This is the last Good News Tuesday of a truly life changing year. I started this project with the reminder that there will always be a balance between good and bad. Bad inspires good, and challenge leads to growth. Scrolling through good news every month reminds me that all of the negative news we’ve heard has sparked a light in so many to improve and create positive changes. 2020 was mentally challenging to say the least, but the ending of this year is the beginning of a new era. I hope 2021 helps you to choose love over fear, to be the change that we need to see, and to show compassion for the life on our world that needs it most.

Renewable energy thrived in 2020 like never before, with new innovations in solar power, wind power, and now… soil power!? We keep finding new sustainable alternatives to plastics that we’ll soon start seeing in our everyday lives, and soon enough stores will have machines transforming old clothes into brand new ones. Finally, if you love rainforests and know how many products use palm oil, finding an alternative that’s good for human health is incredibly good news.

Going through the stories on Good News Network every month provides an endless amount of hope for humanity and the many lives that share our planet. It’s hard to only pick five when there are so many worth sharing, even with my focus on good news for our environment.

Scientists continue to innovate (in ways that seem like magic to me) towards a more sustainable future, and governments around the world are taking steps to help us move away from our current unsustainable ways. So let’s reimagine what’s possible and have hope that today’s challenges are opportunities for growth into a better tomorrow.

Solar panels that pull clean drinking water out of thin air? Trucks and planes that run on hydrogen and produce nothing but water? Greenhouse gases being transformed into biodegradable plastic? This all sounds like magic to me!

Seriously though, this is what’s possible when people work together to solve global problems. There was a time when many would have doubted that any of this was possible. If this feels like news of the future, remember that as time moves on, this will become news of a distant past.

There are innovators all over the globe who are working to understand what this world needs and helping to create new solutions for it. Since everyone has their own unique set of skills, passions, and understandings, when we work together, we can make unbelievable creations that are needed to save lives. With a focus on collaboration, supporting others and believing in ourselves, we could do what is now thought of as impossible.

Let’s take a look around the world to learn from each unique nation. As we move into the future, each community will work to solve global problems in different ways. Each country has its own strengths and weaknesses. Rather than competing to be the best or believing that one is superior, global progress comes from working together, helping each other, and learning from others. Every country is still developing; let’s hope to develop more health, happiness, love and success for as many lives as possible, and learn from any peaceful changes that are made towards this future.

As I share this June’s “Good News, Planet Earth!” with my environmental focus, I’d like to also appreciate the progress that was made by the Black Lives Matter movement in this month. The awareness spread around the world was unprecedented, and while there is still SO much more change that is needed for equality and justice, my hope is that this awareness will continue to grow in order to bring more good news to black communities in the months and years to come.

These stories are all about saving lives. Whether it be saving human lives or saving biodiversity, it’s all connected and together will bring more wellbeing to this planet’s many beings.

So much is changing.  Life has always been constant change, but now it feels like we’re entering into a new era.  We have new opportunities to improve.  Let’s not strive to return “back to normal.”  Let’s move forward.  Let’s replace past mistakes with new innovations, transform our living spaces to encourage healthy living, create new jobs that feel rewarding and nourish the Earth, encourage community and support the lives around us.  Let’s get excited for what’s yet to come, and enjoy the good news that can be seen today.

Think of how much of our world’s air and water has already become cleaner from changes in our habits. Think of all the trees being saved thanks to virtual work and switching away from paper products. Think of how many are now cooking healthier meals and remembering that food comes from soils, not stores. Think of all those enjoying more time outdoors and connecting with the life that surrounds us.

There’s a lot to think about right now, so here’s another “Good News, Planet Earth!” to remind us of all the good that can come from change.

There will always be a balance between good and bad.  What may seem bad now will inspire good that’s yet to come.  It’s a challenging time to be alive, but challenge leads to growth.  I believe having hope is crucial for creating a better tomorrow, so I’m starting “Good News, Planet Earth!” as a reminder that there’s always good news to be thankful for.