The Regional IT Institute (RITI) is hosting the 3rd Wednesday Evening Workshop (WEW) on Wednesday the 24th of February 2010.
The workshop is titled Egypt and the Nile: Future Prospects of Sustainable Water Resources Development. The speaker for this workshop will be Dr. Magdy Hefny the Director of the Regional Center for Research and Studies of Water Ethics.
The deadline for registering for this workshop is Feb the 15th 2010 and fees must be paid before the deadline at the RITI office in 11A Hasan Sabry St., Zamalek, 11211, Cairo, Egypt.
To …

In November 2002, in a wholehearted attempt to engage young Egyptian professionals in innovative developmental projects and to support Egypt’s youth to play a positive role in its development, a group of young Egyptian men and women united to create Nahdet El-Mahrousa.
In an assertive move, some of Nahdet El-Mahrousa’s most active members started The Green Arm to tackle critical environmental issues and spread much-needed awareness.
The Green Arm provides consultancy services to smaller Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and to young environmental activists.
Nahdet El Mahrousa has launched a series of sessions called …

‘Tourism is Egypt’s future. Let’s be honest, we can’t compete when it comes to certain things like making great cars, but we most certainly have the power to compete on a touristic level.’

By: Nader Ramadan

Downtown Cairo’s streets had an eerie silence on the somewhat chilly January night. At Nahdet El Mahrousa, a local youth development NGO located in Downtown Cairo, it was all but silent. Lama El Hatow, an environmental expert who had attended the Cop 15, stood facing a small audience and talked about the results of the long and grueling congregation.
But what did Egypt get out of the conference. Out of the series of numbers and figures given on all of the sides, a single conclusion was made by …

The Wadi Environmental Science Centre (WESC) has already started working full throttle on their upcoming major event: The World Environment Day 2010 (WED) under the theme of “Connecting with Nature: Discover Biodiversity“ taking place in Al Azhar Park on the 5th of June 2010.
To gear up their supporters to this year’s exciting event, they will be launching the “Fate of Our Earth” documentary series on which they collaborated with the Prince Alwaleed American Studies Centre  at AUC. The series will aim at raising awareness on a selected variety of major global environmental issues …

By: Daria Mahgoub
Eco friendly homes are not associated with celebrities and tree-huggers are more.
It has never been clearer that professionals from all fields are taking climate change seriously and incorporating new innovative measures to make homes’ making and styles more eco-friendly.
So what really makes a house eco-friendly?
The most obvious matter would be insulation! Yes, even in hot ol’ Egypt it’s necessary. Other things to consider would be: non toxic paint, which sounds logical right? Wrong. Funny enough, not all paints are made with such a consideration. Another interesting introduction, which …

By: Daria Mahgoub
A concerned mother always takes the necessary precautions when it comes to pretty much everything; hiding glass objects, buying safety outlet plugs and even hiding detergents.
Cleaning detergents are not only dangerous for children, they also cause a lot of adult frustration and health concerns. When you pick a cleaning detergent, do you sometimes cringe at the long list (and long names) of chemicals listed?
I sometimes wonder if anyone else follows the rations noted for use as obsessively as I do. We’re not strangers to the existing scientific research …

When you buy it, make sure the bottle is in amber or cobalt blue glass bottles to prevent deterioration from sunlight. Aluminum bottles are acceptable if it interior is lined. You should be skeptical of any essential oils sold in clear glass. Plastic is unacceptable as the essential oils will eat at the plastic and is thus are ruined over a short period of time.

Essential oils shouldn’t have a dropper in their screw-top cap, because the highly concentrated oil can turn the rubber dropper into gum and thus be ruined.

Essential …

If you are expecting essential oils to be oily, you are in for a big surprise.
They are distilled liquids (frequently by steam or water) from various parts of plants (stems, flowers, bark, leaves and sometimes roots, to name a few). The extracted oils are highly concentrated and very little does very much! Most have a clear color, while some are yellow. Their psychological and physical therapeutic benefits have been documented in folk medicine since ancient times.
Essential oils should not be confused with perfume oils, which are artificial fragrances that offer …

Eco-lodges are touristic destinations where the eco-tourist finds accommodation, environmentally aware staff and guides, and activities to enjoy nature with minimal impact on the surrounding environment.
There are a couple of things that characterize eco-lodges:
- Respects the natural environment and strives to protect it and promote it sustainably
-   Ensures the well being of the local inhabitants
-   Minimal and native style architecture, like mud bricks or stones from the area.
- Products have minimal impacts on the environment. You can always ask where your garbage goes to   know what’s being done to …

