It seems that there are only negative stories on the news nowadays. We wake up and someone important has died, a terrorist attack occurred here, and the global weather is getting worse. These are important, yes, but that does not mean that there is no happiness and joy in this world.
Here are five newsworthy stories that will restore your faith in humanity again.
1. Bill Gates pledges $100 Million to Alzheimer's research
The Microsoft tycoon is making news not for the latest Windows update, but for a generous donation. The money will go specifically into the Dementia Discovery Fund.
He has stated on his blog that the reason for this is because several members of his family have had Alzheimer's. Alzheimers is presently the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, with more than 5 million individuals affected.
It's good to see those with money using their wealth for good in this world!
2. Double amputee finishes 31 marathons in 31 days
Rob Jones should be a living legend. Not only did he complete a marathon as a double amputee, but he completed 30 more marathons in as many days after that. The final race was on Veterans Day, which he had planned.
All 31 marathons were run in honor of our nation's veterans. Jones has been living in an RV with his wife for the past month. Jones is a veteran who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan before losing he legs to an explosive device in 2010. He says his goal was to raise $1 million for three veterans charities.
3. Sri Lanka vows to ditch fossil fuels
The nation of Sri Lanka has vowed to replace all government-owned vehicles with electric or hybrid vehicles by the years 2025. The move is part of a national effort to phase out diesel and petrol.
Private owners will have until 2040 to follow suit and replace their vehicles as well. One way of encouraging the transition is a tax cut on hybrid vehicles. This follows other nations that have made similar vows, such as Great Britain, France, and India.
4. 4-year-old donates piggy bank to police officer with cancer
Sidney Fahrenbruch, a 4-year-old girl from Colorado, has decided to donate her piggy bank money to a local cop who has been battling cancer. Officer, Kyle Zulauf, of the Longmont Police Department, an Army veteran and father of 3, had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Due to an additional surgery that was required, his police department had been attempting to raise money. Sidney heard his story since she has a strong connection with the local police force. It has been said that she visits the station at least once a week and the force has even stopped by her house to check for monsters under her bed.
The department says there are no words to describe how wonderful this act of kindness and selflessness means to them.
5. Prehistoric wine discovered in the country of Georgia
Attention all wine enthusiasts!
After a recent discovery, historians are now suggesting that the birthplace of wine could be from the country of Georgia, located in the south Caucasus Mountains between Europe and the Middle East. Ancient pottery dating back to 6000 B.C. has been found to have traces of grapes and fermentation in them.
These clues indicate that they were used to make and store wine. Paterick McGovern, a molecular anthropologist from the University of Pennsylvania led the study. The previous theories on the origin of wine had pinpointed the date to have been 600-1000 years later, with it being traced to Iran. Looks like people have been enjoying beverages for longer than we thought!
Hopefully, these five stories managed to brighten your day and remind you of the good in the world.
