Author: Sophie Nunnally

KARACHI — While the U.S. clings to its way of life and is still spared by the effects of climate change, countries around the world are already facing the realities of the man-made crisis. Of the top 10 countries most impacted by climate change, Pakistan sits at number seven. Climate change in Pakistan has brought about extreme and erratic weather conditions, regular floods and lower agricultural outputs. The 133 events in Pakistan directly attributed to climate change in the past two decades have cost the country $3.82 billion. Agriculture and food security are at the highest risk in Pakistan due to…

BUENOS AIRES — Believe it or not, one third of Argentinians live in poverty. Among many challenges for impoverished families is paying an electric bill; however, some communities aren’t even on an electrical grid. With a little ingenuity, the Argentinian non-governmental organization (NGO) Sumando Energias has made electricity a moot point when it comes to access to hot water. Countries with high rates of poverty can lack the economic mobility to extend their electrical grids. When impoverished citizens are unwilling to pay electrical bills, they often resort to stealing electricity; yes, it is much easier to tap into electrical grids…

PORT-AU-PRINCE — One of the greatest obstacles in the fight against global poverty is the attention span of the world. It is, therefore, encouraging when an organization claims that “we are committed to long-term, sustainable development in direct partnership with the Haitian people.” These are the words of the Artists for Peace and Justice. The Oscar-winning writer and director Paul Haggis established Artists for Peace and Justice (APJ) in 2009. A fundraising effort dedicated to addressing issues of peace, social justice, poverty and enfranchisement in communities around the world, the foundation focused its efforts on Haiti following the devastating earthquake…

PHNOM PENH — Poverty statistics can be deceiving. When a country reports that it has reduced poverty by a particular percentage, the numbers can often appear impressive. However, the line between living in and out of poverty is a very fine one. Poverty in Cambodia is currently at about 20 percent of the population, but an additional 20 percent is on the brink of falling back into poverty, with just $0.30 holding them above the poverty line. Thus, Cambodia’s poverty reduction statistics give a false sense of security. To understand poverty in Cambodia, it’s necessary to look at the country’s…

SEATTLE — “A Better U is a better universe,” explains the informational video on the home page of The Better U Foundation (BUF), actor Jim Carrey’s creation aimed at combatting global hunger by supporting the System of Rice Intensification (SRI). The Better U Foundation website says in one of its many informational videos that “rice is the grain that can change the world, and SRI is the key to unlocking its full potential.” It’s important to learn about this new agricultural phenomenon. A misconception about SRI is that it involves the use of genetically modified organisms. However, SRI rice is…

ERLANGEN, GERMANY – In 2009, Martin Aufmuth, a math and physics teacher, stumbled upon the inspiration for his award-winning, life-changing invention while reading the book Out of Poverty by Paul Polak. Polak outlined a yet-to-be-created set of eyeglasses affordable to those living on less than $1 per day. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 150 million people worldwide are in need of glasses. Such people cannot learn, cannot work and cannot provide for their families. Aufmuth set out to bring Polak’s imagination to fruition. After two years and thousands of patents, Aufmuth successfully constructed the ideal pair of…

SEATTLE — In 2014, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) declared climate change an official threat to basic human rights, including the rights to life, water, sanitation, food, health, housing, self-determination, culture and development. In a recent climate vulnerability survey, Chad was rated most vulnerable, placing human rights in Chad in great peril. There are many factors that contribute to Chad’s vulnerability rating. The country is one of the poorest in the world, with 87 percent of its population classified as poor. Of its 57 years of independence, 35 of those have been dogged by civil war…

BEIRUT — In the shade of a tree on the outskirts of an informal refugee camp, 10-year-old Bara’a stands poised beside a blackboard as a group of younger children look up at her expectantly. Bara’a is a Syrian refugee living in Mount Lebanon. It is 2016, Bara’a has not attended school since first grade, but she is determined to teach whatever she remembers to those younger than her with even less education than herself. In Lebanon, the world’s largest host of refugees per capita, nearly one in every four people is a refugee. Of the country’s 1.5 million Syrian refugees,…

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – In November of 2016, Sonam Wangchuk took the stage of Hollywood’s landmark Dolby Theater to accept one of 10 Rolex Awards for Enterprise. The 140-year-old Rolex Awards are an international philanthropic program that supports new and ongoing projects by individuals making groundbreaking innovations for the benefit of humanity. Wangchuk received his award for his creation of Ice Stupas in the Himalayan desert. The climate of Ladakh, a cold desert region of the Himalayas in India that rests 3,500 miles above sea level is a challenging place to reside. It can reach a chilling -30ºC in the…