The impacts of climate change are being felt worldwide, from the devastating wildfires out west to the more powerful hurricanes we saw ravage the Gulf Coast over the summer, but here at home a local tech startup has launched a powerful new weapon to help us become more resilient. Off the waters of Biscayne Bay, along the shoreline of a posh Miami Beach residential island, a brand new sea wall is being installed.

It’s not being built using ordinary concrete slabs though. This is the future.

“I think it’s a radical change,” said Anya Freeman, founder and CEO of Kind Designs. “I think this method of manufacturing makes much more sense for seawalls.”

Kind Designs is a brand new tech start up making waves with their ground breaking innovation.

​“This is one of our walls,” said Kind Designs project leader and environmental scientist Maddie Rieger. “You can see the mangrove roots that start at the top all the way down.”

They’re called Living Sea Walls, made out pH neutral sustainable concrete, which is produced way faster than traditional slabs by using state of the art 3-D printing robots.

“We print in one hour what used to take a day in precast,” said Freeman.

And the best part is they not only strengthen resiliency and protect property, but they’re also designed to be kind to the environment.

“So you get a greater amount of biodiversity that can live on and around this wall because of the design of the walls,” said Rieger.

​The walls are textured, using biomimicry to create features that imitate what would naturally appear in the ecosystem, like the one in Miami Beach designed with mangrove roots, providing habitat for marine life.

​“If a marine organism can grip onto this, it protects them from wave action and predators, and then you get these deep caves, so you can almost fit your entire arm in here, so we’ve seen juvenile fish species hiding in there,” said Rieger.

This is the brain child of Freeman, a Ukrainian-born University of Miami Law School graduate turned innovator, after witnessing climate change impact her adopted home of Miami Beach.

“I’ve been here 15 years, and there’s a very big difference from the day I arrived (to) today in the frequency of flooding,” she said. “The amount of flooding, that’s why cities are passing code to keep requiring higher and higher sea walls protect the coast.”

Traditionally, sea walls are typically made of concrete. They’re built parallel to the shore to protect against coastal erosion.

​They’re very expensive to produce, and usually only last 30 to 40 years before they biodegrade, leeching toxins like chloride into the water that are very harmful to the marine environment.

That’s where Freeman saw opportunity, researching a new, more eco-friendly and economical way to bring to market the next generation of seawalls, a living one.

“By utilizing 3-D printing technology, we can make sea walls more affordable and incorporate a biomimicry design, so it’s not a flat wall that’s leaching chemicals destroying marine habitats. The Living sea wall becomes, in itself, a marine habitat.

Using $6 million of investor seed money, within the year Freeman had acquired warehouse space, three robots, and a team of 20 employees.

For full story from Local 10 News and video, click here.

​Bordering three iconic national parks, Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is home to the third largest barrier reef in the world.

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Restoration Blueprint, a major step towards finalizing this long-awaited plan for the Sanctuary.

​Bordering three iconic national parks, Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is home to the third largest barrier reef in the world, and the only one in the continental United States. This national treasure is under threat from marine heat waves, coral bleaching and disease, overfishing, and many other stressors.

​The long-awaited action plan to address these threats is the Restoration Blueprint – a plan more than a decade in the making that will improve protections for corals, seagrasses, and mangroves that safeguard Florida from hurricanes, while also protecting wildlife, water quality, and the economy of the Keys.

​“The Restoration Blueprint is the result of comprehensive community engagement, compromise, and input from all the agencies involved in managing the Sanctuary’s one-of-a-kind water, wildlife, and habitats,” said Marisa Carrozzo, National Parks Conservation Association Senior Coastal & Wildlife Program Manager and FKNMS Advisory Council member. “We are calling for all hands on deck to put this plan into action, and protect the Keys and our connected national parks for generations to come.”

​“As a Keys fishing guide and Councilmember for the Village of Islamorada, I’m excited about this milestone for the Restoration Blueprint,” said Captain Steve Friedman. “Developed with strong input from the fishing community, this plan will help preserve our world-class fishing resources.”

