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Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Nature Prevails: an action plan

In alignment with the Elemental Impact (Ei) tagline, Regeneration in ACTION, the Ei Regenerative Working Group (RWG) Executive Team crafted a Nature Prevails Action Plan. 

Tree grows through a wall in Old San Juan,
Photo credit: Holly Elmore Images
The September 2020 Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) Magazine article, Nature Prevails: a new Ei Platform, announces the new platform to complement the Soil Health and Water Use | Toxicity platforms. Within the Nature Prevails premise, the Earth heals herself and nurtures renewed life forms, no matter the calamity caused by humans, natural disasters, or extraterrestrial activities.

During the 2020 COVID-19 global-pandemic quarantines, citizens witnessed an immediate impact of reduced human activity via clearer skies, orchestras of bird songs, and the roaming of wild animals in urban and rural parks. The experiences were a glimpse of how quickly the natural world resumes when human activity subsides.

In addition, the article states Nature Prevails is in partnership with the RWG and defines the Principles of Nature.

Regenerative Working Group
Global thought leaders supporting complete and equitable communities.

A first task was designation of a powerful RWG Executive Team. Focused on guiding the RWG's segue from a vision into a viable initiative, the team commits to making a difference in global arenas. The RWG Executive Team consists of the following individuals:

With the Executive Team in place, the next task was crafting the RWG Vision and defining the Focus Areas and Commitment as follows:

RWG Vision: to explore challenges related to stated focus areas from a holistic approach where the community, environment, and local economies benefit from commentary, discussions, and proposed projects.

The RWG seeks to be a thought leader in supporting complete and equitable communities.

Focus Areas:

  • The FA slide in the RWG intro PPT
    photo credit: Holly Elmore Images
    Infrastructure
    – explores the built environment including a city’s water & sewer systems, water-treatment plants, public utilities, as well as corporate, government, and educational districts | campuses. Additionally, focus is on the availability of and access to affordable housing within a community.
  • Environmental Resources – explores the impact of existing and proposed projects and infrastructure within urban and rural communities on energy sources, soil health, local greenways, open spaces, waterways, and resident access.
  • Social Equity – explores ways to promote complete communities that include equitable access to housing, transportation and transit, education, employment, human services such as healthcare and safety, and other amenities such as parks. Complete communities balance land uses focused on people, (such as commercial- and residential-land uses), with natural- and working-land uses such as open space, waterways, farms, and ranches.

Commitment: the RWG is committed to action, whether in the form of drafting educational documentation (articles, white papers, website copy), global webinars, and/or projects designed for community impact. RWG members must actively participate.

Within each Focus Area, the team identified a series of Topics designed for member engagement within the commitment to action. Many of the Topics overlap within several Focus Areas. For example, affordable housing relates to the Infrastructure and Social Equity Focus Areas. The Topics are detailed on the respective linked Focus Area pages listed above.

Biosolid Management Systems, Broadband Communication Access, and Soil Erosion are the first Topics earmarked for member engagement.

Principles of Nature
With a commitment to align work with Nature, Ei defined The Principles of Nature with three broad categories:

  • Diversity
  • Dynamic Balance & Nutrition Systems
  • Necessity of Cover & Ability to Roam

Fallen trees provide cover and 
nutrition for insects & small animals.
Photo credit: Holly Elmore Images
Beyond the environment-related activity within in each category, societal systems including economic structures, financial markets, urban design, and others also align within and are impacted by The Principles of Nature. 

Ei Advisory Council member Simon Lamb's groundbreaking book Junglenomics published in late 2019 presents Nature's clear blueprint for reorganizing the current economic domain; the blueprint's intentions are to protect and benignly coexist with natural environments, halt species decline, and benefit the poorest. The result of 25 years of research and insight, Junglenomics provides a new vision for a future world rescued from decline, gained through an understanding of the profound forces at work in modern economies.

The RWG team classified each Focus Area Topic with one or more of the Principles of Nature. For example, Affordable Housing relates to Necessity of Cover and Broadband Communication aligns with Ability to Roam.

Action Plan - Step #1
In the three-step Nature Prevails Action Plan, the Step #1 is: apply the Principles of Nature to natural ecosystems. Research is underway in the following categories:

  • Address the role of keystone species (predator, prey, habitat engineers, etc.) in natural ecosystems. 
  • Identify examples of disrupted natural systems caused by population eradication.
Wildlife Eradication
By the mid 1900's wolves were eradicated from Yellowstone National Park. With the loss of a keystone predator, the natural ecosystem was disrupted and unbalanced. In 1995, the wolves were reintroduced in Yellowstone and the ecosystem began the restoration process.

