Page 14 – Green Prophet

Images of Assomption Island development show extensive beach development

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October 6, 2025

Assumption Island, Assomption, before and after Assets Group — Before and after Qatari development on Assomption Island. Image was sent to us and is believed to show development up until at least June, 2025.

The damage appeared on Google Earth, and then was somehow scrubbed: but we have obtained a before and after photo of Qatari development on Assomption Island in the Seychelles. The same images appear on the landsat open source data supplied by EU’s Copernicus. Why this matters? Assomption Island, one of Seychelles’ Outer Islands lying just 25 miles from Aldabra Atoll, is being rapidly transformed by large-scale construction despite global concern over its ecological importance.

https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/ — Image from dataspace.copernicus.eu from June, 2025 shows what Google Earth does not see: an extended runway from shore to shore and sites developed for luxury villas all along turtle nesting sites.

Once lightly inhabited and largely recovering after decades of limited human activity, Assomption is now the site of major earthworks, dredging, and runway expansion for an ultra-luxury development on the beach –– that conservationists say could permanently alter the island’s environment and threaten nearby Aldabra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “outpost of evolution.”

Aldabra and Assomption (sometimes spelled Assumption) Islands

Photographs and satellite images taken between approximately 2023 and June 2025 show widespread clearing of dunes and vegetation, the extension of the airstrip across the center of the island, and the preparation of foundations for as many as 40 villas. The development, backed by Qatari investors through a company Assets Group, aims to create a luxury resort enclave marketed to the ultra-wealthy. Only the ultra wealthy can hope to dive around the atoll. Getting there means a small plane into Assomption and then a charter boat to the island. Guests need to sleep on the boat. Read this personal account of being a dive master at Aldabra Atoll.

Jeanne Mortimer in her early days with the tortoises and turtles in the Seychelles

Conservation groups, including Friends of Aldabra and Seychelles at Heart, say the project has proceeded without proper environmental oversight and in violation of Seychelles’ own constitutional protections guaranteeing citizens the right to a healthy environment.

Environmentalists have warned that Assomption’s beaches are vital nesting sites for green and hawksbill turtles and that dredging and construction will destroy their breeding grounds. One widely circulated photograph released by Friends of Aldabra shows a dead turtle crushed in the sand by machinery.

Damaged turtle on Assomption Island via Friends of Aldabra

Researchers who have studied the island for decades describe it as a key ecological buffer for Aldabra, helping to protect the atoll from pollution, invasive species, and light disturbance. If Assomption’s natural systems collapse, they warn, Aldabra could be next.

In September, two Seychellois citizens, Victoria Duthil and Lucie Harter, filed a constitutional petition in the Supreme Court of Seychelles to halt the project, arguing that it undermines the country’s environmental laws and its international obligations under UNESCO conventions. The petition targets the government, which granted the development lease and continues to issue work permits despite the legal challenge. The lawsuit has become a rallying point for citizens alarmed by the scale of change occurring on the remote island and by the lack of transparency surrounding the project. This issue will probably determine the next election in the Seychelles.

Victoria Duthil and Lucie Harter at Supreme Court to file constitutional petition

An Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the resort identified major long-term risks to turtle nesting, dune stability, and coastal habitats, yet many of its recommendations appear to have been ignored. Conservationists say the new lighting and air traffic alone will devastate nocturnal wildlife. Beach dredging, they add, has already altered currents and sediment flows, increasing the risk of erosion and devastating turtle nesting sites. Pollution and runoff from the site in water and by air are expected to travel toward Aldabra, which hosts 100,000 giant tortoises and some of the most diverse coral ecosystems in the world. Every visitor to that island must have their clothing and shoes checked for the tiniest of seeds.

Developers have advertised the Assomption project as a sustainable tourism venture that will bring jobs and foreign revenue to Seychelles. They have hired a British PR firm called the PC Agency headed by Paul Charles and a Swedish “environmentalist” photographer Jesper Anhede to scout locations and to court buyers and “eco” builders. We reached out to Charles and Jesper to which there has been receipt of our inquiries, but no comments made. Jesper blocked us on Instagram.

Jesper Anhede, hired by Qatar to be their environmental photographer and liaison to the west.

Environmental groups like Friends of Aldabra are worried because they counter that the resort’s marketing materials promise exclusive access to Aldabra, a strict conservation zone closed to mass tourism. They warn that the development of Assomption creates an open channel—physical and economic—between Aldabra and the luxury market, undermining decades of conservation policy designed to keep the atoll isolated from human disturbance.

The controversy comes at a politically fragile moment. National elections remain undecided, with about 10 candidates facing pressure to define their positions on the Outer Islands. We spoke with one candidate, Marco Francis, candidate of the Seychelles United Movement, who has pledged to strengthen protections for Seychelles’ marine reserves and eradicate corruption. The outcome of the election may determine whether construction on Assomption is paused, reversed, or expanded.

Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean is one of the largest raised coral reefs in the world. This atoll, consisting of coral islands ringing a shallow lagoon, is known for the hundreds of endemic species—including the Aldabra giant tortoise—that live there. According to UNESCO, Aldabra contains “one of the most important natural habitats for studying evolutionary and ecological processes.” — Marco Francis has made protecting this island as part of his election campaign

Until recently, Assomption had been protected under national environmental frameworks, serving as a controlled buffer to Aldabra’s strictly protected ecosystem. Conservationists say that status has now been effectively removed. What began as a quiet island has become a construction hub for a luxury enclave which will give access to Aldabra and other isolated islands that most Seychellois, a nation of 120,000, will never see.

Environmental observers argue that the issue is larger than Assomption alone. It symbolizes the growing global tension between development and conservation in fragile island states. If this project continues unchecked, the “outpost of evolution” may be destroyed.

Aldabra faces another global problem — plastic pollution washing up from across the Indian Ocean. Cleaning it up would cost millions. Even a lost flip-flop from Zanzibar can end up on its beaches.

Get educated about protecting Aldabra Atoll:

Seychelles activists sue government for Qatari development on turtle nesting sites

Karin Kloosterman

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October 5, 2025

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We’ve covered the story of rats and royalty at the Seychelles Islands extensively and the next step in stopping the construction of Qatari villas on turtle nesting sites is led by two Seychellois citizens — Victoria Duthil (from Friends of Aldabra) and Lucie Harter (from Seychelles at Heart). Can the right thing trump money?

The duo have filed a petition in the Constitutional Court of Seychelles seeking an injunction to stop construction of a luxury Qatari hotel development on Assomption Island, 20 miles from the Aldabra Atoll UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is known as the “outpost of evolution” but biologists are worried it will be a playground for rich Middle Easterners.

The Adabra atoll is known as the outpost for evolution. — The Aldabra Atoll is known as the outpost for evolution.

The Seychelles’ UNESCO island is under threat from luxury development with not so clean Qatari funds. And we have spoken with a handful of environmentalists, scientists and biologists on how wrong this Qatari project is. You can read the whole background on the story below in a series of articles we have posted.

As we speak, critical turtle nesting sites are being bulldozed, the island being sold by the government in a 70-year lease and with a blind eye.

The petition filed last month invokes Article 38 of the Seychelles Constitution (the right to a clean, healthy and ecologically balanced environment).

In the image you can see that the beachfront has been dredged. This is a critical turtle nesting site. Via Friends of Aldabra

Assomption Island is next to the Aldabra Atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site globally recognised as one of the most important biodiversity hotspots on Earth. After decades of human degradation, Assomption was showing signs of ecological recovery, serving as a key habitat for sea turtles, butterflies, and other insects.

The Qatari-led construction project poses a serious risk of irreversible harm to these fragile ecosystems, threatening to undo decades of conservation work in the Outer Islands.

