📈 Human Progress
In the last decades humanity has made great progress with less extreme poverty, increased health, wealth and democracy. We follow in the tradition of professor Hans Rosling.
🐭 No animal testing is needed to get a drug approved
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will no longer require animal testing to approve new medications.
🌍 The dangerous ozone hole is getting smaller and smaller
It's progressing slowly, but it's progressing nonetheless. In a few decades, the ozone hole that lets dangerous UV radiation through will be a thing of the past.
🦋 California County sees largest number of monarch butterflies in 20 years
In November last year, employees and volunteers of a conservation group counted more than 129 000 individuals of the famous black and orange striped western monarch butterfly. This many monarch butterflies haven’t been counted in 20 years.
🚬 Tobacco companies in Spain now fit the bill for cigarette butt clean-up
Under a new environmental legislation in Spain, tobacco companies are duty-bound to pay for the cleanup of the millions of cigarette butts smokers throw away on the streets each year.
🔥 New stoves can save hundreds of thousands of lives in Africa
By switching to gas or electricity instead of wood and charcoal, many people would avoid inhaling dangerous gases when cooking.
🗳️ New study: No evidence of democratic decline
The study analyzed data from over 160 countries over a period of 30 years and found no evidence of widespread democratic decline.
🍟 France’s ban on single-use restaurant tableware is a fast-food “revolution”
On January first, many different fast-food chains in France, like McDonald’s, pioneered new waste-reduction laws that bans single-use restaurant tableware.
🐬 Unsustainable fishing will be banned in the Irrawaddy Dolphin's Sanctuary
One of Asia’s most threatened dolphin species exists in the Mahakam river and now Indonesia’s fisheries ministry, together with a non-profit organization, is working on plans to prohibit fishing gear that can be dangerous to the endangered species.
👶 Parental leave can protect parents against mental illness
Generous parental leave gives parents protection against depression, burnout, and anxiety.