Page 29 – Green Prophet

Palau: The place, the pledge, the legends

Kelly Milone

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May 15, 2025

Palau: The place, the pledge, the legends

Image via Getty Images/Pew Charitable Trusts.

It had been hundreds of years since a non-motorized vessel had traveled such a distance, guided only by the stars. Last weekend, a historic 18-day double-hulled canoe voyage was completed from the archipelago of Palau to Orchid Island, a remote feature in southeastern Taiwan.

The GPS-free team of eleven was led by Sesario Sewralur, who inherited the love of sailing from his father, legendary navigator Mau Piailug. The journey was co-sponsored by the Taitung County Government and the Micronesian Voyaging Society, as a cross-cultural exchange to honor shared regional conservation values and seafaring techniques.

Image retrieved from Taipei Times.

In Palau, living in harmony with the environment is at society’s core. The customary practice of bul empowers the Council of Chiefs, Palau’s highest-ranking group of traditional leaders, to place and maintain moratoriums on the harvest of natural resources to prevent overconsumption. Local fishing is generally prohibited based on these measures.

The island nation established the world’s first shark sanctuary in 2009. In 2015, it designated 80 percent of its waters as a national marine sanctuary. Earth Day is expanded to the entire month of April.

While Palau is known for its lush land and seascapes, impressive biodiversity lies in particular within marine ecosystems. A paradise for snorkelers and divers, Palau is home to some of the Indo-Pacific’s most thriving reefs, which constitute one of the “seven underwater wonders of the world.” Now say that five times fast.

Image retrieved from Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

Palau is a prime tropical destination—but it’s just about in the middle of nowhere. Widespread sustainability efforts aim to offset the carbon footprint intensified by tourism. Many eco-tourism experiences involve nature excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences drawing on traditional knowledge and practices in such realms as culinary arts or handicrafts.

For visitors to Palau looking to gamify their stay in-country, Ol’au Palau is an app rewarding environmental stewardship with special access to local heritage sites. Though the transaction happens on a screen, it promotes on-site engagement for fuller meaning-making.

As of 2017, Palau also requires visitors to sign the Palau Pledge, a code of conduct stamped into their passports at international arrivals. Entry into the country hinges on signing on the line, promising to the Children of Palau to exercise awareness and shared responsibility for Palau’s ecological and cultural preservation.

Image retrieved from Palau Pledge website.

The Palau Pledge goes like this:

“Children of Palau, I take this pledge, as your guest,

To preserve and protect your beautiful and unique island home.

I vow to treat lightly, act kindly and explore mindfully.

I shall not take what is not given.

I shall not harm what does not harm me.

The only footprints I shall leave are those that will wash away.”

According to Palauan legend, a two-headed eel grew with one head on either side of a rock, each unaware of the other. The snakes starved as they pulled each other to go after prey, before realizing they were linked. Only then did they put their heads together, working together to thrive.

We are already aware we are linked. Palau may be one of the most isolated countries on earth, but we are all connected by the waters which lap at its shores.

The Palau Pledge is a refreshingly humanitarian immigration policy, inspiring us to respect and protect our surroundings both near and far. Should other countries follow Palau’s lead?

E-trike powered by solar power does heavy lifting quietly in off-grid forest

Transportation

Raven Littleone

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May 15, 2025

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E-trike powered by solar power does heavy lifting quietly in off-grid forest

Raven reviews the e-trike from Mooncool in her off-grid forest

I was contemplating how to ready myself for old age, using the body wisely, and still attending to daily routines. Such was the state of inner asking when grace responded with the arrival of MoonCool, an e-trike. Silence is what I did not wish to disturb for me, the forest, and its creatures.

As mentioned in the first article, it arrived the day prior to snow arriving in northern Ontario, Canada. Testing was postponed till April. The main reason for this e-trike is to fetch Spring water in 3-gallon jugs from the Source. Riding on uneven ground thru forest.

I started with two jugs in the back carrier and one in the front carrier. I quickly forego the front one. It made the front wheel decide on its own accord which path to take. Not good.

Next was going further on the forest paths thru mud puddles and rocky terrain with cordless chainsaw. You definitely got to give it your full attention but the e-trike had plenty of power to tackle the terrain.

While learning the how-to’s I’ve had to email MoonCool Support a few times. What I liked was their visual response that came the next day. Even though the mistakes I made taught me, with the help of friends, whom could verify voltage in battery and in the process teach me the e-trike’s capabilities, I see these as hands-on ways to learning.

More like rewiring the brain.

What I thought were issues, was due to having touched all the buttons prior to knowing what I was doing.

Now I’ve added mirrors and a helmet to ride on dirt road primarily. This road has two major hills. Applying the back brakes puts power back in the battery. Yeah! There’s plenty of power just using the throttle to go up. Using the peddles is also an option and is definitely not tiring as the e-trike anticipates when to give a helping foot.

The only issue I’d love to master is backing up out of its shelter. Must be an easier way than my own strength to turn it around!

More from Raven: magical vegan cookies made with ghee

Wild Chimpanzees Drum Like Musicians—and Each Group Has Its Own Rhythm

Animals

Karin Kloosterman

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May 15, 2025

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Wild Chimpanzees Drum Like Musicians—and Each Group Has Its Own Rhythm

Chimps can drum — Did chimps teach us humans how to drum?

Did chimps teach us how to drum?

In the remote forests of West and East Africa, a form of communication echoes across the trees—low, percussive thuds made not by humans, but by chimpanzees. Scientists have long known that our closest relatives use calls, facial expressions, and gestures to interact. But a new study reveals something more astonishing: chimpanzees drum.

Not randomly, and not just for fun. These wild chimpanzees use tree roots as percussion instruments, and they drum in culturally distinct patterns depending on where they live.

Researchers observed that Pan troglodytes verus, the western subspecies found in Côte d’Ivoire, drum in steady, evenly spaced beats. Their eastern cousins, Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii, living in Uganda, perform a more complex rhythm with alternating long and short pauses, reminiscent of a natural Morse code. The sound travels across long distances—allowing chimps to signal location, hierarchy, or perhaps even mood.

In another related study, researchers found western chimps also drum by hurling stones at tree trunks, suggesting that different groups have distinct “instruments” and playing styles. The implications? These rhythmic behaviours may hint at the evolutionary roots of music, revealing that musicality may not be uniquely human.

The scientists analyzed more than 370 drumming bouts across 11 communities in six populations of these chimps—recordings that span almost 25 years, making it the biggest data set of chimpanzee drumming that exists out there in the world.

The team found that chimpanzees consistently produce rhythmic drumming patterns—and that these vary across populations. Western chimps drum with evenly spaced beats, “like the ticking of a clock,” says Vesta Eleuteri, a behavioral biologist at the University of Vienna who led the study, published today in Current Biology. In contrast, eastern chimps alternate between short and long silences after each hit (see video, below).

Are chimpanzees the world’s first percussionists? Image via Vesta Eleuteri

These findings also raise big questions about animal cultures and how environment and social structure influence the evolution of communication.

Other Stories Where Animals Inspire Awe and Awareness:

Tortoises of Aldabra Face Threats From Luxury Developers

On a remote atoll in the Indian Ocean, ancient giant tortoises—the oldest reptiles on Earth—are now in the crosshairs of Qatari-backed resort projects. Conservationists fear that habitat destruction on nearby Assomption Island could spell extinction for some of the last wild populations.

Solar Ark and Twende powers up Ethiopian school

Act

Karin Kloosterman

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May 15, 2025

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A visit to Ethiopia and you feel the power of the sun and the beauty of the people. But the people outside the cities are often living in mud huts in locations without access to regular power. The country that is Africa’s only remaining sovereign nation has lots to boast about beyond its culture, nature and a rumored Ark from the The Holy Temple in Jerusalem Ethiopian students are getting a little help from some American friends:

In the Twende Solar and The Community Project: Ethiopia, the American solar energy systems manufacturer Sol-Ark has helped power a brighter future for students and families in Debre Birhan, Ethiopia, providing them with solar inverter systems for the country’s first public K-12 STEM academy.

Situated at over 9,000 feet in the highlands of Ethiopia, and about a 3 hour drive from Addis, Wogagen School, meaning “The First Light of the Day” now runs on clean, reliable solar energy. For the first time, 280 students and their teachers have access to consistent power to operate projectors, computers, lab equipment, and vocational tools.

With capacity to grow to over 1,000 students, Wogagen is lighting the path toward educational equity. The benefits go beyond the classroom. Evening power allows the school to host after-hours programs for the surrounding Chole Village, serving over 4,000 residents.

In a region challenged by civil conflict which can erupt day by day, and energy insecurity, the new solar infrastructure offers stability, security, and hope.

As part of a Training of Trainers program led by Ethiopian engineer Gizaw Tilaye, 16 instructors from regional polytechnic colleges are learning hands-on solar installation and maintenance on-site using Sol-Ark inverters and Rolls Battery systems. These educators will return to their regions equipped to train the next generation of solar technicians.

The initiative was designed with direct input from village elders, the mayor, and the Ministry of Education, ensuring long-term viability and community ownership. Other partners including Rolls Battery Engineering and Heliene, joined Sol-Ark in donating equipment and resources.

The Wogagen campus also includes compost toilets, a bamboo nursery (learn here about building with bamboo), a community farm, and a brick-making facility – all powered by the solar system that replaced a diesel generator and freed the community from the burden of fuel dependency. Diesel is expensive, noisy and polluting.

::SolarArk

Real life Snoopy sniffs out cancer for this medical startup

Karin Kloosterman

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May 15, 2025

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SpotitEarly and Snoopy helps labs detect small lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers

They say dogs are a man’s best friend and now a new startup is hoping dogs will help sniff out cancer at early stages when it’s treatable. SpotitEarly has created a unique, patented method capable of detecting four types of cancer—lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal—which together represent approximately 50% of all new cancer cases.

In the future, the company intends to expand its capabilities to include additional types of cancer. To date, over $8 million has been invested in the company, including funds from the Menomadin Foundation and Hanko Ventures.

The technology of using dogs to sniff out cancer which we reported on in 2013 is being tested out in a hospital and combines advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology with the highly developed olfactory capabilities of specially trained dogs, achieving remarkable accuracy.

The test demonstrated high early-stage sensitivity across all tested cancer types:

Breast cancer: 94%
Lung cancer: 97%
Prostate cancer: 97%
Colorectal cancer: 86%

The test has also shown efficacy in identifying other cancers as well.

How it works: Patients breathe into a specially designed face mask for three minutes. The mask is then sent to the company’s laboratory, where trained beagles “analyze” the sample under the supervision of an AI system. Each sample undergoes 3 to 5 examinations to ensure high accuracy.

To date, more than 1,400 participants—primarily aged 40 to 70—have taken the test, which has demonstrated an impressive accuracy rate of 94%.

Human breath contains over 1,000 Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs. Science has shown that VOCs represent rich sources of biomarkers associated with metabolic processes and diseases in the body, each identified by a significant odor signature, including cancer. SpotitEarly harnesses the science of scent to detect cancerous VOCs in exhaled breath samples.

Partners include the University of Pennsylvania.

The Joy of Everyday Movement: Making Activity a Lifestyle

Health

Bhok Thompson

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May 13, 2025

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Movement doesn’t always mean going to the gym or following a strict workout plan. Many Canadians are looking for ways to stay active that feel natural and easy to maintain. And the good news is, that’s entirely possible. Daily activity can happen while you go about your regular schedule. From walking to the store to stretching in the kitchen, movement can be woven into your life without needing to set aside extra time.

This article focuses on how to enjoy movement in ways that are manageable and uplifting. We’ll explore how everyday tasks, routines, and hobbies can offer opportunities to stay active. The goal is to help you see activity as part of life—not something separate from it.

Start Your Day with Gentle Activity

The way you begin your day can shape how the rest of it feels. Adding light movement in the morning—like stretching, a short walk, or a few minutes of deep breathing—can help your body ease into its natural rhythm.

