“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”
Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.
The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.
Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.
The world added a record 582 GW of renewable energy in 2024, but that pace is still far off from what’s needed to meet the COP28 UAE Consensus target of tripling capacity to 11.2 TW by 2030, according to a new progress report released today by the global renewable energy group IRENA, the COP30 Brazilian Presidency and the Global Renewables Alliance (GRA).
To stay on track, the energy system now needs to deploy 1,122 GW every year from 2025 onward — nearly double today’s annual buildout. Global energy efficiency is lagging even further behind, growing by just 1%, far short of the 4% annual improvement needed to keep the 1.5°C goal alive.
The report — Delivering on the UAE Consensus — calls for urgent action to:
Embed higher renewable targets into upcoming NDC 3.0 climate plans before COP30 in Belém
Double national ambition in line with the tripling goal
Scale annual clean energy investment to USD 1.4 trillion between 2025 and 2030 — more than double the USD 624 billion invested in 2024.
Investment, Grids, Supply Chains: The Real Bottlenecks
Despite rising investment, actual project delivery remains slow. Grid limitations and supply chain vulnerabilities for solar, wind, batteries and green hydrogen are emerging as the central barriers — a reality also echoed by energy developers interviewed by Green Prophet this year, who cite grid access and permitting delays as the main brake on deployment, not technology availability.
USD 670 billion per year must go into grid modernisation and flexibility solutions like storage to prevent renewable energy “traffic jams” — a theme seen in MENA markets, where solar capacity is being installed faster than utilities can connect it. Read here how AI can stabilize the grid.
G20 countries are expected to hold over 80% of installed renewable capacity by 2030.
G7 economies must play a leadership role by scaling their collective share to around 20% of global capacity.
Wealthy nations are urged to deliver on the USD 300 billion climate finance floor and move toward the USD 1.3 trillion aspiration set at COP29.
We’ve declined putting in quotes from the talking heads. European blackouts, political instability and skyrocketing prices for food and energy are due to Middle East conflicts and interests fueling conflicts, such as Qatar propping up Hamas and Hezbollah and the Houthis who fire at ships. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is also destabilizing energy prices and has been so for about 4 years now.
In MENA and Mediterranean markets we cover, solar fields now sit ready but under-connected, as grid modernisation lags behind flashy capacity announcements. The region — especially Gulf and North African economies — could play a major role in closing the global gap, but only if infrastructure catches up with ambition and clean tech manufacturing localises, rather than relying on fragile import chains.
Press material from the Michelberger Hotel in Berlin.
Berlin still feels like the last cool city humans can be human before everything moves into the cloud. We took a five-day family trip with a Green Prophet mindset — low-impact, curious, no interest in polished tourist loops.
Generator Hostel is often recommended as a budget option for families in Mitte. We considered it but felt that Mitte is too far from it all, and instead contacted eco-leaning hotels to see who had space. Circus was full. Orania was almost full and offered a family room for 750 Euros, still well beyond budget. Michelberger, noted for its regenerative farm on the outskirts of Berlin, had two loft rooms available for a family of four, 300 Euro, — booked immediately. The location was excellent, the brunch breakfast was an added 24 Euro each (you can choose each day), and if you have time to linger, this farm-to-table option is worth it.
A room at the Michelberger Hotel in Berlin
A cafe on the other side of the hotel offers a great place to have a cappuccino and a buttery croissant. Artists, designers and fashion types also pop in off the streets by day, and to hear DJs (and sometimes) live music by night. At Michelberger you are in the center of it all without leaving the hotel. I’ve never felt that way before, except once at a $10 a night hostel in San Jose, Costa Rica. I am too old for bedbugs and 7 people to a cramped dorm room.
The Michelberger farm-to-table restaurant. The brunch is great!
Every other night a bean bag room on the 5th floor turns into a movie house called the Forest Theater, upgrading your trip to the feeling of a global nomad without having to travel to Chiang Mai. We peeked in on a film at 8pm and it was packed.
Forest Cinema at the Michelberger Hotel
The loft bed setup in Michelberger made the room feel like a treehouse. We took 2 rooms for a family of 4, but 3 could fit comfortably if you are planning on being out of the room by day. Climbing up into the king bed every night felt like a repeat moment of “okay, I can live like this.” Beds and pillows were excellent.
The view from the loft room. The train station is just outside the front the lobby.
Note on scent: the hotel uses aromatherapy-type smells in the rooms, lobby and common areas. They’re from natural oils and noticeable. If you’re scent-sensitive, just be aware — it’s part of the Michelberger identity.
Breakfast at Michelberger is a meal you actually remember. Sourdough bread, jams, vegetables, cheese, the best apple I ate in my life, — a lot of it coming from the hotel’s own farm. It reminded us of farm stays in Sweden like Stedsans: real food, not hotel buffet food. Designers we know travel to Berlin and mark this place as THE place to brunch and we get why.
