Holiday Hopefulness
The Global Citizen
During the holiday season, it is easy to get caught up in the politics and stress of the world. Though the world seems to be getting more and more chaotic, it is important to realize that there is still hope and positive happenings. Highlighted here are just a few of the things that are shining a bit of light on this crazy planet of ours:
Climate change is a continually fluctuating issue. The world seems to be careening between moving in the right direction to being put in peril by one ecological disaster to another. Despite the unclear future, there are people still fighting and doing what they can to make a difference. Swedish activist Greta Thunberg is one of these people fighting to raise awareness. Thanks to her activism, people are still talking about climate change and the implications of the world’s actions for both the present and the future. Seeing someone young and passionate about preserving the planet inspires people to take more of an active role in the issues of the future.
On a similar note, many countries have pledged or created plans to have more renewable and eco-friendly energy sources. Floating solar farms are currently a reality in countries such as Japan and the Netherlands. These are a new way of generating power without using up valuable land for agriculture and development. They’re easier to install than traditional solar panels because they only need to be floated and anchored. The water also cools down the solar panels making them more effective without the worry of heating up and getting damaged. Overall, its a promising solution to many of the issues surrounding solar panels while still providing enough energy needed to power nearby towns.
We can get pretty discouraged whenever we see the world going crazy. We see countries burning, wars tearing families apart and many other injustices that are heartbreaking. While these events should still be given the attention they need, it is important to stop and celebrate the other victories that mankind has pulled through to improve our lives and time on this planet. Take a moment to smell the roses, count your blessings, hold your loved ones close and remember what you’re thankful for during not just this time of the year but throughout all of it.
Wesley Rodriguez-Diep is a senior studying international relations.