For oil-rich, environmentally vigilant Gulf states, Astro isn’t just another startup story. It is a blueprint for accelerating an energy transition that is now existential, not optional.
Christ’s thorn jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) also known as the sidr tree is a real, identifiable tree native to the Middle East, and it appears—directly or indirectly—in Islam, Judaism, and later Christian tradition. The connections between the three faiths are not theological agreements but overlapping uses, names, and symbolic associations rooted in the same landscape.
For oil-rich, environmentally vigilant Gulf states, Astro isn’t just another startup story. It is a blueprint for accelerating an energy transition that is now existential, not optional.
Christ’s thorn jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) also known as the sidr tree is a real, identifiable tree native to the Middle East, and it appears—directly or indirectly—in Islam, Judaism, and later Christian tradition. The connections between the three faiths are not theological agreements but overlapping uses, names, and symbolic associations rooted in the same landscape.
For oil-rich, environmentally vigilant Gulf states, Astro isn’t just another startup story. It is a blueprint for accelerating an energy transition that is now existential, not optional.
Christ’s thorn jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) also known as the sidr tree is a real, identifiable tree native to the Middle East, and it appears—directly or indirectly—in Islam, Judaism, and later Christian tradition. The connections between the three faiths are not theological agreements but overlapping uses, names, and symbolic associations rooted in the same landscape.
For oil-rich, environmentally vigilant Gulf states, Astro isn’t just another startup story. It is a blueprint for accelerating an energy transition that is now existential, not optional.
Christ’s thorn jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) also known as the sidr tree is a real, identifiable tree native to the Middle East, and it appears—directly or indirectly—in Islam, Judaism, and later Christian tradition. The connections between the three faiths are not theological agreements but overlapping uses, names, and symbolic associations rooted in the same landscape.
For oil-rich, environmentally vigilant Gulf states, Astro isn’t just another startup story. It is a blueprint for accelerating an energy transition that is now existential, not optional.
Christ’s thorn jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) also known as the sidr tree is a real, identifiable tree native to the Middle East, and it appears—directly or indirectly—in Islam, Judaism, and later Christian tradition. The connections between the three faiths are not theological agreements but overlapping uses, names, and symbolic associations rooted in the same landscape.
For oil-rich, environmentally vigilant Gulf states, Astro isn’t just another startup story. It is a blueprint for accelerating an energy transition that is now existential, not optional.
Christ’s thorn jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) also known as the sidr tree is a real, identifiable tree native to the Middle East, and it appears—directly or indirectly—in Islam, Judaism, and later Christian tradition. The connections between the three faiths are not theological agreements but overlapping uses, names, and symbolic associations rooted in the same landscape.
For oil-rich, environmentally vigilant Gulf states, Astro isn’t just another startup story. It is a blueprint for accelerating an energy transition that is now existential, not optional.
Christ’s thorn jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) also known as the sidr tree is a real, identifiable tree native to the Middle East, and it appears—directly or indirectly—in Islam, Judaism, and later Christian tradition. The connections between the three faiths are not theological agreements but overlapping uses, names, and symbolic associations rooted in the same landscape.
For oil-rich, environmentally vigilant Gulf states, Astro isn’t just another startup story. It is a blueprint for accelerating an energy transition that is now existential, not optional.
Christ’s thorn jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) also known as the sidr tree is a real, identifiable tree native to the Middle East, and it appears—directly or indirectly—in Islam, Judaism, and later Christian tradition. The connections between the three faiths are not theological agreements but overlapping uses, names, and symbolic associations rooted in the same landscape.
A natural raw water spring in Nipissing, Ontario. It’s a place where you feel God in the water.
The Voice of God is Upon the Waters: a look at water in the Talmud, the Torah and Kabbalah
With 60% of our bodies being composed from water and 71% of our planet being covered in water, clearly water is a critical factor in life.
Water is composed of two parts hydrogen to one part oxygen: H2O. In Biblical Hebrew water is called mayim, מים, which is also two parts “mem” (מ) to one part “yud” (י).
The second verse in the Bible says: “…and the Divine Presence hovered upon the surface of the waters.” This is followed by the famous “Let there be light”, followed by the next event which tells about a firmament inside the water which separated the upper waters from the lower waters.
The Hebrew letter “yud” is unique among the letters because it hovers over the baseline. Its numerical value 10 is equated with the 10 Sefirot. The Sefirot (from the Kabbala) are considered the schematic of Creation which in turn are considered the Divine Presence which “hovered upon the water” and brought the appearance of light.
The “mem”, being the middle letter of the Hebrew alphabet, is associated with the center and stability. The letter’s sound being onomatopoeia of humming, mem is regarded by the Jewish Sages as a vibration, wave or frequency.
The yud comes from above and splits the vibration/wave constituted by the mem in to two mems, like the splitting of the upper and lower waters.
If we break apart the word for water, we have the first “mem” with the first “yud” and then the second “yud” with the second “mem”. In the latter case the “yud” and “mem” combine to spell the word for sea, ים, just like the narrative of the Bible says: “God gathered in the lower waters and called them seas”.
In the first case the letters “mem” and “yud” spell the Hebrew word for Who, מי. Who is one of God’s highest names since its numerical value equals 50, known in the Kabbalah as the 50th Gate of Wisdom where opposites transform into oneness.
The numerical value of water in Hebrew is 90 which correlate to the Hebrew letter “tzaddi”, צ, and a reference to a holy person. This is because a holy person, like rain, brings life and Divine Kindness from above to even the lowliest places on earth.
When the holy person needs to purify, s/he immerses in a Mikveh which consists of 40 units of water corresponding to the numerical value of “mem”.
When the world needed purification it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. When the Israelites erred in the desert they had to be encapsulated in a period of 40 years in order to be purified. If a person wishes to purify bad character traits and turn them into positive ones, s/he should practice the new habits for 40 days when then they will have become part of one.
The Talmud quotes R. Eliezer as saying that all the water in the world comes from the Atlantic Ocean where the clouds sweeten the salt before it is released as rain. According to R. Yehoshua all the water in the world comes from heaven. The Talmud goes on to explain the cycle of evaporation and condensation.
However, of the four rivers mentioned in the Torah as coming out of the Garden of Eden, the Euphrates River runs on a higher altitude than the others and this makes it the source of all water on earth. The Talmud says its water reaches mountain springs through underground channels that work their way up like a ladder.
