How Cyprus is Winning the Solar Game (and Why You Should Care) (OLAM BASHAVUA 1.30) - JANUARY 22, 2025
CHINA TURNS DESERT GREEN: A 3,000-KM DESERT SHIELD
China has planted a 3,000-kilometer stretch of drought-resistant trees and shrubs, like desert poplars and saxaul trees, around the massive Taklamakan Desert. These hardy plants thrive in dry conditions, prevent sand from spreading, and have already improved air quality. The project has curbed sandstorms and shown that large-scale greening can fight desertification. (Interesting Engineering)
Trees in the Torah: Explore the Jewish connection between Trees, the Torah, and Environmental Stewardship
GrowTorah Value: 🌎 Stewarding the Earth 🌎
ENERGIZING RURAL AMERICA: USDA'S $6B PUSH FOR CLEAN POWER
The USDA has unveiled a $6 billion initiative to help rural electric cooperatives build renewable energy infrastructure, including solar, wind, and battery storage systems. This funding, part of broader federal efforts to promote sustainability, aims to lower electricity costs, create jobs, and drive environmental progress across rural America. (Canary Media)
Energy in the Torah: In this article, the author discusses what we can learn from the Jewish tradition about how to use energy responsibly (Torah Article)
GrowTorah Value: 🌎 Stewarding the Earth 🌎
CONSERVATION PAYS OFF: PIPING PLOVERS SET NEW RECORDS IN 2024
Piping Plovers in Massachusetts had a record nesting year in 2024, with 1,196 pairs, marking the second consecutive record. This success follows decades of conservation efforts by state, federal, and local agencies, significantly increasing the species' population. (EcoWatch)
Biodiversity in the Torah: In this article, the author explores the value of the continuity of species (from plants, to animals, to insects) in Jewish texts and traditions, including and beyond halachic imperatives.
GrowTorah Value: 🦋 Compassion for Creatures 🦋
CYPRUS: SOAKING UP THE SUN, SAVING ENERGY
Cyprus leads the EU in solar water heating, with over 93% of households harnessing the sun's power to provide cost-effective, eco-friendly hot water. Introduced in the 1960s, these systems have become a cornerstone of the island's renewable energy efforts, reducing electricity bills and creating jobs, all while leveraging Cyprus's 300+ sunny days each year. (The Guardian)
Energy in the Torah: In this article, the author discusses what we can learn from the Jewish tradition about how to use energy responsibly (Torah Article)
GrowTorah Value: 🌎 Stewarding the Earth 🌎
