The 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
Addressing Period Poverty in Italy
Efforts to Lower the VAT
In fact, in Italy, the normal VAT for tampons has increased tremendously, growing from 12% in 1973 to a staggering 22% in 2013. Efforts have since been made to lower the VAT to 5%, helping reduce period poverty. This tax rate often was for for luxurious goods such as wine or beauty treatments. As a result, the prices of period products could be up to €6 and would consist of traditional cellulose-based sanitary pads and tampons. This high tampon tax rate would be a significant expense since women use roughly 11,000 period products in their lifetime, using around 22 products every cycle.
By treating period products as a luxury good, Italy would be in stark contrast to other European countries, as Poland, the U.K., France and the Czech Republic have all lowered their tampon tax to 5%. Overall, Italy ranks six out of the 28 member states for the highest tax rate on feminine hygiene products.
Italy’s lack of access to menstrual products is dubbed ‘period poverty.’ This is due to economic vulnerability due to the financial burden of having to spend great sums of money on these medically necessary hygiene products.
Efforts to Eliminate Period Poverty in Italy
As a solution, Non una di meno was a feminist movement that brought light to period poverty in Italy in 2016. The feminist activists involved protested against the tampon tax by claiming that it was obscenely higher than the VAT applied to male hygiene products in Italy, which was around 4% to 10%.
This motivated a political member in the same year, the representative of the Democratic Party Giuseppe Civati, to fight for legislation that would reduce the value-added tax from 22% to 5% in an attempt to weaken period poverty in Italy. Politicians scrutinized the proposal, demonstrating how the Italian government did not see period poverty as a serious issue despite how it critically restricts and disables more than half of the population.
Another feminist movement tackling period poverty took place in 2019, as the association Onde Rosa campaigned to have tax reduced to 4%, collecting more than 600,000 signatures for their petition.
The First Italian Menstrual Cycle Festival
With the government’s inactivity, the city of Milan held the first Italian Menstrual Cycle Festival, a three-day-long crowdfunding campaign that aimed to address the stigmatization surrounding periods, claiming that period hygiene products were not seen as basic necessities by the government. By raising awareness about period poverty, they were able to raise money, sending one pack of sanitary pads per donation to Ukraine.
The Italian Budget Law
The approval of the Italian Budget Law in early 2019 created enormous tension between feminist activists and the government since it had one clause that lowered truffle mushrooms’ VAT to a mere 5%, therefore becoming a primary good. This was, in fact, the second VAT reduction for this product, which previously reduced from 22% to 10% in 2014. At that point in time, period hygiene products still had a VAT of 22%. This drew a lot of criticism that the government has not properly prioritized period poverty, despite it being fatal for many.
However, Italy reached two significant milestones. In 2019, an amendment signed with Women Intergroup for the Budget session lowered the VAT on compostable and washable hygiene products by 5%. In addition, VAT on sanitary pads and tampons reduced by 10% in 2022, an action that the Giorgia Meloni government reaffirmed in 2023, led by the first woman to hold the office of Prime Minister in Italy.
Looking Ahead
Despite Italy’s attempts at reducing period poverty, when compared to other European countries much more work remains. For instance, Ireland completely abolished the tampon tax, meaning it now has a zero rate of VAT. By implementing more reforms that tackle period poverty, Italy can take a step closer to improving women’s health across the country.
– Anna Mc Donald
Photo: Flickr
Addressing the Decline in the Madagascar Economy
Political Instability and Economic Consequences
Madagascar has faced several political crises over the past few decades, leading to a lack of stable governance and consistent economic policies. From 2008-to 2013, the Malagasy government experienced the most extended period of political uncertainty. Consequently, this led to a lack of recognition from the global community. Since then, it has faced ongoing battles which have deterred foreign investors. Hence, the Madagascar economy has struggled to attract the foreign capital essential for development, causing a detrimental impact on GDP.
Agriculture
The country’s unique biodiversity and rich ecosystems have also suffered from economic decline. Madagascar is no stranger to environmental challenges, including deforestation and soil erosion. In 2022, Madagascar suffered from extreme droughts, which led to mass food insecurity for 1.6 million people. Since then, subsequent flooding and clones have left agriculture heavily impacted.
The decline in agricultural output, a critical component of Madagascar’s economy, has exacerbated natural disasters and environmental challenges. Reduced crop yields and disrupted farming practices have hit hard, leading to food scarcity and an increase in the cost of living for Malagasy citizens.