The claimants say that “legal action was taken to safeguard the constitutional right of every Seychellois to live in and enjoy a clean, healthy, and ecologically balanced environment, as stated in Article 38 of the Constitution of Seychelles.”

From the outset, “we have reported that this development has proceeded without transparency or legal safeguards. The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) was conducted by an NGO with financial and governance ties to the project contractor, raising serious concerns about conflict of interest.

“Construction began before any environmental accountability had been assigned: no environmental officer was present, no monitoring was in place, and the biosecurity protocol ignored—despite this being critical to prevent invasive species from devastating island ecosystems.”

Green Prophet interviewed turtle expert Jeanne Mortimer earning her the title of Madame Torti in the Seychelles. She was not consulted about how to safeguard the turtles but knows how it can be done.

“There is a lot going on behind the scenes related to Assomption. Actually I am somewhat optimistic. We will see…” Jeanne Mortimer told Green Prophet today. Our video with her has gone viral.

According to Mongabay and various NGO and media reports, the PR agency named The PC Agency is being used by Assets Group to promote the development and its narrative (for example, offering tourism packages). Also, Mongabay says that the London-based PR company: “Through a website run by its PR firm, the PC Agency, Assets Group has made it clear it is offering tourists an Aldabra islands package not limited to Assomption Island.”

“In May 2025, the Planning Authority issued a Stop Notice for these violations, but it appears to have been immediately waived or disregarded. Since then, evidence has surfaced of unauthorised dredging, light pollution visible from Aldabra that disrupts the behaviour of both terrestrial and marine species, and a photo of a gravely injured giant tortoise.”

It is common for Middle East developers to hire Londoners and Europeans to greenwash development projects in the Middle East. It is happening currently in Saudi Arabia with its Neom mega project.

Iranian architect Ronak Roshan tells Green Prophet greenwashing is happening by respected international organizations, including the greenwashing by the Aga Khan Foundation in promoting projects on islands that are definitely not good for turtles, nature or the environment. She writes her piece on Green Prophet from her home in Iran. And what they are doing on Hormuz Island.

majara superadobe iran, eco architecture iran, sustainable building iran, earthbag construction iran, superadobe dome iran, natural building iran, eco resort hormuz island, sustainable tourism iran, adobe dome architecture, green building iran, eco hotel iran, earth architecture iran, environmental design iran, sustainable architecture middle east, natural materials construction iran — Not a green project on Hormuz Island, but greenwashing

Green Prophet has not received any comment from Assets Group. Or Aga Khan.

Follow Friends of Aladbra if you want to help and get involved.

Further reading on Green Prophet

Has climate change created the first grue jay?

Peace

Karin Kloosterman

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October 5, 2025

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A rare hybrid bird identified in a suburb of San Antonio, Texas (center panel, credit: Brian Stokes) is the result of mating between a male blue jay (left, credit: Travis Maher/Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Macaulay Library) and a female green jay (right, credit: Dan O’Brien/Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Macaulay Library).

Years ago, when I was studying biology at the University of Toronto, the textbook example of climate-driven evolution was the case of the peppered moth. Two color forms — one white, one black — told a simple story of natural selection: in the soot-choked air of industrial England, the darker moths survived better because they were harder for predators to see.

Now, in a new twist on species diversity, ornithologists are witnessing not just color changes, but the blending of entire species. In Texas, a green jay and a blue jay — birds separated by seven million years of evolution — have produced a hybrid offspring. Their unexpected creation, likely spurred by climate change as both species’ ranges expand and overlap, has earned a nickname as curious as its colors: the “grue jay.”

Biologists at The University of Texas at Austin have reported discovering a wild bird that appears to be the natural hybrid of a green jay and a blue jay—a cross that may be one of the first known to result from climate-driven range shifts.

“We think it’s the first observed vertebrate that’s hybridized as a result of two species both expanding their ranges due, at least in part, to climate change,” said Brian Stokes, a graduate student in ecology, evolution and behavior at UT Austin and first author of the study published in Ecology and Evolution.

The green jay (Cyanocorax yncas), a tropical bird found across Central America and southern Texas, and the blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata), a temperate species native to eastern North America, are separated by roughly seven million years of evolution. Until recently, their ranges rarely overlapped. In the 1950s, green jays reached only the southern tip of Texas, while blue jays ranged as far west as Houston. But as climate change has warmed and dried parts of Texas, green jays have pushed north and blue jays west, their territories now overlapping around San Antonio.

Stokes discovered the unusual bird while monitoring social media posts by birders to locate potential study sites. A homeowner northeast of San Antonio posted a photo of a mysterious blue bird with a black mask and white chest. “The first day, we tried to catch it, but it was really uncooperative,” said Stokes.

“But the second day, we got lucky.”

The bird was caught using a mist net, briefly examined, and released after a small blood sample was taken for genetic testing. Analysis by Stokes and his advisor, Tim Keitt, a professor of integrative biology at UT Austin, confirmed the bird was the male hybrid offspring of a green jay mother and a blue jay father.

Interestingly, a similar hybrid was created in captivity in the 1970s and preserved at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History—and it looks nearly identical to the wild specimen observed by Stokes.

“Hybridization is probably way more common in the natural world than researchers know about because there’s just so much inability to report these things happening,” Stokes said. “And it’s probably possible in a lot of species that we just don’t see because they’re physically separated from one another and so they don’t get the chance to try to mate.”
The research was supported by a ConTex Collaborative Research Grant through the UT System, the Texas EcoLab Program, and Planet Texas 2050, a university-wide climate resilience initiative.

While the researchers didn’t name the bird, some observers have informally dubbed it the “grue jay”—a playful nod to other naturally occurring hybrids such as the grolar bear (polar bear–grizzly mix), coywolf (coyote–wolf), and narluga (narwhal–beluga).

Top-Quality Building Supplies in Nashville at Decks & Docks

Bhok Thompson

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October 3, 2025

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Looking for an eco deck or dock for your ecological floating home or houseboat? The elevated structure was designed by Dutch architect Koen Olthuis and the Waterstudio team. Image via Ocean Builders

Decks & Docks in Nashville, Tennessee, is a trusted source for premium marine construction materials, offering a wide range of products for homeowners, contractors, and DIY enthusiasts. Located at 344 Wilhagan Road, their showroom features decking, railing, lighting, hardware, and accessories—everything you need for your next project in one place.

Whether you’re planning a small DIY deck or a large-scale construction, Decks & Docks provides expert guidance to help you select the right materials for your project. Their knowledgeable team is committed to delivering exceptional service and ensuring every customer finds exactly what they need.

Discover more about their offerings by visiting their building supplies Nashville page today.

The orange peel candle: A how-to guide

Lifestyle

Kelly Milone

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October 2, 2025

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I was shopping online for a candle the other day and quickly realized this: candles have gotten very expensive! Soy candles, aromatherapy candles, eco-friendly candles in fancy jars. If only there was a way to create some nice romantic lighting without breaking the bank.

But wait – there is! Introducing the orange peel candle: the solution to expensive candle-buying syndrome. And it’s a guaranteed prize for getting your daily dose of vitamin C from its citrusy contents.

Naturally providing the candle holder from the peel and the wick from the pith, all you need is a little oil and voila – you’ll have yourself a candle in no time!

Related: 5 ways to use orange peels in the kitchen – candied and

Try the fun and easy process for yourself by following along:

1. First, slice your orange in half. That’s the half with the knobby part on the outside – the one I’m holding in my right hand, in the picture. The pith coming from that knob is stronger and will make for a better wick.

2. Remove the fruit, being careful to leave the thick string of pith that extends up from the center intact. I used a spoon to make a nice clean shave inside the orange peel towards the end of this step.

