Need Of The Hour
“The bad news is, that nothing lasts forever.. But the good news is also that nothing lasts forever.” The unpredictable nature of life has already become more worrisome during this pandemic. Frustration, mental exhaustion and fear are emotions that we’ve familiarized ourselves with and every passing day feels monotonous. We are bereft of good news and considering the need of the hour is positivity, here are a few pieces of feel-good information that will hopefully make you smile.
In Massachusetts, Clayton Ward, a school bus driver, was inspired by students to go back to college and earn his degree after years of dropping out. Motivation by kids that he drove to and from school every day made him enroll himself at MassBay Community College in addition to his full time job, which was undeniably exhausting. He graduated this year and bagged quite a few awards, including having the highest GPA in the program, which stood at 4.0. This is a reminder that it’s never too late!
Speaking of never too late, Sydney has taken a step against climate change, with the city now running on 100% renewable energy including street lights, sports fields, buildings etc. This milestone will not only reduce carbon emissions by 20,000 tonnes per year, but will also create job opportunities for the locals which is GREAT!
Oh and did someone say hope? Because the New Orleans Zoo is currently celebrating the fact that one of their critically endangered Gorillas, 13 year-old Tunami, is now expecting her first baby!” Tumani’s pregnancy is a huge deal and we want to share that news with the public. It seems to be going well,” said Dr. Robert McLean, the chief veterinarian.
On the other end of the map, Japan has its own brag-worthy updates. Starbucks has opened its first sign language run branch in the capital city of Tokyo. This promotes inclusivity of the deaf community and 19 employees working at this store are impaired, giving them the opportunity to have a stable career while also allowing them to break through social barriers. The store has really interesting methods of making this work, including different ways to allow other customers to learn and order in sign language.
Another basic humanitarian gesture turned out to be an example for enterprises worldwide, when Target raised its minimum wage to $15 per hour just as promised to be done by the end of 2020. There’s also a one time bonus of $200 that employees will receive during this tough phase to recognise their hard work during the pandemic.
Inching closer to home, the capital of Telangana has taken an initiative towards two globally important causes- women’s safety and women’s employability. A start up in Hyderabad that aims at providing safe travelling experiences to women was born a little before the pandemic.
The cabs would have only women drivers and would be available only to women passengers, thus addressing a very important issue in the country. However, due to the virus, its services were on hold earlier which are now back with the same enthusiasm! On this note, I’d like to remind you that eventually, there is light at the end of this tunnel. So, hang in there, take one day at a time, be kind, smile more, and remember that this too shall pass.
Eisha Shewakramani
