As a result of a growing body of evidence, many biologists have started using the term "wood wide web" to describe the communications services that fungi provide to plants and other organisms. David Clapp / Getty Images
By Fino Menezes
Imagine an information superhighway that speeds up interactions between a large, diverse population of individuals, allowing individuals who may be widely separated to communicate and help each other out. When you walk in the woods, this is all happening beneath your feet. No, we're not talking about the internet, we're talking about fungi. As a result of a growing body of evidence, many biologists have started using the term "wood wide web" to describe the communications services that fungi provide to plants and other organisms.
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQwNDY2MC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwOTg3MTIyN30.ZNvsHnt1gIx3IooXSRjSd1ASx4VwVlHUL8wXtckLtRc/img.png?width=980" id="81719" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c8addc92501c0d4ea017631a61ada588" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
All trees all over the world form a symbiotic association with below-ground fungi These are fungi that are beneficial to the plants and explore the soil. The fungi send mycelium, a mass of thin threads, through the soil. The mycelium picks up nutrients and water, brings them back to the plant, and exchanges the nutrients and water for a sugar or other substance made by photosynthesis from the plant. AlbertonRecord.co.za
This Win/Win Is a Mutually Beneficial Exchange.
<p>While researching her doctoral thesis some 20+ years ago, ecologist Suzanne Simard discovered that trees communicate their needs and send each other nutrients via a network of latticed fungi buried in the soil – in other words, she found, they "talk" to each other.</p><p>Simard showed how trees use a network of soil fungi to communicate their needs and aid neighboring plants.</p><p>Since then she has <a href="https://e360.yale.edu/features/exploring_how_and_why_trees_talk_to_each_other" target="_blank">pioneered further research</a> into how trees converse, including how these fungal filigrees help trees send warning signals about environmental change, search for kin and how they transfer their nutrients to neighboring plants before they die.</p><p>All trees all over the world form a symbiotic association with below-ground fungi. These are fungi that are beneficial to the plants and explore the soil. The fungi send <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycelium" target="_blank">mycelium</a>, a mass of thin threads, through the soil. The mycelium picks up nutrients and water, brings them back to the plant, and exchanges the nutrients and water for a sugar or other substance made by photosynthesis from the plant.<br></p><p>It's this network that connects one tree root system to another tree root system, so that nutrients and water can exchange between them.</p><p>The word "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycorrhiza" target="_blank">mycorrhiza</a>" describes the mutually-beneficial relationships that plants have in which the fungi colonize the roots of plants. The mycorrhizae connect plants that may be widely separated.</p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://albertonrecord.co.za/182186/enviro-monday-trees-talk-via-wood-wide-web/" target="_blank">AlbertonRecord.co.za</a></em></p>Check Out This Example of Networking Opportunities.
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQwNDY2My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMDQyOTU1NH0.gS6l5LALZ03XGZcpsu7tNdwva4CVVu24OWP-y8aoe7c/img.jpg?width=980" id="0753b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1b67821fe3e5fffa9f1e5f3524f1dd45" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>Sixty-seven Douglas fir trees of various ages were found to be intricately connected below ground by ectomychorrhiza from the Rhizopogon genus. Rhizopogon, which means 'root beard' in Greek, is commonly found living in a symbiotic relationship with pine and fir trees, and thus is thought to play an important ecological role in coniferous forests. Areas occupied and trees connected by Rhizopogon vesiculosus are shaded blue, or shown with blue lines, while Rhizopogon vinicolor colonies and connections between trees are colored pink, or shown by pink lines. The most highly connected tree was linked to 47 other trees through eight colonies of R. vesiculosus and three of R. vinicolor. </p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/the-wood-wide-web/" target="_blank">NewZealandGeographic</a></em></p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b60fc5a18576b318f64ec14735adb6bd"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yWOqeyPIVRo?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p><span style="background-color: initial;">BBC News</span> <span style="background-color: initial;">Trees talk and share resources right under our feet, using a fungal network nicknamed the Wood Wide Web. Some plants use the system to support their offspring, while others hijack it to sabotage their rivals.</span> <span style="background-color: initial;"><em><a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=yWOqeyPIVRo" target="_blank">YouTube/BBCNews</a></em></span></p>
The Wood Wide Web Is Earth's Natural Internet.
