Africa declared free of wild polio, US schools revamp curricula, reef protection in Belize

Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash

In today’s issue of Squirrel News, we’re talking about the end of wild polio in Africa, the revamp of curricula in the US in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, and a historic agreement to protect Belize’s reefs and ocean wildlife.

Africa has been declared free of wild polio after a decades-long vaccination project

The official certification comes four years after the last recorded cases of wild polio in northern Nigeria.

Source: The Guardian

US schools are revamping their curricula in response to Black Lives Matter

Demand for teaching that concentrates more on black history and experiences has soared as a result of the campaign.

Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation News

A historic agreement in Belize will protect marine areas from damaging fishing gear

The banning of destructive gillnets means that Belize – home to 40% of the world’s largest reef – will hopefully see a substantial reduction in illegal fishing.

Source: Oceana

Clothing designers are saving unsold clothes from landfill by repurposing them

The increase in interest in sustainable and repurposed fashion could reduce the amount of leftover inventory and unsold stock that is burnt or slashed.

Source: Euronews Living

A company is using AI to track the emissions of the world’s biggest polluters

CarbonChain is using the technology to accurately monitor a handful of firms currently creating 50% of the world’s pollution.

Source: Interesting Engineering

An all-women team of scientists have developed the first compostable pregnancy test

Meet Lia ensures privacy, is fully biodegradable, and is a major innovation in women’s health.

Source: Fempositive

The UK’s first zoo without bars will be created in Worcestershire

Martin Blyth quit his job and sold his house in order to build the “walk-through safari”, with conservation being the park’s priority.

Source: Euronews Living

The Indian state of Assam will reward 22,000 of its top female students with free scooters

The move aims to encourage more girls to go to university, and will hopefully empower the girls and make them independent.

Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation News

Uganda will increase maternal healthcare budgets to support new mothers

Health rights activists are welcoming the move which aims to reduce preventable deaths of new mothers and their children.

Source: The Guardian

The world’s most endangered zebra receives a population boost

Four Grevy’s zebra foals have been born in a Floridian wildlife refuge.

Source: Treehugger

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