Giant pile of buffalo skulls
Photo compliments of businessinsider.com
Prior to colonization of the western prairies, it is estimated 25 - 30 million buffalo roamed North America in massive herds. Due to the buffalo massacre during colonization of the land, there were less than 100 wild buffalo in the prairies by the late 1800's. Depriving Native Americans of their primary food, shelter, and clothing resource was a driver for the tragic buffalo massacre.

Due to the buffalo massacre coupled with the introduction of mono-crop farming, the lush prairies segued into the devastating Dust Bowl from 1930 to 1936. Though not technically "wild," ranches are restoring a portion of the buffalo population.

Future articles will correlate how the eradication and eventual return of keystone species demonstrate the Principles of Nature within natural ecosystems. Wolves and buffalo are keystone species. Ei research intern Jahin Kahn is dedicated to the underlying necessary research.

Action Plan - Step #2
Once Step 1 is complete, the RWG team shifts focus to Step 2: apply the Principles of Nature to human-created systems. As previously mentioned, the RWF Focus Area Topics were correlated to one or more of the principles.

Research will substantiate the necessity for human-created systems to align with the Principles of Nature to survive and thrive.

Economic Markets

In the recently published The Nature of Nature, Why We Need the Wild, author Enric Sala explains the fallacies inherent within using a country's Gross National Product (GNP) as the standard indicator for a country's economic growth and stability. According to The Economic Times, GNP is defined as follows:

GNP measures the monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced by the country’s factors of production irrespective of their location. Only the finished or final goods are considered as factoring intermediate goods used for manufacturing would amount to double counting. It includes taxes but does not include subsidies.

In Enric's perspective, the GNP is one of the worst indicators of human prosperity for three reasons:

  1. It does not factor in the destruction of the natural world and externalizes devastating consequences in favor of manufacturing capabilities.
  2. It assumes that the only value of a society is what can be measured as part of an official, organized market.
  3. It does not measure well-being and happiness.

Simon's and Enric's referenced books are excellent research-starting points for correlating the Principles to Nature to economic markets and beyond.

Societal Structure

A duet of worker honey bees
Photo credit: Holly Elmore Images
Within Step #2, the RWG Team will explore the societal hierarchies within bee and ant colonies, wolf packs, elephant herds, bird flocks, and other eusocial colonies. Anticipated discovery: the workforce population is treated well, as long as the workers tend to their designated tasks.

Next the team will compare societal-hierarchy principles explored to the treatment of the human workforce across civilization boundaries. Recommendations for human co-existence that emulates natural communities are forthcoming. Human and environmental health implications are integral within the research and analysis.

Action Plan - Step #3
Following completion of Step #2, the team embarks on Step #3: e
stablish the importance of ecosystem foundations. As featured in her May 2020 Bigger than Us podcast interview, Ei Founder Holly Elmore is known for the following quote:

In order for life as we know it to survive and thrive on planet earth, we must - absolutely must - get our soil and water microbial communities back to a healthy, balanced state.

Building from the eusocial-colonies research in Step #2, the Step #3 goal is to establish the importance of ecosystem foundations and how they align with the Principles of Nature. Research begins with the importance of balanced, healthy water and soil microbial communities and extends to the base species within the prey hierarchies; insects often establish the foundation of prey hierarchies

A fish who succumbed to red tide provides a feast for
for the flies; initial steps in regenerating
the prey hierarchy begins
Photo credit: Holly Elmore Images
Research on the implications of the insect apocalypse underway is integral to Step #3. Intangible pollution, including light and noise pollution, impact the entire natural ecosystem spectrum. Yet the insect species are often more dramatically impacted. Indirect impact from destroyed insect populations flows through the entire prey hierarchy to the keystone prey species.

The importance of base species in prey hierarchies correlates to balanced microbial communities as well as worker populations in eusocial colonies and human civilizations. Overall community health and strength is dependent upon the effectiveness of worker populations. Thus, those at the hierarchy top tier are incentivized to care for worker populations, whether insects, animals, or humans.

With an established plan, the RWG Team is staged for action mode. Stay tuned!

___________________________________


About Elemental Impact:
Elemental Impact (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the Zero Waste Zones, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the Era of Recycling Refinement was Mission Accomplished and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include Nature PrevailsSoil Health | Regenerative Agriculture, and Water Use | Toxicity.

MISSION:
To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.

Ei’s tagline – Regeneration in ACTION – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.

The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:

Ei is a creator, an incubator.
Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.
Ei brings the possible out of impossible.
Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.

For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-261-4690 | holly@elementalimpact.org


Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Ei: invigorated impact and influence

On November 25, 2020, the Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) Magazine surpassed the 475,000 pageviews milestone! The coveted 500,000 pageviews achievement is mere months away!

