SOLARPUNKS

A Wind-Powered Tumbleweed That Heals the Desert as It Rolls – Yanko Design https://share.google/oFvKVpez3eC0g5MEc

Pocket ferns! A big embroidery to cover one tiny hoke. Something's still not right with the lowest leaves, but all in all I'm really pleased.

A $375M landmark partnership is backing Indigenous-led conservation and development across the Northwest Territories

In an unprecedented partnership, 21 Indigenous governments, the Government of Canada, the Government of the Northwest Territories and private donors are investing $375 million in Indigenous-led conservation, stewardship and economic development across the Northwest Territories.

The Northwest Territories, a region of significant ecological value, hosts one of the largest and most intact forest ecosystems around the globe, along with two of the world’s largest freshwater lakes and the eighth largest river. These lands and waters support an abundance of animals, including migratory birds and arctic mammals, including caribou (Rangifer tarandus), grizzly bears (Ursus arctos), polar bears (Ursus maritimus), wolves (Canis lupus), lynx (Lynx canadensis) and wolverines (Gulo gulo).

Through the “Our Land for the Future” initiative, the partners involved aim to build community capacity by supporting the Indigenous Guardians program, which is a stewardship program that includes trained experts who manage lands and waters on behalf of their Nations. The funding will support training and career development of Indigenous people that will then monitor the ecosystems and cultural sites as part of the program. The money that the “Our Land for the Future” initiative receives will also advance climate action, support new and existing protected areas and promote sustainable, conservation-based Indigenous economies, which is key in the Arctic region.

“We belong to the land, and the land belongs to us,” said Grand Chief Herb Norwegian, Dehcho First Nations. “The investment announced today will help us steward our sacred responsibilities.”

Ugandan entrepreneurs Sandra Namboozo (26) and Samuel Muyita (28) have scooped both the People’s Choice and Community Healers awards at the prestigious 2025 Young Inventors Prize, organised by the European Patent Office (EPO). The duo was recognised for their groundbreaking innovation, Karpolax—a biodegradable sachet that preserves fruit freshness without refrigeration. The invention impressed both the public and an independent jury. The sachet, placed inside fruit packaging, emits a blend of plant-based volatile organic compounds derived from cloves, lemongrass, eucalyptus, and wintergreen. These compounds suppress ethylene emissions to slow ripening and protect against mould, fungi, and bacteria.

In pilot trials conducted with the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Karpolax extended the shelf life of mangoes from 11 to 33 days. The technology has also been tested successfully on bananas, apples, and oranges.

The innovation offers a critical solution for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, where cold storage facilities are often unavailable or unaffordable.

Since its launch in 2020, Karpolax has supported over 100 farmers, 20 exporters, and 250 vendors, helping prevent the spoilage of more than one million tonnes of fruit. The sachets are now being adapted for use with pineapples, capsicum, and berries.

Hopefully this is helpful to someone out there 🌸

You can find the Prompts podcast here, I drew some of the covers :D Also check out this digital library full of Creative Commons Solarpunk art (neither of these are sponsored).

🦗Somewhat shameful plug🦗