In Talmudic times it was estimated that a person used approximately 25 liquid meters of water a day. When assessing the water needs of a city this is very important information.
For example when discussing water rights, the Talmud says that if one city has enough water for its own and another city’s survival, but not for its own laundry, then the first city should keep the water for laundry. This is because a dirty person could easily develop skin boils, for which there is a cure whereas dirty clothes can lead to dementia which is incurable.
In the End of Days, says the (Green) Prophet, God will bring forth a freshwater spring from Jerusalem whose waters will heal all illnesses.
With flash floods, droughts, and record-breaking heatwaves, there is no doubt that climate change’s impact is becoming more significant. In Canada, experts warn that climate change is changing the country as we know it. For instance, backyard rinks may become a thing of the past, given how raging temperatures are making ice formation harder. Similarly, wildlife is also in danger as lack of water sources and increasing incidences of forest fires impact their habitats.
Climate change is also directly impacting human health. Studies have found that the eyes are especially vulnerable, with rising vision issues partly attributed to climate concerns.
All eyes on climate change
To date, a growing number of Canadians suffer from some degree of vision impairment. Numbers from Statistique Canada reveal that up to ¼ of all respondents experience ocular issues serious enough to require correction. As such, in just the fourth quarter of 2023, sales of medical devices, such as corrective eyeglasses, were almost $700 million nationwide.
Apart from genetic and medical reasons, like diabetes, eye problems can also be caused by exposure to harmful elements. With climate change, these elements are more prevalent, with intense sun rays, extreme weather events, and increased pollution being the most pressing. In line with this, the World Economic Forum even states that climate change is more harmful to eye health than other vision-impacting factors. As such, it’s important to implement eye-protective measures in our daily routines.
Daily habits that can protect the eyes from climate change
Wear sunglasses
Because of climate change, the ozone layer is severely damaged, causing sun rays to penetrate the surface of the Earth unfiltered. This has been directly connected to a rise in eye conditions like photokeratitis, and photoconjunctivitis. What’s more, up to 20% of all cataract cases today are believed to be the result of too much UV exposure. To prevent this from happening to you, make sure to wear protective sunglasses whenever you’re outside.
Available from retailers like Clearly and Warby Parker, shades offer 100% UV protection for the eyes. In the event that you already have refractive errors, opt for prescription sunglasses instead. Fashionable retailer Ray-Ban has models that are available in many trendy styles, including Aviators and Wayfarers in bio-based frames. While they may look like normal sunglasses, the lenses can be treated with your particular prescription. This eliminates the need to swap between eyewear or forego shades for the sake of your glasses.
Use eye drops
Another reason eye problems are more widespread with climate change is the more concentrated levels of impurities in the air. Note that traffic-related air pollution alone has been connected to the development of severe eye allergies and even diseases that cause vision loss, like glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). With this in mind, it’s important to keep your eyes cleansed of impurities. Aside from your natural tears, artificial drops can help.
As seen on manufacturers like Bausch + Lomb, these products can gently lubricate the eyes and help flush out irritants. Just make sure that the eye drops you use are cleared by Health Canada. Since these products go right into the eye, it’s important that they’re not contaminated or lacking in preservatives that prevent microbial growth.
Wash your hands
Since climate change can cause ocular discomfort, you may be tempted to rub or scratch your eyes as a means to soothe them. However, this is dangerous as it can lead to corneal abrasions or the entry of bacteria. In worst-case scenarios, this can lead to trachoma. The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide and is spread through personal contact, like if your hands touch your eyes.
So, while you really should make it a point not to touch your eyes unnecessarily, it’s still best practice to keep your hands clean just in case you forget. Washing with soap and water is best, but using a gentle sanitizer can also work. Hand sanitizer maker Fluid Energy states that sanitizers use up to 80% alcohol, meaning they can kill most bacteria and viruses on your hands.
Overall, climate change shows no signs of slowing down. Environmental reports estimate that fossil fuel production, carbon emissions, and surface heating will only increase. It’s time to take control of your wellness and protect your vision.
A solar-powered water harvester rendering developed by KAUST researchers can extract 2 to 3 liters of water per day during the summer months. Courtesy.
Expensive emergency-style devices used by armies can be run by generators and pull water from air. They work like air conditioners. And here are 5 ways you can re-use your air conditioner water. Water generation companies from Israel like Watergen have been in the market for a decade and have been made to connect to solar systems. They are bought by agriculture developers for hydroponics in off-grid locations and they can be used at hotels where water might need to be shipped in weekly. Consider that even in countries like Jordan people still get weekly water deliveries!
Even in arid parts of the world, there is moisture in the air. This moisture could provide much-needed water for drinking and irrigation, but extracting water out of air is difficult because it takes a lot of energy. A new technology developed by KAUST researchers in Saudi Arabia may consistently extract liters of water out of thin air each day without needing regular manual maintenance.
Harvesting water from air is not a new idea, or even a new technology, but existing solar-powered systems are clunky.
According to the researcher postdoc Kaijie Yang, who led the study, “solar-powered harvesters work in a two-stage cycle. An absorbent material first captures water from the air, and once it is saturated, the system is sealed and heated with sunlight to extract the captured water.
“Alternating between the two stages requires either manual labor or a switching system, which adds complexity and cost. The new harvester developed at KAUST requires neither — it passively alternates between the two stages so it can cycle continuously without intervention.
“Our initial inspiration came from observing natural processes: specifically how plants efficiently transport water from their roots to their leaves through specialized structures,” she says.
Looking at plants gave the team the key idea for their new system. “In our system, mass transport bridges play a crucial role as a connection between the ‘open part’ for atmospheric water capture and the ‘closed part’ for freshwater generation,” explains Yang.
The mass transport bridges are a collection of vertical microchannels filled with a salt solution that absorbs water. The water-rich salt solution is pulled up the channel by the same capillary action that pulls water up plant stems, and then the concentrated salt solution diffuses back down to collect more water:
“By optimizing the transport of mass and heat within the system, we enhanced its efficiency and effectiveness,” says Tingting Pan, another postdoc who worked on the project.
During testing the system in Saudi Arabia, each square meter produced 2 to 3 liters of water per day during the summer, and about 1 to 3 liters per day in the fall. During the tests, the team ran the system for several weeks without the need for maintenance.
