Sustainable Development and the Arab World

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Sustainable development is a pattern of growth in which resource use aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come. Arab world is facing major sustainability challenges in achieving social, economic and environmental goals. Extremely arid climate, acute water scarcity, high energy consumption and polluting oil and gas industry present a unique challenge in Arab countries.

There are four major dimensions of sustainable development – social, economic, environmental and institutional.

Social

Availability of energy has a direct impact on poverty, employment opportunities, education, demographic transition, indoor pollution and health, and has gender- and age-related implications. In rich Arab countries countries, energy for lighting, heating and cooking is available in the most convenient manner. On the other hand, more than 40 percent of the Arab population does not have adequate access to energy services. In poor countries, up to six hours a day is required to collect wood and dung for cooking and heating, and this task is usually done by women, who could be otherwise engaged in more productive activities.

Economic

Modern economies depend on a reliable and adequate energy supply, and developing countries need to secure this as a prerequisite for industrialization. Almost one-fifth of the Arab population relies on non-commercial fuels for different energy uses. All sectors of the economy — residential, commercial, transport, service and agriculture — demands modern energy services. These services in turn foster economic and social development at the local level by raising productivity and enabling local income generation. Energy supply affects jobs, productivity and development. Electricity is the dominant form of energy for communications, information technology, manufacturing and services.

Environmental

The production, distribution and use of energy create pressures on the environment in the household, workplace and city, and at the national, regional and global levels. The environmental impacts can depend greatly on how energy is produced and used, the fuel mix, the structure of the energy systems and related energy regulatory actions and pricing structures. Air quality is a major aspect of the quality of life leading to sustainable development in many areas of the world. Gaseous emissions from the exploration and burning of fossil fuels pollute the atmosphere. Compared to other countries, Arab countries experience higher emissions of oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide and volatile organic compounds. Air pollution control strategies are now being taken seriously, on both regional and national levels, and governments have taken important steps for air pollution control.

Institutional

Infrastructure is the backbone of any national energy system. Countries need to monitor the state of their major energy infrastructures to ensure a sustainable energy future. Many countries now depend on major energy infrastructures that are obsolete, inefficient, insufficient or environmentally unacceptable. The Arab energy market is growing at an accelerating rate due to higher consumption rates in the private, commercial and industrial sectors. This results in the need for a successful implementation strategy that can bridge the gap between the current supply and increasing demand. A smart grid network makes for the ideal bridge where the goals of modernization can meet those of a reliable public infrastructure.

Can Atmospheric Water Generators Resolve Egypt’s Water Crisis?

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Egypt faces an imminent water crisis which could jeopardize the country’s stability and regional dominance. Egypt is currently below the United Nations threshold of water poverty. The current water shortage in Egypt is 13.5 Billion Cubic Meters per year which is expected to continuously increase. According to hydrologists, a country is considered to be facing water scarcity if supplies drop below 1,000 cubic meters per person annually. Egyptian officials state there are currently around 570 cubic meters (150,000 gallons) of water available per person per year. This figure is expected to drop further to 500 cubic meters by 2025.

pollution-nile

The UN is already warning that Egypt could run out of the water (Day Zero) by the year 2025. Furthermore, the river Nile is the main source of water with around 85 million Egyptians depending on it. The river Nile is the backbone of Egypt’s industrial and agricultural sector and it is the main source of drinking water for the population covering 95% of the annual freshwater budget. However, as Ethiopia (a Nile upstream country), plans to start filling its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam by July 2020, this is expected to lower water to threatening levels in Egypt and negatively impact power generation at Egypt’s dam in Aswan which threatens Egypt’s water security.

Water Challenges in Egypt and Conventional Solutions

In addition, some of the major factors that play havoc with water security in the country are water losses due to the failure to rationalize water consumption, uneven water distribution, rising population, misuse of water resources, as well as the consequences of a higher standard of living, growth of industrialization, water pollution, the absence of actual control on factories disposal of hazardous waste materials in water, the increased use of chemicals in agriculture, inefficient irrigation techniques (mud and soil instead of sprinkler and drip irrigation), degradation of watercourses and drainage systems and the deterioration of the current water transmission pipelines, low public awareness of water scarcity and water quality deterioration.

Moreover, climate change effects on Egypt being a downstream river Nile country. Furthermore, challenges in cooperation with upstream Nile basin countries; besides, rising populations and rapid economic development in the upstream countries of the Nile (11 countries). All these factors are decreasing water quantity and quality in Egypt.

Conventional solutions for water resources include agricultural drainage water, desalinated brackish groundwater and/or seawater, and treated municipal wastewater. These resources represent merely 22.2% of the total available water resources and are generally used for agriculture, landscaping, and industry through specialized processes. Desalination is practiced on a small scale at present, mainly along the Red Sea coast.

AWG: A Promising Non-conventional Solution for Water Scarcity

Did you know that wherever air exists, water exists? At sea level, air contains roughly 1% water vapor, and even in the desert, a cubic area the size of a house can contain up to 16 liters of water, according to Harvard scientists.

Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) is a device that extracts water from humid air. Water vapor within the air are often extracted by condensation which is essentially cooling the air below its temperature, exposing the air to desiccants (substances which absorb humidity), or pressurizing the air. AWGs are useful where pure water is difficult or impossible to get because there’s nearly always a little amount of water within the air which will be extracted. In contrast to a dehumidifier, an AWG is designed to render the water potable utilizing two primary techniques which are cooling and desiccants.

Policy Recommendations for AWG Implementation in Egypt

The potential of private sector involvement in water management in Egypt has been acknowledged by the Egyptian Water Policy (EWP) authorities by enhancing the participation of the public and private sectors with other civil society groups and organizations. The EWP sought institutional reform policy in water management by transferring public responsibilities to the private sector to improve the performance of the irrigation and drainage system. Still, the government has to facilitate the flow of funds directed to private water projects whether it be domestic or foreign investments.

The flow of funds is one of the major obstacles circumventing the involvement of the private sector in water projects in Egypt. This will speed up the process for the private sector to engage effectively in solving the water scarcity problem through innovative solutions such as the AWG devices. In addition, investment in research and development will further propel the Know-How in AWGs galvanizing several companies to adopt this sustainable solution. This will not only lower the device’s cost but will encourage the discovery of methods to overcome the challenges related to its use.

The setup and operation of an AWG device, even with a huge scale, is affordable for businesses and some households. However, for the neediest households, public utilities such as schools and hospitals, and small-scale farmers, the AWG solution can be expensive to set up. In addition, the operation of the device may be costly especially if the AWG device model is not solar- powered so it would require constant electricity to run. Accordingly, it is recommended that the government step in to subsidize the setup and operation of this device for vulnerable communities and customers. The former intervention in pricing is essential so as not to transfer the higher price of water to food which can disrupt economic stability.

In addition, for vulnerable people, who are so poor, that if they would have to pay the full costs they could not buy water, this may disrupt social stability. If subsidizing the setup of the AWG device is not feasible then it is recommended that the government adopts a BOS model. The government can buy the devices, operate them, and then sell them with installments to the civil society. This latter option should also be open for private sector companies, accordingly, the government should grant them licenses to undertake the BOS  of AWGs.