<p>While mushrooms are the most familiar part of a fungus, most of their bodies are made up of mycelium. These threads act as a kind of <span style="background-color: initial;"><a href="http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20141111-plants-have-a-hidden-internet" target="_blank">underground internet</a></span>, now referred to as the "wood wide web" linking the roots of different plants and different species.</p><p>By linking to the fungal network they can help out their neighbors by sharing nutrients and information or by sabotaging unwelcome plants by spreading toxic chemicals through the network.</p><p>Fungal networks also boost their host plants' immune systems. Simply <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10886-012-0134-6" target="_blank">plugging in to mycelial networks</a> makes plants more resistant to disease.</p><p>Trees in forests are not really individuals. Large trees help out small, younger ones using the fungal internet. Without this help, Simard thinks many seedlings wouldn't survive. She found that seedlings in the shade, which are likely to be short of food, received carbon from other trees.</p><p>Learn more about the harmonious yet complicated social lives of trees and prepare to see the natural world with new eyes with Suzanne Simard's TED Talk, below.</p><p><em>Source: </em><em><a href="https://albertonrecord.co.za/182186/enviro-monday-trees-talk-via-wood-wide-web/" target="_blank">AlbertonRecord.co.za</a></em></p><iframe src="https://embed-ssl.ted.com//talks/suzanne_simard_how_trees_talk_to_each_other.html" width="100%" height="480" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="dc9f3e37a41679cf92091e0d3dde88a2"></iframe><p><span style="background-color: initial;">"A forest is much more than what you see," says ecologist Suzanne Simard. Her 30 years of research in Canadian forests have led to an astounding discovery -- trees talk, often and over vast distances. Learn more about the harmonious yet complicated social lives of trees and prepare to see the natural world with new eyes.</span> <span style="background-color: initial;"><em>Source: <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/suzanne_simard_how_trees_talk_to_each_other" target="_blank">TED.com</a></em></span></p><p><span style="background-color: initial;"><em><a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/suzanne_simard_how_trees_talk_to_each_other" target="_blank"></a></em></span>Simard suggests four simple solutions for more holistic and sustainable forestry that could end the damage caused by clear cutting:</p><ul><li>We need to get out into our local forests more.</li><li>We must save old growth forests as they are the repositories of genes, mother trees and mycelium networks.</li><li>Where we do cut, we must save the 'legacy' mother trees and networks so they can pass their wisdom onto the next generation of trees.</li><li>We must regenerate our forests with a diversity of species.</li></ul><p>As more and more information comes to light about the complex relationships existing between trees, we are better equipped to save our forests and help them thrive. Scientists like Simard are helping us change our perspective so that we work in harmony with nature; something that could dramatically alter the trajectory of environmental disaster and bring harmonious outcomes for both humans and trees.</p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://upliftconnect.com/trees-talk-to-each-other-in-a-language-we-can-learn/" target="_blank">UpliftConnect.com</a></em></p>
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April 2020 was the first month ever that renewables generated more electricity than thermal coal in the United States every single day. Crady von Pawlak / Getty Images
By Fino Menezes
April 2020 was the first month ever that renewables generated more electricity than thermal coal in the United States every single day, while across the Atlantic, the United Kingdom's rapid decarbonization of its electricity grid has achieved another significant milestone – completing a whole month (30 days) without coal power for the first time in 138 years.
