#solarpunk article

[solarpunkpresentspodcast]

We're releasing today another bonus clip from behind the Patreon paywall. This originally was produced by Christina as a bonus clip to follow the early release of S5E5; supporters on Patreon at the Companion tier and higher gain access to bonus content that is either excerpted from episodes or prompted by their content every other week.

Here is the original description: "I didn't have any extra clips from the interview with the organizers of The Solarpunk Conference. Instead, here's me (Christina) reading my contribution to The Solarpunk Conference Journal that was published after last year's conference. Enjoy!

PS- you can catch videos of many of the presentations from the conference on The Solarpunk Conference's YouTube channel (including the presentation/panel that @arielkroon was a part of)."

[reasonsforhope]

"Helio da Silva, a retired business executive from Brazil, single-handedly planted over 41,000 trees in his hometown of Sao Paulo over the last two decades.

Flying over the Brazilian metropolis of Sao Paulo, it’s tough to miss the 3.2-kilometers-long and 100-meter-wide green strip of trees wedged between two of the city’s busiest roads. It is known as Tiquatira Linear Park, and it is the work of a single man who worked tirelessly for over 20 years in order to transform a previously dilapidated area into an actual jungle within the urban jungle that is Sao Paulo. Originally from the town of Promissao, about 500km from Sao Paulo, Helio da Silva was a successful business executive for many years, but after retiring, he took it upon himself to transform the degraded banks of the Tiquatira River into a green oasis for his community. He started planting trees there in 2003 and hasn’t stopped since.

73-year-old da Silva recently told AFP that he wanted to leave a legacy to the city that adopted him decades ago. Within the first four years of his epic project, he single-handedly planted 5,000 trees in an area that had long been abandoned and known to be frequented by drug dealers and users. His impressive feat prompted the municipality of Sao Paulo to recognize his efforts and acknowledge the area as the first linear park in Sao Paulo. This only emboldened da Silva, who continued planting native trees.

By 2020, Helio had planted more than 25,047 trees over a 3.2-km-long area, achieving a survival rate of 88 percent. For every 12 trees, he planted a fruit-bearing species in the hopes of attracting birds and animals to his green oasis. His bet paid off, as according to the municipality, 45 types of birds have been identified in the park. Today, the Tiquatira Linear Park numbers over 41,000 individual trees, and Helio da Silva doesn’t plan on stopping planting until he reaches at least 50,000 of them.

“My motivation comes from the trees themselves because trees give us flowers and fruits, absorb rainwater, attract birds and provide us with wonderful shade and fresh air,” da Silva told Common Earth.

The retired executive estimates that he spent about $7,000 per year on his tree-planting efforts since 2022, but the way he sees it, it was a worthwhile investment for himself, his family and the whole of Sao Paulo. Plus, he saved a lot of money by planting the trees himself.

Once labeled as crazy for spending most of his time planting trees in an area most people avoided, Helio da Silva is now hailed as a local hero. He sometimes receives help from like-minded nature lovers, but he is still the driving force behind this amazing project. Every Sunday, he comes to Tiquatira Park to plant more trees.

Over the years, the city gym and playground equipment, tables, benches, toilets, and Tiquatira Linear Park eventually became one of Sao Paulo’s most popular areas."

-Article via OddityCentral, October 4, 2024. Video via France24, September 26, 2024.

--

Note: ONE SINGLE PERSON CAN MAKE A SUCH A DIFFERENCE

[thoughtportal]

Grinding tree stumps is usually how we deal with them. If you have land to clear on your homestead, it could become quite a chore to get these stumps taken care of. But did you know that you can eat your stumps?

Well, that is not exactly true. If you head out there and start chewing on tree stumps, they won't taste very good. And there is no method of slow cooking that will make that poplar edible or appetizing.

However, one way you can both eat your stumps and hasten their decomposition is to inoculate them with a mushroom spore. I understand that is a mouthful of words that don’t really mean much to the average person.

What I'm saying is, you can buy wooden dowels that are covered with the spores of certain types of mushrooms.

These dowels can be easily inserted into your stumps and they will begin feasting on the wood. The best part is that you will get delicious mushrooms several times a year. These spores are prolific and will produce enough mushrooms that you will need to dry them.

If you do this to a field of stumps, you better get your e-commerce ready or set a booth up at the local farmers market.

Shiitake Mushrooms retail for between 8$ and $15.

I prefer the Shiitake because it looks very distinct and I love the taste as well. They also preserve well.

Mushroom Nutrition

The Shiitake mushroom is a delicious little cap. It's full of great nutrients like copper and selenium. It's also a decent source of Vitamin B2 and B6. It contains lipids and amino acids as well.

Shiitake have played a role in Chinese medicine for millennia. There are also studies on their ability to fight tumors. For the most part, though, they are just delicious and grow with little to no effort. You can eat them, dry them, or sell them.