Furthermore, the current AWG devices require users to go to the machine, then bring the water back with them. This distribution system makes it difficult for those who are most in need to actually obtain the water generated for their communities which imposes an allocative challenge. It is recommended that given the government’s vision to remain fully responsible for the main infrastructures of the irrigation and drainage system, the government has to create alternative allocation methods to connect the water supply from the devices to end-users. This is another area where public-private sector cooperation can bring about several solutions such as the introduction of either small AWG devices called economic units or big scale devices both of which can serve households, farmers, and manufacturers according to their needs and financial abilities.

Finally, the supply of water in Egypt is about to become more problematic, it will touch the lives of all people.  If all stakeholders do not fully understand the gravity of the water scarcity situation in Egypt and fully cooperate this may jeopardize not only their well-being but their mere Being.

Efficient water management policies can definitely mitigate the severity of the water situation in Egypt but the problem can not be fully resolved without policies that engage the entire society in developing innovative water solutions such as the AWGs.

References

  1. Abdelaziz, O. (2019). ‘The Compliance of Zeromass Device to the Needs of Mandera west’,
  2. Saint Mary University, study prepared for Life From Water.org, Canada Branch, Canada.
  3. Abdin, A. E., Afify, A., & Adel, A. (2011). ‘Comparative analysis of Egyptian water policy and water framework directive’, Options Mediterrannées, A, (98).
  4. Ebrahim, N. (2019). ‘Water crisis builds in Egypt as dam talks falter, temperature rise’, Reuters.com, Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-water/water-crisis-builds-in-egypt-as-dam-talks-falter-temperatures-rise-idUSKBN1XG223 (Accessed 11 January 2020).
  5. Dakkak, A. (2017). ‘Water Crisis in Egypt’, Retrieved from https://www.ecomena.org/egypt-water/ (Accessed 23December 2019).
  6. El Bedawy, R. (2014). Water resources management: alarming crisis for Egypt. J. Mgmt. & Sustainability, 4, p.108.
  7. Fanack (2018). Retrieved from  https://water.fanack.com/egypt/water-resources/  (Accessed 30 December 2019).
  8. Fathieh, F., Kalmutzki, M. J., Kapustin, E. A., Waller, P. J., Yang, J., & Yaghi, O. M. (2018). Practical water production from desert air. Science advances, 4(6), eaat3198.
  9. Khalil, D. (2019). Cairo’s Hidden Urban Water Scarcity, commentary-post, Alternative Policy Solutions, American University in Cairo.
  10. Mohie El-Din, M. O., & Moussa, A. M. (2016) Water management in Egypt for facing the future challenges. Journal of advanced research, 7(3), pp. 403-412.
  11. Tripathi, A., Tushar, S., Pal, S., Lodh, S., Tiwari, S. & Desai, R.S., (2016). Atmospheric water generator. International Journal of Enhanced Research in Science, 5, pp. 69-72.
  12. TUAFI (2020). Retrieved from https://tuafi.com/why-tuafi/ (Accessed 20 January 2020)
  13. World Economic Forum (2019). Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/11/water-crisis-builds-in-egypt-as-dam-talks-falter-temperatures-rise/ (Accessed 23December 2019).

Co-Authored by Noha Farrag and Mohannad Hesham

About the Authors

Noha Farrag

Noha A. Farrag is Assistant Professor of Economics at University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), hosted in Universities of Canada in Egypt. She is also certified in Human Resource Development.  She formerly coordinated the Internship program between Institute of Law and Economics at Hamburg University and the German University in Cairo.

Mohannad Hesham Abouelrouse

Mohannad Hesham Abouelrouse is the founder of Life From Water Foundation, one of the top 50 international sustainable water solutions companies. Mohannad has extensive experience in strategic planning, business operations, organization and personal development. He is a consultant in several industries and sectors including IT, Digital Marketing, Publishing, Construction, Agriculture, as well as, Nonprofits and Social entrepreneurship.

Earth Hour – Making of a Movement

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Earth-Hour-middle-eastEarth Hour is a worldwide movement for the planet organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Earth Hour engages a massive mainstream community on a broad range of environmental issues. The event is held worldwide and held towards the end of March annually, encouraging individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour as a symbol for their commitment to the planet

Making of a Movement

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia and was conceived by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). On the occasion, 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change. Since then it has grown to engage more than thousands of cities and towns worldwide

In 2008, the Earth Hour became a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people participating across 35 countries. In March 2009, over 4,000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off their lights to pledge their support for the planet, making ‘Earth Hour 2009’ the world’s largest global climate change initiative.

‘Earth Hour 2010’ was practised in a record 128 countries and territories and more than 6,000 cities joined the global display of climate action with over 1 billion people participating. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off their lights.

In 2011, more than 5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries worldwide switched off their lights for ‘Earth Hour’ alone, sending a powerful message for action on climate change. It also ushered in a new era with members going ‘Beyond the Hour’ to commit to lasting action for the planet.

In 2018, Earth Hour’s focus is on our connection to Earth and nature. Our planet’s gain is everyone’s gain. Biodiversity – the rich variety of life on Earth – continues to decline year on year. We must urgently prioritise our planet’s biodiversity and nature. #Connect2Earth was created to organise our efforts, allowing us to shed light on topics impacting our planet’s well-being.

Earth Hour 2019 with its campaign #Connect2Earth aims to build mass awareness on why nature is important and create an unstoppable movement for nature similar to when the world came together to tackle climate change.

How do you #Connect2Earth?

Get involved now by starting conversations, sharing your thoughts, and spreading the word about our connection to this place we call home.

Aims and Objectives

Earth Hour is aimed at asking individual, households and businesses to turn off their nonessential lights and other electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on energy conservation and climate change.

The gigantic and overwhelming participation in Earth Hour showed collective display of our commitment to protect our planet. During Earth Hour, people across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights and came together in celebration and contemplation of one thing we all have in common – our planet.

Time for Action

The recent Earth Hour celebrated has gone beyond the hour, so after the lights went back ‘on’ participants were thinking about what else one could do to make a difference. We all now believe that ‘Together our actions add up’.

The awareness created has found enough reasons to join this annual campaign and making energy conservation as a ‘habit’ rather than practising it as an ‘annual event.’ We need to understand that we have a major responsibility of conserving our planet’s resources, since they are fragile, finite and each of us can make a difference if we choose to do so.

As far as Middle East is concerned, energy consumption is rising exponentially due to rapid industrialization and high population growth rate. Infact, the level of primary energy consumption in the Middle East is one of the highest worldwide.  However, the efficiency of energy production and consumption patterns in the region requires significant improvement.

So, let us make a change at individual level which, though it sounds small but cumulatively will add to significant levels in energy conservation by:

  • Turning our computer off when we finish our work and turning the monitor off during our breaks.
  • Turning off any unnecessary and additional lighting at our place of work and at home.
  • Using energy-efficient lights (LED, CFL, etc.).
  • Unplugging the electrical and electronic appliances when not in use.
  • Judiciously using heating and cooling system.

