Month: May 2023

Categories
Equality

Literacy rates on the rise in Gulf of Mexico states

The education system in the United States has been struggling of late, particularly after the pandemic, which interrupted formative learning time. But in the Deep South, the problem has been ongoing for many years beforehand.

Take Mississippi for example, they are currently 48th in the US for reading comprehension and literacy with a 72% rate. 

It’s a great surprise then that Mississippi had a recent boom in literacy rates. 

Mississippi went from being ranked the second-worst state in 2013 for fourth-grade reading, to 21st in 2022. Louisiana and Alabama, meanwhile, were among only three states to see modest gains in fourth-grade reading during the pandemic. Everywhere else saw massive learning setbacks.

The turnaround in these three states has grabbed the attention of educators nationally, showing rapid progress is possible anywhere, even in areas that have struggled for decades with poverty and dismal literacy rates. The states have passed laws adopting similar reforms that emphasize phonics and early screenings for struggling kids.

Other states have taken notice of what’s been dubbed the ‘Mississippi Miracle’ and are working to implement similar policies. 

“Every time I present a bill, I say, ‘Look, Mississippi has very similar challenges to what we have in Louisiana, and they’ve been able to make this work,’” said Rep. Richard Nelson, a Republican who has championed literacy reform.

Some of the most impacted groups of kids are those under the poverty line, who were historically marginalized by the system.

“We have to break that cycle of generational poverty. One of the best ways to do that is to make multiple generations of readers,” Alabama’s state superintendent of education, Eric Mackey said. “This is something that we have to be in for the long haul.”

Charity check-in

At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.

American Civil Liberties Union. This is one of the largest civil liberty defense organizations in the US. Find out more and support them here. 

Human Rights Campaign. This is one of the largest equality-focused organizations in the US. Find out more. 
The Trevor Project. They focus on suicide prevention and mental health support for queer youth. Support them here.

This article aligns with the UN SDG Reduced Inequalities.

Categories
Planet

Dorset recreates an ancient world

A ‘super reserve’ in Dorset is creating a haven for wildlife.

Awesome! Tell me more.

The Purbeck Heaths ‘super national nature reserve’ aims to imitate conditions and ecosystems that haven’t been seen for thousands of years.

The sandy environment of Dorset is the perfect place to recreate the ‘savannah’ that would have once existed on British shores – and is the ideal habitat for a number of creatures, including the sand lizard.

What makes it so special?

Environmentalists are using current species as a stand-in for now-extinct animals. Cattle for aurochs, ponies for tarpan horses, and even adorable piggies rather than boars. 

All this is coming together to create an amazing, self-sustaining ecosystem that is great for the environment, and for our animals.

The national nature reserve is the brainchild of seven different organisations; RSPB, National Trust, Dorset Wildlife Trust, Forestry England, Rempstone Estate, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation and Natural England, and is located within the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Purbeck Heaths, or getting involved, you can find out more on their website.

Charity check-in 

At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.

The Woodland Trust. This is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity, concerned with the creation, protection, and restoration of native woodland heritage. Support them here.

Rewilding Britain. They aim to tackle the climate emergency and extinction crisis, reconnect people with the natural world and help communities thrive. Find out more here.

Born Free. This is a wildlife conservation charity that’s passionate about wild animal welfare and Compassionate Conservation. Find out more here.

This article aligns with the UN SDG Life on Land, Climate Action.

Categories
Planet

Seaweed could keep us fed through food shortages

Scientists now believe that seaweed could be the key to tackling crop fialure.

Tell me more!

Extreme weather events caused by the climate crisis are affecting crop yields around the world. Luckily, we have a food source that is sustainable, grows extremely quickly, and actually benefits the climate – seaweed!

Seaweed?

That’s right. Humans have been eating seaweed for thousands of years (fun fact; all types of seaweed are edible! Though some you may not actually enjoy eating), and scientists believe that one in particular, called Ulva, could be the staple crop we need to keep Europe fed.

33 countries, including the UK, are working together to get ‘seawheat’ onto supermarket shelves, in all its nutrient-rich glory.

Charity check-in 

At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.

The Climate Coalition. This is the UK’s largest group of people dedicated to action against climate change. Find out more and support them here.

Climate Reframe.  Climate Reframe is committed to supporting the climate and environment movement in its transformation towards greater justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI). Find out more.

Rewilding Britain. They aim to tackle the climate emergency and extinction crisis, reconnect people with the natural world and help communities thrive. Find out more here.

This article aligns with the UN SDG Climate Action.

Categories
Culture

‘Simply the best’: Tina Turner’s activism

This week, legendary musician Tina Turner passed away after a long bout of illness. In her 83 years, she revolutionized soul and rock, earning the monicker, the ‘Queen of rock ‘n’ roll.’ But she was also renowned for campaigning against domestic violence.

