Every day the Good Good Good team collects the best good news in the world and shares it with our community. Here are the highlights for this week!
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The Best Positive News We’re Celebrating This Week —
California’s first sports bar dedicated exclusively to women’s sports just opened
Just in time for the Paris 2024 Olympics, California just got its first sports bar dedicated to women’s sports — Watch Me! Sports Bar is now officially open and playing women’s sports on all its TV screens.
Modeled after bars like A Bar of Their Own in Minnesota and the wildly successful Sports Bra in Portland, Watch Me! Sports Bar is currently one of just five sports bars in the U.S. devoted to broadcasting women’s sports.
And it couldn’t have come at a better time, as women’s leagues are seeing record-breaking popularity and viewership — the bar has even partnered with Angel City FC, the wealthiest women’s sports club in the world.
Why is this good news? Not only is it simply meeting a growing demand, but as its owner put it: it’s giving younger generations the kind of place she wished she could have gone to watch her idols at, and the older generations a space to “get their due,” too.
The number of children who have died from air pollution globally is down 53% since 2020
The most recent State of Global Air report was just published and it found that the death rate from air pollution in children under five globally decreased by 53% since 2000.
The majority of those deaths came from exposure to PM2.5, or tiny particles commonly produced by cars, trucks, and airplanes and a major component of wildfire smoke.
And while PM2.5 levels are decreasing or stabilizing in many parts of the world (a trend that will likely continue thanks to new WHO air pollution guidelines) — they’re up to four times higher in low- and middle-income countries.
The risk factor of death from air pollution is second only to malnutrition in children under five.
And while there were heartbreakingly still 8.1 million total deaths attributable to air pollution for all age groups globally, this is important progress to celebrate — because it means progress is possible, and we can save even more lives.
Providing even more climate benefits than previously thought, researchers just discovered trees also absorb methane
It’s general knowledge that trees are excellent at sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, locking it in their trunks and branches, and storing it long-term.
Now, a new large-scale study also found that tree bark absorbs the greenhouse gas methane. While methane doesn’t last as long in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, it does trap significantly more heat in Earth’s atmosphere. This discovery shows that forests provide even more climate benefits than previously thought.
The team of ecologists and climate scientists acknowledged how important decarbonization is in addressing climate change — but this groundbreaking research offers another nature-based climate solution.
→ Read more
More good news about trees:
- The National Forest Foundation planted over 8 million trees last year, reforesting over 21,000 acres of land — which is about the same as 198,450 NBA basketball courts.
- To improve the health of residents, wildlife, and the watershed, and to combat climate change, Tuscon, Arizona is planting a million trees by 2030.
- Protecting them from logging, a program is helping small-scale forest landowners access fast-growing “carbon markets” for the first time.
A family-owned restaurant in the Bronx is distributing over 500 free meals a day to recently arrived immigrants
In 2009, after immigrating from Oaxaca, Mexico in 1992, Natalia Méndez and her husband, Antonio Saavedra rented a space in the Bronx borough of New York City to open a restaurant — La Morada.
At first, it operated like a standard restaurant, until Natalia realized that New Yorkers were going to need to eat during the pandemic. So, they started making “the root soup” based on beets, carrots, potatoes, and anything that grows underground.
On the first day, the free soup meals were gone in an hour, and eventually, they were making upwards of 800 meals a day — distributing 5,000 in a week.
And the concept stuck. In addition to its standard menu items, including enchiladas, tacos, stuffed chiles, nachos, and more — La Morada gives out more than 500 meals for free every day to newly arrived immigrants in the city. Natalia calls herself the “mother to all those who are hungry.”
→ Read more
A new initiative is helping compensate and tell the stories of Native tribes displaced from national parks
While known for their stunning beauty, national parks have a darker history: one that displaced and dispossessed Native people. Yellowstone National Park, for example, is historically connected to around 30 tribes.
Now, the Sacred Defense National Parks and Monuments Initiative will give visitors the opportunity to make a donation, which will directly benefit Tribes with historical connections to each national park site.
