‘Community ownership’ might be the best way to fight deforestation
When forests are managed by the people who live in them, conservation tends to follow. Words by Peter Yeung.
Could low-carbon trains cure Europe’s flying addiction?
A new generation of sleeper cars and short-haul routes are helping railways compete against discount airlines. Words by Peter Yeung.
These farmers show that agriculture in the Amazon doesn’t have to be destructive
A groundbreaking Brazilian community demonstrates how to farm sustainably in the forest—no cattle necessary. Words by Brian Barth and Flávia Milhorance.
On the Mesoamerican Reef, a model for insuring nature’s future
A 100-mile stretch of coral reef off Mexico’s Caribbean coast is now insured just like any other valuable asset. Is this the future of conservation? Words by Oliver Gordon.
World’s largest seagrass project proves “you can actually restore the oceans”
A “game changing” 20-year effort suggests that even severely depleted marine ecosystems can be brought back to life. Words by Laura Paddison.
Americans want more renewable energy. Can ‘community choice’ help them get it?
Frustrated by slow uptake of renewable power sources, some communities are taking their power needs into their own hands. Words by Alejandra Borunda.
A pioneering Welsh housing initiative for a life in ecological balance
In Wales, the average citizen uses almost three times their share of the world's resources. Aiming to address this imbalance, a groundbreaking scheme launched by the government in 2011 allows people to bypass tight planning laws to pivot to an ecologically sustainable lifestyle. Words by Oliver Gordon.
In New Zealand, police work and social work can go together
A Māori-led programme in South Auckland brings law enforcement together with tribal elders, nonprofits and social agencies to assist in family violence cases. Words by Serena Solomon.
Solar power stations in space could be the answer to our energy needs
Scientists are making huge strides in turning the concept into reality. The European Space Agency has realised the potential of these efforts and is now looking to fund space-based solar projects, predicting that the first industrial resource we will get from space is “beamed power”. Words by Amanda Jane Hughes and Stefania Soldini, lecturers in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Liverpool.
Reduce gun violence with jobs
Former US Education Secretary Arne Duncan’s anti-violence programme has helped reduce shootings in Chicago’s South Side by 33%—while citywide, violence has spiked. The key? Economic opportunity. Words by Roxanne Patel Shepelavy.
Colorado’s new family leave law could transform fatherhood
Iceland passed a similar law 20 years ago, and turned parents into more equal partners. Words by Andrew Wear.
Botswana’s radical experiment in national unity
By forcing workers to move far from home and live with unfamiliar people, the government is testing the limits of identity. Words by Bastian Berbner.
The country where diversity is enforced by law
In Singapore, the government dictates the ethnic makeup of apartment buildings. Is this what racial harmony looks like? Words by Keshia Naurana Badalge, images by Zachary Tang.
Short on money, cities around the world try making their own
Fans of “complementary currency” are betting that this Depression-era idea for keeping towns alive by printing local money can prove its worth as pandemic relief. Words by Peter Yeung.
How to save the sea: Lessons from an Italian fishing community
How one small stretch of coastline went from a hotbed of drug smuggling to a model of ecological restoration. Words by Agostino Petroni.
The growing movement to send counsellors — not cops — to mental health crises
Evidence suggests that a less aggressive approach can reduce police shootings, so US cities are experimenting with new models. Words by Jennifer Mascia.
London on lockdown
As the world shuts up shop in a bid to contain the coronavirus pandemic, Struggles From Below documents the desolate scenes of its third most visited tourist destination. Words and images by Oliver Gordon.
Closing the education gap
A Colombian education technology company has created a device that pools and distributes global teaching resources. It could be a game-changer for the developing world. Words and images by Oliver Gordon.
Collective Reincorporation: The FARC’s fading dream
Following a 52-year insurgency, Colombia’s ‘Reincorporation Spaces’ were designed to allow the FARC guerrillas to demobilise while maintaining political, social and commercial autonomy. If they work, the concept could birth a template for peace to satisfy dissident political movements the world over. But all is far from well in Marxist paradise. Words and images by Oliver Gordon.
Photo essay: Colombia’s flying doctors
Half the global population has no access to essential health services. Funded through corporate partnerships, the apolitical approach of Colombia’s Civil Air Patrol (PAC) may provide a template for other countries where healthcare access is blighted by difficult geography or regional conflict. Words and images by Oliver Gordon.