Good news for humankind!

From the week of June 26 – July 2 2023 C.E.

---

#1

Indonesia and Malaysia have cut deforestation in half in last half-decade

Across both countries, average yearly forest loss fell dramatically between the years 2015-2017 and 2020-2022, with Indonesia seeing a 64 percent decline and Malaysia a 57 percent decline.

---

#2

New Zealand bans thin plastic fruit and vegetable bags in world first

The new ban will also extend to plastic straws and cutlery, as the nation’s government expands its campaign against single-use plastics, which began in 2019 when it banned plastic carrier bags.

---

#3

Solar accounts for 82% of India’s total power capacity growth in 2022

In 2022, India installed 13 GWac of new solar power capacity, 27% more than it installed in 2021, which was its previous best year ever.

---

#4

U.K. achieves huge gains in 5-year survival rates of early breast cancer

A new UK study has found that, compared to 20 years ago, women diagnosed today with early invasive breast cancer and initially treated with surgery are 66% less likely to die from the disease.

---

#5

U.N. agencies head up new $115 million push for healthier oceans

The Clean and Healthy Oceans strategy from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization aims to curb land-based pollution of our oceans through policy and regulatory innovation, infrastructure investments, and nature-based solutions.

---

#6

Canada officially bans cosmetic animal testing and trade

This landmark decision is part of the Budget Implementation Act, not only prohibiting cosmetic animal testing but also putting an end to the sale of cosmetics that use new animal testing data for safety substantiation.

---

#7

Detroit is going to power 100% of its municipal buildings with solar

For every solar acre assembled, $25,000 in community benefits will be available for neighborhood projects such as park and recreation improvements, home repairs, and solar power for neighboring homes.

---

#8

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library celebrates gifting 200 million books

Launched in 1995, the program spans five countries and reportedly gifts over 2.4 million free age-appropriate books each month to children around the world.

---

#9

Belize certified malaria-free by WHO

Over the last 3 decades, Belize has achieved a dramatic reduction in its malaria burden – from a peak of about 10 000 cases in 1994 to zero indigenous cases in 2019.

---

#10

Japan expands the definition of rape after years of protest

Japan’s parliament passed legislation to redefine rape as nonconsensual sexual intercourse – removing the provisions regarding use of force – and raise the age of consent from 13 to 16.

---

Remember

World leaders promise to end deforestation by 2030 (2021 C.E.)

The countries who signed the pledge – including Canada, Brazil, Russia, China, Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the U.S. and the U.K. – cover around 85% of the world’s forests.

---

Imagine

Humanity ends net deforestation and transitions into net reforestation (2030 C.E. ???)

Fulfilling their 2021 pledge, the world’s nations begin growing back global forest cover through massive mobilization of conservation and tree planting efforts.

You are beautiful

I believe that in order to experience beauty, one must first be beautiful themselves. One’s experience of something external to them as beautiful is the activation of their own internal capacity and yearning for beauty. And that capacity and yearning for beauty is itself deeply beautiful.

Have you experienced beauty? Then you yourself must be beautiful as well.

Peter Schulte

Purpose & Leadership Coach

Founder & Executive Director, Spark of Genius

Bellingham, WA USA / Lummi & Nooksack lands

he/they

More of Peter’s story

Book a coaching session