5 Positive Things To Happen in the Past Week
Another week in lockdown has been and gone and it does seem like there might finally be light at the end of the tunnel in terms of the restrictions being lifted. Life is still very challenging for most people around the world though and reading the news can become very stressful. That is why we started our positive news blog posts and we’ve got five more great stories for you this week!
1 Captain Tom Celebrates 100th Birthday
World War Two veteran, Captain Thomas Moore celebrated his 100th birthday this week and the country came together to celebrate. As I’m sure you’re aware by now, Captain Tom set about raising £1000 for the NHS by walking around his garden, but he has already raised over £32 million!
For his birthday, the war veteran was officially promoted from the rank of captain to honorary colonel in a letter presented by Lt. Col Thomas Miller and approved by Her Majesty the Queen. The Royal Air Force also gave him a stunning flyover at his house featuring a Spitfire and a Hurricane.
Captain Tom also received more than 125,000 birthday cards, including cards from The Queen, Prince William and Harry Kane!
2 Global Greenhouse Gases Fall By Record Amount
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has been catastrophic for almost everyone around the globe, the one thing that is thriving is the planet. Carbon emissions have fallen by over 8%, the largest fall recorded in history due to the reduction in factory production, flights and other transportation.
The demand for energy is expected to fall massively even after things return to normal, with The Global Energy Review suggesting that the demand for energy will fall by 11% in the European Union alone. Lockdowns have pushed electricity usage down by 20%, with more people at home and less large office spaces being used.
Renewable energy sources continue to increase their importance though, and after overtaking coal in 2019, they are expected to 40% of the global electricity generation this year, marking a real switch towards environmentally friendly energy sources.
3 Tom Hanks Offers Up Antibodies For Research
In case you didn’t have enough reasons to love Hollywood actor, Tom Hanks, already, him and his wife, Rita Wilson, are donating their blood to help scientists develop potential treatments for COVID-19.
The Academy Award Winning actor and his wife both tested positive for COVID-19 back in March whilst in Australia, but have since recovered. Him and his wife are now donating their blood to help scientists work towards convalescent plasma treatment. This is an experimental therapy that was recently approved for testing by the FDA. The treatment involves taking blood plasma out of an individual who has built up an immunity to the virus. The plasma—which is full of healthy antibodies that have grown to fight the virus—is then injected into a sick patient so the antibodies can theoretically attack the virus for its new host
4 London Bus Stop Turned Into Art Gallery
A bus stop in West London has been turned into a mini art gallery by local resident, Sarah Lamarr. A hand written sign on the bus stop encourages children and adults to add their artwork and this has created a colourful community hub during a difficult time. Sarah had the idea the day after lockdown started as the teacher and mother realised that she would be stuck at home with nothing else to look at apart from the bus stop outside her window.
The bus stop can be found near Turnham Green if you live in the area and want to check it out!
5 Young Children in Switzerland Can Hug Their Grandparents Again
Some heart-warming news coming out of Switzerland this week, where children under the age of 10 are now allowed to hug their grandparents again. Scientists in Switzerland believe that children under the age of 10 cannot be infected or pass on the virus, so they are happy for them to start interacting with their grandparents again.
We do have to state that this is the belief of scientists in Switzerland though and this isn’t currently the line of thinking from within the UK.
