Maps of a New Age

The Anthropocene. We’re already there. This is our time, our creation, our challenge. Officially, this epoch does not exist. Yet. It may be added permanently to the geologic time scale in 2016. It is the International Commission on Stratigraphy that determines the denomination and the calibration of different divisions and subdivisions of geological time, which date back to the formation of the Earth, 4.6 billion years ago. Unofficially however, the term is used more frequently in the scientific literature and, more recently, in publications dedicated to the general public. So, might you ask, what is the Anthropocene? First, the etymology. The Ancient Greek anthropos means “human being” while kainos means “new, current.” The Anthropocene would thus be best defined as the new human-dominated period of the Earth’s history. The term was proposed in 2000 by Paul J. Crutzen, Nobel Prize in 1995 for his work on atmospheric chemistry and his research on stratospheric ozone depletion (the so-called “hole”), and by Eugene F. Stoermer in a publication (p. 17) of the International Geosphere- Biosphere Programme. But the concept itself, the idea that human activity affects the Earth to the point where it can cross a new age, is not new and dates back to the late nineteenth century. Different terms were proposed over the decades, such as Anthropozoic (Stoppani, 1873), Noosphere (de Chardin, 1922; Vernadsky, 1936), Eremozoic (Wilson, 1992), and Anthrocene (Revkin, 1992). It seems that the success of the term chosen by Crutzen and Stoermer is due to the luck of having been made at the appropriate time, when humankind became more than ever aware of the extent of its impact on global environment. It should be noted that Edward O. Wilson (who suggested Eremozoic, “the age of loneliness”) popularized the terms “biodiversity” and “biophilia.” Technically, the Anthropocene is the most recent period of the Quaternary, succeding to the Holocene. The Quaternary is a period of the Earth’s history characterized by numerous and cyclical glaciations, starting 2,588,000 years ago (2.588 Ma). The Quaternary is divided into three epochs: the Pleistocene, the Holocene, and now the Anthropocene. The Pleistocene (2.588 Ma to 11.7 Ka) was a tumultuous era, during which more than eleven major glaciations occurred. Furthermore, the Pleistocene is also the time of early humans, the exit of our ancestors from Africa, the invention of the first tools, the evolution of bipedalism, the invention of graphic arts, cultural and linguistic refinements, and the dominance of Homo sapiens on the other hominids. The Holocene (11.7 ka until about 1800 AD) was a time comparatively smoother in terms of climate variability. At the end of the last Ice Age, 12,000 years ago, a more stable climate regime settled on Earth. The ice gave way to temperate climates, and already, humans were present on all continents. It took a few thousand years for agriculture (domestication of land by humans for food mainly) to take off in the Fertile Crescent and elsewhere in Africa, China, New Guinea and South America. Thus went human progress, managing with success to feed ever more humans. We are officially still in the Holocene. In fact, we are in the Phanerozoic Eon, Cenozoic era, Quaternary period and Holocene epoch. But now, the Earth’s system does not seem to behave the same way as, say, at the time of Hesiod, Dante or Cervantes. The Earth of the 21st century is warming, overcrowded, partly deforested, and more toxic and interconnected than ever. The comforting envelope of the Holocene, which has fostered the birth of civilizations, is now punctured. We collectively rolled over into a new era, which includes its stakes and challenges but also its opportunities and great qualities. This page (globalia.org) is dedicated to exploring this new world in a visual way. Here is the definition more or less impressionistic we propose for the Anthropocene: “A period marked by a regime change in the activity of industrial societies which began at the turn of the nineteenth century and which has caused global disruptions in the Earth System on a scale unprecedented in human history: climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution of the sea, land and air, resources depredation, land cover denudation, radical transformation of the ecumene, among others. These changes command a major realignment of our consciousness and worldviews, and call for different ways to inhabit the Earth.” To purchase one of Félix Pharand-Deschênes pictures, visit: www.sciencephoto.com Learn more at: globaia.org/portfolio/cartographyof- the-anthropocene/#sthash.q2dPWZXr.dpuf

The Atlas of Beauty

Mihaela Noroc is a photographer from Romania that quit her job and started a new life. She took her backpack, her camera and began to travel around the globe, photographing hundreds of natural women surrounded by their culture.

Traveling on a very low budget around 37 countries made her integrated in all kinds of environments. Now she can say that beauty is everywhere, and it’s not a matter of cosmetics or sizes but more about being yourself.

“The Atlas Of Beauty” is a mirror of our diverse societies and an inspiration for people that try to remain authentic. Source: theatlasofbeauty.com

Meet Elio

The Elio is pretty small at only 160 inches long with a 110 inch wheelbase. But even though it is small on the outside, Elio Motors says that the car has been designed to fit 95% of all men.”The tallest person we have had in the Elio is a 6’8’’ former college basketball player, the largest is a 6’3’’ 325 lb man.” The Elio has room for two passengers that sit in tandem, which means that the passenger sits right behind the driver. Elio Motors also says that the Elio is safe with a Safety Management System that includes three airbags –a reinforced roll-cage frame, anti-lock braking system, and 50% larger crush zones than similar vehicles. Because of the Elio’s small size, the company was able to achieve a high fuel economy rating without the use of an electric motor or hybrid powertrain.

Instead the Elio is powered by a three-cylinder 1.0L engine that generates 70 horsepower. The Elio is rated at 84 mpg on the highway and 49 mpg in the city. Thanks to its eight gallon fuel tank, the Elio can travel up to 672 miles on a single tank of gas. It can also reach speeds over 100 mph, and 0-60 mph in under 9.6 seconds. When the Elio goes on sale it will be built in Shreveport, LA beginning in the spring of 2015 with a starting price of only $6,800. Source: Marc Carter. inhabitat.com

Improve your digestion

Raspberries.
Just 1 cup of raspberries contains 8g of fiber, which is about 1/3 of the fiber most of us need for an entire day. They’re also lower sugar than most other fruits –great for those watching their blood sugars.

Apples.
Having a healthy digestive tract is imperative for our overall health, it’s how our bodies absorb and utilize all those amazing nutrients we consume. Apples contain a unique type of fiber called pectin, which has been shown to help improve digestion because of it’s soluble nature and ability to bind to cholesterol and remove it when we use the bathroom.


Chia seeds.
contain a unique blend of fibers, mainly coming from soluble fiber which is the type that loves water and soaks it up like a sponge. Chia seeds are not only great sources of fiber to keep you full, your digestion moving along, but also contain omega-3 fatty acids and protein.

Prunes
are simply dried plums. One of the most well known digestive friendly fruits out there due to their natural laxative effect on the body. Interestingly prunes contain a compound called dihydroxyphenyl isatin which helps stimulate the intestines to contract and move. Prunes contain a great amount of both soluble and insoluble fibers which helps the body rid it of waste, add bulk to the stool, and move it along. They also contain sorbitol, which loves water and will take any water it can get and push it in the digestive tract making it easier and softer to pass. To top it off, prunes contain loads of minerals especially magnesium which again, helps overall digestion because magnesium relaxes smooth muscles (i.e. the digestive tract muscles).

Avocados.
Even though must of us think of avocados as being a healthy fat, which they are, they’re technically a fruit. Avocados contain a great amount of fiber as well as healthy fats to keep our digestion moving along and lubricated. Try these in salads, sandwiches and guacamole. Source: Text by McKel Hill. www.ourbodybook.com