4 Instances where Christmas songs spread joy

Christmas songs spread joyBeyond the joyous decorations and melodies, Christmas holds a special place as the season of giving. During the festive weeks of Christmas, a genuine sense of selflessness, generosity and kindness is evoked in the hearts of humanity. These four Christmas songs spread joy by supporting several charitable organizations with the funds raised through their success.

Last Christmas

Although the song took a while to reach Christmas Number One, it has consistently been generous over the years. The band is renowned for donating all royalties from their songs “Last Christmas” and “Everything She Wants” to the Ethiopian famine relief. This philanthropic effort remained a secret until the untimely passing of George Michael. Every Easter, George Michale, without fail, would call Capital Radio to make generous donations of £100,000 to “Help a London Child,” a charity dedicated to supporting underprivileged children in the British capital. Royalties from other titles he featured in were given to other charities such as the Terrence Higgins Trust, AIDs Hospice London Lighthouse, Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity and Childline.

Christmas Without You

Twenty-five Youtubers from across the globe came together and flew to Amsterdam, Netherlands, to record the holiday single. The song was written by Grammy Award-winning songwriter “Jackie Boyz” and curated by “Hello Management.” The single’s goal was to reach Christmas Number One with an intent to donate a significant portion of the proceeds to the “Make-A-Wish Foundation,” a nonprofit organization dedicated to granting wishes to children fighting life-threatening conditions.

Happy Xmas

The inherent charm of participating in a Secret Santa exchange lies in the fact that you do not know the identity of the gift-giver. However, in this unique twist, there is a delightful certainty that Santa is among the group. In a generous move, Yoko Ono and Sean Ono Lennon discreetly donated 50 rare records of the critically acclaimed “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” to various charities and record shops. They told the recipients to raise funds by selling or auctioning these exclusive 12-inch vinyls. Each edition featured a unique sticker with an individual number out of 50 and a machine-printed signature from Yoko, making them valuable collectibles.

Holy

The Lewisham And Greenwich National Health Service (NHS) Choir, which consists of nurses, physiotherapists, administrators and doctors, gained national attention when it made its debut on Gareth Malone’s inaugural program, “Sing While You Can,” in 2012. The competition was fierce and the choir was defeated during the finals. The following year, they released a Christmas single, “Bridge Over You,” which smashed Justine Bieber’s “Love Yourself” to the Christmas Number One position after he urged his followers to back the NHS song. In 2020, Justine Bieber collaborated with the NHS choir to produce a new Christmas recording of his hit song “Holy,” with the proceeds going to the NHS workers battling at the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic.

– Siddharth Thampi
Photo: Pexels

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China and United States Support Venezuela’s Poverty Reduction Program

Venezuela's Poverty Reduction ProgramSupported by China’s International Poverty Reduction Center, President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela announced Venezuela’s new poverty reduction program to combat inequality and tackle extreme poverty. The partnership came after President Nicolás Maduro’s trip to China earlier this year, in September, where the Venezuelan president met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing to develop economic ties. 

The result of the meeting led to the agreement of the “all-weather strategic partnership” between the two nations. These include the 31 new bilateral cooperation agreements focusing on developing the Venezuelan economy in various sectors such as oil, tourism and the renewed investment for the country’s national electric grid that has remained stagnant due to a lack of financial support. Moreover, the agreement will increase Venezuelan exports to China, such as avocados and coffee, to strengthen the nation’s economy. The launch of the new “Social Equality and Happiness Mission” will be closely supported by China’s International Poverty Reduction Center, with President Maduro emphasizing that Venezuela’s poverty reduction program will adapt to Venezuela’s culture and needs. 

Poverty and the Economic Crisis in Venezuela

The decision came in response to the country’s increasing economic decline and subsequent severe rise in poverty. In 2010, 32.5% of Venezuela’s population lived in poverty, whereas 8.8% lived in extreme poverty. However, as the decade progressed, the number of Venezuelans suffering from poverty climbed to 92.3%, and those suffering from extreme poverty made up 63.7% of the country’s population following trade sanctions against Venezuelan state oil companies from the United States.

The sanctions proved detrimental to the Venezuelan economy as it remained dependent on prominent oil exports. This contributed to the nation’s hyperinflation and increased national debt to 159.47% of Venezuela’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As of 2021, while 90.82% of the nation’s population suffer from poverty, extreme poverty impacts 67.97% of Venezuelans, which means that food shortages impact six out of 10 households across the nation and a drastic increase in the number of Venezuelan refugees fleeing to neighboring Latin American countries such as Colombia. In 2023, the minimum wage in Venezuela is at 130 bolívares, equivalent to $5. This drastic cut in wages and social benefits led to widespread strikes from workers in public sectors, particularly the education sector.

