It has been about 25 days since the last update at the Arab Environmental Monitor. This is the longest period of inactivity since the blog was established. There is no one particular reason behind this but a package of factors contributed including some exceptionally heavy work deadlines and a series of health conditions associated with winter problems. This period of "hibernation" has been useful though for me to re-evaluate the quality and content of the blog.

Most of the posts and articles in the blog represent re-prints of news and articles published in Arab electronic versions of newspapers. This is an important source of info but in reality provides very little added value to this blog, and a real enhancement of the content is required to provide a more independent identity of the blog to attract more users and provide better service.

The proposed plan for developing the content of the blog can be summarized as follows:

1-     Publishing more original analytical articles on environmental issues in the Arab World that are exclusive to the blog. This will also be associated with linkages to the socio-economic realities of the Arab world within the context of sustainability.

2-     Reducing the content from mews items published in newspapers to a weekly preview with links to articles.

3-     Focusing on the activities and publications of regional and global organizations and networks of environmental activism.

4-     Bringing the results of scientific research to the users of the blog by highlighting major scientific publications.

5-     Highlighting the proceedings of regional and global conferences with relation to Arab environmental issues.

6-     Highlighting new methodologies and technologies that are sustainable and can be applied within the regional context.

7-     More focus on environmental multimedia products.

8-     Making sure that the weekly electronic newsletter update is punctual and consecutive.

I will always look forward for criticism and feedback regarding the content of the blog and how it can be improved for better services.