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

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  • Illegal Fishing You Can See from Space

    February 21, 2020 |

    Reasons to be Cheerful |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Indonesia

    A space-based initiative called Global Fishing Watch is using satellite imagery and data to hold companies accountable to their promise of providing sustainable sourced seafood. While the volume of data and cost of obtaining it can be a challenge, the organization has partnered with key collaborators to help with the effort. Countries like Indonesia and Panama are working with them to stop illegal fishing.

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  • How South Africa Ended Its Secret Births

    February 07, 2020 |

    Reasons to be Cheerful |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: South Africa

    By expanding access, using financial incentives, and increasing transparency, the South African government increased universal birth registration rates from under one-quarter of the population to 95 percent of the population over 30 years. Long associated with restricting access during Apartheid, registration rates now help residents gain access to more resources and opportunities and help the government maintain more accurate demographic data.

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  • Reforesting the Ocean

    December 17, 2019 |

    Reasons to be Cheerful |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Australia, Port Stephens

    In Australia, scientists have developed a method to seed the ocean floor with healthy plants as a way to regrow dying ocean forests vital to the ecosystem. They have also crowdsourced the process, with volunteers collecting healthy seagrass and depositing it in bins along the beach.

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  • Power Struggle

    December 07, 2019 |

    Reasons to be Cheerful |

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    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Humboldt County, California

    The Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe in California installed its own small-scale electrical supply grid using solar panels and Tesla batteries to make their community more resilient to energy disruptions and lower carbon dioxide emissions. This proved useful during the 2019 wildfire season when utility companies shut down power for millions of residents. The tribe is now helping other Native reserves to build their own microgrid systems.

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  • Creative Freedom

    November 18, 2019 |

    Reasons to be Cheerful |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, New York

    New York-based nonprofit, Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), runs theater programs for individuals experiencing incarceration as a way of improving mental health and reducing recidivism. While the United States’ criminal justice system has been focused on punitive measures, there’s been a trend toward rehabilitation across the country in recent years. Participants in RTA have shown a rate of recidivism of just 5% – compared to a 60% national average – but funding and sustainability remain a consistent hurdle.

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  • Free the Floodplains!

    November 11, 2019 |

    Reasons to be Cheerful |

    Multi-Media |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Charlotte, North Carolina

    There is a unique, homegrown local flood buyout program in Charlotte, NC that helps homeowners on floodplains relocate safely and with financial security. This came as a result of the city and county of Charlotte forming a joint storm water utility in the 1990's, which generated money by fixing aging pipes and other storm water needs—funding the local “Quick Buy” program. This gets the aid to the homeowners much quicker than FEMA money does and has since relocated 650 families and saved $25 million in losses.

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  • Rock-a-Bye Mama

    November 07, 2019 |

    Reasons to be Cheerful |

    Multi-Media |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, New York, New York

    Past and present traumas can make it difficult for new mothers to bond with their babies. A program at Carnegie Hall uses songwriting and music to support mothers in this process in prisons, intensive care units, high schools, and other places.

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  • Greening the Desert With Wastewater

    October 29, 2019 |

    Reasons to be Cheerful |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Egypt, Ismalia

    The Serapium Forest is one of 36 forests in Egypt that are growing because of treated wastewater, part of a country-wide initiative that started 25 years ago as a way to productively use treated sewage water, create forest in the desert, and help minimize desertification. Additionally, the program creates high-quality wood that can be sold, as well as absorbing greenhouse gases.

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  • Free the Transit System!

    October 28, 2019 |

    Reasons to be Cheerful |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Columbus, Ohio

    As the city of Columbus struggled to find ways to attract more workers downtown without increasing parking lots, they decided to try something new: making public transit free. Local businesses put funding towards the new C-pass program, which pays for all downtown workers to receive a free bus pass. At least 430 companies have opted in, allowing both businesses and employees to save while also making public transit more inclusive and accessible.

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  • Changing Behavior: Economic Incentives

    October 23, 2019 |

    Reasons to be Cheerful |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Mexico

    Cities across the world are learning that a tax on sugary drinks can help to shift purchasing habits and reduce the risks of health problems such as diabetes, heart attacks, and stroke. As a Boulder council member explained, modifying the behavior of consumers is possible when you "tax the behavior you don’t want and use the money to encourage behavior you do."

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