As we close out the week at Squirrel News, we’re sharing with you stories on Indonesia’s new nationwide plan to tackle malnutrition, Spanish airlines’ test of sustainable biofuel made from used cooking oil, and the National Trust’s goal to restore nature across an area larger than Greater London.
Indonesia launches nationwide free meal programme to fight malnutrition
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has launched a multibillion-dollar initiative providing free meals to children and pregnant women. On its first day, the initiative served 570,000 people, with plans to expand to 82.9 million citizens by 2029 – nearly a third of Indonesia’s population.
Spanish airlines test eco-friendly biofuel from used cooking oil
A growing number of airplanes in the country are now powered by bio-kerosine derived from used cooking oil. Scientists have shown that biofuel-powered aircraft have a smaller carbon footprint compared to those using traditional jet fuel.
National Trust to restore nature across area bigger than Greater London
The conservation charity has launched proposals to create 250,000 hectares (617,500 acres) of nature-rich landscape on its own land and off it in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This would be roughly 10 times the amount of landscape – such as peatlands, meadows, wetlands, woodlands and salt marsh – it has restored over the last decade.
UK’s first legal drug consumption room ready to open
The Thistle will be open 365 days a year from 9am to 9pm and allow some of the most vulnerable addicts in the city to take their own drugs in a clean and safe environment under the supervision of health professionals.
Belfast venues start phasing out single-use plastic cups
Leading community venues across Belfast – like the Waterfront Hall, Ulster Hall, and The MAC – will be using reusable cups over the coming months as part of a year-long pilot scheme. Additional venues are expected to join the next phase of this citywide reusable cup initiative.
Medical debt to be removed from credit reports in the US under new rules
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced new regulations that will stop medical debts from appearing on American credit reports – coming just days before President Joe Biden’s term concludes.
Six states expand library protections as book bans escalate
As book bans surge across the US – as do potential criminal penalties on librarians – several progressive states are charting a different course. New Jersey has become the latest of at least six states to launch new legislation aimed at protecting access to books with racial, sexual, and LGBTQ+ themes.
In Trinidad, more and more homes are being constructed with upcycled materials such as clay, grass, plastic and glass as residents opt for climate resilience over traditional concrete construction.
As urbanisation continues to damage the animals’ habitats, homeowners across the UK are building a hidden world of garden pathways to help hedgehogs navigate their increasingly fragmented spaces.
Northern Minnesota camp closes as HIV infections amongst babies plummet
In its early years, One Heartland was a place where many children faced the harsh reality of illness and loss. However, with the decline in mother-to-child HIV transmission, the camp’s mission has changed – and now many former campers have gone on to marry and have families of their own.