This quiet part of the day is also a good time to think about how you’re fuelling yourself. Many people choose to support their daily routines with both a balanced breakfast and mindful wellness habits. For some, that includes health-friendly supplements that offer nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to play a role in supporting overall well-being when part of a nutritious diet.

Brands like USANA Health Sciences offer options that include ingredients to complement healthy living. These supplements are not a replacement for real food but can work alongside thoughtful eating choices to help maintain nutritional balance—especially on days when meals might not cover everything.

Together, movement and mindful nourishment can help you feel steady and focused as the day begins.

Turn Short Breaks into Movement Opportunities

Whether you’re at home or at work, breaks are a natural part of the day. You might use that time to check your phone or grab a snack. But you can also use it for light movement.

Standing up, walking around your space, or doing simple stretches are great ways to keep your body active. These quick activities can refresh your mind too. You don’t need to follow a plan—just listen to your body and move in a way that feels good. Making use of small pockets of time adds up and supports consistent movement throughout the day.

Let Chores Count Toward Activity

Many people overlook how much activity happens during regular household tasks. Vacuuming, sweeping, gardening, and even tidying up are all forms of movement. If you’re doing them regularly, you’re already staying active more than you might think.

These activities can be done mindfully to make the most of them. Try focusing on your posture or turning on music to make them more enjoyable. When you view chores as part of your movement routine, it takes away the need to find time elsewhere in your day.

Be Social While Staying Active

Movement can be more fun when it’s shared. Spending time with friends or family doesn’t have to mean sitting still. Going for a walk in the neighbourhood, exploring a local trail, or joining a casual dance or fitness class are all great ways to stay connected and active at the same time.

These shared moments support both social and physical well-being. There’s no need to focus on performance—just enjoy moving together. Making activity part of your social time makes it easier to include in your lifestyle without extra planning.

Create Space at Home for Simple Movement

You don’t need a gym to move your body. A small corner of your home can work well for light activity. Whether it’s a space for stretching, yoga, or light home workouts, having a dedicated area makes movement easier to return to each day.

You can keep a mat rolled up in the living room or use a quiet bedroom for a few daily minutes of gentle activity. Keep it simple—just enough room to move freely without interruption. This helps build a habit without feeling like you need to do something extra or out of your routine.

Try Seasonal Outdoor Activities Across Canada

In Canada, each season brings something new to try. You can hike in the fall, snowshoe in the winter, bike in the spring, and paddle in the summer. These outdoor activities offer a chance to enjoy nature while staying active.

You don’t need to commit to large outings. Even short neighbourhood walks, visits to local parks, or time in the backyard can provide movement. Many cities have seasonal programs and trails that are open to the public, making it easy to find something that fits your interests.

Celebrate Every Small Win You Notice

It’s easy to overlook the value of small progress. But choosing to walk instead of driving, standing more often, or adding a five-minute stretch at the end of your day all make a difference. These changes don’t need to be big to be meaningful.

Taking time to recognize your efforts can help you stay motivated. You might jot down what you did at the end of the day or share your movement moments with a friend. When you celebrate these steps, you build a stronger connection to your goals and enjoy the process more.

Movement doesn’t have to be intense, structured, or time-consuming. It can be as simple as how you walk, sit, or stretch throughout the day. Canadians can find plenty of ways to stay active that match their lifestyle, interests, and environment.

By rethinking how movement fits into your life, it becomes easier to maintain. You don’t need a detailed fitness plan to benefit from regular activity. With a few mindful choices and a positive approach, movement can be a part of how you live—not something extra you have to do.

Enjoying movement in your daily life is not about achieving something specific. It’s about staying connected to your body and finding ways to stay active that feel right for you.

How the Mobility Industry is Advancing Towards a Sustainable Future

Transportation

Bhok Thompson

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May 12, 2025

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Escooters can also be great for seniors or anyone with mobility concerns

As we continue our global efforts to combat climate change, industries across the world are reevaluating their environmental footprints. The mobility scooter industry is no exception. This industry is undergoing a transformative shift towards sustainability, embracing innovations and practices that promise a greater, greener future.

Electrification

Mobility scooters are electric and produce no tailpipe emissions. Moreover, recent advancements are enhancing their eco-friendliness further. The transition from traditional lead-acid batteries to lithium-ion variants offers numerous benefits, such as improved energy efficiency, longer lifespans, and reduced waste. These batteries not only extend the range of scooters but also decrease the need for replacements, thereby minimising environmental impact.

Sustainable Manufacturing

Manufacturers are also prioritising sustainable materials and processes. The incorporation of recyclable plastics and metals reduces the demand for virgin resources. Many companies are integrating recycled materials into their e-scooters, meaning significant reductions in carbon emissions during production. In addition, energy-efficient manufacturing techniques, such as lean production and the use of renewable energy sources, are becoming standard practices, further reducing the industry’s carbon footprint.

Lifecycle Considerations

The industry extends beyond manufacturing, with the adoption of a holistic approach to the product lifecycle. This includes initiatives for battery recycling and the refurbishment of used scooters. These efforts not only conserve resources but also reduce the environmental impact associated with producing new units.

Renewable Energy Integration

Innovations are also emerging in the realm of energy sourcing. Some mobility scooters are now equipped with solar charging capabilities, allowing users to tap into renewable energy for themselves. Additionally, partnerships between manufacturers and green energy providers are facilitating the development of eco-friendly charging infrastructures, meaning that the electricity powering these scooters is as clean as can be.

Policy and Consumer Influence

Government policies and consumer preferences are key in steering the industry towards sustainability. In the UK, governmental incentives support the development and adoption of low-emission technologies, which benefits the mobility scooter industry. At the same time, a growing consumer demand for environmentally responsible products is compelling manufacturers to innovate and prioritise carbon reduction.

Urban Integration

The integration of mobility scooters into urban planning is essential for maximising their environmental benefits. Investments in infrastructure, such as dedicated lanes and charging stations, not only promote the use of electric mobility solutions but also contribute to the reduction of urban carbon emissions. These developments align with broader smart city initiatives aimed at creating sustainable and accessible urban environments.