Renewables Surpass Coal in U.S. Power Generation Every Day in April
<p>April 2020 was the first month in U.S. history that renewables generated more electricity than coal on every day of the month. That's based on new data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and compiled by the nonprofit <a href="https://ieefa.org/ieefa-update-renewables-surpass-coal-in-u-s-power-generation-throughout-the-month-of-april-2020/" target="_blank">Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA)</a>.</p><p>The daily consecutive run of renewables over coal began on March 25 and continued for 40 straight days through May 3. That breaks the previous record of just nine continuous days.</p><p>The strong output from utility-scale solar, wind, and hydropower is based on several factors, including low gas prices, warmer weather, new renewable capacity connecting to the grid late last year, and lower power demand because of the coronavirus.</p><p>IEEFA <a href="https://ieefa.org/ieefa-update-renewables-surpass-coal-in-u-s-power-generation-throughout-the-month-of-april-2020/" target="_blank">reported</a>: "Coal's high cost has made it increasingly one of the last fuel choices for many utilities, a trend reflected by its declining market share for electric generation: just 15.3% in April, according to preliminary EIA figures.</p><p>"In January, coal's market share fell below 20% for the first time in many decades — and possibly for the first time in the entire history of the U.S. power industry — ending at 19.9%.</p><p>"EIA figures also show its share continued to erode, falling to 18.3% in February and 17.3% in March. As recently as 2008, coal's market share was above 50% in the months of January, February and March."</p><p>IEEFA had previously <a href="https://ieefa.org/ieefa-update-renewable-generation-is-set-to-surpass-coal-in-2021/" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://ieefa.org/ieefa-update-renewable-generation-is-set-to-surpass-coal-in-2021/" target="_blank">forecasted that power generation from renewables</a> would likely surpass coal-fired generation in 2021, an important milestone in the energy transition that is well underway. But in the first quarter of 2020, renewable generation unexpectedly exceeded coal, and with this strong performance continuing in the second quarter, there is an increasing chance that the milestone could occur this year.</p>U.K. Goes a Month Without Coal Power for First Time for 138 Years
<p>The United Kingdom's rapid decarbonization of its electricity grid has achieved another significant milestone – completing a whole month (30 days) without coal power for the first time in 138 years, <a href="https://ieefa.org/u-k-electricity-goes-coal-free-for-a-month-a-first-in-138-years/" target="_blank">reported</a> The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) this week.</p><p>The milestone was reached on Sunday 10 May (U.K.) time and celebrated by National Grid ESO, the organization that runs the grid and is responsible for keeping the lights on nationwide. It was the first time this occurred since coal power was first used on the U.K. power system in January, 1882, at Holborn Viaduct.<br></p><p>Within a few years, there will be no coal generation at all – with the remaining plants shuttered, and one or two converted to gas by 2025. National Grid aims to be able to operate a fully zero emission grid when weather conditions allow from 2025, and is accelerating its adoption of new technologies and management systems that will allow it to side line gas power plants when possible.<br></p><p>Just a few days before the new month-long coal-free milestone, National Grid released its latest end of year planning report outlining the main achievements it has made in the long path to a fully decarbonized grid before 2050.</p><p>"We're really proud of our zero carbon targets," National Grid wrote in a blog a few days earlier. "In May 2019 there was a 2-week period where there was coal free operation of Great Britain's electricity system. This has quickly been beaten after the record breaking sunlight in April."</p><p>It noted that the carbon intensity of the electricity system has halved over the last five years, and is down 60 per cent when compared to 2013. "The recent <a href="https://www.nationalgrideso.com/news/day-life-energy-forecasting-manager" target="_blank">low demand for energy</a> due to COVID-19 has dramatically reduced the use of fossil fuel based generation, and this has been supported by our optimized renewable generation," it says.</p><p>"And as supply changes, so to does demand, as renewables capacity and smart grid functionality increases further to enable the side-lining of gas power plants when possible."</p>From Your Site Articles
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A koala affected by the recent bushfires is released back into native bushland following treatment at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park on Feb. 21, 2020 in Parndana, Australia. Lisa Maree Williams / Getty Images
By Fino Menezes
After unprecedented bushfires devastated communities and iconic flora and fauna across Australia, non-profit group Science for Wildlife releases 12 koalas back into their natural habitat in the Blue Mountains.
