A popular saying goes: “nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come,” and the four-day work week (without any salary cuts) seems to be exactly such an idea. More and more companies around the globe are introducing it. In the UK, the world’s largest trial so far has just ended with positive outcomes regarding health, productivity, revenues, job satisfaction and more. In this episode, Dale Whelehan, a behavioural scientist and the new CEO of the NGO 4 Day Week Global, tells us why he wasn’t surprised about the results and how the positive outcomes are interconnected.
#31: The ‘Solar Punks’: Bringing power to the people
What can citizens do to contribute to halt global warming? Dan Edelstyn and Hilary Powell set out their plan to turn their London street into a community solar power station. In this episode, Dan tells us why they use art and filmmaking to promote their project, how they crowdfunded the necessary money and how the couple is inspiring more and more neighbourhoods and public institutions to follow their model.
Historic ocean treaty, schools teaching happiness, free higher education for single moms
Today in Squirrel News, nations have reached a historic agreement to protect the oceans, German elementary schools teach happiness, and a programme in southern Arizona gives single moms access to free higher education.
23 stories about solutions and progress from February 2023
Today in our monthly recap: eight countries have eliminated tropical diseases, dozens of UK companies opted to continue with the four-day working week, and schools from London to Minnesota announced free meals.
#30: Zero-interest loans for Black homebuyers
Classical reparations may be a good idea, but financially such one-off payments are not very sustainable. That’s why a congregation from the Bay Area came up with another idea and introduced a zero-interest loan programme for Black homebuyers. In our new episode, Susan Russell from the Black Wealth Builders Fund explains to us how it works and how it could drive change in the future.
Free public transport in French cities, free school meals in London, sea cucumbers fixing the world
In this edition of Squirrel News, we visit French cities with free public transport, London will provide free meals to primary school children, and sea cucumbers emerge as heroes of the sea.