Photo: Mahmoud Sulaiman/Unsplash (CC0)
We’re kicking off the week talking about the enormous grassroots community effort gathering money to reconstruct Syria, a new type of wood that’s stronger and more sustainable than steel, and a new approach to waste disposal that encourages residents to rethink their habits.
After more than a decade of conflict in Syria, the amount of money being donated for reconstruction through different crowdfunding campaigns comes close to $500 million. Since mid-summer, there have been at least 10 different crowdfunding campaigns launched in different towns and districts, with the largest amount raised being more than $200 million in Idlib province.
Source: Deutsche Welle
A new type of wood that claims to have up to 10 times the strength-to-weight ratio of steel, while also being up to six times lighter, is now commercially available on US markets. It is impervious to fungi and insects and, when compared to steel manufacturing, the carbon emissions are 90% lower.
Source: CNN
With coral reefs worldwide seeing a significant decline due to warming oceans, the Cuba project is giving coral colonies a reproductive boost that’s much more successful than nature alone.
Source: NBC News
Councillors voted on Thursday to approve a new parking plan for the city in which owners of larger vehicles will be charged more for parking permits. The plan states that vehicles that weigh more than 2,400kg fully laden will be subject to a surcharge “to encourage drivers to switch to smaller vehicles”.
Source: The Guardian
In light of the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement effort, a growing number of communities are adopting a modest but effective tool to fight back and draw attention to undercover officers: plastic whistles.
Source: Reuters
Oregon’s governor has embarked on a ‘people-centered’ strategy in mitigating the increased threat of wildfires and other natural disasters. More than 50 community organisations across five regions, with expertise in everything from food access to toxic waste, will collect and share feedback from the public.
Source: Oregon Capital Chronicle
In Sydney, Australia, some councils are swapping flat fees for a “pay-as-you-throw” system to get communities rethinking their waste habits. Whilst recycling is collected free of charge, microchipped bins for general waste are weighed, and households receive a monthly statement listing how much they threw out and what they owe.
Source: Reasons To Be Cheerful
In polluted or heavily urbanised areas, microforests can help to restore soil, water and air quality – and they’re growing in number across the globe.
Source: Today
Friðheimar’s geothermal greenhouses are delivering what chefs the world over have long coveted: red, juicy tomatoes, sustainably grown and available all year round.
Source: Reasons To Be Cheerful
Specially designed vocal courses have been proven to be clinically effective when treating mothers with the mental health condition. Thanks to new data, they might gain traction as a cost-effective solution for the NHS at a time when health services are under increasing pressure.
Source: BBC News
