Community ownership of Africa’s rainforest, 6,000 km U.S. bike trail, Champs-Élysées’ green transformation

Photo: Kudra Abdulaziz / pixabay (CC0)

In today’s edition of Squirrel News, we’re talking about how Africa’s largest rainforest is preserved through community ownership, the construction of a coast-to-coast bike trail in the US, and the transformation of Paris’ most famous street into an ‘extraordinary garden’.

Congo Basin’s community ownership plan preserves rainforest and alleviates poverty

In the world’s second largest rainforest, a bold forest management scheme involves communities to support livelihoods and protect the environment.

Source: BBC

A coast-to-coast bike trail is being built in the US

The Great American Rail-Trail will cross 12 states and cover approximately 6,000km, and is being built on former railway tracks.

Source: EcoWatch

Paris approves plan to turn Champs-Élysées into ‘extraordinary garden’

Mayor Anne Hidalgo gives green light to £225m-scheme to transform French capital’s most famous avenue.

Source: The Guardian

Dominican Republic challenges cultural norms by banning child marriage

In an attempt to shake up social norms, the Caribbean nation is hoping to empower its female population whilst alleviating poverty.

Source: Thomson Reuters Foundation

U.S. Congress lifts ban on federal student aid for imprisoned people

Passed in 1994, the ‘Pell grant’, among other bills, could support the rehabilitation of prisoners and reduce prison populations.

Source: GOOD

Jordan’s educational platform supports the disadvantaged during pandemic

The homegrown platform provides equal access to education by using White Space technology, with access to WiFi or mobile data not required.

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

Indian startup tackles air pollution through handcrafted building tiles

In the country with the world’s worst air quality, Carbon Craft Design extracts black carbon from the air to craft tiles made of at least 70% waste material.

Source: CNN

Creator of the world wide web wants to protect people’s personal online data

Concerned over the power of tech giants as gatekeepers, Tim Berners-Lee creates “Pods”, personal online data stores, so that individuals can control their own data.

Source: The New York Times

Quereinsteiger: the German concept challenging career changing norms

With most Germans staying in one job for 11 years on average, the concept of switching to a profession with no prior experience is starting to gain popularity.

Source: BBC

Cargo bike taxi service helps convey the vulnerable

After losing 95% of its business during the pandemic, this taxi company saved itself by offering transport services to vulnerable people, including cancer patients.

Source: BBC

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