The mobility scooter industry is making significant strides towards sustainability, driven by technological advancements, responsible manufacturing, and supportive policies. By embracing a comprehensive approach that considers the entire product lifecycle, the industry is not only meeting the mobility needs of its users but also contributing to global environmental goals.

Browse the mobility scooters range from Wheel Freedom today.

The Future of Energy: Nuclear Realism vs. Solar Idealism

Energy

Karin Kloosterman

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May 11, 2025

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The Future of Energy: Nuclear Realism vs. Solar Idealism

Martin Varsavsky, a seasoned entrepreneur behind billion-dollar clean energy exits, says he’s lost faith in the renewable energy paradigm. Moshe Luz, director at Ivanpah, the world’s largest solar thermal power tower project in California’s Mojave Desert, believes just the opposite.

This is more than a disagreement between two experts. It is a flashpoint in a global conversation about how we transition to a clean energy future—whether through sweeping centralized infrastructures or distributed, ecological innovations.

Varsavsky is a Spanish-Argentine entrepreneur known for founding several successful technology and infrastructure ventures, including in the renewable energy sector. He co-founded Eolia Renovables, a large-scale wind and solar power company in Spain, which was sold for €1.1 billion. After Eolia, he went on to co-found Barter Energy, which focused on solar energy communities and rooftop solar installations. Barter Energy was also successfully exited, with the sale announced in May 2025.

From the heights of Spain’s energy revolution, Varsavsky watched solar and wind power go from vision to reality—only to become, in his view, a cautionary tale. In his May 9th post on X, Varsavsky (after cashing out billions, no less) criticized the high environmental cost of large-scale renewables: olive groves uprooted, landscapes marred, ecosystems disrupted. He condemned the dependence on government subsidies, the inefficiency of intermittent sources, and the fragility of Europe’s energy grid.

To Varsavsky, rooftop solar paired with battery storage is the only renewable worth keeping. His newfound allegiance? New nuclear—compact, clean, and capable of delivering baseload power without scarring the Earth. Environmentalists know that nuclear is a dangerous path forward because the local and environmental risks are too great. The Fukushima disaster in Japan was only just in 2011!

He also blasts what he calls “climate alarmism”, suggesting that exaggerated doomsday predictions of the early 2000s justified energy policies that have “impoverished” Europeans while failing to significantly reduce emissions. Germany’s green push, he argues, has become an industrial suicide note. The same alarmism also caused suicide.

David Anthony, founder of 21Ventures, was a pioneering American investor in Israeli solar energy startups during the late 2000s, partnering with groups like the Quercus Trust to fund early-stage cleantech. He played a key role in shaping Israel’s solar innovation scene but tragically died by suicide in 2012 after what was reported as personal family trauma. His death came at a time when optimism around solar peaked—before global investment slowed and many early-stage companies struggled to scale amid policy uncertainty and falling technology costs. We interviewed David on Green Prophet and he gave us some great tips on how to find innovation to invest in before the rest step in.

But at Ivanpah, Moshe Luz sees a different story unfolding than Varsavsky.

In our recent Green Prophet interview, engineer Moshe Luz emphasized solar thermal’s promise not only for emissions reduction, but for empowering local resilience and economic opportunity. Luz doesn’t pretend Ivanpah is perfect—it has faced challenges, from initial bird mortality to integration issues—but he sees it as a living laboratory, showing how we can move toward decarbonization without waiting decades for nuclear fusion or succumbing to fossil fallback plans.

Where Varsavsky sees environmental destruction, Luz points to carefully managed desert ecosystems, job creation in rural areas, and the profound symbolism of powering millions of homes with focused beams of sunlight. He emphasizes hybrid systems, storage innovation, and smarter grid planning—not abandoning renewables, but evolving them. And government roles in supporting this evolution is important.

Varsavsky’s critique of large-scale renewables as land-hungry and subsidy-dependent is not new. Nor is his appeal to nuclear energy as a clean, scalable alternative. What’s striking is that someone who once built these systems is now disavowing them, adding weight to long-standing criticisms from environmentalists concerned about industrial-scale “green” projects that harm more than they help.

But to lump Ivanpah, or the global community solar movement, into the same basket as Spain’s bulldozed olive groves misses nuance. Ivanpah did not destroy forests. It sits in the Mojave, a place Luz argues is uniquely suited for solar concentration. Its storage and dispatch capabilities, evolving since launch, challenge the very “intermittency” Varsavsky condemns.

And while new nuclear has promise, it remains years away from scale, with unresolved issues around waste, cost, and political will. Even the smallest modular reactors are deeply controversial and the human and environmental cost can be catastrophic when systems fail.

Rather than pit nuclear against solar, or rooftop against grid-scale, what if we designed an energy ecosystem with layers?

Rooftop solar like Powerwall’s home backup reduce grid stress and democratize energy.

Large-scale renewables, thoughtfully deployed, can replace coal and gas at scale.

Next-generation nuclear, if and when it arrives, can fill in the baseload gaps.

The real danger isn’t solar or nuclear—it’s polarization, where each camp is so convinced of its own truth that collaboration becomes impossible.

Varsavsky ends his piece by urging a shift from fear-based policymaking to pragmatic energy design. It’s a sentiment Luz would likely echo. But where Varsavsky sees solar as the problem, Luz sees it as part of the solution. Both are right. Both are wrong. The future will likely need the sun, the atom, the battery, and the commonsense human decision-making.

Think Eat Cook Sustainably is a philosophy book in sustainable food, in edible form

Recipe

Karin Kloosterman

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May 11, 2025

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Think Eat Cook Sustainably book cover by Rachel Khanna – sustainable cookbook featuring eco-friendly recipes, seasonal plant-based cooking, and zero-waste kitchen tips. — Eco-chic cover of “Think. Eat. Cook. Sustainably.” by Rachel Khanna — the ultimate guide to intuitive, seasonal, and sustainable cooking. Her philosophy carries through to cooking shows like With Love, Meaghan

It’s like finding a map back to your grandmother’s pantry, but with the tools of a climate-conscious chef.