The Global Economic Impact of COVID-19
The pandemic’s global reach has not spared Madagascar. The country’s economy relies heavily on exports, particularly in the textile and mining sectors. The slowdown of international trade and economic uncertainty stemming from the pandemic severely curtailed Madagascar’s economic growth. Reduced demand for exports and disruptions in supply chains resulted in a GDP of 7.1% and 9.8% income per capita. Approximately 1.8 million people in 2020 fell below the international poverty line.
Consequences of the Economic Downturn
The steep decline in Madagascar’s GDP has triggered a host of consequences. A rise in poverty rates is one of the most pressing concerns, as livelihoods are threatened and access to basic necessities becomes increasingly challenging for the population. Social unrest is also rising due to economic desperation and political frustration. Furthermore, Madagascar is facing a growing humanitarian crisis as food insecurity deepens and access to health care becomes more limited.
Going Forward
The Madagascar economy as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being enriched with abundant rare minerals, precious stones, fishing resources and extensive fertile land, the nation struggles with poverty. Even though Madagascar has great potential, it has not experienced substantial economic growth since gaining independence from France.
The Madagascar Development Fund (MDF), which formally began in 2008, is a nonprofit organization that focuses on improving the everyday lives of people in Madagascar. As of 2017, the organization has funded 225 projects that helped improve health care and sanitation, education access, clean water and more.
With support and assistance from non-governmental organizations such as the MDF, the country can make gradual strides toward positive economic development.
– Sophie Higham
Photo: Flickr
Cardiovascular Disease in Cambodia
The Facts
Cardiovascular disease in Cambodia is the country’s leading cause of death. This is likely due to the fact that risk factors, such as habitual smoking, are very loosely controlled. Of Cambodians over the age of 40, 12% suffer from hypertension, while 32% of Cambodian men smoke cigarettes. Given that only 60% of Cambodians with diabetes have access to treatment, it is likely that those suffering from cardiovascular disease likewise have limited resources to help.
However, the main reason cardiovascular disease plagues Cambodia is due to lack of access to preventative care. In U.S. schools, for instance, children are educated from an early age on the dangers of nicotine and tobacco usage, which contributes to the fact that only 13.1% of U.S. adult men smoke cigarettes. The low levels of diagnosed hypertension and diabetes in Cambodia indicates that clinics in Cambodia are not thoroughly conducting preventative treatments and diagnosis. Health care providers may not be following provided guidelines for patient care, indicating a “know-do” gap.
A study that the U.S. National Library of Medicine did discovered three major reasons for the high rates of cardiovascular disease in Cambodia. The study found that only 4.7% of Cambodian practitioners actually measured blood glucose levels, which could explain how diabetes so frequently goes undiagnosed. Additionally, only 18% of practitioners asked patients about their smoking habits, and only 33.8% knew to ask about this. Lastly, guidelines state that health care providers should measure blood pressure twice in a visit, and only 8% of doctors in the study did so. This suggests that rates of hypertension may be significantly higher than known studies imply.
Improvements to Cambodian Health Care
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) works through the “One Health Workforce-Next Generation” regional network that supports Cambodia by training health professionals on how to properly respond to human disease threats, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past five years, USAID has made numerous advancements within the Cambodian health care system, including:
Hospitals and Health Facilities in Cambodia
In Cambodia, hospitals are concentrated in urban areas, with a lack of health facilities in rural areas. Those living in rural areas lack access to health care, but also lack access to education about dietary and lifestyle choices that may prevent cardiovascular disease. Additionally, due to limited funding and resources dedicated to hospital services, there are many indications that health care providers are also not receiving sufficient training.
Due to lack of health care access in Cambodia and the shortcomings of many health care providers, cardiovascular disease in Cambodia is an extremely pressing issue. Education about preventative measures for the entire population is critical to reducing rates of cardiovascular disease in Cambodia.
– Aubrey Acord
Photo: Flickr
Tackling Technology Poverty: Placing Internet in India
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi champions the utility of equitable internet access in what he dubs “the war against poverty,” celebrating the increase in the opportunity afforded to children (providing low-data costs for online lessons when the 2020 pandemic shut down physical education for two years) and vaccination campaigns which were run online that helped to curtail the spread of the virus; both examples demonstrate the importance of expanding internet adoption as far as possible. Fortunately, a handful of initiatives and organizations are already making ground in their efforts to bring the internet to India.
