DO YOU WANT TO READ SOME GOOD NEWS?

DO YOU WANT TO READ SOME GOOD NEWS?

Today, I bring you tidings of great joy! No, I am not announcing the Second Coming nor that I am going to quit blogging. When our daily news seems to be filled with tragedy, conflict, death and destruction, it is a joyous day when we can be treated to some good news. Recently, we have been informed of two significant global conditions that have not deteriorated further, but rather they have improved! That is cause to celebrate. 

The first happy item is that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is not leaning as much as it used to. Back in 1990, the tourist favourite was closed to the public for the first time in 800 years amid fears it could be on the verge of toppling. At the time, it was tilting by 4.5 m or 14 feet from the vertical. And that is quite a lean! An international committee worked to stabilize the tower between 1993 and 2001. The 57 m (186ft) medieval monument has been straightened by 4 cm (1.5in) over the past two decades. The improvement is slight, but it is moving towards the vertical. At this rate, we can expect the No Longer Leaning Tower of Pisa to be standing erect in a little over 3000 years. My sense is that it will not be a major tourist attraction should this happen.

The second improvement is probably more significant. In the early 1980s we were alerted to the rapid deterioration of the ozone layer that surrounds the Earth. Ozone in the upper layers of the atmosphere protects the earth’s surface from most of the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. Without it, skin and eye damage can occur, and evidence suggests a rise in skin cancers is associated with the thinning of the ozone layer.

Scientific evidence of the depletion of the ozone layer over the Antarctic was first presented in 1985, and in 1987 the Montreal protocol was signed, binding world governments to reduce and phase out the harmful chemicals identified as causing the problem. New evidence shows the ozone layer is showing signs of continuing recovery from man-made damage and is likely to heal fully by 2060.

The results, presented in a four-year assessment of the health of the ozone layer, represent a rare instance of global environmental damage being repaired, and a victory for concerted global action by governments. As we continue to read about escalating problems of climate change, depletion of wild life species, pollution of the air and our oceans, it is a small comfort to experience one global success story supported by total cooperation among all nations.

Although a 4 cm movement of a leaning tower and the healing of a hole in our atmosphere do not really attract a lot of media excitement, they are an example of good news in my mind. Now if we really want a challenge, let’s see if we can significantly reduce the high fat and calorie content of the Big Mac! That would really be good news!