The creators of the project hope it will help expand public awareness about tribal connections to the lands, help Native people share their own stories about the lands, and promote conservation.
→ Read more
More good news for Indigenous people:
- Through DeTours, Hawaii’s Indigenous communities are working to educate settlers and tourists about the state’s colonial past and present.
- The Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes collaborated with the Montana Department of Transportation to design and build one of the largest networks of wildlife highway crossings in the U.S.
- Addressing two common issues on reservations, poverty and a lack of reliable power, a Native-led company is installing solar farms for tribal nations across the U.S.
Hours after the women’s team won bronze in the Olympics, USA Rugby received a $4 million donation
The USA Women’s Rugby team made history this week, earning USA Rugby’s first-ever Olympic medal. Mere hours after earning bronze — and heeding the call of Ilona Maher for more funding — a longtime women’s soccer supporter announced a $4 million donation.
Owner of the National Women’s Soccer League’s Washington Spirit, Michele Kang has invested in women’s soccer globally — and is now helping get USA Rugby’s program ready for the Los Angeles 2028 games with her four-year donation.
USA Rugby was “stunned” by the “transformative” gift and investment in USA Women’s Rugby, saying it will allow them to “supercharge the progression” of the program — and perhaps earn it a gold medal in four years.
Why is this good news? Take it away, Kang: “As corporate sponsors and broadcast networks increasingly see the value and enthusiasm for women’s sports, now is the moment to unlock the full potential of these incredible female athletes and inspire generations to come.”
→ Read more
Human rights are better protected in every part of the world than they were a century ago
According to recently released data, human rights are better protected in all regions of the world in 2023 than they were 100 years ago.
While progress hasn’t been linear, and each region has experienced setbacks, the overall trend is more human rights protected when compared to a century ago.
The positive progress also holds true when weighted for countries with larger populations. At the same time, there’s still room for progress in regions like Africa and Asia, which haven’t made as significant of progress.
But this data makes it clear: progress is possible.
→ Read more
A Michigan zoo just released more than 1,200 endangered butterflies back into their natural habitat
Once common across the Midwest, the Poweshiek skipperling is a tiny butterfly species that is now considered one of the rarest butterflies in the world. As of 2023, conservationists estimate only a few hundred remain in the wild due to factors like pesticide use and habitat loss.
Now, their numbers are rebounding thanks to the conservation work of the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan and its partners — they just celebrated the release of 1,200 of the butterflies in their natural habitat.
The zoo’s breeding program successfully bred more than 45 pairs of the butterflies and then returned them to places they hadn’t been seen in years.
→ Read more
More good butterfly news:
- Right in his own backyard, a biologist brought the rare California Pipevine swallowtail back to San Francisco after it all but disappeared.
- The nickel-sized Fender’s blue butterfly population has quadrupled in size in Oregon, making it only the second insect to have recovered in the history of the Endangered Species Act.
- Listed as federally endangered in 1997, the bright orange Behren’s silverspot butterfly is making a return to Northern California thanks to a four-year conservation effort.
Persisting through decades of setbacks, a researcher’s dream of tracking (and protecting) animals from space is coming to fruition
Martin Wikelski came up with the idea to create an “internet of animals” back in 2001: A global system of animals that wear sensors and could be tracked remotely, helping researchers better understand the world of wildlife.
His motivation was to quietly follow migration patterns and ecological experiences of the world’s most fascinating species by attaching super-small, solar-powered trackers to these animals — some weighing less than a paperclip.
This would allow researchers to monitor the animals’ heart rates, body heat, sudden movements, as well as temperature, humidity, and air pressure in their environments.
Wikelski has faced varying setbacks since 2001, but knowing the enormous benefit the technology could have in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, he and his team’s work persists — creatively pivoting as their resources do.
More good news of the week —
After Congress granted it new authority, the FCC closed the final loopholes keeping prison phone call prices high. The commission’s vote will cut the price of interstate calls in half and set price caps on intrastate calls for the first time.
A medical group in California is exclusively treating patients experiencing homelessness. Healthcare in Action has cared for about 6,700 homeless patients, managed roughly 77,000 diagnoses, and placed about 300 people into permanent or temporary housing.
