Mid week round up of good news nuggets from around the world.
Flying the Flag
The Aboriginal flag will have a permanent spot on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with the New South Wales government committing to install a third flagpole by the end of the year. Flying the Aboriginal flag alongside the Australian and NSW state flags is an important gesture towards closing the gap said the state premier, Dominic Perrottet. “Our Indigenous history should be celebrated and acknowledged so young Australians understand the rich and enduring culture that we have here with our past.”
Ivory Act
A landmark ban on ivory in the UK has gone into effect. The Ivory Act is one of the toughest in the world, with offenders facing an unlimited fine or up to five years jail. It’s hoped the ban will help end the global ivory trade, and save the lives of countless elephants each year.
Good Breeding
A 25-year study of the monarch butterfly in North America, the largest and most comprehensive assessment of the breeding population to date, has overturned everyone’s worst fears and revealed that the species is actually doing alright, after an average annual increase of 1.36 percent per year, reports Global Change Biology.
Philocalist
Lover of beauty; someone who finds beauty in all things. A philocalist is someone who is able to cherish the little things.
Pollution Progress
Between 2013 and 2020 China’s air pollution dropped by 40 percent, which means the country reduced the same amount of pollution in seven years as America did in three decades, reports Bloomberg.
Next Era
Next Era, the largest power company in the US, just announced a plan to achieve 'real-zero' by 2045, by building huge amounts of solar and hydrogen. No other American utility to date has committed to total decarbonization without the use of offsets or carbon capture technology, reports Wall Street Journal. Let's hope other utilities will now follow Next Era's example.
War on Waste
The global war on waste is ramping up. India is about to kick off the largest plastic ban in the world; America just announced it will phase out single-use plastic in national parks by 2032, saving 14 million tonnes of plastic from ending up in the ocean; and in Australia, efforts to minimise plastic over the past six years have reduced coastal litter by 29 percent.
Charge While Driving
Multinational automotive manufacturing corporation Stellantis has built and tested the capability of Dynamic Wireless Power transfer (DWPT) technology to wirelessly recharge electric vehicles (EVs) as they travel over specially equipped dedicated road lanes. DWPT technology utilizes wireless EV charging coils embedded under the surface so electric vehicles can charge as they drive and unlock unlimited range, thus overcoming range anxiety. Who needs fast-charging stations or swap stations? Or who would buy electric vehicles that offer the longest range when they can charge their vehicle while driving? The best news is that the technology can be adapted for all vehicles equipped with a particular “receiver” that transfers the energy from the road infrastructure directly to the electric motor, extending the range while conserving the vehicle battery charge. Even better news would be that DWPT was already widely available!
Quote of the Day
“When I read the newspaper, I look for the good news because every thought we think changes our biochemistry. Your hormones are all affected by your thoughts. Pay attention to things that bring you joy.” Dr. Christiane Northup
On this Day
22 June 1633: Galileo Galilei forced to recant his Copernican views that the Earth orbits the Sun by the Pope (Vatican only admits it was wrong on Oct 31, 1992).
Dive in Deeper
Secretive fossil fuel treaty is being sued in European Court of Human Rights and could have hugely beneficial ramifications for the planet. Read on...
Commuting in Style
Jetson ONE inventor Tomasz Patan flew from home to work - reducing his commute time by an impressive 88 percent.