In today’s editions of Squirrel News, Germany lifts ban on recreational cannabis, robotic falcons help prevent bird strikes, and Miami Beach fights hairstyle discrimination.
Germany to legalise Cannabis use and limited possession for adults
Germany aims to make the possession and use of Cannabis legal by 2024. Adults will be able to buy and grow the plant in limited quantities and possess no more than 30g for personal use.
Bird strikes, when an airplane collides with an avian, cause almost $1.4 billion a year through maintenance and delays. Now a flying robot, shaped like a falcon keeps runways clear.
Miami Beach bans employers, landlords and public officials from discriminating hairstyles
Individuals with textured and curly hair can no longer be denied jobs or housing opportunities due to their hair, the Miami Beach City Commission has voted.
Conservationists use audio recordings to protect and study the Amazon rainforest
Researchers in the Amazon rainforest record hours of audio to help study the natural sounds of the area. This audio can be used to track hard-to-see animals and help conservationists understand changes in wildlife populations.
Children who spend time near natural or man-made water sources do better in life
A study of child development over 18 countries found that access to a “blue space” aka a water source often leads to a greater sense of well-being in adulthood.
This free hotline is helping rural residents in Iowa during a mental health crisis
When 911 dispatchers receive calls about agitated or despondent people there often are only two answers: hospital or jail. A crisis response team is fixing this issue by providing people with mental disorders with a hotline, where they can get follow-up care.
Liberia develops programme to foster reconciliation between victims and perpetrators
The west African nation of Liberia is sponsoring a programme to allow victims and perpetrators of war crimes to reconcile and speak about their experiences. The goal is to rehabilitate ex-soldiers who commited “lesser in gravity” offences.
Delhi-based brothers run scavenger bird rehabilitation center
Scavenger birds are an important element of trash disposal in Delhi, yet most inhabitants see them as pests. Two brothers aim to educate the public and rescue the avians in a city-wide programme.