GC shines the spotlight on Sadhguru, a

CORAL RESCUE

3D printed terracotta reef tiles aim to revive Coral populations

Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, supporting more species per unit area than any other marine environment. While coral populations have been rapidly declining all over the world, Hong Kong saw an 80% decline on Double Island in the past decade alone due to gradual deterioration of the coral habitat, coupled with coral bleaching and mass mortality events in 2015-2016. The staggering loss prompted Hong Kong-based architects, Robotic Fabrication Lab, and marine scientists at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) to take action by creating terracotta tiles to help rebuild and give corals a fighting chance against climate change. This is a critical leap for ocean restoration projects.

Commissioned by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the 3D print terra-cotta tiles are designed to aid coral restoration by providing a structurally complex foundation for coral attachment and to prevent sedimentation, one of the major threats to corals. They provide anchors for dislodged coral fragments that are unlikely to survive on their own, giving them a second chance to thrive.

Terracotta was the obvious and eco-friendly choice for the project due to its highly porous texture, making it ideal for marine organisms to latch on to. The design was inspired by the patterns typical to corals and integrated several performative aspects addressing the specific conditions in Hong Kong waters.

Measuring 600mm each, the 128 tiles were printed through a robotic 3D clay printing method with generic terracotta clay and then fired at 1,125 degrees Celsius (2,057 degrees Fahrenheit) The tiles were then seeded with coral fragments over about a 430-square-foot area across three sites within Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park in Hong Kong this past July, and will be monitored for the next two years.

The team explained, “3D printing offers the advantage to produce objects and parts much more cost-effectively. But the most powerful advantage of it is that it could print each object with a different design without increasing the cost.”

Manmade or artificial reefs help restore lost coral populations by reintroducing an environment that promotes regrowth. From purposefully submerged shipwrecks to cement sculptures, corals are highly adaptable because they simply want to grow. The team has said that over time, they will introduce different designs in order to figure out how they affect the species.

FERTILE GROUND: CHANGING THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT DIRT

Global Citizen magazine’s exclusive conversation with Sadhguru, one of India’s most revered spiritual leaders, on launching one of the world’s biggest ecological campaigns to save life.

By Teresa Esmezyan

s one of our generation’s most notable names in spirituality with over 1 billion views on YouTube and a dedicated global following — yogi, mystic and visionary, Sadhguru has become one of the most influential people of our time. Over the past four decades, Sadhguru has offered technologies of well-being to millions of people across the world through his foundations, which are supported by over 16 million volunteers in 300 cities worldwide. And the message he wants everyone to hear loud and clear? No Soil. No Life. Led by Conscious Planet, Sadhguru’s initiative to create a world where communities and governments take more responsible environmental action, the phenomenal endeavour of the #SaveSoil movement is to bring citizens of the entire democratic world together to speak in one voice and affirm our commitment to the health and future of Earth. “When issues of ecology become electoral issues when the people’s support empowers governments to adopt long-term policy changes to safeguard soil, when businesses, organizations, individuals, and governments make soil health a primary priority – that is when this sustained effort will find fruition,” shares Sadhguru in his exclusive interview with Global Citizen magazine.