Global round up of good news nuggets to brighten the day.
Rights of Nature
A beautiful thing about democracy is that it is inherently self-correcting. Democratic constitutions survive because they change with the times. Now, Chile is joining a wave of constitutional change in South America to adapt to the changing climate and to protect its biodiversity. Delegates in Chile’s assembly have until 5 July to hammer out the changes they propose for the country’s constitution. The changes aim to address issues like climate change, toxic pollution, and a loss of biodiversity. The ideas for the new constitution are very similar to those of Ecuador and Panama’s recent legislation on the Rights of Nature. This includes the education and empowerment of citizens to defend nature, the rights of animals and nature to exist and regenerate, and the rights for nature’s legal representation.
Act of Kindness
A man handed £200 to a worker at an Asda filling station in York, UK, telling her to ‘take a bit’ off people’s bills as ‘everyone is struggling at the moment’. One of those lucky recipient’s was Katie, who’s on maternity leave with her first child and said money was tight. Expecting her bill to be around £70 the sales assistant told her she would only be paying around £50. Katie said, “I know it is only £20 but when you are reading the news and losing faith in human nature - it is a reminder that there is a bit of good in this world.”
Darwin's Tortoises
Two giant Galapagos tortoises have been successfully bred in a British zoo for the first time. The newborns were fathered by 70-year-old Dirk, described as being in “peak physical condition”. Giant Galapagos tortoises – famous for their long necks – have a lifespan of more than 100 years and are synonymous with Charles Darwin, who pioneered the theory of evolution by studying them. The British naturalist realised the creatures adapted their physical shape to their surroundings and their extended necks were meant for reaching high-up vegetation on the Galapagos Islands. The tortoises are listed as endangered, so any addition to their numbers is good news.
Sustainable Toys
We all know that plastic toys may be unnecessary and often end up in the landfill, so it’s good to know that huge companies like Mattel are now using bioplastic and making their products more sustainable. They debuted new certified CarbonNeutral toys this week from their popular MEGA BLOKS line for tots, and recently released a Matchbox Tesla Roadster, its first die-cast vehicle made from 99 percent recycled materials. These are moves toward the company’s goal to achieve 100 percent recycled, recyclable, or bio-based plastic materials in all its toys and packaging by 2030.
NATO Expansion
Finland and Sweden could soon join NATO in moves that would “likely infuriate Moscow” and “further underscore Russia’s strategic error in invading Ukraine,” says CNN. NATO officials said that serious discussions about Sweden and Finland joining the bloc have been held and US senior State Department officials said the prospect was raised at a recent NATO foreign ministerial meeting. A former Finnish PM said the move to join “was pretty much a done deal on the 24th of February, when Russia invaded.”
Tiger in Scotland
The look on Tiger Woods’s face as he walked off the 18th green at Augusta on Sunday told you all you need to know about what he’s been through in the last 14 months. However, Woods ranks playing four rounds at Augusta as one of his greatest achievements and, in good news for golf fans, confirmed he will be at the 150th Open at St Andrews in July. If you missed it, Sunday's OGN Magazine Top 18 Funny Golf Quotes might amuse you.
Quote of the Day
"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little."
Edmund Burke
On this Day
12 April 1606: The Union Flag, precursor to the Union Jack, was adopted as the national flag of Great Britain.
Dive in Deeper
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Musical Mood Booster
Classic movies dance scene mashup to Elton John's Crocodile Rock