Brunch at Michelberger
The Michelberger building used to be an East German factory. Now it’s full of laptops, fashion people, and families like us who are tired of standard hotels. You hear multiple languages at every table. The shared spaces are active but not chaotic. It’s rare to walk into a hotel and feel like you are part of something bigger.
Simple but good touches: Dr. Bronner’s soap in the rooms, mesh shelves, big desks, nothing overly designed but everything considered. My husband says that’s the German way.
The location is ideal — right next to Warschauer Straße S-Bahn and U-Bahn. From there you can get anywhere in Berlin or to the airport without thinking. Michelberger is in the quirky Friedrichshain district and it’s a walk or a two-stop tram ride to the Kreuzberg district.
A party in the lobby of Michelberger
Berlin from Michelberger — Walkable, Raw, and Full of Side Missions
RAW-Gelände is minutes away — graffiti walls, skate ramps, concerts, bars operating out of shipping containers, and informal market days where Berliners unload boots full of old Doc Martens and Adidas. Bargain and bring a hood or umbrella because Berlin weather shifts every hour.
Once a 19th-century train repair yard (the Reichsbahn-Ausbesserungs-Werk), this abandoned industrial strip is now one of the last true subcultural zones left in central Berlin. Since being taken over by artists and outsiders in the late ’90s, it’s evolved into a graffiti-covered hub packed with clubs, bars, an indoor skate park, a climbing gym, and a Sunday flea market. It feels less like a tourist site and more like Berlin holding onto its rough edges on purpose.
Skatehalle inside RAW is a full skatepark indoors with sessions for different skill levels and even wheelchair sessions. Teens will not be bored.
Dog Shit Park nearby (nickname earned) is where you meet people actually living in Berlin, not touring it. We met Collin there — former snowboard film guy — who said, “You look like you want to skate and spray paint. Why did you come here? Too bad not earlier, I could have shown you the alternative Berlin” in a way only Berlin locals can.
Boxhagener Platz (Boxi) is a short walk — calm park on weekdays, full flea market on Saturdays. RAW on Sunday felt more alive and less curated than the Boxhagener Platz, with stuff that can be bought on a Chinese website and sold as trinkets.
We ate mostly vegan and Berlin makes it easy. 1990 Vegan Living — Vietnamese-style vegan bowls, tofu panko sticks — easy crowd-pleaser. About 100 Euros for a family of 4 including alcohol. You can’t make reservations and if you have a chance, choose a table on the right side if you like action and people watching.
Iro Izakaya (vegan tapas and sake) was my husband’s top meal of the entire trip. It’s supposed to be Japanese but tasted like an Asian fusion restaurant. Also about 100 Euros for a family of 4 dinner. The kids still like ramen, so noodles and Asian food was an easy way for us to please all. A ramen bowl was about 15 Euros. I didn’t love the broth and had much better vegan ramen in Japan. You can’t please everyone all of the time.
1990 Vegan Living restaurant in Berlin.
Museums weren’t a focus, but the Vintage Computer Museum was a hit (Computerspiele Museum) — kids can actually play old Sega and arcade games without time limits. DDR Museum gave the kids a practical picture of East German life — like a kibbutz apartment but with more 70s wallpaper. It was my way to warn them about Communism.
Useful Stops for Teens and People Who Like Real Shops
Green Fuzz – non-vintage alt clothing store, actually interesting.
Wollparadies Fadeninsel – right next door, full of hand-dyed wool, very Waldorf-friendly.
Voo – scent and ceramic heaven, items look like they were pulled from a flea market but priced like art objects (just look, don’t commit).
Search and Destroy Skateshop – for kids who actually skate, not just wear skate brands.
There are vintage shops everywhere but they feel overpriced for someone who shops vintage in small charity shops in Canada. Even Humana, with its outlets around Berlin are very overpriced. Pop in though if you need a sexy dirndl costume for Octoberfest or a pair of Lederhosen.
Train rides in Berlin double as people-watching. Watch out for BVG tourist passes bought through an app. We made an expensive mistake, spending $250 for a 3-day local tram pass for our family. We mistakenly bought the pass that included museums free of charge, and one of the days all the museums were closed. We hadn’t intended on going to any of the museums that were free with that pass. I reached out to customer service and they said the passes are, sadly non-refundable. Try and research the passes and what you need online before your trip, and I suggest buying single ride tickets the first day you are there, to see if it’s worth for you to buy any passes. In some instances taking an Uber on short trips made it more worth our while.
Beyond that unpleasantness, the trains are great and easy to navigate. A little less easy for me than Japan.
Multicultural, relaxed, with vegan döner and kepap stands at almost everywhere outside of them. We tried Indian food one night at in Oranienstraße at Amrit (not far from the station) and it was forgettable, but a Pakistani taxi driver later told us where the “real” places were— filed for next time.