Financial Support to Venezuela

Therefore, the worsening crisis in Venezuela has led to increased foreign aid. In addition to China, the United States has offered substantial financial support for the South American nation. As of March 17, 2023, the United States has announced an additional $171 million to their existing support since 2017 in an attempt to address the humanitarian crisis.

Among the new budget announced, $83.4 million will provide emergency food assistance. Furthermore, $31 million will ensure the country’s development through bridging vital relationships with neighboring states such as Colombia and Ecuador. Moreover, $56.1 million will be dedicated to building integration programs, focusing primarily on marginalized groups such as women and children.

As of 2023, the United States has supported Venezuela in poverty reduction efforts, such as Venezuela’s poverty reduction program, through a total of $2.8 billion investment into essential needs such as access to food, water, health care and rebuilding the country’s economy.

– Remigius Kim
Photo: Pixabay

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Opening Hearts, Opening Homes: Airbnb Assists Refugees in Need

Refugees in NeedThe U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported 110 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide midway through 2023. This displacement developed as a result of conflict and violence in their native country, persecution and breaches of their human rights. The UNHCR reported of this 110 million, 36.4 million people are refugees.

Although the arrival of a refugee in a host country offers immediate relief from dangerous, life-threatening circumstances, the challenges they face do not immediately cease and instead will continue. This continued challenge could be linguistic barriers, difficulty securing work, troubles accessing services, including education for children, cultural barriers and finding a new home. 

The world-famous online platform that provides rental accommodation and experiences, Airbnb, is using its databases and tools to help home Refugees, creating a platform to ensure Airbnb assists refugees in need.

When Did Airbnb Start Helping Support Refugees

During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, an Airbnb host named Shell opened her home for free for evacuees escaping the natural disaster. Upon hearing this, Airbnb called upon other hosts in the area, leading to the opening of more than 1,000 host homes. This response inspired Airbnb to create a program to ensure Airbnb assists Refugees in need by providing emergency accommodation. Today, this program is known as the nonprofit organization Airbnb.org, which originated in 2020.

The Funding Behind Airbnb.org

Airbnb.org is independent of Airbnb and, therefore, has separate management and goals and, of course, is nonprofitable. However, Airbnb covers the organization’s operating costs. Airbnb states its funding means “community donations go even further to support people in times of crisis.” Airbnb also provides hosts with AirCover, insurance and damage protection in case problems arise during guest stays. Furthermore, Airbnb provides grants and waives guest fees to cover the costs of the emergency stay, as well as providing crucial technology, which all contribute to funding Airbnb.org.

How Airbnb Assists Refugees in Need

Those eligible for Airbnb.org emergency housing are those displaced due to natural disasters, refugees, people seeking asylum, or, for example, a Special Immigrant Visa and relief workers. Airbnb hosts can open their homes either for free or at a discount with Airbnb.org. Alternatively, hosts can sign up exclusively to accommodate refugee guests. Airbnb.org acts as the connection between refugees and emergency temporary housing, providing daily necessities and a bed for as many nights as possible. Emergency stays can be around a month or more and typically begin within one to two days after the first point of contact due to the situation’s urgency.

The Partnerships That Ensure Airbnb Assists Refugees in Need

Airbnb.org works alongside non-governmental organizations, humanitarian groups and governments. These groups include the International Rescue Committee (IRC); HIAS, a global Jewish organization assisting refugees; Build Change, a disaster recovery company; and the Community sponsorship hub. By partnering with refugee resettlement groups, potentially eligible refugee guests are located and supported to ensure they can access Airbnb.org’s help.

The Success of Airbnb.org

Since 2020, more than 91,000 hosts from 189 countries have opened their homes for refugees with Airbnb.org. As of July 2023, Airbnb.org has reported connecting close to 300,000 people with emergency housing. The 2023 UNHCR mandate said more than 50% of refugees came from only three countries: the Syrian Arab Republic, Afghanistan and Ukraine. At the beginning of 2022, Airbnb.org reported it housed 100,000 Ukrainians and 20,000 Afghan refugees. 

