A Communal Space for Women to Flourish at Gaia Goddess

As an ecofeminist brand, Gaia Goddess is committed to empowering the divine feminine in connection with the wisdom and nurturance of nature. Owner Maria Marshall, educated at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Parsons School of Design, has a strong background in visual arts.

A conscious creative who uses social entrepreneurism, storytelling and community building to inspire, heal and empower women, she says, “During the early childhood and adulthood phase of my life, I felt I don’t belong here due to traumatic experiences while growing with a single mother. Being intimated by father left a scar on me for life. I felt being responsible and at fault for the pain and suffering and things going wrong in and around me. I felt lost and searched for answers and solutions. In some way, I started believing that all men are like this. Further, I felt abandoned due to early death of my father.”

The GAIA Goddess vision is to provide a sanctuary and empower woman to achieve their ultimate potential. She shares, “After being in marriage in 25 years, I realized that for me to happy and satisfied I need not be what society wants me to be, but be what I want to be. I was separating, but not getting depressed; in fact I was getting awakened. My therapist helped me to deal with years of hurt. I start to feel energy, the vibrations and the tingling sensation of new destiny!”

She started doing reiki and meditation, and founded GAIA Goddess to create an array of educational experiences that appeal to multifaceted modern women in the community. As the system develops, they plan to also support couples and men in their endeavor to discover and heal themselves.

Marshall notes, “We are at the cusp of huge awakenings on planet Earth because everyone has come here for a purpose and reason. We are building a community to prepare for the new, awakened state of lifestyle. We see realization across the globe about our lifestyle choices, and as a result, communities are trying to go back to natural way of living. The acceptance of meditation, yoga and a natural way of life is increasing day by day, and GAIA Goddess wants to spread and prepare communities for the change.”

Membership is free. For more information, email Info@GaiaGoddessLifestyle.com or visit GaiaGoddessLifestyle.com.

Alarming Decline of the Hawksbill Turtle

Dispersed throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the hawksbill sea turtle helps maintain high coral cover on reefs by removing invasive prey. Their ornate, beautifully patterned shells make them a favorite attraction for snorkelers and divers around the world. But those beautiful shells also make them a target for illegal harvesting to be carved into combs, jewelry and other trinkets. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the population of hawksbill turtles has declined by 84 to 87 percent over the last three generations, and their numbers continue to fall. Illegal poaching is not the only threat facing these turtles. Excessive hunting, loss of coral reef habitats due to warming oceans and acidification, light pollution in nesting areas due to development, marine pollution and fatal run-ins with commercial fishing have contributed to their decline. Conservation efforts are underway in places like Australia and the Caribbean, including working with commercial fishers to develop sustainable, turtle-friendly fishing methods. Laws are in place in many parts of the world to deter and prosecute the illegal trade of turtle products. Consumers can do their part by learning to identify, avoid and report hawskbill shell products. For tips, check out this video by Travel for Wildlife at Tinyurl.com/HawksbillHelp.

Turning Vegetable Waste into Plastic

The World Economic Forum estimates that about 400 million tons of plastic waste are produced globally each year and that 98 percent of single-use plastic products are made from fossil fuels. So, the prospect of replacing the petroleum in plastic with a plant material is exciting news for the planet and humanity. Toresyoku, a Japanese firm, has developed technology that efficiently removes cellulose (dietary fiber) from plant material for use in plastic production. Using vegetable waste, such as cabbage cores, rice husks, coffee grounds and the leaves and stems of tomatoes and broccoli from local farms, the company extracts the cellulose through hydrolysis (heating under pressure in water) and component decomposition (using enzymes). Not only does the cellulose reduce the use of petroleumbased materials, but it may also increase the strength of the plastic being made for products such as plastic bottles, appliances and car bumpers. The company expects to start operating their factory soon and be able to process up to a ton of plant waste a day. While other companies have been able to extract cellulose from wood chips, Toresyoku’s technology is more efficient and can be done for a fraction of the cost of competing technologies.

Sharks Win!

In a groundbreaking decision, world governments have awarded increased protections to 54 species of sharks at the 19th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). “This decision is the most significant step toward improving global shark management that countries have taken,” says Mark Bond, a biologist at Florida International University and an advocate for the CITES protections. “It will ensure international shark trade is regulated and traceable.”

Sharks and rays, which are fished for their fins and meat, are the second most threatened vertebrate group in the world, with a third of them threatened with extinction. The inclusion of these sharks on the CITES list helps ensure only legal and sustainable trade in fins and meat is taking place. Almost every shipment of shark products will now require a permit to prove that trade meets legal and sustainability requirements. Before the decision, there were few restrictions in place around the globe.