If You’ve Got a Few Days and Don’t Want the Usual
Use Michelberger as a base and explore everything within a 20-minute walk before you even consider museums. We heard that the Natural History Museum is great for kids –– the aquarium too. But our kids have travelled to so many large cities from Toronto to Bangkok, where these kinds of copy-paste museums seem to be a carbon copy of each other and a place to go when you need to kill time and not get the true vibe of the place.
Sit at RAW for an hour or a few and just watch. Get to Holstmarket 25. We didn’t make it, but it’s earmarked for our next stay.
Let teens spend a session or two at Skatehalle while you explore Boxi or grab coffee. Book in advance so you aren’t disappointed. Skatehalle offers a beginner’s session for kids for 20 Euros on Sunday mornings from 9 to 11. My son loved it. They have a number of drop in times throughout the week.
Mauerpark on Sunday for markets and karaoke
Look up what’s on at SO36 or About Blank instead of Googling “best nightlife.” We caught a show with the teens at Prachtwerk. Berlin works better without lists.
We didn’t get to the Liquidrom or Vabali spas this trip. The kids needed our full attention. Next time we will look for events at the Tempelhofer Feld, an old airstrip turned into a giant public park, and maybe a hike to Teufelsberg in Berlin, a man-made hill in the Grunewald Forest that is home to an abandoned Cold War listening station used by the US and its allies.
Rent a bike and drive around without a plan.
Michelberger, designed by re-use architects: Jonathan Tuckey Design in 2018, is the best home base if you can stretch to it. From there, Berlin unfolds itself without needing much planning. Don’t sweat it by booking trips.
Entrance through an alleyway to the Voo concept store in Berlin. Like Soho in the 90s.
We walked in expecting to see organic cotton clothes, but were surprised to smell a universe of alternative fragrances you won’t find at La Labo. There is a La Labo in Berlin. But we suggest you head to the hipper part of town, to Kreutzberg and stop at Voo. Not an easy price point on anything there –– Voo shirts for $800 my daughter noticed, but for a worthwhile $250 you can have a non-commercial scent that isn’t exactly bespoke, but pretty close to it. We’ve loved using natural perfumes like Ayala Moriel, but they tend to wear off quickly.
The concept shop carries clothing, a cafe, ceramics that look they fell off a flea market truck and were left behind (the kind we like best) but we couldn’t have known that Voo would be selling the smells of your autobiography. Welcome to Berlin! Voo’s selection offers something between sustainable and a commercial option although we can’t vouch for the ingredients in each bottle. A scent in their showroom called Chinese Tobacco caught our eye and nose.
Since the wall came down between East and West, Berlin has been a city of soft chaos and graffiti, attracting misfits from all over the world. The Voo perfumes, found in an alley by Green Fuzz and a great wool shop on Oranienstrasse feel like emotional codes. Here are some of the brands that are curated to be far from mainstream perfumes and scents sponsored by big money and full of artificial enhancements.
Ephemeral Dyadic – a range of perfumes made in Turkey and for those who walk home alone at night by choice. Ephemeral Dyadic is a perfume project founded in 2023 by artist Sinan Saul in a small art studio in Istanbul’s industrial district. The name ‘Ephemeral’ means ‘temporary’, while ‘Dyadic’ stands for ‘the relationship between two subjects’. Drawing inspiration from the concept that scents are fleeting but emotions are eternal, each fragrance creates a unique bond between the wearer and memory.
Ephemeral Dyadic, a brand from Istanbul
Dark Dreams — Smells like a club bathroom mirror at 3:47 AM, where you meet your own eyes and briefly believe you could start over.
Ozymandias — All the fallen empires of your past relationships bottled with quiet dignity.
Bodhi & Utah — Desert sage drifting through urban glass — a spiritual prank.
Notes de Bas de Paje is a French parfumerie d’auteur — less a fragrance brand and more a keeper of personal archives. Each extrait de parfum is treated like a fragment of memory, a page torn from a life story, meant to be worn close and shared with no one unless invited. Crafted in small volumes, deeply intimate, Notes de Bas de Paje makes perfume for people who treat scent as narrative, not accessory.
Notes de Bas de Paje
The niche perfume house founded in 2023 by Alice Gensse and Pierre‑Jr Menana. The name plays on the French term for footnote, note de bas de page. Committed to ethical, gender-neutral, and fully French production, the brand approaches fragrance as a literary gesture. Each scent is a subtle, personal, and meaningful sensory footnote that tells a story.
Some of their scents:
Towédé — Amber fruit drying in the sun, violet smoke rising like memory.
Olatua — Saltwater soul retrieval.
Prolégomènes — Smells like the unfinished introduction to a revolution.
