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What Is the Future of America's Greenest Town?

Anne Kniggendorf

April 19, 2022 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Greensburg, Kansas

After a tornado devastated Greensburg, Kansas, the town decided to use the disaster as an opportunity to become more environmentally sustainable. For example, they built a new school out of recycled wood and it was powered with geothermal heat. While the maintenance of these sustainable features can be tricky, this shift to a greener town can be a case study for others looking to make the transition.

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Raise or retreat? Home elevation aims to protect historic houses

Adrienne Mayfield

April 15, 2022 |

WAVY-TV |

Multi-Media |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Virginia

As waters continue to rise and flood homes at sea levels, some homeowners are spending thousands of dollars to raise their homes off the ground. This solution that has been tried in Charleston is expensive, but some people think it can also work in Virginia. One industry expert started the Home Raising Academy, a workforce development program, to train architects, engineers, realtors, and government officials on floodplain management, insurance, and financing for home elevations in the area.

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Sponsor Circle opens hearts and homes to Afghan refugees

Cathryn J. Prince

April 11, 2022 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New Milford, Connecticut

The Sponsor Circle program mobilizes local community members to raise money and provide technical and cultural support to Afghan refugees resettling in the United States. One such refugee is Mohammad Agha Mohammadi, who has been able to enroll in benefits, get his driving learner's permit, and sign up for college courses with the help of his circle since arriving in Connecticut.

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Facing Disastrous Floods, They Turned to Mangrove Trees for Protection

Suhasini Raj

April 10, 2022 |

The New York Times |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India, Lakshmipur

Women in villages throughout India and Bangladesh are “silent climate warriors” who plant mangrove trees as a way to mitigate the effects of rising waters. While it’s not always easy to convince their family members that they should do this, they have been able to grow an additional 2,000 acres of mangroves that can reduce the speed of waves and capture carbon dioxide. They also earn income, about $430 a year, for growing and planting saplings.

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Charlottesville's 10th & Page has fewer trees and higher temperatures than other residential neighborhoods — and it's not by accident

Charlotte Rene Woods

March 14, 2022 |

Charlottesville Tomorrow |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Charlottesville, Virginia

Residents are working together to plant trees in order to boost the urban tree canopy in Charlottesville. With increasing global temperatures, a city’s tree canopy impacts how high the temperatures can go. An ambassador program sends teens from door to door to educate residents and convince them to allow trees to be planted on their properties.

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Through Online Platforms, Thousands Open Their Homes to Ukraine's Refugees

Michaela Haas

March 10, 2022 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Ukraine

In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, online home-sharing platforms such as Host a Sister provided an avenue for thousands of people around the world to offer temporary housing to refugees leaving the country. Host a Sister in particular is geared at women looking for a safe place to stay, making it a valuable resource for families who have had to flee while men have stayed behind to fight.

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How one small road is teaching Norfolk big lessons on flood mitigation

Adrienne Mayfield

March 02, 2022 |

WAVY-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Norfolk, Virginia

In Norfolk, Virginia, city planners are mitigating seasonal floods by planning for the future. City planners raised intersections on two key streets of an intersection and built a park to restore wetlands.

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Indigenous practices are the future — and past — of wildfire prevention

Aaron Hemens

March 02, 2022 |

The Discourse |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, Okanogan, British Columbia

When the Mount Law wildfire ripped through the Westbank Community Forest, traditional mitigation work based on centuries-old methods practiced by Westbank First Nation stopped flames from spreading beyond. The methods, which have been practiced for close to 1,000 years, include "removing ladder fuels and surface fuels to help space out mature trees. Each tree is pruned at least two to three metres above its base so fire can’t carry flames up the branches and spread to surrounding trees."

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How Hong Kong protects people from dangerous landslides

Matthew Keegan

February 28, 2022 |

BBC |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Hong Kong

After deadly landslides in the 1970s, Hong Kong has pioneered a successful landslide risk mitigation approach. Geotechnical engineers have cataloged over 60,000 slopes and upgraded those that needed it. The most successful aspect of the mitigation approach has been an early warning system that uses a combination of data sources to determine the risk of landslides and broadcasts warnings over TV, radio, and other public sources. Deaths from landslides have dropped substantially and it has inspired similar early warning systems around the world.

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Heat wave caused bees to ejaculate to death. Could Styrofoam 'protection' help?

Stefan Labbé

February 26, 2022 |

Times Colonist |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada, Armstrong, British Columbia

As a warming planet continues to affect bee colonies, a bee farmer in Canada is experimenting with different ways to help the bees survive. By using a polystyrene cover, she was able to drop the average temperature in the hive by 3.8 degrees Celsius. While this type of insulation won’t be able to completely protect the colonies, it’s a simple solution that can help them get through extreme temperatures.

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