Prison-based book clubs, trans women win seats in German parliament, school mental health sick days

| Posted on October 4, 2021 |

In today’s edition of Squirrel News, we’re looking at a non-profit organisation which operates book clubs and writing workshops in prisons across the US, a historic victory for the LGBT+ community in German politics, and a new bill in Illinois that will allow students to take up to five mental health days off school.

NGO offers constructive reentry to society for prisoners through book clubs

Founded in 2002, Free Minds engages incarcerated people in writing workshops at jails and juvenile detention centres, helping individuals through their reentry programme once they are released.

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

Two transgender women elected to German parliament

The results of last week’s election are being celebrated by the LGBT+ community, with many viewing the win as a symbol of an increasingly accepting society.

Source: Reuters

Schoolchildren in Illinois will be able to take 5 mental health days off school

Under a new bill, students who require a break from school for mental health reasons will not need to provide a doctor’s note, nor will they be asked to make up any work that was missed.

Source: NPR

New app takes aim at sexual harassment in the film industry

The co-founder of a soon-to-be-launched app, Call It!, Wilson is determined to ensure that workplace bullying, discrimination and harassment have no place in the UK film and TV industry.

Source: The Guardian

A new tool lets you report anti-Asian hate crimes anonymously

The goal of NAPCA’s online report form is to better gauge incidences of anti-Asian violence and harassment, with these data set to be key in influencing public policy and legislation.

Source: LA Times

Low-carbon trains are helping Europe’s railways compete against discount airlines

A growing number of short-haul rail routes and the reintroduction of sleeper cars might be a more sustainable option for post-pandemic travel.

Source: Reasons To Be Cheerful

PPE masks find new purpose as litter pickers made from hospital waste

All 332 schools in Cornwall are being given rubbish pickers created from repurposed hospital masks.

Source: BBC News

From Corrie to car ads, carbon literacy training pushes climate to the fore

The project has trained more than 21,000 staff and pupils across the UK, aiming for changes on whole-organisation level.

Source: The Guardian

Wales will make Black, Asian and ethnic minority history mandatory in schools

The changes will come into effect next year, and mean Wales will become the first UK nation to add this to the curriculum.

Source: Wales Online

An adoption agency for preloved toys is redirecting playthings from landfill

Loved Before is a social enterprise adoption agency for unwanted soft toys of any kind, with donations washed, restored and photographed before finding a new home.

Source: Positive News

Noninvasive lasers are helping the US wildlife service monitor bears’ health

Highlighted as part of the annual Fat Bear Week, the lidar technology aims to assess the weight and nutritional status of bears in a safer and less intrusive manner than existing methods.