The message is ‘Let us go beyond an hour and do more what we can to reduce the energy consumption and its impact on the environment.’

Plan and participate in the event for a better tomorrow.

التنوع الحيوي الغابي في الأردن

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تعاني الغابات في العالم من ضغوطات هائلة, حيث أن تقلص الغطاء الحرجي في العالم آخذ في التسارع بمعدل ينذر بالخطر وبسرعة تتجاوز قدرة الطبيعة على تعويض الخسارة, إن لإزالة الغابات أثرسلبي مباشر وغير مباشر على الأنظمة البيئية مما يهدد الفائدة الإقتصادية والروحية والترفيهية والثقافية التي تقدمها الطبيعة للإنسان, ومن أكثر الآثار المدمرة هي التغير السلبي وغير الرجعي في التنوع البيولوجي بسبب تدمير الموائل الطبيعية لكثير من أصناف الحياه البرية التي تثري النظام البيئي على كوكب الأرض. إن غياب الأشجار سيؤدي إلى تدمير التنوع الجيني مما يؤثر وينتج خسارة دائمة في أنواع نادرة ومختلفة من النباتات والحيوانات والحشرات والمايكروبات.

كما تعتبر إزالة الغابات السبب الرئيسي في تغير المناخ العالمي وكذلك في إنبعاث الغازات المسببة للإحتباس الحراري, أيضاً فأن إزالة الغابات تقلل من جودة التربة مما يسبب تآكل التربة والفيضانات. وعلاوة على ذلك، شهدت المناطق التي أزيلت فيها الغابات زيادة في الجفاف والملوحة في التربة مما أثر على الزراعة سلباً, كما أنها تؤدي إلى حرمان المنطقة من الظلال التي تعمل على تلطيف الجو نهاراً وتحفظ الحرارة والرطوبة ليلاً, هذا الإضطراب يحدث تقلبات أكثر تطرفاً في درجات الحرارة التي يمكن لها أن تكون ضارة للنباتات والحيوانات والتنوع الحيوي بشكل عام, وكل هذه الآثار السلبية والمدمرة لإزالة الأشجار سيؤثر على مستوى معيشة كل مواطن.

الغابات في الأردن

تشهد الأردن تحولات هائلة في كافة المجالات ومنها مجال البيئة، حيث تمثل الصحراء جزءاً كبيراً من مساحتها بينما تمتلك مساحة حرجية محدودة جداً بواقع 0.9٪ فقط من مساحة المملكة, وتمتد من وادي اليرموك شمالاً وحتى مرتفعات الشراه ووادي موسى جنوباً. ومن المؤسف أننا في الأردن فقدنا حوالي ثلث غاباتنا الطبيعية خلال الثلاثين سنة الماضية وبواقع 1.6% سنوياً, ولكي نوقف هذا النزيف ونعيد حالة الإنسجام ما بين الطبيعة والإنسان ينبغي إعادة النظر في المنظومة الغابوية للمملكة.

تعتبر الثروة الحرجية إرثاً وطنياً وثروة من الثروات الوطنية الواجب الإستثمار فيها, فبالإضافة إلى القيمة الروحانية والثقافية والبيئية للغابات، فإنها تخلق فرص إقتصادية عديدة سواء من خلال إيرادات السياحة البيئية أومن خلال المنتجات التي يمكن أن تقدمها الغابة والتي تعتبر أيضاً جزءا من إرثنا الوطني, كما أن القيمة الإقتصادية البيئية المرتبطة بالدور الحيوي للغابة والمتصلة بزيادة نسبة الأكسجين في الجو ومستوى الرطوبة وغيرها لها إنعكاس إقتصادي مباشر, حيث أنها تساهم في تخفيض كلفة التدهور البيئي والتي تصل إلى حوالي 5% من الناتج المحلي الإجمالي للمملكة  وبما يعادل 850 مليون دينار سنوياً.

أنواع الغابات في الأردن

تقدر مساحة الغابات الطبيعية والصناعية والغابات ذات الملكية خاصة في الأردن نحو 378000 و 460000 و 60000 دونماً, وحسب المركز الوطني للبحوث الزراعية فإن هنالك هنالك خمسة أنماط للغابات في الأردن كما يلي:

1. غابات العرعر الفينيقي: تتواجد في البتراء ومنطقة رأس النقب وقمم جبال رم , وتظهر الدراسات أن عمر بعض الأشجار يصل إلى حوالي 700 سنة.  

2. غابات السنديان (البلوط مستديم الخضرة): تنتشر في جرش وعجلون والشوبك ودابوق وضانا ووادي الصفصاف.

3. غابات الصنوبر الحلبي: توجد في محمية غابات دبين وتجمعات ثانوية في عجلون وماحص والفحيص وسوف وزي.

4. غابات الملول (البلوط العقابي): وهي الشجرة الوطنية للأردن وتنتشر في العديد من مناطق المملكة وتصل كثافتها حتى70 %.

5. غابات السيال : وتتواجد في وادي عربة وهي ذو الأصول الأفريقية والتي تسربت أثناء تشكل حفرة الإنهدام.

مشكلات الغطاء الحرجي في الأردن

إن المشاكل التي تواجه الغابات في الأردن هي مماثلة للتي تواجهها بلدان البحر الأبيض المتوسط ​​الأخرى, حيث يعتبر الرعي والتحطيب الجائرين من ألد أعداء الغابات في الأردن حيث أن هنالك ضعف في الوعي العام  بأهمية الغابات ويتجلى هذا الضعف في إعتداءات مناشير المواطنين على  أشجار تصل أعمارها إلى مئات السنين، وهذا الإعتداء لم يكتفي بكافة غابات المملكة بل طال الأشجار على جوانب الطرقات! ومما زاد المشكلة سوءاً هو تجاهل تطبيق القوانين التي تحمي الغابات  مما ساهم في  إنخفاض المساحة الغابوية بشكل كبير في الأردن.

كما تهدد الغابات في الأردن العديد من الأخطار أهمها تعاقب سنوات الجفاف وخاصة مع تأثير التغير المناخي سلباً على الغطاء الحرجي في المملكة, كما تشكل الحرائق مشكلة رئيسية خاصة للغابات الصنوبرية, حيث يقوم أصحاب الملكيات الخاصة الواقعة في داخل حدود الغابات بالتخلص من مخلفات مزارعهم  وحرقها في تلك الغابات مما يسبب في كثير من الأحيان الحرائق. إضافة إلى ذلك فإن الغطاء الحرجي يواجه تهديد المشاريع الكبيرة التي لا تراعي المناطق الحرجية ويعتبر إقامة مشروع دبي كابيتال على أراضي غابات دبين قبل أعوام خير مثال على ذلك.