3. Fill the orange peel with oil of your choice. Here in my kitchen in Greece, where I’m currently living for work, I had only sunflower oil and extra-virgin olive oil. Deciding to save the latter for eating, I went with the sunflower oil. Do not drown the string of pith that extends upward – remember, this is your wick!

4. Light it up! (Optional soundtrack: “Light It Up” by Major Lazer, followed by “(Burn Baby Burn) Disco Inferno” by The Trammps) It took a while for the pith to catch fire; I felt as if I was toasting a marshmallow, watching in eager anticipation. Just be patient, and it will light. Good things come to those who wait!

5. Optional: Create candle covers by cutting shapes into the as-of-yet unused orange peel halves. I chose a crescent moon and a star.

6. Especially optional: Place your candle in a bowl that’s filled with water. Marvel as it floats around, and place a freshly picked flower in the water. You can customize your add-ins; choose your favorite leaf or flower to add an herbal or floral note to the orange scent from the peel. And then – because why not – take a selfie.

A word of caution: I left my orange peel candle out for a couple nights, and when I checked back, I saw that hundreds of fruit flies had come to feast. Most had died in their gluttony, floating in the oil inside the orange peel, but many were lingering above it. So I’d suggest refrigerating your orange peel candles after their first use, if you plan to reuse them later.

What do you do when life hands you oranges? Why, make orange peel candles, of course! If you have grapefruits or lemons, you can also make candles from their peels using this how-to guide.

Italy’s energy company Eni adds Italian flair for design in industrial fusion reactor

Energy

Julie Steinbeck

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October 1, 2025

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Eni fusion investment, Eni tokamak project, Eni SPARC partnership, Commonwealth Fusion Systems Eni, MIT SPARC tokamak Eni, Eni ARC fusion power plant, Eni Virginia fusion deal, Eni clean energy transition, Eni nuclear fusion investor, Eni billion-dollar fusion agreement, Eni decarbonized electricity deal, Eni strategic energy innovation, Eni fusion power purchase agreement, Eni renewable energy future, Eni fusion energy leadership — Eni’s Tokomak for making fusion happen – a flair for Italian design

Fusion energy is hard to create and it’s hard to explain. Brian gives a great background here. International design and innovation office CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati and architect Italo Rota, together with Italy’s energy company Eni, present a project dedicated to magnetic confinement fusion, one of the most innovative technologies for the decarbonization of energy systems. The project showcases the mock-up of a Tokamak reactor, built within a former gasholder in Rome, Italy, in order to inform visitors about this breakthrough technology with Italian flair.

It was released in 2022.

The project by CRA and Italo Rota is part of Maker Faire Rome, Europe’s leading event for the community of Makers. It is situated in the site of Gazometro Ostiense, one of the foremost symbols of the Italian capital’s modern industrial heritage, located just three kilometers southwest of the Colosseum. Inside a 50-meter-high, 40-meter-wide gasholder, visitors can explore the conceptual model of a Tokamak, a fundamental component in magnetic confinement technology processes. After an ascending path, people can access inside the Tokamak. Here, within a red-lit circular corridor, a series of multimedia content narrates the technology and its ongoing scientific investigations.

“Magnetic confinement fusion is a clean technology that has the potential to be one of tomorrow’s key decarbonization solutions,” comments Carlo Ratti, founder of CRA and Director of the MIT Senseable City Lab. “With the project, we wanted to start an open-design process to imagine how fusion power plants will be integrated in sub-urban areas – prompting makers and architects alike to join a discussion on our future energy landscape.”

“We have the chance to explore new forms of storytelling about energy,” adds Italo Rota, co-designer of the installation. “We believe that design is a powerful tool to turn a narration into an experience, allowing visitors to sense the energy while being surrounded by a unique atmosphere.”

The project follows Eni’s work on magnetic confinement, which has been unfolding in the last few years through a series of academic collaborations – most notably, with the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC) – and the energy company Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS). During the process of magnetic confinement, the fusion of two hydrogen nuclei releases an enormous amount of energy, similarly to how it happens inside the sun and other stars. The most substantial advantage of this technology is that it does not emit greenhouse gases or highly polluting or highly radioactive substances. Furthermore, it is safe and virtually inexhaustible.

In the past years, CRA has been developing several energy-related projects on different scales: from the Helsinki Hot Heart, a series of islands with the dual function of thermal energy storage – currently the largest urban decarbonization project in the world – and recreational public spaces, to the masterplan for MIND (Milan Innovation District) to CapitaSpring, a 280-meter-tall high-rise oasis in Singapore designed together with BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group.

Over the past years, CRA and Eni have been collaborating to promote new forms of circularity and sustainable energy production. Their projects have been showcased at international events such as the Maker Faire in Rome, Milan Design Week, and Expo Dubai 2020.

Armenia’s captive brown bears and how we can stop the illegal practice

Animals

Julie Steinbeck

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October 1, 2025

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Armenia’s captive brown bears and how we can stop the illegal practice

In May 2025, a shocking rescue in Yerevan, Armenia, brought global attention to a longstanding problem in the Caucasus: wild bears kept in cages as tourist curiosities, “pets,” or backyard mascots. Three Syrian brown bears – Aram, Nairi, and their daughter, Lola – were liberated after years of abuse in filthy cages. Their rescue, led by the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) with support from International Animal Rescue (IAR), revealed not just one family’s suffering, but a broader pattern that persists across the country.

For decades, bears in Armenia and neighboring regions have been captured and displayed in shocking conditions where It has been common for businesses to keep a bear chained in a small cage to attract diners or tourists. Wealthy or rural families sometimes treat bears as status symbols, confining them in sheds or cages without proper care. Adult bears are often bred, and their cubs sold into a cycle of captivity—sometimes to other private owners, sometimes abroad.

Alan Knight, President of International Animal Rescue, who was at the rescue, said: “These were some of the worst conditions I have ever seen. The stench, the filth, the sheer cruelty of locking these animals up in tiny cages and feeding them cola, it was absolutely horrific.”

This happens in Armenia not because of religious practice, but mostly from cultural tradition, economic motives, and weak enforcement of animal welfare laws. Bears in Armenia are iconic symbols of strength and survival, and some people wrongly believe they can be “tamed.” In reality, such captivity leads only to neglect, suffering, and the gradual decline of wild bear populations.

Rescued Armenian bear needs a dentist after being fed soda and junk food

Tourists may unwittingly fuel the problem. When visitors stop at a roadside café to take selfies with a caged bear or when they “like” such photos on social media, it signals to owners that keeping bears is profitable. That’s why tourists can play a crucial role in stopping this cruelty. Don’t take selfies with bears!

What tourists can do when you see a bear or any wild animal like a drunk monkey or snake being exploited: Don’t dine, stay, or spend money in places where animals are caged for entertainment, even if the kids beg. If you see a captive bear in Armenia (or elsewhere in the region), take discreet photos or videos and share them with local animal welfare groups such as FPWC, IAR, or international NGOs. These tip-offs are often what trigger investigations and rescues. The links are below.

Visit or donate to ethical wildlife sanctuaries, where rescued bears live in naturalistic environments and receive proper care. And yes, thanks to local activists and global attention, progress is being made. Armenia has strengthened its wildlife protection laws in recent years, and NGOs have successfully rescued dozens of bears. Sanctuaries in Urtsadzor and beyond are giving once-abused animals safe new homes. But rescues remain expensive, slow, and dependent on public pressure and donations.

Brown Bears Can and Do Attack

While it is tragic to see brown bears caged and abused, it is equally important to remember that these are not domesticated animals. Brown bears are among the most powerful carnivores on Earth, capable of inflicting fatal injuries on humans when provoked or surprised. Their sheer size, strength, and unpredictability make them both awe-inspiring and dangerous.

