LIVE IT

Time to take a few moments out for some light and interesting reading – a wellearned break from numbers and statistics!

Life Hack

Zimbabwe’s ‘friendship benches’ are coming to London

Years of poverty, genocide and dictatorship left the nation of Zimbabwe struggling with an epidemic of depression. In response, Dr Dixon Chibanda and a team of volunteers set up the ‘friendship bench’ project, where elders deliver mental health support and therapy right in the neighbourhoods where it’s needed.

Founded in 2007, the Friendship Bench project has treated 280,000 people across 70 communities in Zimbabwe and at spin-off projects in Malawi, Kenya and most recently Zanzibar and Vietnam.

Now, this happy resource is spreading its wings globally, and will arrive in London in 2024. A series of Friendship Benches will be installed across the city in its most marginalised communities. Dr Chibanda told Positive News,

“Whether it’s London, New York or Zimbabwe, everywhere the issues are similar. There are issues related to loneliness, access to care, and to just being able to know that what you’re experiencing – whether you call it stress or depression or anxiety – is treatable.”

As the evenings draw in, there’s no better time to get the fire pit going in the garden. Save money and avoid fossil fuels by fashioning a firelighter out of your dryer lint. Simply stuff an empty toilet paper tube with lint and your fire will be roaring in no time.

Pub quiz

1. What’s the currency of both Saudi Arabia and Qatar called?

2. How many stripes are on the flag of the USA?

3. What’s the most-streamed song of all time on Spotify?

4. What was the original name for sportswear company Nike?

5. If you suffer from ‘gymnophobia’, what are you most afraid of?

Answers: 1. Riyal 2. 13 3. Shape of you – Ed Sheeran 4. Blue Ribbon Sports 5. Nudity

DID YOU KNOW?

There was once an astronaut who was allergic to the moon. During the Apollo 17 mission, astronaut Harrison Schmitt found out that he had a severe reaction to moon dust.

How AI is saving Britain’s biodiversity

Researchers have developed arrays of AI-controlled cameras and microphones to monitor and identify animals and birds in the wild, aiming to combat the growing biodiversity problem in Britain. Tested at sites including Barnes, Twickenham, and Lewisham, the technology captures sounds and images, allowing computers to identify species and map their locations.

The AI successfully recognized various birds by their songs and identified mammals like foxes, deer, hedgehogs, and bats. Network Rail’s involvement provided access to relatively wild land for testing. The technology is set to expand to other areas, including Chobham and the New Forest.

By using AI, researchers aim to understand species movement due to climate change, aiding biodiversity preservation amid increasing temperatures. The massive data analysis required underscores the importance of machine learning in conservation efforts.

Well, knock me down with a feather!

Attacked By A Snake And A Hawk At The Same Time

In a wild tale from Silsbee, Texas, Peggy Jones found herself in comedic chaos while mowing her lawn. While minding her own business, a snake dropped from the heavens and wrapped itself around her arm. Moments later, a hawk joined the party, swooping down and trying to grab the snake for a snack. Peggy, in a state of disbelief, turned into a one-woman arm-waving circus, shouting, “Help me, Jesus!” The hawk, determined to play the role of the villain, went after the snake several times before finally making off with it, leaving Peggy with a bloodied arm and probably a story for the ages. Peggy avoided a snake bite, but ended up with scratches from the hawk’s claws. Luckily Peggy has since recovered from her unusual ordeal.