19-69: Founded by Swedish artist and product developer Johan Bergelin, 19-69 takes its name from 1969, a year marked by Woodstock, the Stonewall riots, the moon landing, radical art movements, and the death of the Summer of Love. But we didn’t smell patchouli. Bergelin treats perfume like a cinematic road trip — each scent born from a place where youth culture collided with counterculture, where something ended and something more dangerous began.
19-69 perfume
Influenced by Helmut Newton flash photography, biker films, cheap motel carpets, and the romantic dirt of subculture, the brand doesn’t decorate life — it documents it. These aren’t polite fragrances; they smell like movement, migration, rebellion, and sweat drying in the sun on unfamiliar skin.
Fragrances:
MIAMI BLUE — Chlorine, sweat, careless decisions.
Chinese Tobacco — The scent of a hidden backroom where someone rolls a cigarette with ritual precision. Tobacco leaf, tea smoke, and the holy pause between inhale and exhale. Maybe it was your dad’s wine cigar in the 70s. Be transported in this scent of a time machine that can take you back and transport you into the future.
In the next wave of regenerative agriculture, the farm is no longer a grid of efficiency but a living circle—with the human spirit at its core. Instead of replacing the farmer, AI and robotics now orbit like silent companions, extending our hands rather than erasing them. A rotating robotic arm moves through the plot not as a master, but as an assistant, guided by ecological intelligence and human intuition. This is not automation for profit—it’s a return to sacred design, where technology becomes humble, circular, and in service to the soil, the grower, and the wider web of life.
During Covid, when the world lost its bearings and I feared the global food distribution system would snap like a dry twig, I did the only sensible thing a mother could do: I built a garden. Not a Pinterest garden, but a functional, wartime-style victory garden (download the original here), a mashup of raised Middle Eastern circular plant beds with permaculture herbs spiraling from the center, borrowing wisdom from desert farmers and American agricultural resilience manuals from the 1940s. We planted beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, molokhia (it grows faster than hemp), lettuce, zucchinis, melons and more.
The reward wasn’t just food security — it was witnessing life return. Birds began swooping low to take a peek and eat bugs during the day, chasing the pollinators that came to kiss the flowers. A watermelon I planted was one day the size of an egg and then ballooned into a full, striped universe almost overnight, as if showing me how quickly life responds when humans step back and design with respect. Life happens!
Floris Schoonderbeek
Now, in a strange and beautiful echo of my inherited Dutch farming ancestry, a Dutch industrial designer, Floris Schoonderbeek, is proposing a new way to farm — in circles, not squares. They call it Circle Farming, an invention that I see it as a technological reverence for something ancient. Farming in circles in the Middle East isn’t new. Look from above and you will see circular crops irrigated in Libyan deserts.
Pivot irrigation is used in California and Libya but the scale of farming takes out the “man” in the center
The Al Khufrah Oasis in southeastern Libya, near the Egyptian border (photo above is from 2004), is one of the country’s largest agricultural developments and a distinct geometric landmark of pivot irrigation is easily spotted by astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Since only about 2 percent of Libya’s land receives enough rainfall for farming, the project relies entirely on fossil water pumped from a deep underground aquifer. In tandem, the Libyan government launched the Great Man-Made River project to transport these groundwater reserves to the coast to support population growth and industrial expansion.
Today, parts of the system are still functioning, but years of conflict. the death of Gaddafi, and lack of maintenance have reduced its reliability. While water continues to reach some agricultural and urban areas, the original vision of full capacity and expansion has largely stalled.
Circle Farming founder enjoying his work on the farm without breaking his back
But the Dutch, famous for stubbornly living and growing on land that is supposed to be emerged are updating the instead of plowing rectangles with tractors, a robotic arm is fixed at the center of a 30-meter circle. It moves slowly, like a clock hand made of steel, pulling familiar agricultural tools behind it — for weeding, watering, even harvesting — except now without carving brutal tire tracks through the earth. The land between circles is left untouched — a commons for insects, wildflowers, birds, even humans to linger. Farming becomes a woven pattern instead of an industrial grid.
Each circular strip holds a different crop, creating a precision-farming mandala that’s both productive and biodiverse. Sensors and AI whisper data back to the farmer — moisture here, pest pressure there — giving advice like an oracle rather than a command chain.
Workers aren’t expected to bend and break their spines in the fields. Instead, they lie belly-down on suspended beds attached to the rotating arm, gliding over the crops with dignity — hovering like dragonflies as they weed, prune, harvest by hand. It turns farming from grunt labor into something closer to communion with the land.
This model is being designed for small peri-urban farms, the exact kind of places that struggle to compete with industrial agriculture but carry the soul of food sovereignty. It’s automation not as replacement, but as companion. A bridge for urban people longing for meaningful work, who might rather float over lettuce than sit under fluorescent lights answering emails for a salary that buys them tasteless tomatoes.
