Heads of human figurines excavated at Motza (Clara Amit/Israel Antiquities Authority)
Excavations in Tel Motza, four miles north of Jerusalem, reveal a huge Iron Age II temple where local ancients practiced cultic worship. This is surprising, given the recorded efforts of Biblical kings Hezekiah and Josiah to eliminate pagan religions in Israel.
It’s estimated that the temple was built in the late 10th or early 9th centuries BCE and was used for worship until the early 6th century BCE. These estimated dates bring it into the time during which the David’s Temple in Jerusalem functioned as the Holy Land’s religious center and governmental authority.
Archaeologists Shua Kisilevitz of the Israel Antiquities Authority and Oded Lipschits of Tel Aviv University’s Institute of Archaeology recently published research into the excavation in the January/February 2020 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.
Horse figurine discovered at the temple complex at Motza. (Clara Amit/IAA)
Motza has been inhabited for close to 9,000 years. It was a fertile agricultural center, a major hub for grain storage, and famous for horse breeding in ancient times. Crucially, it was also a crossroads linking the south to Jerusalem, bringing pilgrims, merchants, and emigrants through the region, which increased its economic importance.
Findings suggest that the government centered in Jerusalem’s Temple recognized the religious needs of non-Hebrew populations. Or one might consider that as Motza was an important economic center largely populated by cult worshipers, it would have made sense for the government to allow the building of this temple. Being close enough to Jerusalem, it would have been easy to keep an administrative eye on it.
“You could not have built a major monumental temple so close to Jerusalem, without sanction by the ruling polity,” said Kisilevitz.
The cultic temple is laid out according to the same plan as David’s Temple, with the east-west orientation typical of sites of worship of those times; a rectangular building, and a fore-court where congregants would gather. The archaeologists note that this plan was commonly used to construct temples in the Near East, such as those in ‘Ain Dara and Tell Ta‘yinat, Syria, The Motza temple feasibly could have been built by Syrian workers, as was also the Temple in Jerusalem.
Aerial view of Motza excavations (P. Partouche, SkyView)
Kilievitz says,
“Definitely there was cultic activity going on throughout the region. I think at some point we will find more temples.”
Lipschits states, “Our discoveries thus far have fundamentally changed the way we understand the religious practices of Judahites.”
Among other findings are an altar and a wealth of artifacts, including animal and human figurines, bowls, cult stands (ceramic or stone stands for ritual use) and a pit where animal bones, presumably sacrifices, and discarded ritual objects were respectfully laid away.
(Yael Yolovitch/Israel Antiquities Authority)
The variety of gods identified by figurines and representations on other objects points to the temple being dedicated to no one particular god, but to a pantheon, including the bloody Ba’al and the fertility goddess Astarte.
The researchers say that discovering when the temple stopped being used as such is a key issue. King Josiah’s reforms, ca. 640-609 BCE, would have caused it to shut down for cultic worship – but when or if this site was affected by those reforms is still unknown. It would be nice to think that, through a stroke of luck, some sort of document will be unearthed to enlighten us.
“All we know so far is that when it was constructed, the Motza temple was likely the undertaking of a local group, but by the Iron IIB period, it was clearly under Judahite rule and must therefore have been royally sanctioned by the realm. The rest remains to be discovered,” the archaeologists wrote.
Excavations began in 2012 and continue, as the site has not been fully uncovered. The team working there in the 2020 and 2021 seasons will comprise staff from Tel Aviv University, Prague, Germany, and UCLA.
How Did Dinosaur Parents Know When Their Kids Had a Fever? Prehistoric egg shells provide clues to dinosaurs’ evolution from cold- to warm-blooded creatures.
From the time that dinosaur fossils were first discovered, these creatures have fascinated scientists and laypeople alike. In the academic world, their remains provide important clues into the prehistoric world; in popular culture, dinosaurs have inspired blockbuster hits, such as Jurassic Park and King Kong.
Now, a research team headed by Professor Hagit Affek at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Institute of Earth Sciences has unlocked a mystery that has stymied researchers for decades: How did dinosaurs regulate their body temperatures? Were they warm-blooded or cold-blooded?
Affek’s study, published today in Science Advances, relies on a novel method to measure historical temperatures. Called clumped isotope geochemistry, this method analyzes chemical bonds among heavy isotopes in calcium carbonate minerals—the main ingredient in egg shells. This allows scientists to calculate both the temperature at which the minerals formed and the body temperature of the mother that laid the egg.
Affek and her team applied this method to fossilized eggs from three distinct dinosaur species along the evolutionary path from reptile to bird and found that their body temperature ranged from 35-40 degrees Celsius. However, this bit of information still did not answer the question as to whether dinosaurs were endothermic or exothermic, meaning, did they generate their own body heat or get warm from the sun and their environment?
“The global climate during the dinosaur era was significantly warmer than it is today. For this reason, measuring only the body temperatures of dinosaurs who lived near the equator wouldn’t tell us whether they were endo- or exothermic because their body temperature may simply have been a cold-blooded response to the hot climates they lived in,” shared Affek.
To address this issue, her team focused on dinosaurs that lived in high latitudes like Alberta, Canada—far enough north to ensure that their warm body temperatures were the result of an internal, metabolic warming process rather than merely reflecting the climate around them.
To verify their hypothesis, Affek and her team needed to determine the environmental temperature in Alberta back when dinosaurs lived. They accomplished this by applying their isotope method to mollusk shells that lived in Alberta alongside the dinosaurs. Since mollusks are cold-blooded creatures, they reflect the ambient climate of the time. The mollusks’ body temperature measured 26°C and showed that the dinosaurs living in Alberta were endothermic; otherwise, they could not have maintained a body temperature of 35-40°C.
As dinosaurs evolved, they moved from lizard-like (cold-blooded) characteristics to avian (warm-blooded) ones. “We believe that this transformation happened very early on in dinosaurs’ evolution since the Mayasaura eggs—a lizard-like dinosaur species that we tested—were already able to self-regulate their body temperature, just like their warm-blooded, bird-like cousins, the Torrdons,” explained Affek.
The fact that both of these species, located at opposite ends of the dinosaur evolutionary tree, had body temperatures higher than those of their environment means that both had the ability to warm themselves.
Either way, Mother of Dragons, if your baby is showing a fever of 41 degrees, it’s time to call the doctor.
Yes, we know. This is a site where we delve into issues facing the western east. The region that the world knows as the Middle East but which we are rebranding as something less archaic, more in tune with what the near East is about. Like the rest of the world, we look to America to Canada to learn best practices about environmental policy and research.