Written with a deep reverence for local ingredients and a mindful kitchen, the book Think Eat Cook Sustainably teaches readers how to cook from intuition, not instruction. The philosophy behind the book is the method that surely grandmother’s knew once: and can now be passed in eco-conscious circles and permaculture kitchens. And it may be influenced from the authors experiences growing up in France. Everyone there knows that a soup stock needs celery, carrot and an onion.

The book by Rachel Khanna offers formulas—not rigid recipes—so that you can cook anything, from anywhere, with whatever the Earth gives you.

Are you drowning in recipes, influencer chefs videos, and master chefs showing you hot to cook with ingredients that are hard to find, or too expensive –– or simply not local to you? Do you find you get confused and can’t keep up with the latest Ottolenghis recipe?

Rachel Khanna offers something far more liberating: a formula for freedom in your kitchen. Her book Think Eat Cook Sustainably is not about following recipes to the letter. It’s about understanding the language of cooking—so you can improvise with what you have, honor what’s local, and reduce waste, all while creating deeply nourishing meals. She is a mother of four girls so no doubt earned her chops as a cook and it follows from her second book, Live Eat Cook Healthy. She understood the message of eating more vegetables and buying organic food was not enough to help people feed themselves more sustainably. She went for a “macro philosophy” in this book.

We were sent this book in 2020 and lost in the COVID madness, we just opened it recently and to our surprise, it’s a book that gives cooking tips along with a tour around the world to some of the most loved foods, which include meat, yes meat, and poke bowls and falafel and fish. It shows you in a handy guide on how you can choose a protein or a base for a recipe you want to cook and additional food items and seasonings to make a first class dish. It’s a guide on how to cook everywhere and anywhere, no matter what the pantry offers.

We have so many friends who have become global nomads and are now with kids living in rental homes in Thailand, in cheaper European countries like Portugal. This kind of book can also help you adapt to the palettes of children, working with local ingredients that may be unfamiliar at first.

Grain Bowls — Build a grain bowl with this formula

Khanna, a former corporate strategist turned public servant and wellness advocate, writes with the clarity of someone who has lived many lives—and decided to root herself in the soil of sustainability.

With degrees from Columbia and a background in public policy and nutrition, she’s as comfortable discussing the US Farm Bill as she is fermenting vegetables in a glass jar. She served as a Connecticut state representative, advocating for food system reform, and brings this practical, community-grounded insight to her food philosophy.

Khanna worked for Morgan Stanley and Euromonitor International before entering politics. In 2007, Khanna started an organic meal delivery service Tiffin based in Banksville and serving Greenwich and Stamford and has now published two cookbooks.

With Love, Meaghan is your destination for sustainable living, holistic wellness, and intentional self-care. Discover eco-friendly lifestyle tips, plant-based recipes, and handmade wellness products crafted with love and purpose. — With Love, Meaghan, a Netflix series featuring Meaghan Sussex.

Whether Rachel Khanna originated this movement of common-sense food philosophy or simply tapped into its rising current, I’m not expert enough in the culinary world to say. What I do know is this: in a time when food media often glorifies complexity, I found something refreshing in her approach.

I was especially taken by a recent and charming episode of With Love, Meaghan on Netflix, where a member of the royal family Meaghan Markle Sussex takes us into her life in California where she chooses to live with intention and simplicity—teaching others to do the same through the lens of food. The idea of returning to basic, adaptable formulas in the kitchen isn’t just empowering; it’s practical.

It nurtures community, teaches resilience to kids, and gently reminds us that sustainable living often starts right where we are—with what we already have. She also shows us, at least on camera, that preparing food and experiences for your children can be deeply satisfying as a parent and as a woman. The world needs more of that.

Some mouth-watering recipes on Green Prophet:

EcoPeace gets peacebuilding award

Peace

Green Prophet

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May 8, 2025

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The Environmental Peacebuilding Association gave its recent award –– the 2025 Al-Moumin Award and Distinguished Lecture on Environmental Peacebuilding –– to EcoPeace leaders Nada Majdalani, Yana Abu Taleb, Gidon Bromberg, and Tareq Abu Hamed. The award honors their work in addressing complex environmental challenges through trust-building, dialogue, cooperation, and joint action among communities in Palestine, Jordan, and Israel.

Read our latest article on EcoPeace here.

The Al-Moumin Award and Lecture are named after Dr. Mishkat Al-Moumin, Iraq’s first Minister of Environment, a human rights and environmental lawyer, and an advocate for women’s rights. The award recognizes leading thinkers who are shaping the field of environmental peacebuilding.

For decades, the honorees have made remarkable contributions to environmental peacebuilding through their visionary leadership and groundbreaking initiatives. They have demonstrated exceptional commitment to fostering regional cooperation on issues critical to the region in the face of environmental and political challenges, including water security, renewable energy production, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.

At EcoPeace, Nada, Yana, and Gidon’s efforts have advanced environmental diplomacy; built bridges between communities in Palestine, Israel, and Jordan; and achieved sustainable cross-border solutions that ensure a better future for the inhabitants of all three countries.

This work, including the Good Water Neighbors program, the Green Blue Deal, Project Prosperity, and their advocacy for improved water and energy security across the region, are complemented by on-the-ground projects that bring these principles into practical local action. All are often rightly cited as prototypical examples of environmental peacebuilding.

EcoPeace’s continued operation during the Hamas-Israel war as the only Palestinian-Israeli-Jordanian organization in any field was thanks to the tireless efforts of the directors

who ensured that EcoPeace’s staff, participants, and constituents stayed focused on the overriding need to maintain cross-border environmental cooperation and a vision for a shared future. Throughout the war, EcoPeace has secured funding and mobilized resources to address urgent water and sanitation needs, with the three directors demonstrating their commitment to environmental resilience, cross-border cooperation, and humanitarian aid, ensuring that human life, health, and environmental wellbeing are seen as interlocked priorities in this region.

