From South America to Europe: Why Brazil, Paris, and the Netherlands give us hope

July 22, 2026

Hello dear Good News community,

Good News from the Brazilian rainforest always brightens my day. Images of deforestation or wildfires never fail to shock me—which makes today's news all the more wonderful: Wildfires in the Amazon region reached a historic low in 2025 since record-keeping began in 1985.

Enjoy reading, Selina

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Brazil: Wildfires in the Amazon region at historic low in 2025

The burned area in the Brazilian Amazon dropped in 2025 to its lowest level since record-keeping began in 1985. According to the monitoring group MapBiomas, 3.1 million hectares fell victim to flames last year—a drastic decline compared to the record high of 15.8 million hectares in 2024. Source: BBC

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Netherlands apologizes for colonial injustice

The Dutch government has officially apologized for the first time to people from the Indonesian Maluku islands—a community that moved from Indonesia to the Netherlands following the end of colonial rule and faced decades of marginalization there. Source: EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT

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First vaccine against Ebola variant undergoes testing

An important step in the fight against Ebola: The world's first clinical trial for a vaccine against the rare Bundibugyo ebolavirus is launching in the UK. Researchers are initially evaluating whether the vaccine is safe and triggers an immune response. Source: BBC

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Paris cools down underground

Beneath the streets of Paris, a 120-kilometer district cooling network already cools roughly 900 buildings—including hospitals, museums, and the Louvre. The system uses less electricity than conventional air conditioners and is set to be expanded significantly in the coming years. Source: THE GUARDIAN

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Youth collect plastic pollution data for science

"n the citizen science project ""Plastic Pirates,"" children and teenagers are investigating plastic pollution along European rivers and coasts on a large scale. By systematically collecting litter, the students gather valuable datasets for environmental research. The network now spans 13 European countries. Source: RESET

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Chimpanzees and bonobos reduce stress through targeted physical contact

A study from Durham University shows that chimpanzees and bonobos use close physical contact, like kisses and hugs, to ease tension ahead of stressful situations. Before conflicts over food arise, the great apes deliberately strengthen group cohesion—a behavior researchers view as an ancient biological root of human trust-building. Source: BBC

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We are halfway there—thanks to YOU! 🎉

You are the best! Thanks to your support, we have already passed the halfway mark of our goal! 🩷 Thank you to the 154 supporters who pulled us out of the summer slump. Now we only need just under 970 dollars to crack our July goal. Will you help us along the rest of the way? ✨

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❣️ Thank you 154 supports in July!
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Best regards,

Bianca Kriel & Selina Mahoche