Consider this, most Americans are sort of in denial when it comes to climate change and their food. That means more steaks on the barbecue, less care about food miles, and more interest in eating fast? But is that the whole picture?
The report, titled“Climate Change and the American Diet,” found that half (51%) of Americans surveyed said that they would eat more plant-based foods if they had more information about the environmental impacts of their food choices.
But, 70% rarely or never talk about this issue with friends or family.
Nearly two-thirds of the Americans surveyed report having never been asked to eat more plant-based foods, and more than half rarely or never hear about the topic in the media. Guess they aren’t listening to NPR. 🙂
However, the report found that more than half of Americans are willing to eat more vegetables and plant-based alternatives and/or less red meat. So that’s good news for startups like Impossible Food and Beyond Meat that are using labs to create plant based meat, without harmful soy, and which tastes and even bleeds like meat.
But at the same time American consumers are already changing their diets and purchasing habits in favor of plant-based foods.
Are you doing Meatless Mondays?
Okay, eating a plague of locusts might be too much to ask, but how about a vegan burger on Monday instead of chicken?
Although four percent of Americans self-identify as vegan or vegetarian, 20% choose plant-based dairy alternatives about two to five times a week or more often. Roughly the same percentage choose not to buy products from food companies that are not taking steps to reduce their environmental impact.
“Many American consumers are interested in eating a more healthy and climate-friendly diet,” said Anthony Leiserowitz of Yale University. “However, many simply don’t know yet which products are better or worse — a huge communication opportunity for food producers, distributors and sellers.”
An Italian flatbread featuring a Middle-Eastern herb? Why not?
Italy and much of the Middle East have a lot in common. They share the Mediterranean climate. Both love olive oil. In both regions, people bake a variety of flatbreads. And za’atar’s flavor is closely related to oregano, the spice dusted over those iconic Italian dishes, pizza and lasagna. Here in Israel, most pizzerias leave big shakers of both oregano and za’atar out on the counter for customers to flavor their pizzas as they wish.
We liked this easy recipe for olive and za’atar-topped focaccia very much. My family couldn’t wait to tear into it as soon as I took it out of the oven. Use your preferred olives, just make sure they’re pitted. In spite of olives’ saltiness, don’t forgo the final sprinkling of flaky salt for the delicious crunch it gives.
Olive and Za’atar-Topped Focaccia
Ingredients
2¼ teaspoon (1 packet) active dry yeast; or 50 grams (2 oz) fresh yeast 1 teaspoon sugar 1¾ cups warm water 5 cups (600 grams) bread flour plus more as needed 2 teaspoons kosher salt 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil plus more as needed ½ cup pitted black or green olives 1 tablespoon za’atar, or to taste Flaky salt, to taste
Dissolve the yeast with sugar in the warm water.
Put the flour and salt into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Alternatively, you can make this dough by hand. Note that the dough will be tacky. Add the water and yeast mixture and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil to the flour mixture.
Turn the mixer to stir, and allow it to mix until a shaggy dough is just formed, 5-6 minutes. If the dough is too moist to cohere, add flour, a tablespoon at a time, while mixing, until a smooth, elastic dough forms.
Remove the dough from the mixer, gently form into a ball, and transfer to a well-oiled bowl. Turn the dough in the bowl to cover it with a film of oil.
Cover the dough with a recycled plastic bag or plastic wrap.
Place the covered dough in a warm part of the kitchen and allow the dough to rise until doubled in size, 1½-2 hours.
Spread 3 tablespoons of olive oil over a rimmed baking sheet.
Punch the dough down, then transfer it to the baking sheet. Gently press the dough, spreading it into the edges of the baking sheet to form a rectangle. Flip it over to cover both sides with the olive oil.
Poke dimples all over the dough with your fingers. Cut open a plastic bag to cover the dough, or use plastic wrap. In either case, brush the inner surface with oil so it won’t stick to the dough. Let the dough rise again for 45 minutes to an hour.
While the dough is rising again, preheat the oven to 425°F. – 220°C.
Scatter the olives over the dough and push them in lightly. Sprinkle za’atar and flaky salt over all.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown with a crisp crust. Dribble a little more olive oil over the hot focaccia and allow it to cool slightly before serving.
Want another cool recipe? We have one for za’atar-topped pita, another variation on the bread/za’atar combination.
For years the debate of which sex reigns supreme in sport has waged on, with most nods, in most sports going to testosterone-fueled males. Men are bigger, men are stronger. Recently this trend is starting to see some upheaval however, with women competing in ultra-distance endurance events.
And it’s interesting news for the people who are trying to ban transgender people from competitive sports events. They should be watching out for women!
We all know women are tougher than men, women give birth, something no man could handle, women raise curious children, again something most men sneak away each and every day because of, and women have to put up with men, maybe the hardest of tasks on the planet!
All jokes aside, the world of endurance sports is where women level the playing field, and according to a new study by RunRepeat, actually overtake their male counterparts.
In partnership with the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU), RunRepeat just published the largest study ever done on the sport of ultra running. They’ve analyzed 5,010,730 results from 15,451 ultra running events over the last 23 years, and one of the many key findings, is that at extreme distance, the data shows, that women actually are the top competitor. (See our related story, running in sprints).
The findings detailed in The State of Ultra Running 2020, cover many facets, like the exponential growth of the sport, what nations top ultra running’s performance list, differences in participant demographics, and of course they offer a unique view of the differences between the sexes.
The key findings of this study point towards various trends that suggest as we start this new decade, more and more people are looking for a challenge, and in those new challenges, women should be seen as equals, both at the start line and at the finish line. What this means for upcoming marathons in cities like Tel Aviv, is anyone’s guess.
Some results this study discovered:
Female ultra runners are faster than male ultra runners at distances over 195 miles. The longer the distance the shorter the gender pace gap. In 5Ks men run 17.9% faster than women, at marathon distance the difference is just 11.1%, 100-mile races see the difference shrink to just .25%, and above 195 miles, women are actually 0.6% faster than men.
Participation has increased by 1676% in the last 23 years from 34,401 to 611,098 yearly participations and 345% in the last 10 years from 137,234 to 611,098. There have never been more ultra runners.
More ultra runners are competing in multiple events per year. In 1996, only 14% of runners participated in multiple races a year, now 41% of participants run more than one event per year. There is also a significant increase in the % of people who run 2 races a year, 17.2% (from 7.7% to 24.9%) and 3 races, 6.7% (from 2.8% to 9.5%).
