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How Giant Batteries Are Protecting The Most Vulnerable In Blackouts

Lauren Sommer

March 08, 2021 |

WBUR |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States

States are creating microgrids with the use of large batteries and solar panels in an effort to fortify their utilities infrastructure against extreme weather. Such investments enable communities to prevent prolonged blackouts and therefore stay safe during storms, wildfires, extreme cold, and whatever else climate change might cause in the future.

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Japan's tsunami survivors call lost loves on the phone of the wind

Issei Kato Mari Saito

March 05, 2021 |

Reuters |

Photojournalism |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Japan, Otsuchi

A man who lost a cousin to cancer built a phone booth with an unconnected rotary phone to imagine conversations with his loved one. It became "the phone of the wind," used by thousands across Japan who lost family in the 2011 tsunami and others whose longing for contact with lost loved ones turns the "conversations" into a deep form of relief and grieving. People in Poland and Britain plan to adopt this approach for survivors grieving losses in the COVID-19 pandemic.

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'Solidarity, not charity': Mutual aid groups are filling gaps in Texas' crisis response

Alexandria Herr

February 26, 2021 |

Grist |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Texas

Texas mutual aid groups raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help people with food, housing, and other supplies after natural disasters, which are increasing due to climate change. Organizers go door-to-door and use social media to identify people in need of assistance, particularly people impacted by structural inequalities in low-income communities, communities of color, and people with insecure housing. Donors, most of whom also come from the community, help with cash or goods donations. Recipients aren’t means-tested and the neighbors-helping-neighbors model allows for quick and passionate action.

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Removing Obstacles to Mental Health Care — Over the Phone

Prudence Phiri

February 25, 2021 |

Global Press Journal |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Zambia

StrongMinds Zambia began offering teletherapy, in part due to COVID-19 related restrictions, but also to address the many new stressors that came with the pandemic. Counselors hold group calls with five people twice a week for five weeks. Clients are not charged for treatment or the calling costs. Some of the 1,500 women and about 100 men treated via teletherapy express the benefit of anonymity that speaking over the phone brings in a therapy setting. Without fear of being identified, clients feel more comfortable talking freely, especially given existing stigmas surrounding mental health issues.

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Agroforestry and land reform give Brazil cacao farmers sweet taste of success

Patricia Moll

February 24, 2021 |

Mongabay |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Brazil, Ibirapitanga, Bahia

After there was a fungal disease outbreak in the 1990s that affected cacao crops in Brazil, a group of 150 community members got together to collectively manage a farm to grow back cacao trees using agroforestry techniques. Because of their efforts, they sell their cacao to major chocolate brands and have seen their monthly income more than double.

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Asian American food aid expands to address hidden hunger during pandemic

Amy Yee

February 24, 2021 |

NBC News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

Organizations across the country are working to address food insecurity among Asian Americans, an issue that was exacerbated by COVID-19 related job losses. Groups such as VietAid in Boston and the Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition in Philadelphia provide free groceries, hot meals, and other assistance to those in need. The local organizations are also a source of assistance for people who do not have documentation and they provide services and help navigating local bureaucracies in many languages and dialects, which can be a barrier for some within Asian American communities.

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Once destined for raw bars, 5 million oysters are being rerouted to coastal restoration efforts

Lela Nargi

February 23, 2021 |

The Counter |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Jersey

The Supporting Oyster Aquaculture and Restoration initiative (SOAR), coordinated by the Pew Charitable Trusts, The Nature Conservancy, and various state agencies, NGOs, and universities, spent millions buying oysters from 100 farms in seven states to put back into the oceans for reef restoration. Working in areas that already have reef monitoring programs, SOAR is supporting 20 reef restoration projects to create habitat for more oysters and other marine species, clean the water, and mitigate coastal flooding. SOAR also helped mitigate potential losses for shellfish farmers due to COVID-19.

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Towards a greener construction with fly ash bricks

Vaishnavi Rathore

February 19, 2021 |

Climate Tracker |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: India

Fly ash bricks help reduce construction waste by utilizing the powdery by-product of burning coal. They are a green replacement for red clay bricks, which contribute to 5-15% of India’s emissions. They also utilize waste from coal-based thermal plants, which often gets disposed of by being dumped in water bodies and on roadsides. In comparison to red clay bricks, fly ash bricks are less expensive and the production process doesn’t emit smoke or use the more fertile top soil. Their use has been mandated by some regions and about 150 small fly ash enterprises have emerged.

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Flood City: Louisiana prepares to move neighborhood after 50 years of floods

Andrew Yawn

February 19, 2021 |

USA Today |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Roads, Louisiana

Pecan Acres in Louisiana is known as Flood City since many residents can’t remember a time when their homes weren’t impacted by rising waters. To help these people, the state has started a relocation project to move the neighborhood to higher ground. The new neighborhood, called Audubon Estates, already has 17 households signed up to move in. The government is buying the residents out of their old homes, which has proved a more difficult process than originally thought. Yet, some are ready for the change.

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How some frustrated COVID-19 vaccine hunters are trying to fix a broken system

Danny Westneat

February 17, 2021 |

The Seattle Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington

Retired software engineers in Washington have joined together and created a website that aggregates all available COVID vaccine appointments by using "screen scrapers." Although the site doesn't allow the visitor to book an appointment, it has routinely averaged "10,000 visits a day from anxious shot hunters."

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