Getting the week off to a bright start with a global round up of positive news snippets.
Canada’s most endangered mammal is back from the brink of extinction. The critically endangered species has gone from a low count of just 30 wild marmots living in a handful of locations in 2003 to approximately 200 living in colonies across 20 Vancouver Island mountains today.
Trump administration denies permit for Alaskan mine: The proposed copper and gold mine has come to epitomize environmentalists’ struggle to protect ecosystems against the will of the federal government. It's great news that the future of this pristine wilderness is now secure.
Even though the world-famous King's College Christmas carol service will be performed in an empty chapel this year, millions are still expected to tune into the broadcast of the performance on BBC Radio 4 at 15:00 GMT on 24 December. It will be repeated at 14:00 GMT on Radio 3 on Christmas Day. Choral heaven!
World's Loneliest Elephant: Yesterday an Asian bull elephant, called Kaavan, commenced his epic journey from his appalling conditions in Islamabad Zoo to a comfortable retirement sanctuary in Cambodia. Months after a Pakistan court ordered all the animals in the zoo be moved.
Despite their environmental benefits, birds colliding with turbine blades is one of the main negative effects of onshore wind farms. But the good news is that a nine year study at Norway’s Smøla wind farm has found that bird strikes can be cut by 70 percent simply by painting one blade of a wind turbine black.
Swiss Parliament gives dress rule the cold shoulder: In a move described as a “small revolution”, Switzerland has overturned a ban on women showing their shoulders in parliament. Hans Stöckli, president of the Swiss parliament, said the ban was “antiquated”.
From the rocky outcrops of Iceland to the to the sunny plains of Texas, engineers are building giant machines to suck carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. It sounds like science fiction, but the companies behind this technology insist it could be a secret weapon in the fight against climate change.
Thanks to an OGN reader for sending us this photo, accompanied by a note saying: Plenty of loo rolls at the supermarket but this is the sad state of the tonic water shelves. I'm proud of how we have evolved as a nation #Lockdown2.
UK government is investing £22.5 million in the creation of five new centres that will help Britain move towards a circular economy. They will explore how reusing waste materials in the textiles, construction, chemical and metal industries could deliver huge environmental benefits and boost the UK economy.
Fans of Phantom of the Opera will love Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s virtual rendition of “All I Ask Of You”, orchestrated earlier this year with the help of the internet and group video calls. It really is quite something, and a rather uplifting way to kick start the week.