Similarly, Tareq has spent a lifetime working to build trust and foster cooperation between neighbors, using science to build relationships across the Middle East, particularly between Israelis, Palestinians, and Jordanians to ensure that they can work together to address mutual environmental concerns. He established Arava Institute’s Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation upon joining the Institute in 2008. He is a member of President Isaac Herzog’s Forum on Climate Change, and as part of this role, Tareq co-chairs the Regional Cooperation and Security Task Force, which promotes regional and international collaboration on climate change. He has also led the Transboundary Renewable Energy Working Group, bringing together experts from Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, and Jordan to work on socially impactful renewable technology projects.

While Tareq has been a leader in the Arava Institute’s growth over the past 17 years, he left briefly to join Israel’s Ministry of Science, becoming the deputy chief scientist, becoming the highest-ranking Palestinian working in the Israeli government, before being named acting Chief Scientist of Israel’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Space in 2015 and 2016.

What Is GIS Mapping and How Is It Used in Real Estate?

Cities

Bhok Thompson

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May 8, 2025

0

Working through the complexities of real estate is challenging. This area has undergone a revolution with the advent of Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping. GIS mapping technology provides a dynamic perspective on interpreting and analyzing data associated with geographic locations. In this article, we will discuss GIS mapping and its transformative effect on real estate.

Understanding GIS Mapping

Before discussing further, let’s first understand “What is GIS mapping?” Geographic aspects of GIS mapping use hardware, software, and data to capture, store, manage, analyze, and display geographically referenced information. GIS gives insight into spatial relationships and patterns by layering data on top of each other. This technology is essential for industries dependent on geospatial data. This digitization has enhanced the power of the GIS to manage large volumes of data. This allows not only for the discovery of hidden scientific facts and their retrieval but also the presentation of results in an easy-to-read format. People can navigate through maps, graphs, and charts to learn more about a place. Additionally, GIS enables a deeper level of analysis and visualization, which drives better decisions.

Uses In Real Estate

Real estate professionals use GIS mapping to improve many aspects of their jobs. GIS provides useful analysis and decision-making tools throughout the entire real estate lifecycle, from site selection to property management.

1. Preliminary Assessment and Selection of Sites

Choosing a location is king in real estate. GIS mapping is used to find ideal sites based on demographics, proximity to amenities, infrastructure, etc. This type of technology enables professionals to superimpose multiple datasets to get a complete picture of where a location may be ideal.

2. Market Analysis and Trends

Market trends are an important aspect of every real estate venture. With GIS mapping, users can see market information for property values, sales trends, and rental rates. This helps identify emerging or fast-growing markets and make space for strategic decisions based on spatial patterns.

3. Landholding and Strategic Planning

Good property management relies on well-organized data. GIS mapping provides the tools necessary to track property, monitor maintenance activity, and determine the impacts of new developments. This technology aids in long-range planning through knowledge of land use, zoning, and ecological aspects.

4. 3D Virtual Tours and Interactive Maps

Virtual tours and interactive maps make customers feel involved. Potential buyers can see neighborhoods and amenities by visualizing properties and their surroundings. This leads to data-driven decision-making and better customer satisfaction.

5. Personalised Property Searches

With GIS mapping, clients can filter properties according to certain criteria. It allows users to filter properties by location, price range and features for a personalized search experience. This feature helps streamline searching and improve productivity.

6. Environmental Impact Assessments

GIS mapping offers all analytical tools to assess the environmental impacts of development on natural and ecological resources. It informs analysis that contributes to sustainable practice and helps avoid potential harm.

7. Community Consultation and Design

Participatory planning is an essential element of sustainable development. Many community members find it difficult to visualize a proposed project within their context and even harder to express an opinion without having seen it. You can bridge the gap by developing a GIS image and facilitating feedback gathering. This approach to participatory assessment encourages collaboration and transparency.

Challenges And Future Outlook

Aside from its benefits, GIS mapping faces challenges such as data quality and consistency. The key to a comprehensive analysis and sound decision-making is ensuring that a data source is valid. Moreover, the convergence of GIS with new technologies like artificial intelligence opens an area of innovation. Real estate industry and future of GIS mapping Solutions With the advancement of technology, GIS will continue to innovate and provide a more complex and advanced tool for analysis and visualization. Innovation in areas like 3D mapping and real-time data integration is set to change everything.

Conclusion

The emergence of GIS mapping has changed how real estate agents approach the changing landscape. This technology has numerous applications that require less efficiency and enhanced effectiveness, from site selection to customer engagement. Though challenges lie ahead, the prospect of GIS mapping in the future presents many exciting advancements and new opportunities within the real estate sector. We are likely just beginning to understand how this technology will impact the real estate industry. Future developments could open many new solutions and sustainable practices.

SOMBRA Pavilion: MVRDV’s Living Ode to the Sun Debuts in Venice

Bhok Thompson

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May 8, 2025

0

At the 2025 Time Space Existence exhibition in Venice at the Biennale, architectural firm MVRDV has unveiled a groundbreaking solar-responsive installation: the SOMBRA Pavilion. Designed in collaboration with Metadecor, Airshade, and Alumet, among others, the project is located in the lush setting of the European Cultural Centre’s Giardini Marinaressa.

SOMBRA, a name fusing the Latin words for sun (sol) and shade (umbra), is more than a temporary pavilion—it’s a living laboratory. Shaped like a heliodon, the structure mimics how the sun moves through the sky, providing an intuitive experience of solar patterns.

It operates without motors, electronics, or external energy. Instead, it breathes, opens, and closes using only passive physical principles. A similar shade system was developed by Dutch engineers in the Gulf region — see the startup Airshade. And this group has partnered on the Venice exhibit.

Measuring just 30 square meters, SOMBRA is a compact marvel of climate-sensitive architecture. The pavilion’s six metal ribs, angled to correspond with the solar angles of the summer and winter solstices, support triangular shading panels made of perforated MD Formatura screens by Metadecor.

These panels respond autonomously to sunlight: opening when skies are overcast to maximize views, and closing during intense sunlight to offer shade.

The core innovation lies in the Airshade system. The pavilion hides small air canisters within its ribbed frame. When sunlight heats a canister, air pressure increases, inflating a miniature airbag. Inspired by soft robotics, the airbag acts like a muscle, countering the spring hinge to close the shading panel. As clouds pass and temperatures drop, the air deflates and the panel reopens.

