Latest news with #GreenSpaces
Indianapolis Star
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Brown Faces, Green Spaces: Creating safe places outdoors
Kimmie Gordon, founder of Brown Faces, Green Spaces, creates welcoming spaces in the outdoors in Gary, Indiana. Submitted By Brown Faces, Green Spaces Black Faces, Brown Spaces during a Canoemobile Voyage on the Calumet River. Submitted By Brown Faces, Green Spaces Kimmie Gordon, founder of Brown Faces, Green Spaces, creates welcoming spaces in the outdoors in Gary, Indiana. Submitted By Brown Faces, Green Spaces Kimmie Gordon, founder of Brown Spaces, Green Places, takes a group out on a fishing trip. Submitted By Brown Faces, Green Spaces Black Faces, Brown Spaces during a Canoemobile Voyage on the Calumet River. Submitted By Brown Faces, Green Spaces
Indianapolis Star
16 hours ago
- General
- Indianapolis Star
Kimmie Gordon makes the woods inviting for everyone
Kimmie Gordon is working to make green spaces in Indiana welcoming for everyone. Brown Faces, Green Spaces — the organization Gordon runs — promotes diversity outdoors by leading camping, birding, fishing, archery, hiking and other activities for people of color in Northwest Indiana. She has loved nature and the outdoors since she was at least 6 years old. That's when she began attending Girl Scout camp in Valparaiso with her sister. But they were the only Black girls in camp, which initially led Gordon to believe her culture doesn't love nature. Now she spends her time turning that belief upside down. Gordon wants to share her experiences in nature with others. She found herself centered and at peace when she would visit neighborhood parks as a teenager. Those feelings led her to pursue a graduate program, become involved with her community and move back to Gary where she started Brown Faces, Green Spaces. Current rhetoric around DEI initiatives across the county and in National Parks has made her future uncertain, but Gordon said she and her organization will continue doing what they've been doing year after year: catering to people and helping create experiences in safe and welcoming spaces 'for us, by us and with us.' We spoke with Gordon in August about her job and the environment. Her answers are edited for brevity and clarity. SUGGEST A SUBJECT: Know someone doing good things for Indiana's environment and want to see them featured here? Email Karl and Sophie at: and to let us know. The privilege of being able to provide our local youth and senior populations the opportunity to experience the natural world, the outdoors, something they may not otherwise have ever done or had access to. And one of my favorite parts of that is seeing people experience outdoor joy like the reaction on a child's face when they catch a fish for the very first time, or a senior participant that gets in a canoe for the first time in their life and loves it. How their faces light up with such jubilation and excitement. overcoming their personal fears related to the outdoors — then they try it, love it, and come back again and again. Those are the things that make me proud — the people. Living with environmental inequities and feeling powerless to change it has been a common source of stress for me lately. Though things are slowly pivoting back to inequitable access, I'm determined to keep working to address the systemic issues creating barriers for people of color to be able to access and enjoy nature. The rollback of DEI in our national parks and green spaces where programming such as ours is now prohibited by federal mandates. Even sadder is the accommodation that some organizations are giving the federal government to help do away with diversity in our national green spaces. They do so without any consideration of how it affects diverse audiences. The rollbacks of years of progress towards environmental justice protections that we've fought so hard to institute were gone in just a matter of weeks in 2025. The many decades that the people have fought for environmental justice and outdoor equity dissolved with just a signature. Environmental justice and racism — diversity, equity, and inclusion — none of that will ever go away, and it's more important now than ever for communities to continue to mobilize around these issues. In a society infused with digital devices and constant distractions, oftentimes people forget that stillness exists somewhere. When we put down the phones and turn off all the noise, there is nature. I mean, what would happen if there was absolutely no digital access on any device at all? We would have to depend on sustaining ourselves through nature, and it's all around us. We don't have to wear fancy outdoor gear or go out on a trail or riverbank to experience nature, even something as simple as sitting under a tree in your yard can be a respite for the mind. Finding small ways to explore nature can be just as beneficial as a walk in the Grand Canyon. And everyone should benefit from that. So, I hope to continue to lead by example in these spaces. When people see others that look like them doing things that they may have a fear of or barrier to, it can intrigue them enough to also want to try it. And that's all I want people to do, is just try an outdoor experience that they've never done before, that they may be uncomfortable to think about but worth finding out about. Because I have yet to see any of our first-time participants regret trying, in fact, most of them return time and time again having developed a genuine love for the outdoors and all that nature has to offer. I am fascinated by beavers and their ability to engineer their own ecosystems with the power of their teeth and tails. And did you know they have transparent eyelids that allow them to see clearly under water like a pair of goggles? IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
Asharq Al-Awsat
18-05-2025
- Health
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Morocco Unveils Policies It Hopes Bolster the Care and Management of Stray Dogs