In a recording career that spanned six decades, Turner found fame both as a solo artist and in a duo with her first husband, Ike Turner. Turner won six of her eight Grammy Awards in the 1980s. In that decade she landed a dozen songs in the Top 40, including “Typical Male,” “The Best,” “Private Dancer” and “Better Be Good to Me.”

She was busy off the stage as well. Being an abuse survivor at the hands of her ex-husband Ike, she advocated for those who have experienced domestic violence.

“Tina’s story is not one of victimhood but one of incredible triumph,” singer Janet Jackson wrote about Turner.

She was seen as an icon across eras and an inspiration for many. 

“Tina Turner showed others who lived in fear what a beautiful future filled with love, compassion, and freedom should look like,” actor Angela Bassett said. “Her final words to me – for me – were ‘You never mimicked me. Instead, you reached deep into your soul, found your inner Tina, and showed her to the world.’”

Charity check-in

At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.

Path Home. This organization helps families facing homelessness in Portland, Oregon. Find out more and support them here. 

Hope South Florida. They help people affected by homelessness across the tri-county South Florida. Find out more. 
National Coalition for the Homeless. They aid homeless people around the country through their many branches. Support them here.

This article aligns with the UN SDG Partnership for the Goals.

Categories
Equality

Savimbo helps small farmers get paid for conservation

Conservation isn’t always available to people in developing countries from a mix of financial needs, and a reliance on the land to survive. And while there are conservationists in those places they are often underpaid if paid at all for their work. 

That’s something that Savimbo hopes to put an end to while empowering subsistence farmers and conservationists. 

The founder, Drea Burbank, was inspired to start Savimbo after speaking with some people during a trip to Colombia.

“I met five medicine doctors here and they asked me how to stop the deforestation on their lands,” Drea tells Smiley News. “We did a pro-social, but then when we looked at the economics, you’re like, wow, we can actually do something here.

“So we started to Savimbo on their behalf.”

The way that it works is that Savimbo helps direct funds, or monthly ‘micropayments’ to farmers in developing areas for doing conservation work – like looking out for carbon and cutting back on detrimental techniques and pollution. 

“We work specifically with small farmers, and almost nobody in the market does,” Drea says. “They’re not considered a viable economy. But our philosophy is that you can’t control logging only at the corporate level. You have to control it on the level of the locals and to do that they have to be economically incentivized.”

Logging in general is incredibly damaging in developing nations, particularly in regions of the world like the Amazon.

Between 2010 and 2020, South America lost an average of 2.6 million hectares of forest per year, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In other words, the continent lost an area of forest the size of Ecuador in the space of a decade.

“The data shows that when you control industrial logging if you don’t also account for a small farmer logging, they make up the difference,” Drea says.

Essentially, what this means is that even if industrial logging is moderated and controlled, if the illegal loggers don’t have the incentive to stop they’ll actually make up for any positive impact otherwise. 

“So the illegal logging then takes over so like in Brazil, the illegal logging or small farmer logging was like 30%,” Drea says. “And then when [the government] controlled corporate logging, they went up to 60%.”

Some of the people that helped Drea start Savimbo in Colombia have been working on conservationism for years with little to no financial incentive until she brought in the economic side of things. Neither of them speaks English, nearly shutting them out from the global stage.

“One of the big problems with the current market is small farmers can’t participate because the science is too complicated and it’s all in English,” Drea says. “And so we basically brought in the science part to help them scale and then we pay them on a micropayment, and then we sell carbon credits internationally. So it’s like Fairtrade coffee.”

And going back to the start of it, through Savimbo, Drea just wants to empower and shine a light on people that don’t get a lot of press on the global stage.

“I want people to see small farmers in the tropical forests as being a powerful independent nation-state with naturalist intelligence,” Drea says. “I want them to see a powerful equal group. And I don’t want them to see small farmers as weak or poor or anything because they’re not they are some of the most pragmatic, honest, hardworking people I know, and highly intelligent.

“And if we can’t learn to value them, we don’t value what they value.”
If you want to learn more definitely check out some of their social media like their TikTok which just shows people going about their day.

This article aligns with the UN SDG Climate Action .

Categories
Planet

‘Don’t F&*! The Planet’: company’s net zero guide

Australian tech firm Atlassian has issued a ‘net zero guide’ for companies.

Tell me more.

Atlassian founders Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar have spoken up, telling companies the best ways to go green and get down to that all-important net-zero target.

The guide, succinctly named “Don’t F&*! The Planet”, shows companies how to make essential changes – including how they should cut their carbon emissions by 90% before claiming ‘net zero’.

Atlassian as a company has committed to net-zero as well as other eco-friendly guidelines, but says that we can only make a true difference, if companies are working together in ‘lockstep’.

You can read the guide on the Atlassian website.

Charity check-in 

At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.