Helping to house such a substantial number of people during times of crisis is a remarkable achievement. Airbnb, using its platform to provide aid and support to refugees who often have left their homeland with very little, makes a difference to a person’s resettlement journey. As Airbnb assists refugees in need, it demonstrates how other companies can use their stage to help others. Encouraging hosts to open their hearts and homes to help others demonstrates how one individual can make a tangible difference in another person’s life. Support in this way must continue as the number of refugees rises; thus, the need for housing grows.

– Heidi Helen Horgan
Photo: Flickr

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Top 5 Zoonotic Diseases in Kenya

Zoonotic Diseases in KenyaThe animal health sector in developing African countries is still under-resourced in awareness, detection and diagnosis, and control and interruption of transmission. To illustrate, more than 75% of illnesses in the past 30 years have stemmed from zoonosis — an infectious disease first contracted in vertebrate animals, which then spreads to human hosts — causing millions of deaths annually. Pathogens can develop when animals inhale or ingest bacteria in contaminated soil, water, or plants. One of the reasons for such a high rate of zoonotic cases is that the African population is the fastest growing in the world, therefore increasing the demand for animal-based foods.

Low-resourced and rural environments are most affected by these zoonotic pathogens, as livestock play a pivotal role in everyday life, making up more than 5.5% of the National Gross Domestic Product. For example, individuals interact with their animals via shared housing and practices such as milking, herding, deworming and aiding with the birthing process. Furthermore, several cultural norms bolster the consumption of unprocessed products from livestock — such as uninspected meat and unpasteurized milk. Here are the top five zoonotic diseases in Kenya.

The Top 5 Zoonotic Diseases in Kenya

  1. Anthrax: Although this disease is not contagious, the Bacillus Anthracis bacteria can cause serious illness in animals and humans. People working with livestock products like wool or hair or those eating raw meat from infected animals are at an increased risk of contracting anthrax. Symptoms include blisters, swelling, sore throat, bloody vomiting and fever.
  2. Trypanosomiasis: Also, known as the “sleeping sickness,” the trypanosoma Brucei parasites causes trypanosomiasis. Tsetse flies bite animals and humans in rural areas — specifically in Kenya’s woodlands and thickets. Wild animals like gazelles, jackals and camels are implicated in the spread of the disease, specifically contaminating hunters and visitors of game parks. Infected people can contract extreme fatigue, aching muscles, severe headaches, skin rashes and even personality changes.
  3. Rabies: Rabies is a viral disease transmitted through direct contact, such as bites and open wounds, with nervous system tissue or saliva from rabid animals like bats, skunks, foxes and raccoons. The first symptoms are similar to those of the flu. Then, they progress to cerebral dysfunction and anxiety. Unless a person seeks medical care after exposure to rabies, the virus can trigger disease in the brain, ultimately leading to death.
  4. Brucellosis: Animals most commonly infected by the Brucella bacteria include sheep, cattle, pigs, dogs and goats. Drinking or eating unpasteurized dairy products or raw meat is humans’ primary source of contamination. Although person-to-person infection is rare, infected mothers who are breastfeeding may spread brucellosis to their infants. Signs of brucellosis can include sweating, arthritis, neurologic symptoms, anorexia and swelling of the liver.
  5. Rift Valley Fever (RVF): RVF is a viral disease typically found in buffalo, cattle, sheep and camels. It is spread to humans through contact with infected animals’ body fluids, blood, and tissues or through mosquito bites. Usually, people infected with RVF show no symptoms — or a mild illness that comprises fever, muscle weakness and dizziness. In rarer cases, they can develop ocular disease, encephalitis or hemorrhagic fever.

Solutions to the Zoonotic Diseases in Kenya

One Health is a program that the American Veterinary Medical Association defines as “the integrative effort of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally to attain optimism for people, animals, and the environment.” In Kenya, understanding, preventing and controlling re-emerging and endemic zoonotic diseases is crucial to adopt and implement the One Health approach.

Since 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Kenya has successfully allied with government institutions to create a coordination framework between the public and animal health sectors at national and county levels. Adopting the One Health approach has enabled earlier detection and control of zoonotic disease outbreaks, and ultimately, it has enhanced national health security and the economy.

– Abigail Roch
Photo: Unsplash

Renewable Energy in Fiji

Renewable Energy in Fiji
Some people in Fiji lack access to electricity due to where they live, but Fiji is making an effort to increase energy access through renewable energy. Here is some information about renewable energy in Fiji and what the country is doing to develop it.