Establishing Infrastructure
Of the 700 million still offline, a large portion comprises 64% of India’s population designated as “rural.” In such areas, barriers to internet adoption lie not just in affordability for lower-income households but in inadequate infrastructure for the Indian power sector, which is often incapable of maintaining a consistent power supply to the various villages outside the reach of the main grids. This situation is why the efforts of companies such as Sterlite Technologies Ltd. (STL) can be so transformative. As specialists in optical networking, STL endeavors to expand high-speed internet to over 300,000 villages by 2024. STL has made strides with MIT to study methods of increasing internet coverage and is helping to develop 5G infrastructure that should strengthen connectivity in even the most remote corners.
The Digital India Campaign
Sometimes, the barrier to technological adoption is familiarity and utility, which requires convincing prospective users of the viability of new technologies and their potential “use cases” in daily life. To this end, the government-led “Digital India Campaign” was devised to bridge the digital literacy and adoption gap through various initiatives. The platform “e-Pathshala” is one such initiative launched as an app-based learning resource for schools. Another is the digitation service “Digilocker,” which provides a digital version of official documents such as Driver’s Licenses and Car Registration certificates. This distinct convenience measure alleviates some of the stresses of document maintenance.
Teaching Internet Literacy
Bringing rural complications and digital literacy deficits together is “Internet Saathi,” a program that Google and Tata Trust run in partnership. Focused on teaching tech literacy to women living in rural parts of India, environments where women are often discouraged from engaging with technology, “Internet Saathi” trains up women as “Saathis,” the Hindu word for “Friend,” who are then paid a stipend to travel to nearby villages with smart devices and lessons on internet literacy. These Saathis instruct local women on how such tools can benefit their daily lives and why the types of opportunities they provide, be that educational opportunities or even just simple nutritional advice, all while economically supporting the tutors with a revenue stream. Today, “Internet Saathi” reported helping more than 20 million women with resources and education provided by more than 60,000 Saathis.
Bringing the internet to India has been an expansive and multifaceted project juggling the interests of private companies and government programs, all collaborating to improve public infrastructure, and it is starting to pay dividends. Since 2007, the Internet adoption rate across India has shot up 44% from the relatively modest 4%. Still, there is a long way to go and many difficult branches of the country left to reach, both societally and geometrically, before India can consider itself sufficiently digitally saturated. Then, Prime Minister Modi’s plan to “Democratize technology” as a “Weapon in the war against poverty” can start to make a seismic and course-changing impact.
– Brandon Murphy
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The Fight for Access to Education in Syria
How the Earthquakes Impacted Education in Syria
Of the 8,800,000 people that the earthquakes affected, 3.7 million were children. The earthquakes damaged a total of 2,947 schools, and it is estimated that 200,000 children do not have access to education due to the mandatory closure of schools for health and safety concerns. This not only has an immediate impact on children, but is a major disruption in the country’s future success, as the completion of secondary education reduces global poverty and infant mortality rates. The importance of returning to school as soon as possible is at the forefront of government concern. Attending school gives children a sense of safety and normality, as well as giving them access to necessary services such as counseling.
GPE and ILO
Global Partnership for Education (GPE) immediately mobilized funding to set up temporary learning spaces, repair the damage to schools, deliver school meals and provide humanitarian aid to children, their families and teachers.
The International Labour Organization (ILO), which works to create and promote employment, focuses on improving employability by offering job training for citizens who lost their jobs in the disaster. The project aims to address immediate concerns by offering training for local contractors and other labor-based industries.
The ILO is also working to rebuild three schools in Aleppo that the earthquakes significantly damaged. In addition to enabling children to attend school again, rebuilding schools creates more jobs for people in Aleppo. The ILO hopes to continue creating job opportunities for residents in Aleppo whilst improving the livelihood of the community.
UNICEF’s Efforts
The United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is helping 101,975 children gain access to education in Syria through both formal school settings and independent learning. Self-learning programs help families in areas where schools are still closed, or families are displaced. UNICEF provides essential learning materials to children in need and to schools that lack educational resources. The organization has a pre-existing program called Curriculum B, which enables children to catch up on missed education. This accelerated learning program fits two years’ worth of learning content into a single year, and reached more than 2 million children in 2018.
– Eadaoin O’Leary
Photo: Flickr
4 Instances where Christmas songs spread joy
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
China and United States Support Venezuela’s Poverty Reduction Program
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
Opening Hearts, Opening Homes: Airbnb Assists Refugees in Need
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
Top 5 Zoonotic Diseases in Kenya
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
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
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