They also showed that it could be used as a direct point source to irrigate Chinese cabbage and desert trees.
“The materials we used were a water-wicking fabric, a low-cost hygroscopic salt and a plastic-based frame. We chose the materials for their affordability and availability, so we anticipate the cost is affordable for large-scale application in low-income areas,” says Qiaoqiang Gan, one of the study’s senior authors.
Turkey suffered a devastating earthquake in its southeast region of Antakya in 2023. Not because they weren’t prepared but because of the failures and corruption inside the Turkish building authority where contractors cut corners without oversight.
Antakya, built on the site of the ancient city of Antioch, was one of the cities hit hardest by the earthquake on Feb. 6, 2023. Much of the modern city crumbled.
But Antakya needs to be rebuild and the the UK-based starchitect firm Foster + Partners announces it is working closely with several local NGOs and Turkish civil agencies (including the Turkish Design Council, the Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism) to rebuild Ankara sustainably and hopefully securely this time.
Buro Happold, MIC-HUB, and Turkish practices DB Architects and KEYM Urban Renewal Centre collaborated on the Antakya proposal. The plan will reportedly be implemented in a 30-square-kilometer (11.6-square-mile) planning area.
They are using farming language such as the “regeneration plan” which includes eight separate ‘design principles and among them are to:
Build on safe land,
Improve circulation,
Improve open spaces,
Create new districts,
Layer neighborhoods,
Enhance connectivity at a city and neighborhood scale, and, finally,
Build back.
No timelines for its start or completion have been provided at this time.
New Antakya, safe and sustainable?
The full details of Foster + Partners’ plan for an urban recovery of the earthquake-damaged Turkish city of Antakya and Hatay province have been made publicly available for the first time since the project was announced last October.
Bruno Moser, Senior Partner, Head of Urban Design, Foster + Partners said: “We have been inspired by the resilience of the people of Antakya, and share their passion for their unique, historic city. Our strategy does not offer a ‘one size that fits all’ vision.
“It balances the historic spirit of the place with improvements and enhancements that will support a sustainable future for Antakya. We have developed the vision underpinned by the fact that reconstruction following a natural disaster is not merely about buildings but about rebuilding communities, feelings of safety and belonging, and rebuilding trust.”
An estimated 53,000 people died from the 2023 earthquake.
And with an estimated 80 percent of the city destroyed, there is an urgent need to reimagine and rebuild for future generations. The new Foster + Partners masterplan, the firm says, “aims to retain the cherished spirit of the town and pre-earthquake characteristics in terms of scale, relationships, and configurations, reinforcing the local character and climate.”
Hatay City render of the revtalized Hatay city | all images courtesy of Türkiye Design Council
A significant part of the process has been understanding and embedding Hatay’s rich history into the vision. Other recent and historic disasters were used as case studies, with comparable rebuild attempts used to distil best practice that will support a sustainable future for Antakya.
The masterplan seeks to respect the urban character of the area and build anew in a way which makes the residents feel like they can be at home in the revitalised city. The design principles stipulate the need to retain the character of the historic streets of Antakya, overlaying on the existing road network and retaining the building scale and façade rhythm, according to Foster + Partners.
Antakya was colonised by the Turkish Empire but it was first known as Antioch on the Orontes – an Hellenistic Greek city founded by Seleucus I Nicator in 300 BC. It was one of the most important Greek cities of the Hellenistic period, serving as the capital of the Seleucid Empire and later as regional capital to both the Roman and Byzantine Empire. If you travel around Turkey today you will find thousands of archeological sites throughout the country surrounded by farms and villages.
Scientists in Haifa, Israel have developed a new path for understanding how cannabis-extracted CBD helps children with autism. They have found that preparations of CBD-rich cannabis products or extracts reduce anxiety and other autistic symptoms in children, according to data published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. Ayelet David and Eynat Gal led the study out of Haifa University.
Israeli scientists assessed the efficacy of CBD-dominant cannabis extracts in a cohort of 65 children (ages 5-12 years) with autism. Study participants consumed customized doses of cannabis extracts for six months.
“We observed significant differences in the autistic children’s overall anxiety and in some anxiety subtypes. Significant improvements were observed in RRBI [restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests], including the total score, and specifically in compulsive, ritualistic, and sameness behaviors,” reported the researchers who concluded that “Our study suggests positive implications for CBD-rich cannabis treatment in alleviating anxiety and RRBI symptoms in autistic children.
“We strongly recommend further double-blind, placebo-controlled studies using standardized assessments to validate these findings.”
The findings are consistent with other studies which find that cannabinoid (or CBD) treatment provides symptom improvements in children with autism. We have consulted with Dr. Alan Shackleford, a leading physician in medical cannabis in the United States and Israel, who has also said to us in personal communication that he believes some amount of THC is needed to see an effect.
Observational studies have also shown that the use of cannabis can provide benefits to adults with autism. In 2023, a randomized trial from Israel compared CBD-enriched extract (20:1 CBD:THC) and purified cannabinoids in the same ratio to placebo in a three-arm crossover design in 150 patients with autism aged 5 to 21 years.
The authors reported tolerability with improvements in disruptive behaviours and core autism symptoms.
The Bible calls the Land of Israel the Land of Milk and Honey. We are urban beekeepers and the honey in Israel is divine. Another contestant for being a honey country is Yemen, on the coast of the Red Sea. We’ve tasted raw honey from Yemen (read about the 8 kinds, some from the sidr tree) and next Sunday, the activities of the National Festival of Yemeni Honey and Bee Products will be launched in Al Sabeen Park in Sana’a under the slogan “Yemen the home of honey”.
The festival, organized by the Honey Unit of the Higher Agricultural and Fisheries Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture aims to promote Yemeni honey, revive its status, market Yemeni brands of this cash crop globally, as well as enhance its role in economic growth and reach self-sufficiency with its products.
Yemen beekeepers. Courtesy of the FAO.
Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the world, and like the Hezbollah has taken over Lebanon, Yemen is home to the Houthis, a global Islamic terror group that operates as a state within the state.
Radwan Al-Rubai from the agricultural ministry said that the festival will be an annual event seeking to promote Yemeni honey of various types and high quality.