This poetic movement mimics a living organism, giving the pavilion an animated presence as it reacts to its environment—without consuming any operational energy.

As MVRDV partner Bertrand Schippan explains: “With the climate crisis accelerating, it’s clear that we need new architecture that is more in tune with the environment. SOMBRA is a demonstration of one approach among many to this philosophy: an architecture that senses its environment and reacts to it in much the same way that plants do.”

SOMBRA’s narrative is layered in symbolism. Its circular floor plate is engraved with the polar sun path chart used to guide its geometry. Underneath the ribs, over 200 translations of the words “sun and shade” remind visitors that the sun connects all of humanity—a shared experience cutting across cultures, geographies, and languages.

::MVRDV

Credits and Collaborators
Architect: MVRDV

Founding Partner in Charge: Jacob van Rijs

Partner: Bertrand Schippan

Design Team: Yayun Liu, Alberto Carro Novo

Structural Engineering: Van Rossum Raadgevend Ingenieurs

Mechanical Engineering, Sunlight Studies: Arup

Bending: Kersten Europe

Ideation & Technology Partners:

Metadecor (engineering and fabrication)

Airshade Technologies (actuation, R&D)

AMOLF Institute (research)

Alumet (anodizing)

Bringing back the farm after a nuclear meltdown

Food
Science

Karin Kloosterman

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May 8, 2025

0

Bring back the farm after a nuclear meltdown

Thousands of hectares of Chornobyl-affected farmland, long deemed too dangerous for cultivation in northern Ukraine can safely return to production, according to new research.

The study, led by the University of Portsmouth and the Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology, developed a method for the safe reassessment of farmland abandoned after the 1986 nuclear accident.

Published in the Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, the research opens the door to potentially reclaiming large areas land for agricultural use – land that has remained officially off-limits for over three decades due to radioactive contamination.

Since the Chornobyl disaster, large regions of northern Ukraine were designated as too hazardous for farming. The 4200 square kilometre “Chornobyl Exclusion Zone” around the nuclear site remains uninhabited and is now one of Europe’s largest nature reserves.

A second 2000 square km area – the “Zone of Obligatory Resettlement” – was never fully abandoned. The area is home to thousands of people, has schools and shops but no official investment or use of land is allowed.

Since the 1990’s scientists in Ukraine and overseas have been saying that the land can be safely used again despite contamination by radiocaesium and radiostrontium. But political complexities have meant that the land remains officially abandoned. That hasn’t stopped a few farmers taking matters into their own hands and beginning unofficial production in some areas. The new study has confirmed that the farmers were right – crops can be grown safely in most areas.

Using a 100-hectare test site in the Zhytomyr region, the researchers developed a simple yet robust protocol to evaluate contamination levels and predict the uptake of radioactive substances by common crops such as potatoes, cereals, maize, and sunflowers.

By analysing soil samples and measuring external gamma radiation, the researchers confirmed that the effective radiation dose to agricultural workers is well below Ukraine’s national safety threshold, and significantly lower than background radiation levels experienced naturally all over the world.

The findings show that, with proper monitoring and adherence to Ukrainian food safety regulations, many crops can be safely grown in these previously restricted zones.

Professor Jim Smith from the University of Portsmouth was lead author of the study. He said: “This research is important for communities affected by the Chornobyl disaster. Since 1986 there has been a lot of misinformation about radiation risks from Chornobyl which has negatively impacted on people still living in abandoned areas. We now have a validated, science-based approach for bringing valuable farmland back into official production while demonstrating safety for both consumers and workers.”

The team hopes this protocol can serve as a model for other regions worldwide dealing with long-term radioactive contamination. With careful implementation and community involvement, the researchers believe Ukraine could safely reclaim up to 20,000 hectares of agricultural land, contributing to food security and rural development.

“This isn’t just about Chornobyl”, said Professor Smith. “It’s about applying science and evidence to ensure people are protected, while making sure land isn’t needlessly left to waste.”

Dangers at your bouldering gym? Your climbing shoes may be harming your lungs

Health

Julie Steinbeck

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May 8, 2025

0

Those who climb indoors are doing something for their health. But climbing shoes contain chemicals of concern that can enter the lungs of climbers through the abrasion of the soles. In a recent study, researchers from the University of Vienna and EPFL Lausanne have shown for the first time that high concentrations of potentially harmful chemicals from climbing shoe soles can be found in the air of bouldering gyms, in some cases higher than on a busy street. The results have been published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Air.

A climbing hall is filled with a variety of smells: sweat, chalk dust – and a hint of rubber. A research group led by environmental scientist Thilo Hofmann at the University of Vienna has now discovered that rubber abrasion from climbing shoes can enter the lungs of athletes. The shoes contain rubber compounds similar to those used in car tires – including additives suspected of being harmful to humans and the environment.

She finds that climbing shoes can make you sick

“The soles of climbing shoes are high performance products, just like car tires”, explains Anya Sherman, first author of the study and an environmental scientist at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CeMESS) at the University of Vienna. Additives are specific chemicals that make these materials more resilient and durable; they are essential for their function.

Sherman enjoys climbing herself – as a balance to her work in the lab and on the computer. At a conference, she met Thibault Masset from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), who researches similar topics and also enjoys climbing. The two researchers and equal first authors of the study came up with the idea of testing the rubber from their own climbing shoes using the same scientific methods they use to analyze car tires. “We were familiar with the black residue on the holds in climbing gyms, the abrasion from the soles of our shoes. Climbers wipe it off to get a better grip, and it gets kicked up into the air”, adds Sherman.

Equipped with an impinger, a particle-measuring device that mimics the human respiratory tract, Sherman, in collaboration with Professor Lea Ann Daily’s research group, collected air samples in five bouldering gyms in Vienna. The impinger draws in air at a rate of 60 liters per minute and separates particles in the same way as they would enter the human lungs. Other dust samples for the study were collected in collaboration with the EPFL Lausanne from bouldering gyms in France, Spain and Switzerland.

