Good News Headlines 9/2/2024
A DJI drone used during the test flight. Photo Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality
Buddhist Nations Team Up To Use Heavy Lifting Drones To Clear Everest Slopes Of Trash
by Andy Corbley, Good News Network
Buddhist nation Nepal and a drone manufacturer in majority Buddhist China, have signed an agreement to supply Mount Everest’s Buddhist authorities with heavy lift drones that will help clear trash off Everest’s holy slopes. Dealing with trash on the world’s highest mountain is a complex and multifaceted operation, but the drones, piloted by the same Sherpa porters who for decades have been clearing trash on foot, will allow them to work in the most dangerous areas without risk to their lives. Da Jiang Innovations, the largest drone manufacturer in China, will supply the equipment to a drone operator.
Ukrainians Celebrate Their Independence Day By Running In Vyshyvankas
by Lilly Quiroz, NPR
Whether your family’s traditional dress is a Mexican huipil, an Indian saree, or a Scottish kilt, where do you usually wear these clothes? In Ukraine, the traditional attire is a vyshyvanka. Typically made of cotton or linen, these shirts feature embroidered patterns along the front, collar and sleeves. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Anzhela Prygozhyna has worn her traditional blue-and-yellow vyshyvanka almost every other day, including this past Saturday, when she went for a run along the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.
Massachusetts To Phase Out Toxic PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Firefighting Gear
by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes, EcoWatch
Governor of Massachusetts Maura Healey has signed a new law to phase out per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the protective gear firefighters wear. PFAS “forever chemicals” do not break down in the environment and have been associated with serious health problems, including liver and thyroid issues, immune system disruption, cancer and reproductive harm. They are used in nonstick cookware, rain gear and firefighting foam, among other applications. “It’s one thing to run into a fire, you can see the blaze and feel the heat,” said Healey just before signing the bill, as The Associated Press reported.
‘Historic Victory’ As Biden BLM Restores Protections For 28 Million Acres In Alaska
by Julia Conley, Common Dreams
Indigenous tribes and conservation groups applauded the Biden administration on Tuesday for listening to the demands of Alaska Natives, who have called on the federal government to protect 28 million acres of land in the state from mining—warning that failing to do so would threaten food security and cultural identity for tens of thousands of people. U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s announcement that the land would be protected from mining interests “is a big deal for the communities and wildlife who call Alaska home,” said Dan Ritzman of the Sierra Club.
How New Mexico Made Child Care Free For Most Families
by Susan Shain, Reasons To Be Cheerful
After Geovanna Losito’s son was born in the spring of 2021, her mother took care of him while Losito worked remotely. But as her son grew, so did Losito’s worries. Losito knew that soon, her mother, who is disabled, would no longer be able to pick her son up. And Losito knew that soon she would have to resume commuting one hour each way from her home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to her government job in Santa Fe. What Losito, 33, didn’t know was how she’d be able to pay for child care so that she could continue working. Losito, who supports her son and her parents.