Tools and Supplies

Drill and Drill bit of 5/16th inch bit

Hammer

Wax

Vessel for melting wax

Small Paintbrush

Shiitake Spawn (store in fridge until ready for use)

The Process

7. That’s it! It’s not a tough process. If you can melt some wax and use a drill, you can have all the mushrooms you want.

How to Activate the Spore

It takes about 6-12 months for the spore to initially spread through your stump. So, it will take at least a year before you get any production.

Your stumps will produce in spring and in fall. You may get some sparse production in summer, but the bulk of production happens in spring and fall. The spore will need to be distributed through the stump each season and activated.

The best way to do this is to first soak your stumps thoroughly. When I do this with logs, I toss them into a small creek on my property overnight. You can water the stumps a few times a day for about 5 minutes. Just get them nice and soaked.

Next, you will want to bang the stumps. You can use a bat to hit the stump. Don’t really crack the thing and damage the stump, but give it a couple whacks on all sides. This will kickstart production.

Other Tips

After 6 months, keep an eye on the logs or you may miss the first production.

Stumps in the shade will produce best.

Too much direct sun will dry out the stump and they will not produce.

Harvest them when the cap is between 3-4 inches.

To dry, put them in a 200-degree oven until the caps are shrunken and hard.

Of course, the other payoff is that these mushrooms will hasten the decomposition of that problem stump. It won’t work as quickly as a stump grinder, but you will get years of delicious mushrooms out of it!

[bumblebeeappletree]

I’ve been looking for some recipes to share that’s good for dietary restrictions. “Why?” You may ask.

Well, it’s because I’ve been thinking about potlucks. Neighborhood block parties. About people coming together and feeding each other and enjoying each other companies and having fun.

But anywho, I’m thinking of putting them all on one post. Except for this particular article because unfortunately America Test Kitchen has 2 free articles per month for people who don’t subscribe to them. So while I’ll still post the link, I’m also having the article underneath the cut. Enjoy the food ideas to share with others!

Recently, I hosted a four-day gathering for nine people with 10 different dietary restrictions. To say I was worried would be a vast understatement.

We had everything: no gluten, no meat, no dairy, no mushrooms, and much more. All had varying degrees of importance from “just a preference” to “just in case, do we know where the closest hospital is?” 

Many restaurants are aware and accommodating of dietary issues, but it can be difficult when this problem arises at home. You can’t make different dinners for everyone.

We’ve compiled a list of suggested meals and preparation styles to cook for a crowd where everyone—including the host—enjoys the dinner, feels included, and stays healthy. 

(But first, an important disclaimer: There's more to cooking for people with special diets than just choosing a recipe. If you're cooking for someone with severe allergies, make sure they're comfortable with your serving setup.)

Spread-Style Meals That Offer Ultimate Flexibility 

My coworkers are food lovers and problem solvers. When I asked them what they would serve in this scenario, they all had the same answer: DIY-style meals offer the most flexibility for the diners and the least amount of stress for the cook.

Build-it-yourself meals allow people to select what foods work for them and avoid the ones that don't, without putting the responsibility on you.

For tackling this kind of meal, we suggest taking inventory of all guests' allergies (and the level of cross-contamination they allow) and then creating a themed dinner with choose-your-own elements. Make sure each person has at least one option at every step.

Here are a few of our favorites:

1. Build-Your-Own Bowls

Bring Sweetgreen home by making a couple plain bases, a few simple proteins, and some roasted veggies, and ending it all with a topping and sauce bar.

Bases: Everyday White Rice, Foolproof Oven-Baked Brown Rice, Quinoa Pilaf with Herbs and Lemon, Basic Farro Pilaf 

Proteins: Pan-Seared Chicken Breasts, Garlicky Broiled Shrimp, Teriyaki Tofu, tempeh steaks, sautéed eggplant with plant-based meat

Veggies: Skillet-Roasted Carrots and Parsnips; Skillet-Roasted Broccoli; Kale with Garlic, Red Pepper Flakes, and Lemon; Roasted Sweet Potatoes 

Sauces: Hummus with Smoked Paprika, dairy-free green goddess dressing, Roasted Garlic Chimichurri, Lemon Aioli, Tzatziki Sauce, Red Pepper–Almond Sauce 

Toppings: Microwave-Fried Shallots, shichimi togarashi, Microwave Cheese Crisps, Gim, Chili Crisp

2. Make-Your-Own Pizza

Whether you have an indoor or outdoor pizza oven or you simply make them on the grill or in your oven, making your own pizza is one of the easiest DIY meals because it mostly just requires the host to chop toppings and stretch dough.

Almost all ingredients can be store-bought, but if you feel like elevating the experience with a few homemade options, we have some suggestions.

