2022: Let's Get Started!
At the end of last year we launched an end of year good news quiz. As well as answering multiple choice questions, we also added a tie breaker - If you could create a good news story for 2022, what would it be? Some of the responses were wonderful and are quoted below, along with the answers to the quiz.
Q1. French nun Lucile Randon became the oldest person to recover from Covid-19 in February, just in time for her birthday. But how old was she?
Lucile (who took the name of Sister Andre in 1944) was coming up to her 117th birthday as she recovered from Covid-19. Sister Andre was born on 11 February 1904. As well as being Europe's oldest person, she is also the second-oldest living person in the world, according to the Gerontology Research Group's (GRG) World Supercentenarian Rankings List.
When asked by French broadcaster BFM if she was scared of having Covid, Sister Andre said: "No, I wasn't scared, because I wasn't scared to die". [Source, BBC News].
"Average summer temperature 22 degrees between April and October".
[2022 good news story]
Q2. Which animal in Kenya was NOT killed by poachers throughout the whole of 2020, something that hasn't been achieved since 1999?
2020 was a good year for the wild animals in Kenya. The number of shot elephants fell from an average of 350 per year during the previous five years to 11 in 2020. And no rhino fell victim to poachers. Something that has not happened in 20 years. [Source, Warp News].
"USA wins the World Cup!".
[2022 good news story]
Q3. Research by the Mental Health Foundation revealed that 62% of UK adults found relief from the stresses of the pandemic by doing what?
Research commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation has found that six in ten UK adults (62 per cent) who had felt stress because of COVID-19 said going for a walk had helped them cope – making it the most popular activity of all those listed in the survey. Meanwhile, almost half of UK adults surveyed (47 per cent) who had felt stress because of COVID-19 said that being able to visit green spaces had helped them cope.
While the reasons spending time in nature is beneficial to us are still being understood, it is often related to how our senses connect us to the environment around us, from the shapes we see in nature to the scents that trees give off and the fact that nature can stimulate us, which helps our minds rest. [Source, Mental Health Foundation].
"Worcester woman solves missing sock mystery after years of washing".
[2022 good news story]
Q4. Vera Sak from Grimsby celebrated her 100th birthday. What were her tips for long life?
Vera says ‘My top tip to live to 100 years old is to keep your brain active and eat lots of toast.’ [Source, The Metro].
"Studies have shown that cheese has more health benefits than previously claimed".
[2022 good news story]
Q5. A rare turtle was found in Wales, more than 4,000 miles from home. Now in recovery it is hoped it can be flown back to the Gulf of Mexico. But what is the name staff gave the turtle?
One of the world's rarest turtles washed up more than 4,000 miles (6,400km) from home after Storm Arwen. Ashley James was walking his dog on Talacre beach, Flintshire, on Sunday when they spotted a Kemp's Ridley sea turtle which are normally found in the Gulf of Mexico.
"The turtle is not supposed to be in these parts of the world," he said.
It has since been named 'Tally' by Anglesey Sea Zoo, which is hoping to nurse it back to health. [Source, BBC News].
"Everyone in the world is given £10 (or equivalent) as a treat to buy something just for them to feel good!".
[2022 good news story]
Q6. Ursula Martin walked 5,000 miles from the Ukraine to Wales raising awareness of ovarian cancer. Lockdowns made the journey harder.. how long did it take her to complete her journey?
Ursula Martin arrived back in Llanidloes, Powys, on Sunday - nearly three years after setting off from the Ukrainian capital Kiev.
The trek was to raise awareness of ovarian cancer, which she was diagnosed with 10 years ago. [Source, BBC News].
"The Amazon Rainforest is being re-planted!".
[2022 good news story]
Q7. East Londoners were surprised in April this year by waking up to discover what was grazing on their doorstep?
Residents were stunned to see a herd of deer grazing outside their front doors on an estate in east London. The animals had walked across the busy A12 in Harold Hill, Romford, from their home in Dagnam Park. They are thought to be one of five herds in the area that have been breeding there for hundreds of years. [Source, BBC News].
"The number of young people struggling with anxiety and depression has fallen to pre-COVID levels and is continuing to decline".
[2022 good news story]
Q.8 A 9 year old boy in Telford managed to unlock his mums phone and call an ambulance after he found her passed out. How did he unlock her phone?
Emma Hughes, 39, from Telford, was out running with her son, Oakley, when a car spooked their dog. The dog ran under her feet, causing her fall and break her wrist. She managed to get home before passing out.
Oakley helped his mum and dog back inside, before running to get his first aid kit and finding his mum passed out. He then managed to ring 999. "He grabbed my phone and used my thumb to unlock it and then called 999," Mrs Hughes said.
"He does know my code but in the moment, he couldn't remember it." [Source, BBC News].
"Scientists discover that cats are the most intelligent animals on Earth".
[2022 good news story]
Q9. Woody the blind, rescued fox lives in Nuneaton with his rescuer Mr Grewcock. What are his favourite biscuits?
A blind fox rescued from the side of a road has formed an unlikely indoors friendship with a dog and a deer. The animal, named Woody, had more than 150 ticks when he was brought as a cub to Geoff Grewcock, who runs Nuneaton and Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary. But despite a bleak prognosis, Woody recovered to take meals with greyhound Orla and "hang out" with deer, Bramble.
"He is an outstanding fox - and he thinks he's a dog," Mr Grewcock said. "He really turns heads. He's beautiful, and does like custard cream biscuits we've discovered." [Source, BBC News].
So there you have it - some of the good news stories from 2021 and a sample of the good news people would like to see in 2022. Who knows what is in store for us but here at Human Everything we would like to wish everyone a safe, happy and prosperous year.
Happy New Year!