The United Nations Environment Programme- World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) defines protected areas as those “of land/and or sea especially dedicated to the protection and maintenence of biological diversity and of natural and associated cultural resources, managed though legal or other effective means.”
Starting from 1981 UNEP-WCMC has been able to identify and compile a database of information in the globe’s protected areas to produce maps and datasets. This work has been done in close association with the World Commission on Protected Areas and the International Union for Conservation of Nature …

By Maha Khalil
Have you ever looked at your electricity bill and just didn’t understand why you have to pay so much?? You did as you were told and followed the instructions of your AC manual to maximize its energy efficiency, but still, for some reason, it does not seem to be paying off – as your electricity bill so painfully reminds you. Well, the solution is simple.
Home Insulation.

A term that tends to be more familiar in very cold countries around the world, it is needed even more desperately in …

By: Daria Mahgoub

Have you seen  Jump, a video-clip by  Madonna?  Did you know she could have hired people from Egypt to do the same thing?
They call this elegant and fast hurtling over buildings and spaces, Parkour.
Parkour Generations has four branches, or teams as they like to call themselves. A campaign by Sandbag-  a UK based climate change campaigning organization, named One Giant Leap features Parkour Generations took place globally on the 26th of September.
The One Giant Leap campaign showcases the must-needed creativity for a cause. Its main aim is …

By Nader Ramadan
Both photos courtesy of Dr. Safwan
Cairo- Most gardeners usually get frustrated with their weed problem. They slash them, cut them, or chemically poison them.  It is literally a weed holocaust. However, after the discovery that Dr. Safwan Khedr and his student Karim Abdel Warith with Tharwat Aguib made about local giant milkweeds, planting weeds may one day form an essential component of Egypt’s agricultural sector rather than a normal everyday nuisance!
Giant milkweeds, Calotropis procera, contains a sticky, milky substance that could potentially replace the asphalt which is …

By Maha Khalil
Everybody loves a great vacation every once in a while. And yet some of us also realize that if the wonderful beaches, coral reefs or forests we love to visit so much are destroyed, along with the local communities that tend to them, we will no longer be able to have our delightful vacations. So, we have to think about the effects our vacations might have on the environment or how big an ecological footprint we may be leaving behind on our vacations.
What if there’s a way to …

By: Mohammed Al Garf

“Living Green is good”. Yup, I know this is an argument we have all heard before. One that is easy to wave off in a second. We are all reluctant to change things we have been using, doing and consuming for the biggest chunks of our lives. It’s easy to fall into a rhythm of ‘living’ that we shy away from questioning. However, a thought that usually escapes us is that everything is connected and undeniably interrelated. The small things we do have the ability of …

By: Mona Daoud
The environment is tired, and its revival depends on people of the world and local communities. H.E. Maged George, Minister of State for Environment Affairs couldn’t have said it any better.
As much as we all care about the environment, none of us really wants to hear about ‘initiatives’, ‘awareness programmes’ and the lot. The reason is simple; they’re downright boring words, and actions usually run by grim activists viewed by some as on the verge of either lunacy or selling out.
It is a very sad truth, but …

By Maha Khalil
Many people do not realize that only around 10 kilometers between Maadi and Wadi Degla Protectorate –lies a nature lover’s excellent getaway from the noise, pollution and congestion of Cairo.
Step through the gates of Wadi Degla and you are literally walking on the bed of an ancient sea that existed around 50 million years ago, formed by flood waters mixing with natural salts in the earth. It is located on the western edge of Egypt’s Eastern Desert and runs 30 km from east to west, with an …

By: Nader Ramadan

CAIRO-A once powerful Egyptian empire was sustained by annual Nile River floods providing farmers with rich silt to plant crops. Now, the history of such an era is slowly being erased by a similar phenomenon taking place today. Rising ground water is slowly wiping Egypt’s ancient heritage right off the map of history.
According to Ted Brox, a researcher from the American Research Center, salt-rich ground water, most likely caused by irrigation in the nearby farms, settles on the walls of temples and ancient monuments damaging the surfaces of …

By: Daria Mahgoub
“Finding alternative, clean and sustainable energy through ongoing scientific research and commitment to using this energy and promoting for its widespread use. “
This was the recommendation from group number two in the World Wide Views deliberation that took place on the 26th of September 2009.  Egypt was one of 38 countries participating in the World Wide Views (WWViews) on Climate Change Event that occurred globally on the same day.
The event, was planned to allow citizens from all contributing countries to join forces from their different walks of …