Dough: Classic Pizza Dough, gluten-free pizza dough, thin-crust whole-wheat pizza 

Sauce: No-Cook Pizza Sauce, Basic Pizza Sauce, Perfect Pesto, alfredo sauce   

Toppings: Caramelized Onions, pepperoni, roasted vegetables, anchovies, Spicy Honey, dollops of homemade ricotta

3. Burrito/Taco Bar

For this simple spread, make a variety of proteins and vegetables, buy any additions, have a few homemade salsas on hand, and let your guests decide whether or not to use flour, corn, or other types of GF or dietary-specific tortillas.

Fillings: Plant-based chorizo, shredded chicken, sweet and spicy fried fish, grilled steak, bean and vegetable

Salsas: Fresh Tomato, Roasted Tomato–Lime, Salsa Roja, Quick Tomatillo, Mango-Mint, fresh corn and avocado   

Additions: Tangy Apple-Cabbage Slaw, Bell Pepper Slaw, Chipotle and Pepita Guacamole

Single Recipes for Multiple Dietary Requirements

When you don’t want to prepare an entire spread and instead just feel like making one dish that has several dietary accommodations baked in, we have some options for you.

I asked my coworkers: Whether vegan, vegetarian, soy-free, nut-free, gluten-free, or peanut-free, what do you make when trying to accommodate multiple diets?

1. Japchae 

This was my go-to meal when cooking for my large, dietary-restricted crowd and it was a hit. The base noodles, Korean sweet potato noodles, are naturally gluten-free and hold onto sauce really well. To keep the dish gluten-free, I used tamari instead of soy sauce which generally contains wheat. To accommodate a pescatarian and someone with a mushroom allergy, I just cooked these elements separately and left them on the side for people to sprinkle onto their own plates.

Who It’s Good For: Those following dairy-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, tree nut–free, soy-free (using tamari), vegetarian, and vegan diets.

2. Breakfast Casserole 

Essentially a crustless quiche in a baking dish, a breakfast casserole is great for a varied crowd because you can swap any protein, vegetable, or spice in or out depending upon your group's dietary needs. One of our members raved, “One of us is dairy-free, the other has celiac, so this was perfect to please everyone."

Who It’s Good For: Those following dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, peanut-free, tree nut–free, or vegetarian (provided they eat eggs) diets.

3. Red Lentil Soup 

This soup is spiced, rich, and nourishing because of the thick texture and nutrients that simmered red lentils bring. To make this a complete meal, pair it with a hearty salad and serve dressings on the side.

Who It’s Good For: Those following gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut-free, nut-free, soy-free, vegetarian or vegan (if you use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth) diets.  

4. Vegan Barbecue Tempeh, Mushroom, and Bell Pepper Skewers

Tempeh is an awesome, naturally gluten-free (most often; check your brands) vegetarian protein for grilled skewers. You can add any vegetables, or even fruit, to your skewers and the same glaze can be used for any meat skewers you make separately.

Who It’s Good For: Those following gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut-free, nut-free, soy-free, vegetarian or vegan diets. 

5. Walkaway Ratatouille

Most ratatouille recipes call for labor- and time-intensive treatments like salting and/or pressing to remove excess moisture from the vegetables. Not only is this meal largely hands off and fuss-free, but it's also ready in under an hour, and it’s chock-full of vegetables while accommodating some of the most common dietary restrictions.

Who It’s Good For: Those following dairy-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, soy-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets.

6. Falafel

Like a cross between a spread meal and a single dish, making falafel the centerpiece of your dinner allows you to provide lots of pita, sauces, and toppings on the side for people to choose from while you only have to cook one main element. Though this recipe uses all-purpose flour, an equal amount of chickpea flour can be substituted for a gluten-free version. To accommodate this substitution, we increase the water.

Who It’s Good For: Those following dairy-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, soy-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets.

7. Chili-Spiced Chicken Thighs and Potatoes

This recipe is a great example of a jazzed-up protein that is still widely applicable to different dietary needs without sacrificing flavor. It can serve as a complete meal as is, or for a vegetable element you can add some simply dressed greens on the side.

Who It’s Good For: Those following dairy-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, and soy-free diets.

8. Best Prime Rib

Provided your guests eat meat, you’re in luck. Though this is technically a plain protein, there is nothing plain about a centerpiece-worthy prime rib. Serve it with any vegetable sides, salads, or potatoes to round out the meal.

Who It’s Good For: Those following dairy-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, and soy-free diets. 

9. Chicken Shawarma 

Instead of going out for shawarma, we were able to create a home version by using the broiler and boneless chicken thighs. Chicken shawarma allows guests to assemble their own pita pockets with as much or as little sauce and vegetables as they desire. To accommodate more diets, make roasted tofu as a vegetarian option and provide gluten-free pita.

Who It’s Good For: Those following gluten-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, and soy-free diets.

Allergy-Friendly Swaps We Love

Sometimes a recipe is so close to fitting your restrictions but doesn't quite work because of an ingredient or two. We have a few standby swaps that are typically fine in small amounts without significantly altering the overall recipe.

