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This land is their land

April Reese

August 27, 2019 |

Searchlight New Mexico |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Las Cruces, New Mexico

The Outdoor Equity Fund in New Mexico introduces troubled youth across the state to exploration in nature as a sort of informal therapy and mental retreat. The Fund - a first of it's kind across the nation - distributes resources and funding to local outdoor and youth-centered nonprofits to spread the impact of their missions across the state.

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Do plastic bag taxes or bans curb waste? 400 cities and states tried it out.

Matthew Zeitlin

August 27, 2019 |

Vox |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Across the world, countries are reckoning with its astounding single-use plastic bag waste by instituting legislation that taxes or all-out bans them. Research has shown that taxing the bags has been a more effective strategy with less unintended consequences, as banning often leads to a sharp increase in thicker plastics or paper bags. In places that have instituted the tax, they’ve seen a 40 percent decrease in usage, and arguably more importantly, a cultural shift away from single-use plastics.

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Prizes for sobriety: As Washington meth use rises, this treatment is one of few that works

Scott Greenstone

August 22, 2019 |

The Seattle Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Rewarding patients for sobriety greatly increases the likelihood for recovery. The approach of contingency management creates new behaviors through incentives instead of punishment. Through the Seattle Department of Veteran’s Affairs, patients in an addiction program who test negative get to draw a prize and accumulate rewards the longer they stay sober. This alternative form of treatment has proven effective in boosting patient participation—and success—in addiction programs at the Seattle VA.

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San Diego Is Showing California How to Use Its Red Flag Law

Alain Stephens

August 21, 2019 |

The Trace |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Diego, California

In San Diego, California, more than three Gun Violence Restraining Orders, or “red flag laws,” have been used to prevent gun violence. These laws have gained in popularity across the country, and allow courts to temporarily take away firearms from individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others. With such success in San Diego, their attorney’s office is now training law enforcement and government agencies across the state on how to use such orders.

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This country gave all its rivers their own legal rights

Sigal Samuel

August 18, 2019 |

Vox |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Bangladesh

As countries look to new ways to best conserve rivers, several are testing out a methodology of giving human rights to the bodies of water. Although not without challenges, this solution offers a way for those harming rivers to be held accountable to any damage they caused, same as if they were harming another human being.

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Creating a Sustainable Energy Future

Katie Scarlett Brandt

August 16, 2019 |

Native Science Report |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, North Dakota

Tribal colleges in North Dakota and Minnesota are shifting to renewable energy practices as a means of lessening their energy footprint. According to the facilities manager at North Dakota's Turtle Mountain Community College, “It goes into our culture. We don’t want to hurt the environment.” The shift to sustainable energy has resulted in financial savings and provided classroom lessons for students.

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Inside the innovation lab solving climate financing

Amelia Axelsen

August 16, 2019 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

Turning climate solutions into opportunities for investment can help mobilize capital to address climate change. The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (The Lab), part of the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) based in San Francisco, California, promotes public-private partnerships to reduce the risk of investment in large-scale projects. Nature Based Solutions, such as the Lab’s initiative to restore mangroves in the Philippines, contributes tremendous economic value in areas like flood mitigation.

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Got a parking ticket? In some cities, you can pay for it with school supplies or cat food.

Marisa Iati

August 13, 2019 |

The Washington Post |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Muncie, Indiana

Across the United States, cities are letting residents pay off their parking tickets with donations to local organizations. For set periods of time, cities like Muncie and Las Vegas write off traffic tickets – as long as they aren’t related to public safety – when residents donate things like cat food to the local cat shelter, or school supplies to educational organizations. The initiatives have been such a success that people from around the country are sending in their donations, even without the trade-off of a paid parking ticket.

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Sweden's surprising rule for time off

Maddy Savage

August 07, 2019 |

BBC |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Sweden, Stockholm

In Sweden, employees are allotted up to 6 months in an unpaid leave of absence for the purpose of entrepreneurship. Because of the reported decrease in fear of job loss or financial insecurity, this law has said to increase the potential for entrepreneurs around the country to succeed, as it encourages risk-taking with a built-in safety net.

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Bringing Together Young And Old To Ease The Isolation Of Rural Life

Rhitu Chatterjee

August 07, 2019 |

NPR |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, McGregor, Minnesota

Due to urban migration from rural areas, communities in less populated regions around the country are experiencing increased loneliness and lack of social connection; a health organization in Minnesota is building personal relationships to between youth and elders to combat that loneliness. Through intergenerational trust building and social activities, rural residents in 18 Minnesota towns combat isolation, depression and anxiety.

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