By Mona Daoud
Few people are aware of the ravishing, heavenly beauty of coral reefs. Divers experienced it and have been ravished by it, snorkelers have seen some of it, and nature lovers know of it. Otherwise, to most people, it is just something out there. Little do they know how much their continued existence depends on it.
It doesn’t take a genius to know that the survival of one species depends on another.  The problem with all the scientific and technological advancements making our lives easier, is that we …

By: Mohammed Al Garf

Some people live the greenest lives. Every thought and behavior of theirs is driven by dedication to preserve the environment. Know many of those folks? Likely, the answer is no.  So the question is why aren’t there more people who are eco-friendly?  Maybe most people just harbor a deep hate for trees? Or maybe it’s just because they find the recycling sign extremely aesthetically displeasing? Another option is that no one is satisfied except if they’re driving their cars aimlessly back and forth across borders.
Or maybe not.
Fortunately …

By Maha Khalil
Do you often find yourself complaining about Cairo’s traffic and pollution? Guess what, 80 million Egyptians and Egypt’s expatriates do the same thing endlessly. Tired of complaining, and aspiring to make a difference, a group of young people have taken a great initiative and resolved to relieve the streets of Cairo as much as they possibly can. They call themselves The Cairo Cycling Club.
The club was among the very first of its kind in Cairo and was started in August 2007 by a small group of young people …

By: Nader Ramadan and Daria Mahgoub
Cairo- Seventy six climate change activists and concerned citizens gathered at the Great Pyramids at Giza early last Friday morning to call on the world to do one thing: lower carbon emissions in the atmosphere.
The crowd stood in front of a number of cameras to have their picture taken carrying cardboard signs that read “350”. Their picture is expected to be displayed at the international climate change meetings in Denmark and Time Square in New York City within the coming months.
They jumped, cheered and …

By: Daria Mahgoub

Let us face it; we can’t really cycle to work most of the year because of the weather and horrendous traffic. Moreover, most of us don’t have the privilege of a short distance appropriate for a daily stroll between work and home.This is Egypt, where you’d be living in Mohandiseen or Zamalek or Dokki and working in the 6th of October area, or worse, New Cairo! Or vice versa.
Still, distance isn’t the only concern, although Cairo is one large city!  The air pollution, over population and heat …

The complete profile of the Eco traveler and the irresponsible tourist. Where do you fit?!

By: Mohammed Al Garf
Rushing to reach on time, a blur of green whisks by in your peripheral vision and you blast the volume of your iPod to drown out those annoying birds. On the way back home you’re confronted with images of gray buildings, peeling paint and the nauseating smell of escaped sewage. Just another typical day.  
People today seem to have lost their connection with nature or are accustomed to the lack of it. But this was not always the case. Through our history as a species we have …

By: Daria Mahgoub

I’m currently battling withdrawal symptoms from my weekly fix of Reese’s Pieces, but I’m doing it any way. Here’s why.
The food crisis has been directly linked with climate change in more than one manner. Food contributes significant amounts of Carbon dioxide and other Green House Gases to our atmosphere. How? Rearing livestock, planting and harvesting, transport and waste management are some of the main problems. These problems are made worse by the expanding size of the world population, shrinking size of arable agricultural land, clean water shortage …

By: Mohammed Al Garf
Humans remain thirsty as they dehydrate the world.
A shocking fact published on the Associated Content website reveals that 75% percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated. This trend seems to be worldwide and largely unnoticed by suffering individuals. Ironically, as we forget to nourish ourselves with the most important liquid, we are also abusing the earth’s water supply more than ever. It seems today that we take water for granted. From the abundance of available bottled waters to the convenience of flowing taps, we seem to think water …

By: Ingy Hassieb
The air conditioner was still beginning to take effect when the Air France plane started taking-off from Cairo International airport. I looked through the window and saw Cairo, divided into perfect rectangles and squares with its lit up buildings and cars making their way on the Ring Road. I thought of the overly warm air and the smell of cars, and then I realized that in less than five hours I would be looking at  long leafy trees, green grass, and cleaner streets. I was excited, especially since …

By: Daria Mahgoub
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”. Margaret Mead
On October 24th, I was one of thousands of individuals in 181 different countries participating in events to commemorate the “International Day of Action”. I was in Cairo, supporting the 350 movement and participating in one of 5200 events worldwide.
Where were you on October 24th?
The brain behind the 350 movement, the organization that coordinated the global events, Bill McKibben, a respected activist and …

By: Daria Mahgoub
The global eco-friendly fashion industry is still very much an infant. The materials and processes are the main crisis when it comes to the fashion industry, and when those are chosen to be eco-friendly by the manufacturers and designers, then the items can be deemed so. Certifications systems have been springing up to support these designers and manufacturers, and ensure the legitimacy of the entire process so the label is honest in its representation. Some companies even donate some of their profit to Grassroot environmental organizations and projects.
Eco-fashion …

All religions tell us to respect and preserve our environment. Sara Salem gives us a closer look at how Islam has done so.

