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Cash converters: could this Dutch scheme stop drivers speeding?

Elle Hunt

May 25, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Netherlands, Helmond, North Brabant

A city in Holland known for its lead-footed drivers is finding success in changing behavior by offering small increments of funding for each car that stays at or below the speed limit. The initial effort raised 500 euros for a local playing field well before the three-week target date. The mobile speedometer will be moved to various cities around the province for the next two years and officials say it's a way to break drivers out of their routines and encourage them to think more about everyone's role in traffic safety.

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Why Environmental Impact Bonds Are Catching On

Laurie Mazur

May 25, 2018 |

Governing |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Environmental impact bonds allow cities, sometimes even community members, to share the risk and rewards with investors that are backing innovative possible solutions to big problems. This plan allows for large-scale green infrastructure to be piloted in areas across the U.S. where it is most needed.

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Winds of change: Eco-cremation in India and green power on Samso

Gokul Chakravarthy

May 22, 2018 |

Al Jazeera |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Denmark, Samsø, Samso

Two communities on opposite sides of the globe are turning to green energy to power their communities. On the island of Samso in Denmark, government officials turned to a cooperative ownership model to build buy-in on the wind and solar energy installations. In India, many Hindus are updating traditional cremation methods, which exact a high environmental cost, by increasing airflow and heat intensity during the cremation process.

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Australia confiscated 650,000 guns. Murders and suicides plummeted.

Zack Beauchamp

May 18, 2018 |

Vox |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Australia

After passing the National Firearms Agreement in 1996, Australia saw a striking decline in suicide and homicide raters. The agreement – a result of a mass shooting – included a ban on certain kinds of guns, a mandatory buyback on those guns that had been deemed illegal, as well as amnesty for those who illegally possessed firearms to turn them in. In the years leading up to the agreement, the country witnessed 13 mass shootings; since then, Australia has seen only one.

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Stuck in traffic? These folks found a solution by joining a vanpool

David Gutman Michelle Baruchman

April 28, 2018 |

The Seattle Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

When public transportation is not an option and commuting alone is undesirable, vanpools are a great option for shared commuting. Seattle’s vanpool program is the largest in the country, with 1,469 vanpools, followed by Los Angeles and San Diego. Company buy-in helps, such as when Boeing and Microsoft offered subsidies to those using vanpools. The goal is to decrease costs and drive-alone rates in major cities.

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Problem-Solving Prizes

William Kremer Harriet Noble

April 16, 2018 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United Kingdom

Cash prizes push people to solve all sorts of problems. Advancements in aircraft and spacecraft in particular have came out of public innovation challenges.

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Saving for Retirement: How Auto-IRA Plans May Secure the Future

Emily B. Hager Clara Ritger

April 11, 2018 |

Wall Street Journal |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Medford, Oregon

Oregon is helping its residents save for retirement by automatically enrolling those eligible for the Roth IRA retirement savings program. Employees can choose to contribute or opt out, and thus far the participation rate is 80%. As social security benefits are at risk in the future, this program, in Oregon and around the country, is helping people start early in preparing for retirement.

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After hurricane Maria, he's helping the ocean – and its fishers – recover

Whitney Eulich

April 09, 2018 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Puerto Rico, Naguabo

Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico communities, land and the local coasts. With many relying on fishing as a significant source of income, fishermen have been suffering since with polluted waters and a diminished fish population. One local man is taking a stance by working with community fishermen to utilize their skills to clean up the coastal waters through incentivizing results.

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Why Massachusetts is the best state for landfill solar arrays

Elizabeth McGowan

March 28, 2018 |

Energy News Network |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Lexington, Massachusetts

Repurposing contaminated sites for clean energy production may not sound like a common tactic to take, but Massachusetts has found a way to be highly successful at it. In fact, out of over 250 renewable energy installations across the United States, Massachusetts accounts for 40 percent of them. The state attributes this success to a combination of an enhanced ease of the bureaucratic process and opportunities for revenue stimulation for towns.

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'We exist': Public art project gives India's transgender community a voice

Priti Salian

March 21, 2018 |

NBC News |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Bengaluru, Karnataka

The Aravani Art Project is a project that works to raise the visibility and voice of the trans community in India. It does so by employing them to paint murals across the country (and even one in Sri Lanka) featuring slices of life as a trans person. It took time to build trust with the community at first, but eventually the people behind the project developed a system of idea conception to realization with their participants. Over time they have developed long-term relationships with each other, and the trans community is slowly becoming comfortable with having a public voice.

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