There have never been more women in ultrarunning. 23% of participants are female, compared to just 14% 23 years ago.
All age groups have a similar pace, around 14:40 min/mile. Which is unusual compared to the past and to other distances.
The data begs us to try to understand what’s going on in this niche part of the endurance world. As more people seek these harder experiences, these sport’s once reserved for elite athletes are now fair game for anyone with some courage and stamina.
We were especially excited by this story on the New York Times, and the woman who does ultra-ultra marathons, without sleep. By 200 miles at a time she outruns the men.
So the key here women is endurance. If you keep going at some point the men give up. Ask any mother of young children and she won’t bat an eye, for she already knows this basic fact.
Women are competing at greater numbers than ever before, and thanks to many reasons, they are right there at the front of the pack. The Guardian recently published a piece about this as well, citing a few physiological and psychological reasons women have an edge here, but overall it comes down to mental fortitude, something women simply have more of.
It’s an exciting new decade, and while ultra running may still be on the fringe of what most people aspire to participate in, the continued growth of this niche sector, and of the women within it, proves that endurance sports are here to stay.
When you think of the Nile, what comes to mind? Egyptian cotton, Baby Moses in a bassinet, waiting among the reeds to be found and brought into the Pharaoh’s palace, a Nile cruise along the riverbanks? An ancient and modern empire? These things might come to mind if you are sitting on your couch somewhere in the west reading this.
If you are from Ethiopia, Sudan or Egypt your concerns are very different. And they could spell life and death, prosperity or war. And this is a serious time and the world needs to get involved, especially those funding renewable energy projects:
The water for the Ethiopian dam comes from the headwaters of the Nile where it is called the Blue Nile River, and Egypt might lose half of its Delta or 50% of arable farms as the dam water fills.
If you are an Egyptian the Mighty Nile is your lifeforce. It is your life and possibly your demise. If 80 percent of your river will be lost, this will spell out catastrophe for Egyptian life as you know it. Who owns mighty rivers? Can a nation suddenly dam one without consideration of who is downstream? These are issues that Israel, Jordan and Syria have faced for millenial, on the Jordan River, a tiny river to compare, but mighty in its own way.
Losing the Nile is unthinkable to Egyptians. Their pharaohs were the masters of the Nile and they built empires and modern republics on it.
The Pharaohs worshiped crocodiles and they commanded their people to use the Nile to ship giant granite blocks to build the Great Pyramid of Giza nearby. In 1970, Egypt’s post-independence leader, Gamal Abdel Nasser, completed the Aswan High Dam, which tamed the seasonal flow of the Nile and transformed Egyptian agriculture.
Egypt justified its dominance over the river by citing a colonial-era water treaty and a 1959 agreement with Sudan. But Ethiopia does not recognize them, and when its former leader, Mengistu Haile Mariam, proposed building a series of dams on the Nile back in 1978, he met threats from Egypt.
The Egyptians and the Ethiopians all need the water for life
Man on his boat on the Nile in Egypt
Without the Nile Egypt will not be Egypt. Food prices will sour. Irrigation will end. The millions living in slums will be cut off from basic needs. War will most certainly erupt.
The Arab Spring, climate change, and now Ethiopia’s interest in creating a dam for hydro-electric power all spell disaster for Egypt and the western east. To mitigate war and catastrophe, humanitarian and political, talks are being mediated by the US Treasury and the World Bank yet there is no agreement the operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Ethiopia is energy ambitious, like every nation
Ethiopia itself emblematic of being one of the world’s poorest countries hopes its 510-foot-tall, 5,840-foot-long structure will finally once and for all hold Ethiopia’s dominant position for the source of the Blue Nile, which is also the source water to 80% of Egypt’s water.
It will have cost $4 billion USD to build it (Reuters) and when the dam is full and in operation the GERD will supply over 6,000 megawatts of electricity and it will become Africa’s largest hydropower dam.
We can learn from China however on how dam’s devastate local communities, kill entire ecosystems, and wipe out major species (see NYT freshwater giants are dying). Worse will happen if it’s a dam that separates nations, already fragile. Already desperate.
According to some sources, like the US Media Line, the mediated talks that include Donald Trump “have turned into a disaster.” Though the Media Line does not mention which source.
America has been a long supporter of Cairo and Egypt with massive amounts of USAID, about $1.5 billion USD a year, going to support the nation. Some funneled into dubious agricultural projects like co-funded with Pepsi Co incentives to increase the output of potatoes per farm –- an expectation obviously to help PepsiCo supply more fried junk food.
Can and should America be a deal maker in African continent and western east disputes?
America tries to broker water and dam deal
Trump thinks so and has met with water resources ministers from Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan at the White House. Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, the United States Treasury and the World Bank. All of them released an agreed statement that there is a “joint commitment to reach a comprehensive, cooperative, adaptive, sustainable, and mutually beneficial agreement on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.”
Which basically says nothing. Or forces anyone to hold there word, but some of the agreed upon terms are below:
The filling of the GERD will be executed in stages and will be undertaken in an adaptive and cooperative manner that takes into consideration the hydrological conditions of the Blue Nile and the potential impact of the filling on downstream reservoirs. (I ask – Who will be doing ecological/hydrological surveys?)
Filling will take place during the wet season, generally from July to August, and will continue in September subject to certain conditions. (I ask – Who will set these conditions? Who will hold anyone to them as climate change worsens?)
The initial filling stage of the GERD will provide for the rapid achievement of a level of 595 meters above sea level and the early generation of electricity, while providing appropriate mitigation measures for Egypt and Sudan in case of severe droughts during this stage.
The subsequent stages of filling will be done according to a mechanism to be agreed that determines release based upon the hydrological conditions of the Blue Nile and the level of the GERD that addresses the filling goals of Ethiopia and provides electricity generation and appropriate mitigation measures for Egypt and Sudan during prolonged periods of dry years, drought and prolonged drought.
During long term operation, the GERD will operate according to a mechanism that determines release based upon the hydrological conditions of the Blue Nile and the level of the GERD that provides electricity generation and appropriate mitigation measures for Egypt and Sudan during prolonged periods of dry years, drought and prolonged drought.
An effective coordination mechanism and provisions for the settlement of disputes will be established.
Losses filled by the World Bank?
The Egyptian newspaper Mada Masr reported the US administration was pressuring Egypt to accept Ethiopia’s proposals in return for compensation from the World Bank for water shortages.