* Swap tamari for soy sauce when you need to be gluten-free.

* Swap sunflower seed butter for peanut butter when you need a peanut- or tree nut–free alternative. 

* Swap vegan, non-dairy milks for cow’s milk. We like oat milk when baking due to its higher sugar content and almond milk in savory applications because it is more neutral. 

* Swap garlic or onions for garlic oil when alliums can cause an issue, such as with the Low FODMAP diet. 

[cognitivejustice]

Designing Living Artefacts for Multispecies Interactions: An Ecological Approach

Eduard Georges Groutars*, Raphael Kim, and Elvin KaranaDelft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands

Living systems are not only characterised by the sum of individual organisms but also by the multispecies interactions that occur among them, which are crucial for self-regulation, versatility and the evolution of life. Within the fields of biodesign and biological HCI, designers and researchers have strived to facilitate and mimic the qualities that these multispecies interactions entail. However, designing in a way that can account for such intricate dynamic systems presents significant challenges, necessitating alternative approaches that offer greater nuance and sensitivity to natural ecosystems. By incorporating living organisms as interactive components within human-made systems, living artefacts provide an opportunity to explore and design with such sensitivity. Leveraging the inherent interactive potential of living organisms, we propose an ecologically oriented design approach in which living artefacts are recognised and supported within the context of an intricate web of life. To this end, we conducted an in-depth analysis of existing living artefacts, paying particular attention to the multiplicity,connectivity and reciprocity of interactions between humans, other living entities and computers. From this analysis, we identified three distinct types of multispecies interactions that help to articulate and leverage their unique features within, across and beyond living artefacts.

Relevance to Design Practice – This paper presents multispecies interactions as a viable concept for designers and emphasises the role of living artefacts in facilitating such interactions. Additionally, it highlights their contribution to promoting the care of all living entities and fostering sensitivity to natural ecosystems.

Citation: Groutars, E.G., Kim, R., & Karana, E. (2024). Designing living artefacts for multispecies interactions: An ecological approach. International Journal of Design, 18(2), 59-78. https://doi.org/10.57698/v18i2.04

FULL PAPER

[barkgch]

this only concerns a tiny part of the ideas here, but a related book i recommend is Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires by Douglas Rushkoff

the assumption that success can only be defined as infinite exponential economic growth is something that’s brought up, and the book talks about how this sort of mentality has resulted in today’s severely fucked system. it mentions how systems with a centralized currency remove power from working class people, what sort of assumptions and world views contribute to the way people act under modern capitalism (to name a few things i found interesting) and, something i appreciated a lot, ends on a rather hopeful conclusion. a list of references for specific claims is also provided at the end

the book doesn’t provide specific solutions, but rather is an analysis of how the world looks today, with a focus on how internet and technology play into that (in some chapters tech is focussed on more so than others)

i think it’s a really good read either way, and makes the topic pretty accessible

a key point of the book was that a real solution to the world’s problems cannot involve destruction of or escape from the current world to start from scratch. a real solution needs to be mindful of all the people that are currently living through all this, and must build on what already exists (which seems to be what solarpunk is talking abt doing :) )

Solarpunk, realism, dystopia: a rant

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🦗

I would highly appreciate if you threw me a couple bucks on Buy Me a Coffee or bought a commission, my money number is only getting smaller these days 😔🤙

[thrivingisthegoal]

Golf Courses ARE Being Converted

The Solarpunk "fantasy" that so many of us tout as a dream vision, converting golf courses into ecological wonderlands, is being implemented across the USA according to this NYT article!

The article covers courses in Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Colorado, and New York that are being bought and turned into habitat and hiking trails.

The article goes more into detail about how sand traps are being turned into sand boxes for kids, endangered local species are being planted, rocks for owl habitat are being installed, and that as these courses become wilder, they are creating more areas for biodiversity to thrive.

Most of the courses in transition are being bought by Local Land Trusts. Apparently the supply of golf courses in the USA is way over the demand, and many have been shut down since the early 2000s. While many are bought up and paved over, land Trusts have been able to buy several and turn them into what the communities want: public areas for people and wildlife. It does make a point to say that not every hold course location lends itself well to habitat for animals (but that doesn't mean it wouldn't make great housing!)

So lets be excited by the fact that people we don't even know about are working on the solutions we love to see! Turning a private space that needs thousands of gallons of water and fertilizer into an ecologically oriented public space is the future I want to see! I can say when I used to work in water conservation, we were getting a lot of clients that were golf courses that were interested in cutting their resource input, and they ended up planting a lot of natives! So even the golf courses that still operate could be making an effort.

So what I'd encourage you to do is see if there's any land or community trusts in your area, and see if you can get involved! Maybe even look into how to start one in your community! Through land trusts it's not always golf course conversions, but community gardens, solar fields, disaster adaptation, or low cost housing! (Here's a link to the first locator I found, but that doesn't mean if something isn't on here it doesn't exist in your area, do some digging!)

