

Despite these challenges, Iraq has now committed to modernizing and decarbonizing its energy sector for its growing population. By joining the Paris Climate accords, some Iraqi environmental activists hope that the central government might turn its attention to addressing one of the nation’s most infamous ecological problems, the southern Iraqi marshes.

iraq-marshland-protection

The Mesopotamian Marshes form a significant part of southern Iraq as well as some of south-western Iran. The marshlands once covered over 15,000 square kilometers and were home to between 300,000 and 500,000 people. Local inhabitants formed a unique culture such as constructing communal buildings of woven reeds called mudhif. People who lived in the marshes historically worked growing rice, raising water buffalo, and fishing.

Inundated by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the marshes were a unique site of environmental diversity. Of particular note is the diversity of aviary species who nest in the marshes as they migrate. The marshes are also home to a multitude of fish species, wolves, and otters.

Efforts to drain the marshlands began in the mid-20th century. Originally, the British administrators of Iraq thought to drain the marshes to reduce malaria carrying mosquitos and make the land suitable for other crops. When the Ba’athist party controlled Iraq, the drainage of the marshes accelerated as water from the Tigris and Euphrates was diverted to other irrigation projects. By the 1980s, the Iraqi government began to drain areas of the marshes to explore oil drilling operations. Damming projects in Iraq and Syria upriver also contributed to the slowly disappearing marshlands in southern Iraq. In response, the Iraqi government began resettlement programs which took locals from their land and disrupted their cultural practices.

The late 1980s and 1990s unfortunately saw the near obliteration of the marshlands. Anti-government Shia insurgents and marsh inhabitants fearing the destruction of their heritage used the marshlands as a base for their small scale resistance. Iraqi heavy war machinery could not infiltrate the marshes and thus could not pursue retreating militants who operated a hit-and-run style insurgency against the Saddam regime. Historically, the Iraqi marshlands served as a refuge for other anti-government fighters such as during the Zanj rebellion against the Abbasid Caliphate in the 9th century or the Beni Lam resisting the Ottoman government in the 19th century.

In response to the 1991 uprising against the Iraqi government, Saddam Hussein began rapidly draining the marshlands. It is clear that his true intention for draining the wetlands was to punish the marsh population for supporting the rebellion as his soldiers targeted villages in the marshes. His efforts effectively drained 90% of the wetlands by 2001. The draining of the marshes resulted in both ecologic and communal suffering. Over 200,000 Iraqis living in the marshes were displaced. It also led to environmental damage including increased desertification and salinification of nearby waterways and soils.

wetlands-arab

After Saddam Hussein’s regime fell, efforts to rehabilitate the marshlands began. Around 40% of the marshes were inundated again by 2004. According to a report made by the United States Congressional Research Service, the American government looked to invest in marshland restoration projects in southern Iraq. Despite the reflooding attempts from the Iraqi government with assistance from USAID, the biodiversity of the marshes did not return in full as the sections of marshland that were inundated did not connect to one another.

Beginning in 2005, Iraqi environmentalist groups such as Nature Iraq partnered with the Italian government to commence the “New Eden Project”. Basing the name on the conception that the land between the Tigris and the Euphrates housed the Garden of Eden due to the region’s fertility, the New Eden Project seeks to advocate for the local marsh population, restore biodiversity, and study the region academically. Such academic studies have produced detailed maps of the region and scientific research on the progress of restoring the marshlands.

Other efforts to protect the marshlands come in the form of international recognition such as the marshes obtaining the status of a UNESCO Heritage Site in 2019 and being designated as Ramsar Wetlands in 2007. In July of 2020, the United Nations Development Program funded a project by an Italian NGO to protect the culture of the marshes and promote it as a location to tourists in the Dhi Qar governorate. The hope is that the project, called the “Sumerian”, will boost economic and educational opportunities for locals by bringing in eco-tourists and good quality environmental jobs. Additionally, the Ministry of Water Resources in Iraq has a designated task force called the Iraqi Marshlands and Wetlands Recovery Center which assists in regulating and rehydrating marshlands.

With Iraq now closer to joining the Paris Climate agreement, the country faces both challenges and opportunities. Iraq must move its economy off its current dependency on oil. Some of the oilfields themselves sit on land that was previously marshland. To achieve this, Iraq would be able to access more international funding to invest in green energy projects. Once Iraq joins the Paris Climate accords officially, the next step will be creating a national climate action plan.

Hopefully, environmental organizations in Iraq and those abroad with interests in restoring Iraq’s southern marshlands will be able to influence the national climate plan to protect the wetland’s culture and biodiversity.

Buying and Trading Gems in the Middle East – A Brief Guide for Beginners

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Ever felt the pull to dive into the glittering world of gem trading? If yes, you probably aim to explore this shiny universe in the Middle East.

But before scaling those jewel-capped peaks, you’ll need some sherpa-level guidance. The good news is that this article will lay down a sparkling path that leads you from “huh?” to “heck yeah!” on begging and bargaining for those precious stones in the Middle East.

gems trading middle east

Do Your Homework

Before you dive into the sparkling pool of Middle Eastern gems, the first thing to do is to sharpen your smarts. Swipe through info on sapphires to emeralds—get to know their stories, why some are rarer than a blue moon, and what makes folks say “wow” over clarity or color.

Also, catch up on cut and weight terms, too (because size matters here). It’s like prepping for a treasure hunt; the better you know your map—the sparklier the loot!

Get Connected

Making friends in high places is a smooth move if you’re looking to win at the Gem game.

Start chatting up locals who know their bling, such as trusted jewelers and sharp-eyed gemologists. You’re after folks who’ve got golden reputations that sparkle as bright as their wares.

These pros can give you the lowdown on what’s hot, what’s not, and help steer you clear of duds. Plus, they’ll often share insider tips that could be worth their weight in diamonds or gold.

Navigate the Marketplaces

Knowing where to head is vital when you’re ready to shop for gems. Middle Eastern bazaars are like labyrinths loaded with treasure, but each marketplace has its own flavor.

Some spots cater to big spenders looking for top-tier rocks, while others are a mixed bag where bargaining can snag you a steal. So whether you’re after posh storefronts or bustling stalls, picking the right spot is key to finding your gem without going on a wild carpet ride.

And if you are looking to avoid the misadventure of getting lost in a sea of stalls and shops but want to land some serious treasure like those showstopper Diamondere sapphire rings, you will want to take your search online.

Haggling Like a Pro

Haggling is the main event when it comes to trading gems. Roll into that marketplace ready to wheel and deal like you’ve got ice water in your veins.

Kick off with an offer that won’t ruffle feathers but keeps your bank account from bawling. Play it coy on how much you can drop on those sparklies; let them think they’re schooling you while you wrangle the price down.

Remember, always wear a poker face—even if you’re internally high-fiving yourself—and keep those offers cool as a cucumber. With some back-and-forth banter, chances are good you’ll both walk away feeling like winners.

environmental impact of mining diamonds

Quality Verification

Once you’ve found a gem that’s caught your eye, don’t take the plunge without some quality backup. This is where you get all detective-like.

Insist on a second opinion from an independent gemologist (think of them as your Sherlock Holmes for shiny things), or make sure there’s legit paperwork involved.

Sellers should be cool with offering certificates of authenticity from recognized institutions—like GIA or HRD Antwerp—that confirm your jewel isn’t just masquerading as the real deal. Think of it like gem insurance; it’s all about peace of mind, knowing you’re not getting duped by a pretty piece of glass.

Payment Smarts

When it’s time to cough up the cash, don’t just fling your money around. Choose a payment method that’s as secure as a vault.

If you’re in the mood to pay with cold, hard cash, keep in mind it’s best for smaller buys—you don’t want to be that person waving wads of bills around for all to see. For the big-ticket items, a wire transfer or credit card might be your best bet; they leave a paper trail and sometimes throw perks back at you.

Just remember: transaction fees can bite—check them out so you’re not paying extra just for handing over your dough. And obviously—no handover should happen before everything is shiny on the legal side, too.

Shipping and Insurance

Once you pay for your gem, it’s time to get that beauty home. If you’re not pocketing your gem immediately, ensure its ride back is locked down tighter than Fort Knox.

