It’s well known that the media never talk about trains arriving on time. So much so that following the news can be totally depressing. Without denying the great threats and difficulties facing our times, there is also very good news that sometimes reaches us and which is not relayed enough. To ignore them is to condemn ourselves to despair. Here are three recent pieces of information that make us smile again.
The world is on the verge of eliminating polio
With this infectious disease paralyzing hundreds of thousands of people each year, polio eradication seems within reach. Our World In Data recalls that two of the three polioviruses have now been eradicated.
One of the last challenges to be overcome is “to contain vaccine-derived polioviruses, which have emerged from oral polio vaccines in rare circumstances and have spread to some areas where vaccination against the disease has declined”specify the analysts. Only 12 cases of polio were diagnosed in 2023 globally.
LEGOs are good for mental health
Several psychological studies have concluded that LEGO may have mental health benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety. Interviewed by Canary Media, Doctor Jay Watts, consultant clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, explained:
Psychology has begun to recognize that play is as important to healing from trauma as processing traumatic memories and establishing good enough relationships. We awaken an inner child who has been too scared, too hurt, or too paralyzed to move, and releasing it historically helps us free ourselves a little in the present.
These toys are used in particular to calm the anxiety of children who are going to have scanners or MRIs in hospitals, specifies Good News Network.
UK takes giant step against plastic pollution
The number of plastic bags collected from British beaches has fallen by 80% over the past decade, according to a survey by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS). This reduction was made possible by the implementation of compulsory taxes for single-use plastic bags.
MCS Beachwatch Program Manager Lizzie Price expressed her enthusiasm for the results. Quoted by Optimist Dailyshe underlines thus: “ It’s great to see that single-use plastic policies like those on bags are working.”.
That’s it for this week. If you liked this article, you can always reread the previous part of this section to find other good news that has gone relatively unnoticed.
