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Termite and ventilation system

Patrick Aryee

May 20, 2019 |

BBC |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Zimbabwe, Harare

Buildings with permeable surfaces increase energy efficiency, mimicking natural structures. In Harare, Zimbabwe, the Eastgate Centre employs methods borrowed from termite mound construction to efficiently regulate the building's temperature. By employing insights that scientists had gained by studying the airflow in termite mounds, the Centre’s architects used materials with a high thermal mass, increased surface area, and maximized ventilation.

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Oakland's 'Pothole Vigilantes' Take Street Repairs Into Their Own Hands

Sonja Hutson

May 20, 2019 |

KQED |

Radio |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

In Oakland, CA, two men deemed the Pothole Vigilantes have paired up to fix every pothole in the city. Made possible by crowdfunding the venture, the two have now developed public meetups to teach others how to fix potholes themselves. This has caught the attention of city officials, who, partly because of this effort, have passed a $100 million plan to repave Oakland streets.

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How cities are convincing voters to pay higher taxes for public preschool

Brenda Iaesvoli

May 19, 2019 |

The Hechinger Report |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Undeterred by a lack of funding from the state and federal government, U.S. cities are successfully getting citizen approval to raise property taxes for the purpose of funding early childcare education programs. In Seattle, the city subsidizes tuition, regulates class size and length of the school day, and pays teachers more. In turn, cities are highlighting concrete improvements in student performance, helping to further secure resident support.

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Finland is winning the war on fake news. Other nations want the blueprint

Eliza Mackintosh

May 18, 2019 |

CNN |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Finland, Helsinki

Teaching students to fact check encourages resilience and builds resistance to the post-truth phenomenon. In Finland, a school curriculum implemented at the national level equips elementary and high school students with a digital literacy toolkit geared toward recognizing disinformation online. In addition to specific exercises spotting fake news on social media platforms, a critical thinking curriculum is built into all subjects. Finland's success in fostering a social resilience against disinformation also draws on lessons from the country's oftentimes fraught history with its eastern neighbor.

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How Rapid-Response Exhibits Are Changing the Way Museums Engage Their Communities

Elizabeth Pandolfi

May 15, 2019 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Memphis, Tennessee

Creating and deploying exhibitions in response to real-time events can allow museums to play a larger role in community engagement and education. By developing so-called rapid-response exhibits, museums can respond more effectively to contemporary issues. The exhibit at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, I AM A CHILD, employs this approach to the crisis of human rights surrounding US child separation policies for Immigration and Customs, while the K(NO)W JUSTICE, K(NO)W PEACE exhibit focuses on responses to police violence in Charlottesville, North Carolina.

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On the island of Java, a social forestry scheme creates jobs at home

Nuswantoro Nusawantoro

May 15, 2019 |

Mongabay |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Indonesia, Kalibiru

In Indonesia, transferring land management rights to local residents is slow-going, but one community is setting an example for what can happen when the residents are in charge. Mandiri farmers formed a cooperative and began replacing hillsides; now, tourism to the area has increased and attitudes towards the land and community have changed.

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How to build a feminist city

Eve Livingston

May 13, 2019 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Delhi

Recent efforts to bring a gender perspective, especially a feminist one, to urban planning are making cities safer and more inclusive. One Indian app called SafetiPin crowdsources ratings of public spaces based on various safety criteria like lighting, visibility, and transportation. Elsewhere, city planners and researchers are defining what a feminist city would look like. In Sweden, buses are incorporating "night stops" between regular stops to decrease the amount of walking at night needed.

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Luring Refugees: N.Y. Cities Desperate for People Try a New Strategy

Christina Goldbaum

May 13, 2019 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Utica, New York

Places like Utica, New York are working to convince refugees and new immigrants to move to their cities to stimulate the local economy and counteract population decline over the decades. Through more comprehensive services, a welcoming atmosphere, and word-of-mouth, refugees are arriving and making these cities home.

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The roar of military jets triggers a crusade for quiet

Chris Berdik

May 13, 2019 |

High Country News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Forks, Washington

In an effort to decrease noise pollution in natural spaces across the country, Quiet Parks International is seeking to certify wildlife places that are noise-free. Using data collection, the organization is able to measure the noise level in places like the Hoh Rainforest in Washington, and if it falls within a certain parameter, give it the official certification. Doing so not only raises awareness of the effects of noise pollution, but attracts tourists with similar values.

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Training Truckers with the goal of avoiding deadly crashes

Tyler Fingert

May 13, 2019 |

WALA-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Mobile, Alabama

Bishop State Community College’s truck driver training program is working proactively to prevent semi-truck crashes. The Mobile, Alabama college doesn’t prepare them to be truck drivers, but rather equips them with the safety protocol they need to be professional drivers. Measures like checking your mirror every eight seconds, looking miles ahead on the road, and only driving for 11 hours at a time are some of the key safety points students are taught.

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