First Koalas Released Back Into the Wild After Bushfire Horror
<p>Before this current global health crisis, Australia endured an unprecedented bushfire season that devastated communities and iconic flora and fauna across the country. In the midst of the horror, 12 koalas were rescued from the Kanangra Boyd National Park in the southern Blue Mountains World Heritage area. On March 23rd and 25th, they were reintroduced back into the eucalyptus forests of their Kanangra home.</p>On March 23rd and 25th the Koalas Returned Home
<p>Science for Wildlife, a not-for-profit wildlife conservation organization based out of Sydney, Australia, recently announced that all of their koalas, saved from the recent bushfires, have been returned to their home in the Blue Mountains of Australia.</p><p>They rescued the marsupials, who are representatives of the most genetically diverse population of koalas in Australia, from the devastating mega-fire that moved through the area in December 2019. They were sheltered in safety and cared for by staff at Taronga Zoo, with a team effort between Taronga and Science for Wildlife in keeping them fed.</p><p>On March 23rd and 25th, they were reintroduced back into the eucalyptus forests by the team, with the support of San Diego Zoo Global.</p><p>"While they have coped well in care, we are delighted to finally send our koalas home. We have been busy assessing the burnt area that we rescued them from, to establish when the conditions have improved enough that the trees can support them again," said <a href="http://scienceforwildlife.org/people/dr-kellie-leigh/" target="_blank">Dr Kellie Leigh</a>, Executive Director of Science for Wildlife.</p><p>"The recent rains have helped and there is now plenty of new growth for them to eat, so the time is right. We will be radio-tracking them and keeping a close eye on them to make sure that they settle in ok."<br></p><p>Dr. Leigh continued, "During the massive fires, as 80% of the World Heritage Area burnt, we were at risk of losing the entire koala population at this site and so that's what drove us to try something so radical and pull these koalas out before the fire hit."</p>The Animals are Part of a Genetically Diverse Koala Population
<p>The Greater Blue Mountains area is a mountainous region located in New South Wales in Australia, which supports koalas that seem to break all the rules. The region was listed as a World Heritage Area by UNESCO in 2000 largely due to an outstanding diversity of eucalypt species (over 100 species), giving koalas more choice of habitats and food trees than anywhere else in Australia.<br></p><p>Science for Wildlife has been running the Blue Mountains Koala Project in this region for 5 years and through collaborative research they discovered that the Blue Mountains World Heritage Region is home to the most genetically diverse population of koalas in the world. The population in Kanangra-Boyd is also free of chlamydia, which is sadly a rare thing. Science for Wildlife, along with San Diego Zoo Global*, is committing resources to help ensure that the population is recovered.<br></p><p>*Bringing species back from the brink of extinction is the goal of San Diego Zoo Global. A leader in global conservation, San Diego Zoo Global has been a core partner for Science for Wildlife's Blue Mountains Koala Project since it started and have been raising funds to support the rescue and other emergency wildlife work that Dr. Kellie Leigh and her team have been undertaking during the bushfires.</p><p>Some of the core funding provided by San Diego Zoo Global over the years has been used for ecological studies and to find, capture and radio-track koalas at the different study sites – those tracking devices are what enabled the team to go in and find the koalas and move them out before the approaching fire. The same devices, along with more support from San Diego Zoo, will now allow them to monitor the animals and ensure they settle in ok.</p>What's Next for These Koalas?
<p>The reintroduction of these koalas back to their natural habitat is just the next stage in what conservationists know will be a long-term effort to recover koala populations in the area.</p><p>"There is still a lot of work to be done to assess what is left of koalas in this region and plan for population recovery. We are dedicated to continuing to support this critical work to conserve a significant koala population," <a href="http://scienceforwildlife.org/koalas-return-to-the-blue-mountains/" target="_blank">said</a> Paul Baribault, President and CEO of San Diego Zoo Global.</p><p>The radio-tracking devices fitted to the koalas will ensure that the Science for Wildlife team can monitor their welfare, and also learn more about how koalas use the landscape after fire. This should tell them where else they might find pockets of surviving koalas. Finally, the technology will help the Science for Wildlife team plan a future for koalas under climate change, where more frequent and intense fires are expected.</p><p>To learn more about the Blue Mountains Koala Project, visit their project page <a href="http://scienceforwildlife.org/iconic-koalas-blue-mountains-project/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>For projects updates and to learn more about Science for Wildlife community, visit their projects page <a href="http://scienceforwildlife.org/projects/" target="_blank">here</a>, or follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/ScienceForWildlife/photos/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. </p>Koalas are Being Released in Other Parts of New South Wales
<p>Koalas are also being released in other parts of New South Wales, the state where Sydney is located, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/sydney-australia-bushfires-koalas-released-a9443261.html" target="_blank">reported</a> <em>The Independent</em> last week.</p><p>Staff and volunteers at Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, based four hours' drive north of Sydney, released their first koala on April 2.<br></p><p>The four-year-old named Anwen was rescued in October last year, and will be the first of 26 koalas to be released into the wild by the animal hospital over the coming days.</p><p>The remaining koalas will be split into three groups and will be released back to their original habitats in Crowdy Bay (South of Port Macquarie), and two areas in the Lake Innes Nature Reserve.</p><p>Sue Ashton, president of Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, said, "This is a heart-warming day for us – to be able to release so many of our koalas back to their original habitats, even to their original tree in some cases – makes us very happy.</p><p>"Anwen was our first ever female koala to be admitted during the bushfires and her recovery has been extraordinary. It marks a proud moment for Australia; to see our Koala population and habitat starting to recover from what was such a devastating time."<br></p><p>Port Macquarie Koala Hospital has also cared for koalas from Taree, the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury. The hospital said these will be returned to their "home" areas to be released.</p>From Your Site Articles
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By Fino Menezes
Everyone adores dolphins. Intelligent, inquisitive and playful, these special creatures have captivated humans since the dawn of time. But dolphins didn't get to where they are by accident — they needed to develop some pretty amazing superpowers to cope with their environment.
