Bangladesh volunteers learn to make a life-or-death difference in a disaster

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.

How Detroit Taught Itself to Demolish Vacant Houses Safely

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.

The Roads Scholar

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.

How Did the Meadow Vole Cross the Road? Designing travel routes for wildlife

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.

On Columbia, ‘just add water' seems to be working

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.

The Art of Water Recovery

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.

How to Grow More Food with Less Water

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.

In Bangladesh, 'Floating Farms' Overcome Monsoon Rains

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.

Tiny Houses: A Big Idea to End Homelessness

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.

Can biomimicry tackle our toughest water problems?

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.