For full National Parks Conservation Association Press Release, click here

Rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) are leading to ocean acidification, which poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems, especially coral reefs. Coral reefs support marine biodiversity and contribute to global food networks, protect coastal areas, and are crucial for regulating the planet’s climate. Researchers have deployed advanced sensors like the SeapHOx to monitor ocean acidity and dissolved oxygen levels, providing vital data to help combat the effects of climate change. ​Addressing ocean acidification and coral reef loss requires international partnerships to share data and implement scalable solutions for marine conservation.

​As the world continues to fight the dangers of climate change, the increasing acidification of the ocean is leading to the loss of coral reefs around the world. However, while scientists believe they understand the cause of the loss of reefs, having more data can never hurt, which is why a group of researchers have recently developed new sensors that will continue our understanding of this effect

​While it is true that an increase in CO2 and temperature can be beneficial for certain forms of life, fostering faster growth in some plant species, for example, it proves catastrophic for others. Particularly affected are the oceanic ecosystems, which are crucial not only due to their biodiversity but also because of their role in supporting global food networks and regulating climatic conditions.

One of the most alarming impacts of these environmental changes is on the world's coral reefs. Coral reefs are often likened to underwater rainforests due to their complex biodiversity and the intricate relationships that exist within these ecosystems. They are not just mere clusters of colorful coral, but vibrant communities teeming with life, offering shelter, breeding grounds, and hunting territory to countless marine species. Furthermore, coral reefs are integral to the nutrient cycles of the ocean and are crucial in the protection of coastal areas against erosion.

​The loss of coral reefs would herald a catastrophic collapse of marine environments. The intricate food webs and habitat structures that these reefs support would unravel, leading to declines in fish populations and other marine life forms. This collapse would not only impact species that are directly dependent on coral reefs but would also have a domino effect on global marine populations, affecting fishing industries and food supplies worldwide.

Moreover, the decline of marine biodiversity could disrupt the balance of marine biogeochemical cycles and diminish the oceans' ability to regulate atmospheric carbon, thereby accelerating climate change further. In a broader ecological context, the loss of coral reefs would signify a loss of genetic diversity critical for medical research, pharmaceutical developments, and the overall resilience of marine ecosystems.

Original story by Robin Mitchell, ElectroPages. For full story, click here

The concept is very new, but we will likely be seeing a lot more of them soon. In the US, Ford has just become the first manufacturer to offer them on new cars.

The digital license plates are legal in all 50 states, as well as Canada and Mexico, but can only be sold in Arizona, California and Michigan. In those three states, digital plates are now available as an optional extra when you buy a car from Ford dealerships.

The E ink technology used for digital plates gives them a monochrome look, with users able to pick between light and dark modes. Users can also add a personal message to the bottom of their plate, under the registration itself.

Perhaps more interesting is the fact that these digital license plates have 5G data and GPS connections.

Basically, they can be connected to a smartphone app, which then alerts the owner if the vehicle is stolen, showing its real-time location. ​The plates are also designed to survive extreme temperatures and tampering by potential thieves.

The Dubai government has chosen a guerrilla marketing strategy to communicate awareness around the threat posed by world hunger to domestic audiences.
The media and marketing arm of the Emirate of Dubai has teamed up with Publicis Groupe and Saatchi & Saatchi UAE to unleash a fleet of vehicles bearing empty license plates across the city to communicate the plight of an estimated 800 million people who suffer from hunger.

Coinciding with fasting during the month of Ramadan, the unheralded move provoked consternation among the public as they attempted to solve the mystery of whether they were seeing intelligence services at work or stolen vehicles.
The stunt was raising awareness of literal empty plates, which cause millions to go hungry – an issue that has sparked the 1billion meals initiative by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to ensure no one in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia need go hungry.

