Wrapping up the week with some positive news nuggets.
Gallantry Medal
A woman who repeatedly punched a crocodile on the nose, as she fought to save her twin sister from an attack, is feature on King Charles III’s first civilian gallantry list. Georgia Laurie, 31, managed to rescue her sister, Melissa, during the incident in June 2021, when a guide wrongly informed them that they could safely swim in a river in Puerto Escondido, Mexico. Miss Laurie will be awarded the King’s Gallantry Medal for her heroics.
Pre-Natal Care
Starting on the first day of 2025, New York will become the first state to mandate that employers will be required to provide up to 20 hours of paid leave in a 52-week period for pregnant workers to receive prenatal care. In addition to the three months of paid parental leave eligible employees receive, this time off will allow them to attend doctor’s appointments and be in a better position to take care of themselves without jeopardizing their jobs.
Buddha Day
A worker at the Maha Vihara Mojopahit temple in Trowulan, Indonesia, cleans a Buddha statue ahead of Vesak, or "Buddha Day". The celebration marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Siddhartha Gautama and will be marked on 23 May this year.
Hats Off to Portugal
Portugal generated 95 percent of its electricity from renewables in April, according to the network operator REN. Renewable energy generation averaged just below that for the first four months of the year, covering 91 percent of the nation’s power needs. The nation is well on its way to joining the 100 percent club.
"Very Special Day"
Some 510 finches from five species were released on Floreana Island as part of a nature restoration programme, according to Ecuador’s Ministry of the Environment. A flock of finches, the birds famously studied by Charles Darwin in his theory of evolution, have been reintroduced to an area of the Galapagos Islands. Since 2023 experts have been working to eradicate introduced species which have caused the disappearance of numerous native species, paving the way for ecological restoration. "This is a very special day,” says Eliécer Cruz, Spokesman for the Jocotoco Conservation Foundation.
Natural Solution
Nature-based policies from governments around the world have doubled over the last 12 months, a new study has found. The report looked at 300 different policies around the world and found that around half of global emissions reductions by 2035 are likely to come from those aimed at ending deforestation, reducing food waste, restoring ecosystems, lowering agricultural emissions and rolling out nature-based climate solutions. In just the last 12 months, reports EuroNews Green, credible national policy announcements designed to tackle emissions related to land use have doubled.
Finally!
Federal regulators have approved sweeping changes to how America’s electric grids are planned and funded, in a move that supporters hope could spur thousands of miles of new high-voltage power lines and make it easier to add more wind and solar energy, says The New York Times. Regulators now require operators to look 20 years ahead, accounting for changes in the energy mix. Why is this good news? Aside from shifting from short-term to long-term thinking in building infrastructure, these changes are desperately needed.
“I drink a cup of sunlight every morning to brighten myself.” Debasish Mridha
On This Day
17 May 1900: L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was first published.
Today's Articles
New Research: A herd of 170 bison have such a positive environmental impact that it's equivalent to taking 2 million cars off the road.
Mood Boosting Video
Scientists have observed a never-before-seen behaviour by a wild orangutan.