California becomes first state in the U.S. to ban racial discrimination against natural hair
The CROWN Act updates the state’s anti-discrimination law so that “race” includes “traits historically associated with race,” such as afros and braids.
2019 C.E.
Ethiopia begins planting 4 billion trees to fight deforestation
Hundreds of thousands of volunteers are needed for the planting and bedding in of the four billion saplings.
Rare sea turtles smash nesting records in Georgia, Carolinas
Researchers and volunteers have cataloged more than 12,200 nests left by loggerheads, a threatened species protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Turkey will declare a holiday dedicated to planting trees
A tweet from a citizen attracted the attention of a member of the Turkish government, who vowed to establish his ‘National Tree Planting Day.’
E.ON transitions all of its 3.3 million U.K. customers to 100% renewable electricity
German electric utility E.ON has transitioned all of its 3.3 million residential customers in Britain to 100% renewable electricity at no extra cost.
Endangered rhino numbers ‘soar by 1,000%’ in Tanzania after crackdown on poaching gangs
The number of endangered rhinos in Tanzania has risen from just 15 to over 150 after a government crackdown on industrial-scale poaching, officials claim.
France to implement new ‘ecotax’ on plane tickets from 2020
France will introduce a new charge on plane tickets from next year, with revenue used to fund environment-friendly alternatives.
Hawaii becomes 26th U.S. state to decriminalize marijuana
The new law removes the possibility of jail time as a penalty for up to three grams of marijuana, but maintains a $130 fine.
German court allows Peruvian farmer to sue RWE over climate crisis
The lawsuit alleges that since RWE has produced an roughly 0.47% of GHG emitted by industry, it should be liable to pay an equivalent of the costs.
Maine passes 2 bills to reduce ‘welfare cliff’
The bills aim to keep families transitioning from welfare to work from losing health, financial, and education benefits until they are earning enough to fully support themselves.