أهم التدابير لحماية الغابات وإعادة تأهيلها

إن تحويل المأساة إلى فرصة يحتاج إلى رؤية ثاقبة، وإيجاد حل شامل لمشاكل المشاكل البيئية في الأردن بما في ذلك إزالة الغابات ليست مهمة سهلة. إن الغطاء الحرجي في الأردن في تناقص مستمر ولذلك يجب التعامل معه بشكل شمولي لتكثيف الجهود الوطنية على كافة الأصعدة  من أجل المحافظة عليه وزيادة رقعته وإعطائه أهميته الحقيقية. يجب زيادة وعي الناس فيما يتعلق بحماية البيئة وتقوية إرتباط المجتمعات المحلية بالغابات وإشراكهم  في حمايتها, كما يجب تفعيل تطبيق العقوبات على المعتدين على الثروة الحرجية, ومن الجدير بالذكر أن وزارة الزراعة الأردنية ستنفذ مشروع "مراقبة الغابات والمساحات الخضراء" في المملكة إلكترونياً وذلك لوقف الإعتداءات على هذه الغابات.

يجب على الناشطين البيئين الإنضمام إلى الجهود المحلية والدولية في التشجير ومكافحة تغير المناخ من خلال إنشاء نموذج للغابات في المملكة, مع التركيز على المناطق الجنوبية من البلاد مثل وادي عربة وصحراء جنوب الأردن. كما يجب تبني مشاريع بيئية تهدف إلى الإستغلال الأمثل للأراضي الصحرواية عن طريق إقامة حزام أخضر لمكافحة التصحر بوساطة زراعة الأنواع النباتية الأصلية والمناسبة لطبيعة المنطقة, وذلك لإعطاء النظم البيئية المهددة فرصة للإزدهار مرة أخرى,كما يجب على هذه المشاريع إشراك المجتمعات المحلية في إدارة وإدامة الغابات التي يجب أن تكون نموذجاً لإستخدام الغابات في الأردن لحماية التنوع البيولوجي في البيئات الجافة .

ومن الجدير بالذكر أن من أهم الطرق لمحاربة التصحر هي التعلم من الأجداد حيث عاش أجدادنا قبل آلاف السنين في قلب الصحراء ولكنهم عرفوا كيفية التأقلم والمعيشة والإزدهار في الظروف الصحرواية, حيث أنشأ العرب الأنباط مجتمعاً مستديماً وفر لنفسه الغذاء والحطب والعلف للحيوانات الأليفة والأهم :المياه  .لذلك يجب تبني الري بحصاد الأمطار وتبني مبدأ مياه السيول النبطي ومرافق حصاد الطاقة الشمسية، كما أنه يجب تنظيم عملية الرعي في المنطقة وإعتماد مبدأ البناء بالطين المستمد من وحي الثقافة العربية  لبناء مرافق الغابات.

إعادة التدوير: قيم تبادل المعادن الأكثر طلبًا

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في الوقت الذي أصبحت فيه إعادة تدوير النفايات وإعادة استخدامها وإصلاحها هي القاعدة للحد من آثار التعدين وتغير المناخ ، قد يكون من المفيد معرفة أي المعادن يمكن إعادة تدويرها. تم إنشاء اقتصاد دائري جديد حول إعادة التدوير. يمكن لكل من المهنيين والأفراد إعادة بيع نفاياتهم المعدنية إلى مشترين المحول الحفاز أو الشركات المتخصصة الأخرى. ثم يتم تحويلها لمنحهم حياة ثانية-

إدارة النفايات

مبدأ إدارة النفايات: تقليل وإعادة الاستخدام وإعادة التدوير. إنتاج جديد من القديم: هذا أحد أكبرالتحديات التي تواجه البشرية. في السنوات الخمسين الماضية ، أدى تطوير تقنيات جديدة إلى استغلال أكثر كثافة للأرض وقاع البحر لاستخراج المعادن النادرة

نظرًا لوجود عدد أكبر منا على كوكب الأرض ، يجب أن نفكر في الحفاظ على مواردنا وبالتالي إعادة تدوير هذه المعادن والأتربة النادرة. حتى الآن ، هناك العديد من الشركات التي تقدم شراء المعادن لإعادة التدوير أو إعادة البيع

المعادن القابلة لإعادة التدوير وقيمتها التبادلية

أسعار المعادن في فبراير 2020

السعر المعادن
 يورو / كغ 0,526 الصلب
يورو / كغ2,292 الفولاذ
يورو / كغ1,594 الألومنيوم
يورو / كغ47 الذهب
يورو / كغ5,469  

النحاس
يورو / كغ1,71 الرصاص
يورو / كغ2,045 الزنك
يورو / كغ0,205 خردة

الصلب

 سبيكة من الحديد والكربون ، يتم العثور على هذا المعدن في كل مكان. تم اكتشافه في عام 1865 ، ولعب دورًا رائدًا في الثورة الصناعية وما زال يتم إنتاجه على نطاق واسع حتى اليوم. يتم استبداله حاليًا بحوالي 0.50 يورو للكيلوغرام الواحد

على سبيل المثال ، يتكون غلاف معظم المحولات الحفازة من الصلب ، ولكنه قد يحتوي أيضًا على عدة غرامات من المعادن الثمينة الأخرى مثل الذهب والفضة والرينيوم والبلاديوم والبلاتين. يزن المحول الحفاز أو المحفز (جزء من نظام العادم على السيارات) حوالي عشرة كيلوغرامات. إذا كان عليك التخلص من سيارتك القديمة ، فيمكنك أن تسأل شركة متخصصة عن سعر إعادة شراء المحول الحفاز الخاص بك ، حتى لو كان في حالة سيئة ولا يعمل. بالإضافة إلى ذلك ، غالبًا ما تتألف من معادن ثقيلة ضارة جدًا بالبيئة ، لذا كن حذرًا في التخزين

الفولاذ المقاوم للصدأ

هذا المعدن عبارة عن سبيكة من الحديد والكروم قابلة لإعادة التدوير بالكامل. يتم العثور عليه في العديد من المنتجات: أواني المطبخ ، صناعة الطيران ، الصناعة والعديد من الأشياء اليومية الأخرى. لديه ميزة عدم الصدأ ويباع بحوالي 2.3 يورو للكيلوغرام الواحد

الألومنيوم

هذا المعدن معروف بمقاومته، كما أنه بمثابة حافز في الصناعة الكيميائية. في عام 2010 ، تم استخراج 211 مليون طن من البوكسيت في جميع أنحاء العالم. يمكن شراء كيلوغرام من الألومنيوم بسعر 1.6 يورو في المتوسط

الذهب

 موجود في اللوحات الأم للكمبيوتر ، وفي هواتفنا وبشكل عام في مجال الالكترونيات ، يتم تداول الذهب الخالص حاليًا بحوالي 47 يورو لكل غرام

النحاس

سيكون من الصعب علينا الاستغناء عنه. يتم العثور عليه في الكابلات الكهربائية وأنابيب السباكة والموصلات الفائقة. في عام 2013 ، تم استخراج أكثر من 18 مليون طن ، ثلثها في تشيلي. يتم تداوله بحوالي 5.5 يورو للكيلوغرام الواحد

