The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia more than three years ago and the ongoing war has led to the confirmed deaths of thousands of people, displaced millions and caused millions more to seek refuge in other countries.
But it isn’t just humans who are impacted by the war. Millions of animals — both pets and wildlife — have been killed. In occupied and frontline regions, animals must try to survive while facing stress, hunger and constant danger. Their homes and ecosystems have been destroyed and polluted, while those who cared for them have sought refuge in shelters or ended up on the streets themselves.
A Ukrainian-German film anthology, Animals in War tells the stories of animals who have had their lives turned inside out by war. The seven short films in the collection had their world premiere at the international independent Tribeca Film Festival in New York on June 8. Most of the stories were based on true events. The collection encompasses various narrative styles and genres centered around one common theme — compassion.
All stills from the film and behind-the-scenes photos provided by the film’s press service.
“Animals in War is a poignant anthology film inspired by true stories of animals affected by the war in Ukraine. A collaboration between Ukrainian and international artists — including actor and activist Sean Penn — the film serves as a haunting yet deeply moving call for global awareness and empathy,” Casey Baron, a programmer with the Tribeca Film Festival, wrote on the festival website. “Featuring a white rabbit, a wolf, a cow and other animals as central figures of each story, the film employs a range of artistic styles to explore the war’s often overlooked ecological impact. Through these powerful vignettes, Animals in War is a compelling work that highlights the widespread devastation wrought by the conflict and issues an urgent plea for compassion, reflection and action.”
Roughly 500 filmmakers from Ukraine and other nations spent two years developing the anthology, which was produced by Oleksiy Makukhin and Oleg Kokhan, a press release for the film said. Ukrainian filmmaker Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi directed the opening episode. Slaboshpytskyi’s film The Tribe was featured at more than 100 film festivals globally. The film’s soundtrack features “Burn Out” by American band Imagine Dragons.
Social initiative Save Pets of Ukraine, which is part of the international nonprofit U-Hearts Foundation, partnered with the project. U-Hearts Foundation was founded three years ago by Kormotech, a Ukrainian pet food manufacturer. The foundation collects donations from international supporters and channels them toward animal welfare organizations, volunteers and shelters in Ukraine working to save animals impacted by the war.
“The way a nation treats animals is a clear marker of its level of civilization, and the test of humanity that we face daily reveals our values just as much as military victories,” said Kokhan, who also created the film. “Our collaboration with Save Pets of Ukraine and Kormotech is a vivid example of how socially responsible business and the arts can work together effectively to amplify these urgent topics and resonate with audiences around the world.”
Public attention is not often focused on how much war impacts animals. Official statistics on animals in the Ukraine war are still only available for 2022. The country’s Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food estimates that approximately six million domestic animals perished in the war that year.
A 2023 study by Kormotech and Save Pets of Ukraine found that the number of animals being cared for by animal welfare volunteers and in shelters had surged since the war began — by 100 percent or more in frontline shelters, by 60 percent among volunteers and by 20 to 30 percent in areas not directly on the front lines.
In 2023, almost 20,000 cats and 26,000 dogs were being cared for by volunteers and in shelters in Ukraine, and the numbers have continued to rise.
The destruction of ecosystems has been another devastating effect of the war. From ruined nature reserves, polluted water bodies and mined forests, the war has been depriving wildlife of their natural habitats while making it impossible for many animals to survive.
Animals in War shows the war as a humanitarian as well as an ecological disaster without borders, relevant to the whole world. The anthology’s creators convey this message through suffering animals caught in the middle of a human conflict, rather than through scenes of combat.
“Animals in War draws attention to a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of war — its impact on the environment and animal life,” said Rostyslav Vovk, co-founder and CEO of Kormotech. “For us, supporting the creation of Animals in War is a natural extension of our mission as a pet food producer: to foster a responsible attitude toward animals and to make their lives better.”
As part of the release of Animals in War, Save Pets of Ukraine has launched the “We save animals — animals save us” campaign to raise funds for the U-Hearts Foundation in support of animals in Ukraine.
The post ‘Animals in War’ Film Anthology Tells Stories of Animals and Ecosystems Impacted by Russia’s War on Ukraine appeared first on EcoWatch.
https://www.ecowatch.com/animals-in-war-film-ukraine-ecowatch.html
Today’s quote is from Native American author and poet Sherman Alexie. In his award-winning book for young people, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, he wrote: “The world, even the smallest parts of it, is filled with things you don’t know.”
Take some time today to quietly observe the world around you and celebrate the wonders of our planet, our home.
Earth911 inspirations. Post them and share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click the poster to get a larger image.
The post Earth911 Inspiration: Filled With Things You Don’t Know appeared first on Earth911.
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Last Updated on March 11, 2026
This post was sponsored by Casamera. All thoughts and opinions are my own; for more information, please see my disclosure policy.
Have you ever seen those ‘everything shower’ videos trying to convince you to use 12+ products on your skin and hair? Including plastic poufs destined for landfill in 2 months time?
All you really need is a bar of soap, shampoo/conditioner, safety razor, and something natural to lather with. Enter Casamera, a sustainable brand who creates konjac sponges for face and body (aka all-natural shower sponges).
But what exactly is a konjac sponge? And are they all created equal? Here’s everything you need to know so you can ditch plastic poufs for good.
What Is a Konjac Sponge?
A konjac sponge is a natural skin exfoliant made from the konjac plant, a root vegetable. To make konjac sponges, the konjac tubers are harvested and fiber (glucomannan) is extracted from the root.
The fiber is mixed with water and various other natural ingredients to form a gel-like mixture. This mixture is poured into molds to create the desired shape and size. It’s then steamed to solidify and stabilize the structure.