This is the new agricultural aesthetic: not tech versus nature, but tech in service to a more intelligent form of nature-culture. Circular design — which ancient farmers, Bedouins, and mothers like me already knew — is returning, this time with robotics and AI strapped in for the ride. What happens when farming becomes beautiful again? When robots don’t dominate, but make room for birds, wildflowers, kids, rest, and wonder?
Greenhouse farming which allows the farmer to adjust micro-specific conditions to the plant is a market dominated by Dutch and Israeli technology. Will the Dutch own regenerative farming? Given the history of farming and efficiency in both of these countries, it will be technology that will be available to all of humanity.
Recurring tasks have a way of getting away from you quickly and there’s no task more demanding than grocery planning. However, the prospect of planning out meals can be overwhelming, but the cost of not doing it is steep.
Food waste is an unfortunate reality of modern convenience and packed schedules, but it’s an unnecessary outcome with lasting impact. Waste costs families hundreds of dollars annually, diverting dollars otherwise used wisely. Learn how to plan meals and grocery shopping strategically to save money and create sustainable food habits for life.
1. Purposeful Planning Gives Each Ingredient a Job
Look at meal planning like you would a game plan — every ingredient plays a role. A bunch of green onions accents a salad one day and brings fried rice together the next.
Plot your meal plan to account for the entirety of your food purchase. Items that come pre-packaged may contain more than you need for a dish. Take this into account when you plan and collect a group of dishes using the same key ingredients.
Healthy meal kits make this strategy easy as they include the exact amount of everything to make meals. Packaged with pre-measured ingredients reduces food waste and saves time washing, cutting, and measuring. Choose meal kits for easy, delicious meals for stress-free planning and mealtimes where nothing is wasted.
2. Multipurpose Ingredients Flex for Real Life
Sometimes, what you’d planned for dinner just doesn’t sound appealing come mealtimes. Other times, your original plan gets sabotaged by life. That’s why it’s smart to plan meals with multipurpose ingredients that can flex.
Shop for ingredients that require only arranging for the busiest of nights. A head of iceberg lends itself to lettuce wraps, a nutrient-dense salad, or extra crunch for a sandwich.
Frozen chicken chunks crisp to perfection in an air fryer and work for the whole family. Dunked in dips for kids or tossed into a salad or wrap, frozen chicken can save dinner.
3. Post-Shopping Storage Extends Freshness
There’s no denying that throwing groceries in the fridge and moving on is easier than the alternatives. However, taking the time to properly store your haul makes all the difference for their longevity.
Pay attention to social media hacks that promise fresher berries — a quick wash with water and vinegar retains moisture and keeps mushiness at bay. Place herbs in a jar of shallow water and cover them with a new disposable shower cap. This approach retains optimal humidity levels that’ll keep your parsley perky and cilantro crisp.
Split packages of chicken into meal-sized portions to make prep easy and avoid package leakage. Trim cuts for your meals while you’re at it, cutting strips for tacos or splitting breasts for chicken Parmesan. Working ahead now will save time throughout the week, dirty fewer dishes, and reduce meal planning stress.
4. No-Prep Foods Make Snacking Easy and Fresh
Reduce the friction between you and your next snack to keep hangry feelings at bay. Toasted nuts, fresh fruit, and cheese sticks are easy snacks and provide quick energy.
These and other no-prep options help them get used well before their expiration. Shelf-stable nuts, prepackaged beef sticks, and dried fruit last for months. Monitor shelf-stable and pantry items’ expiration dates and rotate them to avoid spoilage.
Wash and cut next-day vegetable snacks while you prepare dinners to maintain crispness. Rinse and store in individual bags for easy access. If you have extra carrots at the end of the week, use them in a salad, soup, or freeze them.
5. Stock Freezable Favorites and Eliminate Waste
Include several freezer-friendly foods in your weekly ingredient list to adjust meal planning on the fly. Peppers, onions, carrots, and celery are key players in many meals and perform well frozen, too. Stash extras after cleaning, cutting, and packaging in freezer-safe storage.
Elevate your food’s flavors and even further reduce waste with thoughtful scrap saving. Tops of carrots, ends of onions, and dregs of celery can be bagged and frozen for future use. Simmer these scraps along with other fridge castaways for a flavorful broth the next time you’re prepping for the week.
Cooked foods freeze well, too, and can make weeknight meals a cinch. Pulled pork from a weekend barbecue makes incredible tacos, nachos, and even pizza. Freeze extra soup for a comforting meal any time of the week.
6. Buy-in From Diners Makes a Difference
Don’t meal plan alone — get your fellow diners on board with the plan. Include roommates, your partner, and your kids in the process, too.
Review the week ahead and discuss activities, work, school, and the weather to shape the plan. A rainy day might demand a hearty soup while sunshine calls for burgers. Gather everyone’s ideas and give everyone a voice, and a role, in meal planning.