[suprsaturatd]

I and some other sewists and fiber artists were featured in Teen Vogue recently!! It’s really wild seeing how my tiny little punk sewing circle has been reaching people around my city :) You can read the article here!!! I wanted to talk a bit more about my reasoning for doing this stitch ‘n’ bitch event on tumblr since i get a lot of inspiration here. :3

I’ve been hosting a monthly Stitch ‘n’ Bitch crafting circle since August of 2024. I haven’t quite hit a year yet, but it has been a blast so far!! Every month I bring sewing supplies (scrap cloth, needles, thread, embroidery floss, scissors, pins, buttons, other shit i can get my hands on), zines, and my own DIY mending know-how and attitude to help people mend their clothes. We set up in a local DIY punk record shop in Denver, CO, with help and promotion from Aliyah Wallace and her local art club meetup group, Artists in Sync.

I’ve been on tumblr for fandom stuff for a minute, but it’s really only been since 2021 that I got into visible mending and solarpunk. I’ve been really inspired by the solarpunk and visible mending communities on tumblr. In particular, I’ve gotten a lot out of following @wastelesscrafts , @solarpunkactionweek , @solarpunkani , @mossyvida , @fennopunk , @obsob @mildmayfoxe @claypigeonpottery @plantyhamchuk @theenbyroiderer and probably a whole bunch of other people i’ve been quietly following but not saying anything to for four years. Not everyone listed here may consider themselves ‘solarpunk’ per se, but they’re people who’ve inspired my art and my desire to share a better world with my community.

I get to make and sell cool textile art, but what I really love is being able to show people how to do stuff like this. All of these embroidery stitches are fairly simple (if repetitive), most of these were made with hand-sewing, and all of it comes from thrifted materials. It also looks pretty cool!!! I like wearing clothing that I made just for me, and I know it’s something that would make other people feel great about their clothes and their body.

If your clothes are falling apart, it is not your fault a million times over - the push for more clothing, more styles, more trends, at faster rates, all for more and more of a profit has destroyed the quality of our garments. Fabrics are made of plastic and made poorly to boot. The people working in sweatshop clothing factories are being forced to turn out products faster and faster, with no real increase in pay, benefits, or ability to add the kinds of finishings that make clothes last longer. You’re overworked and underpaid, and it’s easier to buy new clothing than it is to try to eke out time in your jam-packed day to fix the holes in your shirt. It’s easier to keep you trapped in that shitty job if you don’t know your neighbors, if you are constantly trying to hold your life together under solely your own power (or maybe yours and that of a partner, if you’re lucky). It’s easier to miss the effects of the clothes you wear and discard because they are quietly shuffled away from you.

I started to learn how to embroider because embroidery floss is cheap, frequently boldly colored, easier for my sweet sweet nearsighted eyes to see, and it produces the kind of free-form, messy art I love. I was hooked into visible mending VERY soon after beginning my embroidery journey because hey! I can put art on my clothes! Why would I not want more of that? It was an act of caring for myself and my loved ones - I want that sweater you love to be with you longer, I want to put little flowers and suns and butterflies on your clothes for you, I want those jeans that makes your ass look awesome to last for another decade. I don’t want to buy new underwear. I CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY NEW UNDERWEAR.

But my clothes are mine: I have little pieces of evidence of my love for myself and my clothes on more and more of my wardrobe. The pre-distressed overall shorts I found now have autumnally-colored vines chasing up and down the patches I added. The boxer briefs I got when I got rid of all my old girl clothes and replaced them with something that made me feel at home in my body are still with me, with colorful little darns overlapping. The first band shirt I ever got and outgrew a long time ago is salvaged and is now paired with another shirt with another piece of art I love. I pay attention to the clothes of my friends and my lovers and I can give them something that will be with them for as long as they keep their clothes - for longer, even, if they are passed on.

And I don’t need to hoard that. It would be antithetical. For every person I teach a ladder stitch, that’s so many shirts and pants and skirts and jackets that will last just a bit longer. For every mending kit I hand out, someone will keep their favorite shoes for another year. It saves money, it keeps trash out of landfills, it takes back power from the ghouls who would have us licking their feet for table scraps. But most of all, repairing something you love makes it even more yours. To be loved is to be changed. To be cared for is to leave your mark and wear others’, forever.

[alpaca-clouds]

The history of Solarpunk

Okay, I guess this has to be said, because the people will always claim the same wrong thing: No, Solarpunk did not "start out as an aesthetic". Jesus, where the hell does this claim even come from? Like, honestly, I am asking.

Solarpunk started out as a genre, that yes, did also include design elements, but also literary elements. A vaguely defined literary genre, but a genre never the less.

