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Matthew Williams has slept very little since he learned about Sacha Stone’s plan to build a sovereign micronation on 60 acres of land near his home in rural Tennessee. What began as a quick Google search in April quickly became hours of research and then days, then weeks. It was between working on this and then stressing about working on this, he says. Within a month, between me and my wife, we watched over 30 hours of his videos. With his long hair and often bare chest, intense patter, and hundreds of thousands of online followers, the 59-year-old British “peace activist” looks like the archetype of a globetrotting, spiritual guru. In late June, Stone arrived in Surgoinsville, a sleepy hamlet 90 minutes northeast of Knoxville, to lead dozens of supporters in a “consecration” ceremony at the site, dedicating what he calls the NewEarth Tanasi Micronation as a template for the emergent Rainbow Warrior Tribe. But beyond the peace and rainbows, Williams had seen something much darker in Stones “sovereign” movement: a mix of extreme far-right ideas, an alliance of influential fringe figures like Michael Flynn and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and a revenge-minded rhetorical war against a parade of bogeymen, from governments to globalists. In June, Stone and dozens of supporters gathered at the NewEarth nation site in Surgoinsville, Tenn. [Photo: Matthew Williams] The battles have also become a brisk business, with speaking tours, retreats, health products and memberships, which Stone promotes to his hundreds of thousands of followers. For a “donation” of $10,000, Stone has said, members of the NewEarth micronation will be able to exist tax-free in a futuristic-looking residential enclave, with access to an on-site healing center specializing in advanced microbiology” and cures. A devoted Christian and libertarian, Williams, 31, believes in religious freedom and a hands-off approach by the government. (Both political parties would hate me, he says.) But for months, hes been pressing Hawkins County, where hes lived for two decades to do something, meeting with officials, hosting community meetings, posting signs and Facebook updates, and enlisting dozens of neighbors in building a local groundswell against NewEarth. If they were a hippie cult and they wanted to do stuff out in the middle of the woods, I couldnt care less, Williams says. But a lot of Sacha Stones theories kind of fall in line with that QAnon theory, and people here who associate themselves with QAnon tend to be extremist, right-wing, violent individuals. Stone and his deputies have been pushing back against Williams and the local opposition, insisting that his movement is peacefulthat it isnt a cultand decrying defamatory actions and false claims in local forums. Online, Stone has used more aggressive rhetoric, alluded to NewEarth members strapped with guns, and alleged that Williams and other critics are part of a Satanic conspiracy. Stone did not respond to questions from Fast Company. Local officials are uneasy too, but say the NewEarth group has broken no laws. It obviously is not something that most people in the community are looking forward to having in Hawkins County, Mayor Mark DeWitt told NBC affiliate WCYB in May. But we have to realize that right now, theres nothing that theyre doing that can stop them from being here at this point. Recently, Williams and two dozen neighbors began meeting near the site simply to pray together. Practically everyone weve talked to, theyre afraid, and theyre worried about what is coming, he says. Hes been carrying pepper spray too, just in case someone tries to do anything stupid.” This has Waco, Texas, written all over it “The world’s gone mad,” Sacha Stone told the audience, and he was mad too. It was August 2023 at the Las Vegas stop of the ReAwaken America Tour, a MAGA-themed religious roadshow, and hundreds of ticketholders had just watched MyPillow founder Mike Lindell deliver his evidence of election fraud; Donald Trump Jr. was that nights headliner. With pendants swaying across his bare torso, Stone gripped the microphone, and, temper flaring, raised his voice to offer his central message: “Do not comply, do not do anything, anything that moves against the spirit, that moves against your soul!” His British accent and aging rocker persona easily stood out at the