The UN is playing an active role in supporting beekeepers in Yemen. And we know from our friend in Israel that Bees for Peace, a project by beekeeper Yossi Oud, works to keep women from all religions and walks of life connected to nature and to a means for making their own money.
Yemen Honey from the Sidr tree, magical honey from paradise according to the Quran. Most of the honey on this piece of wax is not capped and not good for consumption. Via the FAO.
Al-Rubai said that Yemen bees are different from all types of bees in the world, and the honey is extracted in areas free of chemicals. Beekeepers do use toxic chemicals to control varoa mites and it would be difficult to know whether or not if these products are being used by individual beekeepers.
A haunting socotra tree in Yemen. It’s tree sap that looks like blood is used to treat wounds.
The new soon-to-be annual honey festival, to last 6 days, feature Yemen’s honey associations, producers and marketers of honey from a number of governorates. The week will include scientific sessions and seminars on honey productivity managed by experts and researchers in this field. Yemen is also home to unusual socotra tree or dragon tree that bleeds. We wonder what honey from this flowering tree might taste like.
Know how to apply search engine tactics so people can find your sustainable spa
In today’s digital world, wellness and med spas need to stand out online to attract more clients. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can help you reach the top of search results, making it easier for potential clients to find your services. Let’s dive into simple ways to use SEO effectively for your wellness and med spa.
1. Understand Your Audience and Keywords
To start, know who you’re targeting. Your clients might be looking for specific treatments like facials, massages, or anti-aging services. Think about what keywords they might type into Google. These words are the building blocks of your SEO strategy.
Choose keywords that match your offerings and add them naturally into your website’s content. Avoid keyword stuffing, as it can hurt your rankings. Focus on clear, helpful content that answers common questions, like “What are the benefits of anti-aging treatments?” or “What should I expect during a med spa consultation?”
2. Use Local SEO for Med Spa Services
One of the most powerful SEO strategies is local SEO for med spa businesses. Local SEO helps you connect with clients near you who are searching for wellness and spa services. Make sure your business appears in local search results by setting up a Google My Business (GMB) listing. It’s free and boosts your local visibility.
In your GMB profile, include accurate contact information, your website link, and quality photos of your spa. This helps clients find you easily and view your services. Encourage happy clients to leave positive reviews, as Google favors businesses with good reviews in local searches. Including local keywords like “med spa in [City]” on your website also improves your chances of ranking well in your area.
3. Optimize Your Website Content
Your website content should be simple, informative, and engaging. Write clear descriptions of your services, and include keywords naturally in the text. Create dedicated pages for each service, such as “Botox Treatment” or “Massage Therapy.” This not only makes it easier for Google to understand your website but also helps clients find the exact information they need.
Include a blog on your site to share tips, news, and answers to frequently asked questions. For example, write a blog post on “The Benefits of Regular Facials” or “What to Expect at Your First Med Spa Visit.” These posts add value and can help you rank higher in search results. Blogging also positions you as an expert, building trust with potential clients.
4. Optimize for Mobile
More people are searching on their phones than ever before. That’s why it’s essential to have a mobile-friendly website. A site that’s slow or difficult to use on a phone will likely drive clients away. Google also favors mobile-friendly websites in its rankings, so make sure your site loads quickly and looks good on all devices.
Compress large images, reduce unnecessary graphics, and use easy-to-read fonts. A fast, user-friendly site improves the client experience and helps your wellness and med spa website rank higher.
5. Use Quality Images and Videos
Show off natural oils and eco luxuries in action at your spa
Visuals are a big part of the wellness and spa experience. Clients want to see what they’re signing up for, so add high-quality images and videos to your website. Show photos of your relaxing environment, treatment rooms, and smiling staff. You can also create short videos explaining your services or providing a tour of your spa.
The Just Stop Oil (JSO) activists who vandalized Vincent Van Gogh‘s Sunflowers (1888) painting with a can of soup are waiting to be sentenced, according to JSO press material.
The 22-year-old activists Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, “came within the width of a pane of glass of destroying one of the most valuable artworks in the world,” said Southwark Crown Court Judge Christopher Hehir.
It’s been 2 years since the incident and Holland and Plummer were remarkably only sentenced from visiting any museums or galleries, or for carrying glue, paint or adhesive materials in a public setting.
Holland and Plummer launched a can of tomato soup on the glass of the centuries-old painting, stating: “What is worth more, art or life? Is it worth more than food? Worth more than justice? Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting, or the protection of our planet and people?
“The cost of living crisis is part of the cost of oil crisis.”
Data source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2024); The Shift Data Portal (2019)
Plummer and a third activist, Jane Touil, were imprisoned after painting Heathrow airport a few days ago. Just Stop Oil says they are working to defend them and with groups internationally to demand governments establish a fossil fuel treaty, to end the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030.
Phoebe Plummer and Jane Touil appeared before Judge Neeta Minhasat at Westminster magistrates court this afternoon, after taking action at Terminal 5, Heathrow Airport yesterday. They have been remanded to HMP Bronzefield until August 28th at Isleworth Crown Court, where they will appear for a case management hearing.
Yesterday, the pair used fire extinguishers to spray water-based paint at the departure boards in the terminal. The Crown is alleging £50,000 worth of damages.
Plummer said at the hearing: “Sending peaceful protestors like me to prison isn’t going to prevent us from resisting. You’re upholding an abysmal system. And you’re doing that to maintain business as usual. You won’t be protected from the climate emergency.”
Speaking before the hearing Jane Touil said: “I have become increasingly terrified about climate breakdown and increasingly appalled by politicians’ failure to take appropriate action. Convinced that the most effective thing I could do as an ordinary person was to take direct action to highlight the catastrophic situation we’re in, I became a Just Stop Oil supporter.”
“I was arrested for the first time in April 2022 and have been arrested several times since. I spent a short time on remand in prison after climbing an M25 gantry in November 2022. I will continue to act on my conscience to protect life and to challenge the greed, corruption and cowardice that are killing people right now. I refuse to die for fossil fuels.”
The two must be “prepared in practical and emotional terms to go to prison” when their case is heard on September 27 by Judge Hehir, who has sentenced five JSO activists who committed similar offenses to a prison sentence of up to five years:
“The government continuously proves that they have little to no interest in attempting to curb climate change,” said Holland’s lawyer, adding: “They have proven that they have a great deal of interest in investing time and money into prosecuting young people trying to fight for the future of themselves and their children.”