Kids can be assigned jobs that help them develop skills, too. Writing down the menu and ingredients makes it fun to work on spelling. Learning about cooking brings in math through measurements and ingredient count.
When everyone is involved in the plan, preparation, and cleanup, food is more likely to be eaten. You’ll experience less waste, fewer arguments, and happier, healthier eaters.
Smart Meal Planning Saves Food, Money, and Time
An investment in meal planning pays dividends in less than a week, making your return on investment a no-brainer. With a plan for mealtimes, you can dedicate your time, energy, and attention to what matters most.
Green living is more than just choosing metal straws over plastic ones. For your home, you need to make sure that you start with the places where your life meets the outdoors. For instance, you can start with investing in an eco deck. Eco decks are declarations of intent in helping the environment. Plus, they are very practical.
With the right materials and design, you will be able to create a cozy and functional outdoor environment. With retailers such as The Deck Store who are making sustainable options available, you will be able to achieve an eco-friendly outdoor area for you, your family, and guests who visit.
Indoors, Outdoors, and the Space In Between
In warm regions, you will notice a pattern to homes: walls sealed tight, closed windows, and air conditioning that is always turned on. This has always been the norm until eco decks broke the pattern.
This is because eco decks create a shaded and breathable middle ground. The space between indoors and outdoors is turned into a comfort zone where natural breezes and filtered sunlight do all the work that machines normally do.
With a deck that catches crosswinds at the right angle, you no longer need to rely on mechanical cooling. Plus, you also allow your house to breathe. This is not complicated technology at all. It is design that cooperates with nature fully. With a deck that is built with sustainability in mind, things like this are easy to achieve.
Materials With a Conscience
A lot of people think that all wood is equal, but this is not the case. Most of the time, decking materials come from irresponsible logging. This is not natural and sustainable at all. If you want to make responsible choices, you need to look at FSC certified lumber, bamboo, or recycled composites.
Composite decking is all about blending reclaimed wood fibers with recycled plastic. Instead of becoming waste, you create a durable surface that lasts for years. Bamboo grows at a very quick rate, and this is something that hardwoods can’t compete with. Since bamboo is one of the most renewable materials you can use, you can choose this kind of material without compromising strength, durability, and ecological awareness.
Longevity always matters. Make sure that you build decks that last decades. This way, you spare our environment from unnecessary extraction.
Cooling by Design
Cooling consumes nearly ten percent of global electricity. The International Energy Agency projects that this demand could triple by 2050 if design habits do not change. That is an unsustainable trajectory.
Eco decks offer a way forward. A properly oriented deck provides shade to glass walls, softens heat before it enters a home, and channels airflow where it is needed most. Instead of treating summer heat as an endless battle, you create a structure that works with the environment to regulate temperature. It is passive cooling that pays off in comfort and in lower energy bills.
The Bottom Line
An eco deck is not a passing trend. It is a step toward reshaping how your home interacts with the world around it. By choosing sustainable materials and integrating design that maximizes airflow, you cut back on artificial cooling and create a space that feels alive.
The resources exist. Companies dedicated to sustainability have already put bamboo, recycled composites, and certified wood into the market. The decision is no longer about what is possible. It is about what you choose.
Eco decks are not about following fashion. They are about aligning your home with a future that demands smarter, greener, and more resilient living. The sooner they become part of how we build, the sooner homes can stop resisting nature and start thriving with it.
Home heating and insulation. Sustainability is really just about pipes and pumps
Professionals of heating and cooling systems have continually improved the designs of these systems to meet the worldwide standards of carbon-neutral infrastructure and greener energy solutions. At the core of their transformations lie insulated heating pipes. These pipes were initially viewed as a mere means of transporting hot water from one point to another, but today, they have been improved to achieve sustainable energy networks.
Historically, pipes were installed to connect plants or boilers with end users, with little consideration for monitoring long-term heat loss. Additionally, older copper or steel pipes needed to be insulated when installing the designs. This not only overloaded the piping system but also could not keep the water temperatures optimum over the entire length of the piping system.
However, the turning point for heating and cooling systems came when pre-insulated pipe technology and PE-Xa, a durable and flexible polymer, were introduced. These products not only provide a means of transportation of hot water, but they also have smart ready components that professionals can integrate with sensors to measure flow, pressure, and temperature in real time.
In this article, we explore how insulated heating pipes are revolutionizing energy networks by integrating smart controls, improving professional applications, and aligning with sustainability goals.
Smart Integrations in Insulated Heating Pipes
Floating homes with the latest eco gear
Insulated heating pipes are no longer about heat loss reduction only. They now use smart technologies that enhance sustainability, monitoring, and efficiency. These technologies include:
Sensors and digital monitoring
The addition of digital layers and sensors to insulated pipes is one of the most crucial transformations that have promoted sustainable energy. Competent professionals now embed monitoring equipment around or into the pre-insulated pipe, allowing operators to gain real-time performance, temperature, and flow visibility throughout the system.