About Energy

Energy is life, as well as the ability to do work. Energy is an important component of essential everyday functions and people measure and store it in various ways through the process of energy conversion, which changes energy from one form to another. For example, a windmill would transform the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical energy, or an electricity production site burning fossil fuels to generate electrical power which is heavily used today. 

Energy varies and can come from different sources. Renewable energy comes from sources that are constant and can be naturally renewed. Energy sources include solar, wind, water, geothermal, bioenergy, nuclear and hydrogen/fuel. Currently, the country Fiji consumes energy from a variety of sources, the most commonly used are hydrogen, fossil fuels and renewable energy.

The Good News About Renewable Energy for Fiji

Recently, Fiji’s Renewable Energy Investment Plan received a $30.51 million endorsement in climate investment funds. This plan will provide clean and affordable energy solutions to 100% of the island by 2036. This plan will also help upgrade their existing transmission lines and power stations and create new solar plants on Viti Levu.

Much of the Fijian population has access to forms of energy, but there are areas where the electricity supply is not available. There are issues of affordability and inequalities within the Fijian communities that prevent people from utilizing these benefits. The new renewable energy plan will also help create technical assistance and departments for the energy grids and systems and establish electricity access to rural and isolated communities.

Before the most recent changes, Fiji widely used fossil fuels to create electricity. Fossil fuels have the categorization of being non-renewable energy sources and there are multiple reasons why renewable energy sources are better for the future. These benefits range from eco-friendliness and lower electricity costs. Fiji’s 20-year National Development Plan projects that renewable sources will provide energy to all power sources by 2036. Fiji’s two major islands Viti Levu and Vanua Levu have already begun using renewable energy.

Looking Ahead

All things considered, renewable energy in Fiji is an exciting breakthrough in modern climate enhancement. Fiji’s future of renewable energy compliments the island’s natural resources, as the region is primed for hydropower. The investments and endorsements will allow a safe, affordable and reliable production of renewable energy in all of Fiji.

– Tatyana Jiles
Photo: Flickr

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Community-Based Mental Health Care in Developing Countries

Community-Based Mental Health CareMental health care is a fundamental human right that significantly impacts our ability to work, connect with others and lead fulfilling lives. Despite its importance, mental health care in developing countries often remains a marginalized aspect of the global health agenda. Nearly 1 billion people globally endure a mental disorder. This global statistic, however, reveals an unequal distribution of mental health care. Seven out of every 10 individuals with psychosis receive treatment in high-income countries, while only 12% receive care in low-income countries.

While one might attribute this disparity to the shortage of mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists, according to a 2017 OECD report, low-income countries (with only two per 100,000 people), compared to the United States, where there are 45,000 psychiatrists for 340 million people, addressing this issue necessitates looking beyond the numbers. The solution may not solely lie in increasing the number of psychiatrists but in transitioning from Westernized institutional mental health treatments to robust community-based systems that offer culturally relevant care in regions where mental health remains stigmatized.

The Global Mental Health Crises

Low-income countries bear a disproportionate burden of the global mental health crises, accounting for 80% of the mental disease burden. However, the prevalence of stigma within low-and middle-income countries often acts as a significant barrier to seeking help. While the reasons for stigmatization may vary across communities, the universal presence of stigma remains evident. The World Mental Health Survey Initiative conducted in 16 countries spanning the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the South Pacific reported 22.1% of participants from developing countries experienced shame and embarrassment due to a mental illness. Moreover, 63% of Africans viewed depression as a “personal weakness.” These statistics underscore the importance of addressing mental health through a culturally specific lens. 

What is Community-Based Care? 

Community-based mental health care represents a holistic approach to providing services and support rooted in the communities where individuals live. This approach recognizes developing countries’ unique challenges and needs, including limited resources, infrastructure, trained mental health professionals and cultural differences. Mental health care in developing countries has challenges as it is often perceived as a sign of weakness, danger, or having supernatural origins. Westernized approaches to mental health can unintentionally be harmful. 

To bridge this gap, presenting mental health care services in a culturally sensitive way is crucial. Community-based mental health care is a system that delivers mental health services through community health care workers (CHWs), individuals within the community with limited training but specific expertise in particular treatment areas. The World Health Organization (WHO) has played a prominent role in advocating for developing community-led mental health services globally.