​To further this cause affluent Emiratis will be invited to bid for unique number plates, with the proceeds raised paying for meals to be given to the neediest including refugees, displaced people and anyone affected by a humanitarian or natural disaster.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), it is committed to "modernizing nearly every aspect of what we do and how customers access our services." As part of that commitment, FLHSMV is "stepping into the future and developing an intuitive mobile driver license – Florida Smart ID."
Spearheaded by Representative Chip LaMarca, HB 1313 was passed by the Florida Legislature earlier this year and the bill required the FLHSMV to establish a secure and uniform system for issuing optional digital proofs of driver licenses and identification cards. Under the bill, FLHSMV may contract with one or more private entities to develop an electronic credentialing system. The electronic credentialing system may not retain Internet Protocol addresses, geolocation data, or other information that describes the location, computer, computer system, or computer network from which a customer accesses the system.
In an update before a Senate panel in October, FLHSMV officials said the Florida Smart-ID app was already live but not available to the public. The department said it was on schedule to put the digital ID public on the Apple App Store and Android Google Play store in mid-November.
Senate Transportation Committee Chair Gayle Harrell called smartphones a marvelous tool for digital driver’s licenses and other identifications.The state began the process to develop digital driver’s licenses in 2014, with many failed attempts by legislators trying to get the technology approved by the state legislature prior to this year, particularly by former state representative Jamie Grant, who abruptly ended his reelection campaign in 2020 to become the state's first Chief Information Officer. No doubt the real driving force behind the adoption of the technology. In his new role, Grant will oversee Florida Digital Service (FDS), which aims to transform delivery of government services to Floridians through design and technology.
[If you have questions regarding Florida Smart ID, please email [email protected].]
When he stepped down to take his new position, he stated: “I’m honored to lead the charge for digital innovation in Florida and excited to leverage technology to problem solve and rapidly respond to individuals, families, and businesses seeking to engage with state government,” Grant said. “Through new technology, top talent, and private and public sector collaboration, we will fundamentally change the way we serve and communicate with the people of Florida.”
Grant was one of the chief architects of FDS. In the 2020 Session, he sponsored the bill creating the service as a replacement for the Division of State Technology. It is charged with maintaining state data, setting up testing environments to demo state software before it’s rolled out, and facilitating data sharing between government agencies.
“Governor DeSantis and I are dedicated to transforming the way government deploys technology to better serve Floridians, who deserve superior customer service and expect government to operate effectively,” DMS Secretary Jonathan Satter said. “I’m confident that Rep. Grant’s pioneering mindset and policy acumen will help us recruit the brightest tech talent to serve in government and accelerate digital transformation in our state.”
Grant was among the more tech savvy lawmakers in the House, often sponsoring legislation to modernize state government operations. His business background includes work as a senior solutions architect as well as technology strategist in medtech, blockchain, and software as a service.

The Florida Smart ID app is a secure version of your driver license, which can be downloaded on your smart device when launched. It is not simply a photo of your license. When used with an associated Florida Smart ID Verifier, customers can provide a safe, trusted and contactless proof of identity or age.
After downloading and authenticating, Florida motorists will simply launch their Florida Smart ID app, select the type of verification needed, and display the QR/barcode on their smart device to be scanned for verification. The smart device does not need to leave the owner’s hand when being verified by a retailer or by law enforcement, making Florida Smart ID a contact-free and convenient way to display proof of identity or age.
In the future, Florida residents will be able to apply for a Florida Smart ID that is easily accessible on iOS and Android devices, including smartphones, tablets and other smart devices. Florida Smart ID is an optional tool for Floridians as a convenient, digital and secure backup to your physical Florida driver license.
However, it does not replace the physical driver license yet, which will still need to be carried when operating a motor vehicle. Hopefully, this will be embraced soon, and, hopefully, other digital technologies will follow, including the approval of digital license plates.

When launched, Florida motorists can download and activate the optional and easy-to-use Florida Smart ID for a contact-free and convenient way to display proof of identity or age. 
To gather important feedback from the public and partners, the department is currently hosting Florida Smart ID pilot events with limited participants from across the state, representing the general public, retailers, law enforcement partners, and more. The pilot will allow FLHSMV to improve and optimize Florida Smart ID and an associated verifier application prior to the statewide launch.
If you have questions regarding Florida Smart ID, please email [email protected].

