Today's upbeat collection of positive news nuggets from around the globe.
Focus on Girls
In Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park, nature has roared back to life thanks to a commitment to human development - with a focus on girls - alongside the protection of animals, reports El Pais. Two decades ago, an ambitious rewilding project in Gorongosa National Park, one of Africa’s great wildlife parks, put girls’ education and female empowerment at the heart of its conservation blueprint. It was the first park in Mozambique to introduce female anti-poaching rangers and today provides internships and university programs to encourage girls to stay in education and challenge the tradition of early marriage.
Zimbabwe Female Anti-Poacher Unit: The Akashinga, or “brave ones,” survived abuse and exploitation. Now, armed and trained like special forces, they're protecting the country’s most iconic wildlife. More (including NatGeo video)...
EVs For Vatican
The Vatican has signed an agreement with German carmaker Volkswagen to replace the city-state's entire car fleet with electric vehicles by 2030. The governor's office of the world's smallest state said the "partnership accord" with the VW was one of the ways the 108 acre sovereign city-state aims to reach a long-term goal of becoming carbon neutral and relying exclusively on renewable energy.
Final Chapter of TB
After setbacks caused by the pandemic, there has been significant worldwide recovery in the scale-up of diagnosis and treatment for tuberculosis. Last year, 7.5 million people were reached - the highest figure ever recorded, reports WHO. Global efforts to combat TB have now saved over 75 million lives since 2000. "For millennia, our ancestors suffered and died with tuberculosis, without knowing what it was, what caused it, or how to stop it. Today, we have knowledge and tools they could only have dreamed of. We have political commitment, and we have an opportunity that no generation in the history of humanity has had: the opportunity to write the final chapter in the story of TB," Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
Really Good Feeling
When Iowa teen Lauren Schroeder showed up to a community food drive during Covid, she noticed that there was little on offer that actually nourished people - just lots of boxed and canned goods. She decided to become the change she wanted to see, and after receiving a half-acre of land from her parents, she grew 7,000 pounds of produce with a market value of around $15,000 and gave it all away to food banks and non-profits in the Quad Cities area. Later, she got a grant from Future Farmers of America and turned her half acre into a full acre and now looks forward to donating even more fresh, healthy food. “It was a really good feeling to know that anyone who wanted fresh vegetables would be able to get them,” Lauren told the Washington Post. “I knew that I wanted to keep going.”
Villagers Rejoice
Locals in a village in southern England are "extremely pleased" that a missing piece of punctuation has returned to a village road sign, said a councillor. A resident raised the alarm after noticing there was no apostrophe on a replacement sign for St Mary's Terrace in Twyford, Hampshire. After Winchester City Council found the old sign and reinstalled it, councillor Susan Cook said it was "a small thing but important to people".
Napoleon's Bicorne
A hat belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte when he ruled France in the 19th century has been sold for $2.1m at auction in Paris. Historians say the bicorne black beaver felt hat was part of his brand. Wearing it sideways made him recognisable in battle. He owned about 120 bicorne hats over the years but only 20 are thought to remain - many in private collections. The auctioneers said that the hat is the true holy grail for specialist collectors. The emperor wore his hat with the corns parallel to shoulders - known as "en bataille" - whereas most of his officers wore their hats perpendicular to the shoulders.
World's Largest
The United Arab Emirates has opened the world’s largest single-site solar farm. The massive Al Dhafra solar farm is 22 miles from Abu Dhabi and will power nearly 200,000 homes - eliminating over 2.4 million tons of CO2 emissions annually.
"Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of congress. But I repeat myself." Mark Twain
On This Day
22 November 1995: Pixar's Toy Story, the first entirely computer-animated feature-length film, was released and became a critical and commercial hit.
In 2016, a grandma accidentally sent a Thanksgiving invitation to a complete stranger. Tomorrow, they're celebrating their eighth together. Serendipity...
Desiderata: There's something in this prose poem for everyone, no matter what season of life you're facing. Even if you've read it before, there is no time wasted in enjoying it again. Words for life...
Mood Booster
Verdi’s 'La Traviata' performed by fish. Fun but weird!
Comments