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Don’t believe the hype — it’s been a good start to the year! Positive news January 2018!

Source: VerenaYunitaYapi/Stocksnap

Great news stories you should hear about from around the world. Here are some of our favourites from January 2018 and it’s not even over yet!

9 Great stories you should hear about: January 2018

Here at BrightVibes we try to curate the best and most positive news stories from around the world. Green technologies, heartwarming tales of kindness, and anything we find that is upbeat and helps counter the mass of negativity that seems to pervade the mainstream media. There is plenty of positivity out there, everywhere, so here are some of our pick of the best from January 2018. It’s been a good start to the year. Let’s make a great one by sharing positive news stories.

Positive news January 2018 Great news stories you should hear about. Source: Facebook/BrightVibes

1. ITALY BANS PLASTIC COTTON BUDS from 2019

Italy is the first country to ban cotton buds made out of non-biodegradable materials as on many of their beaches much of the waste was found to consist of plastic cotton buds.


Source: PlasticSoupFoundation.org

2. STARBUCKS UK STARTS CHARGING EXTRA FOR DISPOSABLE CUP

Many cups are made out of paper and a thin layer of plastic to keep your drink warm, which makes it non-recyclable. Starbucks already offers a 25-cent discount to those who bring their own cups. As of Feb 2018, Starbucks will charge £0.05 per cup in many of their stores.

Source: RawPixel/Stocksnap

3. VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN DIETS ON THE RISE

Meal delivery service Just Eat has named veganism as a top consumer trend in 2018, due to many of its users striving for a “healthy lifestyle”, and a demand hike of 987% last year.

4. BARBER GIVES HOMELESS PEOPLE IN AMSTERDAM FREE HAIRCUTS

A Lighter Day cuts at homeless shelters in Amsterdam. Barber Taylor Jardine and photographer and videomaker Steven Elbers visit different shelters twice a week to care for the men who live on the streets.

Source: BrightVibes.com

5. UPCYCLED SCHOOLBAG OFFERS CHILDREN IN AFRICA THE CHANCE TO STUDY AFTER DARK

The Repurposed schoolbag is made out of plastic bags and offers integrated solar technology to allow children to study safely after dark. Designed to do more with less, they are made from 20 recycled plastic bags. There is a built-in solar panel that charges on the walk to and from school, which later transforms into a light for children to study after dark. Added reflective material on the bag makes it more visible when walking on the street.

Source: Facebook/BrightVibes

6. INDONESIAN MAN SINGLE-HANDEDLY REPLANTS FOREST LOST TO FIRE

By replanting an entire lost forest, this Indonesian man single-handedly saved his village from drought and starvation. Unsung hero of a 21-year campaign to replant trees to conserve groundwaterSadiman, a 67-year-old man from the Wonogiri regency of Central Java, Indonesia, has managed to turn his drought-prone village into a groundwater-rich region by leading a campaign to replant trees on a nearby hill for the past 21 years.

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. Source: AriSusanto/Rappler

7. McDonalds to ditch plastic foam cups

McDonald’s will stop using plastic foam cups. The plan is to eliminate foam packaging by the end of 2018 and to use recycled sources for all of its fiber-based packaging by 2020.

8. WORLD’S FIRST FULLY SOLAR POWERED TRAIN HAS LEFT THE STATION

Byron Bay rail company has restored a disused vintage train to be 100% powered by solar energy — a world first for the transportation sector.

Source: ByronBayTrain.com.au

9. UK BANS HARMFUL PLASTIC MICROBEADS

Tiny particles of plastic are seriously damaging the planet’s water and the creatures who live in it. Fortunately the UK now officially bans them. The plastic microbeads ban – which was long-promised – came into effect on 9th January 2018. The ban initially bars the manufacture of such products and a ban on sales will follow in July.

Make an Impact

15 Uplifting Sites Focused on Positive Stories and Ideas for Good

There is no shortage of news these days, every place we turn. Much of it is less-than-positive. Looking for something different? A little more thoughtful, light-hearted, happy, fun, and inspirational? Here are a few great choices (besides BrightVibes, obviously ?) All of these sites focus on uplifting and creative news stories, ideas, and information. Check them out to bring a little sunshine into your day.