Launched in 2009 as the Zero Waste Zones Blog, the original premise was to document the Zero Waste Zones (ZWZ) successes and later the Recycling Refinement and Sustainable Food Court Initiative accomplishments. When the ZWZ were sold to the National Restaurant Association in 2012, the ZWZ Blog evolved into the Zero Waste in ACTION (ZWA) Blog. 

The June 2018 RiA Magazine article, New Era, New Name: Regeneration in ACTION!, announced the ZWA Blog evolved into the RiA Magazine. Additionally, the article stated the Elemental Impact (Ei) tagline segued from Sustainability in ACTION to Regeneration in ACTION.

Respected Journalism
Over the past decade, the RiA Magazine, along with sister Ei magazine, The IMPACT, grew into valuable industry-media resources. In 2016 Ei catapulted into respected environmental journalism when the below prominent invitation arrived in early November:

The U.S. State Department invited Ei to join the invitation-only COP22-preview press conference call. Journalists from the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times were among the respected, mainstream media on the call.

The IMPACT Blog article, Ei: Respected Journalism, chronicles Ei's segue from a valuable industry-media resource to respected environmental journalism. In addition to the magazines' contributions, Ei Founder Holly Elmore authored a plethora of industry-trade-journal articles and documents, which are detailed on the HollyEmore.com Fingertip Press page.

Below is a quick magazine-stats overview:

The IMPACT Magazine

  • 184,000 pageviews
  • 137 published articles
  • Average 1,340 pageviews per article
  • Most popular article: Ei New Mission Statement (12/12) 3,080 views
RiA Magazine:
Photojournalism
In late 2017, Holly expanded her journalism to photojournalism with a series of articles published in nationally distributed Southern Farm & Garden (SF&G). The articles showcased Ei's important work as well as Ei Strategic Ally accomplishments. Article images were courtesy of Holly Elmore Images (HEI.)

Ei Digital Books
Additionally, the SF&G articles were published as Ei Digital Books available for view as page-turning-pdf documents on the Issuu platform. 

The following SF&G articles were published as digital books:
  • Regenerative Agriculture Revives Soils & Local Ecosystems
    - SF&G fall 2017 issue - the seven-page, multiple-article feature gives an overview of Kennesaw State University’s (KSU) stellar sustainability commitment at the Michael A. Leven School of Culinary Sustainability & Hospitality, The Commons (KSU’s Gold LEED-certified dining hall), and Hickory Grove Farm. 
  • Restoring Pollinator Populations - SF&G spring 2018 issue - the six-page feature article gives an overview of challenges facing pollinator populations along with tips for pollinator-friendly gardens. 
  • Bee Swarms: Nature’s Way to Grow Strong Bee Populations - SF&G summer 2018 -  the two-page photo essay educates on the important role bee swarms play in propagating bee populations, both from the size of and the number of colonies. 
Ei Article Books
In September 2020, the Fingertip Press published the first Ei Article Book: From Macro to Micro to Nanoplastics, an excerpt from the RiA article, Plastics: a double-edged sword

From Plastics: a double-edged sword:
The seemingly magical gift of plastic came with a double-edged sword filled with the potential to destroy life as it is currently known on Earth.

In less than seventy years, humans managed to infiltrate the Earth with micro and nanoplastics from discarded single-use and durable products in literally every nook and cranny, ranging from the arctic snow caps to the depths of the oceans and everywhere in between.

It is time to shift perspectives from human-focused to life-focused and let the Earth show us how to heal the damage inflicted. Answers will come to those who live and take action from the heart.
Additionally, the Nanoplastics article includes the following new sections:
  • Plastics at the beach - showcases how readily available durable and single-use plastic items are common place during beach enjoyment.
  • Beyond litter, cigarette butts are plastic pollution - explains how cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, a plastic.
  • Ei Exploration of Fungi, Soil Health, & World Hunger - gives an overview of the empowering October 2018 exploration.
  • COVID-19 plastic pollution - explains how the recent pandemic resulted in a new surge in plastic pollution.
Soft cover, magazine-style books are available for purchase at $11.99 each plus delivery; volume-purchase discounts are given. Additionally, a pdf version of the book is available for $8.99. Here is the link to purchase the book: https://bit.ly/3bl2Zxs.

A portion of the book proceeds is donated to Ei, a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to Soil Health | Regenerative AgricultureWater Use | Toxicity, and Nature Prevails platforms.

The Fingertip Press is a division of Holly Elmore Enterprises and the nomenclature for Holly's published articles, documents, and other written communication. Photos in the Nanoplastics book are courtesy of HEI.

