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Unfinished business? Vancouver mayor departs with 'Greenest City' goal uncertain

Gregory Scruggs

October 19, 2018 |

Thomson Reuters Foundation |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia

In 2008, Vancouver’s mayoral candidate Gregor Robertson said he would transform the city to be the world’s greenest by 2020. One decade later, steps toward decreasing greenhouse gas emissions have been made, but the 2020 prospect seems much farther ahead. While the city has run into obstacles, the Canadian city is moving forward to achieve its next goal: for buildings to produce more energy than they use.

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Unequal Discipline

Jessica Pupovac Kari Lydersen

October 14, 2018 |

Chicago Reporter |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Illinois

In 2017, Illinois passed a bill to re-establish the Women’s Correctional Services Division in response to the disproportionate level of discipline handed out to female inmates and in an effort to create more trauma-informed practices. An initial audit showed declines in discipline and there is now mandatory training for correctional officers on working with female inmates. But the main reform champion retired after the law passed and the state wouldn’t provide updated data on discipline.

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Chicago hotel workers join #MeToo, demand protections against sexual assault

Allison Herrera

October 09, 2018 |

Public Radio International (PRI) |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Hotel workers and members of the union, Unite Here, successfully lobbied for a law that makes it mandatory for hotels in Chicago to provide a safety device, known as a panic button, to workers. The ordinance also includes a retaliation clause which forbids employers from firing women after reporting sexual abuse. ‘This is incredible.' Because like, we all had the same feeling like we've started something.”

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Evidence-based policymaking: is there room for science in politics?

Jennifer Guay

October 07, 2018 |

Apolitical |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom

In the UK, the What Works Centres are bringing scientific rigor into the realm of government by promoting evidence-based policymaking (EBPM). By evaluating policies through an unbiased, empirical approach like a randomized controlled trial, the What Works Centres, and now hundreds of U.S. cities, can implement only the most effective policies. However, critics point to the fact that success in certain trials does not guarantee success elsewhere.

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How Indonesia is using data to protect its oceans

Nithin Coca

September 27, 2018 |

Devex |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Indonesia, Jakarta

Indonesia's fisheries are responsible for a significant portion of the country's gross domestic product and job market. The industry is also one of the most threatened outlets due to a history of abuses including illegal fishing by foreign vessels. Although still a problem plaguing the county, the combination of policy, open data and technology has shown significant success in bringing the fishing economy back to life.

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The Last Straw: How the Travel Industry Is Phasing Out Plastic

Jessica Colley Clarke

September 25, 2018 |

AFAR |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States

The reduction of plastic at any scale plays a vital role in improving the environment, and the travel industry is the latest sector to join ranks of those aiming to reduce the substance. From banning straws to using refillable shampoo dispensers in place of mini bottles, hotels and airlines are taking a stand.

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A Grassroots Call to Ban Gerrymandering

Erick Trickey

September 23, 2018 |

The Atlantic |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Lansing, Michigan

In Michigan, a group of people decided they were done with gerrymandering: a political process in which district maps are redrawn to favor one party over another. They formed a group called “Voters Not Politicians,” and did what no one thought they would be able to do. “The crowdsourced campaign held 33 town-hall meetings in 33 days, wrote a ballot proposal to give redistricting powers to a citizens’ commission” and “collected 425,000 petition signatures in four months to secure a spot on Michigan’s ballot—a rare feat, usually accomplished only by hiring paid signature gatherers.”

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What does a more thoughtful disaster response look like?

Eillie Anzilotti

September 20, 2018 |

FastCompany |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, North Carolina

A new coalition of nonprofits is working to change the way corporations and philanthropists think about disaster assistance. Most efforts and money funnel to communities in the early days and weeks after a disaster, while very little goes toward long term recovery efforts. The coalition has created a framework to guide more effective assistance to minimize waste and get appropriate resources to communities when they need them.

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As with birth control, Colorado makes anti-smoking drugs available at pharmacies — no doctor visit required

Jennifer Brown

September 19, 2018 |

The Colorado Sun |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Colorado

With a new prescribing protocol in place, drug store pharmacists can prescribe anti-smoking medications. People often visit a pharmacy more than their doctor, and the new protocol allows greater access to necessary medications for those wishing to quit.

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How to brand a country: why our governments are hiring PR specialists

Jennifer Guay

September 18, 2018 |

Apolitical |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Russia, Tatarstan

Building a country’s “brand identity” has shifted from a tourist-attracting gimmick to an exercise in nation building. Consultants meet with citizens, identifying common values and attitudes that can be used to support policy objectives. For example, Tatarstan used brand messaging geared towards youth to reduce brain drain in the region.

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