الرصاص

الرصاص معدن سام. وهو موجود كمضاف في الدهانات وكان يستخدم في البنزين قبل تغيير القانون. حاليا تبلغ قيمتها 1.71 يورو للكيلوغرام الواحد

الزنك

هذا المعدن موجود في السيارات ، والسقوف ، واقيات الشمس ، وحتى في بعض مكملات الفيتامينات الغذائية. الزنك يستحق ما يزيد قليلا عن 2 يورو للكيلوغرام الواحد

الروديوم

يتداول بحوالي 201 يورو لكل غرام. يتم استخراج هذا المعدن النادر جدًا بشكل أساسي في جنوب إفريقيا وينتمي إلى فئة البلاتينات الخفيفة

Pakistan’s Thirst for Water: Towards a National Sustainable Water Policy

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Being the world’s 6th most populous country, Pakistan is home to about 210 million people. The growing population reduces average water availability every day. In 2017, Asian Development Bank reported that the agriculture sector of Pakistan consumes 93% of the water resources and contributes 21% – one-fourth – to the Gross Domestic Product. Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources published a report titled “Water requirements of major crops in Central Punjab,” that has mentioned that over 60% of water is lost in transmission and applications. This implies that the agriculture sector that consumes 93% of water resources wastes two-third of it.

Water scarcity will affect agricultural activities in Pakistan leading to lower yields for a growing population, a matter of food security. Virtual water trade is exploiting our groundwater. Scientific journal “Nature” claims in a published paper of 2017 that Pakistan was the biggest exporter of groundwater in 2010. Wheat, rice and cotton are among the top five water-intensive crops and these are the most cultivated crops in Pakistan.

In a national newspaper, Dawn, it is stated that at the time of independence, per capita water availability was 5 thousand cubic meters, and now it has fallen below 1 thousand cubic meters. Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources has predicted a severe water shortage by 2025 that will leave Pakistan dry if no measures are taken. It is not the first time international and national institutions are addressing water scarcity issues. World Bank issued a report in 2005 named “Pakistan’s water economy: running dry,” but we made no effective water policy.

Pakistan relies on Indus River, a single basin for its freshwater resources. Furthermore, being a semi-arid country, Pakistan receives an annual rainfall of less than 500 mm, most of which end up in a runoff. Groundwater pumping has also crossed the sustainable limit of consumption. According to the State Bank of Pakistan, Lahore is facing an annual reduction of 0.5 meters of the water table for the past 30 years. Urbanization has proved salt on injury as people are moving from rural areas increasing water consumption of limited water resources of urban areas. Wastewater is discharged without treatment, making groundwater unfit for use and biodiversity of water bodies is at stake.

The situation becomes more critical when water scarcity is accompanied by climate change as Pakistan ranks 7th in Global Climate Risk Index. According to the task force on climate change, 0.6°C rise of temperature was observed from 1901 to 2000 in Pakistan. Asian Development Bank writes an increase of 18-32% rainfall in the Monsoon period throughout 1960-2007 and sea-level rise of 1.1mm per year in the past century. Glaciers, a freshwater resource are retreating because of global warming. Rising temperatures and sea levels, droughts, flood events all are contributing to the instability of the country.

There is no single solution to the problem. Multiple strategies must be developed to tackle the problem. Policy reforms and good governance are the biggest challenges. The agriculture sector must be the focus to address water consumption as 93% of water is consumed by this sector. There is a dire need for maintenance of canals to decrease losses and metering infrastructure for pricing the quantity of water consumed. Drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation must be introduced for the efficient use of water.

Rainwater harvesting is an attractive way to store rainwater that can be used for many household purposes other than drinking. Virtual water trade should be given due importance and our focus of exports must be changed from water-intensive products to water-efficient products. Desalination solves water shortage in coastal areas and rising sea levels. It is the need of the hour to find long-term sustainable solutions to the problem or otherwise, its effects will be devastating.

Recommended Reading

  • Climate change profile of Pakistan, Asian development bank report 2017
  • Water sustainability in Pakistan- key issues and challenges, State bank of Pakistan’s annual report 2016-2017
  • Pakistan getting from water, World Bank report 2019
  • Virtual water export dries Pakistan from Daily Times written by M Arshad Rafiq, May 15, 2019
  • Over 60% of irrigation water is wasted from The News International written by Myra Imran, September 24, 2018
  • Pakistan likely to face water crisis from newspaper Dawn written by Zahid Hussain, March 28, 2018

About the Authors

Eza Tahir is a student of M.Phil. in Environmental Sciences at Sustainable Development Study Center, Government College University Lahore. She has completed her bachelor’s degree from Lahore College for Women University, Lahore (Pakistan). She has also participated in environmental awareness campaigns and community service programs to address the environmental issues of Pakistan in collaboration with several international organizations.

Naveed Anwar is an Environmentalist and an active researcher with a special focus on Climate Change, Sustainable Development, Air Pollution, Water Scarcity, and Clean Energy. He possesses master and undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences along with a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Laws from the premier national institutes of Pakistan. Naveed is currently teaching and doing research at the Sustainable Development Study Center, Government College University, Lahore. He has published several international peer-reviewed Journal Articles and Book Chapters on the themes and Environmental Policy – Climate Change and Air pollution Mitigation.

A Glance at Plastics Recycling

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Plastic consumption has grown at a tremendous rate worldwide, and Middle East is no exception. Plastics now play an increasingly important role in all aspects of modern life. and used in the manufacture of all sorts of items including protective packaging, mobile phones, domestic appliances, furniture items, medical devices etc. Each year around 1trillon plastic bags are used worldwide with most of them ending up in landfills, dumpsites and water bodies. Due to the rising demand, the global plastic consumption is expected to reach 300 million tons by 2015. Per capita consumption of plastics in the GCC is estimated to be 33kg per annum which is much above the world average.

Disposal of Plastic Wastes

Disposal of plastic waste has emerged as an important environmental challenge and its recycling is facing roadblocks due to non-degradable nature. Because plastic does not decompose biologically, the amount of plastic waste in our surroundings is steadily increasing. More than 90% of the articles found on the sea beaches contain plastic. Plastic waste is often the most objectionable kind of litter and will be visible for months in landfill sites without degrading.

Recycling and reuse of plastics is gaining importance as a sustainable method for plastic waste disposal. Unfortunately, plastic is much more difficult to recycle than materials like glass, aluminum or paper. A common problem with recycling plastics is that plastics are often made up of more than one kind of polymer or there may be some sort of fibre added to the plastic (a composite).

Plastic polymers require greater processing to be recycled as each type melts at different temperatures and has different properties, so careful separation is necessary. Moreover, most plastics are not highly compatible with one another. Apart from familiar applications like recycling bottles and industrial packaging film, there are also new developments e.g. the Recovinyl initiative of the PVC industry (covering pipes, window frames, roofing membranes and flooring).

