Eco-Islam
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Water shortage in the MaghrebMorocco's thirst revolution and the luxury of watermelons
When residents of Zagora in southern Morocco protested in 2017, demanding the right to safe drinking water, the authorities arrested twenty-three of them in what became known as the "thirst revolution". The residents of Zagora and its environs, however, continue to suffer from a water shortage. By Ilhalm Al-Talbi
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Interview with political scientist Tobias ZumbraegelHow are Middle East countries coping with climate change?
Climate change, water scarcity and declining oil revenues: the Middle East and North Africa face huge environmental challenges. Political scientist Tobias Zumbraegel has published a study on how the region is dealing with these pressing issues. Interview by Christopher Resch
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Environmental protection in EgyptDid you enjoy your plastic meal today?
Has it ever crossed your mind that you are eating plastic on a daily basis? That you are drinking it? Apart from the thousands of trending pictures and videos on social media of animals and fish tangled in plastic, or even filled with plastic, are you aware that 83 % of our tap water contains microplastics? By Manar Ramadan
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Biodiesel productionDestroying Indonesia's virgin forests to protect the climate?
Germany continues to believe in the fiction that palm oil obtained from South East Asia to blend with diesel fuel is ecologically sound and climate-friendly. But that belief is mistaken, as Inge Altemeier and Stefan Buchen found out
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Interview with environmental expert Tarik M. Quadir"If we don’t pull together to save the earth, we will ‘sink’ together"
Taking the Fridays for Future movement as his starting point, Muslim environmental expert Tarik Quadir talks to Marian Brehmer about the connections between Islam and environmental protection – and the attitude Islamic countries need to adopt in countering climate change
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Alternative tourism in TunisiaOff the beaten tourist track
Demand for the classic Tunisian beach package holiday has slumped as a result of unrest in the wake of the Arab Spring and direct attacks on foreign tourists in recent years. Nevertheless, a small but growing number of local entrepreneurs are pursuing alternatives to the all-inclusive cheap deal, offering experiences that bring visitors closer to the country and its people – and that are kinder to the environment. By Madeleine Löning
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Islam and single-use plasticsAppealing to Indonesia's Muslims
The Indonesian government and Greenpeace have teamed up with Islamic organisations to promote plastic waste reduction. Can including religion make environmental campaigns more effective? By Rizki Nugraha and Ayu Purwaningsih
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Lebanonʹs rubbish crisis and youth protests"If not us, then who?"
Something remarkable has begun in Beirut. Massive government mismanagement and the attendant rubbish crisis two years ago inspired and galvanised Lebanese youth to demand more of their government and to hold their leaders accountable. It all began with the closure of the Naameh landfill, which was over-capacity. Kareem Chehayeb recalls the protests
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Environmental protection in IslamPatterning nature
What indicators of environmental protection and species conservation can be found in Islamic theology, the Koran and other Islamic lore? Answers from Muna Tatari, professor at the Seminar for Islamic Theology at the University of Paderborn
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Iran: paralysed by environmental neglect
Iranian politicians like to refer to their country as an "island of stability" in the Middle East. But the country has severe environmental problems and nobody feels responsible – with wide-reaching consequences. By Shabnam von Hein
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Album review: "Jinja" by The Nile ProjectGo with the flow
Thirteen musicians from seven countries came together to work on "Jinja", sharing not only a love of music, but another concern as well – preserving the Nile River. By Richard Marcus
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Climate conference in MarrakeshA golden opportunity?
With this year's UN Climate Change Conference taking place in Marrakesh, more media attention is being paid to environmental activists and green issues in Morocco than ever before. But will this have a lasting impact on the collective awareness of environmental issues, environmental protection and climate change policy in this north African country? Martina Sabra reports