Activists from various countries have targeted art and public spaces and private businesses over the past few years to raise awareness to the climate emergency. The tone was set by Greenpeace in the 70s when it started taking over whaling boats.
While it may seem heroic, Green Prophet does not support acts of violence and vandalism as a means to justify the end. Educating the next generation creatively might develop the next zero-energy super-fuel. Just Stop Oil activists are banging on an old drum that creates divisiveness and hate.
It may not be a question you ask yourself every day in the city, but if you venture north in countries like Canada where wild bears are a mythical creature to be revered and feared, it just may happen that you will be offered bear meat. My friend hunted a bear on my land in Northern Ontario and a number of my friends spoke about eating the wild meat. It was turned into a well-cooked roast and this was probably a good thing.
According to local media sources in Canada wild game, including bear and deer may be harboring a parasite in its muscle called trichinellosis. If the meat is not cooked well this parasite can spread to your muscles. There are some reported cases documented by the CDC, The Centers for Disease Control.
Human trichinellosis cases in the United States are rare and are usually acquired through consumption of wild game according to the CDC.
The Centers for Disease Control presented microscopic evidence of ‘encapsulated larvae in a black bear meat muscle.’ (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
They commented on cases of people in the US who had eaten wild black beat from Canada. Among eight people who shared a meal that included the meat of a black bear harvested in Canada and frozen for 45 days, 6 trichinellosis cases were identified. The meat was grilled with vegetables and served rare; two cases occurred in persons who ate only the vegetables. Freeze-resistant Trichinella nativa larvae were identified in remaining meat frozen for less than 15 weeks.
It is possible to eat wild game but it is important to know how to cook it. Cooking meat to an internal temperature of greater than 165°F (74°C) is necessary to kill Trichinella spp. parasites. Trichinella-infected meat can cross-contaminate other foods, and raw meat should be kept and prepared separate from other foods to prevent cross-contamination.
Emily Jenkins, a professor of veterinary microbiology who has done extensive research on zoonotic parasites including trichinella, said the disease “pops up every couple years associated with bear meat” and as recently as 2021, she told the CBC, a state-funded media source from Canada.
She says it often comes up with tourists because Indigenous people who harvest wild animals are aware the meat must be well cooked: “It’s often tourists, hunters coming from away who will take a souvenir home with them … so it’s fairly common that people who don’t have that protective knowledge are the ones who unfortunately become infected and that they’ve also shared the meat widely because it’s a delicacy, a gourmet thing,” Jenkins said.
“We’ve had massive outbreaks in France, for example, associated with bear meat from Canada, just because people didn’t necessarily have that protective knowledge.”
So if you are offered wild meat from beer, deer, moose or any other animal – make sure it is well done. Eating meat from the wild is essential for many people who live in Northern Ontario, where I have a home. A young buck harvested after a road kill a few days ago gave someone in my family about 40 pounds of meat. That helps take the pressure off of rising bills and is a natural way to live with the wild.
Turkish legislators have approved a law that make it legal to kill any number of the estimated 4 million stray dogs that are on the country’s streets.
Thousands of animal lovers have joined protests across Turkey calling for the removal of an article in the law that would allow for strays to be euthanised. Opposition lawmakers say the bill is a “massacre law”. The law was passed this week.
“Unfortunately this is true… we’re so sorry and angry,” our treehugger and activist friend Gökçe Uygun from Istanbul told Green Prophet. It hasn’t started just yet because it was only approved in the parliament 2 days ago, she said.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed the measure into law, thanked his ruling party: “Despite the opposition’s provocations and campaigns based on lies and distortions, the national assembly once again listened to the people, refusing to ignore the cries of the silent majority,” he said.
Yet there are gentle nature lovers in Turkey who plant forests of trees. There are treehugging journalists in Istanbul. Like Turkey itself which straddles the East and West, there are people actively for and against the killing of pets.
About about 4 million stray dogs roam Turkey’s streets and rural areas. Most are harmless but they sometimes build up in packs and attack people. Many Muslims are terrified of dogs. Turkey is a Muslim majority population.
Why don’t Muslims like dogs?
Dogs are revered in Judaism for not barking when the Jews were escaping Egypt. They are loved by the pharaohs – tomb paintings of the pharaoh Tutankhamun show him in his chariot with his hunting dogs and Rameses the Great is depicted similarly. With Khufu and his companion, dogs were often buried with their masters in order to accompany them closely in the afterlife.
King Mutt: a dog mummy buried in Egypt. As many as eight million dogs and other animals were buried in the tomb found in 2015 [Getty]But meet a Muslim and there is a good chance they will be terrified of your dog. Why?
Dog is kalb in Arabic: كَلْب, dog which is similar to “kelev” in ancient Hebrew and there are different views on dogs and Islam. The Sunni Maliki school of Islamic jurisprudence says the laws of impurity of dogs are different between wild dogs and pet dogs, and only consider the saliva of the former to be impure; on the other hand, some schools of Islamic law consider all dogs as unclean (najis).
Hundreds of people gathered in Istanbul and issued a message to the government which also supports Hamas terrorists: “Your massacre law is just a piece of paper for us. We will write the law on the streets. Life and solidarity, not hatred and hostility, will win.”
Animal lovers in the capital, Ankara read: “We are warning the government again and again, stop the law. Do not commit this crime against this country.”
Turkey’s main opposition party said it would work to cancel this law at the supreme court.
Endorsement, however, by Turkey’s unstable leader, could provoke locals to kill dogs when no one is supervising.
While Turkey had endorsed a law to catch, spay and then release stray dogs, critics say the law was not enforced. The same way building code laws in Turkey exist, but corners are taken and “safe” building crumble when there is an earthquake.
Others blamed the growth in the stray canine population on a failure to implement previous regulations, which required stray dogs to be caught, neutered, spayed and returned to where they were found.
An oyster plague in oysters and now there is a worrying plague that has started in Greece, worrying farmers about their livestock. A goat plague, also known as Peste des Petits Ruminants, was detected for the first time in Greece last month. While the virus does not seem to infect humans, it is highly contagious among goats and sheep and can kill between 80 and 100% of those infected.