ultraconservative confab, a Christian nationalist revival meeting-meets-QAnon expo cofounded by former Trump national security adviser and QAnon icon Michael Flynn in the wake of January 6. But his speech recited many familiar claims. “They are planning to asphyxiate your children and your parents from God-given oxygen, and inject mRNA, genetic therapy, into every single child in this blessed country, he told the audience. The government gives you two things: mind control and trafficking. Thats it baby! Thats it! Sacha Stone at the Arise USA tour in Milton, Florida, in May 2021 [Photo: ZimmComm/Flickr] For more than a decade, Stones “sovereignty” movement has pit him against an array of existential threats: 5G, COVID-19 vaccinations, Bill Gates, the World Health Organization, the deep tate, pedophiles, the United Nations, Jesuits, the Vatican, globalists and cabals suppressing advanced, alien technologies and violating “natural law.” One project, the International Tribunal of Natural Justice (ITNJ), has held hearings that purport to show corporations hiding as government engaged in human trafficking and child sex abuse. At times, Stone has argued that satanic government policies warrant violent resistance. At some point, you have to drag these people into the market square we have to hang them by the neck until dead, if they continue to stick HIV/AIDS into our babies, he said in 2021. Years after the pandemic, messages like Stones are flourishing online. With a two-time president who’s built a political career out of spreading falsehoods and promoting conspiracy theorists, even hiring them to top cabinet posts, Trumps second term has given new permission to wild, inflammatory ideas and the profiteers who push them. Social media companies have loosened their rules around false content, too, just as the Trump administration has slashed funding for misinformation research, and gutted the Homeland Security office responsible for helping localities counter domestic extremism. All of this is particularly concerning now, since the evidence suggests that conspiracy thinking is fueling historically high levels of polarization and political violence, from the attack on the Capitol to a wave of attacks and assassinations. Of course, the country has been mired in dangerous conspiracy theories since long before Trump leapt onto Fox News with questions about President Barack Obamas birthplace (or onto Jeffrey Epsteins jet, for that matter). Since the early 2010s, Stone has cultivated a kind of spiritual conspiracismembraced for decades by both the countercultural left and the Christian rightand leveraged a motley alliance of very online freedom fighters, from anti-vax advocates and cosmic starseeds to tax protesters, pedophile-fighting patriots and white supremacists. But his right-wing ideology of sovereignty, with its illiberal, authoritarian leanings, also descends from a tradition that dates back hundreds of years. One of Stone’s recurring fixations are the Sabbateans, a 17th-century Messianic Jewish movement that has become a focus of contemporary antisemitic conspiracy theories. Stone has managed to evade direct controversy for years by avoiding explicitly antisemitic language, and cloaking his theories in lengthy monologues with seemingly harmless, esoteric ideas about geoportals or the mechanics of ascension. In a 2017 talk in Dartington, England, posted on YouTube, he invites his audience to question whether Hitler was misrepresented in historical accounts. Adolf Hitler, the big bad scary guy, well thats a very compelling spellbinding [sic], he said, adding that ninety percent of the facts that we spout about the Second World War were introduced in 1952. Stones fortunes changed during the pandemic, when his anti-vaccine rants led YouTube and then Facebook to temporarily remove his accounts, costing him tens of thousands of followers. But as public trust sank and social media algorithms fed a fevered search for answers, the pandemic and America’s political chaos also opened new avenues for Stone’s repertoire of spiritualism, anti-government conspiracies, and commercial hustles. He drew support from networks of conspiracy superspreaders, like the “World Doctors Alliance,” a transatlantic group of vaccine skeptic health practitioners that reached millions during the pandemic. Neighbors posted protest signs around Stanley Valley ahead of Stone’s arrival. [Photo: Matthew Williams] New Age, esoteric strains of conspiracy thinking, like those that animate Stones movement, arent inherently far-right, says Marc Tuters, an assistant professor in media studies at the University of Amsterdam who examines political subcultures. But, he says, esoteric ideas have historically been popular in fascist movements, and notions that everything is connected and nothing is as it seems can easily slide into conspiracy thinking. When that happens, Tuters warns, it becomes dangerous, because it undermines the trust that holds society together. Amid legitimate concerns about failing political elites, the internet has provided the perfect environment for that kind of thinking to thrive, a place where anyone can become a kind of channel and broadcaster, says Tuters. A cursory web search only begins to hint at Stones reach, which now extends to more than 450 thousand followers across Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, Rumble and Telegram. By June 2024, his videos had racked up over 25 million views, not including the videos that have been taken down, like his 2019 documentary 5G Apocalypse. The hour-long filmin which he alleges the phone networks are weapons that cause dementia, diabetes and mental illnessreached more than 1 million views
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Concert barriers are built to be baked in the hot sun, transported through busy venues, battered by excited concert-goers, and, ultimately, disposed of. A company in Paris is giving them a second life. Maximum, a French furniture designer that specializes in turning industrial and municipal waste into luxe home goods, has now transformed defunct concert barriers into customizable, office-ready bench seating as part of its latest project called Bultan. The firm works by first identifying industrial surplus that, because of overproduction, imperfections, or wear and tear, can no longer serve its original purpose. Then, they find a way to extend the lifetime of that material by fashioning it into something entirely new. Past projects include a line of chairs made from discarded ground plastics, a stool fashioned from imperfect banknotes, and a chic lamp built out of used fluorescent tubes. [Photo: courtesy Maximum] Yesterday’s concert barriers become today’s found material While concert barriers may be built to withstand force, theyre surprisingly susceptible to fatal flaws, according to Maximum. Their legs are their Achilles’ heel, the Bultans product description reads. Often crushed, they condemn the entire frame to the dumpster, even when it remains intact. A few bends are enough to transform a Vauban barrier into a structure for Bultan. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maximum (@maximum_officiel) Maximum is rescuing these out-of-commission frames to serve as the structure of its Bultan benches, offering them in either a colorful powder coated option or a sleek galvanized steel. And the company isn’t stopping thereevery other element of the Bultan seat is also fashioned from a recycled material. [Photo: courtesy Maximum] Repurposing unappealing wood and plastic scraps into works of art To structurally support the benches seating and back rest, Maximum sourced wood from local workshops that was discarded due to the presence of wood knots, which caused them to be deemed aesthetically unusable. Because these slats are hidden under the Bultans cushions, theyre perfectly suitable for the task. For the cushions themselves, Maximum turned to La Maison de la Mousse et du Caoutchouc, a rubber goods supplier. [Photo: courtesy Maximum] Below a certain size, the production waste from La Maison de la Mousse et du Caoutchouc is deemed unusable, the product page reads. As thin and elongated as they are, the Bultan cushions fit between the bars and exploit this waste, which results in the scrapping of several cubic meters of high-quality foam every day. [Photo: courtesy Maximum] As a finishing touch, the company pulled rejected fabrics from the automotive interiors company Tesca to serve as the chairs dark-toned upholstery. The result is a chair that visually evokes its origins as a concert barrier, but also appears perfectly suited for a professional or commercial setting. Its a compelling case for reimagining how we might use industrial waste to more sustainably furnish our offices, waiting rooms, and public spaces.