An unforgettable account of this truth is told by the French writer and anthropologist Nastassja Martin in her memoir In the Eye of the Wild (Croire aux fauves). In 2015, while conducting fieldwork on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Siberia, Martin was attacked by a brown bear. The bear crushed part of her skull and jaw in a brief but violent encounter.

Martin survived — but her story is not just about survival. The book, translated into English by Sophie R. Lewis, weaves memoir, anthropology, and philosophy into a haunting reflection on what it means to live through trauma. She explores not only the physical scars but also the metaphysical dimension of her experience, suggesting that encounters with wildness force us to rethink the boundaries between humans and animals, nature and culture, fear and reverence like the forthcoming book Bearland, by Karin Kloosterman.

A Global Problem of Tourist Sideshows

Sadly, Armenia is not alone. Around the world, wild animals are drugged, chained, or mutilated to entertain tourists.

In Thailand we have seen monkeys are often drugged and forced to perform tricks, take photos with tourists, or ride bicycles in “shows.” Behind the scenes, they live in chains and suffer permanent trauma.

In Morocco (Marrakesh) we have seen snake charmers display cobras and vipers in public squares, often with their fangs removed or mouths sewn shut. The snakes slowly starve or die from infection, replaced by more animals taken from the wild.

In Europe and the Middle East birds of prey are tethered for selfies, and lion cubs are illegally traded as exotic pets.

::International Animal Rescue

::Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets

World Green Economy Summit 2025: Sandeep Chandna’s Mission to Make Sustainability Core to Business Strategy

Karin Kloosterman

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October 1, 2025

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At this year’s World Green Economy Summit 2025, Tech Mahindra’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Sandeep Chandna, is not mincing words. In an exclusive conversation with Green Prophet, he insists that sustainability has outgrown its role as a corporate side-project. Forget box-ticking ESG reports — Chandna says the future belongs to companies bold enough to treat sustainability as their core strategy for innovation, resilience, and survival.

Why does this matter? Because Tech Mahindra isn’t just talking the talk. It’s the first Indian company to win the Terra Carta Seal from King Charles III, ranked #2 globally for IT services on the S&P Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, and is already cutting emissions with AI-powered tools and a growing renewable energy footprint. Chandna reveals how putting a price on carbon inside the company — $12 a ton — is changing investment decisions, and how platforms like i.GreenFinance are pushing banks and institutions toward measurable green impact.

For those still treating ESG as a PR exercise, this is a warning shot. Chandna’s message is clear: sustainability is no longer optional. It’s the new operating system for business — one that could define winners and losers in the decade ahead.

Green Prophet: At the World Green Economy Summit 2025, what key message will you be delivering to global sustainability leaders?

Sandeep Chandna – Chief Sustainability Officer, Tech Mahindra:

At the World Green Economy Summit 2025, our core message will be clear: sustainability must shift from being a compliance checkbox to a strategic, purpose-driven imperative that powers innovation, resilience, and inclusive growth. We stand at a critical inflection point where ESG is no longer a reporting exercise, it is the blueprint for future-ready enterprises. We want to spotlight how digital transformation, when purposefully aligned with climate and social goals, can catalyze systemic change. Tech Mahindra’s journey, from pioneering green IT to launching AI-powered sustainability platforms, demonstrates that technology is an enabler and a force multiplier. We will also advocate for cross-sector collaboration, urging leaders to move beyond silos and co-create solutions that honor both planetary boundaries and human aspirations.

How does Tech Mahindra’s role as the only Indian company with the Terra Carta Seal influence your global positioning in sustainability?

Being awarded the Terra Carta Seal by His Majesty King Charles III is both an honor and a mandate. It places Tech Mahindra among a select cohort of global companies recognized for credible, science-aligned transition strategies. As the First Indian recipient, it amplifies our voice in international sustainability dialogues and affirms our leadership in climate-conscious innovation. The Seal validates our commitment to nature-positive solutions, from smart infrastructure to green software. It also strengthens our engagement with standards and frameworks like the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 2021, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), International Sustainability Standards Board’s (ISSB) IFRS S1 and S2 standards, Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR), International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Taskforce on Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol standards. More than recognition, it is a call to action: to lead with integrity, scale impact, and inspire others across industries and borders.

You’ve been ranked #1 in India and #2 globally in the S&P Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for IT services. How do you translate such rankings into tangible real-world impact?

These rankings are a testament to our rigor and transparency across ESG dimensions, but their true value lies in how we operationalize them. At Tech Mahindra, we have embedded sustainability into the DNA of our business. From reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by over 31% since 2016 to sourcing 31% renewable energy across owned campuses, our actions speak louder than metrics. We have achieved Zero Waste to Landfill certification at key locations and implemented ESG-aligned procurement protocols. These outcomes benefit the environment, enhance stakeholder trust, drive cost efficiencies, and position us as a preferred partner for purpose-driven customers.

Can you share a project or initiative where your sustainability strategy delivered measurable results for both the business and the environment?

One of our most impactful initiatives has been the transition to renewable energy across our campuses. Through strategic investments in solar infrastructure and green power purchase agreements, we have achieved a 31% renewable energy mix at owned locations and nearly 23% globally. This has led to a 31% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions compared to our 2016 baseline. Beyond environmental gains, the initiative has delivered tangible business benefits, lower operational costs, enhanced energy resilience, and stronger ESG credentials. Complementing this is our green mobility program, which promotes electric vehicle adoption and sustainable commuting, further reinforcing our commitment to climate-positive action.

With a goal of carbon neutrality by 2030 and net zero by 2035, what innovations or policies will be most critical in reaching these targets?

Achieving these ambitious milestones demands a holistic and forward-looking strategy. Our internal carbon pricing, currently set at $12 per metric ton, serves as a financial compass, guiding investments toward low-carbon alternatives. We are aggressively scaling renewable energy adoption, targeting 90% sourcing by 2030. Innovations such as AI-driven energy optimization, smart buildings, and digital twins are being deployed to enhance operational efficiency. Policy-wise, we are aligning with SBTi-approved Net Zero targets and embedding ESG criteria into procurement and vendor governance. These levers, technology, policy, and behavioral transformation are essential to decarbonizing our value chain while sustaining growth and competitiveness.

How is internal carbon pricing changing decision-making within Tech Mahindra?

Our internal carbon pricing mechanism has fundamentally reshaped how we evaluate investments and operational decisions. By assigning a tangible cost to carbon, $12 per metric ton, we have embedded climate risk into our financial modeling and strategic planning. This approach incentivizes low-carbon innovation, accelerates renewable energy adoption, and ensures that sustainability is a core consideration in everything from facility upgrades to supply chain choices. It is a cultural shift that reinforces our commitment to responsible growth and climate stewardship. It empowers teams to make decisions that are not only economically sound but environmentally aligned.

Could you elaborate on how platforms like i.Greenfinance are helping clients accelerate their own sustainability journeys?

i.GreenFinance is a transformative platform that enables financial institutions to embed sustainability into their lending and investment decisions through automated ESG scoring with sector-specific KPI weighting. For instance, carbon emissions are prioritized in energy lending, while biodiversity and land-use practices take precedence in agriculture. These weights are fully adjustable to reflect regional requirements, regulatory frameworks, and institutional sustainability policies.

Built on an API-first architecture, the platform integrates seamlessly into existing Loan Origination Systems, enabling smart green loan underwriting where sustainability insights and ESG scores are embedded directly into credit decisioning workflows without disrupting core banking systems. Beyond origination, i.GreenFinance provides post-approval tracking of loan proceeds to ensure disbursed funds support their intended sustainable projects, from renewable energy deployment to green infrastructure upgrades. This delivers transparency and accountability for both lenders and borrowers.

