Good News Headlines 8/21/2023
Youth plaintiffs walking to courthouse in Helena. Photo by Robin Loznak courtesy Youth v. Gov.
‘This Is Huge’: Judge Sides With Montana Youths In Historic Climate Ruling
by Julia Conley, Common Dreams
Climate advocates on Monday expressed hope that an unprecedented ruling by a state judge in Montana, siding with 16 young residents who argued the state violated their constitutional rights by promoting fossil fuel extraction, will mark a sea change in the outcomes of climate lawsuits. In Held v. State of Montana, District Court Judge Kathy Seeley ruled that rights of the plaintiffs—who range in age from 5 to 22— have been violated by the Montana Environmental Policy Act because the law has prevented the state from assessing the climate impacts of mining projects.
‘This Comes From The Heart’: How Volunteers Help Lahaina Amid Slow Government Response
by Dani Anguiano, The Guardian
Nearly a week after Hawaii’s devastating wildfires destroyed the historic town of Lahaina and killed at least 96 people, the need in Maui is still so great that when boats approach the western side of the island with donations, people run across the beach to welcome them. It’s a sight Edgar Rodriguez appreciates – and understands. Rodriguez and his family lost their Lahaina home to the flames. In the days since, he has shepherded supplies to those who stayed behind in the closed portion of the island with the Pacific Whale Foundation, a marine conservation nonprofit.
Apple Committed $2.5 Billion To Build Affordable Housing And Thousands Of Units Have Already Been Built
by Andy Corbley, Good News Network
Citing a profound civic responsibility in the tech-heavy city of San Jose, CEO of Apple Inc. Tim Cook created a corporate fund to advance affordable housing projects in the city four years ago. Now, $1.5 billion has already been spent, and it’s resulted in the creation of thousands of housing units across the city and county, and more. As one might expect from the world’s largest company by market cap and revenue, the funding has been targeted, strategic, and effective, thanks to a plan to plug critical gaps in existing housing projects or innovate when necessary.
She Used Her Life Savings To Open A Bar That Only Plays Women’s Sports
by Tom Huddleston Jr., Positive News
When Jenny Nguyen signed the lease to create her dream bar, she wasn’t sure it would stay open for more than a few months. But earlier this year, Jenny Nguyen’s first-of-its-kind establishment in Portland, Oregon, celebrated its one-year anniversary. Aptly named The Sports Bra, it’s a sports bar where only women athletes appear on the TVs. Business has been good, despite the niche business model and record inflation sending food and beverage prices soaring. The Sports Bra brought in $944,000 in revenue in the eight months it was open in 2022. It was profitable in that first year of business, she adds.
‘We Turn Waste Into Something Golden’: The Creatives Transforming Rags To Riches
by Sarah Johnson, The Guardian
Every second, the equivalent of a lorry full of clothes ends up on a landfill site somewhere around the world. People are buying, and casting off, more clothes than ever. On average each consumer buys 60% more clothing than 15 years ago and 92m tonnes of textile waste are created annually. Production and consumption are on the rise, with severe environmental and social implications. Only 12% of the material used for clothing is recycled. A popular way to dispose of clothes is to give them to charity shops. But many of these donations end up in countries in the global south, where there is big trade in secondhand clothing.
