If you feel like it’s impossible to hop online without seeing the latest and greatest environmental travesty, you’re not alone. Don’t get me wrong. Things are really, really bad. But it’s almost too easy to take a “shit, guess we’re screwed” attitude when bombarded with nothing but negative news, causing folks to throw up their hands in resignation. Unfortunately, positive environmental news stories don’t draw nearly the amount of clicks as “the sky is falling!” stories, meaning sites aren’t making much money unless they resort to fear-mongering pieces.
And that sucks, because there are some incredible things happening in the world that give me great hope for the future.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
― Margaret Mead
So I’m going to start sharing some exciting environmental stories here, and other pieces that shine a light on some of the good in the world. And since I’m a shameless Lord of the Rings fan, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include my favorite quote here. This one makes me cry every single time I watch the movies.
There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.
― J. R. R. Tolkien
Biodegradable Coffee Cups Embedded With Seeds Grow Into Trees When Thrown Away (I’ve seen business cards made from seed paper, but the idea for seed paper coffee cups is brilliant.)
The Energy 202: EPA blocks a dozen products containing pesticides thought harmful to bees (WAHOO! The EPA announced today it has canceled the registrations of 12 pest-killing products with compounds belonging to a class of chemicals known as neonicotinoids, as part of a legal settlement.)
The Healing Power of Gardens: Oliver Sacks on the Psychological and Physiological Consolations of Nature (A beautifully written piece that all gardeners and those who appreciate nature will undoubtedly enjoy.)
Brother Nature: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know (I realize this isn’t technically news, but if you’re not familiar with Brother Nature, PLEASE follow him. He is a shining beacon of light and positivity and gives me faith in the younger generation.)
Sweden’s recycling is so revolutionary, the country has run out of rubbish (Sweden is so good at recycling that, for several years, it has imported rubbish from other countries to keep its recycling plants going. Less than 1% of Swedish household waste was sent to landfill last year or any year since 2011.)
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