in the heart of cameroon’s wild expanse, a chorus of life echoes through the trees of mefou park, located south of the country’s center region, bearing witness to an extraordinary tale of compassion and resilience. at the helm of this story stands ape action africa, an organization that is at the frontline of forest and biodiversity conservation, working to rewrite the fate of endangered primates orphaned by the sinister illegal bushmeat and pet trades. with a steadfast commitment to conservation, they’re not only saving lives, but changing the narrative of biodiversity preservation.

as the sun rises over the horizon, the sanctuary comes to life with a symphony of sounds, resounding tales of resilience, and second chances. sights and trails greet visitors fortunate enough to step into this haven. among the towering trees and lush foliage reside the voices of survival, the beating hearts of almost 300 rescued primates. chimpanzees, gorillas, and small monkeys are given a new chance on life, nestled within the protective embrace of ape action africa, a stark contrast to the horrors they’ve endured. 

“for every individual who is found, rescued and brought here, it is estimated that up to 10 adults died in the wild, with whole families being wiped out to supply the illegal bushmeat trade. and this is not just a cameroonian problem. it is an international problem,” communications coordinator at ape action africa, jo gaweda said.

she stressed the need to protect gorillas, which are classified as an endangered species by the international union for conservation of nature.

growing challenges in ape conservation

gaweda spoke of their close collaboration with the cameroonian government through the ministry of forestry and wildlife, where the ministry confiscates the orphans and hands them over to ape action africa to bond with a new family. 

“this is our 27th year of operation,” she said, a testament to their enduring commitment. however, she expressed a deep concern that “we do not want to be growing, but every year we receive more orphans, meaning we have to build more forest enclosures for individuals who have been taken from their natural home – the wild.” she suggested that their growth is not by design, rather necessity as each year ushers in a new wave of orphans and drives them to build more enclosures and secure additional funding to ensure these innocent lives are safeguarded.

powered by community and solar energy

amidst the heartwarming tales of rescue, the innovative use of solar-powered electric fences shines through as visitors tour the sanctuary. ape action africa’s embrace of sustainable technology underscores their commitment to preserving both the lives of primates and the planet. these solar powered fences portray cutting-edge solutions to energy challenges such as access to electricity. 

ape action africa’s impact extends beyond enclosures and energy sources. their reach is felt through the hearts and minds of local communities. the organization’s dedication to empowering locals and alleviating poverty is revealed in gaweda’s words. 

“we employ over 50 local cameroonian staff members and much of the food we provide for the primates is purchased from local farmers,” gaweda said. the international union of forest research organizations has recommended that in an effort to alleviate poverty, governmental policies should not only focus on agriculture, infrastructure, and cash transfers, among others, but also take into consideration the role of forests.

ape action africa also amplifies their conservation efforts through educational programs where their staff members visit local schools and teach the children about conservation, igniting the flames of awareness on the invaluable role these species (primates) play as the “gardeners of the forests,” gaweda stated. she further explains that by educating the younger generation to preserve forests, we preserve biodiversity.   

this transformative education sets the cornerstone for building a future where humanity and nature coexist in harmony. forests are not only home to more than three-quarters of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity and a force in tackling climate change, they also intersect with livelihoods by providing food and medicine to more than 1 billion people.

a hopeful future for cameroon’s apes

as the sun sets over the sanctuary, it casts a warm glow of hope for primates as they see the engraving on ape action africa’s wall. 

“for those who made it to mefou, you are safe now. for those who sit, waiting, imprisoned, we will find you. for those who live wild and free, we will keep you there.” 

despite all the conservation efforts, gaweda still strongly believes that “in an ideal world, we wouldn’t need sanctuaries. i’d be happier if the animals we rescue had been able to stay in the wild. at ape action africa, we try to create a semi-wild space where our rescued primates can live in new family groups in a forested environment as close to their natural habitat as possible.”

the organization doesn’t just rescue and care for primates, they nurture a legacy of compassion and resilience that connects different worlds. according to gaweda, “we receive a good number of both national and international visitors at the sanctuary every day,” inviting everyone to play a part in primate conservation. 

after spending a few years in cameroon, gaweda, a british national, affirmed that “cameroon has an incredible natural heritage worthy of protection.”

at a time when conservation and climate are topical as the world struggles to reach zero carbon emissions, ape action africa emerges as a beacon of hope. through their efforts, they are not just saving primates, they are sowing the seeds of future harmony with nature. the sanctuary acts as a living classroom, where generations learn to coexist with wildlife.

“if the world cannot protect and save primates from extinction when they are so similar to us, then i don’t think there is much hope for other species,” gaweda said.

if you are interested in adopting one of the orphan primates, or want to help sustain the conservation efforts of ape action africa, visit www.apeactionafrica.org/donate to make a donation. 

however, restaurants are putting climate change on the menu. industry leaders are transitioning their restaurant operations to be more sustainable and climate friendly. here are 5 ways they’re doing it.

renewable energy 

restaurants are converting their spaces into sustainable buildings. azurmendi, a three-michelin-star restaurant in spain and two-time sustainable restaurant award winner, uses solar panels for electricity and uses geothermal energy for indoor climate control. root down, a sustainably focused restaurant in denver, is run entirely on wind power. nomad an ultra-local restaurant in australia operates off of solar energy and is a solar panel host site for the community. 

the shift to renewable energy is not exclusive to high-end restaurants. mcdonald’s opened a new net zero energy restaurant, the first in their fleet of 36,525 locations, in july 2020 in orlando, florida. the new location is a first step in mcdonald’s sustainability goals, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 36% by 2030. 

sustainable sourcing 

the farm-to-table phenomenon that became popular in restaurants over the past few years has been crucial to kick-starting a wave of restaurant sustainability. local, farm-to-table produce emits less carbon, as there is less transportation necessary to deliver it. amber in hong kong, the sustainable restaurant award 2020 winner, specializes in ultra-local, hyper-seasonal selections on their menu. their menu is up to 50% plant-based and they’ve removed all dairy from their dishes.

blue hill, a new york based restaurant, was one of the first to prioritize ultra-local sourcing and foster relationships with the farmers they work with. by seasonally changing menus and sourcing produce and meat products from local, sustainably operated farms, restaurants can greatly reduce their carbon footprints.

recycling

we can all do our part by recycling. we all know the saying: “reduce, reuse, recycle.” restaurants are using recycled paper products, recycled water, and recycled furniture. relae in denmark, winner of the sustainable restaurant award 2019, recycles wherever possible. from reusing empty wine bottles to serve their in-house filtered water, to using recycled furniture and wearing sustainable-fabric aprons, relae works tirelessly to employ sustainability in all aspects of their operations.

founding farmers in washington, d.c., uses recycled materials in a similar way. from recycled paper-composite counter tops, to recycled paper menus and recycled wood furnishings, the restaurant group prioritizes sustainability in all nine of their locations.

circular economy and community involvement 

many restaurants engage in circular economies and community involvement, which helps their communities and involves locals in sustainability efforts. septime in paris sources all of their produce from french farmers, and works with those farmers to save seed varieties and plant species. mil, a restaurant nestled in the andes mountains of peru, fosters close relationships with local communities and the farmers they source from, ensuring that farmers receive 50% of harvest profits. woodberry kitchen, a baltimore restaurant, repurposes oyster shells and returns them to chesapeake bay to regenerate oyster beds. 

zero food print

zero food print is an organization that enables farmers to practice carbon farming. carbon farming is a method that restores soil biology, which then pulls carbon out of the atmosphere, reviving the soil and replenishing nutrients. zero food print restaurants contribute a few cents per meal to helping farmers implement carbon farming through grants from the organization’s restore programs. according to professor rattan lal at ohio state university, “a mere 2% increase in the carbon content of the planet’s soils could offset 100% of all greenhouse gas emissions going into the atmosphere.” 

as restaurants prioritize sustainability, they are supporting local farmers, reducing their impact on the environment, and making an impact on their guests. by continuing to put climate change on the menu, restaurants will be a key player in the fight against climate change. 

after the closing of arizona’s last coal mine, the navajo nation is investing in renewable energy. the nation is looking to solar for the future.  

solar panels are a common way to get renewal energy, especially in sunbelt states like arizona. but one company is using solar panels to pull water straight from the air. this technology is helping arizonans as well as people around the world.

the citizens of highland park knew they could not rely on their utility for support; the solution would have to come from within the community. the idea to install the first solar-powered street light can be credited to three community members working together in a church basement. this street light, financed by a crowdfunding campaign, was installed at 150 victor street. with just one street light, an idea was born. highland park community activists had caught sight of a larger vision, one of citywide, community-owned solar lighting.

in 2012, the organization soulardarity was formed, and over the next several years, the movement grew from a single initiative into an organization with the mission of lighting the city through a clean energy system developed and owned by the community. jackson koeppel, soulardarity’s executive director, admits the process was far from easy. 