The platform combines taxonomy mapping, feasibility reporting, and real-time analytics to provide comprehensive views of project viability and climate risk. These outputs are designed to support internal decision-making, helping lenders evaluate applications, monitor fund usage, and align portfolios with global sustainability standards.

With high configurability, i.GreenFinance adapts to each institution’s policies, product mix, and regional context. By making ESG performance sector-specific, customizable, auditable, and trackable across the loan lifecycle, the platform empowers institutions to move from intent to measurable impact, accelerating their journey toward responsible finance and net zero alignment.

What role will AI, IoT, and other emerging technologies play in driving sustainability transformations for global clients?

With the emergence of Generative AI, we’re solving sustainability’s most pressing challenges at unprecedented scale. i.GreenFinance exemplifies this innovation, delivering smart green loan underwriting, feasibility analysis, and real-time proceeds tracking that transforms how financial institutions approach sustainable lending.

Beyond finance, we’re tackling complex sustainability challenges using agentic AI across ESG reporting automation, dynamic materiality assessment, climate risk evaluation, supply chain assessments, and document intelligence. These solutions address a critical pain point for large enterprises, interoperability across multiple reporting regimes including CSRD, ISSB, SFDR, and regional taxonomies. Our platforms automatically harmonize data across frameworks, ensuring sustainability information is configurable, actionable, and audit ready.

IoT technology complements our AI capabilities by feeding real-time sensor data from assets, buildings, and infrastructure directly into our platforms. This integration enables continuous monitoring, predictive analytics, and early-warning systems for emissions tracking, energy efficiency optimization, and resource usage management—transforming raw operational data into actionable sustainability insights that drive immediate decision-making.

The convergence of AI and IoT creates intelligent sustainability ecosystems that provide 360-degree visibility into environmental performance. Organizations can now identify inefficiencies before they occur, optimize resource allocation in real-time, and demonstrate measurable progress toward sustainability goals with unprecedented precision.

Together, AI and IoT are redefining sustainability, making it smarter, faster, and measurable while empowering organizations to evolve from reactive compliance to proactive strategic foresight and value creation. This technological revolution enables businesses to anticipate risks, capitalize on opportunities, and accelerate their transformation toward sustainable operations.

Your first TNFD report integrates nature-related risks into corporate strategy. How will this shape future investments and operations?

Our TNFD-aligned disclosures mark a strategic evolution, from climate-centric reporting to nature-inclusive governance. By assessing dependencies on biodiversity, water, waste management and ecosystem services, we are embedding nature risk into investment decisions, site planning, and supply chain management. Future expansions will be evaluated for financial viability and ecological integrity. We are developing nature-positive KPIs and integrating them into our ESG dashboards, ensuring that regeneration is part of our strategy. Our proactive efforts to manage nature-related risks and seize opportunities reflect our dedication to creating long-term value for our stakeholders while safeguarding the environment. We understand that the journey towards sustainability is ongoing, and we are committed to continuously improving our practices and strategies to meet the evolving challenges of our global ecosystem. TNFD is helping us future-proof our business, align with planetary boundaries, and contribute meaningfully to global biodiversity goals.

Beyond corporate targets, what legacy do you hope Tech Mahindra’s sustainability strategy will leave for the industry and the planet?

We aspire to leave behind a legacy of transformation, where sustainability is a catalyst for systemic change. We want to demonstrate that purpose-driven technology can solve complex global challenges, from climate resilience to social equity. By embedding ESG into our core strategy, launching nature-positive platforms, and championing inclusive innovation, we aim to inspire a paradigm shift across industries. If we can help reframe sustainability as a source of value, trust, and regeneration, then our legacy will be one of leadership in building a better future for generations to come.

::Tech Mahindra

Harsha Pakhal Tells Us About 5 Nutrition Hacks That Actually Stick

Health

Bhok Thompson

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September 30, 2025

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Harsha Pakhal Tells Us About 5 Nutrition Hacks That Actually Stick

If you’ve ever jumped on the latest diet trend only to abandon it a few weeks later, Cleveland-based fitness coach Harsha Pakhal is here to reassure you that you’re not alone. From juice cleanses to no-carb challenges, most quick fixes fizzle out because they’re too extreme to maintain.

You need simple, sustainable habits that will actually stick. A big overhaul of your routine and habits won’t get you there because you need to slowly combine new habits with existing ones. That’s how you change your mindset and attitude towards food.

Here’s what Harsha Pakhal says about how you can do that:

Ditch the “healthy” and “unhealthy” labels

Eating healthy is so much easier when you make it fun instead of seeing it as a chore. One of the ways to do this is to stop labelling foods as “good” and “bad.” Telling yourself a food is off-limits tends to make it more appealing.

Research shows restriction often leads to stronger cravings and overeating once the “bad” food is allowed. So instead of it making you feel better, you end up sending yourself on a guilt trip. Your body knows what it needs to eat, and labelling or demonizing food takes away your ability to do that freely.

Prioritize Protein and Plants at Every Meal

Protein helps stabilize energy, supports muscle repair, and keeps hunger in check. Making it the anchor of each meal makes it easier to manage your cravings and stay on track with balanced meals throughout the day. So invest in those eggs, chicken, tofu, or bean staples because they’re the foods that are going to keep your hunger at bay.

Vegetables and fruits provide essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Pakhal encourages clients to focus on adding more colorful produce to their plates, which naturally creates a more nutrient-dense meal without feeling restrictive.

Stay Consistent with Hydration

Dehydration often shows up as fatigue or even false hunger cues. A simple routine like drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning and keeping a bottle nearby can make a noticeable difference in energy and focus.

Plan, Don’t Wing It

Last-minute food decisions usually lead to less healthy choices. So it’s time to make meal prepping your best friend. It doesn’t have to mean spending an entire Sunday afternoon in the kitchen. Even some light meal prep, like lunch salads and cooked protein, can make a huge difference when that hunger hits.

Practice the 80/20 Rule

Perfection isn’t the goal. By eating nutrient-rich foods about 80% of the time and allowing room for favorite treats the other 20%, clients can stay on track without feeling deprived. “That flexibility is what makes a healthy lifestyle sustainable,” says Pakhal.

Reframing Nutrition Success

For Pakhal, the real progress comes from building a rhythm that lasts. His clients often report better energy, improved mood, and greater consistency long before they notice changes on the scale. By focusing on habits rather than extremes, they create results they can maintain.

The Takeaway

If fad diets have left you frustrated, it may be time to rethink your approach. Starting with one of Pakhal’s five habits and practicing it consistently can lead to meaningful, long-term change.

About Harsha Pakhal

Harsha Pakhal is a Cleveland-based fitness coach and personal trainer. He specializes in helping clients build sustainable habits around movement, nutrition, and lifestyle. His approach emphasizes consistency, strength, and long-term health rather than quick fixes or short-term results.

Blackdot’s painless AI-based tattoos will make inked skin less taboo?

Karin Kloosterman

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September 30, 2025

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Blackdot's AI-powered tattoo device — Blackdot’s AI-powered tattoo device

Tattoo artists might be wondering if they will be out of jobs, or just able to license their NFT designs to a computer? A new Austin-based startup called Blackdot says it has built an AI-powered tattoo machine that is safer and less painful than getting a human-applied tattoo.

Called Aero for Artist Enabled Robotic Operator, Blackdot’s machine uses computer vision, fine control, and very shallow needle penetration to reduce discomfort. It is now installed at Bang Bang in New York, and already operating in Austin.

In some areas of medicine, robotics and machine learning have changed the name of the game and survival outcome for removing cancers like prostate. Robotics can help a human operator be more precise, but are we ready to hand over the controls?

Do we want a machine that takes the craft out of the hand of the artist? I make pottery out of earth because I believe there is spirit in matter. Is a tattoo applied by a machine giving the same vibes as a potter’s mug made in a factory or a violin made on a machine?