Regarding shipping, double-dip on safety: trackable shipping options and insurance. Confirm the seller uses trusted shippers that’ll treat your new shiny companion with respect.

And because your precious is probably worth more than my entire comic book collection, ensure you have insurance. That guarantees that in any worst-case scenario—like if it goes MIA—you’re not left making sad faces at an empty ring box.

Everything You Need to Know About Psychotherapy

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Mental health has emerged as one of the most common contemporary health issues, affecting around 13% of the global population. The stigma surrounding mental health problems has made it important to look for effective therapeutic solutions. Psychotherapy has the potential to treat a wide array of mental disorders, ranging from depression to Schizophrenia to personality disorders. Read on to know more about psychotherapy techniques and its benefits:

What is Psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is a collaborative treatment process for treating mental health issues through the use of scientifically-validated verbal and psychological techniques. The relationship between an individual and a psychologist provides a supportive environment to identify and change the behavioral patterns or change troubling thoughts that are impacting the mental well-being of the individual.

talk-therapy

Psychotherapy can be helpful in the treatment of video game addiction, depression, low self-esteem, drug addiction, personal loss, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other mental health issues. The common psychotherapy techniques include talking, drama, story-telling or music.

Psychotherapy helps in understanding the behaviors and thoughts that contribute to the mental well-being and identify ways to modify them. Another important benefit is to identify the events, such as death of a near one, divorce or job loss, contributing to the mental illness and understanding which aspects of such problems can be resolved or improved. Psychotherapy can also assist to feel more in control of your life and regain lost enjoyment, besides aiding in the development of healthy coping skills for uncomfortable emotions and conflict-resolution.

Forms of Psychotherapy

There are various forms of psychotherapy, with some lasting only a few sessions, while others continuing for months depending on the individual’s requirements. Typically, an individual session last for around 45–90 minutes and may be one-to-one, in pairs, or in groups. In a group-based psychotherapy session, two or more individuals share experiences and learn from each other’s experiences. Nowadays, online therapy is also getting popular due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Couples therapy is a popular form of psychotherapy that assists partners to understand the reasons behind the mental illness of their loved one, and the changes required in communication, attitude and behaviors to help in easing the ailment. It can also help spouses to resolve relationship-related issues.

Human-Nature Relationship

Family therapy (also known as family counselling) help to address specific issues that are hampering the psychological health of a family, such as financial hardship, separation or death. Since family is the pivotal part of the team that helps people cope with mental disorders, it is crucial for family members to understand the trauma of their loved one, how they themselves can cope, and what kind of support they can provide.

How to Choose a Psychotherapist?

A wide range of mental healthcare professionals can help in the recovery of mental health disorders. These professionals work in in-patient medical facilities, such as large hospitals, and out-patient facilities, like schools and community mental health centers.

Before you choose a psychotherapist to consult for your mental health problems, it is essential to know about the qualifications, certifications and licensing requirement of the therapist. Typically, a psychotherapist can be a psychiatrist, psychologist, trained counselor, social worker or advanced psychiatric nurse. Usually, your physician will suggest the type of psychotherapy provider you need to consult but finding the right therapist is relatively easier when you have an understanding of the different areas of expertise and training.

Conclusion

In recent years, psychotherapy has assumed greater significance due to a rapid increase in mental health issues and the social stigma associated with it. In order to cope with thoughts, feelings and behaviors, it is advisable to rely on therapies, rather than medication. Psychotherapists can help people to live a happier, a healthier, and a more fulfilling life.

Environmental Initiatives in Middle East – Challenges and Remedies

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Environmental protection has become an increasingly important item on the social and economic policy agenda of Middle East nations. As I read last week’s piece titled “Environmental Impacts of Plastic Bags” I was struck by the succinct summary of the main problems with the ongoing use of plastic bags and how their effects can be felt in many ways, some widely publicized and others not. The article prompted a series of reflections upon other environmental initiatives emerging in the Middle East and North Africa, especially in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

In this article, I wish to share my thoughts on the current issues inhibiting local efforts’ success and possible means of overcoming them. Particular emphasis will be placed on widening regional environmental conservation narratives to include culturally-specific content, as well as empowering grassroots level projects.