Every Can Counts. This is a not-for-profit recycling programme, encouraging people to recycle more often, to protect our planet. Support them here.

Trees For Cities. They are working to plant more trees within large metropolitan areas, for the betterment of people and planet. Support them here.

The Climate Coalition. This is the UK’s largest group of people dedicated to action against climate change. Find out more and support them here.

This article aligns with the UN SDG Climate Action.

Categories
Culture

84 year old hits £1M target for Macmillan

The Man With The Pram has reached his fundraising goal of £1 million for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Tell me more!

Smiley News has covered John Burkhill before, but this news deserves its own story!

Affectionately known around his hometown of Sheffield as ‘The Man With The Pram’, 84-year-old John Burkhill, has reached his goal of raising £1 million for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Why does he do it?

Since 2007, John has been raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support, in memory of his wife and daughter. With his green pram, bright green wig and foam finger, he is a well known figure in Sheffield, and at various marathons and events he attends to raise money for Macmillan.

We’re so chuffed for John that he finally met his goal, and his money is going to such a brilliant cause!

If you want to help John surpass his goal of £1 million for Macmillan, you can do so by donating to his JustGiving page. If you want to give back to Macmillan by doing your own fundraiser or volunteering, you can find out more on their website.

Charity check-in 

At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.

Macmillan Cancer Support. They provide specialist health care, information and financial support to people affected by cancer. Learn more here.

Cancer Research UK. This charity provides information for anyone affected by any kind of cancer. Support them here.

Maggie’s. Offers free practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer and the people important to them. Find out more here.

This article aligns with the UN SDG Partnership for the Goals.

Categories
Planet

Brazil commits to greater climate action

As climate change becomes more apparent with catastrophic weather events battering countries around the world, some countries are planning to ramp up their climate action. One such country is Brazil, home to the Amazon rainforest, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. 

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva plans to commit the country to a more ambitious climate change goal this year. This comes after his predecessor,  Jair Bolsonaro, cut back many of the climate goals and policies that Brazil had in place. 

Lula’s government pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. 

“Brazil is ready to resume its leading role in the fight against the climate crisis,” Lula said. 

Charity check-in

At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.

Beacon Food Forest. This is one of the largest food forests in the country. Find out more and support them here. 
Cultural Survival. They are an indigenous-led nonprofit focused on empowering indigenous Americans and helping the planet. Find out more.

This article aligns with the UN SDG Climate Action.

Categories
Equality

Lotto winner donates prize money to kids’ dance classes in Mali

What’s the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery? A new car, a home, maybe an expensive new hobby? Instead, a North Carolina man decided to use his winnings to help teach dance to children in Mali.

The man, named Souleymane Sana, moved to the US from the West African country. He won a six-figure prize and is dedicating it to helping schoolchildren in his home country. 

“This was my dream,” Souleymane Sana said of being in a position to help schoolchildren in Mali, according to lottery administrators. “That was one of the main reasons I bought that ticket. It was to be able to keep helping them.”

Before his winnings, he started a group with the goal of preserving traditional Malian music and dance and planned to use his winnings to build classrooms and a center dedicated to teaching children to dance. The group is called Kono Gnaga.

“I love to dance, and I want to teach the children in Mali to love it, too,” Sana said in a statement issued by lottery officials. “If you talk about culture and you talk about education, they both go together.

“I’m going to keep doing my best to help build more … for the children in Mali. That is the thing that makes me really happy.

“My dream is just becoming true little by little and I hope it will keep going.”

Charity check-in

At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.

American Civil Liberties Union. This is one of the largest civil liberty defense organizations in the US. Find out more and support them here. 

Human Rights Campaign. This is one of the largest equality-focused organizations in the US. Find out more. 
The Trevor Project. They focus on suicide prevention and mental health support for queer youth. Support them here.

This article aligns with the UN SDG Reduced Inequalities.

Categories
Wellbeing

Colourful mural pays tribute to nurses

Sue Ryder mural
Sue Ryder mural

Artist Saroj Patel has painted a beautiful mural to thank nurses for the care and support they give daily.

That’s great! Tell me more.

The heart-shaped painting has been unveiled at The Oracle shopping centre in Reading to pay tribute to Sue Ryder palliative care nurses working in the Thames valley. 

Throughout the artwork, messages express gratitude for the hard work of nurses who care for hundreds of people across hospitals and hospices.

The healthcare charity, Sue Ryder, commissioned the painting as part of the We Are Sue Ryder campaign to celebrates the lasting impact of their nurses.

Charity check-in 

At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.

Sue Ryder. This charity offers palliative care and bereavement support for people with serious illnesses and their families. Find out more.

Cancer Research UK. The UK’s largest charity looking into cures for cancer. Learn how to support them here.

Marie Curie. They are help provide end of life care to people with terminal illnesses. Learn more here.

This article aligns with the UN SDG Good Health and Wellbeing.