Positive News Tuesday

Editor OGN Daily
Aug 5
3 min read

Some tasty bite-sized chunks of uplifting news from around the world.

Flamingos reflected in the still waters they are feeding in — Credit: Ibrahim Alshwamin | Mangrove Photography Awards

Spotlight on Mangroves

Mangroves provide a rest stop for migratory flamingos in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia. As the vibrant birds snack on algae and small invertebrates, the still and shallow waters create a mirror effect. Photographer Ibrahim Alshwamin captured the serene moment and took home runner-up honours in the Birds category of the 2025 Mangrove Photography Awards. Now in its 11th year, the competition puts a spotlight on vital and fragile mangrove ecosystems around the world. Jazan is one of the most important stopover sites along the global migration route, attracting a variety of waterbirds in addition to flamingos, such as herons, terns, and spoonbills. Preserving this habitat is essential for supporting biodiversity and maintaining migratory pathways. Visit the Mangrove Action Project to learn more about how healthy mangroves sustain wildlife.

Customer Service

Can I speak to a human, please? Some good news for those who find themselves getting a little irritated when “talking” to customer service robots - at least for Americans and, currently, only potentially. A new bipartisan bill aims to protect American call center jobs and make sure customers know whether they’re talking to a real person or artificial intelligence. Under the bill, named the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025, call center employees must disclose their locations at the beginning of all interactions, and share whether any AI technology is being used. Callers would also be entitled to ask for a transfer to a U.S.-based customer service rep.

Aerial view of Montgomery Dam — Montgomery Dam

Dam Busting

Whilst the removal of four dams along the Klamath River near the California-Oregon border was the largest river restoration in US history, something similar is happening on the other side of the country. New England’s mill rivers are reopening to salmon and sturgeon. From Maine to Massachusetts, CS Monitor reports that towns are voting to rip out obsolete Industrial-Revolution structures, restoring floodplains and reconnecting spawning runs; the town of Camden even approved removing its historic Montgomery Dam, signalling a cultural shift toward 'free rivers' in the US Northeast.

Europe Removes Record Number of River Barriers in 2024

Lord of The Rings

Our solar system’s resident ring-bearer Saturn will be visible with its iconic rings on 11 to 12 August - allowing stargazers to see the flat undersurface rather than just the band. It’s the first time in 15 years that the southern face of Saturn’s rings will reach a tilt of 3 degrees. It will be visible from Earth through a basic telescope, and the perfect opportunity for introducing newbies or children to the majesty of Saturn.

The Lucietta, electric Venetian water taxi — The Lucietta | RePower / Nauta

Electric Water Taxi

A collaboration between a marine design studio, an Italian shipyard and a Swiss energy titan has unveiled the first fully electric Venetian water taxi, which should be a breath of fresh air to local marine tourism and beyond. The Lucietta offers emissions-free hops for up to 14 passengers, who can seat themselves in the lush part shaded mid-section, or they can enjoy the (hopefully) fine weather at the exposed stern. The "taxi driver" is positioned up near the craft's nose for optimum visibility.

Brink of Breakthrough

UN chief António Guterres says the world is on the brink of climate breakthrough. More than nine in 10 renewable power projects commissioned in 2024 were less expensive than their fossil fuel equivalent. Solar was 41 percent cheaper on average and land wind 53 percent cheaper. “The greatest threat to energy security today is fossil fuels. They leave economies and people at the mercy of price shocks, supply disruptions and geopolitical turmoil. There are no price spikes for sunlight. No embargoes on wind.”

“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.” Paul Lewis Boese