Israel’s latest attacks on the city of Rafah have intensified criticism of its war on Gaza.
Hundreds of thousands of people have already been forced to flee the southern city amid warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe if a full-scale assault goes ahead.
So how has the world responded? Last week, the US suspended a shipment of bombs to Israel due to concerns about civilian casualties (although the White House this week informed Congress of its intention to send a $1 billion arms package). Meanwhile, Arab foreign ministers met in Bahrain for the 33rd annual Arab League summit to formulate a plan to end the conflict.
This week on Beyond The Headlines, host Nada AlTaher looks at the international and regional reaction to the intensifying military operations in Rafah, and the diplomatic options available to Arab countries to put an end to the conflict.
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
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