Environmental Journalism
In 2015, the National Geographic (NatGeo) Channel invited Ei to join a virtual discussion on the exciting progress in the field of alternative energy. The conversation tied into the soon-to-air Breakthrough: Energy on the Edge episode. Rather than craft a single article, Ei published the following two articles in a point-counterpoint fashion:
With each article, the common thread is a recommended focus on harnessing energy versus creating energy.

Since 2016, Ei was included on environmental press-media lists with regular invitations for interviews and advance-book copies. In fall 2020, Ei received interview invitations from two prominent environmental and conservation photographers. Holly was honored to research, interview, and write articles featuring her heroes. Back in the 2014 - 2016 timeframe, Holly took on-line photography classes from the photographers and holds them in high esteem

The articles catapulted Holly from documentation of Ei's important work into respected mainstream environmental journalism. 

The Photo Ark: a gift from the heart
On May 15, 2020, a press release announced the Nat Geo Photo Ark added the 10,000th image to the impressive collection of species portraits from animals in human care around the globe. Each portrait is captured on a white or black background, and published images are the same dimension; thus, a tiny mouse is literally the same size as an elephant in the Photo Ark.

Currently, the Photo Ark boasts 11,230 formal portraits. In addition to the portrait gallery, a comprehensive nearly 40,000-photo Photo Ark Gallery, including in-the-field images, is available for viewing. An excellent search function accompanies the gallery.

Renowned Nat Geo photographer Joel Sartore created the Photo Ark as a vehicle to showcase the Earth's tremendous biodiversity within the Animal Kingdom along with the mass extinction in process.

The RiA Magazine article, Photo Ark: a gift from the heart, chronicles the Photo Ark's history and gives accolades to Joel Sartore for his tremendous commitment to endangered species.

An Evolutionary Call-to-ACTION
REFUGE, America's Wildest Places, Exploring the National Wildlife Refuge System
(REFUGE,) published on October 27, 2020 as an extraordinary coffee-table book; photography is by renowned photographer, author, educator, and filmmaker Ian Shive. As with Ian's prior books, films, and other mediums, REFUGE is a masterpiece and serves as a portal to explore our planet's intrinsic beauty.

REFUGE is a glimpse into the magnificence and sacred nature of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), one of the largest protected land and water networks in the world. The NWRS encompasses land and water ecosystems coast-to-coast within the continental United States (U.S.) as well as the Hawaiian Islands, Alaska, and U.S. territories.

Ian's profound commitment as a conservationist and educator are destined to make a tremendous impact with his past, current, and future timeless masterpieces. Ian's evolution from stills to motion to cinema to on-air persona expands his audience, reach, and potential influence.

Photo credit: James Shive
REFUGE is an evolutionary call-to-action for the collective community to preserve and restore the Earth's fragile ecosystems. The Earth will only tolerate a certain quota of human devastation; once the quota is reached the Earth will simply heal herself, most likely to the detriment of the human species.

The RiA Magazine article, An Evolutionary Call-to-ACTION, is an in-depth chronicle of Ian's adventures culminating in the profound book along with overviews of his amazing short films.

FUN: read the article to learn how a 1976 in-concert photo of "The Boss" Bruce Springsteen and the "Big Man" Clarence Clemons flows within the article!!!!

Invigorated Communication Realms
A tree grows in unison with an 
Havana, Cuba building
Photo credit: Holly Elmore Images
With the 2020 Nature Prevails platform launch, Ei catapulted into expanded realms of influence and impact. The RiA article, Nature Prevails, a new Ei Platform, announces the platform launch in partnership with the Ei Regenerative Working Group (RWG.) 

Within the Nature Prevails premise, the Earth heals herself and nurtures renewed life forms, no matter the calamity caused by humans, natural disasters, or extraterrestrial activities.

The IMPACT article, Ei Welcomes New Advisors, announces the impressive new Ei Advisory Council members who are committed to RWG projects and task forces. Additionally, two University of Toronto-affiliated Ei interns researched the Nature Prevails premises necessary for the RWG's important forthcoming work. Future Nature Prevails articles are on the Fingertip Press docket.

During the 2020 pandemic, Holly focused on expanding her technical-design skills to embellish the Ei communication platform. The Nanoplastics book was the inaugural project where Holly designed the book layout.

With a new platform, a stellar RWG Team, and new-found design skills, Ei is staged to soar with invigorated energy in the global environmental network and beyond.

__________________________________________

About Elemental Impact:
Elemental Impact (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the Zero Waste Zones, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the Era of Recycling Refinement was Mission Accomplished and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include Nature PrevailsSoil Health | Regenerative Agriculture, and Water Use | Toxicity.

MISSION:
To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.

Ei’s tagline – Regeneration in ACTION – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.

The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:

Ei is a creator, an incubator.
Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.
Ei brings the possible out of impossible.
Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.

For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-261-4690 | holly@elementalimpact.org