insert_link Business / Economics Chinese factory shreds weddings photos for fuel At a dusty warehouse in northern China, Liu Wei feeds photos of beaming bridal couples into an industrial shredder -- turning stories of heartbreak into a source of electricity. Wedding photos are big business in China, where parks, temples and historic sites often teem with newlyweds posing for elaborate shots capturing their supposedly unbreakable bond. But in a country where millions of divorces take place each year, many marital […] todayApril 11, 2024 9
insert_link Africa Colonial statues in Africa have been removed, returned and torn down again – why it’s such a complex history By Sophia Labadi, University of Kent In 2020, the murder of George Floyd in the US served as a catalyst for the global Black Lives Matter movement. It sparked widespread protests against police brutality and systemic racism. It also ignited debates about historical symbols of oppression, such as statues of figures associated with racial injustices. These debates presented colonial statues in Africa as having been contested and […] todayMarch 13, 2024 14
insert_link Environment Can bioplastics help shape a more sustainable future? Mike DiGirolamo holding a boomerang produced by the ARC Training Centre for Bioplastics and Biocompositses. Image by Nicolas Rakotopare for Mongabay. By Abhishyant Kidangoor, Mike DiGirolamo via Mongabay As the world struggles to contain plastic pollution, eco-friendly alternatives to plastics have garnered attention in recent years. One example: Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a naturally occurring bio-based polymer, have been touted as a potential solution. Biotechnology startups have enthusiastically embraced the functional and economic […] todayJanuary 31, 2024 13
insert_link Business / Economics Lessons from Finland’s attempt to transition to a circular economy Tracegrow, a Finnish company, uses recycled batteries and industrial waste to create agricultural fertilizers. A number of companies are innovating to increase circular solutions. At the national level, however, experts underline that great challenges remain to advance circularity. Image courtesy of Tracegrow. By Sean Mowbray via MongaBay In 2016, Finland became the first country in the world to adopt a national circular economy road map, with the ambition to become a […] todayJanuary 24, 2024 7
insert_link Health / Medical Dangerous chemicals found in recycled plastics, making them unsafe for use – experts explain the hazards By Bethanie Carney Almroth, University of Gothenburg and Eric Carmona Martinez, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ Plastic pollution is a menace worldwide. Plastics are now found in every environment on the planet, from the deepest seas to the atmosphere and human bodies. Scientific evidence describing harm to the environment and humans is growing. Hence, the United Nations has resolved to negotiate a legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution. […] todayJanuary 17, 2024 8
insert_link Environment Unmasking the environmental impact of tires By bhishyant Kidangoor and Sandy Watt via MongaBay Ever since tires were invented, they have rolled into our lives and changed the way we live. From cushioning wheels, one of humanity’s greatest inventions, to moving us around safely, tires have essentially reshaped how we function. The tremendous applications, however, come at an expense. Right from when raw materials are sourced to produce tires up until the time they end up in […] todayJanuary 15, 2024 10
insert_link Namibia Wapa Nawa has launches Namibia’s first building constructed from plastic bricks Wapa Nawa, a Recycling Center based in Rundu, has launched Namibia's first building constructed from plastic bricks. The building, which will serve as the center's office, represents a key initiative in addressing Namibia's housing challenges and advancing environmental sustainability. Ladislaus Shikerete the CEO Visit our website for the full story todayDecember 8, 2023 7
insert_link Business / Economics Wapa Nawa’s plastic brick innovation: a sustainable solution to Namibia’s housing crisis and environmental goals By Dilia Mazula In a groundbreaking development, Wapa Nawa, a recycling centre located in Rundu, has officially launched Namibia's first office constructed entirely from plastic bricks, an initiative aimed at simultaneously addressing housing needs and environmental sustainability challenges in the country. Ladislaus Shiketere, the CEO of the project, shared the centre's mission to provide an alternative to conventional building materials, saying, "bricks are becoming more expensive, the use of cement […] todayDecember 7, 2023 31
Paying it forward: Kenyan coastal doctor Bashrahil Mohammed Mafudh has made it his life’s work to care for the most vulnerable in his community, at no cost.
