Sri Lanka to be landmine-free by 2025, artificial terracotta coral reefs, shared English gardens

Photo: Sander Don/Unsplash

In today’s edition of Squirrel News, we’re talking about the announcement that Sri Lanka will be landmine-free by 2025 thanks to Australian support, 3D-printed terracotta tiles used to boost coral reefs, and a team of architects planning to redefine gardens in England in order to boost community integration.

Sri Lanka is set to be landmine-free by 2025

The announcement comes after substantial financial support provided courtesy of the Australian government.

Source: Posibl

A terracotta tile army is saving coral reefs in Hong Kong

Scientists are mimicking brain coral by using 3D-printed hexagons, allowing the reefs to heal in as close to their natural environment as possible.

Source: The Guardian

Architects in England are envisioning shared communal gardens in order to boost social integration

The designs call for an end to fenced-off private gardens, and plan to create a stronger sense of community.

Source: The Guardian

Berlin’s district assembly has voted to rename a street with a racially questionable past

The street in Berlin-Mitte has long been heralded as disrespectful to black communities, and will now be named after the famous African philosopher Anton Wilhelm Amo.

Source: The African Courier

Banksy has funded a refugee rescue boat in the Mediterranean

The vessel is able to sail in secrecy in order to avoid being intercepted by authorities.

Source: The Guardian

A US federal appeals court has ruled that anti-trans school bathroom policies are unconstitutional

Students will now be able to use the bathroom most closely aligned with their gender identity after a long legal battle.

Source: LGBTQ Nation

A women-led scheme is aiming to get more women of colour into the auto repair business

Patrice Banks’ innovative programme plans to dismantle the “white boys’ club” of car mechanics by providing better access and education to those of minority ethnicities.

Source: The Philadelphia Citizen

A team of trans women are creating art to help members of their community afford basic items

With many trans women in India unable to find work due to prejudices against them, Aravani Art are supporting those in their community who are most in need of help.

Source: The Better India

The town of Paradise is being rebuilt with wildfire-prevention measures in place

The Californian town was almost completely destroyed in 2018, but an ambitious new scheme aims to prevent that from ever happening again.

Source: Bloomberg

A woman in New Orleans is tackling the problem of food deserts in her community

Jeannette Bell’s gardens act as a classroom for those looking to grow their own food, as well as those hoping to become florists.

Source: Thomson Reuter Foundation News

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