The Role of Community-Based Care in Low-Income Countries 

CHWs play an essential role within the framework of community-based care. These individuals, typically members of the community they serve, are familiar with the local cultural stigmas and norms – bridging the gap between institutional health care and underserved populations. CHWs provide essential services to patients with less severe mental health needs, such as basic therapy and house-to-house medication distribution. At the same time, medically trained professionals can focus on patients with more acute symptoms. 

Examples of Community-Based Mental Health Care: StrongMinds Success Stories

Founded in 2013, StrongMinds is a social enterprise dedicated to treating depression among low-income women and children through group interpersonal therapy facilitated by CHWs. StrongMinds originated in Kampala, Uganda, and currently operates in four districts of Uganda. The organization is one of the few organizations addressing depression in Africa – a leading cause of disability among women in Africa. StrongMinds leverage unity over individualism. Over eight weeks, women come together to share their experiences of mental health issues, ultimately empowering each other and building a supportive community.

Through peer-to-peer therapy, public education, CHWs and global partnerships, Strongminds has provided group talk therapy to 260,000 women and children in Uganda and Zambia. About 80% of clients remain depression-free six months post-treatment. Recovery from depression not only benefits individual women but has a ripple effect on their communities and families. Women who received treatment reported a 16% increase in economic activity and a 30% increase in regularly sending their children to school.

Call to Action

Organizations such as StrongMinds show the potential of community-based programs in creating locally-led initiatives equipped to address their community’s unique mental health needs. Mental health is subjective, and there is no silver bullet to address these complex issues. The essential starting points are initiating community dialogue, nurturing relationships and providing support and resources. Community-based care can effectively facilitate mental health care in developing countries.

– Bella Oliver-Steinberg
Photo: Flickr

The Ancient Disease Meets AI: New Tools for Leprosy Diagnosis

Leprosy DiagnosisLeprosy has a 4,000-year history. A skeleton from 2,000 BC was discovered with signs of leprosy in India, where today, more than 100,000 of the 200,000 new cases each year are recorded. The disease has followed humanity since near the beginning of recorded history. It is fitting, then, that what represents our future in technology may offer the means to end our oldest affliction. AI identification tools can identify signs of leprosy quickly and easily, a previously missing step in eradicating it. 

Over the 20th century, people eradicated leprosy by 99%. It is easily treatable today with inexpensive drugs and has a low transmission rate, taking months of close contact to spread. Even so, the disease has survived. In history, cases of leprosy have likewise waxed and waned, though they have never completely disappeared. Its survival today reflects how it survived in the past with a mixture of disinterest and stigma. 

About Leprosy and Poverty

“Leper” is often a general derogatory term for an outcast. Although many associate this term with Medieval times, misunderstanding and discrimination still follow leprosy. Until 2019, leprosy was legitimate grounds for divorce in India. From the early 1900s, Japanese people suffering from leprosy were forced to live in sanitariums, with many still there to this day. These laws reflect those made in the past, driven by a false fear of infectiousness and prejudice toward its physical effects. The disease has been hard to eradicate as people are ashamed or afraid to admit they might have it, with good reason. The progress in fighting the disease has, too, had the unintended side effect of creating in leprosy-free societies a lack of interest in the disease or, at times, awareness it still exists at all. 

Leprosy worsens poverty, and poverty worsens leprosy. Although the disease is easily treatable, poorer and isolated communities lack the expertise to identify it and access to medicine to treat it. Even in cases where the disease has been cured, physical disabilities due to leprosy remain, and then so does stigma. People suffering from leprosy have a more challenging time finding employment. In a study made in southern Ghana, 25 of 26 patients with leprosy were unemployed. One of them said, “Some public transport drivers refuse to pick us up when they discover our deformity. If we go out to shop, some people snub us.” Patients internalize this stigma, and some do not think it is worth trying to find work. This reflects deterioration in mental health. 

Leprosy in Nepal

In a study taken in southern Nepal, thoughts of suicide and self-harm were 30% higher in those suffering from leprosy. A 2018 study in rural Indonesia concluded that lower income and food insecurity increased the disease risk in endemic areas, while education and land ownership reduced it. All of this is to say leprosy creates poverty, and poverty creates conditions that allow leprosy to survive.

There is an obvious benefit to effective and simple diagnosis of the disease. It makes expertise less necessary, and early diagnosis lessens the chance of lasting disability. With this fact in mind, researchers working with Microsoft are creating AI leprosy diagnosis tools for smartphones.