Polyethlene terephthalate (PET) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles have proven to have high recyclability and are taken by most curbside and drop-off recycling programs. The growth of bottle recycling has been facilitated by the development of processing technologies that increase product purities and reduce operational costs. Recycled PET and HDPE have many uses and well-established markets.

In contrast, recycling of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bottles and other materials is limited. A major problem in the recycling of PVC is the high chlorine content in raw PVC (around 56 percent of the polymer’s weight) and the high levels of hazardous additives added to the polymer to achieve the desired material quality. As a result, PVC requires separation from other plastics before mechanical recycling.

Can Inflatable Hot Tubs be Used in Winter?

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Although most of the time, it is not recommended to use inflatable hot tubs in air temperatures below 40 degrees F, it has become common for most people to use mobile hot tubs in the wintertime. It turns out that the experience is relaxing.

Considering the diversity of the market of tubs nowadays, it might be frustrating for consumers to pick out the most suitable inflatable hot tub. Nevertheless, once you have figured out the best one and bought it, there are certain precautions you need to take.

inflatable-hot-tub-winter

Key Considerations

Testing inflating hot tubs has proven that these products can maintain their maximum water temperature well when it is below freezing in air temperatures, and you can enjoy them all winter. Before I go deep on the hardware issue, I would want to clarify the inflatable hot tub temperatures of the air rating and what it means.

The rating or the air temperature is the guarantee given by the manufacturer to the consumer that if they fill up their spa with cold water, the tub will increase the water to the maximum temperature and maintain it as long as the ambient temperature is equal to the tub’s rating (source: https://traditionalgardening.com/best-inflatable-hot-tub/).

Suitable inflatable hot tubs to use during winter

Intex 77in PureSpa Bubble Massage Spa Set

What would it be like to possess a mobile hot tub that you can easily set up anywhere? The product is many degrees inflatable than the normal inflatable pool and other hot tubs. It has a built-in treatment system that makes the product gentle on the skin and gives you a relaxing experience. At the top, there is an insulated lock that helps reduce the loss of heat and provide added safety features.

However, there are a few more things you need to know about PureSpa. To start with, the temperatures of water while using this product can only reach 104 degrees F. This is not a bad thing because some people can still be satisfied by this feature, but it won’t work for those who desire hotter temperatures.

Moreover, for this hot tub to function properly and achieve its temperatures, the external temperatures need to be at least 50 degrees. This can prove to be troublesome if you happen to plan to set it up in colder climates.

Bestway Hawaii Air Jet Hot Tub

This product provides you with the best spa experience ever. Its square shape gives the ultimate relaxation, and the 114 air jets massage feature gives you a luxurious treat. Usually, setting up an inflatable hot tub outside can prove risky, especially in areas where there are many trees, dirt, rain, or leaves falling off. Fortunately for people who choose to use Bestway inflatable hot tub, the product contains a leatheroid cover that protects it from everything. You can confidently leave your Bestway hot tub outside.

Using an inflatable hot tub in winter

1. Insulate the tub

Most spas contain a mat or disk sitting between the floor and tub’s spa, thus creating a heat barrier. But, this barrier cannot deal with cool temperatures, and therefore, it is vital to beef the barrier up before doing anything else.

2. Hook up a Heater

Put the tank containing propane inside the hot tub cover and run the hose to a Ecotank L5 tankless heater. You can either place it inside the housing or outside for a clear look.

3. Connect the pump with the hose

This procedure might need a hose clamp because you are supposed to link the pump to two hoses. Place the lengths of the hoses in the spa. The ecotank heats the water quickly.

4. Use the wired 12v switch to attach the pump to the adapter

This procedure seems a bit complex and requires the use of the instruction manual.

5. Put together the AC power adapter

Attach the Kaster 12v to the adapter and the pump so that the plugin adapter powers it. Once a plugin unit powers the entire system, your hot tub is ready to use.

Conclusion

To sum up, whether hot tubs can be used during winter can be answered by a qualified yes. There are various options for you in the market to get a suitable inflatable hot tub to help you enjoy the winter season. Once you find out the best that can work for you and understand the procedure on how to use it, then you will be able to enjoy your winter holidays.

Recommended Reading: How to Use Your Whirlpool Bath More Sustainably

Water Stress in the Mediterranean

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For many years now, the Mediterranean has been facing problems leading to a situation of serious environmental degradation. An increase in the temperature and salinity levels has been recorded during the second half of the 20th century in the Mediterranean Sea. However, this increase does not follow progressive trend and periods of temperature alternation have been observed. Following several climate change scientific reports, sea level trend at the global scale is higher than at the regional scales.

mediterranean-sea

Furthermore, in the regional scale there are other influence factors such the atmospheric pressure and the wind. In addition, the small rises in temperature registered in the Mediterranean Sea, would have been compensated with an increase in the salinity, even though this fact is uncertain owing a lack of historical data.

Nevertheless, we can establish a prediction for the future: “The increase in the water stress in the Mediterranean basin (due to a higher evaporation rates and a decrease in rainfalls and water courses levels) will cause the raise of salinity would made up for the raise in temperature”*.

Drought in the Mediterranean and Middle East, resulting from lack of rainfall, reduces run-off, thus also affecting, among other things, power generation. In combination with high rates of evaporation and lack of moisture, it alters soil properties making the soil less productive, thus holding back agricultural development, the backbone for the economy of the Mediterranean basin countries.

The main cause of the water stress suffered by the Mediterranean and Middle East is the increasing use of natural resources by the rising population and the higher demand for water per capita. This is not only because customs are being adopted that do not allow for balanced water use but also, and especially, because economic and industrial development in the region has turned its back on any type of sustainable management of resources and conservation of the natural environment.

Industrialization is not only responsible for the shortage of water but also for the high levels of pollution in the Mediterranean sea which are destroying natural habitats. Over the last century, water has become a much-valued resource leading to disputes between different peoples, causing internal and even international conflicts.

Proper water management is necessary, especially because water is a limited resource in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Before this is possible, it is necessary to create a greater awareness amongst society. Industries must become more respectful of the environment, national policies must be adopted to promote such industries and sustainable, equitable water management must be set up. The countries in the region must continue working together on research to resolve the problems of the Mediterranean. Fair, common policies must be adopted, preventing further international conflicts.

Note: This article is being reproduced with the kind permission of our esteemed partner Med-o-Med which has adopted a firm commitment to water use, not only because of its symbolic importance in Islam, but also because Islamic civilization was behind a real revolution in water use. The example survives even today in certain institutions, one such being the Valencia Water Tribunal in Spain which continues to function effectively today as it did in the past.

Water Diplomacy in the Middle East for Transboundary Water Supplies

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Increased pressure on transboundary water supplies as a result of rising economic and population needs, exacerbated by climate change processes, can have catastrophic consequences in the Middle East. Management of groundwater extraction from transboundary aquifers must involve sharing the amount of accessible water and preserving its quality in order to ensure that future generations will have access to safe groundwater supplies.

Transboundary water movement in the Middle East

The Middle East is afflicted by internal water mismanagement and conflicts. This necessitates not only the building of water governance institutions but also diverse engagement platforms and other water diplomacy techniques.

