A Mental-Health Firstaid Kit
Daily Yonder | READ STORY

MHFA (Mental Health First Aid) is a program that aims at training individuals to identify symptoms of mental health issues so that they may help friends, family, and community members with addressing these issues. This article discusses how this program came to be, the progress it is seeing, and the benefits to rural communities.

Wealth Levels, Wealth Inequality, and the Great Recession
Russell Sage Foundation | READ STORY

This paper looks at the effect, if any, the 2008 recession had on income inequality in the USA. The report finds that income inequality is rapidly increasing and the recession most likely sped up inequality; current trends and data show that this will remain the case.

World's Global Refugee Population Highest Since WWII
UNHCR | READ STORY

This report, released by the UN refugee agency discusses the trends of displaced people in the year 2013. According to the report over 50 million individuals are displaced with around one-third of them being refugees (having left their country). The UNHCR has created a plan to deal with the record number of displaced peoples and currently 21 nations have agreed to follow the UNHCR strategy.

Catastrophe Modeling and Climate Change
Lloyds | READ STORY

This report discusses the effect of climate change on the insurance industry; the effect is largely negative. Using modeling and other statistical measures it may be possible for insurance companies to gain a better understanding on the effect of climate change thus increasing their effectiveness. Climate change has already increased the probability of flood events in the UK such as those which occurred in 2000, and a 1 in 5 rainfall event could be 40% larger in future.

Tracking Climate Finance in Developing Countries: Easing the Way Forward
WRI | READ STORY

A new report by the World Resources Institute titled Monitoring Climate Finance in Developing Countries: Challenges and Next Steps" presents an overview of why climate change funding is difficult to track in developing countries and provide two suggestions: develop or modify systems and procedures to monitor finance received that suits developing countries� needs and enhance institutional arrangements and coordination among stakeholders.

Leading Former Republicans Launch Report Warning Climate Change 'to Cost Billions'
The Telegraph | READ STORY

This article discusses the findings of the newly released Risky Business Report . Hank Paulson, George W Bush's former treasury secretary who led the US response to the 2008 financial crisis, has joined with Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor of New York, to enlist business leaders in the fight against climate change. Their study, backed by a number of senior former government officials from both parties, warns of billions of dollars in losses to American businesses if action is not taken against climate change.