In an industrial area close to Egypt’s northern coast, colored lights and nine huge shining artworks made of factory waste materials by seven recycling artists brightened the night.

The artworks, mostly made of wastes of iron, plastic and wood, are on display at the first edition of the Alamein Art Festival. The festival being held at an industrial park owned by Industrial Development Group (IDG) in the Mediterranean resort city of New Alamein was organized by Art D’Egypte, an Egyptian platform for art and heritage.

“The one-month festival, which kicked off on Thursday, seeks to promote the concept of environmental sustainability (持续性) through art,” said Nadine Abdel-Ghaffar, founder of Art D’Egypte and chief organizer of the festival. “Through their eco-friendly art installations (装置), Egyptian contemporary artists call on people to be aware of protecting the environment and the climate.”

One of the artworks on display features two large leaves standing side by side inside two opposing metal frames, looking like two pages of an open book. “It sends a message to factories that the materials they regard as wastes can be used for good purposes by artists in creating artworks, which can make a place more beautiful, “said experienced Egyptian sculptor Omar Tossoun and explained how he created his sculpture A Leaf.

In the center of the open-air exhibition area, visitors’ attention is drawn to a colorful 6-meter-tallshining object that looks like a jellyfish. It took two months for Marwa Magdy to finish the artwork called Jellyfish, which took half a ton of wasted iron.

Visitors have been impressed by the concept of recycling waste materials into artworks. “If you look around, the artists have really done very nice works. It is such a brilliant idea to use something that otherwise would be discarded and make it into a beautiful piece of art,” said Yehia Hamad, one of the visitors.

Ensuring that your home is as energy-efficient as it can possibly be is essential. Take the steps listed below, and you’ll be living in an energy-efficient home in no time.

【小题1】 To stop it in its tracks, you must invest in having your house insulated (隔热的). Taking such action may demand some cost in advance, but it will be sure to save you over £100 a year when it comes to your energy bills.

The old boilers (锅炉) are not as energy-efficient as the very latest models in this field. 【小题2】 By investing in a top of the line boiler, you’ll no doubt tap into a number of savings. What’s more, making this kind of investment will also be sure to lower your home’s carbon emissions.

Only when you know how much energy you use can you take action to be less wasteful and more resourceful in this instance. 【小题3】 To assist you in taking on this extremely important challenge, you might want to consider fitting an energy monitor in your home. 【小题4】 But if you’re lucky, your electricity provider will give you one for free. This monitor will provide you and your family with constant updates on the amount of energy you are using on a day-to-day basis.

With just twelve years (now seven years) to go until climate change alters earth forever, now is the time for you to play your part in protecting the planet that you live in. 【小题5】

One reaction to all the concern about tropical deforestation(砍伐森林) is a blank(茫然的)stare that asks the question，“Since I don't live there，what does it have to do with me? ”

The answer is that your way of life，wherever you live in the world，is tied to the tropics in many ways.If you live in a house，wash your hair，eat fruits and vegetables，drink soda，or drive a car，you can be certain that you are affected by the loss of tropical forests.

Biologically，we are losing the richest regions on earth when，each minute，a piece of tropical forest，the size of ten city blocks，disappears.As many as five million species of plants，animals，and insects(40 to 50 percent of all living things)live there，and are being lost faster than they can be found and described.Their loss is immeasurable.

Take rubber for example.For many uses，only natural rubber from trees will do.Synthetics(合成材料)are not good enough.Today over half the world's commercial rubber is produced in Malaysia and Indonesia，while the Amazon's rubber industry produces much of the world's four million tons.And rubber is an important material in making gloves，balloons，footwear and many sporting goods.Thousands of other tropical plants are valuable for their industrial use.

Many scientists strongly believe that deforestation contributes to the greenhouse effect—or heating of the earth from increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.As we destroy forests，we lose their ability to change carbon dioxide into oxygen.

Carbon dioxide levels could double within the next half­century，warming the earth by as much as 4.5 degrees.The result? A partial melt­down of polar ice caps，raising sea levels as much as 24 feet；even 15 feet could threaten anyone living within 35 miles of the coast.Unbelievable？Maybe.But scientists warn that by the time we realize the severe effects of tropical deforestation，it will be 20 years later.

Can tropical deforestation affect our everyday lives？Now，you should have got the answer.