I only want to live longer if you do
it's your weekly positive news roundup!
I have always found tech moguls’ obsession with longevity a tad off. My dad once asked me why and I answered “I don’t want to live forever, I want you to live forever.” I only want to be around as long as the people I love are around too. Maybe that’s why I’ve never had a fear of dying, but have perpetually, even as a child, feared that fate for my family. I still remember ugly crying in my room on my mother’s 40th birthday because she was entering “old age,” something that as a 34-year-old woman today, I find deeply untrue and offensive!
I write about this because this week I watched 20th Century Woman (I know I’m so late) and got a sneak leak at Ryan Reynolds and Shawn Levy’s Adam Project and was moved to tears watching both. I highly recommend these two films if you are captivated by the concept of time and how to get more of it with the people you love.
Both films also explore our complicated relationships with dads, something I also delved into this week at the Man Enough podcast with criminal justice ninja and kindness legend Shakar Senghor. But for now, let’s celebrate the good news this week brought us. It’s time for some positive spin!
1-Iceland Set to End Whaling by 2024
Activism matters! This week, Iceland, one of only three countries that allows whaling, has finally promised to end the practice by 2024. In recent years, controversy has all but destroyed the demand for whale products. Some of the economic pressure came from companies like Whole Foods that refused to promote Icelandic products in protest. Groups like the International Whaling Commission and Whale and Dolphin Conservation have helped raise awareness of the cruelty of whaling as well. In Japan, the largest consumer of whale meat, demand has significantly dropped, too. It seems to be only a matter of time until we end whaling once and for all. In the meantime, Iceland’s decision is a step towards rehabilitation of threatened species such as fin whales and sei whales.
2-Tik Tok is Cracking Down on Bigotry and Eating Disorders
This year’s fastest-growing social media platform, Tik Tok, has just rolled out an update to its community guidelines. The changes are meant to crack down on bigoted, inappropriate, and mentally damaging content. One trend they are committed to eliminating is the glorification of eating disorders, rampant on the for you pages of young girls. The platform has also officially banned videos promoting “hateful ideologies,” such as misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia. Finally, under the hashtag #SaferTogether, Tik Tok is collaborating with content creators to promote videos educating viewers on how to spot and report inappropriate content. As a content creator and avid Tik Tok user, I understand the power of the algorithm, so it’s great to know that it’s being changed for the better. Here’s to a safer, more inclusive, and positive Tik Tok!
3- Apple expands Benefits for its Retail Employees in Response to Worker Protest
The pleas of Apple retail workers struggling to make ends meet have finally been heard. Starting April 4th, Apple’s retail employees will be entitled to new benefits including paid parental leave (even for part-time workers!), increased access to vacation days, doubled sick days, and even discounted emergency care for family members. As we know, many retail firms and their workers have struggled through the pandemic. But Apple has continued to rake in the big bucks, including $20.6 billion dollars in profits in the last quarter of 2021 alone. Apple should have made this move years ago, but better late than never.
4-Despite all Odds, U.S. Employment and Wages are on the Rise
It appears the U.S. economy has won this round against omicron. Last Friday, Joe Biden shared the U.S. January job report, which, despite all odds, gave us hope. In the past year, average hourly wages rose by 5.7%, and a historic 6.6 million new jobs were created. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that this trend continues, balancing out inflation.
DREAM CLUB ALERT!
Speaking of jobs! Today we are profiling Anánír Oxún in the Dream Job Club, our project connecting people with disabilities with potential employers!
Anánír has spent the last few months teaching herself to code in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. She’s particularly interested in digital accessibility and passionate about web development! While she is currently practicing front-end development, her goal is to go full-stack and she’s hoping to find a position that will allow her to work remotely full time. You can check her out or contact her directly using her Linkedin!
I hope you have the best weekend.
Liz-