Every day we hear about horrible things that are occurring around our country, amongst our people and our global community. It’s hard to remember that with all the terrible calamities that have befallen us, there are good things happening as well.
Here are some pieces of good news from around the world to reassure you that it’s okay. Things do get better.
1. Gizmodo states that as of 2016 renewable energy has officially exceeded all other forms of power generation produced world-wide. The International Energy Agency reports that renewable electricity capacity growth reach a peak in 2015, having risen by an abysmal 14% increase from 2014.
Gizmodo clarifies that this means the total increase in renewable energy growth is equivalent to the current power capacity of Canada—meaning that this is a massive improvement. Another thing that they emphasize is the fact that solar panels and windmills have been installed in a greater capacity than any other form of electricity, including commonly-used coal.
These results can be attributed to increased governmental interest in climate change and subsequent policies that have been instituted to enforce environmentally-friendly practices, as well as the reductions in cost of solar and wind. The International Energy Agency assures the public that these trends are likely to continue, and believes that by the year 2021, there will be a 42% increase in global renewable electricity capacity.
This isn’t to say that everything’s fine and dandy, though—there are still improvements to be made in the world of renewable energy, but things are going well. Since the price of solar and wind continues to decrease, it’ll soon be more affordable than less environmentally friendly options.
2. The Independent reports that Doctor Deirdre Barrett of Harvard University, member of the Clinical and Evolutionary field of Psychology, recently made waves in the pet-owner community by stating that dogs are just as likely as humans to dream about their day-to-day experiences.
“Humans dream about the same things they’re interested in by day, though more visually and less logically,” she told People magazine. “There’s no reason to think animals are any different.”
Since dogs are generally extremely attached to their human owners, it’s likely your dog is dreaming of your face, your smell, and of pleasing or annoying you.”
Though this is mostly theory, it’s comforting to believe that our dogs may be just as attached to us as we are to them. There isn’t a way to be sure of what dogs are dreaming or if they’re dreaming at all, but according to Dr. Barrett, most mammals have a sleep cycle similar to the one found in humans: they experience the deep sleep stage and Rapid Eye Movement (REM).
Since REM sleep is the period in which humans experience dreams, it’s safe to guess that other creatures may be dreaming as well. Another sign that they may be dreaming is the fact that some dogs move their legs in a running motion when they sleep; they may be acting in their dreams.
Dr. Barrett leaves us with some advice: “The best way to give ourselves or our children better dreams is to have happy daytime experiences and to get plenty of sleep in a safe and comfortable environment. It’s a good bet this is also best for pets’ dreams.”
3. Maria Grette, victim of an online scam, recently turned the tables of her misfortune by befriending her scammer.
According to BBC and journalist Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, Ms. Grette discovered that a man she had fallen in love with online, and believed to be a Danish national, turned out to be a young Nigerian “419” internet scammer. scamwatch.gov.au states that this scam targets people using dating websites, apps or social media by pretending to be a potential romantic companion.
By enticing you with the idea of a future together, they trick you into providing money, gifts, or personal details.
After a long romance that ended in several transfers of money, Ms. Grette realized that something was not quite right about her new beau and stopped responding to his messages. Three weeks later she received a call from a 24-year-old Nigerian man, who confessed what he’d done.
He had graduated from university two years earlier but had no job, and went on to describe himself as a “devil” who had wronged “a lovely woman.” Claiming that he’d never met anyone like Ms. Grette before and had subsequently fallen in love with her, he explained that he did not want to lose contact with her.
Ms. Grette went on to form a relationship with the real man, who remains unnamed, and went to visit Nigeria when she was unable to obtain a visa for him to travel to Sweden. After meeting in Abuja, their romance turned into deep friendship, and Ms. Grette states that she met his friends, a group that mostly consisted of local scammers. It was at this point of time in which she began to wonder how she could make a difference.
Over the past six years, Ms. Grette has created a program in which African artists may visit Europe for art exhibitions, conferences, workshops and competitions as well as assisting them in sourcing international grants and funding to advance their work. She gives speeches in Uganda regarding art, and has found a way to improve the lives of young artists of the region.
Though she no longer meets her Nigerian scammer friend, he provided financial assistance so that he could complete a degree in America and join the oil sector. They are still in touch, and she assures us that, “he is very dear to me. He has asked me so many times to forgive him and I told him that the most important thing is to forgive himself.”
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