<div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3858286e8fe1451b5a8a716a5d140d67"><div class="fb-video" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/brightvibes/videos/870290333157607/" data-allowfullscreen="true"></div></div><p><em>These extraordinarily intelligent creatures have been seen to display culture, use tools, and display altruism, traits long-thought to be unique to humans. </em><em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/brightvibes/videos/870290333157607/" target="_blank">Facebook / BrightVibes</a></em></p>
Adapting to Life in the Ocean Required Some Serious Skills for a Mammal
<p>Dolphins have developed some incredible abilities that continue to amaze researchers.</p>1. Sleep
<p>Everything needs to sleep, but dolphins have found a clever workaround. They shut down only half their brain at a time while the <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090501090908.htm" target="_blank">other half remains conscious</a> and takes over all functions. What's more, the mammals seem to be able to remain continually vigilant for sounds for days on end.</p>2. Vision
<p>Besides sonar, which is itself pretty incredible, <a href="https://brightvibes.com/915/en/10-surprising-superpowers-of-dolphins" target="_blank">dolphins have excellent eyesight</a>. A panoramic range of vision of 300° allows them to see in two directions at once and even behind themselves — both in <u>and</u> out of the water.</p>3. Super Skin
<p>Dolphin skin grows about 9 times faster than ours, and an entire layer of skin is replaced every two hours. Their skin secretes a special non-stick <a href="https://seaworld.org/en/animal-info/animal-infobooks/bottlenose-dolphins/physical-characteristics" target="_blank">antibacterial gel</a> to deter barnacles and parasites.</p>4. They Rescue Other Species
<p>There are many tales of <a href="https://www.dolphins-world.com/dolphins-rescuing-humans/" target="_blank">dolphins helping humans</a> in the high sea. Sometimes they'll even go out of their way to help other aquatic species.</p>5. Respiration
<p>Bottlenose dolphins can hold their breath for 12 minutes and dive to 550 metres (1800ft) due to <a href="https://seaworld.org/en/animal-info/animal-infobooks/bottlenose-dolphins/adaptations" target="_blank">hyper-efficient lungs</a>. Dolphins have more red blood cells with greater concentrations of hemoglobin than we do.</p>6. Healing
<p>Scientists are baffled by dolphins' ability to not only heal quickly but seemingly <a href="https://www.livescience.com/15150-dolphin-recovery-human-healing.html" target="_blank">regenerate missing parts</a>. And dolphins won't bleed to death despite huge wounds, having the ability to <a href="https://www.rebelmouse.com/wordpress-vip-2401656056.html" target="_blank">constrict blood vessels</a> to stem the flow.</p>7. Pain
<p>Dolphins are as <a href="http://sciencenetlinks.com/science-news/science-updates/dolphin-healing/" target="_blank">sensitive to pain as humans</a>, but when inflicted with serious wounds scientists believe they are able to produce <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/dolphins-shark-attacks-dolphins-heal-regenerate-wounded-fins/story?id=14165362&page=2#.T6OOkuiWm8A" target="_blank">natural morphine-strength painkillers</a> that are nonaddictive.</p>8. Thrust
<p>While an Olympic swimmer can produce around 60 or 70 pounds of thrust, a dolphin is capable of <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081124131334.htm" target="_blank">300 to 400 pounds of thrust</a> and is one of the oceans most efficient swimmers.</p>9. Infection
<p>How dolphins are able to <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2011/07/26/138677504/shark-bites-no-match-for-dolphins-powers-of-healing" target="_blank">swim with open wounds</a> in the bacteria-riddled ocean and not die of infection, scientists still don't know for sure, but the best guess is that dolphins have managed to siphon off <a href="http://www.jidonline.org/" target="_blank">a</a><a href="http://www.jidonline.org/" target="_blank">ntibiotics made by plankton and algae</a>.</p>10. Electroreception
<p>Dolphins can actually <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2011/07/guiana-dolphins-can-use-electric-signals-locate-prey" target="_blank">sense the electrical impulses</a> given off by all living things. They probably use this ability to hunt fish in turbid water and muddy sediments.</p><p>These extraordinarily intelligent and graceful creatures have also been seen to display culture, use tools, and display altruism, traits long-thought to be unique to humans.</p>
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Rob Greenfield pictured above is driven by the concept of "living a life where [he] can wake up and feel good about [his] life." Rob Greenfield / Facebook
For one year Rob Greenfield grew and foraged all of his own food. No grocery stores, no restaurants, no going to a bar for a drink, not even medicines from the pharmacy.