Casamera makes all-natural shower sponges that include konjac powder as one of the four natural ingredients it takes to make one. Their scrubbers come in a variety of infusions, such as charcoal (best for oily/acne-prone skin), matcha, volcanic mud, peppermint, and walnut.
But not all konjac sponges are the same: Casamera’s dual-sided design has one soft side and one exfoliating side (powered by natural walnut shells), making it suitable for both face and body.
Most conventional konjac sponges are for facial skincare only, making Casamera’s a perfect replacement for plastic poufs. The ergonomic handle fits perfectly in your hand, and you can easily hang it up to dry after use.
Konjac Sponge Benefits
The best known benefits of using a konjac sponge are cleansing and gently exfoliating skin. It’s extremely gentle, so it can help unclog pores, especially helpful to those with oily or acne-prone skin.
Casamera’s sponges are also 100% compostable, unlike plastic poufs destined for landfills. It’s also dual sided: The honeycomb side is perfect for washing up whereas the other side exfoliates for deep cleaning.
Plastic poufs can also smell moldy after just a week. Casamera’s scrubbers don’t have that problem because they’re antimicrobial and fast-drying. Which means less replacements and more money saving!
You’re also not scrubbing microplastics onto your body and down the drain. Casamera’s sponges are plastic-free, even down to their low-waste shipping materials. Plus they plant trees to offset their carbon footprint from manufacturing and shipping!
There’s three different sizes: The OG, the XL and the mini. The mini is great for the face, OG works as an ideal body scrubber, and XL is perfect for smothering your body (and backside) in soapy suds.
How to Use a Konjac Sponge (Step-by-Step)
To use Casamera’s scrubbers, here’s a simple step by step routine that’s easy to remember:
- Presoak the scrubber with water
- Apply body wash to it (I love Plaine Products refillable body wash)
- Scrub away!
- Rinse it out (make sure there’s no suds or water left)
- Hang it dry (ideally in a well-ventilated area)
How Long Do Konjac Sponges Last?
If properly maintained, a konjac sponge can last 2-3 months or longer depending on use. To sanitize it, once a week, add the sponge to a bowl of boiling water for a couple of minutes.
If you’re using the sponge daily, be mindful it may deteriorate faster. If you see a difference in color, texture, or a strange smell, replace it.
Getting the scrubber pack is ideal because you’ll get three sponges in one pack, enough to last months!
Konjac Sponge vs Face Wipes
While makeup wipes may be considered easy and convenient, they also tend to be saturated in harsh chemicals that can irritate your skin (some may even contain PFAs).
Plus face wipes are single-use, meaning they’ll end up in a landfill somewhere or worse – fatbergs. Fatbergs are massive, solidified blockages in sewer systems made up of oils, grease, fats, and non-biodegradable items (like wet wipes).
Whatever you choose to use, never flush face wipes down the toilet – even if it says flushable.
Konjac sponges are reusable and capable of removing your makeup without the use of questionable ingredients. Just soak it in water, add your favorite cleanser, and watch the grime and makeup come right off!
And when they’re at the end of their life, they can be composted, instead of polluting our sewers.
Is a Konjac Sponge Worth It?
Yes, a konjac sponge is worth it (specifically Casamera’s) and here’s a quick recap as to why:
- Made using 4 clean ingredients (konjac powder, water, walnut shells, + infusion)
- Gently exfoliates + washes skin
- 100% compostable, doesn’t shed microplastics
- Easy to use in 5 steps
- Comes in a variety of infusions for every skin type
- Will last 2–3 months or longer depending on use
- Ships plastic-free
- OneTreePlanted partner
So, would you give konjac sponges a try? Let me know in the comments!
And, a huge thank you to Casamera for sponsoring this post. Be sure to visit Casamera.com to get your hands on their rejuvenating scrubber pack!
The post Ditch the Plastic Pouf: Try This All-Natural Shower Sponge Instead appeared first on Going Zero Waste.
Ditch the Plastic Pouf: Try This All-Natural Shower Sponge Instead
Green Living
Best of Sustainability In Your Ear: Carbon Direct Chief Scientist Julio Friedmann on the Path to Carbon Removal
The scale of our climate challenge is staggering: humans have pumped 1.6 trillion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the air and oceans since 1750, and we’re adding another 40 billion tonnes every year. Even with dramatic emissions reductions, we’re still on track to blow past 1.5 degrees of warming, the Paris Accord target first breached in 2024. Tune in to a conversation with Dr. Julio Friedmann, Chief Scientist at Carbon Direct. This carbon management company partners with Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, and American Express to transform net-zero commitments into science-backed action plans. After a career that began as a researcher at ExxonMobil and included service at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Columbia University’s energy policy center, and running advanced energy programs in the Obama administration’s Department of Energy, Julio brings unique expertise to the intersection of massive climate challenges and current technological capabilities.
As companies work toward 2030 and 2050 carbon goals, the question isn’t whether we’ll need massive carbon removal—it’s whether we can deploy it fast enough and fairly enough to matter. The recent $100 million XPRIZE Carbon Removal awards highlighted the diversity of approaches being pursued, with natural solutions like enhanced rock weathering using basalt and azomite soil, and biochar applications to farmland dominating the winners. But how do these technologies stack up against the hype? Friedmann provides a realistic assessment of where Direct Air Capture, ocean alkalinity enhancement, and other carbon removal approaches stand today. Carbon Direct’s team of 70+ scientists changes the conversation with corporate clients about their carbon strategies, providing the scientific firepower to offer hard feedback about what’s needed to preserve the markets, supply chains, and revenue streams companies depend on. You can learn more about Carbon Direct’s work and explore their library of climatetech reports at https://www.carbon-direct.com/
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