Good News Tuesday for February 7, 2023: Niger Reduces Maternal Deaths, Washington DC Making Bus Rides Free, Solar and Wind to the Rescue in the EU, and Paper-Thin Solar Cells, Plus Update: Human Chain Guides Dolphin

Seeking Balance One Tuesday at a Time

Niger Significantly Reduces Maternal Deaths

“Researchers working with Niger’s health ministry say they have managed to more than halve the number of women who bleed to death after giving birth in health facilities.” BBC News has details.

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Washington Is Making Buses Free Forever

The Washington DC council decided to make public buses permanently free to ride starting this summer. The council also agreed to expand bus service to 24 hours on 12 major routes downtown. Fortune has details HERE.

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Wind and Solar supplied more EU electricity than any other power source in 2022.

For the first time, wind and solar power combined supplied more electricity for the EU than any other power source in 2022. Contributing factors included Russia’s restrictions on energy exports and dips in available hydro and nuclear power. “Around 83% (of the hydro/nuclear) gap was met by wind and solar generation – and a fall in electricity demand. CarbonBrief has additional details.

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Paper-Thin, Light Weight Solar Cells are on the Way

Researchers at MIT are developing paper-thin, lightweight solar cells. Each sheet can generate 370 watts/kg. Take a look:

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Bonus Video: Biologists Make Human Chain to Guide Dolphin

Biologist formed a human chain to guide a dolphin out of creek to a canal to leading to the ocean.

Got Good News?

I know today’s video was more intellectual than my usual closing videos.

The video originally planned for today went to next week’s draft

where I’m collecting stories about different kinds of love for February 14th.

Then I remembered the dolphin video. Enjoy!

Feel free to share a link about your good news in the comments!

Good News Tuesday for February 1, 2022: Japan’s Zero Waste Center, South Australia Goes 100% Renewable for One Week, No-Kill Strategies for Wolves, and Monarch Butterflies Rebound

Seeking Balance One Tuesday at a Time

New Zero Waste Center in Japan

The new Kamikatsu Zero Waste Center in southern Japan was constructed with recycled materials including 700 donated windows. The center will help with collection and sorting to aid in the town’s goal of achieving 100% zero waste. Learn more from CNN.

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South Australia “Smashes Renewable Record” Going 100% Renewable for One Week

The territory of South Australia, with a population of around 1.7 million people, broke records by spending the last week of December generating 100% of its power from wind and solar. The Good News Network has details.

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Alberta Rancher Uses No-Kill Strategies to Protect Cattle from Wolves

A Cattle rancher in Alberta Canada is having success with no-kill methods of protecting livestock from wolves. Ranch manager Joe Engelhart uses strategies based on prey and predator behavior, reducing stress to keep the herd together, and spending a lot of time on the range. His methods are being studied by the University of Wisconsin. Read more about the research and strategies from CBC/Canada Radio.

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Monarch Butterfly Population Observed to Rebound in the US

A significant increase in western monarch butterflies has been observed in the US compared to recent years. This CNN article gives details and includes suggestions such as planting milkweed and reducing use of pesticides. The following video reports that the total population of western monarchs is estimated to be 100,000 this year compared to only 2000 last year.

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Got Good News?

Feel free to share your good news or GNT link in the comments!

Good News Tuesday: Building Bridges, Wind Power, and Support in El Paso

Seeking Balance One Tuesday at a Time

 

Working Together

Over the next 12 weeks, Jewish, Islamic, and Christian volunteers in Greenville, South Carolina will work together to build a Habitat for Humanity house. Starting on August 8th, this “Abraham Build” is the second of Habitat for Humanity’s Bridge Builder series. Their goals are to build a house for a family and to provide a safe opportunity for dialog and understanding across different cultures and religions. Here’s more of their story.

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A wind farm in North Carolina

The Potential of Wind Power

A new study of on-shore wind farm capacity shows that Europe has the potential to supply energy for the whole world for 30 years.

“The study is not a blueprint for development, but a guide for policymakers indicating the potential of how much more can be done and where the prime opportunities exist,” said co-author Benjamin Sovacool, Professor of Energy Policy at the University of Sussex.

They’re not suggesting that wind turbines cover the entire area of capacity. The study does open up the likelihood that if  all countries made it a priority to develop alternative energy sources, we could achieve what Peter Enevoldsen, of the Center for Energy Technologies at Aarhus University calls “…a 100% renewable and fully decarbonized energy system.”

You can read more about the study in this article from The Good News Network.

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Becoming Family

Antonio Basco was  worried no one would come to his wife’s funeral. He lost Margie, his wife of 22 years, in the El Paso shooting. When the funeral director sent out a message inviting everyone, hundreds showed up to become family.

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Got good news?

Please share in the comments or write your own Good News Tuesday post and link it back here! It can be global, local, or personal.