Humans are losing the battle against Climate Change, and the price they’re paying is their homes. Mohammed Al Garf introduces you to the reality of climate and environmental refugees.

Double G explores the many ways you can have a Green Wedding party.

We’d all love to have the eco-friendliest brands sell us their stuff at Seif’s pharmacy. Until that happens, THIS is all you need to gauge how eco-friendly your favorite products in the Egyptian market are!

Mona Daoud tells us all about the Characters of Egypt Festival which took place in Fustat Wadi El Gemal National Park between the 29th and 31st of October 2009.

Pictures from this dynamic group’s Second Clean Up in Wadi El Nil Street, in Mohandiseen, Giza. Volunteers gathered on the 21st of November and used the sponsored tools to clean up side streets off of the main Wadi El Nil street.
Stay tune for an article about this amazing initiative, the people behind it and their objectives and vision. Out November 30th.

By: Tarek Ibrahim

Egypt produces forty to fifty thousand tons of municipal solid waste or MSW (a fancy word for trash) daily, with more than 20% coming from Cairo alone. We ultimately co-exist with this waste; storing it, getting rid of it, and even on occasion we see people burning it when they are cold.
Garbage seems like a nuisance.
Occasionally, someone sees garbage, their eyes turn to dollars signs and the rest is history.
They see in this waste, a fortune, and like true entrepreneurs they step in and transform the …

By: Mona Daoud

You come home from work, kick back and sleep. Your sheets are fresh, your bed is king-sized and you only wake up hours later, voluntarily. Now imagine a similar yet different scenario. You are trying to sleep, and every time you begin to rest and relax, a large group of noisy people barge in on you, poke you, forcefully hug you, touch you all over, then leave as abruptly as they came, with a different group barging in on you a few minutes later totaling an average …

By: Daria Mahgoub

Clean Up Giza is one of the many Facebook groups dedicated to “cleaning up” Cairo or Egypt as a whole.
The group held  their first clean up event to encourage the beginning of a new movement. Currently, the Facebook group is turning into an NGO.
According to their Facebook group, “To keep our streets clean is every civilian’s duty.”
Their mission is to get “civilians” to clean up various dirty streets in Giza, to set up an example to the neighborhoods. They believe that it is a personal responsibility to …

By: Daria Mahgoub

In Latin, compost means “to put together”.
Simply put, when composting, you combine animal and plant- based leftovers with air, nitrogen and water.
Since earth forces take thousands of years to build a good soil structure, humans can reduce this span drastically, by adding compost made up of humus, microorganisms and worms. We add adequate amounts of compostable materials to the soil to amend and fix its properties to yield healthier crops and allow the soil to be sustainably healthy for future yields.
Farmers and experienced gardeners alike acknowledge that …

The Cairo Cyclers Club has been actively involved in events about Climate Change taking place in Egypt.
This time, they’ve created their own.
The Ride Planet Earth Challenge will take place this Saturday the 5th of December, 2 days prior to the COP15 meetings commencement in Copenhagen. The event starts at 7:30 am at the meeting point in Tahrir and the Cyclers will then move to the symbolic pyramids.
This initiative is part of 45 global cycling ones (taking place on Sunday the 6th).
Understandably so, the Cycler’s are riding to raise awareness about …

The UN Climate Change talks have started yesterday the 7th of December, in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Much to the disappointment of thousands of activists going to Copenhagen or staying home to facebook, tweet, or blog about the proceedings, Barak Obama and some other leaders of large nations announced before the commencement of the conference that this meeting will not produce any legally binding climate agreement.
Apparently, they need more time!
Activists, urged by leading organizations like 350.org, Tck Tck Tck, IndyAct and many more, are planning actions to push for a “Real Deal”. …

