Good News Tuesday for May 23, 2023: Slowing Deforestation X 2, Greece’s Mission to Make Beaches More Wheelchair Accessible, and a Truck Driver is Rescued from a River in Kenya

Seeking Balance One Tuesday at a Time

EU Countries Require Proof that Trade is Not Contributing to Deforestation

The 27 European Union countries recently adopted legislation requiring companies trading palm oil, cattle, wood, coffee, cocoa, rubber and soy to verify that the goods they sell in the EU have not led to deforestation. I found this AP article on Ned Hamson’s blog: https://nedhamsonsecondlineviewofthenews.com/

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… speaking of slowing deforestation:

The Rate of Deforestation has Decreased in Brazil

So far this year, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is down 40 percent from last year. In April, deforestation was down 68 percent. You can read more from Yale Environment.

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Greece is Improving Wheelchair Accessibility on Beaches

Greece is working to make beaches more accessible for people in wheelchairs. The Seatrac system includes a solar powered track operated by remote control. For more information and a video showing how the system works, here’s an article from Nice News.

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A Truck Driver was Rescued from a Flooded River in Kenya

A truck driver in Kenya had become trapped on the side of his overturned truck in a flooded river. The arial elephant rescue team of Sheldrick Wildlife Trust came to his rescue in a helicopter. Read more about it HERE.

To read more about the usual rescue work of Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, click HERE.

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Good News Tuesday for Dec. 20, 2022: Respect for Marriage Act, Drones Study Hawaii’s Endangered Plants, CNN’s Hero of the Year, and Diversity Among Santas

Seeking Balance One Tuesday at a Time

Respect for Marriage Act Becomes Law

US President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law last week. The bipartisan legislation requires that the US government and states recognize same-sex and interracial marriages that were legally performed. Here’s more from Politico. ABC News provides a detailed explanation of the law here.

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Drones Help Fight Plant Extinction in Hawaii

Drones in Hawaii help locate endangered plants growing on cliffs. Robots attached to the drones can collect samples and seeds for planting. In the future, scientists hope to drop seeds encased in fertilizer. This in-depth article appeared in my 1440 Daily Digest. The illustrations, photos, and videos are fascinating. Take a look by clicking the Reuters article HERE

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CNN’s Hero of the Year (Please Watch this Heartwarming Video!)

Nelly Cheboi was voted CNN’s Hero of the Year for her work creating computer labs for children in Kenya.  Ms. Cheboi quit a lucrative job in Chicago to start the nonprofit, TechLit Africa which provides donated and upcycled computers to thousands of students in rural Kenya. I couldn’t wait to share this video showing Ms. Cheboi’s enthusiasm as he honors her mother and thanks others who have helped her.

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Growing Divesity Among Santas

After being harassed for having a Black Santa decoration on his lawn two years ago, Chris Kennedy became a professional Santa Claus. Chris is one of the Santas featured in the documentary, Santa Camp. Below is a video from ABC News about Chris, diversity, and Santa Camp. The video includes a very brief segment reporting on protests of inclusivity from 3:17 to 3:42 in case you want to skip to Mr. Kennedy’s response.

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Good News Tuesday for April 20, 2021: Edible Food Wrap, Green Funeral Movement, Earth Day Summit, Saving Bees at the Airport, and Successful Giraffe Rescue

Seeking Balance One Tuesday at a Time

Edible Food Wrap Made from Algae and Cinnamon

Scientists from India and Russia have used algae and cinnamon to create an edible, transparent food wrap. The film wraps keep food fresh longer and are also water-soluble. Read more about the process and the science in this article from the Good News Network.

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One Option in the Green Funeral Movement

Better Place Forests buys and maintains land for “memorial forest preserves” in Connecticut, Massachusetts, California, Arizona, Minnesota, and soon Illinois as reported in this article from The Good News Network . The article explains, “Every year the (traditional) funeral industry consumes 20 million feet of hardwood, 64,500 tons of steel, 1.6 million tons of concrete, and 5 million gallons of embalming chemicals.” I’d much rather my ashes be in the forest. I might not need my own tree, and the company does not offer cremation, but I still think it’s a step in the right direction. For more information, you can visit: Better Place Forests.

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US Hosts Earth Day Summit

US President Joe Biden will host a virtual climate change summit with 40 world leaders on Earth Day. Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg will testify before Congress. Thanks for listening, President Biden! Here’s more.

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Saving Bees at the Pittsburg International Airport

When airport wildlife administrator Ben Shertzer found several bee colonies living on the underside of a plane’s wings, master beekeeper Steve Repasky was brought in and relocated the bees. In time, they created apiaries in the woods and fields around the airport. The Good News Network tells more about the project.

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Giraffe Rescue Completed

Giraffes in Kenya were transported safely to their new home after their peninsula was cut off by flooding. The Good News Movement reports: “After months of effort, a mother giraffe and her calf were rescued from an island as rising waters of Lake Baringo in Kenya. Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and conservation partners said the rescue of the last two ….. marks the conclusion of a mammoth rescue effort that started in December 2020.”

It’s wonderful to see the care people have put into saving these giraffes.

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