To combat the spread of the plague first found in the 1942, Greece has banned the movement of goats and sheep around the country, made up of a mainland and about 6,000 smaller islands. Greece also shares a 150 mile border with Turkey –– also a lover of goat and sheep meat.
“The movement of sheep and goats for breeding, fattening and slaughter is banned throughout Greece,” said Greece’s agriculture minister Costas Tsiaras said.
Iranians love sheep meat and the special fat found in the tail of their special breed.
New infections are active in the central Larissa region and in Corinth in the south.
The ban had been introduced “with the aim of limiting the spread and eradication of the disease”.
The ministry also said an investigation was under way to determine the source of the plague, and it may be from imported meat.
If a case is found an entire group of livestock from the farm must be killed. Since July 11, about 7,000 animals have already been culled according to the BBC.
Greece is a goat loving country and has the highest number of goats in Europe. The milk from Goat and sheep is used to make feta cheese – a trademark Greek product.
There are some very good arguments for Slow Food and eating food grown from smallhold farms, regenerative farms and which are grown locally. Globalism has created an influx of invasive pests. These diseases and insects are kicking down forests in Canada, they are infecting lakes and seas (jellyfish and zebra mussels) and they are affecting our meat and milk.
Life Assure app helps seniors live sustainably at home
Ensuring senior safety is critical as loved ones age and seek independence. Modern senior safety monitoring solutions, like those offered by Life Assure, provide peace of mind by integrating advanced technologies. From discreet exit monitoring to wearable devices, these solutions effectively address seniors’ unique needs.
Advanced systems not only detect emergencies such as falls but also provide continuous monitoring of vital signs and everyday activities. This proactive approach to senior safety ensures timely intervention, which can be crucial in preventing minor issues from becoming serious health concerns. Additionally, having AI-powered devices further enhances the capability to predict and manage potential health risks, making homes safer for seniors.
As technology continues to evolve, so do the options available to ensure the safety and well-being of seniors. Whether it’s through state-of-the-art devices or in-home monitoring systems, these solutions enable seniors to live independently while keeping families connected and informed.
Key Takeaways
Modern technologies enhance senior safety and independence
Continuous monitoring offers timely emergency response and health management
AI and wearable devices predict and prevent potential health risks
Understanding Senior Safety Technologies
Senior safety technologies provide essential support and confidence to both older adults and their caregivers. Key aspects include medical alert systems, fall detection technology, and GPS and wireless monitoring.
Medical Alert Systems: Features and Benefits
Medical alert systems offer 24/7 monitoring and can connect users to emergency responders at the push of a button. These systems often include features like two-way communication to ensure clear dialogue during emergencies. Many systems are now integrated with smartwatches and other wearable devices, adding convenience and ease of use.
Key Features:
Automatic Fall Detection: Alerts sent automatically if a fall occurs.
GPS Tracking: Helps locate the individual in case of an emergency.
Mobile Integration: Syncs with smartphones for instant alerts.
Benefits:
Provides peace of mind for families.
Ensures prompt medical assistance.
Enhances the independence of older adults.
Fall Detection Technology and Sensors
Fall detection technology uses sensors to identify sudden movements or impacts that may indicate a fall. These sensors can be embedded in smartwatches, medical alert systems, or placed throughout the home. When a fall is detected, an alert is sent to emergency responders or designated contacts.
Types of Sensors:
Accelerometers: Detect rapid changes in movement direction.
Gyroscopes: Measure orientation and rotation.
Pressure Sensors: Sense impacts on the ground.
Advantages:
Rapid response to potential injuries.
Reduces the fear of falling for seniors.
Supports a safer living environment.
The Role of GPS and Wireless Monitoring
GPS and wireless monitoring play a significant role in senior safety by offering real-time tracking and location services. GPS technology can be integrated into various devices, such as smartphones and medical alert systems. This enables caregivers to monitor the whereabouts of seniors, especially those at risk of wandering.
Key Functions:
Real-Time Location Tracking: Ensures caregivers know the exact location.
Geofencing: Sends alerts if the senior leaves a predefined area.
Mobile Accessibility: Caregivers can access location data through smartphone apps.
Importance:
Enhances the security of seniors, especially those with memory issues.
Provides caregivers with peace of mind.
Facilitates rapid response in case of emergencies.
Senior Safety in Home Environments
Maintaining the safety of seniors in their home environments is essential. By making specific home modifications, utilizing in-home monitoring systems, and carefully choosing between at-home and mobile solutions, seniors can continue to live independently with a higher level of security.
Home Modifications for Prevention of Falls
Falls are a significant risk for seniors. To minimize this risk, several changes can be made around the home. Grab bars in bathrooms can provide support when getting in and out of the tub or shower. Handrails on both sides of staircases offer stability. Installing ramps instead of stairs can help those with mobility issues.
Proper lighting is crucial, especially in hallways and near steps. Night lights can reduce the risk of tripping in the dark. Non-slip mats in wet areas like kitchens and bathrooms help prevent slips. Finally, removing tripping hazards like loose rugs can make the home safer.
In-Home Monitoring: Systems and Devices
In-home monitoring systems are essential for the safety and security of elderly individuals. These systems can include motion sensors, cameras, and fall detection sensors. If a fall occurs, the sensors can alert caregivers or a monitoring centre.
Systems often feature apps that allow family members to check in on their loved ones in real time. Many companies offer 24/7 monitoring services, providing peace of mind. Amazon Alexa and similar devices can also be integrated for emergency assistance. Pedometers can track activity levels, promoting an active lifestyle while ensuring safety.
Making the Decision: At-Home vs. Mobile Solutions
Deciding between at-home and mobile solutions depends on individual needs. At-home systems, such as those with cameras and stationary sensors, provide comprehensive monitoring within the house. These are ideal for seniors who spend most of their time at home.
Mobile solutions, like wearable monitoring devices, offer protection on the go. These devices often include emergency contacts that can be notified if the senior requires help. Fees for these services vary, and some may offer fall detection features. Choosing the right solution involves assessing the senior’s lifestyle and their need for constant connectivity.
Cost and Service Considerations
When choosing senior safety monitoring solutions, understanding costs and assessing service quality are crucial. Comparing different companies and evaluating their offerings will aid in selecting the best option for specific needs.