And I am not even talking about those early books that we today also claim under the Solarpunk umbrella. So, no, I am not talking about Ursula K. LeGuin, even though she definitely was a big influence on the genre.

The actual history of Solarpunk goes something like that: In the late 1990s and early 2000s the term "Ecopunk" was coined, which was used to refer to books that kinda fit into the Cyberpunk genre umbrella, but were more focused on ecological themes. This was less focused on the "high tech, high life" mantra that Solarpunk ended up with, but it was SciFi stories, that were focused on people interacting with the environment. Often set to a backdrop of environmental apocalypse. Now, other than Solarpunk just a bit later, this genre never got that well defined (especially with Solarpunk kinda taking over the role). As such there is only a handful of things that ever officially called themselves Ecopunk.

At the same time, though, the same sort of thought was picked up in the Brazilian science fiction scene, where the idea was further developed. Both artistically, where it got a lot of influence from the Amazofuturism movement, but also as an ideology. In this there were the ideas from Ecopunk as the "scifi in the ecological collaps" in there, but also the idea of "scifi with technology that allows us to live within the changing world/allows us to live more in harmony with nature".

Now, we do not really know who came up with the idea of naming this "Solarpunk". From all I can find the earliest mention of the term "Solarpunk" that is still online today is in this article from the Blog Republic of Bees. But given the way the blogger talks about it, it is clear there was some vague definition of the genre before it.

These days it is kinda argued about whether that title originally arose in Brazil or in the Anglosphere. But it seems very likely that the term was coined between 2006 and 2008, coming either out of the Brazilian movement around Ecopunk or out of the English Steampunk movement (specifically the literary branch of the Steampunk genre).

In the following years it was thrown around for a bit (there is an archived Wired article from 2009, that mentions the term once, as well as one other article), but for the moment there was not a lot happening in this regard.

Until 2012, when the Brazilian Solarpunk movement really started to bloom and at the same time in Italy Commando Jugendstil made their appearance. In 2012 in Brazil the anthology "Solarpunk: Histórias ecológicas e fantásticas em um mundo sustentável" was released (that did get an English translation not too long ago) establishing some groundwork for the genre. And Commando Jugendstil, who describe themselves as both a "Communication Project" and an "Art Movement", started to work on Solarpunk in Italy. Now, Commando Jugendstil is a bit more complicated than just one or the other. As they very much were a big influence on some of the aesthetic concepts, but also were releasing short stories and did some actual punky political action within Italy.

And all of that was happening in 2012, where the term really started to take off.

And only after this, in 2014, Solarpunk became this aesthetic we know today, when a (now defuct) tumblr blog started posting photos, artworks and other aesthetical things under the caption of Solarpunk. Especially as it was the first time the term was widely used within the Anglosphere.

Undoubtedly: This was probably how most people first learned of Solarpunk... But it was not how Solarpunk started. So, please stop spreading that myth.

The reason this bothers me so much is, that it so widely ignores how this movement definitely has its roots within Latin America and specifically Brazil. Instead this myth basically tries to claim Solarpunk as a thing that fully and completely originated within the anglosphere. Which is just is not.

And yes, there was artistic aspects to that early Solarpunk movement, too. But also a literary and political aspectt. That is not something that was put onto a term that was originally an aesthetic - but rather it was something that was there from the very beginning.

Again: There has been an artistic and aesthetic aspect in Solarpunk from the very beginning, yes. But there has been a literary and political aspect in it the entire time, too. And trying to divorce Solarpunk from those things is just wrong and also... kinda misses the point.

So, please. Just stop claiming that entire "it has been an aesthetic first" thing. Solarpunk is a genre of fiction, it is a political movement, just as much as it is an artistic movement. Always has been. And there has always been punk in it. So, please, stop acting as if Solarpunk is just "pretty artistic vibes". It is not.

Thanks for coming to my TED Talk, I guess.

[rockmangurl]

even if two if them are Mana related, these would be great to study.

Hirō Isono

[solarpunkpresentspodcast]

Hello followers, just dropping a note into your feed because apparently you can sell individual posts on Patreon now?!?!

We are clearly behind the curve, because this feature has been out for a while but we haven’t really done anything about it. That said, you can navigate to our shop and purchase things like bonus episode excerpts that didn’t get included in the final episode version, other bonus audio, and dispatches, which are available to our supporters at higher tiers.

BUT if you’re perusing the shop and see a topic that interests you, you don’t have to get an ongoing subscription - you can just buy the one thing and be done with it! Extremely neat.

Anyway, just thought to let you know, in case you see anything that catches your eye. I’ll be posting this as a reminder periodically so you can check back and see if there’s anything new and interesting that’s been made available for sale in the last while (we don’t actually offer all of the dispatches… some are a bit more private and so they stay behind the membership wall, and some of them end up being freely available content).

[liekadae]

(Disclaimer: I understand that all the permit office stuff is a BIT and its Not Serious At All.