The negotiations about water management create the need for having water diplomacy that is a dynamic process that seeks to develop reasonable, sustainable, and peaceful solutions to water management while promoting or informing cooperation and collaboration among riparian stakeholders.

Water diplomacy topics are at the heart of discussions and conversations regarding the necessity of peace-building, cooperation between countries, and cooperation regarding transboundary surface and groundwaters: water diplomacy should not be restricted to diplomats and foreign policy experts, it is primarily the responsibility of water professionals who negotiate management agreements for shared water resources, but this should include representatives of NGOs to participate in transboundary water conversations, the involvement of these parts at all levels will help to establish is the most effective format of diplomacy.

According to experts, the sustainable growth of the Middle East and its political stability rely heavily on the region’s countries’ continued access to potable water. There are few recorded instances in which conversations on shared water resources led to prolonged efforts to address the underlying causes of an intrastate or interstate violent conflict.

Water Diplomacy Tracks

More technical professionals and actors in foreign policy need to have access to and be able to participate in transdisciplinary water diplomacy tracks and tools such varied discussion platforms, fact-finding missions, study tours, and joint scientific conferences.

Conventionally (water) diplomacy is seen as high-level interaction and dialogue between nation-states. Diplomacy is now defined according to various tracks which vary in terms of formality, actors involved, and purpose.

  • Formal Diplomacy (Track 1) Official/Formal communication between state actors with the authority and mandate to speak and make decisions on behalf of their governments or institutions.
  • Informal Diplomacy (Track 2 and 1.5) Dialogue between non-officials to build relations, resolve conflict, manage a crisis, or build trust, based on the agreed mandate, roles, and responsibilities. It can include officials in informal roles (Track 1.5), academics, NGOs, faith-based organizations, business partners, media, retired civil servants, and other ‘’insiders’’[1]

Transboundary water in the Middle East

The fact that 82% of wastewater is not recycled in the Middle East presents a tremendous opportunity to meet water demands. The region is anticipated to suffer the biggest economic losses due to climate-related water scarcity, between 6 and 14 percent of GDP by 2050.[2]

1. Israeli-Arab situation

In the Middle East as part of an arid region, groundwater reservoirs are regarded as the most dependable source of water, where the flow in the majority of perennial rivers is very variable due to seasonal fluctuations in rainfall quantity and distribution.

All groundwater reserves in the Middle East, are shared by at least two nations. And it will play a significant part in all peace conflicts. Water agreements are allotment is prominent in the present peace agreement between Israel and Jordan, as well as in the Oslo deal with Palestine.

Jordan-River

Israel and the Palestinians jointly exploit all main groundwater sources in the Middle East, including the coastal Mediterranean and highland aquifers. [3] The transboundary (Arava) Araba alluvial aquifer in the Jordan Rift Valley is shared by Israel and Jordan. The Arava Valley aquifer is shared by Jordan and Israel between the Red and Dead Seas.

Israel and Jordan have struck an agreement to jointly develop this international transboundary aquifer in the future, following a thorough examination of the aquifer’s future potential in terms of its quality and safe supply. This agreement is incorporated into the Israel-Jordan peace treaty of 1994.

However, Syria, Israel, Jordan, the West Bank, and Lebanon all utilize the Jordan River’s resources. The western Nubian sandstone aquifer is located beneath Sinai (Egypt) and the Negev desert.

2. Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic

Implementation of agreements signed between the two countries, especially with regard to shared water in the Yarmouk River Basin. They also agreed to continue a study on the Yarmouk River Basin based on previous studies. Currently, the Joint Jordanian–Syrian Higher Committee is discussing how to make use of the Yarmouk River Basin water and how to protect Yarmouk water against depletion. Talks will also include preparations for winter and storage at the Wadha (Unity) Dam in the Yarmouk River.

The southern Syria Mountain ridge (Jabel Druze) partially recharges the Azrak aquifer, which spans over eastern Jordan.

3. Jordan-Saudi

Jordan and Saudi Arabia both extract water from the Disi aquifer. An agreement was signed between Jordan and Saudi, in 2015 that includes a mathematical model to be upgraded. With annual monitoring of the aquifer regarding existing wells which does not reflect the real picture, minimal changes have been encountered. The agreement includes a buffer zone of 10km on both sides have been agreed upon with the Saudi side. (10 km on each side).

4. Iraqi Turkey Syrian Situation

The river basin that supplies Syria and Iraq, the Tigris-Euphrates, is rapidly drying up. This large region is already struggling to provide for at least ten million people uprooted by conflict. And things could soon worsen; Iraq is approaching a point of crisis.

Both the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers originate in Turkey and flow to the Shatt al-Arab basin in southern Iraq. The Euphrates crosses Syria and Iraq, with Turkey and Syria contributing 90% and 10% to its water flow respectively. On the other hand, the Tigris flows from Turkey to Iraq, with Turkey, Iraq, and Iran contributing 40%, 51%, and 9% of its flow respectively [4]

Initiatives

EcoPeace Middle East’s “Good Water Neighbors” initiative in the Lower Jordan Valley is a well-known illustration of a bottom-up method. In this approach, Palestinian, Jordanian, and Israeli mayors and villages collaborate with their transboundary neighbors to rehabilitate their shared water resources.

water-islamic-culture

Academics and water professionals from Turkey, Syria, and Iraq participated in the Euphrates-Tigris Initiative for Cooperation (ETIC) to promote shared knowledge through data exchange and collaborative planning. As these many instances illustrate, the tools of water diplomacy may contribute to the creation of routes across societies for inclusive involvement and strong partnerships in water decision-making – a prerequisite for attaining a water-smart and peaceful global community.

The techniques of water diplomacy can help to the creation of paths between countries for inclusive involvement and strategic relationships in water decision-making, which is essential for attaining a water-wise and peaceful global community.

Suggestions and Solutions

The World Bank (2017) in a study of essential problems regarding water security raised three questions:

  1. Are the region’s water resources managed efficiently and sustainably?
  2. Are water services provided dependably and affordably?
  3. Are risks associated with water being effectively identified and mitigated?

Transboundary basins and aquifers in the Middle East can generate a network of hydrological, economic, and social connections between communities. Governments must work together to manage transboundary water resources. More cooperation is required, particularly to overcome the sensitivity to climate change consequences where water is already scarce.

Economic cooperation is essential. Agriculture, industry, energy, and water supply and sanitation, which rely heavily on water, must collaborate on a transnational level

Data voids must be filled. Governments in the Middle East must quickly enhance their systems for monitoring transboundary waters, particularly groundwater, and exchanging data with other governments as part of cooperation agreements.

Transboundary water management necessitates tackling a number of difficult environmental, socioeconomic, and political challenges that may incur substantial expenses, such as those related with infrastructure construction, the acquisition of monitoring equipment, and the creation of studies.

At various stages of management and development, distinct finance and financing sources may be necessary. Typically, national budgets should pay at least the core costs of joint bodies, mostly for reasons of sustainability. In some instances, national budgets may not be adequate to solve such difficulties, especially in underdeveloped countries where funding may be redirected to other priorities. In these situations, new and alternative procedures could be a viable choice for filling financial shortfalls.

