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Can rationing carbon help fight climate change?

Frank Swain

February 17, 2020 |

BBC |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Australia, Norfolk Island

As countries wrestle with how to reduce their carbon emissions, grassroots carbon rationing experiments are taking shape around the word. On an Australian Island of 800 people, a quarter of them participated in a test that calculated their carbon footprints with a goal of reducing their fossil fuel use by 10 percent. The average household reduced their usage by 18 percent and almost two-thirds of participants wanted to continue. Other experiments in Finland and the United Kingdom have taken place, yet some question if carbon rationing is equitable.

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Gotta catch 'em all: Pokemon-style app aims to save Indonesia's forests

Michael Taylor

February 10, 2020 |

The Jakarta Post |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Indonesia

A Pokemon Go-style app encourages residents in Indonesia to help map land to fight deforestation. The technology offers visitors of umapped areas surveys that they complete, which fills in the data, and motivates users with gamified statuses from “volunteer” to “warrior.” Now over 600 students across the country have participated in this application, and several international environmental organizations have supported its use.

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Iowa Election Snafu: What Happens When IT And Cybersecurity Best Practices Are Ignored

Jody Westby

February 06, 2020 |

Forbes |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Iowa

The wireless application that malfunctioned during the Iowa caucuses highlighted lessons that election officials must apply in future caucuses. The app skipped or was deficient in most of the established best practices for developing software systems. Software should meet minimum privacy and security standards and it should be tested for functionality and security, with access to regular maintenance as needed. Officials should understand the importance of the best practices and standards when making IT decisions and regular testing to identify vulnerabilities, which are promptly addressed, should take place.

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This handy browser plug-in combats fake news with ratings of thousands of news websites

Larry Platt

December 27, 2019 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Allowing news consumers to more carefully vet media outlets can help stem the proliferation of fake news. NewsGuard, a web browser plug-in gives users a “nutrition label” for news websites by ranking them on a scale of trustworthiness. The service employs trained journalists and is working to make its plug-in available in libraries, as well.

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How a Stock Photography Project Is Confronting Fat Bias

Celeste Hamilton Dennis

December 17, 2019 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

AllGo, a Portland-based organization is an app that aims to combat fat bias in the media by creating a collection of stock photos of exclusively plus-sized models. The app is a completely free resource that aims to offer another perspective in stock photography, which tends to err cis-gendered, able-bodied, and thin. Their photos now have more than 76,000 downloads and over 24 million views, and the creators and models look forward to shooting many more scenes as "an act of resistance."

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Meet your Match: J Blood Artificial Intelligence connects blood donors to receivers in the FCT

Bashar Abubakar

December 13, 2019 |

Nigeria Health Watch |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Nigeria, Federal Capital Territory

In order to encourage more community members to donate blood, a non-governmental organization in Nigeria has created a system that connects "willing blood donors and recipients at no cost." Utilizing social media services, the program collects participants information and sends individuals a message when a donation matching their blood type is needed.

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Where Tech Is Helping People Become Better Neighbors

Nick Fouriezos

November 25, 2019 |

OZY |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Napa, California

From Google's India-focused app Neighbourly to the wellknown Nextdoor app, social media specifically targeted at connecting neighbors is gaining ground. Whether being used to rate neighborhood attractions, encourage borrowing or sharing of resources, report suspicious neighborhood activity or simply to find a way to make connections, these apps are aimed at decreasing social isolation and increasing community interactions.

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Pinterest says AI reduced reported self-harm content by 88%

Kyle Wiggers

October 10, 2019 |

VentureBeat |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

Using artificial intelligence, social media companies can quickly identify and reach out to those at risk for self-harm. Pinterest, a San Francisco-based social media company, is employing AI to support its user’s emotional well-being. Those who search for content related to self-harm receive links to support resources thanks to the help of collaborations with groups like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Vibrant Emotional Health. The effort has significantly reduced content related to self-harm on the platform.

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How Steep Is That Sidewalk? A Digital Map for People With Disabilities

Megan Wildhood

August 21, 2019 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

Crowdsourcing data allows developers to help those with limited mobility find accessible routes. The AccessMap Seattle project, in collaboration with the Taskar Center for Accessible Technology at the University of Washington and OpenStreetMap, has tested and is improving a map where users can find and edit information about the elevation of rotes, sidewalks, and crosswalks to serve those who are challenged with their mobility.

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Nonprofit's Free App Flags Suspicious Changes to Voter Rolls

Andrew Westrope

May 29, 2019 |

Government Technology |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Iowa

Non-profit organization Protect Democracy has created a free web application called VoteShield, which uses statistics, machine learning, and data visualization to track and flag any unusual changes in local public voter databases. Already in use in 14 states, the application allows secretaries of state and other election administrators to act on and correct these changes before voters get turned away at the polls.

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