With the help of these systems, operators can carry out predictive maintenance where inefficiencies or small leaks arise. This helps prevent arising issues from compromising the whole system while minimizing system downtime.
IoT and Smart Energy Networks
The Internet of Things (IoT) is reshaping the interaction of heating and cooling systems. They have transformed insulated heating pipes that were once considered static infrastructure into dynamic data points that can be monitored from smart energy grids.
Operators of these systems can easily use digital controls to adjust flow, reroute heating water during sectional maintenance, and match supply demand.This ensures end users and providers experience the ideal balance of energy savings and comfort.
Integration with renewable sources
Smart integration allows professionals to connect insulated heating systems to solar thermal or biomass heating. These renewable energy sources provide a fluctuating energy supply and thus require advanced pipe products to keep a stable flow and minimize heat loss. Moreover, the use of smart controls allows operators to ensure that connections used in renewable sources align fully with system demands, thus promoting a smooth transition to greener energy.
Sustainable Applications of Smart Integrated Insulated Pipes
Modern infrastructure relies on advanced insulated heating pipes for professional use, particularly in district heating and large-scale commercial projects. This is because the smart integrated insulated pipes ensure reliability and sustainability across diverse professional applications. These applications include:
District heating and cooling systems
In most urban centers, heating and cooling systems have been made flagship examples of low-carbon infrastructure within districts. These systems transport hot and chilled water through insulated heating pipe networks across neighborhoods while minimizing thermal losses.
The smart sensors and meters connected along the pipe network enable operators to ensure the temperatures stay within the limits designed. They also ensure the pumping energy is optimal and the balance between demand and supply is met, hence preventing unnecessary waste.
Commercial and residential house connections
At the building or house level, insulated pipes are critical in connecting the main distribution network to the end users. These modern insulated pipes are flexible, making it easy for contractors to lay them in complex layouts and joints without compromising efficiency. For example, flexible PE-Xa designs allow for longer continuous runs, thus minimizing weak points and improving flow.
Industrial energy systems
Beyond basic heating supply, smart integrated insulated pipes are increasingly used in steam distribution, process heating, and chemical manufacturing. These processes require stable thermal conditions for both safety and product quality. For example, pharmaceutical industries use temperature-restricted conditions to preserve fragile compounds and food processing plants count on accurate regulation of heat to improve their hygienic processes.
Heavy industries such as steel manufacturing or refineries also rely on insulated pipes equipped with leak sensors, which serve in reducing energy wastage and preventing downtime and disastrous failures. This leads to a decrease in emissions, which contributes to decarbonization around the world.
Sustainable Benefits of Smart Insulated Pipes
Since professionals began integrating insulated pipes with intelligent monitoring technology, they have created a powerful and sustainable option for heating and cooling. The purpose of these pipe networks is to reduce waste, achieve world goals set in relation to sustainability and increase performance. They support efficiency and sustainability in industries and cities.
Some of the sustainable benefits of smart insulated pipes include:
Energy efficient and carbon reduction
Insulated heating pipes that are integrated with smart technology help to lower the total energy needed for heating or cooling. This perfectly aligns with governmental sustainability goals, particularly for cities aiming to achieve net-zero emissions.
Long-term economic value
Sustainability not only serves environmental purposes but also has economic impacts. For example, smart insulated pipes help to reduce the need for maintenance. They also prolongsystem lifespan leading to reduced operational expenses in the long-run.This power mix of efficiency and savings provides significant long-term business, industrial and municipal value.
Flexibility of system designs
Due to the use of cross-linked PE-Xa insulated pipes, professionals can easily adapt these pipes into new system designs. Their flexible structures help to ensure that overall heating and cooling systems remain sustainable for decades. Furthermore, they provide smooth flow and return cycle even when new infrastructures are introduced, ensuring long-term reliability and sustainability.
Conclusion
The modern smart insulated heating pipe has shifted from being a passive tool used for carrying heating water to becoming a revolutionary product that aims at achieving sustainability. By using pre-insulated pipes as well as smart monitoring systems, experts have developed sustainable energy networks that offer optimum flow and low heat loss.
Going forward professionals can incorporate insulated heating pipes with AI-controlled energy operations, hybrid renewable energy and digital twins to make them sustainable and responsive to future energy demands.
Back in 2005, before I opened Fauzi Azar Inn in Nazareth, I gathered my family to share a simple 10-slide presentation. It showcased my vision—how a guesthouse could unlock business potential while strengthening the local community. One slide featured a photo of an old Arab mansion I’d found online, an image of what the dream could one day look like.