Evaluating Costs: What to Expect
Costs for senior safety monitoring solutions can vary significantly. Monthly fees often range from $20 to $50, depending on the services included. Some providers, like Life Alert, may charge higher fees due to their brand reputation.
There can be an activation fee for setting up the equipment, generally between $30 and $100. Battery life of devices is also a factor, as longer-lasting batteries reduce maintenance costs. It’s wise to look for cost-effective options without compromising quality.
Additional costs may include accessories, such as GPS tracking for increased precision, and specialized devices for monitoring chronic health conditions.
Service Quality and Customer Support
A crucial aspect of senior safety monitoring is the service quality provided by the companies. High-quality service ensures that seniors receive prompt help during emergencies. Checking reviews and testimonials from other users can provide insights into a company’s reliability.
Key features include 24/7 monitoring from a response centre and integration with telehealth services for health monitoring. Compatibility with other health services can be essential for seniors with chronic health conditions.
Customer support is also vital. Companies with responsive and knowledgeable support can troubleshoot issues quickly and provide guidance.
Enhancing Independent Living for Seniors
Supporting seniors in living independently requires a blend of effective emergency response systems, helpful lifestyle adaptations, and confidence-building technology. These elements work together to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for older adults.
Monitoring and Emergencies: Response and Support
Medical alert systems play a crucial role in providing safety and peace of mind. These systems, such as personal emergency response systems (PERS), are designed to detect emergencies like falls, health crises, and burglaries, sending immediate alerts to emergency services and caregivers.
Alongside working with a compassionate senior care team, these technologies ensure seniors receive the attentive support they need while maintaining their independence.
Mobile medical alert systems allow seniors to feel safe even outside their homes, ensuring help is always available. In emergencies, responders can quickly assess the situation and provide necessary support, reducing the chance of severe injury or complications from accidents.
Lifestyle Adaptation and Support Products
Seniors benefit greatly from products that adapt the home environment to their needs, minimizing tripping hazards and improving overall safety. Smart home devices like automated lighting, thermostats, and security systems can be controlled remotely, creating a safe and comfortable living space.
Simple tools, such as grab bars in bathrooms or a fire extinguisher within easy reach, make daily activities safer. These adaptations not only prevent injuries but also support seniors’ independence by enabling them to handle tasks confidently and safely without constant assistance.
Building Confidence with Technology
Technology helps seniors stay independent and connected. Devices like wearable health monitors track vital signs and alert healthcare providers to potential health issues, ensuring timely medical intervention.
Cognitive assistance applications support mental health by offering memory aids and reminders for medication, appointments, and daily tasks. These tools foster self-reliance and reduce the stress of managing chronic health conditions. Seniors gain confidence using technology, knowing it enhances their safety and well-being.
Incorporating these solutions empowers seniors and their families, offering effective support for independent living.
Butterflies and moths collect so much static electricity whilst in flight, that pollen grains from flowers can be pulled by static electricity across air gaps of several millimetres or centimetres. The finding reported in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, suggests that this likely increases their efficiency and effectiveness as pollinators. Butterflies typically eat nectar, not pollen, for food.
The University of Bristol team also observed that the amount of static electricity carried by butterflies and moths varies between different species, and that these variations correlate with differences in their ecology, such as whether they visit flowers, are from a tropical environment, or fly during the day or night. This is the first evidence to suggest that the amount of static electricity an animal accumulates is a trait that can be adaptive, and thus evolution can act upon it by natural selection.
Lead author Sam England explained: “We already knew that many species of animal accumulate static electricity as they fly, most likely through friction with the air. There had also been suggestions that this static electricity might improve the ability of flower-visiting animals, like bees and hummingbirds, to pollinate, by attracting pollen using electrostatic attraction.
“However, it wasn’t known whether this idea applied to the wider array of equally important pollinators, such as butterflies and moths. So, we set out to test this idea, and see if butterflies and moths also accumulate charge, and if so, whether this charge is enough to attract pollen from flowers onto their bodies.”
Their study involved 269 butterflies and moths across 11 different species, native to five different continents and inhabiting multiple different ecological niches. They were then then able to compare between them and see if these ecological factors correlated with their charge, establishing if static charging is a trait that evolution can act upon.
England added: “A clearer picture is developing of how the influence of static electricity in pollination may be very powerful and widespread.
“By establishing electrostatic charging as a trait upon which evolution can act, it opens up a great deal of questions about how and why natural selection might lead to animals benefiting or suffering from the amount of static electricity that they accumulate.”
In terms of practical applications, this study opens the door to the possibility for technologies to artificially increase the electrostatic charges or pollinators or pollen, in order to improve pollination rates in natural and agricultural settings.
“We’ve discovered that butterflies and moths accumulate so much static electricity when flying, that pollen is literally pulled through the air towards them as they approach a flower.
“This means that they don’t even need to touch flowers in order to pollinate them, making them very good at their jobs as pollinators, and highlighting just how important they might be to the functioning of our flowery ecosystems.
“For me personally, I would love to do a wider survey of as many different species of animal as possible, see how much static electricity they accumulate, and then look for any correlations with their ecology and lifestyle. Then we can really begin to understand how evolution and static electricity interact!” says England.
Intern Charles Xu tests the pressure of repair coatings on spent nuclear fuel canisters. Xu is an intern in the Future of Research for Climate, Earth and Energy Institute. Nuclear energy is not considered a viable renewable energy source by environmentalists – due to the risks.
A summer internship for American college students is almost as important as going to school. If you are an aspiring archeologist you head to Israel. If you are an artist, you spend the summer in Florence, but if you are a scientist interested in climate change you might want to intern in the United States.
Climate research and the development of renewable energy systems like wind turbines is part of that.
A summer at Sandia National Laboratories typically means high temperatures, blazing sunlight and campuses filled with 75 interns.
About 75 of these young innovators have come to Sandia labs in New Mexico this summer as part of the Future of Research for Climate, Earth and Energy Intern Institute. Another 75 interns participate remotely. The FORCEE institute provides undergraduate and graduate students with real-world experience in conducting research on topics in earth sciences, climate change, decarbonization and infrastructure modernization.
Sandia grew out of America’s World War II effort to develop the first atomic bombs. Today, keeping the US nuclear stockpile safe, secure, and effective is a major part of Sandia’s work as a multidisciplinary, national security, engineering laboratory. Sandia’s role has evolved to address additional threats facing our country.