“Air pollution in the bouldering gyms was higher than we expected”, says corresponding author Thilo Hofmann. What was striking was that the concentration of rubber additives was particularly high where many people were climbing in a confined space. Hofmann concludes: “The levels we measured are among the highest ever documented worldwide, comparable to multi-lane roads in megacities.”

In 30 pairs of shoes tested, the team found some of the same pollutants as in car tires: among the 15 rubber additives found was 6PPD, a rubber stabilizer whose transformation product has been linked to salmon kills in rivers.

What this means for human health is still unclear. But Hofmann stresses: “These substances do not belong in the air we breathe. It makes sense to act before we know all the details about the risks, especially with regard to sensitive groups such as children.”

Sherman also points out that the operators of the studied bouldering gyms were very cooperative and showed a high level of interest in improving the air quality in their gyms. “This constructive cooperation should lead to the creation of the healthiest possible climbing hall environment, for example through better ventilation, cleaning, avoiding peak times and designing climbing shoes with fewer additives.”

“It is essential to switch to sole materials with fewer harmful substances,” says Hofmann. He says manufacturers are currently not sufficiently aware of the problem. The rubber they buy for their soles contains a cocktail of undesirable chemicals. More research is needed to understand how these substances affect the human body. Anya Sherman remains motivated: “I will continue to climb, and I am confident that our research will contribute to better conditions in climbing gyms.”

Thilo Hofmann is Professor of Environmental Geosciences at the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science and co-director of the Environment and Climate Research Hub at the University of Vienna. This network brings together researchers from a wide range of disciplines to produce excellent scientific knowledge that can provide solutions to pressing problems such as climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution.

A Plastic Blueprint of the Sea: First Global Map Reveals Depth and Impact of Microplastic Pollution

Act
Nature

Isabella Hannah

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May 8, 2025

0

seychelles island boat full of plastic — Your tuna is contributing to more than 80% of the plastic waste clogging up the Seychelles Islands

Marine plastic pollution is a global crisis, with 9 to 14 million metric tons of plastic entering the ocean every year. Tiny fragments called microplastics – ranging from 1 micron to 5 millimeters – make up the vast majority of plastic pieces found and pose serious risks to ocean health.

Most research has focused on surface waters, usually sampling just the top 15 to 50 centimeters using net tows. However, microplastics come in many forms with different properties, influencing how they move and interact with their surroundings.

A researcher from Florida Atlantic University is among an international team of scientists who has moved beyond just “scratching the surface,” marking a turning point in our understanding of how microplastics move through and impact the global ocean.

This research marks a critical shift in how we understand plastic pollution. It shows that microplastics are not just a surface nuisance—they are altering the inner workings of ocean systems that regulate climate, support biodiversity, and absorb carbon. Their presence at depth could disrupt marine food webs, carbon sequestration, and global climate balance, with far-reaching implications for environmental health and human well-being.

For the first time, scientists have mapped microplastic distribution from the surface to the deep sea at a global scale – revealing not only where plastics accumulate, but how they infiltrate critical ocean systems. For the study, researchers synthesized depth-profile data from 1,885 stations collected between 2014 and 2024 to map microplastic distribution patterns by size and polymer type, while also evaluating potential transport mechanisms.

Results, published in Nature, reveal that microplastics are not just surface pollutants – they’re deeply embedded in the ocean’s structure. Ranging from a few to thousands of particles per cubic meter, their size determines how they move: smaller microplastics (1 to 100 micrometers) spread more evenly and penetrate deeper, while larger ones (100 to 5,000 micrometers) concentrate near the surface, especially within the top 100 meters of gyres. Gyres act like massive, slow-moving whirlpools that trap and concentrate floating debris – especially plastic.

Observations of subsurface microplastics in the ocean

Strikingly, microplastics are becoming a measurable part of the ocean’s carbon cycle, making up just 0.1% of carbon particles at 30 meters but rising to 5% at 2,000 meters. This suggests that microplastics are not only persistent pollutants but may also be altering key biogeochemical processes in the deep sea.

“Microplastics are not just floating at the surface – they’re deeply embedded throughout the ocean, from coastal waters to the open sea,” said Tracy Mincer, Ph.D., co-author and an associate professor of biology and biochemistry in FAU’s Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College.

Researchers identified more than 56 types of plastic polymers in their synthesized microplastic dataset. While buoyant plastics dominate overall, denser microplastics are more prevalent offshore – likely because they fragment more readily. Dense polymers become brittle and break down faster, particularly after prolonged exposure to environmental weathering. These small, persistent particles – often originating from fishing gear and containers like polyester bottles – can remain in the ocean for decades.

Polypropylene, commonly found in items like yogurt containers and rope, photodegrades more quickly than polyethylene, which is used in plastic bags and water bottles. This may account for its lower abundance in offshore waters. Nonetheless, significant uncertainties remain in subsurface microplastic data due to inconsistent sampling techniques and limited coverage, highlighting the need for specialized equipment and greater collaboration to improve data reliability.

The ocean’s water column – the largest habitat on Earth – plays a crucial role in global carbon cycling, supporting half of the planet’s primary production and absorbing human-made CO₂. As microplastics move through this vast space, they interact with natural particles and processes, potentially affecting how the ocean functions.

“Our findings suggest microplastics are becoming a measurable part of the ocean’s carbon cycle, with potential consequences for climate regulation and marine food webs,” said Mincer. “This work sets the stage for taking the next steps in understanding the residence time of plastic in the interior of the ocean.”

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Let Chores Count Toward Activity

Be Social While Staying Active

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Electrification

Sustainable Manufacturing

Lifecycle Considerations

Renewable Energy Integration

Policy and Consumer Influence

Urban Integration

It’s like finding a map back to your grandmother’s pantry, but with the tools of a climate-conscious chef.

Understanding GIS Mapping

Uses In Real Estate

1. Preliminary Assessment and Selection of Sites

2. Market Analysis and Trends

3. Landholding and Strategic Planning

4. 3D Virtual Tours and Interactive Maps

5. Personalised Property Searches

6. Environmental Impact Assessments

7. Community Consultation and Design

Challenges And Future Outlook

Conclusion

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