Good News Thursday
Well I know there's no alliteration there, but no day starts with G or N. It's the best I've got.
For a moment of celebration this week (we all need one, even when - especially when - we hear so much of the dire stuff), here are a few fun or good news stories I saw:
And in case you need more data to back up my claim above, the first story is that new research out of Harvard shows that optimistic people live longer on average! Apparently exercise and healthy eating was not a huge factor. Really, can this news get any better?
Canada has banned most single use plastics, and the regulations will come into force quite speedily - by the end of the year. It will also ban the export of these plastics by 2025. I am happy to donate half of my approximately 386 accumulated reusable tote bags to the Canadian people.
I’m not sure quite whether to be appalled, amazed, or terrified by this story, but I’m definitely impressed: Researchers have captured the biggest Burmese python ever recorded in Florida. The snakes are invasive, but elusive, and their capture is a very good thing. This female snake was 215 lbs and almost 18 ft long. 215 lbs. Click on the link to see three dudes carrying the thing. I want to visit the Everglades, but….I would really like those researchers to catch a few more pythons first.
Bald eagles are making a big comeback! Hurrah! This story is from a year ago but I saw it this week as I was meandering my way down a news rabbit hole, so I thought I’d share it. Fewer than 500 breeding pairs existed in the late 1960s, and now there are over 70,000. Just since 2009, the number of bald eagles has quadrupled. My anecdotal evidence supports this too. I’ve seen far more in recent years than previously. I hope it’s not just the symbol of America that can make a comeback.
For the first time, we generated 10% of our global power via renewables last year (2021). Many countries are doing better than that, and of course, many worse, but there is robust growth in solar and wind in particular and in other clean sources as well. Keep it up, globe.
So, just a few reasons to be hopeful, optimistic, and convince you never to own a Burmese python if at all avoidable.
I'm with you on visiting the Everglades...after they've captured more pythons.
This all actually IS good news. And lord knows we could use more of that.... Thank you, Anne....