In today’s edition of Squirrel News, we’re talking about a landmark move in Indonesian allowing children of all religions to wear whatever they like to school, Seattle’s bold decision to allow residents to decide how the city’s money is spent, and a citizen sleuth group taking Chicago’s stolen cars off the streets.
Indonesia has banned mandatory religious clothing in schools
The decision has been lauded by activists, who argued that the previous state of affairs resulted in students being forced to wear attire which did not adhere to their beliefs.
Seattle’s citizens will choose how to spend $30 million of its former police budget
In light of renewed conversation around police brutality, residents will use participatory budgeting to redirect the funds into programmes and initiatives that create “true public health and safety”.
French government found guilty of climate inaction in landmark ruling
The history victory for environmental activists comes after a group of NGOs filed a symbolic lawsuit accusing the current administration of failing to adhere to green climate commitments.
Denmark announces an artificial wind energy island
The clean energy hub in the North Sea is set to be the largest construction project in Danish history, and will supply green power for three million households.
A new plan redirects missed city utility payments to financial empowerment schemes
LIFT-UP was tested in five cities across the United States, with participants 53% less likely to experience a water shutoff in the 12 months after enrolling.
Amsterdam’s floating villages tackle sea level rises and city density issues
The visionary neighbourhood Schoonschip houses approximately 100 people, and stands as a model of sustainable cohabitation between humans and the natural world.
The Sumatran orangutan is being saved by local women
Since 2008, female residents of Sumatran villages have replanted over 2,400 hectares of rainforest, creating a safe habitat for the orangutans whilst providing useful non-extractive agroforestry crops.
Rural libraries are successfully campaigning to improve children’s reading levels
With the US facing nationwide declines in reading proficiency, tailored solutions to boost childhood literacy levels are coming from an unlikely source.
A grandmother and granddaughter are fighting to preserve the critically endangered 25,000-year-old N/uu language, compiling a talking dictionary and updating it for the 21st century.
Source: Global Citizen
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Skin cancer cases falling in Sweden, Mexico City’s ‘tree army’, village transformed from no-go area to delight
Alaska protects 28 million acres of public land, early warning for cardio risks, medical respite for the unhoused
Philadelphia’s affordable housing, world’s largest air-to-water heat pump, global solar power breaks records
