Bees Don't Care What Humans Think Is Impossible

This week we’re covering both the natural and manmade. From tiny moss to the largest animal in the world, there's a lot of good happening around the globe – and so much so, we’re struggling to narrow down the stories for this week!

Author

Alaina Wood
October 13, 2022

Because Now They're Fish

😊 The Good News - Under California's Endangered Species Act, insects cannot receive protection, but the California Supreme Court just ruled that bumblebees are considered fish in an effort to protect these native pollinators.

🥾 Follow This Path - Insects are part of ecosystems just like plants and animals are, and if we want healthy ecosystems, we must protect insects too. Although it is unfortunate that California's Endangered Species Act doesn't cover insects, I'm glad we’ve found a way to protect them.

There Can Be Only One (Charger)

🥾 Follow This Path - Needing dozens of different chargers for all the electronics we own is frustrating because not only does that cost money, but it also costs us our planet. I hope other countries follow in the European Union's footsteps by requiring every electronic device to use the same charger.

There Is A Superhero In All of Us – Even Moss

😊 The Good News - A study conducted by Moors for the Future Partnership has determined that sphagnum moss can significantly reduce flooding in valley communities. These plants lower the total amount of storm runoff that enters bodies of water by 65%.

🥾 Follow This Path - Climate change is causing more frequent and severe flooding in many parts of the world, and it's exciting to see a cheap and efficient way to help reduce the impact of extreme climate events. I hope that local communities will continue to push for more nature-based solutions in the future.

Hurricane Ian Met Its Match

😊 The Good News - One community in the direct path of Hurricane Ian kept the lights on during the entire storm, and the credit goes to a solar farm. Babcock Ranch is the first community in the US that was intentionally built to be hurricane-resilient, and both the homes and the infrastructure have survived the powerful storm.

🥾 Follow This Path - Coastal communities must take steps to adapt to worsening storms and flooding caused by climate change, and Babcock Ranch has shown how effective these changes can be. I hope more communities are retrofitted and built to be hurricane-resilient because it saves money and, most importantly, lives.

To The Left, To The Left, All of Your Ships In The Route To The Left

😊 The Good News - The largest shipping company in the world, the Mediterranean Shipping Company, is moving one of its shipping routes in the Indian Ocean to protect the largest animal in the world, the blue whale. The company voluntarily made the move after research proved it would reduce collisions with the endangered whales by 9.5%.

🥾 Follow This Path - Blue whales are still considered endangered despite years of conservation efforts, so I'm excited to see a company as large as the Mediterranean Shipping Company make changes to help further our fight. I hope other corporations can also realize how their operations are adversely affecting the planet and do something about it.

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