The document discusses pearls, including their natural and cultivated forms. Natural pearls are rare and harvested from wild oysters and mussels in places like Bahrain and Australia. Cultivated pearls involve surgically implanting materials in oysters and mussels, which are then left to develop pearls over 2-7 years. However, the cultivation process is cruel, as many oysters do not survive implantation or harvesting. Over-harvesting and threats from pollution and climate change also endanger wild pearl stocks. The document proposes cultivating "beach glass pearls" using mesh containers of rocks and glass placed in moving water, which could create gemstones and support the pearl industry while reusing waste.