New York protects “the birds & the bees” with nation-leading pesticides legislation
The Birds and Bees Protection Act bans the neonic pesticides uses that provide no economic benefits to users or are replaceable with safer, effective alternatives.
Good News Links
Seth Marnin makes history as U.S.’s first out trans male judge
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has appointed the state’s first out transgender judge and the nation’s first trans man ever to serve on a judicial bench.
Switzerland amends law to legally recognize that sex without consent is rape
The amendment follows similar rulings in Denmark and Spain, where the law was recently changed to define rape as sexual assault without explicit consent.
California expands Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to provide universal access to free books for young children
With this expansion, all California children under 5 will be eligible to receive a free book in the mail every month, as the program scales over the next several years.
U.S. issues 20-year ban on drilling bear Indigenous cultural site in New Mexico
Chaco Culture National Historical Park and the surrounding landscape contain irreplaceable cultural sites where Pueblo and Tribal Nations continue to honor their ancestral customs.
Japanese higher court rules in favor of marriage equality
The ruling adds pressure on the Japanese parliament to legalize same-sex marriages. Japan remains the only country in the G7 that has not legalized marriage equality.
Microparticle therapy reverses MS in 100% of mice, cures one third
The finding has the potential to lead to new treatments for not only multiple sclerosis but other autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes.
Meningitis vaccine trial in Mali and The Gambia shows promise in “groundbreaking” development
The Serum Institute of India and Path successfully tested an effective and affordable vaccine for meningitis, a disease that claims the lives of an estimated 250,000 people each year.
Scientists identify bacteria that can break down ‘forever chemicals’
PFAS are used in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and firefighting foams, and have been linked with higher cholesterol, lower fertility, developmental delays in children, and a greater risk of cancer.
Mexico adds nonbinary option to passports
Nonbinary Mexicans now have the option to select “X” as their gender marker, rather than male or female. Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard called the move “a great leap for the freedom and dignity of people.”