Microsoft’s Work

In 2020, Microsoft announced it would invest in medical AI, one of the fields being the treatment of leprosy. With this funding, the Novartis Foundation, a nonprofit finding solutions to global illness, has created AI4Leprosy, a leprosy diagnosis tool that “has the potential to accelerate leprosy diagnosis significantly.” By training an AI on thousands of images of symptoms, Novartis aims to create a tool that can recognize signs of the disease using a phone camera. Results have been promising. Novartis published a report in 2022, where they found their AI was 90% effective in recognizing symptoms. 

In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) unveiled its strategy for eliminating leprosy by 2030. It recognized early diagnosis as necessary. Without it, even cured cases may carry lasting disability and the stigma and poverty that has come with the disease since ancient times. Even if leprosy is not as prevalent as it once was, removing it makes for a potent symbol in the fight against disease and the ancient prejudices that come with it.

– Frederick Lake
Photo: Flickr

Green Progress: Updates on SDG 15 in India

SDG 15 in IndiaSustainable Development Goal 15 (SDG 15) is a cornerstone in India’s pursuit of a balanced future, harmonizing economic development with environmental sustainability. According to the UN, SDG 15 is to “protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.” With a significant proportion of the population dependent on agriculture, India recognizes the paramount importance of responsible land management. SDG 15 is pivotal for the nation’s developmental goals, addressing poverty, conserving biodiversity and ensuring sustainable resource utilization.

As India grapples with the challenges of rapid urbanization and intensive agricultural practices, focusing on SDG 15 becomes a linchpin for maintaining ecological equilibrium and uplifting communities from poverty.

Updates on SDG 15 in India and Benefits to Those in Poverty

India, home to more than billion people, grapples with widespread poverty, affecting millions. According to the World Bank, as of 2021, nearly 21.9% of India’s population lived below the national poverty line. However, amidst these challenges, efforts aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 — known as “Life on Land” — have shown promise in mitigating poverty’s impact. Initiatives like afforestation programs and sustainable land management not only contribute to environmental conservation but also generate employment opportunities, enhancing economic prospects for vulnerable communities. 

By fostering resilience and sustainable practices, these efforts exemplify the transformative potential of SDG 15, offering a beacon of hope for poverty alleviation in India. By emphasizing sustainable land management practices, the goal creates opportunities for employment, particularly in rural areas where poverty is widespread. Preserving biodiversity ensures access to crucial natural resources, providing marginalized communities with a sustainable source of income. This comprehensive approach addresses poverty at its roots, illustrating the intricate link between environmental conservation and poverty alleviation.

1. Afforestation Initiatives

Improved tree cover is pivotal in India’s battle against poverty. Afforestation initiatives, especially in regions grappling with high poverty rates, become economic lifelines by generating jobs in tree planting and forest management. The heightened tree cover addresses soil fertility and erosion and provides essential resources like fruits, nuts and medicinal plants. This multifaceted impact is particularly crucial for those in poverty, where increased economic opportunities and access to vital resources through improved tree cover become integral in breaking the cycle of poverty.

2. Conservation of Endangered Species

India’s efforts to protect endangered species have borne fruit. The Wildlife Protection Society of India highlights a positive trend in tiger populations, attributed to intensified anti-poaching measures and habitat preservation initiatives. This aligns seamlessly with SDG 15’s core objective of ensuring biodiversity conservation, showcasing India’s dedication to this global cause.

3. Sustainable Agriculture Practices

The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) spearheads India’s drive toward sustainable agricultural practices. NMSA significantly prevents land degradation and promotes biodiversity by implementing soil health management practices, agroforestry and watershed management. This concerted effort reflects India’s commitment to updating SDG 15 strategies for the sustainable use of land resources.

4. Combating Desertification

Desertification poses a significant threat to land ecosystems in India. It impacts people by exacerbating water scarcity, reducing agricultural productivity and displacing communities. The National Action Plan for Desertification (NAP-CCD) is a crucial initiative addressing this challenge. NAP-CCD aims to combat desertification through sustainable land management practices, afforestation and community involvement. An exemplary success is visible in the Kumbhalgarh region of Rajasthan, where water harvesting techniques and afforestation have reversed land degradation, offering a glimpse of the positive impact NAP-CCD can have on affected areas.

