Collection of uplifting news nuggerts to ensure a sunny Sunday.
In good news for the planet, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has just revoked a series of Trump administration orders that promoted fossil fuel development on public lands and waters, and issued a separate directive that prioritizes climate change in agency decisions. The moves are part of a government-wide effort by the Biden administration to address climate change.
With its reputation for excess, Las Vegas is an unlikely pioneer of conservation initiatives. However, officials plan on banning grass, with one describing efforts to maintain turf in the desert as “dumb”. It's estimated that ripping up “non functional turf” could reduce water consumption by 15 percent and can easily be replaced with native desert plants. Sod it, why not?
New Zealand has announced a suite of proposals aimed at outlawing smoking for the next generation and moving the country closer to its goal of being smoke-free by 2025.
Post clothes to charity for free: Out with the old and in with the new - only it rarely works like that. How many unworn garments are abandoned to wardrobe dwelling moths, or worse still, get thrown out with the rubbish? The answer: around 350,000 tonnes annually in the UK alone.
Hats off to Pavel Abramov. The 9-year-old Russian boy uses his amazing artistic talents to help shelter animals. His love for painting and animals keeps him doing something very few people would, especially at such a young age. Pavel paints pet portraits, but he doesn’t want money in exchange. All he wants from his customers is to donate food, medicine or anything that an animal shelter might need. People can donate to any shelter, no matter where they live, since some of them are from Spain, Germany, and other countries.
Vitamin D - What it does and how to get enough: Often called the Sunshine Vitamin, it's important that you get enough vitamin D as it's vital for immunity, mood and bone health - and helps combat Covid.
There's a growing debate (even amongst the super-rich) that, instead of leaving the hugely wealthy to channel their billions into philanthropic projects, higher taxes should be used to fund public services, welfare and tackle growing inequality. An annual wealth tax of just 2 percent on those with more than $50m (£36m) and 6 percent on those worth a billion or more - as proposed by the US senator Elizabeth Warren - would raise more than $4tn over 10 years in the US. That’s $4,000,000,000,000. You could do quite a bit with that.
It’s been a few months since we had our last meteor shower, but the good news is that the night sky is about to light up once again - with starry streaks. The annual Lyrid meteor shower has just begun, and will peak on 21 and 22 April. Look to the east. The Lyrids are one of the oldest known meteor showers, having been noted 2,700 years ago in historical Chinese texts.
Trout returning to Los Angeles: An ambitious restoration of the concrete drag strip that is the Los Angeles River could welcome back endangered southern California steelhead trout to one of the country’s biggest cities.
John Lewis, Iceland and the Brewdog brewery were among the UK firms championing the Better Business Act in parliament this week. The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Companies Act to ensure that company directors are responsible for advancing the interests of society and the environment, as well as those of their shareholders.
Washington State becomes the first US state to pass a ban on traditional combustion engine cars by 2030, becoming the earliest such car ban in the US. California and Massachusetts plan petrol car bans by 2035.
Total Control - The Motels: Is this the best track from the late 70s? The sax riff is divine... and, if you've never heard it, you'll be pleased you now have. Definitely a Sunday mood booster!