Hi again! Erica here with this week’s Feel Good News — take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy these stories.
1. Germany to classify date rape drugs as weapons to ensure justice for survivors
Germany plans to treat the use of date rape drugs like the use of weapons in prosecutions as part of measures to ensure justice for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. “We classify date rape drugs, which are increasingly used as a widespread tool in crimes, as weapons. This creates the basis for significantly stricter prosecutions,” Alexander Dobrindt, the interior minister, said on Friday. “We are committed to clear consequences and consistent enforcement. Women should feel safe and be able to move freely everywhere.”
2. California hasn’t seen rolling blackouts since 2020, and hasn’t issued an emergency plea for the public to conserve energy
California has made significant strides in improving the reliability and sustainability of its electrical grid in recent years. The state has invested heavily in battery energy storage, which has grown over 3,000% since 2020 and now plays a key role in providing power during peak demand periods. This has enabled California to avoid rolling blackouts since 2022, a major shift from the past. Batteries have allowed the grid to operate with far less use of fossil fuels, and they are becoming a more cost-effective alternative to aging gas-fired power plants. While challenges remain, such as the need for longer-duration battery technologies, California’s grid has undergone a transformation, reflecting the state’s commitment to its climate goals and the broader shift towards renewable energy and storage solutions.
3. Landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants in England for complaining about poor conditions, etc.
The UK government has announced that it will ban no-fault evictions in England from May 2023, as part of sweeping reforms to the renting system. The changes will also see the end of fixed-term tenancy contracts, with renters moving onto “rolling” agreements, and an end to “bidding wars” for properties. Landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants for complaining about poor conditions, and will only be able to do so in certain circumstances, such as if tenants damage the property or commit antisocial behavior. However, some landlords have expressed concerns about the speed of the changes, arguing that they need more time to prepare for the “biggest changes it has faced for over 40 years.” The reforms, described as the biggest shake-up to renting in England for more than 30 years, are aimed at protecting renters and preventing them from being evicted on a “whim of the landlord.”
4. Reselling tickets for profit to be outlawed in UK government crackdown
Reselling tickets for profit is to be outlawed under plans due to be announced this week, the Guardian has learned, as the government goes ahead with a long-awaited crackdown on touts and resale platforms such as Viagogo and StubHub. Ministers had been considering allowing touts – and ordinary consumers – to sell on a ticket for up to 30% above the original face value, as part of a consultation process that ended earlier this year. However, the Guardian understands that reselling a ticket at anything more than the price at which it was originally bought will be banned.
5. New Mexico now offers free childcare for all. Here’s how parents and teachers made it happen
New Mexico’s groundbreaking decision to offer free, universal childcare to all families, regardless of income, is the culmination of over a decade of grassroots organizing by childcare workers, families, lawmakers and advocates. Led by groups like Olé, a network of mostly immigrant women working in childcare, the coalition built political momentum through marches, lobbying, and recruiting progressive candidates to challenge fiscal conservatives in the state legislature. Their efforts succeeded in passing a constitutional amendment to fund the program through the state’s permanent fund, overcoming legal hurdles and federal opposition. While the universal childcare program is a major victory, advocates continue to push for better pay and working conditions for early childhood educators to build a high-quality, equitable system that supports families and workers alike.
6. Once-extinct wildcats to make a comeback in England
Wildcats – one of the UK’s most critically endangered mammals – could make a return from extinction in England, conservationists say. The South West Wildcat Project hopes to bring back 50 European wildcats, from 2028, after a study found a colony could “flourish” in the mid-Devon countryside. Reintroduction plans follow a breeding scheme to boost numbers in Scotland but there are concerns that the carnivores could pose a threat to poultry, gamebirds and native bird species, as well as a risk of cross-breeding with domestic cats.
That’s it for last week :)
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