LOVE

Ways to help Ukraine and the planet

Dear Solution-eers,

“LOVE” is a sculpture by Ukrainian artist Alexander Milov. He made it for Burning Man 2015, marking the first time a Ukrainian artist received an art grant from Burning Man. Isn’t it incredible?

While we all wonder what we can do to help the Ukrainians, I want to point out that there are many ways aside from donating money and sharing valuable fact-checked information.

I am deeply impressed with the outpouring of hospitality from citizens all over the world who welcome refugees with open arms into their homes. I want to highlight a few resources outside of the big well-known organizations that have already been published widely. On the site Host 4 Ukraine, people of any nationality can offer accommodation. The platform Host a Sister is exclusively from and for women, but the mighty, longstanding network with 233,000 members quickly turned itself into an impressive community of hosts who make spare beds available to female refugees in need. I’ve seen posts from women who are giving up their own bedrooms to provide a safe haven for fleeing mothers and children. The Refugee Buddy Network is another little-known grassroots organization that has been active for years. What makes it special is that it is mainly organized by refugees who are looking out for each other with tips, accommodation, and any knowledge of resources. Check them out!

Unfortunately, climate change is not taking a break while the war is raging.

This month, I wrote about Rachel Peixoto, a marine biologist who discovered that probiotics not only help our guts, but can also make corals more climate-resilient.

I got close to P-22, the famous Los Angeles mountain lion, who is getting the world’s biggest wildlife overpass for his 12th birthday in order to save his species from local extinction in Southern California.

Also, I’ve been exploring alternatives to plastic packaging, now that the EU as wells as parts of Asia and Africa are committed to phasing out single-use plastics.

And finally, a local baker from a small Bavarian village (where my niece runs a pub, but that’s another story) has found a viable alternative to the dreaded palm oil.

Happy reading, and let’s continue to make a difference wherever we can.

Truly yours,

Michaela