Making wildlife conservation history, the Fort Worth Zoo just had the first-ever repeated breeding of endangered gharial crocodiles. The crocodiles are classified as critically endangered due to habitat destruction, pollution, and river fragmentation.
[Related: Scientists are feeling hopeful after another near-extinct crocodile is showing signs of making a comeback.]
Researchers developed 3D-printed blood vessels that could help improve heart bypass outcomes. The flexible tubes are as strong as natural blood vessels and could limit the scarring, pain, and infection risk involved with removing veins in heart bypass operations.
Since it imposed a mandatory fee, the number of single-use plastic bags found on UK beaches is down 80%. Given the success of the 5-10 pence charge on single-use plastic bags, advocates are urging the country to implement similar measures for other single-use plastic items.
A Colorado nonprofit is helping people who can’t pedal themselves get outside to enjoy a bike ride. The Cycling Without Age movement started in Copenhagen, and its Littleton, Colorado chapter’s over 100 volunteers gave 2,400 free rides last year.
Helping make affordable meals more accessible, a home chef is teaching people to stretch $100 of groceries over 30 days. While it started as a creative challenge, Rebecca Chobat realized just how vital her recipes were for families struggling to afford groceries across the country.
People are installing “pee-pee rocks” to protect native plants from the nitrogen compounds in dog urine. The landscaping feature is part of the movement to “rewild” lawns and gardens with native plants instead of turf grass.
In a “landmark moment,” Scotland has the same number of men and women entrepreneurs for the first time ever. A report has found that women were starting and running new businesses at virtually the same rate as men last year.
Using innovative technology, cylinder sails promise to reduce cargo ship fuel consumption by up to 90%. Facing the pressure of rising fuel costs, increasing government regulation will also require shipping companies to go carbon neutral “by or around” 2050.
In great news for the endangered species, there’s been a 250% increase in tiger numbers in a Thailand forest in the last 15 years. From 2007 to 2023, Thailand has seen remarkable success in increasing the number of tigers in WEFCOM from about 40 to more than 140.
Helping increase the number of screenings, the FDA just approved a blood test for colon cancer. The new test would especially improve screening rates among adults who are too young for routine colonoscopies.
Russia released a U.S. journalist and former U.S. Marine in a multi-country prisoner swap. In the largest prisoner swap since the Cold War, involving 24 people from seven countries, reporter Evan Gershkovich, former Marine Paul Whelan, and editor Alsu Kurmasheva were released.
A study found that an Alzheimer's blood test can detect 90% of early dementia cases. Neurologists and other memory specialists correctly diagnosed Alzheimer’s in 73% of their cases, and primary care doctors had only a 61% accuracy rate.
After a four-year fight, Disneyland unions just agreed to a “historic” 31% pay increase. The “biggest wage increases ever” for Disneyland resort employees will raise hourly pay by more than $6 over three years.
We’re officially one week into the 2024 Olympics. While they’d made history before they even began, so many historic, gold-medal-worthy good moments have already happened at this year’s Games.
We already told you about a “transformative” investment in USA women’s rugby, first-ever support for Olympians with children, and more. Here are some more can’t-miss moments from the first week of competition:
- One of the most iconic elements of the Games is doing its part to help Paris 2024 meet its ambitious sustainability goals.
- Breaking records and fighting gender barriers, the youngest Olympian in Paris was born during the 2012 London Games.
- Katie Ledecky continued to make history in the pool (and make a young girl's day).
- In a moment of Olympic-sized “sports diplomacy,” a viral podium selfie is bringing North and South Koreans together.
- The U.S. Women’s soccer team’s win over Germany was streamed by 4.2 million people — more than any match (men’s or women’s) from the past two summer games.
- Their parents fled war, and now the South Sudan basketball team is making history at the Paris Games.
- Flava Flav is making sure the reigning Olympic champion U.S. women’s water polo team has the support (financial and emotional) they need.
And if any of this has caught you tearing up, you’re not the only one. (*Grabs tissues*)
