In today’s edition of Squirrel News, we’re talking about an organisation repurposing Appalachia’s unused coal mines as biodiversity hotspots, a basic income lottery initiative that’s improving the lives of its participants, and a scheme offering free rail transport to people fleeing domestic abuse.
A non-profit organisation is planting millions of trees in Appalachia’s old coal mines
Green Forests Work have so far planted over 3 million trees in disused sites, reviving local biodiversity while generating jobs for local tree planters, nursery workers and equipment operators.
Germany’s basic income lottery shows myriad benefits for participants
Mein Grundeinkommen’s crowdfunding campaign provides no-strings-attached cash for randomly selected individuals – with positive impacts on both physical and mental health as well as job hunts.
Rail to Refuge provides free train tickets for those fleeing domestic abuse
Over 1,300 people have benefited from this potentially lifesaving service, with over 62% stating that they would not have been able to leave without the support of this programme.
New AI system might be able to diagnose dementia after a single brain scan
The technology may also be able to predict whether the condition will remain stable or requires immediate treatment, and is much faster and more accurate than current diagnostic methods.
Silver Alert helps locate those with developmental disabilities if they go missing
In a similar fashion to Amber Alerts, Silver Alerts will reach people via phone notifications, highway signs and TV and radio broadcasts, and was previously only used for those with Alzheimer’s.
Sanctuaries in Meghalaya are boosting local communities while reviving fish populations
The community-led sustainable fishing plan has not only increased the number of Chocolate Mahseer in local waters, but has also drawn eco-tourists and their investment to the area.
New porous pavement can absorb water collected on roads
The paving material features tiny pores through which rain can safely pass, potentially offering a solution to flood-hit areas with limited grassy space.
The “no-plough” regenerative methods adopted in small vineyards have spread to olive groves and leading wine producers – boosting biodiversity and profits.
Chicago organisation used predictive analytics to identify and support at-risk youth
Readi Chicago highlights areas where individuals might be at risk of becoming involved in violent crime before intervening with community outreach initiative and job and education access schemes.
Indonesian villagers build robot to deliver food to self-isolating community members
The Delta robot was originally built for fun out of household items like pots, pans and an old television monitor – but is now playing crucial role in the fight against COVID-19.
/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/CEHTK7B2TRN2NHO532KIL7OEJQ.jpg)
