We’re starting the week at Squirrel News talking about Detroit’s big drop in carjackings and homicides, a new tool that turns planting trees into a community-powered project, and solar power picking up speed across the globe.
Detroit set for fewest carjackings ever, lowest homicide rate since 1965
Last year, Detroit saw a 19.5% drop in the number of homicides in comparison to 2023, marking the lowest number of killings since 1966. Officials credit multiple factors with helping cut down on violence in the city, including bridge-building between communities and law enforcement as well as partnerships with external agencies.
Tree Tracker is a new tool that is part of a broader campaign by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to restore forests and fight climate change. The tracker hopes to encourage local communities to get their hands dirty and become more involved in tree-planting efforts.
Global solar power capacity speeds up by 36500% in 20 years
In 2004, it took approximately 365 days to add a gigawatt of solar power capacity to the global grid: now it takes just one day. For context, one gigawatt of solar is enough to power roughly 200,000 standard homes.
Uzbekistan’s poverty rate almost halves in two years
While there’s still room for improvement, almost 720,000 Uzbeks officially climbed above the poverty line last year. The Ministry of Employment announced a 2.1% decline in the country’s overall poverty rate, which is now registered at 8.9% in comparison to 2022’s 17%.
NYC is giving free e-bikes to delivery workers with dangerous vehicles
New York City has a problem with uncertified and often unsafe e-bikes, and the delivery workers often can’t afford to replace them with reliable alternatives. The solution? Let riders swap them – for free – with a safer, UL-compliant electric bike.
A small German town is a new test case for green geothermal tech
The 26,000 residents of Geretsried have long wanted to run their homes and commercial buildings with clean heat and electricity instead of fossil fuels. Now a new generation of geothermal companies is trying to make this a reality.
The paralegals helping women in India take back their land
Land ownership is one of the most crucial paths to independence for women, but only one-fifth of landowners globally are female. It’s often a complicated and confusing process, especially in patrilineal states. However, in India, paralegal clinics are helping women farmers access and understand their rights and get their land back.
Free bookstore hope to inspire love of reading in underserved children
A Maryland-based nonprofit, Our Kids Read, hopes to encourage reading proficiency amongst communities with limited access to literary hubs. It also aims to offer a diverse selection of reading material, thanks to the thousands of donated books.
Excommunicated nuns open guide dog training facility
The Catholic sisters have purchased a 7000 square metre plot of land with the intention to use it as a training facility for companion dogs for abused women and guide dogs for disabled or disadvantaged groups.
Singapore’s street art is helping people with dementia get around
More than 80% of Singapore’s residents over the age of 65 live in public housing blocks, but the uniform, whitewashed design of the ground floors can make it quite difficult for residents with dementia to navigate their surroundings. The Kebun Baru murals are part of a growing movement to make communities more accessible for people with this cognitive condition.
