#071 - The Best News of Last Week - January 23, 2023
🧊 - Seems like these days, we're just constantly fixing up the world that other people keep breaking.
1. The Netherlands Working To Ban Flat-Nosed Dogs, Folded-Ear Cats To Prevent Animal Suffering
While features like folded ears or a short snout may look cute, they can cause life-long suffering for the animal. Short-snouted dogs, for example, almost always have trouble breathing. Today, the Netherlands will start working towards stopping this suffering, starting with dogs and cats, Minister Piet Adema of Culture, Nature, and Food Quality said.
The Netherlands is taking “far-reaching steps” towards becoming a country where “no pet has to suffer from its appearance,” Adema announced on Friday.
2. The price of solar panels is set to plunge
Several big solar panel makers are ramping production in a boon to clean energy. A key reason: the collapse of material costs that had been elevated for more than a year.
Three leading Chinese module manufacturers are bumping up January forecasts, according to Shanghai Metals Market, which didn’t identify its sources. Promising near-term demand is another factor driving the output boost.
3. Brazil launches first anti-deforestation raids under Lula bid to protect Amazon
Brazilian environmental agents cut through the rainforest with machetes on Thursday in search of criminals in the first anti-deforestation raids under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has pledged to end surging destruction inherited from his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro.
Reuters exclusively accompanied raids led by environmental agency Ibama in the rainforest state of Para to stop loggers and ranchers illegally clearing the forest.
4. Red squirrels number on the rise in Scotland, survey finds
A survey of red squirrels in Scotland suggests that efforts to increase their numbers have been successful.
The Great Scottish Squirrel Survey found they were returning to the Aberdeen area and that the number of greys had decreased.
5. Dolphins swim in Bronx River – “This is great news — it shows that the decades-long effort to restore the river as a healthy habitat is working."
6. 2022 ended with no rhinoceros poached in Assam, first year since 1977
Assam, a state in northeastern India, recorded zero poaching of endangered rhinos, which are known for their horns that fetch big money because of their supposed medicinal value, for the first time in nearly 45 years in 2022.
As many as 191 rhinos were poached in Assam between 2000 and 2021. In 2013 and 2014, 27 rhino deaths each were reported. In 2020 and 2021, two rhinos each were killed.
7. Runaway W. Antarctic ice sheet collapse not 'inevitable'
The runaway collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet -- which would trigger catastrophic sea level rise -- is not "inevitable", scientists said Monday following research that tracked the region's recent response to climate change.
That's it for this week. If you liked this post you can support this newsletter with a small kofi donation:
Also, write your personal positive news in the comments below. Have a great week ahead :)
these really make me feel better thank you