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Public Shaming and Even Prison for Plastic Bag Use in Rwanda

Kimiko de Freytas-Tamura

October 28, 2017 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Rwanda, Gisenyi

Plastic bag litter is a serious problem across Africa and around the world, choking waterways, killing livestock and wildlife when ingested, and causing environmental damage. Rwanda is one of the few nations in the world to completely ban single-use plastic bags, but they take enforcement of the ban to a sometimes controversial extreme, with punishments that can even include jail time. The measures do appear to be working, however, where the clean streets and countrysides of Rwanda stand in stark contrast to the heavily-littered land of neighboring countries.

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First Nations Fight to Protect the Rare Spirit Bear from Hunters

Krista Langlois

October 26, 2017 |

National Geographic |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, British Columbia

In British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest, the Kitasoo/Xai’Xais First Nations have been striving for decades to save the spirit bear, also known as Kemode bears, from trophy hunters. Since 1999, the indigenous community has started an ecotourism industry that benefits the tribe and wildlife, have worked with Canadian government to preserve 85% of the rainforest, and have most recently been advocating to ban trophy hunting across the rainforest.

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New York borrows a health care idea from Africa

Joanne Kenen

October 25, 2017 |

Politico |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Harlem, New York

A community-focused health care program in Harlem, New York helps connect local residents with people from their own community – known as "health coaches" – who can help address their health concerns. Doctors from local hospitals have reported that this type of program "unburdens" them, and that the "hands-on, person-to-person connection" is crucial for determining underlying reasons for health problems.

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Where the Dogs Lead

Katarzyna Nowak

October 24, 2017 |

bioGraphic |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Tanzania

Dogs have been known to be used for hunting for many years and often still are today, but not in Tanzania where dogs are now being used to stop hunting. If an effort to combat poaching and other unlawful acts, tracker dog units are quickly becoming an essential and widespread tool in Africa’s conservation efforts.

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Portland takes page from Eugene on homelessness

Lyndsey Hewitt

October 24, 2017 |

Portland Tribune |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

Homelessness and lack of affordable housing is a problem in Portland, as it is in many other places around the country. The Metropolitan Alliance for Common Good in Portland is trying to tackle these issues by looking to how Eugene has created solutions such as Opportunity Villages and Conestoga Huts.

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With storms intensifying and oceans on the rise, Boston weighs strategies for staying dry

Eric Bender

October 24, 2017 |

Ensia |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

Boston and other flood-vulnerable areas are having to build for the future to prevent water damage from hurricanes and other natural disasters, especially as climate change makes storms stronger and bigger. Boston is researching the feasibility of a seawall as well as building other barriers at critical points, attention is being paid to preventive efforts in order to minimize future damages.

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Rumours about Germany: telling refugees about the danger of ignorance

Manasi Gopalakrishnan

October 23, 2017 |

Deutsche Welle (DW) |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: Germany

Germany has identified a problem with refugees hearing lies about migrating to Germany, often from traffickers who just want to make money. 'Rumours about Germany' is a website for migrants to get the truth about Germany.

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Why Cities Shouldn't Bend Over Backwards for Corporations

Rick Paulas

October 18, 2017 |

Pacific Standard |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Kansas City, Kansas

Flirting with a corporation can end badly. In exchange for city-wide wireless broadband, Kansas City gave Google near-free rein including fast permitting, free office space, low fees, and taxpayer funds. A few years later, Google restructured to become Alphabet and started cancelling hundreds of hook-ups.

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Inventing a Vocabulary to Help Inuit People Talk About Climate Change

Laura Poppick

October 17, 2017 |

Smithsonian |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada, Inuvik

A graduate student from British Columbia, the Arctic Energy Alliance, and the elders of the Inuvialuit people may seem a strange team, but together they are tackling the dual concerns of climate change and the loss of indigenous language in Canada. By inventing new terms and words in the Inuvialuit language to describe renewable energy technologies, they are increasing awareness about sustainable development while helping preserve the culture and heritage of this unique population.

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Could Field Trips Push Kids Past Their Violent Realities?

Neil Parmar

October 17, 2017 |

NationSwell |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Many kids living in low-income areas of Chicago never leave their isolated neighborhood, leaving them with a lack of knowledge about the outside world, and a plethora of knowledge about gangs and danger of their area. Embarc is an extra-curricular program that brings these kids on field trips to places around the city. It provides experiential development allowing them to see new things, shadow different careers and build trust.

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