We’re ending the week at Squirrel News talking about how Hawai’ian youth correctional facilities cut the number of incarcerated girls to zero, a shift towards acceptance of LGBT+ individuals across Western Europe and the United States, and the programme hoping to make the Egyptian capital’s streets safer for women.
Alongside a big decrease in the number of detained boys, the achievement is the result of a system-wide plan to redirect girls away from the carceral system and into trauma-based care programmes that focus on rehabilitation over punishment.
Homophobic attitudes have fallen in Western Europe and United States
Forty years ago, publicly shared views on homosexuality were extremely negative in many wealthy countries. According to new research, these numbers have plummeted: the view that homosexuality is “never or rarely justified” is held only by a shrinking minority.
The programme making Cairo’s streets safer for women
With sexual harassment and violence against women endemic on the streets of the Egyptian capital, the Safer Cities scheme is hoping to find a solution through urban redesign, women-friendly spaces and by raising awareness of harassment.
NYC to distribute free school meals across 5 boroughs all summer
No Kid Hungry New York will distribute breakfast and lunch free of charge at roughly 1,000 different locations, including parks, schools, swimming pools, libraries and food trucks.
Using satellite technology that can follow large ships even if they turn off their tracking systems, a new global study provides evidence to suggest that MPAs are succeeding at preventing poaching and damaging industrial fishing.
The “vacuum cleaner for the ocean” removing plastic waste from coastlines
Using autonomous AI-powered drones, CircularBlue intervenes when plastic washes up on coastlines by identifying, collecting, and properly disposing of waste.
How displaced Black families won reparations in Portland
Portland’s City Council has unanimously voted to increase the settlement for a group of Black homeowners and descendants of the Albina neighbourhood from $2 million to $8.5 million. The settlement compensates individuals displaced by urban renewal projects dating back to the 1960s.
The librarian bringing books to homeless people of Skid Row
Amanda Mellor isn’t just an adult librarian at LAPL: she also doubles as a Persons Experiencing Homelessness Outreach librarian. She specifically works within the Skid Row community, connecting them not just with books, but resources and programmes offered by the library.
Catalonia employs firefighting goats to mitigate the risk of wildfires
The pilot project set up in the city of Mataro is part of a broader European Union-funded effort to lower the risk and impact of wildfires across the region.
