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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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Coffee grounds and poultry litter proving a viable biomass option in the UK

Matt Mace

May 19, 2017 |

Edie Newsroom |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Birmingham, West Midlands

The United Kingdom is finding creative ways to simultaneously address renewable energy needs and waste disposal. Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants are utilizing chicken manure from farms and coffee grounds to create electricity. The initiatives have the added benefit of improving standards for the treatment of poultry, as well as reducing the distribution of harmful toxins from the waste.

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The Big Green Bang: How renewable energy became unstoppable

Pilita Clark

May 18, 2017 |

Financial Times |

Multi-Media |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United Kingdom, London, Greater London

An economic shift to renewable energy could take decades, but thanks to rapidly evolving disruptive technologies, dropping prices of solar and wind power sources, and increasing market demand for green business, the new age of renewable energy could encompass the world economy much more quickly.

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Keeping it cool: Malaysia looks to district energy systems.

Feng Zengkun

May 17, 2017 |

Eco-Business |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Malaysia, Sedenak, Johor

A collaborative effort among the United Nations' District Energy in Cities Initiative, the Malaysian government, and various private partners has raised awareness and facilitated planning in Malaysia's rapidly developing southern state of Johor for a "District Energy System": a single heating and cooling network which decreases energy consumption by converting waste heat from large power stations. Because of this intervention, Iskandar is projected to decrease its energy use by almost 40% -- all while saving money on energy costs, recycling heat energy, and contributing to the nation's goals under the international Paris Accord.

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Turning Goats into Water

Mukul Devichand Dougal Shaw

May 16, 2017 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Pakistan, Pathan Goth, Sindh

Fariel Salahuddin was determined to tackle the extreme lack of access to fresh water she encountered in rural Pakistani communities, but she wanted the model to be sustainable, not dependent on donations. Most of the communities didn't have regular access to rupees to help sustain their solar water pump micro-enterprises - what they did have, however, were goats. Salahuddin set up a scheme where villagers could pay for their clean water access with livestock instead of cash, which she then sells using Facebook at high rates during Muslim festivals to generate a sustainable revenue source.

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Guatemalan deportees get fresh start as volcano guides

Martha Pskowski

May 12, 2017 |

Al Jazeera |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Guatemala, San Jose Calderas, Chimaltenango

The United States deported more than 100 people to the farming village of San Jose Calderas in 2008. Money lenders and gang members quickly descended on the deportees, demanding payments and taking property. Some deportees and their families are now working as tourist guides on the nearby Acatenango volcano, carving out a new way of making a living.

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In Kenya, Phones Replace Bank Tellers

Tina Rosenberg

May 09, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Kenya

Building on the widespread use of mobile phones in Kenya, applications have been developed to provide people with financial services. Through these applications people can securely receive money, save money, and make payments increasing their fiscal stability and their ability to access assistance when adverse events happen. The applications also create a record of financial transactions resulting in people being able to establish credit, receive loans, and access pay-as-you-go programs.

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How Rang De is using crowdsourcing to make micro loans cheaper

Anu Thomas

May 04, 2017 |

The Economic Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Bengaluru, Karnataka

A husband and wife team in Bangalore (Bengaluru) have created a peer-to-peer, online micro-loan platform to help make poverty history by addressing credit needs of underserved communities. Lenders on the platform can choose the individuals and projects they loan to, and interest rates are kept low so as to be accessible for the recipients. The platform, Rang De, has seen great success and boasts a 93% repayment rate.

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How do you solve half a century of bloodshed in Colombia?

Lucy Lamble Kary Stewart

April 27, 2017 |

The Guardian |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Colombia

Local civil society groups are at the forefront of rebuilding Colombia. With decades of armed conflict officially ended, efforts to support a lasting peace focus on inequality and land issues and work to advance sustainable rural development.

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Israel's surprising way of teaching skills for innovation

Inbal Arieli

April 27, 2017 |

Israel21c |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Israel

Israeli children are behind when it comes to math and science standardized testing, yet Israel has a large number of startups. This is most likely due to the Israeli culture encouraging innovative thinking, including extracurriculars that directly require creative thinking and problem solving.

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