In 2017 alone, water was a major factor in conflict in at least 45 countries, including Syria. Its importance as a resource means that water-related insecurity can easily exacerbate tensions and friction within and between countries.
The Ministry of Environment of Rwanda, in partnership with the China Bamboo Aid Project, has launched a program promoting the use of bamboo in the packaging industry and in the production of hygiene products and paper. The project involves the construction of three greenhouses with a production capacity of 1,500 seedlings in six months. Afterwards, the bamboos will be planted in a 300-hectare area and will then be used locally.
According to the Global Wellness Index, Africa is also facing a health care crisis related to obesity. According to the World Health Organization, non-communicable diseases kill 41 million people every year, accounting for 71% of all deaths globally. In many African countries, more than a quarter of adults have at least three risk factors, such as physical inactivity, smoking and alcohol abuse. Most of these adults are women aged 45 to 64.
This was revealed by a study published on Monday in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, which found an association between people who consume sugary drinks and an increased risk of premature death. The observational study showed that adults who consume more than two sugary drinks a day have a 21 percent higher risk of premature death than those who drink less than one sugary drink a month. For women, instead, the risk increases by 25%.
According to Nanne Annan, the widow of former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, sweet potato is a crop that can help the poorest communities fight climate change. In fact, this tuber is rich in vitamins and easy to grow. Moreover, by adopting good agricultural practices, sweet potatoes help preserve the soil and protect it from desertification.
They are compostable, biodegradable and based on seaweed. This is the new solution developed by the start-up company Loliware, which, thanks to a crowdfunding campaign, has created the first biodegradable straws. As the company explains, they are also edible and can be used for 18 hours in a row without losing their characteristics.
Meatless Mondays are expanding like wildfire in New York schools. Today, more than one million children are offered vegetarian meals on Mondays. It is an extension of the Free School Lunch For All program, which provides free breakfast and lunch at public schools across the city.
An estimated 1.5 million school students worldwide took part in the event held on 15 March.
From March 15 to May 15, 2019, Canadians are encouraged to contribute with ideas to help shape the development of their country’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy.