Artwork stating 'Education Destroys Barriers', 'We Demand Treatment', and 'I Need A Chance'

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  • How Hong Kong protects people from dangerous landslides

    February 28, 2022 |

    BBC |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Hong Kong

    After deadly landslides in the 1970s, Hong Kong has pioneered a successful landslide risk mitigation approach. Geotechnical engineers have cataloged over 60,000 slopes and upgraded those that needed it. The most successful aspect of the mitigation approach has been an early warning system that uses a combination of data sources to determine the risk of landslides and broadcasts warnings over TV, radio, and other public sources. Deaths from landslides have dropped substantially and it has inspired similar early warning systems around the world.

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  • How vending machines are making life better for Kenyans

    December 14, 2021 |

    BBC |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Kenya, Nairobi

    Vending machines are dispensing basic grocery items such as milk and cooking oil in parts of Kenya. The machines allow patrons to customize their purchase instead of buying prepackaged sizes. This helps cash-strapped citizens who need to buy smaller portions. They’ve also created economic opportunities for entrepreneurs.

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  • The priests navigating Colombia's conflict zones

    December 12, 2021 |

    BBC |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Colombia, Chocó Department

    Shielded by cultural deference to the Catholic church, Colombian clergy venture into conflict zones to document the clashes, provide aid, and mediate disputes between civilians and armed guerrilla groups. Their efforts have helped response organizations access difficult-to-reach areas and drawn renewed attention to the crises.

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  • Finnish teacher who secretly taught IS children in Syrian camps by text

    December 11, 2021 |

    BBC |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Syria, Al-Hol Camp

    Children living in dire conditions in a Syrian camp were taught by a teacher all the way in Finland. Without stable internet or computers, the children learned via WhatsApp - using voice notes, messages, and emojis. The students were able to grasp the Finnish language, showing the efficacy of the remote learning experiment.

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  • Costa Rica's answer to range anxiety

    September 28, 2021 |

    BBC |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Costa Rica, Monteverde

    Even though Costa Rica is leading the fight against climate change, the country lags behind in one area: electric vehicles. In one town, Monteverde, activists, and business owners got together to create a charging network, they called it Ruta Eléctrica. The goal is to stave off recharge anxiety, or the fear that an electric car won't make it to its destination without re-charging. To address the issue organizers got businesses to offer free-charging stations, have clear signage and maintain plug points.

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  • The hotel for homeless people

    September 14, 2021 |

    BBC |

    Podcast |

    Over 15 Minutes

    Response Location: United Kingdom

    To limit the spread of COVID-19, the Everyone In initiative offers housing to people experiencing homelessness. In the first few months of the program, the government paid for hotel rooms – which were empty due to the pandemic – for about 15,000 people. Additional services provided include helping people with substance abuse issues, accessing welfare benefits, and finding permanent housing. Some hotel residents expressed a renewed sense of purpose from having stable housing. A new set of workers, like hotel staff, addressing homelessness for the first time also led to innovation.

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  • The lost generation of ancient trees

    September 08, 2021 |

    BBC |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United Kingdom

    Ancient trees like the Big Belly Oak, which grows to be hundreds of years old, provide substance to thousands of invertebrate species, and hundreds of species of lichen and fungi. However, due to changes in forest management and agriculture, many of the ancient trees are not surviving long enough to age. It's crucial for them to age because that's when many species of fungi and insects begin to move into their core. In order to speed up the aging process scientists are trying two methods, veteranisation and inserting fungi into trees.

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  • The library where the books are people

    September 07, 2021 |

    BBC |

    Podcast |

    Over 15 Minutes

    Response Location: Denmark, Copenhagen

    The Human Library hosts one-on-one conversations between people who have faced prejudice (they're the "books" that get borrowed) and "readers" who yearn to ask awkward questions that they've never been comfortable asking. "Books" tell about being transgender, an immigrant, polyamorous, a wheelchair user, a former gang member, and more. The events spread to dozens of countries, funded by corporations that hire The Human Library to help their employees learn about diversity in its many forms. Both the "readers" and the "books" can experience deep connections in only a half-hour encounter.

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  • Fridge detectives

    August 31, 2021 |

    BBC |

    Podcast |

    Over 15 Minutes

    Response Location: Guatemala

    In the first half of this episode, the producers discuss "Tradewaters," an organization that disposes of canisters inside refrigerators. These canisters hold potent greenhouse gases. One 30-pound canister can leak up to 131 tons of Co2, or a year's worth of driving for 54 cars. The organization disposes of thousands of canisters across Central America, Chile, South Africa, and India. The practice of disposing of these canisters saves between one to two percent of global Co2 emissions, according to estimates.

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  • How saving uneaten food can change lives and help the climate

    August 11, 2021 |

    BBC |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

    Fresh Hub was created by twin high school sisters to address food insecurity and the environmental impact of food waste. Volunteers collect unsold food from grocery stores and bakeries and give it to residents living in “food deserts.” They use a smartphone app and automated messages to alert residents when food is available, which is distributed at community centers. Partnering with Second Servings, a nonprofit already doing similar work, allowed them access to vans, equipment, and important insight. Since 2017, they have led 23 events, kept 15,200 pounds of food out of landfills, and served 1,900 people.

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