Only Good News Monday
- Editor OGN Daily
- May 8, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: May 20, 2023
Global round-up of positive news snippets to get the week off to a sunny start.
100 for the Ocean
A group of 100 renowned nature photographers has come together for a new project to protect the beauty of the world's oceans. 100 for the Ocean was set up by three photographers who believe art has the ability to "bring the world together and give voice to the creatures who depend on the ocean for survival." The group is selling limited-edition prints of stunning natural images, like this emperor penguin launching itself out of Antarctica's icy waters. The prints start at $100, and the sale runs through May. They hope to raise around $1 million. Proceeds go to SeaLegacy Canada Foundation, which will use the money to expand its conservation efforts and support other ocean-focused organizations. Buy your limited-edition print here.
Emperor Penguin Exit Strategy: They have a clever trick with air bubbles that enables them to triple their speed and launch themselves out of the sea. Watch...
RSV Breakthrough
A vaccine that could save thousands of lives has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Arexvy was developed to protect people from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) - an illness that kills up to 10,000 mostly elderly people every year in the US alone. A study by GSK, the UK firm behind the jab, reports a vaccine efficacy of 82.6 percent. Approval from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is needed before Arexvy can be made available.
Indigenous Reserves
Swathes of the Amazon rainforest are now protected from mining and commercial farming after the Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, created six new Indigenous reserves in the country. The move effectively puts 620,000 hectares (1.5m acres) in the hands of Indigenous groups - a proven solution to deforestation, rates of which soared under previous president Jair Bolsonaro.
Autonomous eFerry
Stockholm has become the first city in the world to launch a self-driving, fully-electric commercial passenger ferry. The ferry, an electric catamaran with a capacity of 25 people, will operate between Kungsholmen and Søder Mellarstrand in Stockholm with 15 hours of continuous electric operation every day. The vessel is part of a project aimed at creating more sustainable urban mobility and attracting international interest due to its green profile.
Young at Heart
Drones may capture awe-inspiring footage of city skylines, but new planning tool VR95 gives urban design professionals a different kind of street-level view: how a city looks if you’re about three feet tall. The virtual reality experience displays traffic, sidewalks and public space at that height - the size of an average three-year-old - to encourage decision-makers to consider kids when planning. In consultation with community groups in cities around the world, Arup and the Bernard van Leer Foundation have developed the Proximity of Care Design Guide, which outlines effective and inexpensive ways urban spaces can be designed and built to better serve children, their caregivers, and pregnant women.
Monster Turbine
The world’s deepest offshore wind turbine has been installed almost 17 miles off the coast of Angus as part of Scotland’s biggest offshore windfarm. The Scottish energy company SSE installed the 2,000-tonne turbine foundation at a depth of more than 58 metres (192ft) as part of the £3bn ($3.8bn) Seagreen offshore windfarm. The record-breaking foundation will be Seagreen’s 112th turbine, of a total of 114; the project will power the equivalent of 1.6m homes by the summer.
Tipping Point
Renewable electricity has pushed through a series of positive tipping points in recent years, with 2023 set to pass a major milestone. This year, the world is predicted to pass a critical turning point in renewable energy. Greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector, the largest source of the world's emissions, are expected to fall for the first time, according to London-based think tank Ember. That's despite the fact that the world's demand for electricity is still growing. Emissions are set to fall because expansion in renewable energies such as solar and wind is outstripping that growth in demand.
“I drink Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it - unless I’m thirsty.” Lily Bollinger (1899-1977)
On this Day
8 May 1886: American pharmacist John S. Pemberton developed Coca-Cola, a drink he originally billed as a cure-all tonic.
With Mother's Day coming up on Sunday (in the US), why not consider buying flowers that are ethically and sustainably sourced? Extra thoughtful...
The Princess of Wales has given a landmark speech to launch her “life’s work”, a project that highlights the importance of early years development of children. Shaping up...
Mood Booster
Singing Ice: Listen to the otherworldly sounds recorded on a remote lake in Sweden.