🌞 Sunday 26th July

I was genuinely blown away by the influx of lovely messages I received from all of you over the past week. Thank you to everyone who sent their good news stories – this edition is honestly a team effort (which is a far cry from my university “group” assignments, so this means a lot to me). 

If I may, I’d also like to make one more request. I recently turned 20 (cue the existential crisis) and I’ve been making it a point to ask people around me about books and movies everyone should definitely read in their twenties.

I’d love for you to send over your must-reads and watches, and I’ll share them with everyone next week! Hit reply to this email or email me: [email protected]

My contribution? A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman and Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. Both are incredible books with excellent movie adaptations. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed El Salvador has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem.

According to the WHO, “trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness.” 

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “El Salvador’s success is a… clear signal that a healthier, more equitable future is within reach.” 

The WHO validated El Salvador’s trachoma elimination, which means they conducted a multi-year process to see if trachoma was still a public health problem, and documented El Salvador’s health system capabilities to respond to any future cases. 

The result was proof that there was no “active transmission” in El Salvador, no signs in children, and “no advanced cases capable of causing blindness were found in adults.” 

Sri Lankan-Australian author Shankari Chandran has donated her Miles Franklin award winning novel ‘Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens’ to the Jaffna Public Library in Sri Lanka. 

Until Government security forces burned it down in 1981, the Library became one of the largest archives of Tamil culture in the world. It holds 100,000 books, ancient manuscripts and historical records about Tamil civilization at its height. 

 The Sri Lankan civil war officially began two years later,  lasting until 2009. 

Chandran said her novel was “inspired by the burning of the Library” and “uses this act of cultural erasure to explore racism” in Sri Lanka and Australia.” She told TDA: "All my work returns to this. I cannot let go of the burning of books, the bodies and the truth that followed. Libraries hold stories, and this one sits in the ancestral capital of the Tamil people of Sri Lanka. So, I am so proud to be part of this.”

Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Matthew Duckworth coordinated the donation, returning this Tamil and Australian story to a Tamil institution that once lost so many of them.

Reporting by Pavitra Ravi 

Me, eating dark chocolate digestives while watching Netflix

Thank you to reader Lauren for sending this through! 

“I find Instagram user The Dancing Trucker gives me a laugh every time I see him. Him and his wife do the same cheesy dance every video but in different settings…”

You can take a look here.

Last week, a ban came into place preventing large companies across the European Union from destroying unsold clothes, accessories, and footwear. 

The measure is aimed at reducing product and resource waste. 

According to the European Council, “when new usable goods are discarded, the raw materials, water, energy and labor invested in their production are lost, while their disposal generates avoidable greenhouse gas emissions.”

The European Environmental Agency says up to 594,000 tonnes of textiles are destroyed each year across the continent. 

These rules mean businesses must sell, donate or reuse any undamaged products, and encourage resource-efficient practices.

A 25-year-old French pharmacy cream is having a moment - and it's not hard to see why

Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream has been a dermatologist go-to for 25 years, loved for calming and repairing sensitive, irritated skin. Made with Avène Thermal Spring Water and a gentle, clinically-tested ingredient, it visibly repairs skin within 48 hours and helps with everything from post-procedure sensitivity to everyday dryness and redness.

This section is brought to you by Nadia, another good news reader. Her feel-good recommendation sparked joy for me this week, and I second her recommendation.  

Kid President is trying to change the world, and shows us how to do so.

My favourite part: “The world is changed by ordinary people. Little people living out big love. And that’s what gives the world a reason to dance! ”

In fact, you could apply that quote to the next story… 

A 56-year-old delivery driver has won one of China’s top literary prizes for his work ‘Low Altitude Flight’. 

Lu Xun literary prizewinner Wang Jibing’s poetry collection draws upon interviews with other delivery drivers and riders. 

He told Chinese state media Global Times that he plans on working this job until he turns 60, saying: "Every ordinary person has unique radiance. Though we are not as dazzling as top writers, our trivial brilliance can also light up the literary sky." 

You can read a translated version of his work here: 

AFL player Marcus Bontempelli is working with Red Tractor, ALDI Australia and Foodbank to provide three million breakfasts for struggling families. 

For every 1.6kg bag of Red Tractor oats bought at ALDI as part of a ‘Special Buy’, the Australian-owned oats brand will donate a bag to Foodback. 

The Melbourne cafe Bontempelli owns will be also selling two special menu items, with each purchase seeing another 1.6kg bag of oats donated to Foodbank.

We’re rounding off this newsletter with a fantastic story from reader Alexandra.

Numbats, an Aussie marsupial, have had positive signs of population growth.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has improved their status from ‘Endangered’ to ‘Near Threatened.’

Numbats were once widespread across southern Australia, however numbers dwindled to 300 following the spread of red foxes and cats.

While they certainly aren’t out of the clear yet, the good news is that they’re getting there. Conservation efforts have resulted in between 2,000 and 3,000 numbats. 

Before I let you enjoy your weekend, I just wanted to say a big big thank you. It can often feel like I’m writing into the void, but knowing there’s people out there who read - and like! - my work means so much to me. 

Okay, sappy stuff over. Enjoy your Sunday!