BBC
22 March 2016
Radio / Over 15 Minutes
Nepal
Can we engineer buildings to prevent collapse in earthquakes? The answer is yes, and the Inquiry dives into how better building design can save more and more lives as urban density increases.
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/jul/14/volunteers-bangladesh-learn-life-or-death-difference-disaster-rana-plaza
Amy Yee
The Guardian
14 July 2015
Text / 800-1500 Words
In the wake of the Rana Plaza collapse, Bangladeshi civilians—often first on the scene of disasters in poorer countries–are being trained to support emergency teams.
https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/detroit-demolition-blight-teardowns-safety
Cassie Owens
Next City
12 June 2015
Text / 800-1500 Words
To develop new demolition standards, the Detroit Building Authority brought together a best practices working group that met biweekly. Under the new system, a pre-demolition review takes place to, among other things, plan out what will be recycled or salvaged. When an excavator claws through a building, a water truck or fire hose has to be dousing the structure to inhibit the reach of particulate matter—limiting the environmental and health impacts.
https://www.hcn.org/issues/46.13/the-roads-scholar
Benjamin Goldfarb
High Country News
13 August 2014
Text / Under 800 Words
Many wildlife are killed each year as they are hit by cars when crossing highways. Montana built crossing structures over high risk sections of highways, such as grass covered tunnels, for animals to cross safely and reduce car accidents.
https://medium.com/re-form/how-did-the-meadow-vole-cross-the-road-21a0f0931418
Benjamin Goldfarb
re:form
9 October 2014
Text / 1500-3000 Words
As a state with robust populations of wildlife, Montana has had its share of roadkill. Its Department of Transportation developed animal shelving, a type of wildlife crossing, to enable safe passage for small animals who need to cross the road. The measure, combined with other types of crossings, has reduced animal-vehicle collisions by half.
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/on-columbia-lsquojust-add-waterrsquo-seems-to-be-working
Lynda V. Mapes
The Seattle Times
2 August 2014
Text / 800-1500 Words
New water management technology implemented along the Columbia has significantly helped the fish population - specifically salmon - return to healthy numbers and has restored much of the community and industry that revolves around the river, including for native peoples.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/10/the-art-of-water-recovery
David Bornstein
The New York Times
10 July 2014
Text / 1500-3000 Words
While California is experiencing its worst drought in history, The World Bank estimates that water systems worldwide have real losses (leakages) of 8.6 trillion gallons per year, about half of that in developing countries. A new leak detection system aims to save 10 billion gallons of water, 7 million gallons of diesel, and 33 gigawatts of electricity over 10 years.
http://ensia.com/features/how-to-grow-more-food-with-less-water
Matt Weiser
Ensia
3 August 2015
Text / 1500-3000 Words
The U.S. government has developed different sensors for irrigation devices that gauge water demand and help conserve use. as water shortages caused by drought have increased across the globe, and farmers are faced with economic burdens, such technology is focusin on sustainability for the future.
http://www.voanews.com/content/in-bangladesh-floating-farms-overcome-monsoon-rains/2529049.html
Amy Yee
Voice of America (VOA)
21 November 2014
Text / Under 800 Words
During rain seasons in Bangladesh, rivers flooded villages and their agriculture so that local economies and food supplies were in jeopardy. A Bangladeshi non-profit Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha introduced small floating farms designed to be run by women. Consequently, the organization has initiated 40 floating farms that serve 300 rural women and save local agriculture.
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/real-estate/tiny-houses-big-idea-end-homelessness-n39316
Linda Federico-O'Murchu
NBC News
26 February 2014
Text / 800-1500 Words
While billions of taxpayer dollars are allocated each year to support shelters and social service initiatives, homelessness remains a persistent problem in the U.S. - in 2013, an estimated 610,000 people slept without shelter every night. All over the country, people are building "tiny homes" to give to the homeless, providing them with shelter, a bathroom, and a kitchen for less then the cost of a shelter.
https://www.hcn.org/issues/46.20/can-biomimicry-tackle-our-toughest-water-problems
Benjamin Goldfarb
High Country News
24 November 2014
Text / 1500-3000 Words
Clean water and healthy ecosystems are becoming increasingly difficult to come by. With floating islands and other inventions, eco-entrepreneur Bruce Kania thinks that biomimicry - such as reconstructing wetlands and growing biofilms - can tackle the toughest of water problems.
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