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The Stickers that Save Lives

Tom Colls, Harriet Noble

June 04, 2017 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Kenya, Nairobi

Vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for young adults in nearly every country around the world, but the issue receives less policy attention or funding than diseases or terrorism. One clever initiative called Zusha in Kenya is using a very simple method - stickers - to spread safety messages on public transportation, and have already reduced bus accidents by as much as 25%.

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Just 20% of kids got 4-year degrees, so Chehalis schools changed everything

Katherine Long

June 02, 2017 |

The Seattle Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chehalis, Washington

The Chehalis school district has teamed up with the Chehalis Foundation to support students pursue higher education after high school. Only 15% of adults in the area have a bachelor's degree, and only 20% of graduating high school seniors earn a four-year degree. Now, the district is working to transform itself by retraining teachers to provide more rigorous lessons, placing emphasis on college preparation, and demystifying the college application and financial process for students and their families.

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Criminalizing Homelessness

Kenny Jacoby

June 01, 2017 |

Eugene Weekly |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Eugene, Oregon

In Eugene, Oregon, the city – much like the rest of the United States – has often practiced ticketing, citing, and/or arresting individuals as a response to homelessness. The practice, often referred to as the criminalization of homelessness, is now being called into question by groups across the city. Since the police are often the initial responders to people experiencing housing insecurity, the city is trying responses like community outreach to better address the needs of these individuals instead of writing them a ticket or sending them to jail.

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Cloud 311 Popularity Grows as Cities of All Sizes Move to Remotely Hosted CRM

Tod Newcombe

June 01, 2017 |

Government Technology |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Sacramento, California

Traditional 311 operations can be costly to maintain, so the city of Sacramento implemented cloud CRM in order to cut costs and increase flexibility of operations. While there is still room to expand what is offered, this cloud-based solution does offer the "ability to set up and launch 311 quickly, without the need for IT staff to maintain the servers and networks."

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A Haven From Trauma's Cruel Grip

Patricia Leigh Brown

May 31, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, California

Victims of trauma are at risk for substance abuse, depression, or other difficulties. Trauma Recovery Centers are becoming increasingly prevalent for their ability to provide a wide range of services.

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Lessons from India in building urban resilience

Patralekha Chatterjee

May 29, 2017 |

Citiscope |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India, Surat, Gujarat

TARU, an Indian thinktank, has found that Indians cities have combined decentralized action and "multi-stakeholder engagement" in public policy to respond to problems of scarcity in water and power as well as climate change-related natural disasters. Municipalities are putting responsibility for improving local lives at the grassroots level; integrating disruptive technologies from the private sector; and fostering collaboration between government and citizens.

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Italy's pollution-eating cement

Gelareh Darabi

May 25, 2017 |

Al Jazeera |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Italy, Milan, Lombardy

Respiratory diseases caused by air pollution now account for more premature deaths in people worldwide than malaria and HIV combined. To address increasing contamination levels, particularly in cities, scientists have developed a new kind of cement that absorbs pollutants like CO2. The special cement is being manufactured in Milan, and used around in the world in cities like Paris and Chicago.

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Turning CO2 into stone in Iceland

Russell Beard

May 25, 2017 |

Al Jazeera |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Iceland, Hellisheiðarvirkjun, Southern Region

Iceland, hit by the oil crises of the 1970s, turned to geothermal energy - and they haven't turned back. The island is now powered by 100% renewable energy, and they are taking it one step more, looking to further cut emissions using a unique carbon capture system called CarbFix. It is being pioneered at the Hellsheidi geothermal power plant in western Iceland.

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Turning Haiti's Plastic Trash into Cash

Gemma Newby, Sahar Zand

May 23, 2017 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Haiti, Cap-Haïtien, Department of Nord

Eight million metric tons of plastic waste ends up in the ocean every year, including in Haiti where it litters the beaches and causes sanitation issues. A social entrepreneur from Executives Without Borders partnered with Haiti Recycling to streamline processes, increase efficiency, and sustainably monetize the collecting and recycling of plastic waste through a new organization, Ramase Lajan. When oil prices tanked and the recycling centers struggled to maintain a profit, social enterprise Thread stepped in to take up the plastic, turning it into fabric to make socially responsible goods for sale.

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Vietnam's response to climate change? A shrimp and mangrove cocktail

Julia Laurie

May 23, 2017 |

The New Humanitarian (formerly IRIN) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Vietnam, Ben Tre Province

Increasing salinization of water sources and droughts as a result of climate change have threatened traditional agricultural practices in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. But The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the Netherlands Development Agency are helping teach farmers to adapt by showing them how to work with the saltier waters, establishing organic shrimp farms instead of growing rice and preserving the valuable mangroves that protect their coastline from storms.

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