Where there’s life there’s hope—Positive news weekly

Good news to combat the darkness of the world

[goodnewsatlast]

Changes made to safeguard Vembanad lakes resources

The beautiful Vembanad lake in Kerala, India, is truly a beautiful part of nature. Unfortunately pollution and issues with salinity have threatened the lake’s delicate ecosystem. The lake is home to black clams, a resource many fishermen still rely on, but with the current situation is experiencing a decline in numbers. Luckily a project has been rolled out to rejuvenate the lake, so that its beauty and its many species of fish and waterlife can once again thrive. One of the main challenges is illegal house boats, which are a major source of pollution. But hopefully there will be measures to get that under control. It will take a lot of work, but both the locals who’ve lived alongside the lake for generations and scientists who wish to help safeguard this precious lake for the future are working together to ensure the project’s success.

(if this is poorly written it’s because I’m extremely tired. But I felt bad about the state of the world and figured we all needed some good news)

[goodnewsatlast]

Austria follows European trend of abolishing tampon tax.

All over the world people have begun to protest the unfair price of menstruation. Not only is it painful and bloody annoying (pun intended) but the price of products to handle it is ridiculous.

Luckily things are starting to change.

From the first of January this year Austria has reduced its tax on menstrual products from 10% to 0%.

The other countries who’ve taken part in at least lowering the aptly named tampon tax are:

Irland with 0% tax.

France which reduced the tax from 20% to 5.5% in 2015.

Germany with a drop from 19% to 7% in 2020.

Spain which also covered contraceptives went from 10% to 4% in 2023.

And Belgium which entirely cut VAT from menstrual products in 2024.

Hopefully it can spread to the rest of the world and abolish the unfair price of periods.

[goodnewsatlast]

Reminder

Even if you think you can’t do anything to improve the world you can. No, no, no. Let me finish. I promise I have a point.

So here’s a list of things you can do that vary in effort so there’s something for everyone.

•Find your local charities and see if they take volunteers, you could volunteer weekly, monthly, even just once or twice helps.

•Donate. If you can’t go out for whatever reason or don’t have the time or energy you could consider donation. Any little bit helps.

•Use your hobbies for good. There are many organisations that accept homemade things such as blanket squares for premature infants and cat toys for rescues. The charity in question will have guidelines for what they accept and need.

•Share information. Even if you can’t donate sharing information about fundraisers can do so much for the cause. Information is power, and the more people who know how they can help the better the world will be.

•Instead of throwing away old but perfectly usable items you can donate them to many goodwill charities that sell old items like clothes, books, toys, CDs, and more, and use the money to help charitable causes.

•A follow up of the last one, buy second hand items. It’s better for the planet and a lot cheaper. Plus your money will be going charity and not a big corporation.

•Give to the food bank. As with the rest any little bit helps.

•Do your own research. Find out what causes you care about and what they need. There are a million ways you can help.

•Speak out about what you believe in. Evil grows best in silence. In passive acceptance. Never accept something simply because it could be worse, it could also be better.

•Do what you can, plant a tree, walk to work, grow your own food, protest, and don’t feel guilty for what you can’t do. Feel good about what you can. Rome wasn’t built in a day and it certainly wasn’t build by one person who never rested. Understand the power that you do possess, don’t waste your time on what you can’t do, instead work on finding out what you can do and feeling proud of it. Despair only breeds inactivity. Let hope for the future be a motivator.

Here’s a cute cat for dopamine.

[goodnewsatlast]

First sightings of wild cat assumed to be extinct in Thailand.

The Flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps) is amount the rarest species of wild cat in the world. It was feared to be extinct in Thailand after its last sighting in 1995. Hailing from Southeast Asia, the wildcats are threatened due to loss of habitat caused by land conversion and agricultural expansion. Multiple camera sightings have left experts both excited, and apprehensive. As with any species rediscovery, this means the real work can now begin. Facing mounting threats from habitat loss and vulnerability to diseases spread by domestic cats, these wild cats are classified as ‘endangered’ with around only 2,500 adults left in the wild.

I have faith in the conservation efforts that will hopefully follow this miraculous find. This discovery is only the beginning for these gorgeous animals.

[goodnewsatlast]

Croatia increases accessibility for train travel

Public transport is an important necessity for many people who either cannot access a car or are unable to drive. Luckily Croatias government has made decisions to insure commuters can get where they need to go.

Free public railway transport will continue to be available to children, primary and secondary year students, full time students and those over the age of 65. And as of January 1 they have also extended free railway transport to disabled passengers who hold a national or European disability card.

This shows great progress as more countries turn their focus to public transport, which aids both the environment and the people.

[goodnewsatlast]

New animal overpass opens soon in Colorado

The Greenland wildlife overpass was conceived as a way to prevent the near daily accidents caused by wildlife trying to cross the busy interstate 25. The overpass is 200 feet wide and 209 feet long (60.96 to 63.703 meters for us non Americans).

The Greenland crossing is expected to hopefully reduce incidents by as much as 90%. Protecting both people and the numerous wild animals that inhabit the area. This includes but is not limited to elk, mountain lions, mule deer, black bear and many more.

Similar to other designs in Europe and Canada this is currently the largest wildlife crossing in the world. And is hopefully a sign of a future where nature and humanity can actually live in somewhat begrudging harmony.

[goodnewsatlast]

South Korea Bans Bear Farming

In 2022 an agreement was made among officials, farmers and animal rights activists to put an end to this inhumane practice. As of the first of January this year it is officially in practice! Bear Bile farming has already dwindled in popularity (unsurprisingly) over the past twenty years, but it’s finally official. The farmers have a six month period of grace to relocate the bears but will be punished if they extract bile from them. The environment Minister Kim SungWhan said “We will strive to protect bears until the last one”

And while it’s still a work in progress to find appropriate places to relocate these beautiful animals, I think we can all agree that this development is a step forward in the rights of animal welfare across the world.

[goodnewsatlast]

Good news

I’m starting this blog as a way to add some good news among the frankly terrifying climate right now. I’ll do my best to add things regularly, I can’t do much but if you need some positive news of how the world isn’t falling apart entirely watch this space.

You are loved, you are capable, and you are enough.