The Purpose of this post is to use this as a jumping point to explain real world Art and how Fascism Uses Art because I think its incredibly important for people to understand it.)

I can not be the only one who squinted their eyes at this Permit Office notice and thought it sounded a bit fascist

Anyway Pearl, it's very punk of you to deny the status quo I beg you please keep doing it that's the whole point of the punk in solarpunk

deny the government's standards of beauty

deny the aesthetics of the a soulless entity

I am being 100% real here in that I see Pearl's portal as a piece of Modernist art and I will be devastated if it gets changed because it doesn't 'fit the aesthetic'

I kept thinking "why do you think your art is bad?" when pearl was describing it. I don't know, I like it a lot! It's weird, yes, its out of place, yes, but thats why its so beautiful to me

I am being dead serious that fascists use the argument of aesthetics to control the art output of their people, and that Modern art Looks Like That because its in response to the idea that art should strive for a universal standard of 'quality'.

Fascist art was heavily inspired by the classical era which focused on the ideal standards of man/woman/architecture/anything and they used that aesthetic to build up the mythos of their own regimes; anything that did not conform to that standard of beauty, did not contribute to the mythos and therefore was a criticism.

Art that was deemed the standard was traditionally beautiful, ideal, and representational. Basically, art where a group of people could look at it and come to the same conclusions as everyone else. Where as modern art was often abstract, personal, and focused on the expression; anyone could think anything about these types of art.

The art did not conform, therefore it was dangerous.

If you seriously hate modernism, I need you to take a good long look in the mirror and ask yourself why

Article about Modern Art and Fascism

Article about Nazi Germany and Art

I think I loved Pearl's episode so much because she is exuding the malicious compliance lots of artists wish they could embody. She is responding to it in a modernist way. The permit office didn't like her art so they told her to comply and she does the opposite! I need her to keep doing it, because that's what the 'punk' in solarpunk is about

It's about denying the status quo. It's about anarchy. It's about socialist post-modernism. It's about feeling your feelings, making the art that you wanna make. Being the person you want to be.

(This is a very brief explanation of these concepts. If you have any more info or want to discuss this further, feel free to add your own ideas/comments/reblogs/etc but PLEASE keep it civil)

[thoughtportal]

Copenhagen, the bicycle-friendliest place on the planet, publishes a biannual Bicycle Account, and buried in its pages is a rather astonishing fact, reports Andy Clarke, president of the league of American Bicyclists:

“When all these factors are added together the net social gain is DKK 1.22 per cycled kilometer. For purposes of comparison there is a net social loss of DKK 0.69 per kilometer driven by car.” 1.22 Danish crowns is about 25 cents and a kilometer is 6/10 of a mile, so we are talking about a net economic gain to society of 42 cents for every bicycle mile traveled. That’s a good number to have in your back pocket.

And what are all the “social gains” that bicycling grants the city of Copenhagen?

A number of factors are included in the equation such as transport costs, security, comfort, branding/tourism, transport times and health.

Considering that both sitting and car exhaust kill you, it’s a safe bet a lot of the net benefit to society is simply that cycling makes you less of a drag on health insurance and the safety net.

Since the total health benefit of Copenhagen residents’ healthy cycling habits is DKK 5.51 per km, the annual benefit is worth the equivalent of approx. DKK 2.0 billion.

Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80 percent of its population commutes by bicycle, even in winter. That’s $300 per person per year. Clearly, the reason the new Danish minister of the interior said she’d “rather invest in cycle tracks than freeways,” is that only one of those has a positive return.

[neodreamcinema]

my current stance is "most use of AI assistance in this way needs to be discouraged until things like AI 'art', AI replacing script writers + the ensuing strikes, and AI replications of nonconsenting and unpaid voice actors aren't as hugely prominent issues".

solarpunk as a movement relies heavily on the concept of more reliance on nature and self-sustainability (e.g. farming, using more eco-friendly methods on a personal level, etc), and while i don't fully understand the effects of AI beyond the basic facts of worsening climate change and greenhouse gases because of the high energy emmissions, that really feels like the antithesis of solarpunk and what it stands for, at least to me.

until corporations stop viewing AI as a reasonable replacement for genuine human passion and talent because "it's cheaper" or whatever, AI use for any creative endeavors and writing should probably be discouraged. i'm not saying "you specifically are a morally bad person + part of the problem if you use AI to help you write your school papers", but i AM saying it's very dissonant to the core values of solarpunk as a movement.

after talking to some friends more knowledgable in the field -- the AI used for ChatGPT and other writing AI is trained similarly to the ones used for art -- both scrape from existing works without necessarily getting permission or consent from the original writer/artist/creator/etc., and may regurgitate entire segments of the work it is "learning" from, leading to unintentional plagiarism.