“there are systemic and structural barriers to the problem we wanted to solve. corporate divestment, structural racism, and the monopoly investor-owned utility system kept blocking the solar street light solution in one form or another,” koeppel said.

as it turns out, the technology itself was the simple part. solar-powered street lights collect and store power in a battery during the day to be used at night. the installation cost of the solar lights ranges from $5,500 to $6,500, depending on the model. with maintenance expenses following installation, each light costs roughly $100 per year. traditional street lights actually cost more in both installation and long-term use because they require a connection to the grid system. instead of monthly electric bills, the largest cost of solar street lights is replacing the batteries. additionally, the electric bills for traditional street lights don’t consider the harmful environmental and health effects due to their primary power sources of coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy. 

while traditional street lights rely on energy from the electrical grid, solar street lights operate independently with batteries, so even when highland park is without power, the street lights will be shining. these lights are even able to power through michigan’s dark winters. the upper midwest is often considered inefficient when it comes to maximizing solar energy production, but these batteries are designed to store energy to supply power for five days without sunlight. michigan actually has a higher average amount of annual sunlight than germany, which has been leading the world’s solar market for years. 

while street lights are often thought of as a municipal service, it became clear this would not be the case in highland park. as long as they are acting within the city’s code and ordinances, businesses, schools, churches, and other organizations can own and manage their own street lighting. in highland park, there is a democratic membership process that allows the community to share ownership of the street lights installed by soulardarity. there are ample ways for members to engage in the program. they can join steering committees, attend quarterly meetings, or vote in elections for soulardarity’s board — which must have a majority of highland park residents.

“it takes a little more time and capacity to do things that way, but it’s important to the organization that we build leadership and create a culture of collective work and ownership of decisions — because that’s what we want the energy system to look like when we’re done,” koeppel said.

soulardarity believes energy democracy is necessary because the people most impacted by energy decisions should have the greatest voice in shaping them. the current energy system impacts the planet, health, and economy, but those who are most negatively impacted do not have the means to influence this system. energy democracy gives those communities — often lower income and/or of color — a voice in what their energy system will look like. 

environmental justice is at the forefront of soulardarity’s mission. they have a strong partnership with the michigan environmental justice coalition and advocate for structural change. they empower and enable frontline communities to own and benefit from clean energy systems.

rep. rashida tlaib, d-mich., has praised soulardarity’s years of hard work in her district. 

in a video for soulardarity’s grassroots gala, tlaib said, “nowhere more than michigan’s 13th congressional district knows what doing nothing at the government level looks like. we are among the most polluted, our children suffer the highest rates of asthma, and we face issues with corporate polluters, water quality, and utilities taking advantage of our residents every single day… soulardarity has worked to build a brighter, more sustainable future for us all through education, organizing, the expansion of solar-powered energy system rooted in energy democracy, and so much more.”

the efforts do not stop here. soulardarity continues to work on building a more just and sustainable community. they’ve supported the equitable internet initiative to come into highland park, and hope it will be a prelude to citywide wi-fi through the solar lights. they are also close to launching a cooperative energy enterprise. they continue to engage in numerous educational initiatives and support other neighborhoods with their own solar lighting. 

these issues do not just exist in michigan, and soulardarity is determined to use their success as a model for others. this past fall, they released a blueprint for energy democracy, and hope other communities can use it to initiate similar projects. 

“our goal is to make highland park a global model of sustainability and self-determination. we want to see an energy future that is safe, affordable, and democratic,” koeppel said.

in 2011, the local utility failed the citizens of highland park and left them in the dark. this is an example of one of the many effects of racial and economic injustice that has plagued the city for decades. the community-wide mobilization that followed is one of hope and inspiration. in a five-year report on soulardarity’s impacts, koeppel reflected on the work that has been completed and the hope he has for the future.

“the arc of history only bends toward justice because we take it upon ourselves to bend it,” he said. “working together, we have made real impacts in people’s lives and built an organization which i believe will not only bring light back to highland park’s streets, but power to its people — in every sense.”

the solar industry has a chance to shape the larger narrative on energy justice, and advance social equity by ensuring energy security for all socioeconomic levels. industry leaders are currently building the market and have the ability to choose the norm of how and for whom it functions. in today’s market, non-profits, renters, and low-income households are being left out of the solar revolution due to financial barriers, misinformation, and lack of opportunity. the market only serves wealthier, more privileged populations, leaving the ones who need solar the most behind.

with less wealth generation, these ostracized groups are often forced to live in older buildings that operate on less efficient heating and cooling systems, resulting in extremely high energy bills. with no respective income to offset this, these struggling residents have to decide whether to put food on the table or pay the bills. further, the areas of town in which these groups live lack community infrastructure investment and proper resources, making it harder to complete everyday tasks such as commuting to work and getting fresh groceries. often positioned next to brownfields, these communities also face health and safety risks with restricted access to medical support, poorer air quality, and higher crime rates. community solar investment has the potential to create cost savings that reduce these financial stresses and channel wealth into the hands of residents, providing them with new jobs and self-sustaining economic revitalization. 

