In today’s edition of Squirrel News, our editors have curated 25 standout stories highlighting the most remarkable solutions and progress from May 2024. From a groundbreaking legal victory for small island nations at an international ocean tribunal to a new device helping paraplegics regain partial control of their arms and hands, there’s a lot to think about in our latest issue.
In landmark decision, carbon emissions recognised as marine pollutants
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has ruled that greenhouse gas emissions are marine pollutants. This historic decision, driven by small island nations, reinforces the legal duty to address climate change and protect oceans.
Renewables surpass 30% of global electricity supply
Renewable energy accounted for more than 30% of global electricity in the past year, driven by significant growth in wind and solar power, according to a report by climate thinktank Ember.
Maternal mortality drops by 50% over the past 35 years
Although 300,000 women still lose their lives to pregnancy-related causes every year, the global community has made significant strides in reducing this number. According to recently published WHO data, maternal mortality has decreased by half since 1985, thanks to improvements in access to care.
Dutch city pilots radical debt cancellation scheme for poor families
The Dutch city of Arnhem is going to cancel the debts of some of the poorest families in the Netherlands in an attempt to break a health-crushing downward spiral and give people a fresh start. Earlier this month, municipal officials began knocking on doors in the Immerloo II district, one of the poorest neighbourhoods in the Netherlands, offering to pay off problem debts.
Vancouver Island opts to pay voluntary rent to First Nations communities
The initiative, facilitated by a network of reciprocity trusts, aims to foster mutual respect and support between settlers and Indigenous peoples. Recently, a small nonprofit in British Columbia distributed $5,500 cheques to ten First Nations on southern Vancouver Island, with the first annual instalment collected in late 2023.
New device offers hope for paraplegics to regain hand control
A new non-invasive device has enabled over 40 paraplegics to regain partial use of their arms and hands. Developed by a Swiss firm, the device uses electrical currents to stimulate the spinal cord.
UK toddler has hearing restored in world first gene therapy trial
Opal Sandy was born unable to hear anything due to auditory neuropathy, a condition that disrupts nerve impulses travelling from the inner ear to the brain and can be caused by a faulty gene. After receiving an infusion containing a working copy of the gene during surgery that took just 16 minutes, the 18-month-old can hear almost perfectly.
Transforming into a flotation device to rescue swimmers, the TY-3R drone is equipped with a camera and capable of high-speed operation in strong winds, enhancing rescue efforts with real-time video feeds.
Tackling childhood obesity: insights from Leeds and Amsterdam
Amsterdam’s Healthy Weight Programme has garnered international attention for its comprehensive approach to promoting children’s health, while trained council staff in Leeds are delivering courses helping parents to teach their kids healthy eating right from the start.
First medical school in Cherokee Nation graduates inaugural class of doctors
Oklahoma State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Cherokee Nation has graduated its first class, addressing the shortage of Indigenous doctors.
Free period products to be given to Canada’s indigenous communities
Access to period products is a significant challenge for 74% of Indigenous people in remote communities in Canada. A new federal initiative will provide free menstrual products to those in remote areas.
Introduced by the Spanish during colonial times, bullfighting had become a popular tradition in Colombia, drawing thousands of spectators to major bullrings in cities like Bogotá, Medellín, and Manizales. The ruling is a significant victory for animal rights activists, who have long condemned the practice.
California to introduce excise tax on guns to curb gun violence
Starting July 2024, California will implement an 11% excise tax on guns and ammunition, aiming to reduce gun violence by making firearms more expensive. This measure is expected to lower gun sales and generate additional revenue for gun violence prevention efforts.
Despite a 90% decline in crime over 3 decades, public perception skews reality
A recent survey reveals that 78% of individuals in England and Wales believe that crime rates have surged in recent years. However, empirical data on actual crime trends paints a very different picture, showcasing a strong decline instead.
In Finnish classrooms, teachers are helping young people to develop critical thinking skills by engaging students in crucial discussions on discerning credible sources of information, emphasising the lure of tabloids prioritising readership over accuracy, and guiding them to reputable platforms.
UK scientists develop zero-carbon ‘electric cement’
Cement production, a major source of global CO2 emissions, could see a significant reduction in its carbon footprint thanks to a breakthrough by Cambridge University researchers.
Tamil Nadu uses AI system to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks
To combat rising elephant fatalities on railway tracks, the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu implemented an AI-based surveillance system. This detects elephants near tracks, alerts officials to slow trains, and has already prevented 400 potential accidents.
Needs-based salaries are shaking up workplace practices
From innovative social justice policies to “Happy Money Stories,” a growing number of companies are rethinking how they pay employees. Socially just pay policies aim to recognise different needs and backgrounds, with these models ensuring each employee receives the same base salary, with additional “uplifts” for those with financial dependents or living in cities.
Prejudices about Jews are still widespread today. Yet many young people in Germany have never consciously met a Jew. The project ‘Meet a Jew’ aims to change this by bringing Jewish volunteers together with school classes and clubs. In our new podcast episode, project coordinator Masha explains what the encounters achieve and why many participants are amazed by them.
Sicilians reshape social norms to resist mafia influence
In Sicily, communities are promoting anti-extortion efforts and commemorating victims to counter the mafia’s power. These initiatives aim to empower people to reject mafia intimidation.
The Belgian town where families take in people with psychiatric conditions
The city of Geel has a foster care system for people dealing with mental health issues, in which foster families host boarders with mental psychiatric issues. The families want to normalise the lives of those with mental illness, treating them not as patients with a diagnosis, but as individuals deserving of dignity.
In Zambia – where an estimated 25 psychologists and psychiatrists are registered as of 2020 – women are stepping forward to facilitate grassroots group therapy sessions, fostering healing dynamics within families and communities.
The school run by kids: letting children lead the way in self-governance
What sets the Mechai Pattana School in Thailand apart is its unconventional methodology. From procurement of kitchen supplies to maintaining discipline among peers, and even participating in staff recruitment, the students bear the responsibility of running the school.