A mutt with a blue tag clipped to her ear whimpers as she's lifted from a cage and carried to a surgery table for a spay and a rabies vaccine, two critical steps before she's released back onto the streets of Morocco's capital. The 'Beldi,' as Moroccan street dogs are called, is among the hundreds taken from Rabat to a dog pound in a nearby forest. As part of an expanded 'Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return' program, dogs like her are examined, treated and ultimately released with tags that make clear they pose no danger. 'We have a problem: That's stray dogs. So we have to solve it, but in a way that respects animals,' said Mohamed Roudani, the director of the Public Health and Green Spaces Department in Morocco's Interior Ministry. Morocco adopted 'Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return,' or TVNR, in 2019. One facility has opened in Rabat and more are set to be launched in at least 14 other cities, aligning Morocco with recommendations from the World Organization for Animal Health. The government has spent roughly $23 million over the past five years on animal control centers and programs. Roudani said Morocco's updated approach balanced public safety, health and animal well-being. Local officials, he added, were eager to expand TVNR centers throughout the country. Though population estimates are challenging, based on samples of marked and tagged stray dogs, Moroccan officials believe they number between 1.2 to 1.5 million. Some neighborhoods welcome and care for them collectively. However, others decry their presence as a scourge and note that more than 100,000 Moroccans have needed rabies vaccinations after attacks. A draft law is in the works that would require owners to vaccinate pets and impose penalties for animal abuse. On a visit organized for journalists to a TNVR center in El Aarjate, enclosures for dogs appear spacious and orderly, with clean floors and the scent of disinfectant. Food and water bowls are refreshed regularly by staff who move between spaces, offering gentle words and careful handling. Some staff members say they grow so attached to the dogs that they miss them when they're released to make space to treat incoming strays. Veterinarians and doctors working for the Association for the Protection of Animals and Nature care for between 400 and 500 stray dogs from Rabat and surrounding cities. Dogs that veterinarians deem unhealthy or aggressive are euthanized using sodium pentobarbital, while the rest are released, unable to spread disease or reproduce. Youssef Lhor, a doctor and veterinarian, said that aggressive methods to cull dogs didn't effectively make communities safer from rabies or aggression. He said it made more sense to try to have people coexist with dogs safely, noting that more than 200 had been released after treatment from the Rabat-area center. 'Slaughtering dogs leads to nothing. This TNVR strategy is not a miracle solution, but it is an element that will add to everything else we're doing,' he said. It's designed to gradually reduce the stray dog population while minimizing the need for euthanasia.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Morocco unveils policies it hopes bolster the care and management of stray dogs
EL AARJATE, Morocco (AP) — A mutt with a blue tag clipped to her ear whimpers as she's lifted from a cage and carried to a surgery table for a spay and a rabies vaccine, two critical steps before she's released back onto the streets of Morocco's capital. The 'Beldi,' as Moroccan street dogs are called, is among the hundreds taken from Rabat to a dog pound in a nearby forest. As part of an expanded 'Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return' program, dogs like her are examined, treated and ultimately released with tags that make clear they pose no danger. 'We have a problem: That's stray dogs. So we have to solve it, but in a way that respects animals,' said Mohamed Roudani, the director of the Public Health and Green Spaces Department in Morocco's Interior Ministry. Trying to balance safety and animal well-being Morocco adopted 'Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return,' or TVNR, in 2019. One facility has opened in Rabat and more are set to be launched in at least 14 other cities, aligning Morocco with recommendations from the World Organization for Animal Health. The government has spent roughly $23 million over the past five years on animal control centers and programs. Roudani said Morocco's updated approach balanced public safety, health and animal well-being. Local officials, he added, were eager to expand TVNR centers throughout the country. Though population estimates are challenging, based on samples of marked and tagged stray dogs, Moroccan officials believe they number between 1.2 to 1.5 million. Some neighborhoods welcome and care for them collectively. However, others decry their presence as a scourge and note that more than 100,000 Moroccans have needed rabies vaccinations after attacks. A draft law is in the works that would require owners to vaccinate pets and impose penalties for animal abuse. Inside the center On a visit organized for journalists to a TNVR center in El Aarjate, enclosures for dogs appear spacious and orderly, with clean floors and the scent of disinfectant. Food and water bowls are refreshed regularly by staff who move between spaces, offering gentle words and careful handling. Some staff members say they grow so attached to the dogs that they miss them when they're released to make space to treat incoming strays. Veterinarians and doctors working for the Association for the Protection of Animals and Nature care for between 400 and 500 stray dogs from Rabat and surrounding cities. Dogs that veterinarians deem unhealthy or aggressive are euthanized using sodium pentobarbital, while the rest are released, unable to spread disease or reproduce. Youssef Lhor, a doctor and veterinarian, said that aggressive methods to cull dogs didn't effectively make communities safer from rabies or aggression. He said it made more sense to to try to have people coexist with dogs safely, noting that more than 200 had been released after treatment from the Rabat-area center. 'Slaughtering dogs leads to nothing. This TNVR strategy is not a miracle solution, but it is an element that will add to everything else we're doing,' he said, referring to 'Treat, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return.' It's designed to gradually reduce the stray dog population while minimizing the need for euthanasia. It's a program that Morocco is eager to showcase after animal rights groups accused it of ramping up efforts to cull street dogs after being named co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup last year. Animal rights groups protest Animal rights groups routinely use large sporting events to draw attention to their cause and similarly targeted Russia in the lead-up to the 2018 FIFA World Cup there. Citing unnamed sources and videos it said were shot in Morocco, the International Animal Welfare and Protection Coalition claimed in January that Morocco was exterminating 3 million dogs, particularly around cities where stadiums are being built. The allegations, reported widely by international media lacking a presence in Morocco, triggered anti-FIFA protests as far away as Ahmedabad, India. 'These dogs are being shot in the street, often in front of children, or dragged away with wire nooses to die slow, agonizing deaths,' Ian Ward, the coalition's chairman, said in a statement. Moroccan officials vehemently deny the claims, say they're implementing the very programs that activists propose, including TNVR. They rebuff the idea that any policy is related to the World Cup. Still, critics see their efforts as publicity stunts and are skeptical such programs are as widespread as officials claim. Instances of mistreatment and euthanasia by gunshot have been reported in local media but Moroccan officials say, despite international attention, they're isolated incidents and don't reflect on-the-ground reality nationwide.