According to the people at Aero, the device tattoos in dot-based grayscale patterns, applying many minute points rather than deep continuous lines — a technique they say limits pain and improves precision.

One upside: fewer tattoos gone wrong?

Tattoos, not just in hipster times, have long carried a dual identity: as personal art but also no small part of getting a tattoo is about the pain and the act of bodily risk. Also, I wonder: does a machine-made tattoos open up the practice of skin art at a time when researchers are calling us to pay attention to the risks of the materials in tattoos and a possible link to auto-immune diseases and cancer. As there is little regulation, there is little known about the long-term health effects of tattooing.

What do the world’s religions say about tattoos?

From a Islamic perspective, tattooing is generally considered prohibited (haram) in many schools of thought. The Prophet Muhammad is narrated in hadith literature to have cursed both the tattooer and the tattooed (for altering the creation of God). Some scholars argue that tattoos break the ritual purity (ablution, or wudu) because they alter the skin surface.

We find some literature to back up the Islamic prohibition: ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood said: “May Allah curse the women who do tattoos and those for whom tattoos are done, those who pluck their eyebrows and those who file their teeth for the purpose of beautification and alter the creation of Allah.” (Al-Bukhari, al-Libas, 5587; Muslim, al-Libas, 5538).

In parts of Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran, some Shiite communities have historically tolerated or quietly practiced tattooing, especially small religious motifs (like the names of Imams or sacred symbols). And among younger Shiites, especially in diaspora communities, tattoos are increasingly popular as personal or religious expression — though clerical authorities still discourage them.

A Shiite tattoo of Hezbollah’s late leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon, via AP

In Judaism, tattoos are often discouraged based on Torah injunctions and Levitical prohibitions, and tattoos are not encouraged at all. It is permitted to remove a tattoo and pierce your ears. That said many Jewish people do get tattoos. Common ones include the Tree of Life symbol, Hebrew and biblical expressions (The Nation of Israel Lives), and some people get tattoos of their grandparent’s numbers printed on them during the Holocaust.

Orly Weintraub Gilad has her grandfather's Auschwitz number, A-12599, tattooed on her arm. John Jeffay for the Conversation — Orly Weintraub Gilad has her grandfather’s Auschwitz number, A-12599, tattooed on her arm. John Jeffay for the Conversation

In Christian traditions, the picture is more varied. Some conservative or literalist communities may discourage tattoos, particularly when associated with body modification or vanity, but there is no universally binding doctrine rejecting them. Many churches do not formally forbid tattoos, leaving it to individual conscience, church culture, or pastoral guidance. This blog offers some history of Christian tattoos in Jerusalem. The author points out that some conservative or literalist groups still reject tattoos outright, holding to Leviticus as binding.

Many other Christians see tattoos as a matter of conscience, arguing that Old Testament prohibitions were tied to ritual purity, pagan associations, or covenant identity, and are not binding in the same way after Christ. In some traditions (like the Razzouk family in Jerusalem), tattooing is even a Christian devotional act, marking pilgrimage and identity.

Unlike in Abrahamic religions, tattoos (godna in Hindi) have been widely practiced in Hindu culture for centuries. Tribal and rural communities across India have used tattoos for spiritual protection, identity, and beauty. Some designs are linked to deities, mantras, or cosmic symbols.

What about the art of it?

Almost painless tattoos may worry tattoo artists who will be out of jobs unless they figure out how to sell designs as NFTs, and also people who may more liberally get tattoos without possible health or spiritual implications.

In Sci-Fi dystopia, we’ve reported on how tattoos can be used for nefarious purposes, such as IDing and tracking people. Such as the tattoo below, from MIT Media Lab.

Designers from MIT Media Lab have teamed with Microsoft Research on a project to develop “smart tats” able to interface with remote technology. They can also report on their users health and environment, essentially turning human skin into a gadget.

Tattoos could be used as a trackpad to remotely control your mobile phone or adjust the volume of the music you tune into. They can track user data and report back to you, like a body-integral Fitbit, with embedded thermochromic displays that change color in reaction to heat, reporting on body temperature, blood pressure, breathing patterns. It might also report on your immediate environment, checking air quality, weather conditions, and alert you to the presence of harmful substances.

After hearing all sides — from health warnings and religious prohibitions to the futuristic promises of AI-driven tattoo machines — I’ve made my choice. I’ll keep my skin tattoo-free, au naturel. For me, my body already carries its own stories.

Medical cannabis Syqe lays off 30% of its workforce

Green Tech and Gadgets

Karin Kloosterman

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September 28, 2025

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The medical cannabis boom felt in Israel may show signs of a giant cooldown. Syqe was one of the darlings of the medical cannabis pharma space, as a doseable drug. This is an industry I helped spark into life when I started the Canna Tech Conference in Jaffa about 10 years ago. Much has changed and a lot of the hype has died down, mainly due to loosened restrictions on access to cannabis, making it easy for people to self medicate in the United States and Canada.

One of the challenges in cannabis as medicine is dosing (read this article on half of all medical cannabis drugs being mislabled). What’s written as THC or CBD concentration may be far from what’s inside the plant or how it affects your body, and how it’s delivered. Syqe, an inhaler dosing system in Israel promises to make dosing a pharmaceutical science, but in waiting for the coveted US FDA approval, Syqe says it needs to lay off 50 of its staff of about 150 based in Tel Aviv. If their product works they may be actually a solution to the mislabeling.

The company grew into medical marijuana stardom when Philip Morris / PMI, the cigarette company invested $20 million in 2016 and later entered into an agreement to acquire the company for ~$650 million, contingent on regulatory success. In that acquisition plan, PMI committed $120 million to push Syqe’s inhaler device through U.S. FDA regulatory hurdles. Is the money running out without results?

This backing gave Syqe financial muscle and strategic reach—but also raises reputation and strategic risks, given tobacco’s fraught public perception in the health space. Imagine if McDonald’s bought into a regenerative kale farm. The cash infusion could scale production, but people would always wonder if the lettuce was being served with a side of fries.

According to recent news Syqe Medical recently cut 50 employees, about 32% of its workforce, with the majority coming from its development (R&D) department. If the company succeeds or not, is only an insider’s guess. The inhaler uses a unique cartridge containing dozens of “VaporChips,” each holding a measured dose of cannabis flower, allowing accurate administration according to a doctor’s prescription. The question is does it work in dosing, can it work? Sometimes funds run out before the right tests can be checked and confirmed by the FDA.

On the general issue of cannabis, if you are traveling to Dubai or Abu Dhabi, take note: medical cannabis, even if only in your blood, and self-medicated can land you in jail according to the law in the United Arab Emirates. Even CBD oil is a risk.

Read more on medical cannabis and medical marijuana on Green Prophet:

Startup FreezeM turns food waste into insect protein for fish and chicken

Karin Kloosterman

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September 28, 2025

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FreezeM, Israel, startup, insect farming, black soldier fly, larvae, animal feed, alternative protein, sustainable agriculturePauseM, FreezeM, suspended animation, black soldier fly larvae, paused neonates, shipping insects, extended shelf life, Weizmann Institute, sustainable feed innovation black soldier fly, larvae, insect protein, aquaculture, poultry, livestock, insect oil, insect fertilizer, organic waste recycling, sustainable animal feed organic waste, food waste, agricultural byproducts, recycling, insect farming, circular economy, sustainable protein, waste to feed Yuval Gilad, Idan Alyagor, Yoav Politi, FreezeM founders, Weizmann Institute, molecular genetics, developmental biology, entomology, Israel startup FreezeM funding, Series A, USD 14.2 million, European Innovation Council, EIC Fund, investment, insect protein industry, commercialization, breeding hubs insect protein feed, sustainable animal feed, fish farming, poultry feed, livestock nutrition, soy alternatives, corn alternatives, nutrient deficiencies, Family Friendly Farms alternative protein, insect protein companies, Flying Spark, Hargol, Aspire Food Group, Ynsect, Innovafeed, Protix, Entocycle, Beta Hatch, Hexafly, Entobel, Insectta, AgriProtein, MealFood Europe, Packaged Feeds, IKEA Space10 — FreezeM Decodes Insect Farming

You are what you eat eats, is the famous quote by Michael Pollan, food author and activist. While many of us are probably put off by the idea of eating insect meal as protein, a new startup has gone down the food-chain to make a sustainable source of protein feed for the creatures we still do like to eat, namely fish and birds such as chicken. These omnivores do require a high-protein feed, and the end-quality of what you eat will only be as good as what the animal you eat, eats.