Al Mokattam News started a campaign to tackle the solid waste problem of the Mokattam area. The campaign started in the October 2009 issue by publishing the names and numbers of many waste management entities from the Cairo Cleaning and Beautification Authority.
As a response to the campaign, an NGO provided 7 large garbage bags to each building on Road 9 from the fountain to Mokattam street.
The campaign then dedicated a day called “Youm el Hob wel Wafaa” (The day of love and loyalty), on the 9th of January 2010 to …

By: Nader Ramadan

Adel Monir’s eyes scanned the playground like a high ranking military officer. While paying close attention to screaming children at the other end of the yard, he leaned over and started to talk about his background.
“I feel that I had the obligation to do something great for the community that I was raised in,” said Monir. Pointing towards the playground, he said, “As you can see, the children here are a little young to start proper education.”
He looked tired with an unshaven face. He turned to inspect …

By Mona Daoud

“HEPCA is a good solution. It’s a real solution. We keep saying it’s not good to have plastic bags around. Yes we know. Now what?” Renzo Pirrello, Manager of Aquarius Awlad Baraka.
Now what indeed? We’re all good to talk, everyone loves a good rant. It’s easy, and noncommittal. Until someone asks you ‘now what? What are you going to do about it?’
HEPCA (Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association) can answer that question with confidence when it comes to the recycling of solid wastes in Marsa Alam, where …

By: Mohammed Al Garf

On December 12th, for the first time I joined an event as an activist. As the cool breeze flirted with my skin, I walked down the steps of Al-Sawy Cultural Wheel in Zamalek and I was welcomed with a beautiful sight. People, from all walks of life, different ethnicities, different backgrounds, lined up in front of the placid Nile.
Only one thing brought these people together. Their care for the environment and their frustration that COP15 was gearing up to be a big disappointment …

By: Dina Abdel Aziz
Tired of those non-biodegradable plastic bags? Looking for a greener alternative? Then Carrefour’s Ecological Bag is just the thing for you.
The project, started in June 2008, hopes to eliminate plastic bag usage one shopping trip at a time. Plastic does not decay naturally and can only be disposed of by burning or disposing of it in landfills. Burning releases gaseous emissions, harming both humans and wildlife.
Eco-bags, or eco-totes like the one in the picture above are usually hand stitched and made of either organic or recycled cotton, in …

By: Mohammed Al Garf
For anyone who follows the news about environmental issues it is certain that they had stayed up to date with the proceedings of the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) that took place in Copenhagen, Denmark from the 7th to the 18th of December, 2009. While many environmental activists in Egypt tuned in to the news through blogs, TV, newspapers and forums, a few Egyptian activists were actually in Copenhagen to experience the conference first hand.
I actually had the opportunity to interview two of these Egyptian …

By: Papiha Ghosh

India has the second largest population in the world after China, but India’s population growth rate is the highest in the world. The Indian government recognizes its responsibility towards protecting the global environment because of its population size.
According to the World Bank, in terms of per capita greenhouse gas emissions, India is among the least polluting countries in the world, with emissions of 1.2 tons per annum, in contrast to averages of 19 tons in the U.S., 12 tons in Europe, and 5 tons in China. …

This picture was taken on the Thawra street in Heliopolis, just opposite the Nozha exit. The photographer realized later that the bicycle was made from milk bottles. It seemed like a biking-for-the-planet sort of ad!
What do you see?
1- lower your footprint and cycle?
2- drink milk and exercise?
Have you heard about the Cairo Cycling Club and the The Egyptian Cyclists? There are so many facebook groups out there for cycling, Cycle Egypt, Alex cyclers, Sheikh Zayed cyclers!
We seriously hope Beyti was trying to encourage cycling for all! What do you think? Eco-initiative …

Tarek Ibrahim continues the post-COP15 discussion and introduces the Climate Debt developed nations owe to the developing ones with the striking difference between how much is needed and the amount proposed.

The founders and mobilizers of the Clean Up Giza are brining you the Keep it Clean Concert in collaboration with www.localsoundwave.com.
They advertised this opportunity and selected six impressive local talents  to rock your socks off in their first cause concert:
Shady Ahmed- (Acoustic pop/rock)
Amina Diab and Farida El Guertly (Acoustic)
Déporté (Pop)
Yogi & The Smoothers Blues Band (Folk, Blues and RocknRoll)
Habib (Poetry in motion)
Wighit Nazar (Arabic Hip Hop)
The concert will take place in the Sakkiet El Sawy Wisdom Hall on the 8th of Feb 2010 at 8 pm.
Lets all support this worthwhile cause …