Happy Monday 👋

Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:

• Get involved in Women’s History Month ♀️
• Reduce food insecurity worldwide with a common water plant 🪴
• A sustainable way to reuse chitin from seafood waste 🦞
• And more… 💚

Today, I have a special announcement for you…

We’ve slightly changed our newsletter cadence and structure for you:

• You’ll now receive three regular newsletters per week, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
• The focus story on Monday is to share timely events (plus soon also connected challenges) with you

Hit “reply” and let me know, how you like this first Monday edition 🙋

♀️ Event of the Month: Women’s History Month

👉 Did you know that March is Women’s History Month? This month is dedicated to honoring and highlighting women’s contributions to historical events and in modern-day society.

1️⃣ The big picture: Women’s History Month has its origins in the US, where it began as “Women’s History Week” in 1982 and was later expanded to “Women’s History Month” in 1987. It is a celebration of all of the contributions women have made to the US and recognizing their roles in shaping American history.

2️⃣ Why is this important: Throughout history, women have fought for equity, diversity, and inclusion when others sought to misinterpret, exploit, or discredit them. In the US alone, women have gone from representing one-third of the workforce in 1969 to almost half in 2023. Additionally, a record number of women are running for public office and serving in Congress. Despite this growth, inequalities still remain. This is why we take the month of March to remember how far we have come and remind us of how far we have yet to go.

3️⃣ How can you get involved: The theme of Women’s History Month 2024 is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion” which highlights the need to eliminate discrimination and bias. You can get involved in Women’s History Month by donating to the National Women’s History Alliance or simply showing up for the women in your life. 

Below are our favorite charities that are especially relevant this month:

• 9 Best Charities for Women’s History Month 
• 9 Best Charities That Fight for Women’s Health
• 10 Best Charities for Female Education

📢 Three Good News

🪴 Common water plant could reduce food insecurity:

• According to a study published in the journal Food Science & Nutrition, an often overlooked water plant called Carolina azolla (azolla caroliniana Willd) could ease food security in the event of a crisis.
• Other species of azolla have previously been used for centuries as livestock feed and ‘green manure’. However, Carolina azolla is more easily digestible for humans and more nutritious. It can also double its biomass in just two days. 
• The researchers determined that Carolina azolla, which has a crisp neutral taste, has a phenolic content of 4.26g, similar to that of many fruits.

🦞 Scientists discover environmentally-friendly way to reuse seafood waste:

• Researchers from UConn’s College of Agriculture have found a sustainable way to recover chitin from seafood waste by using naturally found chemicals. Chitin is the second most abundant biological polymer on earth.
• An estimated 100 billion tons of chitin are produced every year by fungi, insects, and crustaceans. However, it has previously been difficult to extract without using carbon-intensive processes. 
• Chitin can be used for a variety of items when in its purest form, including packaging, cosmetics, and fertilizers. 

🪿 Seabird poop can help coral recover from climate-driven bleaching:

• Researchers have found that seabird poop contains nutrients that can double coral growth rate and encourage faster recovery after bleaching events.
• Birds like sooty terns (Onychoprion fuscatus) and red-footed boobies (Sula sula) fly out to the ocean to feed. When they return to land and poop, nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus leak into the water. 
• The research, conducted at Lancaster University, suggests a greater need to conserve seabirds in order to protect our vulnerable coral reefs. 

🤝 Three More Important Awareness Events For This Week

🙅🏼‍♀️ March 3-9, No More Week:

• In the US alone, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men will experience domestic violence or sexual assault at some point in their lives, and 65% of people who come forward say no one helps them.
• This week highlights the sexual and domestic violence epidemic and rallies support to end it.

📈 March 4, World Obesity Day:

• Since 1975, global obesity rates have almost tripled, and among children and adolescents, they have increased by almost 500%.
• World Obesity Day encourages people to improve their knowledge of the disease, including prevention and treatment, and to take action to end the obesity crisis. 

🛑 March 4, World Day of Fight Against Sexual Exploitation:

• Globally, as many as 5 million women and girls are victims of forced sexual exploitation each year.
• This day draws attention to the issue and emphasizes the importance of fighting it, as well as expanding services and protection for survivors.

Related: You can discover all the 115 most important awareness events (for the month, days, weeks) in our awareness calendar for March 2024!

📜 This Week in History

🇺🇲 March 04, 1933: Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated as the 32^nd US president during the Great Depression. He later led the country out of the Depression and to victory in World War II. 

🇨🇦 March 04, 1982: Bertha Wilson became the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada. 

🏈 March 04, 1888: American footballer Knute Rockne was born. In his coaching of the Notre Dame Football Team which ran for 13 seasons, he amassed 105 wins and three national championships.

💭 Quote of the Day

“If women lawyers and women judges through their differing perspectives on life can bring a new humanity to bear on the decision-making process, perhaps they will make a difference. Perhaps, they will succeed in infusing the law with an understanding of what it means to be fully human.”

— Bertha Wilson, former Canadian jurist

Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society together!

Stay impactful 💚