Safe Ground is an organization that specializes in providing arts-based therapeutic group work. They offer a variety of programs that are adaptable to the specific needs of different services, including both secure and community settings across the nation. The organization prides itself on successfully engaging individuals who have not been well-served by traditional educational systems and who may find group work settings challenging. Safe Ground's programs are often the initial step towards continuous engagement in meaningful activities for their participants. The organization emphasizes inclusivity and strives to minimize the exclusion of participants in their programs.

The article discusses the environmental and social challenges posed by the construction of 14 small-scale hydropower plants (SHPs) along the Valbona River in Northern Albania. Despite the river's ecological and cultural significance, the Albanian government has not intervened to protect it. The company Gener2 holds the concession contracts for the SHPs, which are opposed by local residents and activists due to concerns over environmental damage, economic impact, and lack of proper public consultation. Catherine Bohne and the organization TOKA are at the forefront of the opposition, employing legal challenges, international advocacy, and grassroots activism. The article highlights the resistance faced by locals, including intimidation and censorship, and the dysfunctional Albanian court system. Efforts to promote sustainable tourism and gather environmental data are also mentioned as part of the ongoing fight to preserve the river.

The article discusses the environmental and social impact of 14 small-scale hydropower plants planned along the Valbona River in Northern Albania, particularly within the Valbona Valley National Park. Local residents and environmental activists, including Catherine Bohne of the Organization to Conserve the Albanian Alps (TOKA), are opposing the construction by Gener2, a company holding the concession contracts. The opposition highlights concerns over inadequate environmental impact assessments, threats to local wildlife, and the potential negative effects on tourism and local culture. Despite legal challenges and grassroots protests, the construction has continued, with allegations of corruption in the Albanian court system and intimidation tactics used against opponents. TOKA is seeking international support to protect the river and is promoting sustainable tourism and environmental data collection as alternative methods of resistance.

The article discusses the ancient tradition of horsemanship in Turkey, where horses, known as 'yılkı', were used for farm labor and then released into the wild for the winter months. With the advent of modern farming equipment, these horses now live undomesticated year-round. Ali Turan Görgü, a professor at Baskent University, and Rifat Torun, a horseman, explain the historical and economic reasons behind this practice. Ender Gülgen of Kirkit Voyage utilizes the mixed breed of Arabian and Anatolian horses for riding expeditions. The article also highlights the efforts of Nuri Çorbacıoğlu and Ali Kemer, who own and protect a herd of yılkı horses near Kayseri, providing them with food and veterinary care. The horses, which have adapted to the wild, are a living testament to the region's history and the civilizations that have influenced their breeding.

The article recounts the personal experience of the author who, while traveling in Tashkent, seeks shelter with a Russian poet named Inesse. Initially, Inesse welcomes the author and discusses potential collaborative projects. However, the neighborhood guard soon intervenes, questioning Inesse about hosting foreigners due to a state of emergency. The guard presents Inesse with an ultimatum: either the author must leave or all of them will face quarantine. This incident highlights the tightening restrictions on foreigners and the author perceives it as a sign of increasing difficulties for travelers during the pandemic.

The article discusses the efforts of the Save Kresna Coalition in Bulgaria to prevent the construction of a superhighway through the ecologically sensitive Kresna Gorge, a Natura 2000 site. Since 1997, the coalition has successfully stalled the project, forcing the Bulgarian government to consider alternative routes. The piece highlights the importance of intergenerational cooperation in environmental activism, noting the advantages of combining the experience of older members with the energy and modern skills of younger activists. It also touches on the challenges faced by the coalition, such as recruiting new members amidst negative publicity from the government and media. The coalition's long-term commitment to the cause is seen as a mobilizing message to the community, demonstrating the persistence required for successful environmental campaigns.