The Blue Nile is a seasonal river and it fills up when the rain starts in Ethiopia around June until the end of November. It travels to the Aswan dam and meets the Nile River, where it dissipates to the Nile Delta. See image below.
From Lake Victoria, the White, Blue and then the mighty Nile. Who is in the Nile? The Nile passes through eleven African continent countries.
Egypt currently bases its share of the river’s waters on a 1959 deal between Sudan and Egypt that gave it 55.5 billion cubic meters water annually, and Sudan 18.5 bcm. Other countries were not given allocations at that time. So basically were not part of the deal. For instance, Ethiopia was not party to the agreement and does not recognize it. If you read one of the past article we wrote and scroll down through to the comments you will see how Egyptians and Ethiopians are disagreeing about this agreement.
Meanwhile, concerned experts in Egypt expect a minimum amount of water to be allocated to Egypt. The average flow before the dam was about 50 billion cubic meters (source) and Egyptian sources expect the continuation of 40 billion cubic meters annually.
No one has agreed yet on how such promises will be kept. Deals made between unstable countries to start with? Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia?
Egypt started building the dam in 2011, at an opportune time – a moment to sneak in dam planning – when Egypt was dealing with its own major problems, the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak, and the Arab Spring.
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD or TaIHiGe; Amharic: ታላቁ የኢትዮጵያ ሕዳሴ ግድብ), formerly known as the Millennium Dam and sometimes referred to as Hidase Dam is a gravity dam on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia that has been under construction since 2011. It is in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia, about 15 km (9 miles) east of the border with Sudan.
At 6.45 gigawatts, the dam will be the largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa when completed, as well as the seventh largest in the world. As of October 2019, the work stood at approximately 70% completion. Once completed, the reservoir could take anywhere between 5 and 15 years to fill with water, depending on hydrologic conditions during the filling period and agreements reached between Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt.
Currently 75% of Ethiopians do not have electricity, and the government needs the dam to help the people prosper. Consider countries like Canada that create hydro-electric power as a way of life. Canada is the world’s second producer of hydro-electric power after China. I am a Canadian. We don’t refer to electricity as electricity, we call it hydro.
Ethiopia wants power and prosperity too. And Ethiopia has warned that millions are ready to go to war over it.
Ethiopian children.
Egypt could lose 50% of its agriculture land
How can water flow be gauged. When is drought, a drought? When should the dam be filled and then stored? Over what time? How does this work with Sudanese dams? No one has the answers yet. And I fear that in 30 years from now we will see what kind of big mistakes we made for not helping Ethiopia go solar.
The Geological Society of America reported that Egypt would lose 25 percent of its yearly water if the dam’s reservoir was filled within 7 years. Egyptians don’t believe that the fill time can be drawn out this long.
Mahmoud Farouk, program coordinator for civil society partnerships at the Project on Middle East Democracy in Washington said in this report on the Media Line: Water shortages would pose “a great danger to the Egyptian Delta.. 17% of Egypt’s agricultural land could be destroyed if Ethiopia fills the reservoir in six years, and that figure rises to 51% if they fill it within three years.”
“My main fear is that Ethiopia might continue to ignore these concerns. Water is a matter of life or death to Egyptians – putting Egypt in the corner isn’t the right policy at all,” said Farouk.
As the effects of climate change become more evident, and more awareness to it is felt, more than half of U.S. adults (56%) say climate change is the most important issue facing society today, yet 4 in 10 have not made any changes in their behavior to reduce their contribution to climate change, according to a new poll by the American Psychological Association.
This is an important survey to note, because it will implicated how the western east areas of the world, countries like Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Syria will follow. There is about a 10 year lag, but we hope the writing is on the wall and enough people will wake up to the real threats that come from fossil fuels and cheap products made in China.
While 7 in 10 say they wish there were more they could do to combat climate change, 51% of U.S. adults say they don’t know where to start. The survey was conducted online from Dec. 12-16, 2019, by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Psychological Association.
People are taking some steps to combat climate change, with 6 in 10 saying they have changed a behavior to reduce their contribution to climate change.
Nearly three-quarters (72%) say they are very or somewhat motivated to make changes.
Among those who have already made behavior changes to reduce their contribution to climate change, when asked why they have not done more, 1 in 4 (26%) cite not having the resources, such as time, money or skills, to make changes. Some people are unwilling to make any changes in their behavior to reduce their contribution to climate change.
When those who have not changed their behavior were asked if anything would motivate them to reduce their contribution to climate change, 29% said nothing would motivate them to do so.
Climate change fears affects mental health, mainly the younger ones
Concern about climate change may be having an impact on mental health, with more than two-thirds of adults (68%) saying that they have at least a little “eco-anxiety,” defined as any anxiety or worry about climate change and its effects.
These effects may be disproportionately having an impact on the country’s youngest adults; nearly half of those age 18-34 (47%) say the stress they feel about climate change affects their daily lives.
Psychological research shows us that when people learn about and experience local climate impacts, their understanding of the effects of climate change increases.
A quarter of those who have not yet made a behavior change to reduce their contribution to climate change say personally experiencing environmental impacts of climate change (e.g., natural disasters, extreme weather conditions) (25%) or seeing environmental impacts of climate change in their community (24%) would make them want to try to reduce their contribution to climate change.
Take action to relieve the eco-anxiety
The most common behavior changes people have already made or are willing to make include:
reducing waste, including recycling (89%);
upgrading insulation in their homes (81%)
limiting utility use in their homes (79%)
using renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or purchasing electricity from a renewable energy supplier (78%)
consuming less in general (77%)
or limiting air travel (75%)
Public transport, vegans, bike paths, farmer’s markets wanted
Bike path in Beirut, more paths wanted please say Americans. What about us western easterners?
Adults are less likely to say they have changed or are willing to change daily transportation habits (e.g., carpool, drive an electric or hybrid vehicle, use public transportation, walk or bike) (67%) or their diet (e.g., eat less red meat or switch to a vegetarian or vegan diet) (62%).
A majority (70%) also say that they have already or are willing to take action such as working with their community to reduce emissions, for example by installing bike paths, hosting farmers markets, or using community solar panels.
And nearly 6 in 10 (57%) say that they have already or are willing to write or lobby elected officials about climate change action with a similar proportion (57%) saying they already have or are willing to join an organization or committee working on climate change action.
The most common motivations for behavior changes among those who have taken action to reduce their contribution to climate change are wanting to preserve the planet for future generations (52%), followed by hearing about climate change and its impacts in the news (43%).
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of APA from Dec.12 – 16, 2019, among 2,017 U.S. adults ages 18 and older.
