15 years ago, I joined a movement. Look what just happened.

Happy Friday my friend,

Can you believe the penultimate month of 2025 has arrived? Find out fun facts, moon dates, and folklore about the month of November here. 🦃

ECL TRIVIA: What is the only rock that floats on water due to its low density and porous structure? (Answer below)

🌎 Planet Health

🍎 FOOD SAFETY OVERHAUL: My interest in food safety activism started with this issue 15 years ago with my song “Question What’s Inside,” and we finally have victory. This week, Center for Food Safety defeated the USDA’s rule that excluded ultra-processed GMO ingredients from disclosure and relied solely on QR codes for labeling. QR codes were intentionally confusing to hide the truth about GMOs in your food. "Today's decision is a landmark victory for the public's right to know what they eat and feed their families," said CFS's Legal Director. Read more here about how the USDA has acted unlawfully when it comes to food labeling and ingredient disclosure.

🤖 10 TECH ADVANCEMENTS: Can technology be our friend in an age of ecological strain? A new World Economic Forum report says these ten breakthrough innovations (including AI-driven Earth monitoring, food-waste upcycling and carbon-smart concrete) can help humanity live more intelligently within the planet’s limits.

🐆 CONSERVATION CONFUSION: If you’ve seen videos of exotic leopards or eagles interacting with pets in urban backyards, and wondered if the video is authentic, you’re not alone. Hyper-realistic artificially generated videos are widely circulating social media, and researchers say it’s negatively impacting conservation efforts by distorting perceptions of species abundance or native habitats, prompting an increase in demand for exotic pets, and increasing “disconnect between society and the natural world.” Read more here.

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🧑‍⚕️ Human Health

👎 FOREVER CHEMICALS: In a recent study, 97% of children had “forever chemicals” known as PFAS  in their blood. “It is still unknown whether they (PFAS) could be responsible for future diseases,” the study authors warned. Read more about this study here, which highlights widespread exposure and the urgent need to revisit regulatory and monitoring frameworks.

🏋️‍♂️ IMMUNE SYSTEM TRAINING: Can years of exercise really “train” the immune system? This fascinating new research reveals that older adults with decades of endurance training had natural-killer immune cells that were more metabolically efficient, less prone to inflammation, and better at responding to stressors. 

👟 STEPS FOR HEALTH: Does it matter how you “get your steps in” each day? According to scientists, walking in continuous bouts of 10-15 minutes or more at a time had substantially lower risks of cardiovascular disease and premature death than those whose step totals came from many short walks of under five minutes.

Photo of the week

Trivia Answer:

Pumice. Formed from rapidly cooling volcanic lava, pumice's air pockets make it buoyant enough to float.

🎥 An Eloquent Analogy from author Kristin Ohlson

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...and a healthier planet:

• • Improve health awareness: Deep Dive articles & recipe videos
• • Protect ecosystems: expert video tutorials with leaders around the world
• • Prioritize mental health: custom meditations for relieved stress
• • Camaraderie: likeminded community (app coming soon!)
• • Inspiration: members-only ebooks, personal picks, and DIY ideas
• • Portion goes to support independent films, local food projects, and planting trees