In today’s edition of Squirrel News, we’re talking about Germany’s first state financed imam training in the German language, how a collaboration of eight microstates created a system for sustainable fishing to improve resident livelihoods, and Austria’s agrivoltaic farm providing a home for lawn-mowing sheep.
State financed imam training starts for the first time in Germany
The classes are taught entirely in German, providing a European perspective to imams who long to discuss their religion in the language they have spoken all their lives.
Source:
Deutsche Welle
The mice that roared: how eight tiny countries took on foreign fishing fleets
Eight Pacific countries created a revolutionary system that brings in $500m a year and prevents the overfishing that blights other regions.
Source:
The Guardian
Lawn-mowing sheep find shelter in Austria’s largest solar farm
A former gravel dump has now become Austria’s largest PV-plant, recently becoming home to 90 sheep who find shelter under the heightened solar panels. They are to function as natural fertilisers, harbouring pollen and seeds in their wool.
Source:
Euronews
Stockholm’s biochar project to provide energy for local homes
The Swedish capital has built its very own pyrolysis plant to create biochar. The charcoal made from biowaste captures carbon, whilst harbouring rainwater and nutrients in the soil.
Source:
Euronews
Philadelphia’s families form Food Buying Club to afford high quality food
The Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha brings together low income families to bulk buy food directly from whole selling markets or distributers, at a third of the original price.
Source:
Next City
US Senate to ban shark fin sales
The Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act aims to entirely ban the buying and selling of products containing shark fins throughout the country yet still has to pass the House.
Source:
VegNews
Sustainable 10-storey apartment building assembled in a single day
Broad Sustainable Building uses a 5D system and standard shipping container handling equipment to erect the 95% pre-assembled apartments.
Source:
Treehugger
High-density electric vehicle battery could be recharged within 10 minutes
Dr. Rachid Yazimi, inventor of the graphite anode, has developed a battery controlling voltage rather than current, which could be recharged seven times faster than a common car battery.
Source:
The Register
First social media site introduces Arabic feminine language option
Female Arabic-language Twitter users will no longer have to converse in the generic masculine form, with other language options possibly to follow suit.
Source:
Thomson Reuters Foundation News
Doctor uses TikTok to challenge medical misinformation
35-year-old Austin Chiang has gathered millions of views by providing medical insights and disenchanting common myths – something that’s particularly important during the pandemic.
Source:
The Philadelphia Citizen
Indigenous activist for Peruvian national park receives “green Nobel Prize”
Liz Chicaje – who successfully spearheaded the movement to create the 868,000 hectare Yaguas National Park – has now been honoured with the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize.