Words by Smiley Team
Good news! It’s Friday. That means for many of you, today signals the start of the weekend – and a time to rest, relax, and recharge.
To get your day off on the right foot, here are five bits of positive news you might have missed this week. We love to share good news stories, so grab a cuppa and let’s get stuck in.
This week saw the launch of #WeThe15 – a global movement, founded by a coalition of organisations from sport, human rights, policy, communications, business, arts and entertainment, uniting to change attitudes and create more opportunities for persons with disabilities.
The aim is to end discrimination and transform the lives of the world’s 1.2 billion persons with disabilities so they can be visible and active members of an inclusive society. And it launched after Covid-19 disproportionately impacting people with disabilities. Find out more on its website.
We know full well how much rubbish – most specifically, plastic – there is in the sea, causing harm to marine species and wildlife. While many organisations are doing all they can to reduce this, there’s a potential new solution: a jellyfish robot.
In France, back in July, tourists were able to see a bright yellow, remote-controlled boat (a bit like a robot) that weaves around sucking in rubbish into a net that trails behind it. It’s said to be around the size of a suitcase, so is able to be nimble and get into small places. Watch a video of the robot here.
Gavin Towers, 44, of Millom in Cumbria, is currently attempting to break the record for the fastest circumnavigation of Britain by bike. Gavin was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa – a condition which causes ‘tunnel vision’ and affects around 23,000 people in the UK. He's determined not to let his sight loss stop him from attempting to cycle 4,802 miles in less than 22 days to break the record which has stood since 1984 by Nick Sanders.
In an attempt to break the record, he'll be cycling 230 miles each day. Partnering with Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), Gavin wants to help raise awareness of Retinitis Pigmentosa, and for the other 250 people who are diagnosed with sight loss every day in the UK. He will also be partnering with Save the Children, a charity which is also close to his heart.
The furniture giant in Sweden is looking to expand its environmental reach as it announces it will start selling renewable energy to households – starting with the Swedish market in September 2021.
The programme is in partnership with Svea Solar. The company will buy renewable energy from wind and solar facilities on the Nordic power exchange and sell it to Ikea customers without a surcharge. Customers will be able to pay a fixed monthly fee and can track their energy usage through an app.
Unwanted face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) can now be recycled in Brighton and Hove, after the council installed bins around the city. It’s the first scheme of its kind in the country, and the recycled PPE will be used to make more bins and other plastic items.
PPE litter, which many of us have seen dropped onto paths and roadsides throughout this pandemic, is particularly bad for seaside towns as the plastic can end up in the sea and harm marine wildlife.
For more good news stories, visit the Smiley News homepage.
Image credit: By Ceri Breeze / Shutterstock