<p>Literally everything that passed Greenfield's lips in the last year was something he either grew in his gardens or he went out into nature and harvested. He hopes his journey will inspire others to live with more happiness, health and sustainability.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4e0b2a23daa10cea9eb7d359e8b23235"><div class="fb-video" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/EcoWatch/videos/420063338894748/" data-allowfullscreen="true"></div></div>
Rob Greenfield Wants to Inspire People to Question Their Food
<p>For some time, Greenfield had been wrestling with the question: is it possible to step away from our globalised industrialised food system, from all the destruction that it causes to the world, to other species, to other people, and step away from that and actually produce all of his own food? So he decided to find out if it was possible.</p><p>Well, one year later and Greenfield is happy to announce that he still here and he is healthier than when he started, and happier that he did it.</p><p>Another element of the experiment is that he wants to inspire people to question their food. Where does it come from? How does it get to them? What is the impact it has on the Earth, other species and ultimately themselves?</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjA5MTUzMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NzcwNTk1MH0.AAjelfaAzEV1J4nb-v8AhBxn8LhSmLt_pn3Y87Qmvvs/img.jpg?width=980" id="540eb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="902f9c30d0ef4b544705f9a55710fce9" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Greenfield displays "TOO MUCH HONEY" on day 357 of growing and foraging 100 percent of his food. Rob Greenfield / Facebook
<p>And if they question it and they don't like the answers that they find, then Greenfield hopes they'll change those answers. That they'll change the way they are eating to be in a way that is more beneficial to the Earth, to our communities and to ourselves.<br></p><p>When Greenfield arrived in Orlando, he had no land or gardens of his own, so he had to walk around the community talking to people and ask if they would be interested in him turning their front lawn into a garden. Over a period of six months he made six small gardens around the neighborhood. The deal was that the owners could eat as much food as they wanted from the garden. Now the project is over, however all the gardens are still producing more food.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjA5MDQ3My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NjgzMjIwMX0.LrH4PYR0yB-nqhd9PZhEwr_lg0rsBTnPbAZRkdcnQ0o/img.jpg?width=980" id="862ec" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="05ebca7ac905c20847bfdac8a6581c5d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Rob has "grown over 100 different foods and foraged over 200." Rob Greenfield / Facebook
<p>Greenfield put a lot of thought and effort into this 12 month project. Prior to the year, he began growing and learning how to forage for 10 months. He looked into everything; where he'd get his calories, fats, protein and nutrients.</p><p>He grew some 100 different foods in his garden and foraged a further 200 different foods: a variety of over 300 foods, which is extremely diverse by anybody's standards. With salt from the ocean, coconuts from the beach, caught fish, and a variety of herbs from his garden, Greenfield's diet for the 12-months was balanced, healthy, fresh, seasonal, tasty, plastic-free, pesticide-free, and above all, eye-opening.<br></p><p>He will be doing a lot of traveling over the next year so he won't have a garden, but says everywhere he goes he will still seek out locally produced food. Of course he will have to buy food, but he says it's about buying unpackaged foods that don't leave trash behind for future generations.<br></p><blockquote><em>What I'm driven by… Is living a life where I can wake up and feel good about my life, and I can go to bed and feel good about my life, and where I can hopefully die many years from now and know that my life was honest. It was genuine. I knew my actions and how they affected the world. I want to live a life of truth. But beyond that, I want to spread the truth. I want other people to wake up and I want him to live lives of truth as well.<br></em><br><em>And that's so that we're living fairly, you know, in a world where we have so much. I think it makes sense for everybody to have enough, not have food systems where in one country we are wasting half of our food and another place people are literally starving today.</em><br><em>I think our society's advanced enough where we can take care of each other. Let's take care of each other. Let's take care of our earth.</em></blockquote><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjA5MDQ4NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NzY2ODMzOX0.9Kgi6Uj7oOXneADn7fsr0bovV0lCDhejua5lDtaChxk/img.jpg?width=980" id="34964" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7199efe3b161c817d56d81e8b50d9b01" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<p class=""><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://brightvibes.com/1519/en/for-one-year-rob-greenfield-100-lived-on-only-what-he-grew-and-foraged-for-himself" target="_blank">BrightVibes</a>.</em></p>Rob shares fresh honey, fruits and veggies from his garden with neighbors. Rob Greenfield / Facebook
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Man lying on plastic infested coast of Villa El Salvador near Lima, Peru in May. Jordan Beltran / Unsplash
The government of India is set to impose a nationwide ban on plastic bags, cups and straws on October 2, officials announced, in its most sweeping measure yet to eradicate single-use plastics from cities and villages that have ranked among the world's most polluted.
