The Waggle
Issue 76 Protecting the Irreplaceable
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Stars of Life is a game that connects climate justice and social justice to mimic how our society works. It was ideated, designed, and created by Alexandra Chow, a high school student in Canada.
Alexandra Chow
"Stars of Life" Game by Alexandra Chow
I wanted to share one of the many wonderful ways our work on the Nexus solutions database at Project Regeneration has been used, but I’ll step aside and let the creator tell you all about it! -Jonathan Hawken
Stars of Life is a game that connects climate justice and social justice to mimic how our society works. It was ideated, designed, and created by Alexandra Chow, a high school student in Canada. The game handbook, cards, and paper stars for this game are all made of sugarcane paper, supported by Social Print Paper and Royal Printers, and all the information on the 30 Action Cards (cards with a green background) uses information from Nexus.
layers are randomly assigned an identity/character (cards with a blue background) that they must become; these characters have varied levels of housing security, wealth, and education. Each player is also given an equal number of paper stars, and their goal is to “get rid” of all their stars by taking on justice-related actions that enable them to put their stars in the “sky.” This concept of putting stars in the sky represents working towards a brighter future for everyone by promoting thriving, hence the game’s name, “Stars of Life.”
Stars of Life will never be monetized or sold and currently has only been distributed privately to personal mentors and colleagues in related fields. If you would like more information, please feel free to send Alexandra an e-mail. /span>
Stars of Life is a game that connects climate justice and social justice to mimic how our society works. It was ideated, designed, and created by Alexandra Chow, a high school student in Canada. The game handbook, cards, and paper stars for this game are all made of sugarcane paper, supported by Social Print Paper and Royal Printers, and all the information on the 30 Action Cards (cards with a green background) uses information from Nexus.
layers are randomly assigned an identity/character (cards with a blue background) that they must become; these characters have varied levels of housing security, wealth, and education. Each player is also given an equal number of paper stars, and their goal is to “get rid” of all their stars by taking on justice-related actions that enable them to put their stars in the “sky.” This concept of putting stars in the sky represents working towards a brighter future for everyone by promoting thriving, hence the game’s name, “Stars of Life.”
Stars of Life will never be monetized or sold and currently has only been distributed privately to personal mentors and colleagues in related fields. If you would like more information, please feel free to send Alexandra an e-mail. /span>
Protecting the Irreplaceable • Amy Boyer
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The Global Safety Net is the first global-scale analysis of land areas requiring protection to solve the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, upholding and strengthening Indigenous land rights.
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Over 190 countries have agreed to protect 30% of the earth’s lands and oceans by 2030 to preserve biodiversity, sequester carbon, sustain ecosystem services, and preserve human cultures. But which 30%? From our friends over at OneEarth, The Global Safety Net initiative says we should prioritize the 1.2% of land that is home to unprotected rare species: “irreplaceable biodiversity." Irreplaceable sites are all over the world, but they are concentrated in the tropics, especially tropical rainforests. The Philippines, Brazil, and Indonesia have the largest number of sites, while Indonesia, Russia, and Papua New Guinea have the greatest acreage to conserve. Seventeen percent of the sites are in the territories of Indigenous Peoples, who steward and protect them. These lands are home to species such as the Celebes crested macaque in Indonesia, the fossa in Madagascar, and the Andean cock-of-the-rock in Andean cloud forests. Most sites are near already-protected areas, which may simplify acquisition, and the cost of protecting them is estimated to be about $170 billion total—which is only about 2% of fossil fuel subsidies and less than 1% of the value of the ecosystem services that would be lost without protection. Another priority, identified by Conservation International, is irrecoverable carbon: ecosystems such as peatlands or mangroves that sequester large amounts of carbon that could be released if the ecosystems are disturbed. To learn more, see our Land Protection Nexus.
Black-led Conservation • Claire Inciong Krummenacher
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40 Acre Conservation League’s first piece of land is located in Emigrant Gap (pictured) between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, California.
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This week, the Black-led 40-Acre Conservation League, with $3 million in funding from the California Wildlife Conservation Board and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, purchased 650 acres bordering the Tahoe National Forest. Jade Stevens, the conservancy’s founder, stated in a recent interview that she founded the 40-Acre Conservation League with the aim of making green spaces more accessible to people of color following centuries of redlining in Black communities and discrimination within wilderness areas. The organization plans to leave most of the 650 acres untouched while clearing shrub overgrowth from high-fire risk areas, designating specific sites for camping, fishing, and hiking, and introducing educational conservation programming. Within the next ten years, they hope to acquire more land in different terrains within 100-150 miles of urban areas in California to further promote recreational justice. To learn more, see our Nature Connection Nexus.
Co-prosperity in a Wilder World • George Biesmans
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Established by the Rewilding Portugal team, the aim of the Wild Côa Network is to drive the development of nature-based enterprise in and around the Greater Côa Valley.
