Good News for the Biosphere at-a-Glance!
The Future Will be Built on Biomaterials
This is the vision of an innovative start-up company called Marvel Labs, Inc. It is using 3D printing techniques to rebuild the future of physical goods using biomass; sourced locally, in a manner that is infinitely scalable, and cost competitive with traditional manufacturing. Marvel’s claim is they have an entirely new way of doing things, and the benefits are staggering: unprecedented reductions in costs, carbon emissions, and labor by breathing new life into a discarded resources like: wood, coffee and seaweed. They promise their approach is ushering in a new era for sustainability by harnessing the earth’s 546 gigatons of biomass and transforming it into stunning products. By combining biology, hardware, and software. Products made by Marvel Labs can be used in a wide variety of applications; from democratized consumer goods to luxury home interiors. Learn more about them here.
The Indescribable Beauty, Awe and Mystery of Biodiversity’s Inner Workings
The Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition first began in 1975 as a means to recognize and applaud the efforts of those involved with photography through the light microscope. Since then, Small World has become a leading showcase for photomicrographers from the widest array of scientific disciplines. Become spellbound by a rodent’s optic nerve, the chromatic effect of breast cancer cells, or the auto-fluorescing defensive hairs covering the leaf surface of a Russian Olive shrub. Stable environmental conditions over eons of time have infused the mystery of life with unbelievable levels of creativity and diversity. As Ishmeal pleaded in the book of the same name – “humankind’s gift of consciousness could be its reason for existence; to act as the guardian to protect the conditions of life.” Become inspired here.
Climate Quitters Give Corporate Status Quo Something to Think About
A growing global trend of 'climate quitters': workers walking out on companies whose environmental policies are at odds with their own values. According to research by carbon removal marketplace In the UK 35% of 2,000 office workers surveyed said they were willing to quit their jobs over weak climate action from their employers, with the figure increasing to 53% for Gen Z employees. "We're literally talking about the future of humanity,". Polman, who is credited with significantly improving Unilever's climate action, adds that workers today are far more climate-aware than in the past. "People are realizing that a few good business initiatives and a sprinkling of corporate social responsibility (CSR) aren't going to cut it. We need businesses which thrive by fixing the world's problems instead of creating them." Learn more here.
New Website Provides Transparency on How Well Companies Walk Their Talk About Climate Change
The InfluenceMap platform provides critical information on corporate engagement with climate policy in the United States. While the platform is under development, the Beta version (available for use in the short term) currently offers: rankings and profiles for over 130 of the largest and most climate-relevant US companies assessed under the LobbyMap system; an Industry Associations tab with information on the climate policy engagement of U.S. industry associations; and a Policy Tracker tab, which can be used to track corporate policy engagement on specific US climate policies, focusing on an initial list of US federal policies. Try to guess which US company has the lowest score and which as the highest then go here to find out.
Bonus: Are You Experiencing Bad News Burnout? Check Out BIG JOY!
An analysis released November 14th from scientists behind a research initiative called the BIG JOY Project finds that people who commit daily "micro-acts" of joy experience about a 25% increase in emotional well-being over the course of a week. Learn how to experience more joy here.
Our Biosphere - Is defined as that part of the Earth in which living organisms exist (the entire zone of life). As such, it is viewed as all the places that support life and includes the overlapping zones of the atmosphere, the upper part of the geosphere, and all of the hydrosphere. Or more simply; any place on Earth where life can exist. Not protecting our Biosphere is the root cause for most of the critical environmental, social and economic disasters we face today in the Anthropocene Era.
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Bill Stough, LLC | 616.889.0640 | PO Box 414, Byron Center, MI 49315