It seems counter-productive, but getting your employees on a retreat in nature, forest bathing, meditating, silent retreats… they return happier and more productive, we mean doing more in less time, in a more positive workplace.
Many employers are forced to constantly deal with issues involving focus and productivity – and it is just getting worse. At times the problem may be systemic, and stem from the workplace culture.
However in other cases it could be something simpler. For example businesses nowadays often have to deal with the disruption of workflow by cellphones.
Trying to keep your employees focused and productive may seem like a gargantuan task – and in some ways it is. But it is far from impossible, and there are some very effective ways that you can try to accomplish your goal this year:
Set clear expectations
At any given point in time your employees should know exactly what is expected of them. If they aren’t aware of your expectations, it will be impossible for them to focus.
Be transparent about it, and outline exactly what you want your employees to do and what your goals for them are. Notify them about any measures you’ll be taking to make sure they stay on track.
Monitor employees with WorkExaminer
Using WorkExaminer will let you track how your employees are spending their time at work. It will let you find out exactly what they’re doing at any given time, what apps they’re using, which websites they frequent, and much more.
Simply put it is an all-in-one employee productivity monitoring solution. Be sure to take advantage of its features to ensure your employees aren’t wasting time, and to flag any that may not be focused on their tasks.
Reward good work
One way to encourage your employees to be more focused and productive is to incentivize it. Set up a system that rewards employees that perform well, and make it a point to follow through.
The rewards could be something as simple as acknowledging their contribution publicly. Or it could be something more along the lines of an ‘employee of the month’ award that has a more tangible reward.
Plan an annual retreat
An annual retreat may not seem like the best way to increase productivity – but it is definitely worth it. Retreats will give your employees the chance to kick back, relax, and more importantly – bond with their team members.
By giving them a short break and building closer bonds, when they get back to work their focus and productivity should be far better.
Emphasize a good work-life balance
Try to take steps to emphasize a good work-life balance. By encouraging your employees to take care of themselves and get in some rest and relaxation, you can reduce stress levels, prevent burnouts, and increase efficiency.
In the long term not only will this help improve focus and productivity on a consistent basis, but it should also make it easier for you to recruit and retain good talent.
Now that you have some ideas that you can use to improve productivity and focus, take a moment to sit down and think which you’d like to start implementing. The impact may not be easy to see at first, but if you keep at it then it is safe to say that you’ll notice the difference.
Always keep in mind that focus and productivity is not just about hard work. It encompasses more than that, and you need to take into account the workplace culture, environment, and relationships too.
In other words, you should look at the ways listed above as the best first steps that you can take to keep your employees focused and productive in 2020. Subsequently you should build on that foundation further, and look for different tactics that you can use to augment it.
The majority of UK road traffic is made up of cars, but that’s only part of the story. An increasing reliance on home delivery and a greater need for services has increased the number of vans on the road. In fact, in 2018 vans made up nearly 16% of total traffic on Britain’s roads.
Light goods vehicles are responsible for around 19 million tonnes of CO2 per year in the UK, so it’s clear that there’s much to be done. It’s also apparent that while carbon offsetting through initiatives like tree-planting can help, there only one part of the solution and much more needs to be done to reduce the emissions of the vans themselves for real improvement to be seen.
Low emission vans should be an attractive prospect. They offer lower fuel costs, have no or low road tax and are exempt from congestion charges, but they also help to reduce greenhouse gases and improve air quality. Fortunately, people are keen to make the most of these benefits and things are starting to change for the better.
The newly available van engine technology and generous government grants mean there has never been a better time to invest in a new van.
We’ve learned from studying the “Spanish flu” of 1918 that a deadly virus can spread world-wide. But we know much more about contamination, containing disease, and treatment today. Countries around the globe are making an historic effort to contain the Corona virus.
Although Coronavirus seems to have started in China, when people ate contaminated animal meat, it now spreads, like the common cold, person-to-person. Breathing invisible droplets sneezed or coughed out by sick people can make you sick. Even touching a surface that’s contaminated, then touching your nose, mouth, or eyes can do it.
While everyone’s hoping for the development of an anti-Corona vaccine, we don’t have to wait to take preventative steps. Keep to the simple instructions laid out by the WHO: wash your hands frequently; stay at least 6 feet away from anyone sick; when in public, avoid being in the area of people coughing or sneezing; if you need to sneeze, do it into the crook of your elbow to contain droplets. And if you do get sick, stay home.
Henriette Kress, one of the West’s most respected herbalists, lays out a herbal protocol for those who fall ill. With Kress’s permission, we quote her below. And if herbs are in your future, we offer a Henriette Kress book review on Practical Herbs here.
If you get hit with any influenza at all, (including this one):
1) Stay in bed for at least seven days. You won’t be able to get up anyway during the first three days, but just sit tight, don’t do anything, for a full week. Yes, it’s boring, but it’s better than the alternative: opportunistic infections (sequelae), the worst of them being pneumonia.
2) Take vitamin D (in large enough doses) and drink low-sugar berry juices, loaded with vitamin C, or take vitamin C in large enough doses.
Kress defines berry juices as Elderberry juice, black currant juice or whatever local immune-boosting juices you have. As low sugar as is still drinkable. She recommends half a mug of hot juice every half hour or so. No juice available? Go with lots of vitamin C, up to bowel tolerance.
3) Lay off the sugar. That’s no sweets, honey, bread, rice, potatoes and so on. Simple carbs are banned for the duration.
4) Herbally, Echinacea has been shown to clobber all influenza viruses except for adeno (which has a different structure). That includes corona, SARS, MERS, H1N1, H5N1, parainfluenza, influenza A, influenza B … the works.
Take the tincture often, rather than only 3 times a day. So 10 drops every 10 minutes, 30 drops every 30 minutes, and forget the myth that you shouldn’t take it long-term … you should absolutely take it for as long as you still suffer from this particular virus. And a few days after that too, in order to avoid all opportunistic bugs.
Grab enough of it, make enough of it, you’ll go through oodles if and when you need it, so keep it in the house.”
Green Prophet notes: It’s cheaper to make tincture yourself, and not at all hard. At this time of year, it’s hard to get your hands on fresh echinacea herb, but it’s easily available online, and many health food stores carry it also.
How to make echinacea tincture from dried leaf: put 100 grams of dried echinacea leaves in a very clean, dry jar. Pour 500 ml. (2 cups) of, optimally, 60% alcohol – vodka will do if necessary – over the herb. Stir with a clean spoon to release air bubbles. Cap tightly and store in a dark, cool place 3 weeks. Strain the infused liquid into another clean jar. It’s now ready for use.