community solar provides the benefits of renewable energy without imposing the high upfront costs and infrastructure investment necessary for construction. these facilities are built on larger, shared spaces such as an apartment complex, church, community center, or vacant field, with open subscription for renters, non-profits, and low-income residents. through virtual net-metering, subscribers receive credits on their monthly electric bills based on their share of the overall electricity the solar system generates, allowing them to take advantage of cheaper electricity costs and cleaner energy.

at the forefront of this initiative to advance community solar is the dc sustainable energy utility (dcseu), working with local solar contractors to design and install solar photovoltaic systems at no cost to income-qualified district homeowners. ted trabue, managing director of the dc sustainable energy utility, says that the dcseu is “making sure that our low-income community is adequately served,” by providing access to solar technology, from which these communities were originally isolated. 

this incredible work is possible through the sustainable energy trust fund (setf), which is a surcharge on all electric and natural gas utility ratepayers in the district of columbia. this fund directly finances solar installations in dc by incentivizing solar contractors to participate in such programs through monetary compensation to assist with project costs, while also allowing them to keep all solar renewable energy credits (srecs). 

at the program’s inception, there were less than a dozen solar installations in wards 7 and ward 8, the city’s poorest neighborhoods, while the wealthier, western side of the city had over 1000 installations. that is why the dcseu is “installing these systems specifically on income-qualified residents, those who are earning 60% or less of area median income, absolutely free of charge to the resident,” says mr. trabue, to directly target this inequity. 

the district’s support of community solar has promoted energy efficiency, economic development, and local job creation. but most importantly, this program is helping low-income residents first. shelley cohen, the director of solar programs for the dcseu, comments that “some homeowners are making decisions between critical items such as food or prescriptions and keeping the lights on. i am so glad that we can provide some relief for some homeowners from the cost of their utility bills and put more money back in their pockets.”

access to community solar is still limited, as only a number of states have passed encouraging legislation to make this a reality for their residents. however, this is changing fast, and community solar can end energy insecurity for all. 

washington — solar power is now the third most popular renewable energy source, behind water and wind, according to a new report by the u.s. energy information administration.

the latest example of its continued growth came on may 9, when the california energy commission voted unanimously to require builders to install solar power systems on all new homes. as the american power grid grapples with aging infrastructure, cybersecurity threats and a reliance on fossil fuels, solar offers homeowners a cheaper and cleaner option, according to supporters of the law.

commissioner andrew mcallister said the “modestly sized” solar systems will be designed based on the needs at each home to reduce the possibility of creating wasted energy. homeowners will be less reliant on the traditional grid, he said, and could further reduce their need by investing in panels with storage capability.

“the emergence of super-smart photovoltaic systems is expected to enable owners to participate in” the renewable energy markets “that will strengthen the ability of the grid to help achieve climate change goals,” mcallister said in an email.

if the homes do produce extra solar energy, it could also be transferred directly to the grid, mcallister explained.

however, john twitty, executive director of the transmission access policy study group, told a house subcommittee on may 10 that merging existing and alternative energy sources is a worthy idea, but difficult to implement.

“making sure it works as it relates to the total grid is one of the challenges today of intermittent resources,” twitty said at the hearing. “wind and solar are wonderful and we’re all trying to figure out ways to harness them properly, but when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine, it’s a real challenge.”

rep. kathy castor, d-fla., took it one step further, stressing the importance of non-transmission alternatives, such as solar-powered microgrids that run completely independently of a larger grid.

like california, florida is increasing its commitment to renewables, completing eight solar projects already this year, according to a separate eia report released this week.

“non-transmission alternatives not only have significant environmental benefits but they can help prevent long-term, area-wide blackouts after natural disasters like we saw in texas and florida and puerto rico this summer,” castor said.

the california law – the first in the u.s. to mandate solar power in building construction – will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the same amount as eliminating 115,000 gas-powered cars, according to the california energy commission.

homeowners will also save money in the long run, mcallister said. the commission estimates that, based on a 30-year mortgage, residents will pay $40 more each month for the panels, but save $80 each month on heating, cooling, and lighting bills.

“these standards help to deliver the clean energy and air that californians want,” mcallister said. “nationwide, renewable energy is on the rise. we expect that trend to continue.”

in 2017, solar power generated 77 million megawatt hours, exceeding biomass power — which involves burning wood, solid waste, and landfill gas — for the first time. hydropower, the most popular renewable, generated 300 million megawatt hours — about four times as much as solar.

self-described solarpunks support this idea through environmental and social activism, sustainable lifestyle choices, and by contributing to the growing collection of solarpunk media.

this podcast was written and recorded by janet rogers for the planetfoward storyfest 2018 competition. music in the podcast is “be a good punk” by monplaisir, courtesy of the free music archive. the anthologies mentioned are “sunvault” edited by phoebe wagner, “wings of renewal” edited by brenda pierson, and “biketopia” edited by elly blue.