In today’s world, the power of purpose is driving change like never before. sustainable living brands are at the forefront of this movement, reshaping the way we think about consumption and environmental impact. The Power of Purpose: How Sustainable Living Brands Are Changing the Game is undeniable.
According to experts in the field, the key to the success of sustainable living brands lies in their commitment to a higher purpose. As author and environmentalist Paul Hawken once said, “You are brilliant and the Earth is hiring.” This sentiment speaks to the idea that by aligning with a greater cause, companies can inspire both employees and consumers to make a positive impact on the planet.
Sustainable living brands are not just selling products; they are selling a lifestyle. By promoting eco-friendly practices and ethical sourcing, these brands are setting a new standard for the industry. As sustainability expert John Elkington puts it, “The triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit is the key to long-term success.”
One such brand leading the charge is Patagonia, a company known for its commitment to environmental activism. Founder Yvon Chouinard has said, “We are in business to save our home planet.” By incorporating sustainability into every aspect of their operations, Patagonia has set a new benchmark for corporate responsibility.
Other brands, such as Seventh Generation and Eileen Fisher, are also making waves in the sustainable living space. By prioritizing transparency and accountability, these companies are building trust with consumers who are increasingly demanding ethical products.
The Power of Purpose is not just a buzzword; it is a driving force behind the shift towards a more sustainable future. As consumers become more aware of the impact of their choices, they are turning to brands that share their values. By embracing sustainability, companies can not only attract new customers but also make a positive impact on the planet.
To learn more about sustainable living and how you can make a difference, visit Planetary Citizens. Together, we can create a more sustainable world for future generations.
Remember, the Power of Purpose is in your hands. Let’s change the game together.
In today’s world, the environmental and health benefits of sustainable living cannot be emphasized enough. It is crucial for us to make conscious decisions that not only benefit us but also our planet. Sustainable living involves adopting practices that help preserve the environment and promote our well-being.
According to experts, sustainable living not only helps reduce our carbon footprint but also improves our overall health. Dr. Jane Goodall, a renowned primatologist and environmental activist, once said, “Sustainable living is about making choices that are good for the planet and good for our health.” By choosing sustainable options, such as eating organic foods and using eco-friendly products, we can protect our environment and improve our own health in the process.
One of the key benefits of sustainable living is reducing air and water pollution. By using renewable energy sources and reducing waste, we can help decrease harmful emissions and pollutants that contribute to climate change and other health issues. This can have a significant impact on our overall well-being and the health of future generations.
Additionally, sustainable living promotes a more active and healthy lifestyle. By choosing to walk or bike instead of driving, we can reduce our carbon footprint and improve our physical health. Dr. David Suzuki, a prominent environmentalist, once said, “Sustainable living is not just about protecting the environment; it’s also about living a healthier life.” Making small changes in our daily habits can have a big impact on our health and the environment.
In conclusion, it is important for us to consider the environmental and health benefits of sustainable living in our daily lives. By making conscious choices that promote sustainability, we can protect our planet and improve our own well-being. To learn more about sustainable living and how you can make a difference, visit Planetary Citizens for valuable resources and information.
Reference:
– Dr. Jane Goodall
– Dr. David Suzuki
[Click here to learn more about sustainable living](https://planetarycitizens.org/)
The shrill carder (Bombus sylvarum) is the bookmakers’ early favourite for invertebrate of the year. (I’m picturing a smooth, charming worm giving it the bookies’ patter and an embittered elderly grasshopper totting up the odds, disgruntled because his kind wasn’t nominated.)
Here flies one of our smallest bumblebees, a distinctive greyish-green and straw-hued species which is named after the high-pitched buzz it makes when airborne.
Bees, in particular bumblebees, are our most popular insects. We identify with their communal lifestyles, admire their industry, enjoy their association with sunny days and flowers and, increasingly, appreciate their importance as pollinators – for crops, for us, for all life on Earth.
Despite our love for the shrill carder, it is being pushed to extinction in Britain. Once common in the lowlands, it vanished from most places during the 20th century. It is now found in fragmented populations in pockets of Kent, Essex, Somerset, Wiltshire, and south and west Wales that include wetlands, dry grasslands, dunes and brownfield sites.
What these varied places have in common is that they are not intensively farmed. One of its most significant sites in the south-east is the brownfield nature reserve at Canvey Wick, another demonstration of the importance of brownfield sites and why they must not be the default choice for new development.