Financial resources are required to fund institutional expenditures such as salaries and office space, as well as program expenses such as the collecting of data and information to monitor the condition and quality of water.

[1] Klimes, M., Michel, D., Yaari, E.A., Restiani, P. (2019). “Water diplomacy: The intersect of science, policy and practice”, Editorial, Journal of Hydrology, March 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.02.049

[2]“World Bank. 2018. Beyond Scarcity: Water Security in the Middle East and North Africa. MENA Development Report. Washington, DC: World Bank. © World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/27659 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”

[3] Adar, Eilon, Water World, Transboundary aquifers source of conflict or peace https://www.waterworld.com/home/article/16200402/transboundary-aquifers-source-of-conflict-or-peace

[4] Kibaroglu, Aysegul, and Waltina Scheumann. “Evolution of Transboundary Politics in the Euphrates-Tigris River System: New Perspectives and Political Challenges.” Global Governance 19, no. 2 (2013): 279–305. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24526371.

5 Places Where You Can Use Cable Railing to Improve Home Style

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People nowadays prefer to have a sustainable lifestyle and a green way of living and choosing eco-friendly items has become a norm. Therefore, you can find that people are using cable railing of stainless steel while taking up any kind of home improvement project.

It is nowadays very common to see stainless steel railings in many different homes. Also, stainless steel can be quite durable and strong.

The following are a few places where people prefer to use cable railings while considering home improvement.

1. Balcony and terrace

Most of the home has a balcony area, where you can have a railing option. Not only this will offer safety, but also cable railing can offer a secure and versatile structure for opening up this space.

cable-railing

In case, your balcony is large enough for hosting dining, then such railing can be an ideal option for creating an unobtrusive barrier, and also you will be able to soak up surrounding garden areas.

In most modern homes, cable railing is used for getting an outstanding view of the scenery, and with such a unique idea; it can provide a beautiful transition to all your indoor and outdoor areas.

2. Outside decking

Perhaps this area is the most popular place where cable railing can be incorporated because it can create quite an uninterrupted feel for your garden area. With this option, you can make maximum use of the exterior space during summer.

You can also think of creating dining alfresco to enjoy its distinctive aesthetics. Your cable railing needs low maintenance, as they are easy to clean and will keep it looking untouched all year round.

This kind of railing will be able to withstand various weather conditions and yet will look as if it is just installed.

3. Internal staircases

Even for your internal staircases, cable railing will provide very stylish solutions. In your home, railings are a very important part to provide safety features to the staircase, but that should not be the reason to use a material that will not work with your original interior design.

While innovating, often the staircase gets lower priority, but putting a little change into this area will open up space and can create light pockets to offer a contemporary look.

4. Poolside railing

Those who have built a swimming pool in the backyard, putting barriers usually are necessary for keeping everyone safe. You can have several options for incorporating barrier, but few may need lots of maintenance.

For offering a chic poolside feature, you can use cable railing. Not only cable railing of stainless steel will provide unobtrusive elements around your pool, but also it will offer a style to properly match your garden themes.

It can also be easily installed and maintained although it can be near water; it may not affect the appearance of the metal.

5. Entrances and pathways

For creating an ultimate curb appeal, cable railing of stainless steel is ideal for having striking entrance-ways. You can easily incorporate into your landscaping of front garden areas and your beautiful floral arrangements will not be disturbed at all.

The Environmental Impacts of Minimalist Lifestyle

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The concept of a minimalist lifestyle is more and more popular nowadays and a lot of people try to have a better mindset by adopting it. However, eco minimalism has implications not only on the population’s mental health but also on the environment and we are going to tell you all about it in this article.

What is the meaning of the ‘minimalist lifestyle’?

Minimalism is a term that comes from the early 60s when several artists started to simplify art, like visual art and music. The concept was that with very simple techniques they could capture the essence of the feeling that they wanted to instill in their audience.

This phenomenon was very popular in the United States and, slowly, it began to be applied in other different areas like judicial philosophies and computer science. Even though the whole purpose of minimalism is to simplify things, it is not always easy to catch the essence of things with less. But, when applied to lifestyle, it makes a lot of difference to wellbeing.

The minimalist lifestyle is also referred to as ’simple life’. Even if in other field areas it doesn’t have a long history, in terms of simple living things are different. Mahatma Gandhi was a promoter of this way of living and the concepts have been widespread in the eastern cultures for centuries.

The concepts are very simple. They involve changing habits in an intentional way and deciding to live intentionally instead of being driven by society’s trends. This involves the reduction of consumption, possessions and working time. Also, people who adopt this philosophy try to increase self-sufficiency and to simplify their diet.

Essentially, it relies on decluttering the mind. The fewer possessions you have, the fewer worries you have, the less you consume, the less you have to keep in mind, the less complicated your meals are, the more time you have to focus on other important things that you have in your life.

How can a minimalist lifestyle help the environment?

When we talk about how minimalism can impact the environment, the implications are multiple. So, you have to think in terms of consumption and production.

Let’s think about your diet. If you limit your meals to simple, natural and healthy types of food, that means that you would have to reduce junk food. Junk food includes drinks as well. So you won’t be buying snack foods, fizzy drinks, sauces and anything that is processed which usually comes in plastic packaging.

Some people go even further and have their own homesteads where they produce their own vegetables and raise animals that give them all the animal products they need, reducing industrialized animal farm numbers and the number of factories that produce processed meat.

These people need a reduced work schedule that allows them to take care of their gardens and animals. They usually buy what they need for their gardens and homes from producers like Seeds & more and try to simplify their lives as much as possible. One of the concepts is to reduce everything that can give you worries.

If you think about it, the reduction of consumption is the one that influences the environment the most. We consume more and more food and also throw away a lot of food that we do not eat, we buy more clothes and the concept of fast fashion which 20 years ago was just a supposition is now a fact, and we produce a lot of waste that harms the environment.

If you are not familiar with the term ‘fast fashion’, you should know that the production of clothes has reached its peak point.

Opposed to the 70s, when our mothers and grandmothers used to buy clothes that would last for as long as 30 years because their quality was the highest possible, now we buy clothes that we throw away the next year because of two reasons: they are not fashionable anymore and they have poor quality.

If all the fibers that clothes are made of would be biodegradable, the problem wouldn’t be such big of a deal, but a lot of fiber nowadays is not biodegradable, like polyester, which is used in a lot of fashion items. So we are polluting the environment because of a caprice.

Conclusion

While there are many aspects in which a minimalist lifestyle can benefit us, it would be a Utopia if everybody would adopt it. But many of its concepts can be applied only partially to our lifestyles and it would still make a lot of difference to the world.

If you buy one less fashion item a month, or if you decide to have one less plastic home decoration, if you decide to buy one less plastic bag a day, all of these put together and multiplied by 7 billion, the current Earth’s population, we would be able to make a major difference to the environment.