Fighting fire with…volunteers? Indonesia ramps up community fire brigades as tropical forests burn
Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaThomson Reuters Foundation Thousands of volunteers fighting forest fires in Indonesia will receive a boost in funding that could help stem air pollution and reduce emissions, according to a United Nations official. About 7,000 farmers have been trained to tackle fires since 2013 in a pioneering United Nations-backed project aimed at saving tropical […]
Filipina chef relying on chocoholics to help beat typhoon threats
Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaThomson Reuters Foundation A Filipina chef is hoping chocolate will become the secret ingredient needed to help farmers in her typhoon-hit community survive and prosper when future natural disasters strike. Louise Mabulo, 21, founded the Cacao Project in the rural town of San Fernando, about 390 kilometres south of Manila, to help local […]
“No tomorrow” for many unless consumption falls – UN
Nairobi, KenyaThomson Reuters Foundation Global exploitation of natural resources – from water, sand and timber to oil, coal and gemstones – has more than tripled in 50 years, the United Nations said on Tuesday, warning of devastating environmental impacts unless demand is reduced. Surging consumption of natural resources – 92 billion tonnes in 2017 – […]