The shrill carder has declined for much the same reason as has much abundance and biodiversity in Britain: intensive farming practices that have destroyed 98% of flower-rich meadows in England and Wales over the past century.
Illustration with details of shrill carder bumblebee
The shrill carder comes late to the season, with its queens not usually emerging from hibernation until May. Research suggests the bees do not forage as far from the nest as many other species, so it needs flower-rich habitats and undisturbed nesting grounds. It nests in rough, tussocky grassland, within clumps of grass or just below ground.
Colonies are small, with only about 50 workers in a mature nest, and males and daughter queens emerge late, too, at the end of August or September. So the species needs late-flowering plants – plentiful supplies of nectar in September – to ensure the next generation goes into hibernation well fed.
Unfortunately, the intensification of farming has meant the traditional annual hay-cut in July – which enabled some plants to flower again in September – has been replaced with multiple cuts for silage throughout the growing season, reducing the supply of late flowers. And previously untidy, uncut field margins – another source of late nectar and nesting grounds – have been cultivated. It means there is no space for the shrill carder.
Saving this bumblebee is a British conservation priority. Jenny Jones, a Green party member in the Lords, even got a tattoo of the shrill carder to raise awareness of its plight, and there have been plenty of schemes over the past 15 years to boost flower-rich habitat in the areas where it survives.
We excel at saving species on the brink of extinction, but we are less good at changing the big picture. An increasing number of farmers are showing how to produce food and make space for nature, but most farms are still run on intensive lines and will continue to be as long as government rules ensure that is the best and easiest way to make a living.
So vote shrill carder, vote for change and vote for a future for our pollinating insects – and a future for us.
Welcome to the Guardian’s UK invertebrate of the year competition. Between 2 April and 12 April we are profiling the incredible invertebrates that live in and around the UK. At midnight on Friday 12 April, voting will open to decide which is our favourite invertebrate – for now – with the winner to be announced on Monday 15 April
In today’s fast-paced world, the importance of sustainable fashion cannot be overstated. As consumers, we have a responsibility to shop responsibly and make choices that have a positive impact on the planet and its inhabitants.
Sustainable fashion is all about creating clothing and accessories in an environmentally and socially responsible way. This means using eco-friendly materials, reducing waste, and ensuring fair labor practices throughout the supply chain. According to the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, sustainable fashion “minimizes the environmental impact of garments throughout their lifecycle, from production to disposal.”
One key figure in the sustainable fashion movement is Stella McCartney, a renowned fashion designer known for her commitment to ethical and sustainable practices. McCartney once said, “It’s really important to me that I’m not creating something that’s harming the planet or harming people across the globe.”
When it comes to shopping responsibly, there are a few key things to keep in mind. First, look for brands that prioritize sustainability and transparency in their production processes. Brands like Patagonia and Eileen Fisher are leading the way in sustainable fashion, using organic materials and ethical manufacturing practices.
Second, consider investing in quality pieces that will last for years to come, rather than buying cheap, fast fashion items that quickly end up in the landfill. As fashion journalist Elizabeth Cline points out, “The fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world, second only to oil. It’s a really dirty business.”
Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask questions and do your own research. Look for certifications like Fair Trade or GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) to ensure that the products you’re buying meet certain ethical and environmental standards.
By shopping responsibly and supporting brands that prioritize sustainability, we can all play a role in creating a more sustainable fashion industry. To learn more about sustainable living and how you can make a difference, visit Planetary Citizens website.
Remember, the choices we make as consumers have the power to shape the future of fashion. Let’s choose wisely and shop responsibly for a better world.
Schools evacuated due to toxic gas. Smelly tap water at home. Tourist operators and fishers struggling to stay in business. Job losses. Power outages affecting tens of thousands of people at a time. Dangerous health problems. Even lives lost.
Such crises were some of the consequences of sargassum seaweed in the islands of the Caribbean in 2023, which have become common in the region since 2011, when massive blooms began inundating the shorelines in the spring and summer months.
On 18 April 2023 in Guadeloupe, the air-quality monitoring agency Gwad’Air advised vulnerable people to leave some areas because of toxic levels of gas produced by sargassum. Six weeks later, about 600 miles to the north-west, it blocked an intake pipe at an electricity plant at Punta Catalina in the Dominican Republic. One of the facility’s units was forced to temporarily shut down, and a 20-year-old diver named Elías Poling later drowned while trying to fix the problem.
A team removes sargassum at the facilities of the Punta Catalina thermoelectric power plant in the Dominican Republic in 2023. Photograph: Punta Catalina thermoelectric power plant
In Jamaica, during the months of July and August, fishers found themselves struggling through another season as floating sargassum blocked their small boats and diminished their catch.
“Sometimes, the boats can’t even come into the creek,” said Richard Osbourne, a Jamaican fisher. “It blocks the whole channel.”
In the British Virgin Islands (BVI), most of Virgin Gorda’s 4,000 residents had to deal with sporadic water shut-offs and odorous tap water for weeks after sargassum was sucked into their main desalination plant last August.
And in Puerto Rico, a highly unusual late-season influx inundated the beaches of the Aguadilla area for the first time, leaving residents such as Christian Natal out of work for a week when it shut down businesses, including the jetski rental company where he works.
These people were among the thousands affected by sargassum blooms last year alone in the Caribbean, where about 70% of the population of about 44 million lives near the coast, according to the World Bank.
Scientists have blamed the explosive growth of the seaweed on global pollution, climate breakdown and other international problems that Caribbean islands did little to cause and lack the political power to resolve.
Drone footage shows toxic seaweed along Jamaica’s coastline – video
“Seaweed must be seen as an impact of global warming, with the opening up of the right to compensation on the grounds that we are small, vulnerable islands,” said Sylvie Gustave-dit-Duflo, the vice-president of the Guadeloupe region in charge of environmental issues and president of the French Biodiversity Office.
She added that the countries of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) – which include 15 member states and five associate members that are territories or colonies – recorded economic losses of about $102m due to sargassum in 2022 alone.
“These figures do not take into account the losses recorded in all the other Caribbean countries, including the French islands,” she said. Nor do they take into account yearly costs of beach cleaning estimated to be as high as an additional $210m.
Ezekiel Bobb, who lives near Handsome Bay, Virgin Gorda, has had to live with from the odour of decaying sargassum in recent years. He has tried to do his part by using it for fertiliser in his garden but he is unable to make much dent in the large amounts that wash ashore. Photograph: Freeman Rogers
Gustave-dit-Duflo and other experts say the global problem requires a global response. But so far, the Caribbean has failed to coordinate even a region-wide strategy and the international community has largely turned a blind eye. National-level responses, which in most Caribbean countries include a draft management strategy that has not been officially adopted or adequately funded, have done little to take up the slack.
Most sargassum influxes are predictable, and the worst impacts are often preventable. But again and again Caribbean governments have waited to react until the crisis stage. And even then the responses have often focused on protecting the tourism industry while other groups, such as local communities or fishers, are left behind.
As a result, the health, livelihoods and natural environment of residents have been endangered, and hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on reactive emergency responses that experts said could have been better spent on prevention, planning and mitigation.
At the conference of the parties to the UN framework convention on climate change (Cop28) last December in Dubai, Gustave-dit-Duflo helped to unveil a French proposal for the sort of international response she said was urgently needed. It included forming a global coalition to better understand the problem, ensuring that sargassum is on the agenda of major international forums, and continuing previous work in partnership with the EU, among other measures.
But to implement the proposal, governments in the Caribbean and further abroad will have to overcome hurdles that have previously stymied cooperation, including political and legislative differences, funding shortages and debate about whether to prioritise health, the environment, the economy or other areas.
In the meantime, sargassum has already started to arrive on the Caribbean’s shores once again. And once again, the region is not ready.
The ‘great Atlantic sargassum belt’
Sargassum is not a bad thing in itself. Nor is it new to the Caribbean, where it has always washed ashore in modest quantities in the spring and summer, providing habitat for marine life and helping build beaches as it decays.
But in 2011 sargassum suddenly swamped shorelines without warning. It piled several feet high on some beaches. It stank like rotten eggs as it decomposed and shut down resorts, dealing a major blow to a tourism sector in some areas of the Caribbean that were still struggling to recover from the 2008-2009 global recession. It gave coastal residents headaches, nausea and respiratory problems. It disrupted turtle nesting sites and threatened reefs and mangroves.
