Climate Change
- A federal judge has ordered a halt on the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. His reasoning? The Trump administration violated several laws by ignoring facts about climate climate change.
- One of our CC charities, the Union of Concerned Scientists, recently published a report on the importance of keeping nuclear power plants alive. Historically an anti-nuclear organization, they have since changed their stance. While still not nuclear advocates, they realize that shutting down current nuclear plants, a form of zero-carbon energy, would inevitably lead to fossil fuel energy supplies replacing them.
- Climate change didn't start the record-setting wildfires in California, but it did make the temperatures hotter and the land drier - both of which lead to longer-lasting and faster-moving fires. Studies are also confirming what we already knew - climate change is boosting rainfall in the worst of our hurricanes.
- The effects of climate change are inevitable, and investing in a way that recognizes this fact is not only a moral imperative, it is the only sensible path for someone looking to create or maintain intergenerational wealth to take.
- Clean energy is surging, but not fast enough to solve global warming. We must also work to curb methane leaks from oil and gas operations, develop carbon capture technology for fossil fuel power plants, and invest in energy efficiency.
Education
- Despite teacher walkouts, Colorado voters nixed a $1.6 billion tax hike for public education. Meanwhile, Maryland voted to designate half a billion dollars worth of gambling money for their public schools. Read more about education related midterm results here.
- Meanwhile, many are arguing that education policy decisions should be left to the teachers - not the politicians
- The education industry needs a shake-up, and the leaders best-equipped to become its shakers may just be its most recent grads and users. Read more about the Forbes 30 Under 30 list here.
Elderly and Aging
- One of the largest-ever studies of Alzheimer's genetics has found that Alzheimer's and cardiovascular disease share common genetics.
- Having one of these 13 common conditions may raise the risk of developing Alzheiemer's
- Stigma often prevents patients from acknowledging an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. A series of high-profile disclosures may help change that.
Human Rights
- The UN has warned the United States that they must ensure protection without obstruction to anyone who is fleeing violence or persecution. This warning came hours after President Trump signed an order limiting asylum rights for migrants who cross the border illegally.
- Most big companies operating in sectors at high risk of labor abuses are failing to meet UN human rights standards. Kraft, Starbucks, and Prada received exceptionally low scores, while Univlever and Adidas came out on top.
- Food insecurity within the United States is a denial of basic human rights.
- With the election of Tom Malinowski to New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, a human rights champion comes to the house.
Mental Illness
- Less than 1% of gun homicides are committed by people with serious mental illness, and the prevalence of mental health issues is no higher in the U.S. than it is in other countries whose rates of gun violence are exceptionally lower. Talking about gun control and mental illness in the same sentence only adds to the stigmatization of mental illness, and does nothing to reduce the rates of gun violence.
- Many people go on to thrive after experiencing depression, but very little is known about them.
- Read about the most common misconceptions of bipolar disorder according to someone who lives with it.
- A new study has found that genetic variants linked to a high body mass index can lead to depression. The effect was stronger in women than men.
- Neuroscientists at MIT have identified a specific brain activity pattern that correlates with the development of schizophrenia.