When I finished, the room was silent. My parents exchanged a look and then said the words that changed everything: “Maoz, if you’re going for this—we’re with you.”
They became my first partners, my first supporters, and together we turned the dream into reality.
That same spirit still drives me today. As many of you know, my beloved parents, Yaccovi and Bilha, were killed in the Hamas attack on October 7th. Since that tragic day, I have taken on a new mission: to do everything I can to help achieve peace between Israelis and Palestinians—so that others will not suffer the same fate as my family.
My parents, Yaccovi and Bilha, with my first-born, soon after the opening of Fauzi Azar Inn, in 2006
This week is the second anniversary of October 7th. War has continued to rage, the suffering in Gaza is unimaginable, and the extremist government in Israel pursues policies that harm both Palestinians and Israelis, including the remaining hostages. It has been easy to feel hopeless. But now, more than ever, and on the cusp of a potential peace plan, our work as peace-builders is urgent. Hope is not something we wait to find—it is something we create through action.
The Inn at night
As my good friend and partner Aziz Abu Sarah says: “If you must divide us, don’t divide us between Israelis and Palestinians. The only division is between those who believe in justice, peace, and equality—and those who don’t, yet.”
To advance this vision, Aziz and I have launched InterAct, a nonprofit organization with a bold mission: to achieve peace by 2030. InterAct builds trust, fosters dialogue, and creates shared spaces where Israelis and Palestinians can meet as equals. Over the past two years, we have come to realize that our message is like water for those in the desert—vital, life-giving, and desperately needed. We aspire to share this sustenance with all those seeking hope and change.
Odette Azar Shomar, Marwa Taha Abu Rany and I in the main hall of Beit Fauzi Azar.
Last year, Aziz and I opened the 2024 TED Convention with our healing conversation. Since then, we have shared our message with millions through the media and with thousands in person—including world leaders such as the late Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV. These milestones remind us that the world is listening, and that change is within reach.
Maoz Inon and Aziz Abu Sarah speak at SESSION 1 at TED2024: The Brave and the Brilliant, on Monday, April 15, 2024. Vancouver, BC, Canada. Photo: Ryan Lash / TED
As part of this journey, I plan to send updates on our efforts every few weeks. You can also visit the InterAct website to see upcoming events. If I’m in your neighborhood, I’d love to meet you.
When I first shared my dream of opening a guesthouse, my parents stood beside me and gave me the courage to begin. Today, as I pursue the even greater dream of peace, I ask you to stand beside me in the same way. Help me amplify our message—share our story with your friends, your communities, and your networks. The more voices join, the stronger and more unstoppable our call for peace becomes.
Here’s how you can help:
Forward this article to those you know. Forward this email to those you know and ask them to join the mailing list Invite us to speak with the media, in webinars or at public events. Share our TED talk on social media
Born on a kibbutz in the Negev Desert, Maoz spent a year backpacking around the world when he was 22, and it was then that he discovered the power of the hostel to bring all kinds of people together and stimulate an area’s local economy. At 28, he embarked on the Israel Trail and was inspired to bring this world of the independent backpacker to his home country.
In 2005 Maoz opened his first hostel and the first guest house in Nazareth, Fauzi Azar Inn. He received international praise for bringing a new model for travel to Israel and sparking Nazareth’s resurgence as a destination for travelers. In 2000 the Lonely Planet called Nazareth a city to “avoid,” while in 2011 former British Prime Minister Tony Blair came to visit Nazareth and the Fauzi Azar while in Israel, a sign of the city’s much-improved status among foreigners.
Following Fauzi, Maoz and his American friend David Landis went on to develop the Jesus Trail, a walking trail through the northern region of Israel. The project was intended to stimulate and support the local economy in smaller, out-of-the-way Israeli towns and also bridge cultural gaps by trekking through currently and historically significant sites for Christians, Jews & Muslims. This project was also noted by international media as a positive development for Israeli tourism.
In 2006 Maoz met Yaron Burgin, who was staying as a guest at Fauzi Azar. After talking and brainstorming, the two proceeded to create ILH – Israel Hostels, a network of Israeli hostels with high standards of cleanliness, true backpackers’ vibes, affordable prices and “more than a bed to sleep in.”
It became clear that Jerusalem needed an ILH-style hostel, and Maoz teamed up with Gal, Dror, Nitzan, and Yaron, to create it. The five opened their dream hostel in the city center of Jerusalem, and Maoz saw his dream for Israel and the Middle East realized one step further.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Victoria Duthil and Lucie Harter at Supreme Court to file constitutional petition
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 Aldabra Atoll is known as the outpost for evolution.
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.”
Stop Notice
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.
Jeanne Mortimer in her early days with the tortoises and turtles in the Seychelles
“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.
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.
Brian Stokes
“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.
This is how you make a grue jay
“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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