The ban will be comprehensive and will cover manufacturing, usage, and import.
<div id="18e53" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="I46ZMO1576661510"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1166704523680931842" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">India is set to ban 6 single-use plastic items nationwide, including plastic bags, cups, plates, small bottles, str… https://t.co/LnqBkNmfR3</div> — Shivya Nath (@Shivya Nath)<a href="https://twitter.com/shivya/statuses/1166704523680931842">1566999009.0</a></blockquote></div><p>India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who is leading efforts to scrap such plastics by 2022, is set to launch the campaign with a ban on as many as six items on October 2, the birth anniversary of <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi" target="_blank">Mahatma Gandhi</a>, officials said.</p><p>These include <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastic-bags" target="_self">plastic bags</a>, cups, plates, small bottles, straws and certain types of sachets, said the officials, who asked not to be identified, in line with government policy.</p><p><em>"</em>The ban will be comprehensive and will cover manufacturing, usage and import of such items<em>," </em>an official said.</p><p>In an Independence Day speech on August 15, Prime Minister Modi had urged people and government agencies to <em>"take the first big step"</em> on October 2 towards freeing the country of single-use plastic.</p>The ban will shave 5-10 percent from India's annual consumption of about 14 million tonnes of plastic.
<div id="73dd3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2PGU021576661510"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1167351473539170305" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">#India to ban single-use plastic products from October 2. @PMOIndia @narendramodi Ji who is leading efforts to scr… https://t.co/EPjdFngaYz</div> — Anshul Dave (@Anshul Dave)<a href="https://twitter.com/anshul_dave/statuses/1167351473539170305">1567153254.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The ban on the first six items of single-use plastics is expected to shave 5 to 10 percent from India's annual consumption of about 14 million tonnes of plastic, the official said.</p><p>He added, penalties for violations of the ban will probably take effect after an initial six-month period to allow people time to adopt alternatives. Some states have already outlawed polythene bags, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-pollution-plastic-exclusive/exclusive-india-set-to-outlaw-six-single-use-plastic-products-on-october-2-sources-idUSKCN1VI19F" target="_blank">Reuters</a>.</p><p>The government also plans tougher environmental standards for plastic products and will insist on the use of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/recycling" target="_self">recyclable</a> plastic only, the official said.</p><p>It <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-pollution-plastic-exclusive/exclusive-india-set-to-outlaw-six-single-use-plastic-products-on-october-2-sources-idUSKCN1VI19F" target="_blank">will also ask</a> e-commerce companies to cut back on plastic packaging that makes up nearly 40 percent of the country's annual plastic consumption, the officials said.</p><p>Cheap smartphones and a surge in the number of internet users have boosted orders for e-commerce companies, such as Amazon.com Inc and Walmart Inc's Flipkart, which wrap their wares — from books and medicines to cigarettes and cosmetics — in plastic, pushing up consumption.</p>The world is waking up to the plastic mess we are creating.
