Car-free suburb in Germany, replacing pesticides with insects, 24/7 mental health support app

| Posted on June 14, 2021 |

Photo: IBA Hamburg GmbH/ADEpt mit Karres en Brands

In today’s edition of Squirrel News, we’re talking about a suburb in Hamburg where pedestrians are prioritised, an insect nursery in Brittany supporting small farms in their move away from toxic pesticides, and a huge funding boost for an app designed to help Scottish men tackle the stigma surrounding mental health support.

A new neighbourhood in Hamburg will have everything except cars

The planned development of Oberbillwerder in the north of Germany will focus on using public spaces for pedestrians rather than vehicles.

Source: Goodnet

Insect nursery in France swaps pesticides for bees and bugs

With many farms looking to make the switch to more environmentally-friendly forms of pest control, this organisation in Brittany has come up with a natural and ethical alternative.

Source: Euronews

Groundbreaking dengue trial cuts cases by 77%

By manipulating the mosquitoes that spread the fever in the first place, recorded incidents of dengue have plummeted.

Source: BBC News

The Great Bubble Barrier is trapping plastic waste before it enters the ocean

The curtain of bubbles in Amsterdam’s Westerdok canal is stopping the problem of ocean plastic pollution at the source: the waterways leading to the sea.

Source: CNN

New Zealand unveils $8,600 subsidy for electric vehicles to reduce emissions

The move comes after the country’s climate commission recommended banning petrol and diesel cars by 2023.

Source: The Guardian

Chicago plans to support art initiatives in all city neighbourhoods

Mayor Lori Lightfoot hopes to embed the arts in the city’s culture scene with a bold plan to boost creative economies in all 77 districts.

Source: The Philadelphia Citizen

Community ambassadors are helping unvaccinated communities get jabbed

Toronto’s outreach workers are acknowledging challenges to vaccine access — such as transportation issues or language barriers — and coming up with realistic solutions to these issues.

Source: The Local

Multicultural food truck helps refugee and migrant women start a new life in Bologna

The truck has become a symbol of successful integration, empowering women through stable employment, housing and language support.

Source: Euronews

New mental health app offering 24/7 help to men in Scotland receives huge funding boost

With stigmas around therapy still causing harm to men experiencing mental health issues, a new app hopes to tackle prejudices — and support overwhelmed new fathers in particular.