The students receive mentorship, attend facility tours and seminars, and can take part in an end-of-summer symposium to present their findings.
“I have a real passion for interns; I think they are the future of this laboratory,” said Kyle Jones, a manager at the institute. “One of the institute’s goals is to attract new talent to the Labs. I look at interns as team members doing real research. I want an intern program to foster a mentality that makes them feel like they are making a difference.”
The program started in 2021 as the brainchild of Jones, the manager of a geophysics department, with a small geoscience intern program. In the summer of 2022, FORCEE became a full intern institute with a broader mandate.
Last summer, 150 interns came to Sandia through the FORCEE Institute. The interns were equally split between undergraduate and graduate students, with one Coast Guard Academy student and three clerical interns. As of May 2024, 29 former FORCEE interns became Sandia employees: 28 were hired as staff members and one as a postdoctoral researcher.
Each FORCEE summer intern works under the guidance of a Sandia researcher on projects in climate change, geosciences and energy research.
“An intern is more than capable of doing meaningful work: researching, producing, data processing, whatever the case may be,” Jones said. “By handing off these tasks to the students, it frees the mentors to tackle more challenging aspects of the work. It’s a real symbiotic relationship.”
One intern, Gordon North Piegan III, began the summer of 2022 with Rachid Darbali-Zamora, a Sandia electrical engineer. Using his background in control systems, Piegan accurately modeled a wind turbine-generator system and validated it against field data as part of the Wind Hybrid Integration Platform project, according to Darbali-Zamora.
Darbali-Zamora was impressed with Piegan’s results and recommended that he submit them as a conference paper — Piegan’s first. Darbali-Zamora guided Piegan through the process of writing the research paper, and when it was accepted, through creating and practicing a presentation.
“In addition to the great technical work and contributions Gordon or any FORCEE intern brings to the table, there’s also the satisfaction of seeing someone grow,” Darbali-Zamora said. “For me, mentoring and helping others grow in their career and personal life is the most gratifying part of this job. I’ve learned something different from every intern that I’ve had.”
Piegan went on to become a year-round FORCEE intern, and his wind turbine modeling project became the focus of his master’s thesis at Montana State University.
Jones added that the FORCEE internship program fosters partnerships with professors and universities. Darbali-Zamora now has a collaboration with Piegan’s Ph.D. adviser at George Mason University as an example.
Melissa Louie, now a Sandia chemical engineer, participated in the FORCEE program while a chemical engineering master’s student at Cornell University in the summer of 2022. During the internship, she worked with Evan Sproul and Brandon Ennis on optimizing carbon fibers for wind turbine blade caps.
“It was super inspiring to see everything everyone was working on, especially in the renewables space,” Louie said. “When we went on tours of the Solar Tower and saw the wind turbine blades in Building 6585, it was really cool to see that everyone was excited about their work.”
Louie now gives back to the FORCEE program by providing on-site support for the summer 2024 interns, just as she did for the summer 2023 interns. Her role includes coordinating weekly informal lunches, facilitating connections among the interns, which she considers one of the program’s most valuable aspects, and serving as a point of contact for things they may hesitate to raise to their mentors.
What is the taste of honey from bees collecting pollen durin a war? Do snakes feel stress? A new study shows that war impacts the least expected creatures
Animals too feel the effects from the stress of war, finds a new study conducted at Tel Aviv University’s School of Zoology. Researchers reveal that the Israel-Hamas war has had a severe impact on animals.
The study, which focused on geckos, found that the sound of explosions from fired rockets induces stress and anxiety in these creatures, leading to a sharp increase in their metabolic rates — an energy cost that, if chronic, may be life-threatening. The researchers hypothesize that these stress responses characterize many other animals, especially those who live in the conflict zones in northern and southern Israel.
Shahar Dubiner, one of the researchers said: “Our research was conducted in a laboratory at Tel Aviv University and pertained to the reverberations of explosions from interceptions in the Tel Aviv area. However, given the unequivocal results showing symptoms of stress, we can infer that animals that are in the immediate conflict zones in the south and north of the country, where the intensity and frequency of fire are much higher, suffer from significantly more severe stress and anxiety symptoms that may endanger their lives.”
Left to right: Prof. Shai Meiri and Prof. Eran Levin.
The study was led by Shahar Dubiner, Prof. Shai Meiri and Prof. Eran Levin — in collaboration with Reut Vardi of the University of Oxford. The study was published in the journal Ecology.
The sounds of war are a sort of sound pollution which probably also affect marine life like whales, coral, dolphins and baby oysters.
“The most tragic aspect of war is the loss of human life, among both soldiers and civilians. However, animals are also severely affected, both directly and indirectly, in ways that may threaten their survival. A few weeks before October 7, we began working on a long-term study to measure the rate of energy consumption of small ground geckos of the species Stenodactylus sthenodactylus.
“We obviously did not foresee the outbreak of the war, but unintentionally, we recorded the energy consumption of five geckos during the rocket barrages launched into Tel Aviv in the first month of the war,” says Prof. Shai Meiri. Recently, Meiri published a study on rain and biodiversity.
A photo of Shai Meiri
The study’s findings showed that at the sound of the bombings, the geckos’ metabolic rate jumped to double what it was when they were at rest. Their breathing became faster, and they clearly exhibited signs of stress.
The experiment lasted up to four hours after the barrages, yet even within this timeframe the geckos did not calm down and return to their resting levels. Moreover, even after a month of continuous fighting, the geckos did not acclimate to the sound of the explosions — their stress response remained unchanged.
Prof. Levin notes that “A state of stress is detrimental to both humans and animals. To compensate for the increase in oxygen consumption and depletion of energy reserves, animals need to eat more. Even if they manage to find food, in the process they expose themselves to predators and lose opportunities to reproduce.
“In a situation of ongoing conflict, such as the current reality in Gaza, the Gaza Envelope, and along the Israeli-Lebanese border, the metabolic cost can be significant and have a real impact on the energy reserves and activity periods of reptiles and other animals. This can exacerbate their conservation status, especially for species that are already endangered.”
The researchers note that the findings of this study are consistent with another experiment conducted during Operation Guardian of the Walls, in which they also observed a stress response in a small snake of the species Xerotyphlops syriacus.