<p>Earlier this year the European Union announced plans to ban single-use plastic items such as straws, forks, knives and cotton buds by 2021.<a href="https://www.brightvibes.com/1037/en/the-final-straw-eu-parliament-has-just-voted-to-ban-single-use-plastics-in-bid-to-tackle-pollution" target="_blank"></a></p><p>And elsewhere in Asia, China's commercial hub of Shanghai is gradually reining in use of single-use plastics in catering, and its island province of Hainan has already vowed to completely eliminate single-use plastic by 2025.</p><p><em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://www.brightvibes.com/1422/en/india-set-to-ban-six-single-use-plastic-items-on-october-2" target="_blank">BrightVibes</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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By Michiel de Gooijer
From Bus Stops to Bee Stops
<p>In the Dutch city Utrecht 316 bus stops now have a green roof. They do not only look great, they also help capture fine dust, storage of rainwater and provide cooling in the summertime.</p><p>It is one of many measures that could improve Utrecht's air quality. Did you know that after smoking, an unhealthy environment (including bad air quality) is the <a href="https://www.utrecht.nl/wonen-en-leven/gezonde-leefomgeving/luchtkwaliteit/" target="_blank">second cause of diseases</a> in the Netherlands?</p><p>Watch the video at the bottom of this article.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTgwNzI1My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NDM3MTQ5N30.MYM1qoyJMiEhT4LeRD_qBHuYGR5SvZbIoArAgj_mbj0/img.jpg?width=980" id="f8800" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d5c39926a434f3eec076b6708276b203" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p><strong></strong><span style="background-color: initial;"><strong>More Biodiversity:</strong></span> <span style="background-color: initial;">The green roofs of Utrecht's bus stops have also become bee stops and contribute to the city's biodiversity, supporting insects like honey bees and bumblebees.</span></p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTgwNzcyMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMzk2NTA1OX0.UJ4SZUY6KkmUVxO_y6dHvRK1bHSRfQp3wQ2RYbyTtAk/img.jpg?width=980" id="dcc9a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7b0d85a6b3ff0d4d9d5a043be24b2909" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p><strong></strong><span style="background-color: initial;"><strong></strong><strong>Sedum Plants: </strong></span><span style="background-color: initial;">The roofs mainly have sedum plants. They are maintained by municipal workers who drive around in electric vehicles.</span></p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTgwNzgwMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwMjg4Nzk5OH0.SNE8yUp4Ic5OjKE1l57XyrTQG39SXAp_aKMrTDWOil8/img.jpg?width=980" id="d87fc" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a1b9c41b740f6ea894966743f8a11eb1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p><strong></strong><strong>LED lights: </strong>The bus stops are outfitted with efficient led lights and a bamboo bench. </p>
Better Buses
<p>Recently Utrecht has replaced 10 diesel buses for <a href="https://www.duurzaamu-ov.nl/elektrische-bussen" target="_blank">electric buses</a>. Utrecht aims to only operate CO2 neutral buses by 2028. In the meantime, Utrecht incentivizes bus drivers to adapt to a more <a href="https://www.duurzaamu-ov.nl/" target="_blank">environmentally friendly driving style</a>. The buses register how efficient and comfortable each bus driver operates the bus, and based on how well they drive, they can "win" prizes the cleaner, more comfortable and safer they drive. </p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTgwODEzNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNDUxMjg1MH0.EchNOmXNjMXCp40SgCvrRMKRQ_ponIz7yUfVid-gJoo/img.jpg?width=980" id="ee16e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="04cb5e462d13e1625c97657f8b598910" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p><span style="background-color: initial;"><strong></strong><strong>More Electric Buses: </strong></span><span style="background-color: initial;">Utrecht is expanding the number of buses powered by electricity. The electricity used by Utrecht comes from Dutch windmills.</span></p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTgwODMwMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMjk5MTQ0MX0.qUF2YbQ2sK7OJglDiDW7YzVVF9pwRsRdg-6vr_JSvH4/img.jpg?width=980" id="406a8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6c7380c9a46e4343f027b57c1e11427b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p><strong></strong><strong>Your Own Green Roof: </strong>The citizens of Utrecht are incentivized to transform their own roofs into green roofs too and can apply for special subsidies. </p>
<div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="48d31e5f1d8efb163de6385d151cdae7"><div class="fb-video" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/EcoWatch/videos/686362638492157/" data-allowfullscreen="true"></div></div>
And How About Bee Stings?
<p>Speaking from personal experience, the bees are attracted by the plants and flowers on the roof, not by the people sitting underneath the roof. And as you can <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_sting" target="_blank">read here</a>, in general bees are not aggressive at all. They are often mistaken for the more aggressive wasps, but there really is no need to fear these busy bees on these bus stop green roofs.</p>From Your Site Articles
- 7-Mile 'Bee Corridor' of Wildflowers Will Feed London's Pollinators ... ›
- Minnesota Will Pay Residents to Create Bee Friendly Lawns ... ›
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