Under current law, PRIDE, Inc., manufactures all license plates and validation stickers for FLDHSMV and FLDHSMV is not required by statute to obtain competitive bids in order to contract with that corporation. 
The ‘Digital License Plate Pilot Program’ bill, CS/SB 862, sponsored by Senator Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), a CPA, was brought up before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development, chaired by Senator George B Gainer (R-Panama City) an automobile dealer, on April 8, 2021 and the bill language was amended to conform to the current House version of the bill (CS/HB 695), however, it was met with a very hostile reception and the bill narrowly passed by a 7-4 vote, with some Senators stating that although they were supporting it in that Committee, they would "need substantial convincing to further support it" in the next and final Committee stop, Appropriations.

SB 676, sponsored by Senator Dennis Baxley, (R-Lady Lake) creating a number of new specialty plates was passed quickly and unanimously (11-0), including an amendment to add two new specialty plates – ‘Florida Swims’ and ‘30A.com/Scenic Walton’ to the other 11 proposed new plates. 
​Following on from that well-received bill presentation, Senator Gruters provided a quick summary of the strike all amendment of CS/SB 862 and a brief description of the ‘pilot program’, stating that the Department would try 5-10 digital plates on state owned vehicles for one year before the plates would be made available to Florida vehicle owners. He explained that the digital plates could only be purchased after a customer had purchased a regular metal plate from the DMV. Then came the onslaught of questions from the Committee members.

Senator Audrey Gibson (D-Jacksonville), a paralegal and PR liaison in her twentieth year as a Florida legislator, was the first to question Gruters on the issue of whether the bill was limited to a sole vendor – namely Reviver, (or Reviver Auto or ReviverMX). Senator Gruters responded by stating that there were “multiple vendors out there” and when Senator Gibson asked him where Reviver were based out of, he responded “I’m not sure where that particular vendor is from,” which seems to contradict his recent statement in Reviver’s press release of February 9, 2021, wherein he is personally cited as quoting:
'"We look forward to working with Reviver and the ecosystem of vehicle compliance their platform and digital license plates will provide our DMV and our citizens. The expressive nature of their digital plates provides untapped opportunities for valuable communications." said Senator Joe Gruters, (R – Sarasota).'
The House bill sponsor, Representative Nick Duran (D–Miami), Executive Director of Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, is also quoted in that same press release: "Bringing digital license plates to Florida helps to pave the way into a more connected future. Florida has always been on the cutting-edge of technology and allowing the use of this technology can bring large-scale efficiency and savings to the over 17 million registered vehicles in our state."

Senator Gruters stated that the Reviver plate is the “same technology as an iPad." He also stated that “a single vendor will do the pilot program” and then it “will open up to all vendors as long as they meet the requirements.” And that “there are at least three vendors, so they will be ready when the pilot program ends.”
Senator Janet Cruz (D-Tampa), an optician/healthcare executive in her tenth year as a Florida legislator, questioned the single vendor sense of the bill and Senator Debbie Mayfield (R-Melbourne), a retired banking executive in her thirteenth year as a Florida legislator and the Senate Majority Leader, stated that there is only one vendor and they "only have plates on sale in two states, California and Arizona, and have only sold a total of 4,000 plates" and questioned that at a time when the legislature is focusing on numerous bills that seek to protect privacy, “how are you protecting privacy from a private company?” and that it clearly sounds like a “big vendor bill.”
The FCC Notice Compliance on the Reviver website states: “This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules.  Operation is subject to the following two conditions:  1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and 2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.”
Senator Gruters again reiterated that there are “multiple vendors” and that he had “personally talked to multiple vendors about this,” but did not disclose the names of those multiple vendors.