It’s best to acquire dropper bottles and a small funnel to fill them, but you can use quarter- and half-teaspoons to measure doses. See how to measure tincture doses by teaspoon here.
Consult a herbal practitioner to understand how much a patient needs to take, and how often. Many practitioners are available online or by phone for simple instructions.
To continue with Kress’s suggestions:
5) Avoid aspirin or NSAIDS. They increase viral shedding (spreading to others) and extend the duration of active infection. Their antiinflammatory effects are thus also immune-suppressing.
Muğla (Turkey): The impacts coal is having on the environment around Muğla, Turkey. Photo by Servet Dilber, 2019.
The global climate crisis, mainly generated by the biggest fossil fuel corporations in the world, is seriously aggravating the already extensive and heavy set of human rights violations caused by this same industry, warns a report released this Friday, February 7th, by 350.org. The whole report can be found here (links to PDF) and offers great research for anyone researching how fossil fuels and coal extraction, like in the case of Turkey, harms human rights.
Oil, gas and coal companies are directly or indirectly responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses committed by corporations around the world in the last three decades, as shown by the 10 cases mentioned in the publication.
Considering just a few major cases of violations, the fossil fuel industry was directly responsible for about 45,000 premature deaths caused by health issues, the dump of more than 18 billion gallons of toxic wastewater into rivers and the opening of almost 2.5 million acres of previously inaccessible indigenous homeland to land speculation, colonization and deforestation.
The violations have been committed by both local companies and industry giants like Chevron-Texaco and Shell. In some cases included in the report, companies have acted in tandem with governments or private security groups in an illegal or non-transparent manner.
Abuses include the murder or arbitrary arrest of community leaders in Mexico and Nigeria, restrictions on the right to protest in the United States, the forced removal of communities in Turkey, threats to water security in Australia, contamination of rivers and fish stocks in indigenous territories in the Ecuadorian Amazon, and contributing to the premature deaths of thousands of people from respiratory causes in Bangladesh.
With the aggravation of the climate crisis, the negative environmental and social impacts of the actions of fossil fuel companies in several of these cases – and similar ones – are getting worse.
“The pollution and contamination often caused by fossil fuel industry activities mainly affect the poorest populations, as well as the climate crisis. Vulnerable communities are being doubly exposed to losses or scarcity of land, fish stocks and water, for example,” said Aaron Packard, manager of the Climate Defenders program at 350.org.
In addition, the report highlights that there is a growing understanding among civil society and Human Rights scholars and practitioners that fossil fuel production is an attack on the millions of people most directly affected by the climate crisis. In the Netherlands, individuals and organizations such as Friends of the Earth are taking legal action against Shell claiming they neglect their legal duties in relation to climate change, as the report mentions. Also, other legal cases against fossil fuel companies for the damages caused by their activities are underway in several places of the United States.
“Even in the face of the clearest scientific evidence that burning fossil fuels is literally setting the planet on fire, this sector continues to invest in the same old model and often misinforms society about the climate crisis and its causes. In doing so, companies are actively disregarding the right of entire populations to a healthy environment, sufficient and quality food, and a political and social scenario of stability,” stated Aaron Packard.
The 350.org report also highlights the need for local and national governments to act to protect climate defenders, such as community leaders who are at the forefront of mobilizations for the rights of affected families. Many of them are targets of threats, aggression, torture or murder.
An exemplary case mentioned by the report is the one of Samir Flores Soberanes, a journalist and leader of a Nahuátl Indigenous community in Mexico. In February 2019, he was murdered in his home after receiving several threats for publicly opposing the construction of a pipeline and two new thermal power plants in the community’s territory.
“Many of the countries where these violations are committed have signed international treaties obliging them to protect threatened individuals, guarantee the right to protest and respect the decisions of Indigenous communities about their territories. Legal mechanisms exist, but they have to be enforced, legitimized and respected,” said Nicole Oliveira, Managing Director of 350.org in Latin America.
You got to love New Yorkers. They are real, and they are often serious. And they like to walk the walk. So New Yorkers have a lot to celebrate now that their elected mayor Mayor Bill de Blasio declared that he will stop all new fossil fuel projects within and serving the city.
This is the largest municipal ban announcement of its in the world. building on the mounting global movement for a just transition off fossil fuels to a renewable-energy economy that works for all.
“This is a monumental step for New Yorkers in making our home a model for real climate leadership, and a massive victory for frontline communities and climate activists everywhere,” said Dominique Thomas, a 350.org organizer and New Yorker.
“As we enter the climate decade, we need transformational climate action, and now the financial center of the world is moving to stop all new fossil fuel projects. This move invigorates us to protect our communities from all gas, oil, and coal projects, including the Williams fracked gas pipeline, and implement a Green New Deal that works for all New Yorkers.”
What will New York do?
They are taking concrete climate action by divesting its $215.5 billion pension funds from fossil fuels, enacting nation-leading legislation to slash pollution from big buildings, pursuing Exxon and other Big Oil corporations in court for climate costs and damages, while expanding investments in wind and solar.
Community resistance to fracked gas projects within and around the City continues to grow, including over 70 elected officials opposing the Williams fracked gas pipeline and tens of thousands of New Yorkers calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to stop Williams and all fracked gas projects.
A wake up call to Wall Street, living in a parallel universe
“The Mayor of New York City announcing a ban on new fossil fuel projects will reverberate across the nation and around the world as a nail in the coffin of the fossil fuel economy,” said Tamara Toles O’Laughlin, 350.org North America Director. She is also a New Yorker:
“As our communities protect our health and safety by keeping fossil fuels in the ground, Wall Street banks and insurers enabling projects like Keystone XL, Line3, and coast to coast fracking need to wake up. The writing’s on the wall: move your money out of toxic fossil fuels and into real climate solutions.”
The Mayor is set to issue an executive order to implement this ban. This will be a critical step toward climate action, including ordinances, regulations, building code changes and legislation, to maximize the effectiveness of a ban and to ensure all staff and city agencies use all tools at their disposal, including how they engage in rate cases public service hearings.
Governor Cuomo and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) retain overall decision-making on new and existing projects. Now, New Yorkers are escalating the demand for Cuomo to stop the Williams fracked gas pipeline once and for all, and build on this announcement by declaring a ban on new fossil fuel projects across the state.
