At the UN, a New Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Is Adopted by 122 Nations

With the creation of oral rehydration solution, diarrhea can be treated by inexpensive, homemade remedies. O.R.S. has undeniably helped Bangladesh make big strides in improving child health in recent decades thanks to thoughtful, systemic implementation, and it is now distributed by UNICEF in more than 60 countries.

Local fisheries have been struggling to keep up with major manufacturers. Sustainable fishing practices have been countering that by creating Niche markets.

On July 7, 122 United Nations member countries approved a new treaty prohibiting and eliminating nuclear weapons. The legally binding agreement emphasizes humanitarian concerns, including the disproportionate impact of weapons testing and deployment on indigenous people as well as on women, young children, and reproductive systems. All nine states holding nuclear weapons boycotted negotiations.

Nigeria contained its 2014 Ebola outbreak through rapid emergency response and compassionate care. In less than 10 weeks, health workers visited more than 147,000 people who may have had first or second degree contact with the index patient, tracking body temperatures and other health data while isolating themselves from their own families to prevent further exposure. Patients received psychosocial support, and a massive public awareness campaign encouraged public trust throughout the crisis.

For 70 years, India’s Sikhs have faced barriers to visiting one of the holiest sites in their religion, a template just three miles across the border in Pakistan. Now, the Pakistani government has announced plans to open a border crossing and building a connecting road. The high-profile gesture signals a desire for goodwill between Pakistan and India.

The Great Lakes contain 84 percent of the surface freshwater in North America—a staggering 21 percent of the surface freshwater worldwide. To manage the resource sustainably, all eight lake-bordering states, Congress, and Canadian provinces created the Great Lakes Compact in 2008, which has regulated and curbed water use. An evaluation of the agreement ten years later shows promising yet mixed results. And critically, it asks whether strong policies can withstand a future of growing water scarcity.

In countries like Cambodia, Angola, and Mozambique, rats are saving lives by detecting untriggered land mines. An international nonprofit, Apopo, provides funding a training and works with local organizations to operate at the local level. The rats are light enough that they don’t trigger the explosives and can cover up to 2,000 square feet in just 20 minutes – something that would take a human up to four days to complete.

A unique partnership between environmental groups and governments in the United States and Mexico has led to the resurrection of wetlands and forests in the long-dry Colorado River Delta. Since the waters were dammed and diverted in the 1900s, estuaries dried up and vegetation was lost. The two nations agreed to rewet the delta via a planned flood. Even though there isn’t enough water available to restore a flowing river, these restoration projects on parts of the delta have shown promise. Challenges, including limited funds and hotter, drier conditions due to climate change, remain for its longterm success.

A growing number of governments, companies, and nonprofit organizations are working together with new technology and data to identify fishing vessels that are breaking laws and engaging in human rights violations. Using satellite imagery and tracking signals, for example, a philanthropic company and a nonprofit worked with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime to help the Ghanian navy arrest four vessels for illegal fishing practices. Technology by itself won’t stop forced labor and unregulated ships, but it can be helpful for cash-strapped governments looking to increase oversight of their fisheries.

Activists in Ukraine have been hiking long distances to raise money for war efforts while sharing about their experiences on social media along the way to increase awareness and spread the word about the fundraisers. One hiker collected ₴260,000 for a drone after traveling roughly 783 kilometers, while another raised ₴720,000 to support soldiers and children who have lost limbs in the conflict.