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National Parks: America's best idea.
The U.S. National Park System is, in a word, remarkable. Both the lands themselves and the idea behind them: Preserving beauty, nature, history, and culture, and making it available to everyone — not just the rich and powerful.
Which is probably why so many people were angry and heartbroken by the recent attacks on the NPS, U.S. Forest Service, and public lands in general.
But the news is not all bad — and the upcoming, first-ever (!!) National Parks Edition of the Goodnewspaper proves it. It's filled with good news happening in, for, and because of these incredible places and the people who love them.
It releases in just three days — and you can get it for free. Just subscribe to the Goodnewspaper, pay $1 for shipping, and we'll send your copy on July 1. No obligation, cancel anytime.
🌳 A plan to sell more than 2 million acres of public land for housing was removed from the Senate budget bill for violating chamber rules, but activists warn that it's still a threat.
But a network of volunteers has rallied together to collect and drop off groceries, toiletries, and other items to families who are too afraid to leave their homes.
Organized under the student-led collective Raíces con Voz: Latinos In Public Health, what started with about 10 volunteers gathering and sorting donations has grown to more than 500 people reaching out to join in and volunteer. They've made deliveries to over 200 families so far.
Why is this good news? All people deserve to have their basic needs met, and these volunteers are making sure that food, toiletries, and other essentials are one less thing that people afraid of being arrested, detained, and potentially deported have to worry about.
A 'breakthrough' HIV prevention drug just got FDA approval
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved lenacapavir. This twice-a-year injection provides near-complete protection against HIV infection, with the potential to dramatically rein in the HIV epidemic.
Scientists behind the drug say it's the "best tool yet in helping end the HIV epidemic for everyone, everywhere." And experts agree, hailing lenacapavir as a "breakthrough."
It's a significantly more convenient alternative to the current standard of care for HIV prevention, which is a daily pill that's 99% effective at preventing HIV infection — but only if the daily dose regimen is strictly adhered to.
Why is this good news?The twice-annual treatment has the potential to reach many more people who need it, especially those who face stigma for daily medication. Some single women in South Africa, for example, reported that taking a daily pill raised suspicion among their partners.
And cost wouldn't even be a barrier, as it can be manufactured for just $25 per patient per year — the manufacturer just needs to keep the price tag low.
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Governments doing good
Photo: Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project
A world-first agreement created a visa related to the climate crisis — its first round of applications just opened
In 2023, Tuvalu and Australia signed the Falepili Union treaty, which would allow up to 280 Tuvaluans a year to migrate to Australia, obtain permanent residency, and move freely between the countries.
Tuvalu is one of the smallest countries in the world, and is predicted to be one of the first to become uninhabitable due to rising sea levels caused by the climate crisis. Projections estimate that by 2050, half of the nation's capital city could be submerged during high tides, and up to 95% regularly flooded by the end of the century.
Tuvalu's prime minister called the agreement creating a migration pathway "groundbreaking, unprecedented, and landmark" since it means people aren't forced to reside in Australia, but "can go in and come out as you wish."
Why is this good news? While some worry about the impacts of the agreement on labor and cultural knowledge loss, migration due to climate change is still expected to be a massive global issue. These countries are proactively working on solutions because all migrants, regardless of how they come to be displaced, deserve choice, safety, protection, and autonomy.
Scientists used E. coli bacteria to convert a widely used plastic into a common painkiller
Scientists from the University of Edinburgh used Escherichia coli bacteria to convert molecules from a widely used type of plastic — polyethylene terephthalate, or PET — into the common painkiller acetaminophen.
Acetaminophen, like most drugs, is made from fossil fuels, as is plastic. While this solution is not currently scalable at an industrial or commercial level, it has a lot of potential.
As one scientist said, it "demonstrates that PET plastic isn't just waste or a material destined to become more plastic" — it can be made into "valuable new products, including those with potential for treating disease."
Why is this good news?Plastic pollution and the use of fossil fuels to manufacture drugs are two of the largest problems facing the planet today, and this solution addresses both, turning something we'd normally consider waste into something really useful.
A massive conservation deal saved nearly 8,000 acres of forest in Alabama from becoming a wood pellet mill
Nearly 8,000 acres of forest in Alabama's Mobile-Tensaw Delta, one of the most biodiverse places in North America, is now protected as the E.O. Wilson Land Between the Rivers Preserve — named after a pioneering biologist from the state.
The land was at risk of becoming the site of a wood pellet mill, and large swaths of the forest were at risk of being cut down, chipped, and shipped overseas to be used as biomass energy — which has competing claims about the risks and benefits as an alternative to fossil fuels.
The land was purchased for $15 million with funds from Patagonia's Holdfast Collective alongside an anonymous donor.
Why is this good news? Sometimes called "America's Amazon," the Delta is not only incredibly biodiverse, but the hardwood trees and surrounding ecosystem store an incredible amount of carbon — and that needs to be protected.
A new law in Colorado establishes Black history education standards for public schools.The law requires the Colorado State Board of Education to adopt standards on Black American history and creates an advisory committee to help develop those standards in an effort to teach "a full, honest history — one that recognizes the achievements, contributions, and experiences of Black Americans."
Which good news story interested you most this week?
Reply to this email and let me know!
— Megan
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