​Senator Annetee Taddeo (D-Miami), founder and CEO of LanguageSpeak, expressed her concern that although it was labelled as a pilot program, in year two, the bill provides that it automatically expands to the general public, no matter what the result of the one-year ‘pilot program’ was. So, it was not technically a pilot program.
Senator Ed Hooper, (R-Palm Harbor), a retired firefighter and a partner with Consus Group, LLC and Vice Chair of the Committee, had clearly done some homework prior to the hearing and stated that “Reviver is the sole manufacturer” and he said that the “RPlate is $500 plus $18 a month and the RPlatePro was $600 with $25 a month and a 3 year agreement.” He also stated that if the vehicle stops for 4 seconds, it displays advertisements which would distract everyone. He stated that “there is an odor to this” and said it “smells like a 3-day dead raccoon.” and that it is nothing more than “a sweetheart deal for someone and the PRIDE dollars does not impress me.”
​Apparently, a dead raccoon is a bad omen since it foretells that you are about to receive some bad news – it could be regarding a family member in trouble or a break-up. It could also mean that you are going to discover some harsh truths regarding how you have hurt others, or about some illness. (courtesy: TheAstrologyWeb.com)

Senator Mayfield concurred and said that if “it doesn’t smell right, it usually means we are not feeling right and that she would vote for it today, but would not vote for it in Appropriations, unless the sponsor explains it better, “It smells like a vendor bill to me.” Senator Cruz concurred that she would also have trouble voting for it in Appropriations.
Senator Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton), whose occupation is insurance and investments and in his eleventh year as a Florida legislator, stepped up to Senator Gruters aid and stated that he "would not vote for exclusively voting for one vendor but if the DMV approves it, it will open up to other vendors" and so it did not appear to him to be a one vendor bill and therefore would support it.
Senator Loranne Ausley (D-Quincy) an attorney with Holliman, PA, who was first elected to the House in 2000, also showed concern regarding the label ‘pilot program’ and said “normally for a pilot program, there is information that comes back before it is opened up to the public – but this is automatic.” She also questioned that if it is a great deal for PRIDE, then it should be a great deal for the inmates who make the plates who want to change their lives. She also stated that the digital billboard offended her and stated “I call it visual pollution’ and said she has a “lot of questions and concerns before Appropriations and I need answers.” “I will support it today but may have more questions in the future.” 
Senator Taddeo stated that she “votes for all tech, but I have a problem with one vendor and that it automatically expands to consumers.” She was concerned with the privacy issues and “a lot more needs to be massaged and it is not ready and I will vote against it today.”

​Incidentally, the much discussed $4.00 payment to PRIDE was in a previous iteration of the bill and was deleted and is not contained in either the Senate amendment or the House version, a fact that even the bill sponsor was apparently not aware of, given the extended discussions on that subject, which arose after he raised the issue in support of garnering approval for the bill. That happens sometimes when lobbyists provide the amendment for their Principals and staffers file them and don’t advise their members fully or update the member’s one sheet for the bill presentation. It may have shortened the bill discussion by a full ten minutes.

Senator Gruters summed up by stating that he had “personally talked to other vendors” and had received calls from other companies. He stated that he believes that manufacturers will ultimately incorporate the digital plate into the vehicle, that “the tech is to broaden our spectrum and it is time to move with the times and understand the tech is here.” He ended with stating that he was “so glad we had so many questions on this bill.”

As of today, the only lobbyist firm that had registered regarding SB 862 was Ted Smith for the Florida Automobile Dealers Association. On the House side, for HB 695, Jorge Chamizo and Cory Guzzo of Floridian Partners had registered on behalf of Reviver Auto. Cory Guzzo does have SB 862 in parentheses.
Reviver Auto are registered as a principal on the lobbyist registration website, with an address of 4000 E 3Rd Ave, Suite 150, Foster City, CA 94404-4829. Industry Code: 423120 Automobile accessories (except tires, tubes) merchant wholesalers, which was filed on 1/4/2021. 
SB 862 was filed by Senator Gruters on 1/27/21.
HB 695 was filed by Rep Nicholas Duran (R-Miami), on 2/2/21 and is cosponsored by Rep Alison Tant (D-Tallahassee) an Independent Education Management Professional in her first term as a legislator. 