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Stories about rewilding often center their narrative on the practical acts of restoring landscapes to wilder versions of themselves. Just as critical to rewilding’s success, though, is the cultivation of coexistence between humans and wild nature. By developing networks of nature-based businesses across the continent, Rewilding Europe is demonstrating that rewilding is not only about reversing the collapse of nature but is also a medium for creating thriving, nature-based economies that directly benefit local communities. The Wild Côa Network in Portugal is a shining example of how this can work in practice. It boasts 50 members - from local honey and nut producers to nature-based tour operators - who all share a vision of how humans can thrive because of, not despite, rewilding. Boosting nature-based economies in this way can also foster awareness about and support for rewilding in these landscapes and beyond. The same is happening in the Central Apennines of Italy, where there's a growing ecosystem of artisans and local producers - from a family-run cidery to a women-led business making soaps made from sheep’s milk. These examples are the fruit of a vision that goes beyond mere co-existence to something Valerio Reale at Rewilding Apennines calls “co-prosperity:” the notion that humans and wild nature can live - and thrive - together. See our Rewilding Nexus for more information.
Sodium Solid-state Battery Breakthrough • Scott Hannan
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Aerial close-up of lithium fields in the highlands of northern Argentina, South America; a surreal landscape where current-day batteries are born.
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A team of researchers at the University of Chicago has made a significant breakthrough in the realm of advanced battery technology in the world’s first anode-free sodium solid-state battery. The innovation can potentially create high-capacity, low-cost, quickly charging batteries for power grid storage and electric vehicles. Sodium is much more abundant than the lithium currently used in most battery storage technologies. What’s more, it’s cheaper, with less environmental degradation during the mining process. It is also readily available worldwide, potentially addressing the economic and geo-political troubles connected with lithium mining. With these advantages, continuing to develop Sodium-based batteries will help keep up with the increasing demand for global energy storage. While there is much more work to be done, including increasing the number of charges the battery can take before it degrades, this groundbreaking work is part of a wave of innovation around cleaner, more ecologically friendly energy storage solutions. See our Energy Storage Nexus to learn more.
Community Solar for All • Tobias Schmitz
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The Solar Settlement at Schlierberg is a 59-home PlusEnergy housing community in Freiburg, Germany.
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Community solar initiatives continue to make significant strides in expanding access to clean energy across the United States and beyond. Recent developments have highlighted how these programs are transforming the energy landscape and making renewable energy more accessible to underserved communities. A recent study underscores the impact of community solar in bridging the energy equity gap, demonstrating how these projects are vital for providing clean energy to low-income households and fostering environmental justice. In Virginia, new legislation has expanded community solar access, ensuring broader participation and enhanced benefits for residents. California has also made notable progress approving new community solar projects aimed at increasing renewable energy adoption statewide. Maine is set to receive $62 million from the EPA to further expand solar access to low-income households, illustrating the growing federal support for such initiatives. And in Europe, France has expanded the operational limits of energy communities, allowing more residents to participate in and benefit from community solar projects. Looking ahead, the cumulative installed capacity of community solar in the U.S. is expected to exceed 14 GW by 2028, reflecting the robust growth and potential of these programs. To learn more, check out our Solar Nexus.
A Call for Creative Entries • Guest Post by Unearthodox
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Illustration by Prabha Mallya for Current Conservation, Volume 17, issue 3.
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Unearthodox* has recently launched a creative content call, "Voices of Regeneration," that invites individuals from any background to share their unique perspectives on regeneration. This initiative supports the first phase of their flagship Regenerative Futures programme.
"Voices of Regeneration" welcomes submissions in various artistic formats, including essays, visual art, and auditory pieces, aiming to engage a broad range of voices and viewpoints. The goal is to foster an inclusive dialogue and inspire collective action towards a more just, equitable, and regenerative future.
Outstanding entries stand to win monetary prizes and collaboration opportunities. Your contribution could shape a global conversation on regeneration, making a meaningful impact.
To learn more and submit your work, visit the "Voices of Regeneration" application page here. For inquiries or further information, please contact regenerativefutures@unearthodox.org
*Unearthodox focuses on social innovation for transformative change, asking the difficult questions needed to solve complex environmental issues and regenerate nature. We seek out talented, unusual innovators who tackle systemic change in social systems for the sake of nature, including people. Learn more about us at unearthodox.org, and follow us on Instagram, X, and Linkedin.
"Voices of Regeneration" welcomes submissions in various artistic formats, including essays, visual art, and auditory pieces, aiming to engage a broad range of voices and viewpoints. The goal is to foster an inclusive dialogue and inspire collective action towards a more just, equitable, and regenerative future.
Outstanding entries stand to win monetary prizes and collaboration opportunities. Your contribution could shape a global conversation on regeneration, making a meaningful impact.
To learn more and submit your work, visit the "Voices of Regeneration" application page here. For inquiries or further information, please contact regenerativefutures@unearthodox.org
*Unearthodox focuses on social innovation for transformative change, asking the difficult questions needed to solve complex environmental issues and regenerate nature. We seek out talented, unusual innovators who tackle systemic change in social systems for the sake of nature, including people. Learn more about us at unearthodox.org, and follow us on Instagram, X, and Linkedin.
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"Voices of Regeneration – A Call for Creative Content” is a key initiative launched by Unearthodox on 2 July 2024.
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Take Action on Nexus
Find out how to ensure access to essential services within all neighborhoods in our Fifteen-Minute City Nexus.
Photo Credits
1. Courtesy of Alexandra Chow
2. Hank Shiffman via Shutterstock
3. Courtesy of Rewilding Portugal
4. Freedom_wanted via Shutterstock
5. Andrewglaser at English Wikipedia
6. Courtesy of Unearthodox
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