Environmentalism: A Disjointed Narrative

Having studied in Cairo and visited Doha and Dubai several times, I can attest to the environmental degradation occurring in the Middle East. The case of plastic bags is one of many examples of poor environmental management and reveals multiple issues hindering success. Let us first examine the wide array of national level environmental mandates and legislation already present across the region.

Specifically, the rulers of Qatar and the UAE seem to be taking the lead by shifting their views and trying to address potential environmental limitations imposed by access to potable water and finite oil/natural gas reserves. I applaud these leaders for their work; my concern is that these initiatives come off as irrelevant to the realities of ordinary Qataris and Emiratis. Expatriates make up an overwhelming majority of the population in GCC nations, and should be given due importance in socio-economic development and environmental initiatives, alongside the native population..

In the case of Doha, which appears to have some recycling programs in place at Education City and Katara Cultural Village, their existence might be due to top-down mandates and perhaps some Western expatriates complaining that there is no place to throw out their recyclables. Without wider buy-in from indigenous populations and recognition of real benefits to recycling, conservation etc, the effects of such efforts will be minimal. Another worry is the low-level of enforcement measures in place to monitor the implementation and improvement of environmental preservation. Coupled together, such problems essentially take the sheen off such initiatives and can be seen as purely image-driven.

Religious Obligations and Ground Realities

Additionally, there appears to be a disconnect between the messaging being conveyed to residents in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates and the actual results one observes in these nations. For instance, there is a very apparent Islamic tradition being displayed throughout each country, as shown by the numerous state-sponsored religious building projects and “cultural” venues that celebrate the region as the homeland of Islam. Government officials and indigenous populations pride themselves on being the custodians of the religion, yet it seems that when it comes to environmental practices, tradition and historical knowledge are ignored. The Holy Qur'an has a number of specific references to important principles for environmental protection. 

Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) says in the Holy Qur'an:

“And Allah loveth not those who do mischief” (Surat Al Ma’eda, verse 64)

“And do no mischief on the earth after it has been set in order: that will be best for you, if ye have Faith” (Surat Al A’raf, verse 85)

Eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters (Surat Al-A’raf 7: 21).

“And do good as Allah has been good to you. And do not seek to cause corruption in the earth. Allah does not love the corrupters”(Surat Al Qasas 28:77)

The first principle which guides Islamic teaching on environmental sustainability is the concept of trusteeship. Being a khalifa (or guardian), a man should take all necessary steps to ensure that the entrusted property is passed on to the next generation in as pure a form as possible. This obligation, however, has gone by the wayside and undermines national images. Infact, the region’s Bedouin heritage and Arab sustainable practices also appear to be disregarded and treated as inferior to Western development theory.

All Is Not Lost

Despite these difficulties, along with the recognition that many MENA nations presently lack the capacity and infrastructure to rectify all environmental issues and face a sense of apathy towards environmentalism, I believe all is not lost. If we turn back to the earlier plastic bag case study, I see some options for ensuring greater community ownership and responsibility that could be applied to other environmental topics too. One thing that could help encourage a paradigm shift is a national media campaign illuminating the impact of plastic bag usage and advertising alternatives. Being a resident of Washington, DC, I have seen the city engage the public on this issue through the implementation of a plastic bag tax and highlighting reusable bags in local stores.

Additionally, it would be beneficial to draw upon the Islamic environmental traditions in marketing to the Arab world, in addition to leveraging the example of other locally-relevant respected religious and social figures. Essentially, the success of any environmental initiative stems largely from it being seen as fashionable and easy to do. In the case of plastic bag usage, lack of easy access to alternatives and the cheap cost associated with plastic bags enables the status quo. At a national level the argument could be made that importing plastic bags and having to deal with their after-effects are very costly to nations so a local alternative would be beneficial for all.

If local organizations and cultural centers (NGOs, mosques/other religious spaces, souqs) seriously began using reusable bags or handing them out as giveaways people may begin to disregard plastic bags and encourage others to do likewise. The creation of a dialogue in the public sphere and a partnership between the various segments of Khaleeji societies (native/expatriate, faith communities, governmental/non-governmental) could be a very powerful initiative and exceed government-only efforts to preserve the environment.