no. 101: Endangered Species Day

Hi friend,

Believe it or not, it's Friday again. We made it to the weekend (nearly).

I'm sending this out on Endangered Species Day so I'm going to center most of today's actions around supporting organizations that are saving Earth's species.

One of the main reasons I got interested in protecting the environment was nature documentaries that highlighted the almost unbelievable beauty of our fellow species. Watching Our Planet literally changed my brain chemistry, and if you haven't watched it, I urge you to. It is one of the most beautiful things ever created. And it's narrated by David Attenborough, so you already know it's great.

Life is what makes Earth so special. From the smallest moss to the largest whale. Let's do what we can to protect it!

And enjoy this week's good stories...

The good from Monday, May 13

🔋 The world is now 30% renewably powered according to a new report on global electricity and that number should double by 2030 based on a UN agreement last year as hydropower, wind, and particularly solar continues to accelerate. (The Guardian)

🎈 Florida is banning the intentional release of balloons with bipartisan support to end this form of littering which increases microplastics pollution, bird accidents, and has led to some insane accidents in the past like Cleveland’s infamous Balloonfest in 1986 (NYT)

🐵 Chimpanzees are found to use more advanced finger gripping techniques to grab insects over time well into adulthood which scientists say signifies the evolutionary trait of continued learning that is an important part of human cognition and culture (Ecowatch).

🧑‍⚖️ Students from various US states like Minnesota, California, and Florida are pushing for bills that make schools adequately teach and prepare students for the climate crisis, following at least a dozen similar mandates across 10 states. (AP)

The good from Tuesday, May 14

🚲 New York City is adding 500 bike parking facilities which take up the space of one parking spot and fit a dozen bikes to encourage more cycling while reducing theft and making it easier for those without storage space or who can’t carry their bike up and down stairs. (Gothamist)

🌄 Local activists in Patagonia won a decade-long fight to protect the Cochamó Valley by purchasing 325,000 acres of untouched wilderness filled with rare species which will prevent roads and power lines being built and permanently preserve the land. (GNN)

🚛 The EU has given final approval to a law focused on cutting CO2 emissions from trucks with a tiered phaseout of diesel over the next few years until 2040 when most new heavy-duty vehicles will need to be emissions-free. (Reuters)

🧑‍⚖️ Michigan’s Attorney General is now suing fossil fuel companies for knowingly contributing to climate change and harming the economy while lying about it, joining dozens of governments fighting to make the world’s worst polluters pay for their deception and destruction. (Grist)

The good from Wednesday, May 15

👗 Jannine and Nicole started a free Radical Clothes Swap in LA to reduce waste, save money, and stay fashionable, which was reported as a part of a new series by The Guardian on DIY solutions where people step up to solve problems which you can submit to and I’ll keep reporting on the good ones I find. (The Guardian)

🧪 The EPA is now banning most uses of a harmful chemical called methylene chloride used for paint stripping, cleaning metal, and decaffeinating coffee which has links to dozens of deaths and hopefully is the first step to a full ban. (The Guardian)

🛡️ 10 species including the alligator snapping turtle, least chipmunk, and 6 species of mussels are getting much-needed protection status after a court win which is forcing faster deadlines for enacting Endangered Species Act protections. (WAN)

⚡️ A new 1,300 page rule in the US was approved to expand renewable energy transmission to the electric grid which aims to increase construction of new transmission lines for wind, solar and other renewables. (AP)

The good from Thursday, May 16

🚀 NASA used a supercomputer to simulate what entering a black hole would be like which took 10 terabytes of data and would’ve taken a normal computer a decade to generate and it’s another mesmerizing reminder of how fantastic our universe is. (NASA)

🌳 A badass patrol group of 35 indigenous women ages 23-85 are protecting the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest by monitoring the land to safeguard from pollution, and preserve biodiversity by combating deforestation, mining operations, and advocating for their legal rights. (BBC)

🚌 New York City is bringing 60 new electric buses to Queens, Staten Island and Brooklyn along routes in minority and low-income communities in another step towards the MTA’s goal of zero emissions by 2040. (Gothamist)

🐝 800 beekeepers are now part of a Mexican honey co-op enabling them to negotiate better prices, access organic and Fair Trade certification, and get training on environmental impacts and gender equality. (Positive News)

Bonus stories

That's all for this week, folks! If you have a spare moment, comment your favorite story from this week and/or a story of your own :)

See you again soon,

Jacob

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