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Energiesprong wants every home to be net-zero

Willem Marx

April 20, 2021 |

Hothouse Solutions |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: France, Hem

Inspired by the Dutch concept of “Energiesprong,” or “energy jump,” a developer in France retrofitted a group of townhouses for social housing to be more environmentally friendly. They installed polyurethane facades to avoid heat loss and solar panels on the roof. Upgrading the units to be more green cost more than a conventional retrofit, but over time, energy bills were cut in half. These green retrofits are being implemented in towns around the world and could be a model for developers that want to reduce their carbon footprints.

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Laws We Can Actually Understand

Jemille Q. Duncan

April 20, 2021 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India

Law Rewired, run by law students and an advisory board of legal scholars, translates complex laws and landmark court decisions into plain language so people can understand them. Real-world examples, easy to read bullet-points, videos, and a glossary of legal terms make the legal explanations more widely accessible. Summaries also explain why a law was enacted, when it can be applied, and any amendments that were added to it. The materials are available for free online and via social media and the organization answers 10 to 25 questions from readers every month about a variety of legal issues.

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Could a Citizens' Assembly Help Fix Your Democracy?

Joe Nerssessian

April 19, 2021 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: France

France is among a growing number of countries piloting "citizens assemblies," in which a randomly-selected sample of citizens is tasked with reviewing and recommending potential responses to a pressing societal issue. The country's assembly on climate change resulted in more than 100 proposals for curbing greenhouse gas emissions, but because they were nonbinding, only about 40 percent of the recommendations were forwarded to parliament.

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The Southwest Offers Blueprints for the Future of Wastewater Reuse

Frederick Clayton

April 17, 2021 |

Truthout |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Diego, California

As the U.S. Southwest continues to navigate ongoing water crises, several places — including Las Vegas; Orange County, California;, and San Diego — are turning wastewater into drinking water. Their various systems are recycling and treating wastewater as a way to save money and create a reliable supply of drinking water for residents in arid climates. Outreach and education in these communities helped make these systems successful and could be a model for others looking to supplement their traditional water supplies.

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With phones and seeds, jobless Kenyans tackle illegal logging

Kagondu David Njagi

April 15, 2021 |

Thomson Reuters Foundation |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Kenya, Kwale

As a way to combat unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to prevent further deforestation in Kenya, local rangers are using smartphones, satellite feeds, and global mapping to monitor their forests. The project employs more than 250 people and allows them to target vulnerable areas more effectively. Because of their efforts, there have been lower incidences of illegal logging and forest fires from poachers.

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Vaccination navigation: United Way's 2-1-1 has helped thousands get appointments

Conor Morris

April 15, 2021 |

FreshWater Cleveland |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Cuyahoga County, Ohio

A phone line is helping Cuyahoga County residents schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments. By dialing 2-1-1 on a phone, residents will be connected to a trained navigator to help them register for a vaccination or answer other questions. Despite limited hours the vaccine registration is open, since it launched in late January 2021, the phone line has connected more than 52,000 calls to appointments.

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Syracuse Couldn't Fine Its Way to Clear Sidewalks, So It's Trying Something New

Cinnamon Janzer

April 14, 2021 |

Next City |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Syracuse, New York

The city of Syracuse is taking matters into its own hands, where it comes to snow removal. Relying on residents to remove snow from sidewalks wasn’t effective so the city is removing snow itself and levying a fee for property owners.

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Vanuatu looks to local food production for a resilient future

Nithin Coca Naomi Mihara

April 14, 2021 |

Devex |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Vanuatu

As the small island nation of Vanuatu emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of a tropical cyclone, entrepreneur Votausi Lucyann Mackenzie-Reur argues that they need to focus on local ingredients to be able to respond to future crises. Oxfam is also doing work in this region by using blockchain technology to improve food purchasing power for people affected by disasters. “Food security, climate change, and biodiversity can all be tackled by promoting and advocating the use of local traditional foods,” says Mackenzie-Reur.

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This Real Estate Co-Op is Looking for Investors Who Want to Put Community First

Oscar Perry Abello

April 13, 2021 |

Next City |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

The 2012 federal JOBS Act (Jumpstart Our Business Startups) took some time to gain traction, but in recent years it has democratized the financing of worker-owned co-ops and other community-based entities that ordinarily would be frozen out of capital markets. By making possible what is called a direct public offering, the law has made it easier to finance businesses that promise greater social benefits than just profit maximization, by opening investment opportunities to a more diverse and egalitarian mix of investors.

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Rivers of Milk, Islands of Prosperity

Lyudmila Maslova

April 13, 2021 |

Transitions Online |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Ukraine, Andriyivka

A dairy cooperative in Ukraine has brought jobs to farmers in the region and allowed them to work together to sell their milk on the market. An international nonprofit helped the Andriyivka Prosperity cooperative get off the ground. While villagers were skeptical of joining at first, and there are still challenges with operating the cooperative, there are 129 members that sell their milk. “The cooperative has halted the extinction of the village, allowing young people to stay in their homelands and have jobs and a livelihood,” says one of the villagers.

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