Mexico, Guatemala and Belize plan a protected area in the Maya Forest, EU approves HIV prevention drug

September 1, 2025

Hello dear Good News community,

Somewhere in a corner of my fridge, one of those cute little soy-sauce fish bottles is lying around – I kept it simply because it’s so adorable. And yet: these tiny plastic bottles often end up in the ocean, pollute nature and pose a danger to animals. That’s why South Australia has now banned them. A small step that may turn out to have not such a small impact.

Enjoy reading, Bianca

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Mexico, Guatemala and Belize plan a protected area in the Maya Forest

Mexico, Guatemala and Belize plan to create a joint nature reserve covering almost six million hectares of Maya rainforest – an area bigger the size of Croatia. It would be the second-largest protected rainforest in Latin America, after the Amazon. Source: LA TIMES

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EU approves HIV prevention drug

For the first time, the EU has approved an HIV prevention drug that only needs to be injected twice a year. The active ingredient, lenacapavir, eliminates the need for a daily PrEP pill, making it easier for people to protect themselves against infection. The drug is already available in the U.S. and is recommended by the WHO. Source: EURONEWS

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Madagascar receives colonial-era skulls back

France has returned three colonial-era skulls to Madagascar. After almost 130 years in Paris’s Natural History Museum, Madagascar called the restitution a healing moment for the Sakalava people, while France described it as a historic step. A new law now facilitates such restitutions. Source: AL JAZEERA

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South Australia bans sushi soy-sauce fish

South Australia has banned the cute but environmentally harmful plastic soy-sauce fish: from September 1, the tiny sushi bottles are prohibited. The government aims to reduce beach and ocean litter and will rely on larger refillable bottles instead of single-use gimmicks. Source: THE GUARDIAN

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Mapping project makes Nairobi’s informal settlements visible

Since 2009, the Map Kibera project has been mapping critical infrastructure in Nairobi’s informal settlements which is not included on official maps. This includes clinics, water points and waste sites, making invisible spaces visible. This data supports the authorities, NGOs and residents alike. Source: RESET

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Four giraffe species: A turning point for conservation

The International Union for Conservation of Nature now recognizes four distinct giraffe species: northern, southern, Masai and reticulated. Researchers say they differ as much as polar bears and brown bears. This new understanding reshapes conservation and enables targeted protection strategies. Source: ABC NEWS

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THANK YOU to 255 supporters in August!

A big THANK YOU to everyone who supported us with a voluntary contribution in August! 👏 Thanks to you, we can keep bringing Good News into the world! You contributed $1,718.57– and every penny goes straight into our work. 🚀 Your Good News Team 🌻

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❣️ Thank you to all 3 supporters in September!
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Bianca Kriel & Selina Mahoche