Earth by World Pulse

Design Revolution

A win for the planet: Some of the biggest ideas have the smallest ecological footprint.

A win for women: Many of the most innovative green products are designed specifically to meet challenges faced by women around the world.

Green design proves that well-designed products can make a difference for people and the planet. Portable Light Project | Produced by local women in places like Mexico, Nicaragua, and South Africa, these gorgeous traditional woven textiles have a modern catch—they double as solar-powered lights. Find out more at portablelight.org. Eco Sanitary Pads | Millions of girls around the world stay home from school during their periods due to a lack of access to sanitary products. Sustainable Health Enterprises piloted a line of sanitary pads in Rwanda that are affordable, eco-friendly, and made from local materials. Learn about the benefits at sheinnovates.com.

Firewood Alternatives A win for the planet: Our use of firewood is a major contributor to deforestation. Finding alternatives will help us keep trees in the ground and take CO2 out of the air.

A win for women: Throughout the developing world, women are tasked with gathering firewood. Alternatives allow girls and women to spend less time gathering firewood and more time on education.

Half the world’s population cooks over wood fires. We’ve burned out much of our traditional fuel reserves through overuse, a situation that is sparking a transition to alternative fuels and energy sources.

Fuel-Efficient Stoves | Practical, affordable stoves use everything from solar rays to animal dung for efficient cooking. Innovations in wood-burning stove design are also helping to cut down on wasted fuel. Find out more at she-inc.org. Recycled Sugarcane Fuel | In sugarcane-producing areas, a promising new technology takes the leftovers from sugarcane production and recycles it into charcoal briquettes that are used as a source of fuel.

Legislating Change A win for the planet: The environment can’t lobby or vote on its own behalf. It’s up to us to shape public policy to anticipate and mitigate human impact. A win for women: By changing our laws to protect the forces that sustain life, we are creating legal systems that are friendlier to women as well as to ecosystems.

From city councils to national constitutions, groundbreaking environmental protections are being written into law. Ecuador’s Constitutional Change | Ecuador has taken a relatively simple step to protect the planet’s natural resources—they’ve given nature its own constitutional rights. In 2008, the people voted on a new constitution, and Ecuador became the first nation to recognize the planet’s inherent right to life.

Biomimicry | Biomimicry looks to nature to inform product design. The bumpy back of the Namib Desert beetle, for example, has inspired the blueprint for water harvesting panels that don’t require underground drilling. Be inspired at biomimicryinstitute.org.

Plastic Bag Bans | Entire countries, including South Africa, Belgium, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda have banned or restricted plastic bags, along with the cities of San Francisco, New Delhi, Washington, DC, and Mexico City. In China, a nationwide ban saved 40 billion bags in the first year alone along with 1.6 million tons of petroleum.

Mapping the Future A win for the planet: Maps provide the knowledge needed to track and fight deforestation and other environmental degradation. A win for women: Women’s participation in mapping projects allows women’s knowledge to be preserved and solidifies their role as important stewards of the planet’s resources.

In order to protect our environment, we have to be able to define it. New mapping technologies are making it easier for communities to map and manage natural resources. Brazil’s Surui tribe | Brazil’s Surui tribe was shocked when they accessed Google Earth’s satellite imagery. The extent of deforestation in the Amazon was far beyond what they could ever imagine. Led by Chief Almir Surui, they partnered with Google to raise awareness of the sweeping deforestation that is taking its toll on their forests. By embracing new tools, indigenous communities are sending a powerful statement: This is our land. We are protecting it. worldpulse.com | 43