Grateful News April 2016

This month’s Grateful News focuses on ways our environment is being saved with edible cutlery, aquaponics, and planting trees.  Plus a new empowering Afghan Sesame Street character…

Edible cutlery: could this simple invention help save the world?

Every year vast quantities of plastic knives, forks and spoons end up in landfill. However, one enterprising inventor is now hoping to make plastic cutlery obsolete by providing a viable, environmentally-friendly alternative: edible cutlery.
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Can Economies Rise as Emissions Fall? The Evidence Says Yes

There are signs that G.D.P. growth and carbon emissions need not rise in tandem, and that the era of decoupling could be starting. Last year, for the first time in the 40 years since both metrics have been recorded, a study by the International Energy Agency found that in 2014, as global G.D.P. grew, global carbon emissions leveled off. » Full Story

Sesame Street introduces new Afghan puppet Zari to empower young girls

Dressed in colorful clothing that reflects local styles and able to speak three languages – Dari, Pashto, and English – Zari is the first Afghan character in “Sesame Street” history and was created to encourage female empowerment. » Full Story

Ancient Practice of Aquaponic Farming Could Solve Drought Challenge

A new kind of agriculture being tried out in the Golden State could grow more food — and save water at the same time. It is a closed-loop system, where fish and their waste provide nutrition for plants grown almost entirely in water, with no pesticides, almost no soil. » See Video

In Honour Of Their New Born Prince, Bhutan Plants Over Lakh Trees For A Better Future

Having a constitution that calls for 60% of the land to be under forest cover, it’s no surprise how Bhutan’s inherent desire of reforestation is a success story. Each of the 82000 households of the country planted a tree while the other 26000 trees were planted by volunteers.  » Full Story