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  • PFAS Shut Maine Farms Down. Now, Some Are Rebounding.

    October 02, 2023 |

    Civil Eats |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: The Mi'kmaq Nation, United States, Maine

    Since testing by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection found shockingly high levels of PFAS and PFOS — also known as forever chemicals — on land across the state, researchers and locals have been working on remediation. In one example, the Aroostook Band of the Mi’kmaq found that hemp grown on contaminated land extracts large amounts of the chemicals from the soil.

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  • Toxic Nuclear Waste is Piling up in the U.S. Where's the Deposit?

    June 06, 2023 |

    The Xylom |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Nevada

    The Yucca Mountain project, intended to safely hold radioactive spent nuclear fuel from around the country, was paused after resistance from Nevada locals and politicians.

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  • Gambia's first clinical waste treatment plant targets reducing public health risk

    April 21, 2023 |

    Social Voices |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Gambia

    A new waste treatment plant is helping to keep the country clean, protect the environment and prevent the spread of disease by segregating and incinerating waste gathered from places like healthcare facilities. Now, most all healthcare facilities in the area are required to practice and receive education on the importance of these new waste management measures.

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  • 'The wild, wild west'

    March 02, 2023 |

    Boulder Weekly |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Berthoud, Colorado

    The Colorado-based company Biochar Now heats waste wood for hours to produce biochar. The charcoal-like material sequesters the carbon from the organic material it’s made of. And the company’s product has been used to clean up salts, toxins, PFAS, and heavy metals from oil spills and Superfund sites.

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  • We tried Singapore's sewage beer. What can we learn from their water recycling story?

    August 16, 2022 |

    Context |

    Documentary |

    5-15 Minutes

    Response Location: Singapore

    Singapore uses wastewater recycling to generate what it calls NEWater to address the country’s water shortage. The government funded program involves processing waste water to filter out debris, bacteria, and viruses and using reverse osmosis to create water that is safe for drinking. NEWater currently meets 40% of the country’s water needs, mostly for industrial purposes, but a small portion is used for drinking, including a partnership with a local brewery that created NEWBrew, a beer made from recycled drinking water.

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  • How Delta community developed other professions to survive oil spill

    August 10, 2022 |

    The Nation (Nigeria) |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Nigeria, Delta

    As a result of incessant oil spills, a rural community that once relied on fishing for food and its main source of income has begun to diversify its skills and occupations by pursuing more lucrative jobs like tapping rubber trees and growing cassava. Pivoting their occupations has helped to keep families out of poverty, children in school and keep the village’s economy afloat.

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  • Kansas, Nebraska researchers use plants to limit exposure to toxic lead in soil

    August 09, 2022 |

    Nebraska Public Media |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Nebraska

    Using biochar to plant crops on soil contaminated with lead reduces the amount of lead the crops soak up.

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  • Nature's air sensors are growing on your street

    December 08, 2021 |

    Grist |

    Video |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

    Moss get their nutrients from the air, providing a snapshot of the air quality around them. A team of scientists in Portland seized upon this. In 2013 they sampled moss from over 300 trees in the city. It was cheaper than installing air quality monitors. They found a cluster of pollution in one neighborhood near a glass factory. In Seattle, the practice was replicated, but it was done by youth from the community. The sampling confirming high levels of bad air quality in one neighborhood. In both cities, the samples led to higher air quality standards and stricter enforcement.

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  • Why you don't hear about the ozone layer anymore

    November 24, 2021 |

    Vox |

    Video |

    5-15 Minutes

    Response Location: United States

    In 1987 ozone levels above Antartica had dropped by fifty percent. Scientists convened to discover the cause and found it was being depleted due to a chemical called chloroflourinecarbons commonly found in aerosol cans. In order to tackle the problem, scientists and leaders created public conferences to inform the public. The conferences created public pressure on world leaders to act and eventually led to the "Montreal Protocol," which called for the phasing out of CFC's. By 1989 consumption of CFC's plummeted. The ozone started healing and by 2065 is expected to completely recover.

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  • Nigeria is struggling to end open defecation, but a grassroots campaign is trying to change that

    September 24, 2021 |

    Pulse Nigeria |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Nigeria

    Open Defecation Free Nigeria works to stop people from disposing of human waste in public areas by building public toilets. The organization has built 66 so far and manages a group of volunteers who educate residents about the dangers of public defecation. Encouraging behavioral change is key to ending the practice of open defecation. Fundraising and the sale of private household toilets funds the public toilets, which are tailored to the needs of a community. Most contain a biodigester system that turns waste to liquid or compost manure, which can last for decades and is easy for communities to maintain.

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