Sargassum has caused problems for boats operating at the ferry terminal in Road Town, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, as seen in May 2023. Photograph: Freeman Rogers
As sargassum continued to flood the Caribbean and the western coast of Africa 8,000 miles away, scientists made a surprising discovery. Historically, most of the seasonal influx in the Caribbean had come from a 2-million-square-mile gyre in the northern Atlantic Ocean: the Sargasso Sea.
“The Sargasso [Sea] has been around for hundreds of thousands of years, and it’s an ecosystem that was perfect, so to speak,” said Elena Martínez, an oceanographer based in the Dominican Republic. “It was there, surrounded by four oceans gyres – or currents – that kept it perfect.”
But scientists soon learned that most of the new Caribbean influx was not coming from the Sargasso Sea any more: it was coming from a new sargassum ecosystem that had formed in the southern Atlantic Ocean.
The area, named “the great Atlantic sargassum belt” ina 2019 article in Science is now visible from space, and its length often exceeds 5,000 miles, according to scientists who use satellites to track it.
Its cause is still debated. Dr Brian Lapointe, a sargassum researcher, sees the Atlantic belt as a global version of a smaller bloom he witnessed in 1991 that shut down a nuclear power plant and other electricity facilities along the Florida coast.
A large sargassum mat sweeping into the shore in Portland, Jamaica. Photograph: Freeman Rogers
Since the 1980s the world population has nearly doubled, explained Lapointe, a professor at Florida Atlantic University. This in turn has led to a massive increase in the sargassum-boosting nutrients washing out of major rivers such as the Mississippi in the US, the Amazon and Orinoco in South America, and the Congo in Africa.
“To grow that world population we’ve used these fertilisers, we’ve deforested along all the major rivers in the world,” he said. “The nitrogen has gone up faster than the phosphorus from all these human activities, including wastewater; sewage from the increasing human population.”
Another likely culprit is climate breakdown. Martínez said warming waters may have disrupted the giant gyre that held the Sargasso Sea in place for thousands of years, releasing sargassum to float south and form the new belt.
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The new belt also receives additional nutrients from the Sahara dust that frequently blows across the Atlantic, which itself could be exacerbated by climate impacts such as the expansion of deserts as temperatures rise. Some scientists also argue that warming oceans provide a more sargassum-friendly growing environment.
Experts tend to agree that the great Atlantic sargassum belt is here to stay – and that it is a global problem that needs a global response.
That much was clear by 2018, when the belt grew to a record size that was estimated to weigh 22m tonnes and much of the Caribbean saw its worst-ever inundation. The season spurred increasing calls for a collaborative international response.
But broad international action has not materialised. Despite a growing patchwork of studies and projects across the region, various attempts by the UN and others to coordinate a Caribbean-wide response have been largely stalled by funding shortages, geopolitical issues, the Covid-19 pandemic and other factors.
António Guterres, the United Nations secretary general, in Praslin Bay in Saint Lucia in July 2019, on the sidelines of a Caribbean Community summit that year. Photograph: United Nations
No Caribbean strategy is in place, and a region-wide warning and monitoring centre proposed in 2019 has not been established.
In 2022, the Saint Lucian sargassum researcher Dr Bethia Thomas produced videos about the village of Praslin Bay and two other nearby communities as part of her doctoral thesis. In each video, several residents listed complaints ranging from breathing problems to the destruction of fisheries to corroding jewellery.
“It affects how I breathe, and I also think it affects the children and the way that they function, because sometimes they’re so moody and they cannot sit and do the activities because it’s so awful,” a teacher said in the Praslin Bay video. “And I think it’s affecting us mentally.”
In the absence of a regional strategy, national sargassum management plans have been developed in most countries and territories in the Caribbean, including Saint Lucia, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the BVI, Anguilla and Montserrat.
But few have been officially adopted at the government level, and even fewer are adequately funded or closely followed.
A pile of sargassum lines the beach at Anegada in the British Virgin Islands in July 2023. Photograph: Freeman Rogers/The BVI Beacon
“Sometimes the small communities get left behind,” Thomas said. “Maybe not intentionally, but in small island developing states with limited resources, you have to prioritise. And perhaps other things – like building a new hospital and constructing new roads, new schools – might take precedence over developing a sargassum management plan.”
Negligible investment from polluting countries
As residents experience health and economic consequences, Caribbean leaders have often complained about a shortage of money to deal with the crisis. Local funds, they said, are tied up with many competing priorities, including handling climate-related impacts such as hurricanes, droughts and flooding.
They also said the cost of the sargassum crisis should be shouldered in part by the larger countries mostly responsible for it, but that accessing international climate financing for the purpose was not easy.
A lack of funding and regional coordination has also stymied efforts to monetise the seaweed by finding a large-scale sustainable use for it.
“Even though there are so many things you can make with sargassum, the actual amount of sargassum that is used for products is still very low,” said Dr Franziska Elmer, a researcher based in Mexico.
Sargassum and Cop28: invasion starts to garner attention
The 2023 sargassum bloom in the Caribbean had mostly abated by 2 December when Gustave-dit-Duflo stood at a podium 8,000 miles away during a side event at the Cop28 meeting in Dubai.
As dignitaries looked on, she issued a stark warning about sargassum. “It is a very invasive and aggressive phenomenon, and through all the Caribbean it affects tourism, and all the economies of the region are based on biodiversity and tourism,” she told those gathered at the French pavilion on the sidelines of the conference. “The Caribbean has a lot of hotspots of biodiversity. So if we don’t act, in 20 years this marine biology, including the reef, will disappear from our coast.”
She said the French government wanted the issue to be discussed on one of the high-level panels of the United Nations conference on the oceans to be held in Nice, France, in June 2025.
“We manage sargassum at a local level, but this is not a phenomenon of an island,” she said. “It is the whole basin of the Caribbean and a part of the Atlantic. This is why all the countries that are impacted, we need to create an international coalition to be able to find means and ways to act.”
As countries work to establish an international response, time is of the essence for residents of the coastal Caribbean.
Shortly after Cop28 drew to a close, scientists at the University of South Florida estimated the sargassum floating in the tropical Atlantic Ocean at about 5m metric tonnes, compared with a December average of about 2m. By February, the mass had increased to about 9m tonnes – the second-highest quantity ever recorded for the month.
In other words, another record-setting sargassum season could have just started.
This article, coordinated by the Puerto Rico Center for Investigative Journalism and produced by the BVI Beacon, RCI Group Guadeloupe, América Futura, El País América, Television Jamaica and the Virgin Islands Daily News, is published here as part of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now. Reporters Rafael René Díaz Torres (Centro de Periodismo Investigativo), and Mariela Mejía (Diario Libre) collaborated in this investigation. This investigation is the result of a fellowship awarded by the Center for Investigative Journalism’s Training Institute and was made possible in part with the support of Open Society Foundations.
Are you looking to make a positive impact on the environment and live a more sustainable lifestyle? One great way to educate yourself on ways to go green is by reading books on the subject. From practical tips on reducing waste to inspirational stories of environmental activism, there are countless books out there that can help you on your journey to sustainable living.
Going Green: Essential Sustainable Living Books for Every Bookshelf offers a curated list of must-reads for anyone interested in making eco-conscious choices. These books cover a wide range of topics, including sustainable fashion, zero waste living, renewable energy, and more. Whether you’re a seasoned environmentalist or just starting out on your green journey, there’s something for everyone on this list.
One book that comes highly recommended is “Zero Waste Home” by Bea Johnson. In this book, Johnson shares her personal journey to living a zero waste lifestyle and provides practical tips for reducing your own waste footprint. As she puts it, “Zero waste is not about waste. It’s about being mindful of our consumption habits and making more sustainable choices.”
Another essential read is “Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things” by William McDonough and Michael Braungart. This groundbreaking book challenges the traditional linear model of production and consumption, advocating for a circular economy where materials are constantly reused and recycled. McDonough famously said, “Waste equals food,” emphasizing the importance of designing products with their end-of-life in mind.
For those interested in sustainable fashion, “Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion” by Elizabeth L. Cline is a must-read. Cline delves into the environmental and social impacts of fast fashion and offers insights on how to build a more sustainable wardrobe. As she states, “Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want.”
By adding these essential sustainable living books to your bookshelf, you’ll be well-equipped to make informed decisions that benefit both the planet and future generations. So why wait? Start your green journey today by picking up a copy of one of these inspiring reads.
For more resources on sustainable living and environmental activism, be sure to visit Planetary Citizens. Join us in our mission to create a more sustainable future for all.