5. Sustainable Urban Development

One of the essential updates on SDG 15 in India is that sustainable urban development under SDG 15 positively impacts people’s lives in rapidly urbanizing areas. The Smart Cities Mission, implemented in cities like Pune, integrates green and sustainable urban planning. This results in ecologically balanced and resilient urban landscapes, enhancing citizens’ well-being. Green spaces, efficient waste management and reliance on renewable energy preserve land ecosystems within cities and elevate urban populations’ overall quality of life.

6. International Collaboration: Global Efforts for Biodiversity Conservation

India actively engages in international collaborations, recognizing the global nature of environmental issues. Partnerships with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) demonstrate a commitment to achieving SDG 15 targets. These partnerships foster global cooperation in biodiversity conservation through research, knowledge exchange and financial support. Such collaborative efforts amplify the impact of SDG 15 initiatives, creating a ripple effect that benefits India and the global community.

7. Research and Innovation

Investments in research and innovation are pivotal for achieving SDG 15. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and other research institutions are at the forefront of this effort. Research initiatives include developing drought-resistant crops, promoting precision agriculture and adopting sustainable farming practices. The success of these endeavors is evident in states like Karnataka, where farmers adopting innovative practices have witnessed increased crop yields and improved soil health, underscoring the tangible benefits of research and innovation in updating SDG 15 strategies.

Making Progress

India’s journey towards achieving SDG 15 is marked by tangible progress across afforestation, conservation, sustainable agriculture, community engagement, urban development, international collaboration, research and innovation. These updates reflect India’s commitment to the global agenda and showcase the positive impact on the environment and the lives of its citizens. As India continues to forge ahead, these initiatives are beacons of hope for a sustainable and harmonious coexistence with nature.

– Srishti Arora
Photo: Flickr

Mental Health Challenges Among Young People in Lao PDR

Young People in LaoOf the 6.5 million people living in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), 60% are below the age of 25, and one in four suffer mental health challenges. The region, which spends just 0.3% of its health budget on mental health care and treatment facilities, must soon reconsider its prioritization of mental health care. This younger generation is expected to carry the burden of alleviating Lao PDR’s national debt, which is currently 70% greater than their GDP. Here is information about the mental health challenges young people in Lao PDR face and what some are doing about it.

The Region

For the last 20 years, the economy of Lao PDR has grown by more than 7%, but in spite of being one of the fastest-growing nations in Southeast Asia, 18% of the population lives in poverty. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the economic struggles of the nation, which originated from large-scale borrowing of funds used for modernization. The kip lost half its value against the U.S. dollar, and from 2021 to 2023, inflation rose more than 40% per year. The government prioritized amending its economy, dismissing the social sector, investments in education, and infrastructure necessary to support a growing mental health epidemic in the region.

Young People in Lao PDR

A third of the population in Lao PDR are 10-24 years old, making the nation one of the youngest in Southeast Asia. However, close to 40% of those are not in education or registered as employed. School and business closures during the COVID-19 pandemic forced two in seven young people out of school and one in six into hazardous self-employed environments in order to provide for their families. Mental health challenges that young people in Lao PDR endured have consequently risen, and aid services are often inaccessible.

Mental Health Challenges in Lao PDR

Between the hopelessness that comes with being forced to leave school and the financial stresses produced by a weakened economy, it is easy to understand the root of mental health challenges that young people face in Lao PDR. With 75% of the young population living in rural areas with no access to mental health support, substance abuse is becoming an increasing issue in the nation. The majority of those struggling with mental health are from vulnerable populations — ethnic minorities, migrants and those with disabilities.

Taking Steps Toward Limiting Mental Health Challenges

The demand for mental health services in Lao PDR requires improvements in infrastructure. The World Health Organization (WHO) encourages prioritizing improving young people’s mental health through the establishment of aid programs. These efforts include: 

All of these provide a pathway that leads toward reducing the mental health challenges of young people in Lao PDR.

Community Programs

Village health volunteers in Lao PDR are predominantly male, which complicates administering health care to pregnant women and adolescents. However, recent community programs aimed at creating professional gender equality in the nation have invited female village health volunteers into the community health care network. The programs pair a male and a female village health volunteer, especially for the reduction of postnatal depression rates in Lao PDR. Putting women at the forefront of mental health care support has proved to be effective in reducing postnatal depression rates.

Support from UNFPA

UNFPA offers support for anxiety arising from a lack of reproductive health knowledge, including funding training courses for counselors in Lao PDR. Many mental health workers across the nation have adopted these courses, and prompted multiple improvements to the nation’s social message on supporting young people’s mental health. Hotlines exclusively catering to the support of mental health challenges have been established and social media is being used nationwide as an informational platform, educating the younger generation on issues of psychological health.

