International Relations

University of Alabama study may be key to winning war on drugs

https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/local/solutions-journalism/2019/06/21/drug-war-university-alabama-study-cocaine-may-key-winning/1499980001?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker

Andrew J. Yawn

The Montgomery Advertiser

21 June 2019

Text / 800-1500 Words

The United States has continuously put resources towards fighting the war on drugs, but a recent research collaborative that resulted in a comprehensive model has shown that there is a lot to be learned from the failures of these efforts. Although still in the early stages, the model is being turned into a virtual lab that will serve to test newer strategies to determine realistically adoptable solutions.

Palawan's indigenous women lead sustainable upland farming, forest protection

https://www.rappler.com/science-nature/environment/231942-indigenous-women-lead-sustainable-upland-farming-forest-protection-palawan?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker

Keith Anthony S. Fabro

Rappler

1 June 2019

Text / 800-1500 Words

Empowering women to practice sustainable agriculture promotes resilience and enables communities to protect biodiversity. The Kusor Upland Farmer’s Association, sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development, gives farmers an alternative to wildlife poaching and slash-and-burn agriculture by promoting sustainable, organic farming. The KUFA participates in workshops and farming demonstrations to teach women how to grow root vegetables such as yams for additional income as an alternative to more ecologically damaging practices.

How a new diet for gassy cows is helping the environment

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/stories-48336239/how-a-new-diet-for-gassy-cows-is-helping-the-environment?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker

Daniel Gordon

BBC

21 May 2019

Broadcast TV News / 3-5 Minutes

In Colombia, four thousand farmers have received foreign aid money as part of a pilot program to adapt their cattle farms. This program funds farmers to switch their cattle’s diets from traditional grass grazing to flowers and plants. The diet switch not only helps the environment through the planting of more bushes, flowers, and trees, but also helps cows’ digestion – leading to more milk production, faster and healthier growth, and less methane production.

Cash for trees: Homegrown carbon offset program bears fruit

https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2019/0521/Cash-for-trees-Homegrown-carbon-offset-program-bears-fruit?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker

Ryan Lenora Brown

Christopher Bendana

The Christian Science Monitor

21 May 2019

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Trees for Global Benefits is a carbon offset program that aims to partner with, rather than displace, locals in countries that have space to plant forests. For instance, in the Rubirizi District in Uganda, locals are getting paid to plant trees on their land. This hopes to eliminate the negative ramifications of other carbon offset programs that have displaced native people. Still, companies should be looking for ways to reduce carbon emissions beyond bringing their problems to other countries.

Cost of the Crossfire: Forum discusses solutions to gun violence in Chattanooga

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2019/apr/11/cost-crossfireforum-discusses-solutions-gun-v/492441?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker

Meghan Mangrum

Chattanooga Times Free Press

11 April 2019

Text / 800-1500 Words

Chattanooga’s Times Free Press convened community leaders from across the city to discuss gun violence. Beyond exploring the many forces causing gun violence, like toxic masculinity and social media, the forum provided a platform for participants to voice what needs to happen to explore what’s possible. Citing interventions such as decreasing mental illness stigma and teaching conflict resolution at a young age as possibilities, underpinning each idea was the need for people to be active in their communities.

Fleeing Honduras and what's being done for those left behind

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/fleeing-honduras-and-whats-being-done-for-those-left-behind?utm_source=Solutions+Story+Tracker

Marcia Biggs

PBS NewsHour

30 March 2019

Broadcast TV News / 5-15 Minutes

Residents of Rivera Hernandez, Honduras are trying to improve their community in a district that’s under gang control. One such effort is a vocational school to train children and adults in electricity and solar energy. The city – subject to extreme poverty – has also received aid from the United States to fund community policing and day camps for a small number of children, although some of that money has bolstered corruption in the region.