New York – we are cool. We like you. On second thought, no. We LOVE YOU. But if you look to your rooftops, they are less than impressively energy healthy. For years the city has been talking about green roofs, but only a handful like Henry Gordon Smith from Agritecture are pulling any weight.
Where are the passive solar water heaters, solar panels for collecting power? New York – it’s good to make bold statements, but what are citizens doing locally instead of just blaming Wall Street?
What’s the next steps for the eastern West?
Use available resources from selling oil and gas and invest in renewables. There is no reason why the warm climates of North Africa, the Levant, the former Middle East, the new western east can’t make this happen –– with all the sun that shines nearly year round. What happened to Desertec?
The joy that pets bring to their owners is immeasurable. Your furry, cute, and active animal friend jumping around you, giving you innocent, happy kisses as they make you laugh with their funny ways–nothing beats that.
Like human beings, pets get sick, too, and that’s the last thing you wish to happen as a doting owner. In line with that, one product that has been raved by many in recent years is CBD oil for your pet, which is believed to improve both human and pet health.
But, what is CBD Oil and what are its health benefits for pets? Read below to know the answers to these questions.
What Is CBD Oil?
Many still associate CBD oil with the toxic effects of weed or marijuana. In the real sense, CBD is found in both cannabis and hemp, but is usually extracted from the latter. The cannabidiol or CBD in hemp does not have the psychoactive properties present in the likes of marijuana, and has zero toxicity level, which makes it safe for use.
A lot of people wonder what makes CBD good for health and how it works in the body.Research has shown that this compound positively interacts with mammals’ endocannabinoid (ECS), which is involved in many biological processes, like sleep, immune response, etc. The ECS has two different types of cannabinoid receptors–CB1 and CB2–which help the body’s biological system to interact with CBD, which, in turn, produces beneficial responses for the body. The interaction between the ECS and cannabidiol proves that the latter can be ingested safely by both humans and pets.
Health Benefits Of CBD Oil For Pets
Equipped with knowledge about how CBD functions in the biological systems of mammals, including pets, many companies andCBD brands, such asHolistaPet, have already embarked on the journey of perfecting varieties of CBD oils and derivatives that effectively address many pet-related ailments.
Below are a few reasons why CBD oil is great for pets:
CBD Oil Relieves Pain
CBD has pain-relieving properties that have become some sort of a miracle for many who experience chronic pains. And, just as it functions well for humans, it also does work well for pets who are not exempted from occasional slight pains and the very chronic ones, too.
Administering CBD oil for your pet whenever they show any sign of discomfort could do them a lot of good.
2.CBD OilManages Pet Seizures
It’s no new thing that pets also experience seizures and, in some cases, epilepsy. A good number of pets are prone to experiencing these issues, and which could worsen when treated with other seizure reducing medications, thereby creating more problems.
Fortunately, CBD oil can help subdue seizures and epilepsy without leaving behind a long trail of side-effects and new problems.
3.CBD Oil Tackles Inflammations
CBD has been proven to be extra effective in tackling inflammations and inflammation-related ailments in both humans and pets, like arthritis, autoimmune diseases like lupus, inflammatory bowel diseases, and others, as it possesses anti-inflammatory properties.
4.CBD Oil Manages Anxiety
Many times, pets, just like human beings, also suffer from anxiety and stress, and these issues can usually be seen in their actions. Fortunately, administering CBD oil can calm their nerves. CBD Oil tackles anxiety by targeting receptors in the brain to release more serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for boosting positive mood.
5.CBD Oil For Tumors
Researchers have found out that CBD oil can slow down the growth of cancerous tumors, keeping them from spreading to other cells of the body.
6.CBD Oil For Heart Health
CBD oil also helps in treating heart issues by improving cardiac functions and acting as an antiarrhythmic medication for better blood flow. To achieve this, the CBD oil must be administered alongside the usage of a CB1 receptor antagonist.
7.CBD Oil For Healthy Bones
Pets with chronic and severe cases of osteoporosis can be treated with CBD oil, which helps in promoting the growth of new bones and strengthening the damaged ones. Intake of CBD oil, which targets the CB2 receptors present in peripheral tissues, helps in stimulating bone formation as well as in combating osteoporosis.
8.CBD Oil Relieves Nausea And Lack Of Appetite
At times, your pets may experience lack of appetite and nausea for various reasons, but usually as a side effect of taking certain medications. Unlike other medications prescribed for nausea, CBD oil targets the serotonin receptors of the brain, which also help in relieving anxiety.
The boosting of the serotonin levels in the brain then helps to suppress the nauseous feeling along with the accompanying symptoms of vomiting and lack of appetite. Constant and continued stimulation of the cannabinoid receptor of the brain through the intake of CBD may also help reduce the aforementioned symptoms. Also, unlike other anti-nausea medications, CBD appears to not have the side effects that other medications have.
Conclusion
CBD oil is not only good for humans, but also for pets. CBD can help manage common health issues faced by pets, such as lack of appetite, nausea, pain, seizures, inflammation, and anxiety. CBD Oil may also help in improving heart and bone health among pets, as well as in slowing down the growth of cancerous tumors in their bodies.
Even though 70s and 80s suffered through Acid Rain, new research shows that forest soils can bounce back. You see, there is still hope that we can solve climate change.
If you grew up in the 70s or 80s no one was talking about climate change: they were talking about nuclear war and acid rain. Acid rain made Kimberly’s hair turn green in the TV show Different Strokes; Canada’s environmental minister called it the “malaria of the biosphere” and it kept me away at night worrying. Acid rain was the fallout of industrial chemicals and pollution into forests and lakes. As it rained toxins were picked up by the water and the toxins were rained down in close and faraway parts of the world.
Canada suffered a massive amount of acid rain from the United States as it blew northward. The Ukraine and the rest of Europe experienced more than acid, but nuclear rain, after the Chernobyl meltdown.
So in the 60s and even into the 70s, before the American Clean Air Act of 1970 came into full effect, rainfall over the United States and Canada was full of acid. It killed lakes all over Canada and I remember canoeing in beautiful, but dead, lakes when I was a kid. We talked about it all the time. Acid rain was a thing.
Acid rain is precipitation that mixes with gases from industrial plants, emissions from cars, and especially coal and fossil fuel pollution. That caused the water to become acidic – also called “acid rain.” Coal plants can also actually cause rain. Read this article about it.
Besides the air pollution hurting plants and humans and lakes, this acid rain also hurt our soil. Even dry deposits of these acidic emissions could be hurtful to humans, plants, soil and water. Acidic soil can bind nutrients so that plants can’t get them. It can hurt the microbes in soil, as well as plants. But new research suggests that soils can bounce back.
One odd “helpful” thing acid rain did, though, researchers had found, was to provide a few nutrients to the soil. The sulfur in the acid rain – in the form of sulfates – actually provided nutrition to plants.
However, the benefit was negligible, and the overall effects of pollution required regulation. Occasionally, cities like Los Angeles will still experience “smog.” The incidents are even more common in China and India, where little regulation is in effect. (Read this good BBC article on the bittersweet story of solving acid rain).
Jennifer Knoepp, with the US Forest Service, has been studying how the reduction of air pollution and acid rain is affecting forests in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Her interest is to see how soils are recovering as our air gets cleaner.
How does soil fare after the Clean Air Act?
Both the 1970 Clean Air Act and 1990 Amendment regulated emissions across the United States, resulted in improved air and water quality. But what about the soil – the “skin” of the earth – that provides for food and shelter and is home to the world’s largest biodiversity?
“We have found significant movement of sulfate from the soils over time,” says Knoepp. “Sulfate is moving out of the surface soils and into the subsoil. In addition, the streams in our study site show improved water quality. However, soils and streams still exhibit chemical imbalances. This suggests recovery from decades of acid rain is a long-term process.”
To evaluate the soils and water, researchers sampled 24 high elevation spruce-fir forest sites and two watersheds in the southern Appalachians. The sites represent a region in the southeastern U.S. with high gradients in elevation and precipitation, as well as high biodiversity.
The research area includes sites within the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Both are major tourist and outdoor recreation destinations.
Recent soil collections were compared to archived soil samples from the 80s and 90s. Sample archives are essential to long-term research. They provide the ability to conduct tests not planned during an original experimental design.
The research team analyzed both the newly collected and archived samples for “extractable sulfate.” All data were used to determine the long-term response of southern Appalachian forests to changes in sulfate deposition that occurred after the implementation of the Clean Air Act Amendment in 1990.
Data show that sulfate in precipitation and streams declined after implementation of the Clean Air Act Amendment. They also show that completely reversible sulfate has declined in surface soils. Sub-surface soils show either no change or an increase in partially reversible sulfate.
Knoepp presented her work at the November International Annual Meeting of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America in San Antonio as the Sergei A. Wilde Distinguished Lectureship on Forest Soils.
If you have been following our latest stories you know that there are some major problems with the vegan milk alternatives. People love almond milk for all it delivers, but it turns out that the pendulum has swung out of favor for almond because of the destruction of the bees. So, we’ve been starting to try drinking rice and oat, but the kids don’t love it. Here is a recipe for making your own oat milk at home. Try to buy organic because of the pesticide glyphosate (or Roundup) used to grow oats.
What is an industry to do? A startup from Israel called Yofix has started developing a vegan dairy-free alternative that can be used instead of dairy in products like yoghurt. Good news of an investment in the young company boosts the chance that the company will succeed.
Vegan protein powder shakes have become an industry. The growth of vegan protein for adults, kids, pets, is part of the “Veganification” meta trend. Other examples of this meta trend include pea milk, vegan jerky, vegan collagen and vegan ramen.
Toeing to the trend, the company reports an A-round of investment from Muller, the Bel Group, and Liontree. A total of $2.5 million has gone into Yofix so far. Still a mere amount compared to what the soy-based drink Soylent has received — about $75 million USD to create a drink product as an alternative to eating. The idea started as a joke by a programmer in the US. You know, it’s really hard to bother eating when you are programming 15 hours a day. So Soylent to the rescue. Sign of the decay of our times.
The Yofix line of products intended for the food industry might have a better mission –- to feed people who are dairy intolerant. At least in the interim when people are still expecting milk in their cereal or yoghurt for breakfast. We imagine in a few generations milk alternatives won’t be needed because there will be no more people who yearn for milk, if the vegans win. And in a way I hope they will. To diverge a bit more, the Impossible Burger is absolutely delicious though it smells too much like coconut oil when cooking.
No one wants dirty labels
In short, I am rooting for Yofix: “Yofix offers a unique range of quality products, both in terms of flavor and texture,” says Benjamin Bugl, Managing Director of Muller. “With no artificial ingredients, its clean-label solution is a powerful differentiator for consumer awareness and acceptance. Combined with Yofix’ strong management team, this makes it an attractive investment opportunity for Muller.”
If you are wondering what Clean Label means (I did too), I found it online.
Clean label is a consumer driven movement, demanding a return to real food and transparency through authenticity. Food products containing natural, familiar, simple ingredients that are easy to recognize, understand, and pronounce. No artificial ingredients or synthetic chemicals. Yes!
Making yoghurt with legumes!
Last year, Yofix launched a new generation of clean-label yogurt alternatives based on its zero-waste production process. The fermented formula is soy-free and composed of a short list of natural and highly nutritious ingredients, including oats, lentils, and sesame. Some of us worry about soy because of the potential for it to disrupt our endocrine system. You should never feed to it babies in formula this article points out. Plus it’s hidden everywhere as vegetable protein.
This helps the lactose-intolerant and dairy-allergic population still accustomed to eating milk, or not willing to break the habits of milk eaters. It serves the growing vegan and flexitarian markets.
Another word for the day, flexitarian
Flexitarian is used to describe a diet or a person who eats a mostly vegetarian diet, occasionally including meat. We used to call these people vegawarians. There is no standard agreement or definition of what this means; whether flexitarians eat meat once a day, once a week or just occasionally is up to the individual person.
Since the launch of its line of yogurt alternatives (see Yofix article here), the startup has also been awarded the final $100,000 grant from the PepsiCo 2018 Nutrition Greenhouse program.
Yofix was the first startup to be housed by The Kitchen Hub, the FoodTech incubator established five years ago by the Strauss Group. (Strauss led the first leg of the seed round back in 2017.)
“Yofix is one of the most promising startups in our portfolio,”says Jonathan Berger, CEO of The Kitchen, pictured right.
Other investors for this round in Yofix include Good Seed Ventures and HWA, as well as initial investors CPT Capital and VegInvest.
Heads of human figurines excavated at Motza (Clara Amit/Israel Antiquities Authority)
(Yael Yolovitch/Israel Antiquities Authority)
Yes, we know. This is a site where we delve into issues facing the western east. The region that the world knows as the Middle East but which we are rebranding as something less archaic, more in tune with what the near East is about. Like the rest of the world, we look to America to Canada to learn best practices about environmental policy and research.