Aid from USAID 

USAID reinforces the importance of mental health professions and improves the efficacy of treatments by rewarding research and development. In addition to encouraging mental health careers and research, USAID has pledged to create the necessary medical spaces for practitioners.

Restoring the Next Generation in Lao PDR

Emerging from the COVID-19 years into massive national debt, the young people of Lao PDR have increased rates of mental health challenges. However, they are receiving attention with local and international aid, as well as social reform. The next decade will prove whether or not this aid has been effective in supporting the mental health of young Laotians, but providing it is a critical step toward restoring Lao PDR as one of the most promising emerging markets in Southeast Asia. 

– Joseph Wray
Photo: Flickr

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The Future of Food Systems in Colombia

Food Systems in ColombiaA food system is a complex network of activities involved in getting food from the field to the plate. This includes the production, processing, transport and consumption of food. To ensure a streamlined and successful food system, the governance, economics and sustainability of food production all require attention, as well as food waste — all with the goal of ensuring the maintenance of individual, population and environmental health throughout the process.

Food systems have historically been intertwined with wider economic and social issues. Inequalities in the food systems of a country or region often reflect the inequalities found in society. This article will delve into the current and future food systems in Colombia, focusing on the Medellin and Valle del Cauca regions.

Current Food Systems in Colombia

Colombia is Latin America’s fourth largest economy with various fertile zones that allow it to grow a large range of products, including its major agricultural export, coffee. Find below two case studies portraying the struggles faced in local Colombian food systems, and the programs working towards a brighter future.

Case Study: Medellin

Medellin, Colombia’s second-largest city, lies within a fertile agricultural zone and has been proactive in implementing sustainable urban practices in recent years. However, it still faces challenges. Medellin’s municipalities are extremely fragmented, with a significant disconnect between rural and urban areas, as well as a distinct inequality amongst internal territories. All of which accumulate in food system inefficiencies.

In order to solve these issues, urban areas must have the tools for greater self-sufficiency while also building closer connections to rural areas. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when food shortages were choke holding the country, a municipal program of urban and peri-urban gardens called Huertas para el Abastecimiento, generated alternative food supplies and facilitated the production of secure distribution channels. This initiative mobilized 20 tons of food within the first two weeks of quarantine, when many were fearful of dwindling food supplies. 

The influence of the City Council and organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has also been critical in the shift towards food security in Medellin. They have been instrumental in supporting farmers with transportation services, consolidating relationships between local producers and private companies, and redistributing food supplies to popular canteens where the most vulnerable populations find food. There are even digital Farmer’s Markets where networks of farmers and local citizens are communicating to establish a local supply of produce in Medellin neighborhoods. A combination of all these efforts has been beneficial in integrating territories and establishing a secure food system for Medellin communities.

Case Study: Valle del Cauca

Valle del Cauca is a region along the southwest of Colombia, hugging the Pacific coastline. An assessment by The New Economy for Food and Land Use (FOLU) in March 2022 found that only 58% of the area’s food needs were being met with malnutrition in the department’s capital, Cali, being particularly high. With a large proportion of the population relying on a diet of cheap, ultra-processed foods, Valle del Cauca has seen a rise in health issues such as obesity. Furthermore, the overexploitation of the region’s forest and wetlands for agricultural uses has led to land degradation and soil erosion, threatening future crop growth.

FOLU Colombia is an organization working to transform Valle del Cauca’s food system through sustainable growth and a regenerative agricultural economy. FOLU connects a coalition of unions, academics, private investors and government bodies to determine better land-use and food policies that take the growing environmental challenges into account. FOLU’s roadmap states that “the productivity of workers in the agricultural and forestry sector is one of the lowest in the Colombian economy and this sector has the highest rates of informal employment in the country,” stating that “a new economy of food and soil use would reverse this situation.”

The Future of Food Systems

Changing weather patterns are only going to enhance the challenges faced for food growers across the world. Coffee farmers in Colombia are already seeing temperature rises and drought take a toll on their crops — it is thought that these extreme weather events could reduce Colombia’s coffee production by up to 50%.

Building community-led, inclusive programs like those outlined above is crucial to breaking down barriers between different areas and forming cohesive, sustainable and resilient food systems in Colombia that supply sufficient food to all, even in the face of a changing climate.

– Rachael Cooper
Photo: Flickr