The 2016 news cycle has not been a fun one. Tragedies and a tense election season do not make for comfortable news conversations at the dinner table. Negative news often evokes a stronger emotional response, which is why media tends to hone in on it. However, many good events have happened in 2016, and here are some of the most heartwarming stories so far this year.
1. The population of endangered tigers is on the upswing
For the first time in the past 100 years, the tiger population has expanded. Due to efforts of conservationists and governments in southern Asia, the tiger population has been protected from the threats of illegal poaching and habitat destruction. This is good because as the highest-level animal in the local food chain, tigers help keep ecosystem wild life in check by preventing overpopulation of herbivores.
2. Italy Passes Major Laws To Prevent Food Waste
Food waste is a major problem in developed countries, and Italy is taking steps to fix it. Super markets in Italy must donate their unsold food to charities instead of throwing it away (spoiled food is excluded from this rule). To enforce this policy, Italy is offering tax cuts to businesses that comply with this measure. Other countries in the EU are now considering food waste bans as well.
3. Hedge Fund Manager Pays 800 Teachers $15,000 in New York
Jim Simons is an extremely wealthy man who started a philanthropic organization known as Math for America. He sees the low salaries of teachers as a problem and has started paying directly paying math and science teachers to “encourage them to stay in the field.” He is planning to expand that number to 1000 teachers, which is approximately 10% of the state’s math and science teachers.
4. Bank Firm Pays For College Tuition For The Children Of Employees Who Died In The 9/11 Attacks
Sixty-six employees from Sandler O'Neill & Partners perished in 9/11 leaving 76 children without parents. The firm has recently just fully paid off the tuition fees of 54 of those children and is prepared to pay off the tuition for the remaining 22 once they are eligible.
5. New Medicine Has Been Shown To Increase Melanoma Survival Rate To 40%
In a trial of 655 patients with severe melanoma, 40% survived after three years with 15% showing no signs of the cancer at all. This new drug, Pembrolizumab, has dramatically increased survival rates compared to older treatments.
6. Over 800 Boko Haram Hostages Were Rescued By Nigerian Army
Boko Haram is a terrorist group and was considered the world’s deadliest terror group in 2015. The group also made world headlines when they kidnapped over 200 young girls around two years ago. The group has since declined in power, and in March, over 800 hostages were released.
7. Funding From The Ice Bucket Challenge Has Led Scientists To Discovery Of A New Gene Connected To ALS
Do you remember the ice bucket challenge trend? The trend raised money to support research in better understanding ALS. Scientists from the University of Massachusetts’s medical school discovered this gene in a projected funded from the ALS Association. According to the ALS Association, the $1 million granted for the project came directly from ice bucket challenge donations.
