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‘It's radical': the Ugandan city built on solar, shea butter and people power

Caleb Okereke

March 03, 2021 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Uganda, Okere City

Okere City, Uganda, has been rebuilt with a school, a marketplace, and solar-powered energy. Instead of treating the project as a charity, it was approached as a social enterprise that collaborates with the community. That method has resulted in Okere generating a revenue and being self-sufficient.

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New city program tackles big trash problem in Philly: clothing and electronics waste

Jessica Blatt Press

February 25, 2021 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A residential recycling program in Philadelphia is picking up electronics and clothing from homes for a fee. Retrievr has already prevented 100,000 pounds of waste from ending up in landfills. The program was implemented through the city’s Pitch & Pilot program which put out call for “solutions to reduce waste and increase waste diversion” in a bid to achieve Philadelphia’s goal of Zero Waste by 2035.

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It looks like the Batmobile, works on solar energy, and could be the future of cars

Sarah Kaplan Aaron Steckelberg Jane Hahn

February 25, 2021 |

The Washington Post |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Diego, California

Aptera Motors, a California-based startup, is poised to roll out the first mass-produced solar vehicle this year: for $25,900. The car is a three-wheel, aerodynamic electric vehicle covered in solar cells that can provide energy to drive about 40 miles. The model is not 100 percent efficient with some energy lost in its electrical current conversion and in its drive system, but the creators say it is four times more effect than an average electric vehicle. Still, when the company started taking preorders, they sold out of its first 330 vehicles in 24 hours.

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From Reviled to Adored

Emily Sohn Carla Rhodes

February 23, 2021 |

bioGraphic |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: India, Assam

Purnima Devi Barman has been building trust and working with various community members to save a stork species called the greater adjutant in India. Because of her work, she has inspired more than 10,000 women and their families to help in bird conservation activities and the number of storks in the region has increased to as many as 1,200. This type of community approach could be used in other places as a model for wildlife conservation efforts.

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How Banana Waste Is Turned Into Rugs, Fabric, And Hair Extensions

Jacqueline Baylon

February 19, 2021 |

Business Insider |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Uganda, Kampala

A Ugandan company called TEXFAD is taking the stems from banana trees that would normally go to waste and is turning them into new textiles like rugs, place mats, and hair extensions. Over its eight year existence, TEXFAD has grown to also employ 23 people, many of whom started in their internship program for students. While the cost to make these products can be expensive, the textiles are biodegradable and use less water and land to produce.

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Towards a greener construction with fly ash bricks

Vaishnavi Rathore

February 19, 2021 |

Climate Tracker |

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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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The Bakery That's Owned by an Idea

Oscar Perry Abello

February 16, 2021 |

Next City |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

Firebrand Artisan Breads hires people with high barriers to employment, such as people experiencing homelessness or who were formerly incarcerated. The higher-than-minimum-wage starting salary, paid time off, and insurance benefits provide sustainable and secure employment to people whose life circumstances make it harder to get a job. In order to raise capital while maintaining their employment model, the owner worked with lawyers to become a perpetual purpose trust, an alternative ownership model that allows the company to sell shares to private investors while ensuring their principles remain in place.

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A 19th Century Fund Is Still Helping Philadelphia's Smallest Businesses

Kevin Riordan

February 15, 2021 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A long-running fund in Philadelphia has been able to help struggling small-business owners in the city since 1854. The Merchant Fund has been able to provide 67 businesses with $307,000 in grants since the onset of the pandemic. Additionally, it also helps entrepreneurs purchase real estate. The fund’s executive director notes, “Owning property is crucial to business longevity, and is fundamental to creating wealth that can be passed on.”

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Zimbabwe's mango growers look to the sun to boost incomes

Lungelo Ndhlovu

February 15, 2021 |

Thomson Reuters Foundation |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Zimbabwe, Gokwe

A new dried fruit processing center in Zimbabwe has allowed farmers to turn their excess mangos into another product that can be sold to various markets around the world. The center serves more than 3,400 farmers and farmers can fetch up to four times as much for dried mangos as they would normally get from selling the fruit.

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Treetop sensors help Indonesia eavesdrop on forests to cut logging

Harry Jacques

February 11, 2021 |

Thomson Reuters Foundation |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Indonesia, Solok, West Sumatra

In Indonesia, there are 27 “Guardian” sensors eavesdropping on forests as a way to monitor them for cases of illegal logging. The organization Rainforest Connection uses artificial intelligence to analyze the audio from these sensors and if the system picks up the sound of a chainsaw, it sends a mobile alert to community patrols in the area. This technology can be scaled for other parts of the world and habitats. “We're basically building a nervous system for the natural world," says Topher White, founder of the nonprofit.

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