12 good things that have happened in 2020

2020 arrived to remind us that life is full of surprises and that we can’t take it for granted. It has been a challenging year which has allowed us to learn a lot, but somewhere along the way it has also sown in many of us, fear, terror, distance and a sense of standing still. In my opinion, these negative feelings were mainly due to the media coverage and the news. It is important to remember that good things have happened also this year. I have not watched the news for several years. However, during this time I have caught snippets of news flashes and every time I have been struck by how distorted things are presented there. The content is always negative and creates feelings of fear and anger in viewers.

The content we consume is so important to the quality of our lives. It is important to maintain a clear consciousness, to concentrate on thoughts that are pleasing to us and to consume content that evokes positive emotions in us. Once the content around us makes us feel negative emotions, our reality will continue to reflect the same negative things. Once we consume content that makes us feel good, the frequency we are in will help us absorb all the good things that are happening around us every day.

In honor of the end of 2020, I have gathered 12 good pieces of news that have happened this year around the world:

1. Earlier this year in Australia, many fires broke out that burned millions of acres and endangered many species. As a response to this the WWF, the world’s largest independent conservation organization, has promoted a wildlife rescue program and a resilient ecosystem. Even during the crisis, the foundation received donations that allowed it to embark on many relief and rehabilitation missions that included supporting veterinarians to care for affected wildlife, scattering wildlife food for animals whose habitats had been destroyed, and searching for injured koalas in the field using drones and scout dogs. WWF is now working to save 2 billion trees and restore lost forests. In New South Wales (NSW) 10,000 trees have been planted to serve as a habitat for koalas that are now declared an endangered species and they have committed to protecting existing habitats and national parks.

In addition, the WWF has promoted a “no plastic in nature” campaign in Australia that has yielded amazing results this year, a ban on the use of disposable utensils in food services and a ban on plastic cutlery and straws. Beyond that Australia is utilizing its renewable resources and moving towards a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, in line with the Paris Agreement.

2. Dozens of environmental organizations have set up a “clean money forum” that tries to create investment routes in companies that are free from the use of polluting fuels. Up until now everyone who has invested money in pensions, study funds, etc. has supported companies that pollute and harm the environment, and so it turns out that many are actually funding companies that encourage the use of polluting fuels. Now they will have a cleaner alternative.

3. “Voltzko” chameleons that have not been observed by scientists for more than a century were recently observed in the Mahjanga region of Madagascar by a team of German geologists. The members of the delegation found 3 males and 15 females of the breed that had been thought to be extinct.

4. An Israeli startup company has developed a product called T-Fence that enables quick and easy treatment of oil spills. The development makes it possible to demarcate the oil slick and prevent it from spreading in a way that will facilitate its cleaning and reduce the potential damage. The product can be operated by 2 people and has already been acquired by several huge global entities. Oil leaks are among the most polluting factors because of the difficulty in collecting and locating the oil after it spreads.

5. A new ship for transporting cargo by sea has been designed. It will be powered by wind energy and will be able to reduce production of the ship’s carbon pollution by 90%. The global cargo shipping industry is responsible for emitting about 2% of the world’s greenhouse gases. A ship powered by clean energy will be able to provide a solution for transporting cargo with a much smaller carbon footprint. In September, a prototype of the OceanBird was unveiled by the Wallenius Marine company in collaboration and with the support of the Swedish government.

6. Apple has committed to completely eradicating the use of carbon and pollutants in the process of manufacturing its products and in the life cycle of the devices by 2030. Already this year all Apple devices are based on new technology and contain consumables. The company has a plan for the next decade to reduce carbon emissions, improve the recycling of production materials and build devices with high energy efficiency. They hope to open the entire market to clean energy and encourage more companies to join the trend.

7. Covid-19 has badly affected the tourism industry of the Masai tribe in Kenya, which protects the wildlife in the reserve. The tribe turned to the Avaaz activists website for help. More than 100,000 users have responded and helped fund food, medical equipment and sanitation. Beyond that, users have paid the rangers to continue protecting wildlife, an act that could save many animals from illegal hunting.

8. A large number of Brazilian cities have passed laws allowing tax relief starting from 30% up to full tax exemption for citizens who donate to their communities, whether through caring for livestock, tourism, restoring historic centers or planting trees and maintaining plots of land.

9. In Pakistan, 63,000 laid-off Corona workers have been hired to plant about 10 billion trees. An initiative that started 5 years ago and was stopped by hostility, has been renewed following the lock-down. The planting will take place in low-income rural areas in order to be accessible to workers. Workers will protect the forest from burning or illegal resection.

10. Due to the reduction in demand, the import of calves and lambs to Israel has decreased by about 20% compared to last year. The meat industry is the most polluting industry, responsible for the emission of many greenhouse gases, deforestation, the waste of enormous amounts of water and involves horrendous delivery conditions for animals.

11. The company Equo Straws has developed substitutes for disposable plastics and has created biodegradable straws from one hundred percent natural materials from local farmers. Within 30 days of the start of the campaign, the company was able to obtain funding. It will produce 3 flavors of straw: coconut, rice, sugar cane and also a dried grass flavor as a pet chew toy. The company claims that the product will be sold at attractive prices to give a convenient alternative to the disposable straws.

12. A survey of UK citizens has found that many have adopted new, healthier habits as a result of staying longer at home because of Covid-19. Many have noted that the new habits that they have adopted have improved their lives, elevated their sense of joy, security and personal well-being. The new habits include, among other things, physical activity, recreation in nature, a balanced diet, learning hobbies, practicing meditation and expanding awareness.

The truth is that this is just a small taste of the list of good things that have happened this year. Feed yourself with good and positive news. Our world is full of wonders and every day there are good things happening around us and around the world. Exercise your consciousness to see them. Try to reduce the negative content that watching news gives you and you may take advantage of this time to adopt some new habits like our friends from the UK. Strive every day to think of at least two good things that happened that day, whether it be on a personal or global level.