A new startup has developed a process to cultivate and ship black soldier flies so they can shipped and activated for growth to where they are needed.

To reiterate, FreezeM is not producing insects for people to eat directly (like crunchy cricket snacks) you might see at alt.protein events, but their focus is on using insects as a protein source for animal feed (and indirectly, food security).

They developed a technology to “pause” the life cycle of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae which ensures that costly grow labs aren’t needed where the feed is needed, but instead allows them to ship dormant larvae worldwide, which can then be “woken up” on-site and fed with local organic waste. Let’s hope the focus stays on organic.

The larvae, onnce unpacked, quickly grow and can be processed into high-protein feed for fish (aquaculture), poultry, and livestock, as well as insect oil and fertilizer byproducts. The byproducts part sounds not clear, but according to the company they address problems at once: A, an organic waste management – converting food waste and agricultural byproducts into something useful. We can get behind this. And, B, a stainable protein supply – reducing reliance on soy imports or overfished ocean resources for feed.

So FreezeM’s insects are the intermediate step: turning waste into animal feed (and eventually into meat, fish, or eggs for people). When I had my startup in agriculture, developing brains and controllers for greenhouses, this was a common need expressed by farmers: systems not only to feed people fresh food, but hydroponic systems that can create fresh feed for animals. Soy and corn products can play a role, but not be the only diet livestock should be eating.

According to Family Friendly Farms, it is not healthy for livestock to eat only corn and soy, and “meat from animals fed predominantly on corn and soy may lack essential nutrients, leading to potential nutrient deficiencies in humans who consume such meat.

FreezeM was founded in 2018 as a spin-off from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel by three researchers: Yuval Gilad (CEO), Idan Alyagor (CTO), and Yoav Politi (VP R&D). The founders were graduates of Weizmann and had expertise in molecular genetics / developmental biology (especially using fly embryos) and entomology.

The core technology (PauseM®) is based on inducing a “paused” or “suspended animation” state in Black Soldier Fly (BSF) neonates so that they can survive transportation with extended shelf life before being revived, fed and grown for animal feed. They also have a partnership with Hermetia Baruth GmbH (Germany) for joint production / distribution of PauseM in Europe.

In February 2024, FreezeM closed a Series A round of USD 14.2 million with that round was led by industrial investors and the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund (along with existing investors / partners) to expand breeding hubs and commercialize PauseM. Prior to that FreezeM had raised €6.3 million in EIC funding. Their flagship product is PauseM®: essentially “paused” BSF neonates with a ~14-day guaranteed shelf life and survival of greater than 90%, with the economical idea of decoupling the breeding part of insect protein production from the rearing / growing part.

Farms that just want to feed larvae / grow / process don’t need to maintain their own breeding colony; they can order PauseM from FreezeM, feed the colony and feed it straight to the livestock.

This is a more palatable solution that other alt protein companies we’ve written about.

Curious to sink your teeth into alt. protein made from bugs? Jump in below.

Sarah Jessica Parker and Jane Goodall Back Cruelty-free Lab Diamonds

Julie Steinbeck

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September 28, 2025

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Sarah Jessica Parker and Jane Goodall put their pretty faces and values behind lab-grown diamonds

Sarah Jessica Parker has expanded her creative footprint, stepping into the world of fine jewelry as a partner and spokeswoman for Astrea London, a London lab-grown diamond company. Together with founder Nathalie Morrison, she will be shaping a 12-piece collection that houses stones graded at D-IF (just 0.01% of diamonds globally), each backed by IGI, GCAL, and GIA certification. “Joining the business feels like a natural step — together, we are embracing the future of diamonds in a way that is both responsible and beautiful,” Parker said.

Lab-grown diamonds according to my home-town jeweller at Hempen Jewelers in Newmarket, Ontario, lab-grown diamonds are indistinguishable from natural diamonds, mined in difficult circumstances that take advantage of poor communities in Africa — made famous by Leonardo DiCaprio and the movie blood diamonds.

Astrea has made its name producing only the top 1% of diamonds by quality — in the D/E color range with VS2+ clarity — and the brand is rapidly expanding across Europe and the Middle East, with three new Dubai boutiques opening this fall.

We’ve compiled a guide on leading, lab-grown diamond companies here.

Meanwhile, Brilliant Earth is deepening its alignment with ethics and activism via a renewed collaboration with Dr. Jane Goodall. Their limited-edition Jane Goodall Peace Medallion collection features hand-engraved motifs and uses 99% repurposed gold paired with carbon-capture lab-grown diamonds — a symbolic and design-forward synthesis of values and luxury. Ten percent of proceeds will go toward The Jane Goodall Legacy Fund.

These announcements signal more than celebrity tie-ins: they underscore a shift in consumer expectation. Modern luxury must carry values. In the growing lab-grown diamond space, authenticity, traceability, and social purpose are now part of the equation — not mere taglines. As we noted previously on Green Prophet, lab-grown diamonds present a powerful way to opt for sparkle without the human and ecological costs associated with traditional mining. Read more here.

For brands working at the intersection of sustainability and style, Parker’s and Goodall’s involvement are timely, visible reminders that beauty and ethics can coexist. The diamond industry is rewriting the rules, and while this nature-lover needed no diamonds from her true love, the shiny dreams of those who want them can now be satisfied with a diamond made in your nearest city.

Eni Bets Big on Fusion and $1 Billion Deal with Commonwealth Fusion Systems to Power a Carbon-Free Future

Energy

Green Prophet

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September 28, 2025

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Commonwealth Fusion Systems fusion doughnut - a part of it being assembled — Commonwealth Fusion Systems fusion doughnut – a part of it being assembled

Unlike most oil and gas companies, Italy’s Eni is walking the walk and aims to be carbon free by 2050. In a bold move Eni invested in an American fusion company, Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) and have recently announced a power offtake agreement worth more than $1 billion, expanding a longstanding strategic partnership between the companies to commercialize fusion power.

For a backgrounder on fusion and why it’s so hard, our writer Brian Nitz explains.

The power purchase agreement (PPA) concerns Eni’s acquisition of decarbonized power from CFS’s 400 MW Chesterfield County, Virginia, which is expected to connect to the grid in the early 2030s. Financial terms weren’t disclosed. This is the second offtake agreement that CFS has signed in three months for its first grid-scale fusion power plant.

“The agreement with Eni demonstrates the value of fusion energy on the grid. It is a big vote of confidence to have Eni, who has contributed to our execution since the beginning, buy the power we intend to make in Virginia,” said Bob Mumgaard, Co-founder and CEO of CFS. “Our fusion power attracts diverse customers across the world — from hyperscalers to traditional energy leaders — because of the promise of clean, almost limitless energy.”