AI can't answer or correct things properly, only parrot things back based on the data it gets fed during its training, and may sometimes plagiarize as a result, OR display unwanted human biases. there are countless articles out there about facial recognition/generation AI primarily being trained on white faces, and struggling greatly to accurately recognize or depict people of color, especially black people. while i'm not as informed on the biases that may show up in writing AI, i'm sure a very similar logic applies there as well.

also, depending on your field of study, relying on AI for your writing can be mildly hazardous (any sort of writing major, plagiarism) to actively life-threatening (medical field, anything involving vehicles or complex machinery). while it might be "fine" for mandatory general education classes, it's better not to get into the practice of using them at all. if you find yourself relying on AI or cheating for courses specific to your major, it would be wise to reconsider what you want to major in. (signed, someone who has had to change their own major due to not being able to understand a lot of later courses.)

so while i don't think using AI necessarily makes someone a bad person on an individual level (and i realize you said you only use it for upping your writing and summarizing studies), there are definitely some risks to doing so, and a lot of unethical practices behind the scenes -- namely theft and adverse effects on the well-being of the planet. and the more we can put a stop to these things, the better.

Psst, hey.

Hey you.

Come closer.

Listen to what I'm about to say good and well, alright?

[bumblebeeappletree]

Okay I think I got a bit of websites with recipes on them lined up. The first two are websites that talk about dietary restrictions, what people can and can’t have, and give suggestions for what you can use to replace an ingredient. These websites will have links to different recipes, but I hope they’ll give you ideas on new foods to try! And I hope they’ll do great when you make them for your party/potluck!

And remember! It’s always good to experiment when you cook!

Imagine dining at a restaurant and not being able to find anything on the menu you can order because of a food allergy or intolerance. The frustration and disappointment of feeling excluded from enjoying a meal out with friends or family can be disheartening.

In a world filled with diverse food preferences and restrictions, understanding dietary constraints is crucial for anyone involved in meal preparation, especially caterers. This guide will help you navigate the complexities of various dietary needs, ensuring that everyone can enjoy delicious meals without worry. From food allergies and intolerances to religious and lifestyle choices, we’ll explore how to create inclusive menus that respect every guest’s needs.

Last month, my daughter’s friends came over for a casual graduation dinner…

A growing number of people in this country follow specialized diets. This creates a real challenge for both caterers and consumers. How do you navigate a buffet where the options are pre-set and customization is limited? Of course, there are plenty of caterers that specialize in meeting different types of dietary restrictions, but if you’re looking to serve food with more generalized appeal — take a look at these six dietary restriction-friendly dishes that won’t make anyone feel deprived.

Making dinner is hard enough every single day, but then throw in the limitations of not using gluten, dairy or eggs? It can feel downright impossible. I’ve been there. I’ve been tearing up at the grocery store wandering aimlessly. Let me save you from that feeling! I’ve compiled 31 gluten free dairy free egg free dinner that are tried and true. These are dinners I make myself, for my family, that we love! Arm yourself with a variety of new recipes–slow cooker, stove top, one pan meals, salads and more! You’ll have a collection of recipes to simply rotate every month! All of these recipe are also nut free too making these very allergy-friendly recipes too!

I believe that meals should make everyone at the table happy, no matter their dietary preferences or restrictions. Luckily, it’s simple to make a perfectly delectable and crave-worthy dish, regardless of whether it’s dairy-free, gluten-free, or meat-free. I’ve got all your allergy-friendly, vegetarian, and vegan recipes right here.

Meal planning has never been so easy. These AIP Dinner Recipes are a complete meal for at least 4 people in one simple AIP recipe. Most of these AIP meals can be made in 30 minutes or less and in one pan.

Whether it’s for a wonderful occasion like welcoming a new little one into the world or for a more difficult circumstance like sickness, surgery, loss, or grief – sometimes, you need to support those you love by providing dinner. This is why we made this list of 20 meals to bring someone when they need it most.

[cognitivejustice]

AbstractNumerous countries have adopted large-scale tree planting programs as a climate mitigation strategy and to improve local livelihoods. However, it remains poorly documented how the surge in tree plantations has altered local livelihoods. Here, we assess whether tropical tree plantation expansion and forest regrowth across 18 African countries are associated with local people’s living standards. By combining a recent map that distinguishes tree plantations from regrowth from 2000 to 2012 with multidimensional poverty measures from more than 200,000 households, we find a positive association between people's living standards and areas where tree plantations have expanded or, to a lesser extent, forest regrowth has occurred. Because tree plantations make up a large proportion of recent increases in tropical tree cover – and controversy remains about their potential impacts on both biodiversity and local people – our study provides broad empirical support for the idea that tree plantations and forest regrowth can be linked with reduced poverty in the short term.

den Braber, B., Hall, C.M., Rhemtulla, J.M. et al. Tree plantations and forest regrowth are linked to poverty reduction in Africa. Commun Earth Environ 5, 724 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01845-2