Cyprus-Forum.com

[natureofcyprus]

Hi Xybadog,
The thinking behind the suggestion to boycot Emirates was that they have a campaign promoting snow ski in dubai in summer. This is at a 45+degrees temperature.

Many places have important environmental (and other) problems, including policy issues, and yes, Cyprus is not an exeption. I think it is in our interest to discuss the issues. Maybe through discussion we can question the practices of others and ours. And maybe through collective action we can make a difference, eg give signals that practices should be changed.

Take care

[cyprusgrump]

Hi Xybadog,
The thinking behind the suggestion to boycot Emirates was that they have a campaign promoting snow ski in dubai in summer. This is at a 45+degrees temperature.

Many places have important environmental (and other) problems, including policy issues, and yes, Cyprus is not an exeption. I think it is in our interest to discuss the issues. Maybe through discussion we can question the practices of others and ours. And maybe through collective action we can make a difference, eg give signals that practices should be changed.

Take care

We’re not discussing it; we are ridiculing your ill thought out proposal.

You still haven’t produced any facts to back your proposed boycott or justification for it.

You still haven’t confirmed if you believe that all energy consuming leisure activities should be boycotted or just this one which you have seemingly chosen at random.

[kurupetos]

Hi,
Recently I came upon an ad by Emirates airline promoting Dubai as a destination. In the ad, they present as a tourist attraction the fact that one can snow ski in Dubai in summer.

I am truly disgusted by the ad and the principle of burning oil to make a winter environment in the boiling heat 45+ of this desert environment.

This to me sounds not just illogical, but also provocative to the millions of people who try to make ends meet, because the price of oil has shot to the sky. But of course it is not just the social aspect, it is also the environmental aspect. Places like Dubai, or Las Vegas are using precious resources (oil/water) to make an artificial environment that is clearly not sustainable. Snow ski and golfing in the desert!!!

Maybe we should get active and make our voice heard. How about boycotting Dubai, Las Vegas, or Emirates airline?

All thoughts are welcome.

What we should do is limit is the amount of fossil fuels we buy from Arab countries. Either you go or not go to Dubai they will still do whatever they do because they have the oil and the wealth (which comes from our pockets). Unfortunately in Cyprus neither the government or the society gives a s*** about renewable energy and its potential especially in a country like Cyprus. We should first see our own damage to the environment and then accuse others!

[JimB]

Hi Xybadog,
The thinking behind the suggestion to boycot Emirates was that they have a campaign promoting snow ski in dubai in summer. This is at a 45+degrees temperature.

Many places have important environmental (and other) problems, including policy issues, and yes, Cyprus is not an exeption. I think it is in our interest to discuss the issues. Maybe through discussion we can question the practices of others and ours. And maybe through collective action we can make a difference, eg give signals that practices should be changed.

Take care

Agree totally with the discussion on important environmental problems. The point I was making in my earlier post is that there's bigger fish to fry than an airline promoting an indoor ski slope.

BTW - Like your website. Good content and informative (though it has an awful lot of adverts and PPC links on it which dilute it somewhat - but I appreciate something has to pay the bills).

Have you thought about adding a section on eco-tourism or environmentally safe practices such as 'leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories' ?

Or some links to environmentally active organisations e.g. Greenpeace, International RSPB, PADI etc. etc.

And maybe a section on the local government policies to encourage environmentally sound practices. Who is and who isn't. Active campaigns and what people can do to influence policy.

Just an idea.

[natureofcyprus]

Hi Jim,
I agree with you about bigger culprits out there.

This winter ski in the desert in summer was a thing that stood out for me.
Certainly there are many more important environmental problems.

Take care

[natureofcyprus]

By the way Jim. Thanks for the comments on the website, which are noted. I tried to send you a private message, but the function seemed disabled.

Cheers

[JimB]

By the way Jim. Thanks for the comments on the website, which are noted. I tried to send you a private message, but the function seemed disabled.

Cheers

Sent you my email address.

[JimB]

Hi Jim,
I agree with you about bigger culprits out there.

This winter ski in the desert in summer was a thing that stood out for me.
Certainly there are many more important environmental problems.

Take care

Back to the topic.

I've been doing some research on the indoor ski-slope in Dubai. The company which owns the facility is Majid Al Futtaim Ltd (MAFL).

MAFL own Dalkia Group which is a major energy provider. The Dalkia Group were responsible for the design, installation and setup of the ski dome.

A press release from the group says that they pioneered technological advances in the design of the dome and that the facility re-uses a massive amount of energy to aid in cooling other parts of the mall which are co-located. The actual energy cost of the facility amounts to only 10% of the energy used by the rest of the mall. They claim that in comparison to other similar facilities they use substantially less energy and at a lower cost.

Check out the ski-dubai and other links on the groups web page at

http://www.dalkia.ae/articles.html

Not sure how much credence to give it and I'd always be prudent with facts and figures from any companies site.

However, on the face of it, they don't appear to be all bad as they keep making year on year energy savings across the group and they have an environmental policy.

[Xybadog]

Hi Xybadog,
The thinking behind the suggestion to boycot Emirates was that they have a campaign promoting snow ski in dubai in summer. This is at a 45+degrees temperature.

Many places have important environmental (and other) problems, including policy issues, and yes, Cyprus is not an exeption. I think it is in our interest to discuss the issues. Maybe through discussion we can question the practices of others and ours. And maybe through collective action we can make a difference, eg give signals that practices should be changed.

Take care

Hi noc

I understand your point, but I believe this is definately small fry. If you were to research more in depth then you will probably find that this ski slope is not such an environmenatl issue as at first it may seem. Jim B has briefly researched it and found exactly that.
I was not aware of Dalkia, but I have come across the majority shareholder, Veolia Environnement. It's a French company with excellent credentials in the field of environmental issues. They work proactively to promote good environmental awareness throughout the world, so the figures quoted by Jim B, I would suggest can be taken as read.
Like the site also btw, but agree that there are too many ads. But it is informative.

[JimB]

Does anybody else find it perverse that the local (Cyprus) Carrefour imports most of it's meat from France?

Before I get shot down in flames let me state that I haven't a clue how it gets here or the rational behind them using it.

Willing to be enlightened though.

Just think it's a massive waste of energy (transportation / refrigeration etc) for a product that could surely be sourced from somewhere closer to home.

I prefer to buy things that are produced locally. Supports the local economy and is kinder on the planet.