“This strategic collaboration, with a tangible commitment to the purchase of fusion energy, marks a turning point in which fusion becomes a full industrial opportunity,” said Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi. “Eni has been strengthening its collaboration with CFS with its technological know-how since it first invested in the company in 2018. As energy demand grows, Eni supports the development of fusion power as a new energy paradigm capable of producing clean, safe, and virtually inexhaustible energy. This international partnership confirms our commitment to making fusion energy a reality, promoting its industrialization for a more sustainable energy future.”

Eni is a global energy tech company operating in 64 Countries, with about 32,500 employees. Originally an oil & gas company, it has evolved into an integrated energy company, playing a key role in ensuring energy security and leading the energy transition. Eni’s goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through the decarbonization of its processes and of the products it sells to its customers.

In line with this goal, Eni invests in the research and development of technologies that can accelerate the transition to increasingly sustainable energy. Renewable energy sources, bio-refining, carbon capture and storage are only some examples of Eni’s areas of activity and research.

In addition, the company is exploring game-changing technologies such as fusion energy – a technology based on the physical processes that power stars and that could generate safe, virtually limitless energy with zero emissions.

The PPA follows CFS’ $863 million Series B2 round in which Eni increased its investment in CFS. Eni, which was among the first to invest in CFS in 2018 and believe in fusion, is today a strategic shareholder.

while many contemplate pie, we still can't stop thinking about donuts. Here's one half of SPARC's vacuum vessel, the donut-shaped chamber where the fusion reaction will occur, making its way through the fabrication process. — Commonwealth Fusion Systems

In 2023 the two companies signed a collaboration agreement to accelerate fusion energy development. The collaboration between the companies includes operational and technological support; project execution through the sharing of methodologies learned from the energy industry; and relationships with stakeholders.

The PPA further validates that CFS is on the most promising path to deliver commercial fusion power in the coming years. The company has demonstrated its capabilities by developing key advances in high-temperature superconducting magnets and sustaining its execution velocity in the construction of the SPARC fusion demonstration machine in Devens, Massachusetts.

Eni, a global tech energy company based in San Donato Milanese, Italy, has been active in the US energy sector since 1968. The company’s operations include oil and natural gas production, renewables and biofuel. Eni also invests in innovative technologies for the energy transition through its Boston-based corporate venture capital division, Eni Next.

Rendering of SPARC, a compact, high-field, DT burning tokamak, currently under design by a team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Commonwealth Fusion Systems. It's mission is to create and confine a plasma that produces net fusion energy. CAD rendering by T. Henderson, CFS/MIT-PSFC — Rendering of SPARC, a compact, high-field, DT burning tokamak, currently under design by a team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Commonwealth Fusion Systems. It’s mission is to create and confine a plasma that produces net fusion energy. CAD rendering by T. Henderson, CFS/MIT-PSFC

Commonwealth Fusion Systems is the world’s largest and leading private fusion company. The company’s marquee fusion project, SPARC, will generate net energy, paving the way for limitless carbon-free energy. The company has raised almost $3 billion in capital since it was founded in 2018.

Saudi Arabia’s grand mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh dies at 84

Karin Kloosterman

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September 28, 2025

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Saudi Arabia’s grand mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh dies at 84

Saudi Arabia’s grand mufti, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh, who served as the kingdom’s top religious cleric for over 25 years, has died in Riyadh. He was 84. Funeral prayers were attended by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler. The funeral was held at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.

As grand mufti since 1999, Sheikh Abdulaziz held one of the most influential religious roles in the Sunni Muslim world. Saudi Arabia, home to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina and the annual Hajj pilgrimage, has long tied state legitimacy to clerical authority under its strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam.

Sheikh Abdulaziz’s role as grand mufti put him in the spotlight because of every Muslim’s goal of attending the annual Hajj pilgrimage required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their lives. The grand mufti’s words are carefully followed. (Related: take these steps and jump into the Green Prophet guide for a greener Hajj).

Blind from a young age, Sheikh Abdulaziz was appointed grand mufti by the House of Saud’s King Fahd. Fahd was King and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia from 13 June 1982 until his death in 2005.

Sheikh Abdulaziz’s rulings reflected decades of Islamic ultraconservative thought, once condemning mobile phone cameras as a threat to morality and he compared chess to gambling. (This year the Taliban banned chess). He opposed women driving and described gender mixing as “evil and catastrophe” before later softening his stance as the state changed course. Saudi Arabia decided to let women drive in 2018.

At times, his comments provoked international backlash. In 2015, he reportedly told Kuwaiti officials it was “necessary to destroy all the churches of the region” in the Arabia peninsula— remarks his aides later attempted to downplay. He also issued sectarian statements against Shiite Muslims, particularly following Iran’s criticism of Saudi Arabia after the deadly 2015 Hajj stampede.

Luckily for the western world, and peaceful prospects in the region through the Abraham Accords, he condemned al-Qaida and the so-called Islamic State, calling them “enemy No. 1 of Islam.” After 9/11, when Saudi Arabia battled an al-Qaida insurgency within its own borders, he rejected militant jihad as “fake.” We should not forget that 15 of the 9/11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia.

From Wahhabism to Vision 2030

Children look at model of The Line, a 15-minute city part of Neom, Saudi Arabia — The Line, a 15-minute city built on the Red Sea, part of the mega-project called Neom

Sheikh Abdulaziz’s career spanned a period of dramatic transformation under the House of Saud, a grand kingdom that rose from rules in mud castles. Once aligned tightly with the religious establishment, the monarchy gradually moved to curtail clerical power — especially under Saudi Arabia’s young visionary Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

In 2018, under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia ended the ban on women driving — a watershed reform that the grand mufti eventually supported.

The University of Novarra’s Naomi Moreno, pens a piece on Saudi reform saying it might be being more for optics than for real change within: “While some perceive the crown prince’s actions to be a genuine move towards reforming Saudi society, several indicators point to the possibility that MBS might have more practical reasons that are only tangentially related to progression for progression’s sake. As the thinking goes, such decrees may have less to do with genuine reform, and more to do with improving an international image to deflect from some of the kingdom’s more controversial practices, both at home and abroad. A number of factors drive this public scepticism.”

Mohammed bin Salman’s “Vision 2030” supervised by Sheikh Abdulaziz has also pushed massive economic liberalization, from Saudi Aramco’s controversial IPO to the multibillion-dollar mega-city NEOM. While any PR material put out by Saudi Arabia’s development companies, owned and operated by the House of Saud, tout sustainability objectives, no third party organizations or journalists can verify any claims.

Eco Branding or Environmental Boondoggle?

The grand mufti’s declining influence coincided with Saudi Arabia rebranding itself as a global hub for tourism and sustainability, no doubt advised to them by well-paid consultants and architects eager for multi-million, even billion dollar contracts. Ultra-luxury resorts are being marketed as eco-destinations across the Red Sea and virgin islands, even as construction threatens pristine habitats. See Shebara.

Shebara, a new “eco” resort carved into a pristine island

From coral reefs to fragile desert ecosystems, critics argue that these projects risk becoming environmental boondoggles — glossy green branding masking ecological disruption. The dynamic mirrors other regional tragedies, such as the controversial Qatari-backed resort development on Assomption Island near the Aldabra Atoll.

“Sheikh Abdulaziz served the faith and the nation with dedication,” the Saudi Royal Court said in its obituary statement. Yet his legacy remains contested: a staunch defender of Wahhabi orthodoxy who presided over a society that — under royal command — shifted toward liberalization, consumerism, and grand “eco” visions for the future.

As Saudi Arabia accelerates its transformation, the passing of its top cleric who memorized the Qu’ran at age 10 underscores the changing face of religious authority and perhaps tolerance in a kingdom increasingly defined by megaprojects, oil wealth, and the House of Saud’s push to rebrand itself for a post-oil world.

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Eco Branding or Environmental Boondoggle?

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