Arab News
18-05-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Morocco unveils policies it hopes bolster the care and management of stray dogs
EL AARJATE: A mutt with a blue tag clipped to her ear whimpers as she's lifted from a cage and carried to a surgery table for a spay and a rabies vaccine, two critical steps before she's released back onto the streets of Morocco's 'Beldi,' as Moroccan street dogs are called, is among the hundreds taken from Rabat to a dog pound in a nearby forest. As part of an expanded 'Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return' program, dogs like her are examined, treated and ultimately released with tags that make clear they pose no danger.'We have a problem: That's stray dogs. So we have to solve it, but in a way that respects animals,' said Mohamed Roudani, the director of the Public Health and Green Spaces Department in Morocco's Interior to balance safety and animal well-beingMorocco adopted 'Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return,' or TVNR, in 2019. One facility has opened in Rabat and more are set to be launched in at least 14 other cities, aligning Morocco with recommendations from the World Organization for Animal Health. The government has spent roughly $23 million over the past five years on animal control centers and said Morocco's updated approach balanced public safety, health and animal well-being. Local officials, he added, were eager to expand TVNR centers throughout the population estimates are challenging, based on samples of marked and tagged stray dogs, Moroccan officials believe they number between 1.2 to 1.5 million. Some neighborhoods welcome and care for them collectively. However, others decry their presence as a scourge and note that more than 100,000 Moroccans have needed rabies vaccinations after attacks.A draft law is in the works that would require owners to vaccinate pets and impose penalties for animal the centerOn a visit organized for journalists to a TNVR center in El Aarjate, enclosures for dogs appear spacious and orderly, with clean floors and the scent of disinfectant. Food and water bowls are refreshed regularly by staff who move between spaces, offering gentle words and careful handling. Some staff members say they grow so attached to the dogs that they miss them when they're released to make space to treat incoming and doctors working for the Association for the Protection of Animals and Nature care for between 400 and 500 stray dogs from Rabat and surrounding cities. Dogs that veterinarians deem unhealthy or aggressive are euthanized using sodium pentobarbital, while the rest are released, unable to spread disease or Lhor, a doctor and veterinarian, said that aggressive methods to cull dogs didn't effectively make communities safer from rabies or aggression. He said it made more sense to to try to have people coexist with dogs safely, noting that more than 200 had been released after treatment from the Rabat-area center.'Slaughtering dogs leads to nothing. This TNVR strategy is not a miracle solution, but it is an element that will add to everything else we're doing,' he said, referring to 'Treat, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return.'It's designed to gradually reduce the stray dog population while minimizing the need for a program that Morocco is eager to showcase after animal rights groups accused it of ramping up efforts to cull street dogs after being named co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup last rights groups protestAnimal rights groups routinely use large sporting events to draw attention to their cause and similarly targeted Russia in the lead-up to the 2018 FIFA World Cup unnamed sources and videos it said were shot in Morocco, the International Animal Welfare and Protection Coalition claimed in January that Morocco was exterminating 3 million dogs, particularly around cities where stadiums are being built. The allegations, reported widely by international media lacking a presence in Morocco, triggered anti-FIFA protests as far away as Ahmedabad, India.'These dogs are being shot in the street, often in front of children, or dragged away with wire nooses to die slow, agonizing deaths,' Ian Ward, the coalition's chairman, said in a officials vehemently deny the claims, say they're implementing the very programs that activists propose, including TNVR. They rebuff the idea that any policy is related to the World Cup. Still, critics see their efforts as publicity stunts and are skeptical such programs are as widespread as officials of mistreatment and euthanasia by gunshot have been reported in local media but Moroccan officials say, despite international attention, they're isolated incidents and don't reflect on-the-ground reality nationwide.