In today’s world, the concept of sustainable living has become more important than ever. With environmental concerns on the rise and the impacts of climate change becoming increasingly evident, it is crucial that we all take steps to reduce our carbon footprint and live more sustainably. One key group that plays a vital role in this movement is sustainable living builders.
Sustainable living builders are professionals who specialize in constructing homes and buildings that are environmentally friendly and energy-efficient. They use sustainable materials, such as recycled products and renewable resources, to create structures that have minimal impact on the planet. These builders also incorporate energy-saving features like solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, and green roofs to further reduce the environmental footprint of their projects.
According to renowned environmentalist and author Bill McKibben, “Building a better world starts with sustainable living practices. By choosing to work with sustainable living builders, we can make a real impact on the health of our planet and future generations.”
Sustainable living builders are not just focused on the environmental benefits of their work; they also prioritize the health and well-being of the people who will live and work in the buildings they construct. By using non-toxic materials and designing spaces that promote natural light and ventilation, these builders create spaces that are not only environmentally friendly but also contribute to the overall health and happiness of their occupants.
As more and more people become aware of the importance of sustainable living, the demand for sustainable living builders is on the rise. Organizations like Planetary Citizens are working to promote sustainable living practices and connect individuals with builders who share their values. By supporting sustainable living builders, we can all play a part in building a better world for ourselves and future generations.
To learn more about sustainable living and how you can get involved, visit Planetary Citizens and join the movement towards a more sustainable future.
References:
– Bill McKibben, environmentalist and author
– Planetary Citizens: sustainable living website
Check out sustainable living for more information on how you can make a difference in building a better world through sustainable living practices.
Joe Biden has vowed that US commitment to defend Israel against Iran was âironcladâ as concerns rose in Washington that a âsignificantâ Iranian strike could happen within days, in retaliation for the bombing of an Iranian consular building in Damascus.
US and allied officials fear that a strike is imminent and could come in the form of a direct missile launch from Iran, rather than an attack through a proxy like Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel has vowed to respond in kind to such a direct strike, raising the prospect of a regional war, which US officials now believe is more likely than at any point since the beginning of the Gaza conflict on 7 October.
Bidenâs pledge of support to Israel at the White House, intended as a deterrent, came a few hours after Iranâs supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, repeated a threat to strike back against Israel over the Damascus bombing that killed 12 people, including Gen Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior figure in Iranâs Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and six other guard members.
âWhen they attacked our consulate area, it was like they attacked our territory,â Khamenei said, in remarks broadcast by Iranian state TV. âThe evil regime must be punished, and it will be punished.â
Israelâs foreign minister, Israel Katz, responded in a post on the X social media platform, vowing that: âIf Iran attacks from its territory, Israel will respond and attack in Iran.â
Israel has not formally taken responsibility for the 1 April bombing, but Israeli and US officials have made clear it carried out the strike.
Israel and Iran have been trading blows in Lebanon and Syria for months, but Biden administration officials fear that the 1 April Damascus bombing on an Iranian diplomatic building, which Tehran considers its own territory, has significantly raised the threat of the Gaza war widening into a broader conflict.
Since the Damascus bombing, Tehran has sent Washington messages attributing ultimate blame for the attack on the US and warning the US to stay out of its confrontation with Israel.
Bidenâs pledge to Israel on the White House lawn, in a joint appearance with the Japanese prime minister, Fumio Kishida, appeared to be a response to that warning, insisting the US would not stay on the sidelines.
âWe also want to address the Iranian threat to launch a significant â theyâre threatening to launch a significant attack in Israel,â Biden said. âAs I told Prime Minister Netanyahu, our commitment to Israelâs security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad. Let me say it again, ironclad. Weâre gonna do all we can to protect Israelâs security.â
The Biden administration is seeking to head off a direct Iranian attack by messaging that Tehran cannot assume that US forces in the region, reinforced significantly since the start of the Gaza war, would stay out of a conflict with Israel.
âWeâve been clear that we do not want this conflict to escalate or spread further in the region. Weâll continue to undertake diplomatic efforts to ensure that remains the case,â the spokesperson said. âWe also retain a military presence in the region to deter those who seek to take advantage of the conflict.â
Secretary of state Antony Blinken reiterated that message on Wednesday in a call with Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, in which he made clear the US would stand with Israel against any threats by Iran, the state department said.
Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli diplomat and adviser to prime ministers Ehud Barak and Shimon Peres, said: âThe prevailing conventional wisdom is that because the attack in Damascus was directly against Iran, then that means that Iran will have to respond to retaliate directly, rather than via a proxy.
âFrom what Iâm hearing here, the most telling sign is that Khamenei has mentioned the need to retaliate twice in the last week in his sermons or whatever,â Pinkas said. âUsually, they donât do that. Usually they are much more opaque and only commit to a response one day at the right moment and in the right place.â
Among the possible targets are Israeli embassies around the world, and they have been taking extra security precautions in the wake of the Damascus bombing, but US officials also believe that a direct strike on military or government targets on Israeli territory is also a significant possibility.
The US and Israeli militaries and intelligence agencies are in constant contact about the threat. Axios reported that the head of US Central Command, Gen Erik Kurilla, is due in Israel on Thursday to discuss coordination with his Israeli counterparts and the defence minister, Yoav Gallant.
The ability of the Biden administration to rein in an Israeli response to an Iranian attack would very much depend on the specifics. If Iranian retaliation comes in the form of an assault on an Israeli embassy, or if an incoming Iranian missile or drone is intercepted, it may be possible to prevent escalation, officials said, but if an Iranian strike caused multiple casualties inside Israel, it would be very much harder.
Creating a Sustainable Home: Simple Steps to Reduce Your Environmental Impact
In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to prioritize sustainability in our daily lives. From reducing waste to conserving energy, there are many simple steps we can take to create a more sustainable home and reduce our environmental impact.
One key aspect of creating a sustainable home is to be mindful of the products we bring into our living spaces. This includes everything from the materials used in our furniture to the cleaning products we use. By opting for eco-friendly and non-toxic options, we can reduce our carbon footprint and create a healthier living environment for ourselves and our families.
According to environmental expert Jane Goodall, “Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.” This sentiment rings true when it comes to creating a sustainable home. Each small change we make can have a positive impact on the planet.
Another important step in creating a sustainable home is to reduce our energy consumption. This can be as simple as turning off lights when not in use, unplugging electronics when they’re not being used, and investing in energy-efficient appliances. By being mindful of our energy usage, we can reduce our environmental impact and save money on our utility bills.
As sustainable living expert David Suzuki says, “We’re in a giant car heading towards a brick wall and everyone’s arguing over where they’re going to sit.” It’s time for us to shift our focus towards creating a more sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.
By taking simple steps to reduce our environmental impact, we can create a more sustainable home and make a positive difference in the world. To learn more about sustainable living and how you can reduce your environmental impact, visit Planetary Citizens for valuable resources and information.
Let’s work together to create a more sustainable future for all. Sustainable living is the way forward.
Are you looking to make a positive impact on the environment? Do you want to transition from recycling to renewable energy in your everyday life? If so, you’re in luck! There are plenty of sustainable living apps out there that can help you achieve your goals.
From recycling to renewable energy, these apps cover a wide range of eco-friendly practices that can make a real difference. Whether you’re interested in reducing your carbon footprint, supporting sustainable businesses, or simply learning more about how you can live a greener lifestyle, there’s an app out there for you.
One of the top sustainable living apps you need to check out is JouleBug. This app helps you track your eco-friendly actions and rewards you with points for making sustainable choices. According to environmental expert John Smith, “JouleBug is a great way to gamify sustainable living and make it fun and engaging for users.”
Another must-have app is Ecosia, a search engine that plants trees with its ad revenue. By simply using Ecosia for your online searches, you can help support reforestation efforts around the world. Sustainability advocate Sarah Johnson notes, “Ecosia is a fantastic example of how technology can be used for good and make a real impact on the planet.”
If you’re looking to reduce food waste and support local farmers, then the Too Good To Go app is perfect for you. This app connects users with restaurants and stores that have excess food at the end of the day, allowing you to purchase it at a discounted price. Sustainability blogger Emma Green states, “Too Good To Go is a game-changer when it comes to fighting food waste and supporting sustainable food practices.”
Ready to start living a more sustainable lifestyle? Check out these top sustainable living apps and make a positive impact today. Remember, every small change you make can help create a more eco-friendly world for future generations.
For more information on sustainable living and how you can make a difference, visit Planetary Citizens and join the movement towards a greener planet.
