On nodding dolphins & more

Landscape has changed for them too // This episode of the Land, Body, Ecologies podcast is a remarkable exploration of how shifts in climate have impacted the once symbiotic relationship between farming communities and elephants on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India. It explores how changing food systems have led to a shared trauma between humans and non-humans, but the failure to recognize this togetherness is making things worse. It has similar themes to my favorite episode of any podcast ever, Towers of Silence from 99% Invisible. That one's a stunning piece of storytelling where every revelation climbed up to something, this one was more of a linear narration. Still, super relevant and telling.

Earth Defender ft. Novo Amor // Indigenous people are at the frontlines of defending ecosystems against the climate crisis, and one of them is murdered or goes missing every 48 hours while defending the earth's wilderness. Novo Amor commissioned this music film by Kyan Tegar to honor the lives lost while defending nature.

Ferrofluid // This Sikh band from India making experiential music needed to be on your playlists yesterday.

Freedom Band // Displaced musicians from Gaza have come together to form a band. Here’s to their spirit and music never dying.

Boycat partners with BDS // The Boycat app has teamed up with the Palestinian BDS National Committee for accurate boycott targeting. Their tiered approach has added a Official BDS Priority Campaign level for targets that are verified and constantly updated by the BDS team. This app honestly makes it super convenient to boycott at a level that matches your commitment and energy. From the bare minimum BDS level, to a more rigorous approach that also targets brands with minor connections to Israel.

Pakistan's nationwide scramble for solar panels // Pakistan become the third biggest market for Chinese solar panels globally in the first 9 months of 2024, driven by rising grid electricity tariffs. This is expected to expand the country's electricity capacity by nearly a third within a single year.

Namee Daanum Che Manzil @ Khalikdina Hall // As part of a project to revitalise this historic library and hall, a Qawwali event is planned on the 24th of November, featuring Subhan Ahmed Nizami. He is a descendant of the prestigious ‘Qawaal Bachon Ka Gharana’, which is the original household of Qawwali music founded by the students of the Sufi saint Amir Khusro.

Like what you’ve read so far? Please support Jungle Mein Mangal by ordering postcards from my brand, Pastel Everything. The latest set can be found in the Sellout section of the previous issue, here. You can reply to this email or DM on any of my socials to order. Also, let your friends know about this newsletter. Thankss 🖤

N23’s packaging // There's a new local perfume brand on the block. And while I haven't tried their scents (because they don't have tester packs), their packaging is sooo pretty while being very minimal and monochrome.

Cosmos promo by Abbas Carpets // They did this art installation thingum to depict the cosmos in traditional tapestry that's very fun to look at.

Hello by Radiolab // Humans talking to dolphins and dolphins nodding back in acknowledgement?? That's the premise of this podcast episode where the producer eavesdrops on some of these conversations in not-so-scientific settings.

Islamic Exotheology: Viewpoints on Extraterrestrial Intelligence // I had gone down the rabbit hole of the concept of manifestation in Islam a few months ago and when I came across this last week, I read it with the same glee. Something about connecting Islam to topics you don't usually think of from a religious perspective is so intriguing to me.

Last week had been exceptionally anxiety-inducing. Its been like that for a few weeks, actually, owning to uncertainty over a client presentation and their expectations. My usual combination of Nuroton & Relaxofos wasn’t working, and I don’t want to get on prescription anti-anxiety medication because your body apparently builds tolerance over time and then nothing works.

So I resorted to something I had so far seen with skepticism: breathing exercises. I had tried them before, but I was doing them wrong. You need to meet two conditions for them to work: use up the adrenaline, and do them for at least five minutes.

When you’re anxious, your body triggers its fight-or-flight response and builds up adrenaline in your system. This adrenaline has nowhere to go, so you need to walk around a little so some of it can be used up. Then, you begin the breathwork. When you’re in that state, you get flustered quickly if you see it’s not having an immediate effect and you stop it within a few minutes. That’s where you go wrong. Do it for at least 5 minutes and you’ll see the results. It’s very tempting to stop before that and decide it doesn’t work. But keep at it and it’ll pay off. I didn’t know this either, but a few YouTube videos later my anxiety much more manageable.

The specific exercise that worked for me was Box Breathing. There’s loads of videos on it.

Until the next one, shaam bakhair 🌅🤍

If you want to talk about my work, bounce some ideas, or just have a casual chat fangirling over a film, feel free to schedule a jam session with me here.