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'For me, this is paradise': life in the Spanish city that banned cars

Stephen Burgen

September 18, 2018 |

The Guardian |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Spain, Pontevedra

Rather than attempt to change traffic flow, the city of Pontevedra cut straight to the source of their congestion frustrations; they eliminated cars from their streets entirely. The city center, which now fills to the brim with walkers and bicyclists each day, has seen a massive reduction in traffic accidents and carbon emissions since closing the streets to cars.

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'It's a revolution': Indian officials deliver public services at people's doorsteps

Amrit Dhillon

September 17, 2018 |

The Guardian |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, New Delhi

To reduce corruption, the Delhi government has begun delivering public services to residents’ doorsteps. Now it’s possible to get a driver license, marriage certificate, and more from the comfort of home—no long lines or bribes required.

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A road full of bottlenecks: Dutch cycle path is made of plastic waste

Daniel Boffey

September 13, 2018 |

The Guardian |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: Netherlands, Zwolle

The first bicycle path made of recycled plastic opened in the Netherlands and the inventors see it as a way to prove a concept that could be adapted more widely to roadways as Europe works to eliminate plastic waste. The path has sensors to monitor its performance and the amount of traffic that uses it, as well as a design that drains rainwater and allows cables and utility pipes to be installed inside. A second path is under construction in another city and possibly in Rotterdam.

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The business of voluntourism: do western do-gooders actually do harm?

Tina Rosenberg

September 13, 2018 |

The Guardian |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Guatemala, Zacapa

Voluntourism, or the practice of western volunteers paying to do service in developing countries, seems like a moral, do-good activity. However, the practice has been proven to have consequences, including reducing the need for local labor and stunting development of children in orphanages. There has recently been progress in discouraging volunteers from working in orphanages - the volunteer efforts in institutions never benefit the children - but true progress might involve staying at home.

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The radical solution to homelessness: no-strings homes

Aditya Chakrabortty

September 12, 2018 |

The Guardian |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Finland

Housing First is a programme aimed at reducing homeless. It is rooted in the premise that “the main thing a homeless person needs is a home. The program has been adopted in Finland, Denmark, Spain, France, and parts of the U.S. and Canada. In Finland, there is proof of results. “ Finland is the only European Union country where homelessness is not rising but falling – by an average of 35% between 2008 and 2015. “

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How two men and a WhatsApp group rescued scores of Afghan heroes

Ewen MacAskill

September 07, 2018 |

The Guardian |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Afghanistan

A British military officer and his Afghanistan translator created a network of interpreters to help push policy changes in the United Kingdom to allow more translators to move to the country with their families. Out of the 2,000 interpreters employed by the British military, fewer than 400 have been able to relocate legally even though most face deadly reprisals for their work. The effort has brought promises of change from top officials, but much remains to be done.

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Inside Greece's first smart city: 'Now you don't need to know a politician to get something done'

Venetia Rainey

September 04, 2018 |

The Guardian |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Greece, Trikala

To improve government services and fight brain drain, the Greek city of Trikala transformed itself into a hub of innovation. Rather than spend money the city didn’t have, officials partnered with the EU and tech companies to host pilot projects, including driverless buses and an e-complaint system. Trikala is now recognized as one of the world’s top smart cities.

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'It saved our business': Italy's farmers turn low into high with cannabis

Lorenzo Tondo

August 30, 2018 |

The Guardian |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Italy, Sicily

In Italy's farmland traditionally that has traditionally been known to grow wheat, farmers have recently found that growing non-pharmaceutical hemp yields greater profit. Allowing them to hire more workers and produce more results on their dry lands, many are crediting the crop for saving their business.

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How to help homeless people – without feeding a habit

Stephen Moss

August 29, 2018 |

The Guardian |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Oxford

It's not uncommon for people to hesitate to give money to homeless because of an uncertainty of how the money will be spent. To address this, as well as an increasingly cashless society, an app known as Greater Change is being piloted in Oxford that "allows passersby to make donations via their phones using the QR code."

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Forget profit. It's love and fun that drive innovation like Parkrun

Aditya Chakrabortty

August 29, 2018 |

The Guardian |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Teddington

Paul Sinton-Hewitt, founder of the charity Parkrun, never set out to create a revolution. All he wanted was a low-pressure space to run. Now, his organization supports over 1,600 community running events around the globe, with an expected one million participants by 2023. This is part of a trend of “people’s innovation,” or the idea that innovation can come from users rather than just executives. Parkrun exemplifies the inclusive spirit of people’s innovation and the positive impacts it can spread all around the world.

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