The degrowth movement advocates for the halting of economic growth to prevent a climate crisis. While the premise of consuming less may seem like an appealing idea, this article puts forth that it’s a flawed concept that will not be taken seriously as a solution by the world at large. The COVID-19 pandemic provided us with a taste of why degrowth may not work; the reduced consumption by developed countries hit developing countries’ economies hard, leading to an increase in both hunger and child mortality rates.
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Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