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In late July, the Trump administration released its long-awaited AI Action Plan, which includes steps to cut environmental requirements and streamline permitting policies to make it easier to build data centers and power infrastructure. But even with massive deregulation, the fact remains: we have no idea where well find all the energy, water, and grid capacity to meet the enormous speed and scale of the emerging AI revolution. Recently, experts from the International Energy Agency estimated that electricity use from data centers could more than double in the next five years. By 2030, these facilities could use nearly 9% of all electricity in the United States. Without major investments, this growth will strain our power grid and lead to higher energy bills for everyone. And its not just energy. Globally, by 2027, water consumption from AI alone is estimated to reach the equivalent of more than half the annual water usage of the U.K. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, estimate that a ChatGPT user session that involves a series of between 5 and 50 prompts or questions can consume up to 500 milliliters of water (about the amount in a 16-ounce bottle). Google used a fifth more water in 2022 compared to 2021 as it ramped up its artificial intelligence work. Microsofts water usage increased by 34% over the same period. On top of all this, many communities are protesting or rejecting data center construction due to factors like noise disturbances and limited job-creation benefits. Its easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the task before us as a nation, especially considering that winning the AI race with China requires overcoming all these constraints, quickly. But the answer isnt despair, or even just deregulation. We need to innovate. Lets imagine and build data centers that stack as many functions as possible for sustainability, efficiency, and even social good. While the most obvious sustainability move for data centers is clean energy, permitting wait times and baseload requirements mean many new constructions are developing behind-the-meter power plants with natural gas. Even these systems can transform their environmental impact. Imagine if data centers could capture waste heat and CO and put it to the best possible usefor example, fueling nearby industrial-scale greenhouses that grow fresh, high-quality food. The CO emissions, when introduced into greenhouses, could accelerate photosynthesis, significantly boosting crop yields. Heat captured from servers can also keep greenhouses warm year-round. In other words, you could grow local tomatoes, lettuce, and herbs in the middle of a Northeast or Midwest winter by harnessing data center emissions. Because data centers often choose less populated areas for affordable land and available space, these projects could provide fresh produce to rural food deserts, addressing nutritional gaps and stimulating local economies. In summer months, when greenhouses require less CO, innovative data centers could convert excess emissions into clean hydrogen fuel. Emerging carbon-capture and electrolysis technologies can transform emissions into hydrogen, which could power backup systems, fuel cells, or even local transit. Likewise, organic waste from the greenhouses could be composted or converted into biochar onsite, enriching soils, sequestering carbon, and further contributing to local agriculture. Multiple sustainability functions can be creatively stacked, maximizing environmental benefits and turning traditional liabilities into assets. Data centers also offer major untapped potential for sustainable water solutions. Their expansive, flat roofsoften exceeding 100,000 square feetare ideal for rainwater harvesting. Just one inch of rain on a 50,000-square-foot roof can yield over 31,000 gallons of water, significantly offsetting cooling demands and reducing dependence on local municipal sources. This harvested rainwater can directly irrigate adjacent greenhouses, creating further efficiencies. Tech giants like Google and Microsoft are already starting to demonstrate the value of this straightforward yet promising approach. Traditionally, data centers are criticized for providing few long-term jobs. Construction might employ up to 1,500 people temporarily, but ongoing operations usually support only about 50 permanent workers. By integrating greenhouse agriculture and carbon capture, data centers can significantly expand employment opportunities. These integrated campuses could provide apprenticeships, educational programs, and hands-on training in data operations, energy management, sustainable agriculture, and related fields. This approach would promote diverse, long-term job creation and deeper community integration, ensuring more meaningful local benefits. Right now, were embarking on the biggest infrastructure development project in multiple generations. We need to think seriously about the choices were making regarding emissions, water, and local economies. Weve done this kind of big thinking before.When America needed cheap power in the 1930s, we built the TennesseeValleyAuthority and strung wires to virtually every farmhouse through the Rural ElectrificationAct.When commerce demanded speed, we carved the ErieCanal and later laced the continent with the Interstate Highway System.When the ColdWar caled for a moonshot, we answered with Apolloturning slide-rule sketches into a lunar landing in less than a decade and achieving scores of technological innovations along the way.Each project looked audacious at the outset. Each rewrote what was possible. AI infrastructure now demands a leap of similar scale.If we pair data center capacity with on-site microgrids, rain-harvesting roofs, carbon-fed greenhouses, hydrogen production, workforce academies, and other innovations, we can meet the demands of AI without undermining communities or nature. President Trumps new AI Action Plan includes some sensible and important steps, including expediting permitting for some data centers and semiconductor fabs as well as new initiatives to boost needed occupations like electricians and HVAC technicians. Yet any comprehensive plan to address the AI challenge needs much more serious attention to questions like energy and water sustainability as well as community resilience. The AI infrastructure race can be a positive opportunity for society, but we need to get creative
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