On 4/8/21, The house bill was added to the Special Order Calendar for 4/15/21. There is no requirement for a $4.00 payment to PRIDE in the house bill and on 4/9/21 a Floor amendment has been timely filed to add “By July 1, 2022, the department shall allow a motor vehicle registered under this chapter to be equipped with a digital license plate in lieu of a physical license plate issued under s. 320.06 upon a determination that the information on the digital license plate display is readable by current automated license plate recognition hardware and software. However, the purchaser of a digital license plate must first obtain a physical license plate from the department before obtaining a digital license plate from a digital license plate provider.”
The Senate Appropriations Committee is the next scheduled stop for the Senate bill and is chaired by Senator Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland), an investment property manager in her thirteenth year as a Florida legislator and the vice-chair is Senator Aaron Bean (R-Jacksonville), a Relationship Development Officer for UF Health Jacksonville and a licensed auctioneer, who was first elected to the House in 2000. Senators Gainer, Gibson, Hooper, Mayfield and Perry are also Appropriations Committee members. There  are 12 Republicans and 8 Democrats on the Committee.
Whether the Senate bill will be carried by partisan politics in deference to Senator Gruters will remain to be seen. 

Fundraising technology provider Blackbaud was hacked in a ransomware attack in May. The firm has admitted it paid a ransom to encourage the cybercriminals to destroy the copy of the stolen data. NTEN (Non-Profit Technology Enterprise Network) President Amy Sample Ward says this hack should be a wakeup call: "If this doesn't increase your attention and investment in staff training, password management, and security, I don't know what will," she writes on Twitter. Portland based NTEN “aspires to a world where all nonprofit organizations use technology skillfully and confidently to meet community needs and fulfill their missions.”  
Blackbaud has been criticized for not disclosing this externally until July and for having paid the hackers an undisclosed ransom. Doing so is not illegal, but it goes against the advice of numerous law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, NCA and Europol. "My main concern is how reassuring - impossibly so, in my opinion - Blackbaud were to the university about what the hackers have obtained," commented Rhys Morgan, a cyber-security specialist and former student at Reading University, whose data was involved. "They told my university that there is 'no reason to believe that the stolen data was or will be misused'”. Blackbaud has said it is working with law enforcement and third-party investigators to monitor whether or not the data is being circulated or sold on the dark web, for example. “I can't feel reassured by this at all. How can they possibly know what the attackers will do with that information?" Morgan said.

​Blackbaud added that it had been given "confirmation that the copy [of data] they removed had been destroyed". The BBC has reported that at least eight universities in the UK and Canada have had data stolen about students and/or alumni and Human Rights Watch and the children's mental health charity, Young Minds, have also confirmed they were affected. In some cases, the stolen data included phone numbers, donation history and events attended.
Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), companies must report a significant breach to data authorities within 72 hours of learning of an incident - or face potential fines. The UK's Information Commissioner's Office [ICO], as well as the Canadian data authorities, were informed about the breach last weekend - weeks after Blackbaud discovered the hack.
An ICO spokeswoman said: "Blackbaud has reported an incident affecting multiple data controllers to the ICO. We will be making enquiries to both Blackbaud and the respective controllers and encourage all affected controllers to evaluate whether they need to report the incident to the ICO individually." 

Blackbaud’s Sales during the first three months of the year totaled $223.6 million, up nearly 4 percent from the same period in 2019, according to results the firm reported last week. The Daniel Island, South Carolina-based technology company also swung to a profit for the quarter, earning $4.6 million compared to a $1.1 million loss a year earlier.
​Blackbaud​ sells recurring subscriptions to its software products to charities, colleges, churches, grade schools and other nonprofits. That philanthropy industry has struggled during the pandemic, as discretionary incomes and donations have cratered. But the turbulence could create an opportunity for Blackbaud. Among other things, its tech platform supports virtual events and meetings. CEO Mike Gianoni told investors during a conference call on Wednesday the company “hasn’t missed a beat operationally,” stating that it’s platform has helped schools, among others, move to the web during the lockdown. 
He said the pandemic could push more organizations to realize they need to adopt cloud software. Obviously not at all phased by the hack.