💚 Purifying Contaminated Water 💧
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Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
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Stay impactful,
Happy Tuesday 👋
Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:
- Renewable solar energy to purify our water sources 💧
- First 100% renewable energy-powered high speed train 🚅
- New hope for critically endangered lizard species 🦎
- And more… 💚
What do renewable energy and clean water have in common? Yes, we need more of both!
I’d love to see a world where renewable energy was the standard and clean water was a given for everybody – no matter where they are located…
Until then, I am grateful for great organizations advancing both (just like charity: water fights to bring safe and clean water to every person on the planet).
And, I am grateful for our scientists discovering great ways to clean contaminated water on a large scale! With that being said, let’s get into today’s main story!
💧 Discovered: How Renewable Solar Energy Can Help Purify Water and the Environment
1️⃣ The big picture: Chemists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have demonstrated that water remediation, the process of purifying contaminated water, can be powered in part or even entirely by renewable energy sources. They have developed a method that integrates solar energy into an electrochemical separation process, which uses a redox reaction to manipulate ions’ electric charge, separating them from a solution like water.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This is an exciting development in the field of environmental protection and water remediation! The researchers’ system successfully separated and removed dilute arsenate, a derivative of arsenic and a major waste component from steel and mining industries, from wastewater. This proof-of-concept work shows that such systems can be applied for wastewater treatment and environmental protection, advancing the sustainability of electrochemical separations.
3️⃣ What’s next: The team’s next steps will involve further exploring the potential of this system. By integrating solar power into the process, the sustainability of electrochemical separations is significantly advanced, and its applications to water purification could greatly benefit the water sector. The researchers will continue to refine their method and explore its practical applications in water remediation and environmental protection.
👉 Related: You can already help provide more clean (drinking) water to those in need by supporting the best charities that fight for clean water!
📢 More Good News…
🚅 First high speed train powered by 100% renewable energy: New high speed trains from California help turn transportation from a key pollutor to 100% solar energy powered. To run these trains, that will eventually connect the west coast of the US to Vancouver in Canada, 552 acres of solar panels will be needed. The trains itself will also be installed with revolutionary batteries that store up to 62 megawatt hours of power.
🌊 UN adopts world-first treaty to protect marine life in the high seas: The historic agreement aims to protect ocean areas that are outside of national boundaries, which account for two thirds of the planet’s marine environment. Oceans produce over 50% of the oxygen we breathe and are home to 50-80% of all life on earth. Yet, shockingly, only 1% is protected! This treaty has been hailed as “a win for all life on this planet” by Greenpeace, and will pave the way for more marine protected areas and better control of harmful commercial activities that contribute to biodiversity loss and pollution.
🦎 First earless dragon lizard spotted in the wild in over 50 years: The Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon, native to East Australia, were once a common sight across the area but habitat loss and predation saw their numbers decline dramatically. However, conservationists have now discovered a small population of these lizards (the first since 1969!), sparking hope for their survival.
👩🏾💼👨🏿💼 Event of the Month: Black Business Month
👉 Did you know that throughout August we celebrate Black Business Month? This is a time to recognize and celebrate the many Black-owned businesses across America.
1️⃣ The big picture: Despite the many strides taken towards equality in recent years, black business owners still face a multitude of obstacles, including racism and a lack of access to vital funding. Not only does this awareness event encourage the public to support black businesses but it also provides owners with a platform to promote and grow their businesses, while creating a more prosperous America for future generations of Black Americans.
2️⃣ Why is this important: Just 10% of American businesses are owned by Black people. Furthermore, 53% of Black-owned businesses have seen a dramatic fall in revenue since the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to 37% of white-owned businesses. Black communities have historically been the victims of hate crime, poverty, and unemployment. So, this month reminds us that we need to continue working towards a world where all people, no matter their color or race, are accepted and given equal opportunities to thrive.
3️⃣ How can you get involved: One of the best ways for you is to visit and purchase from a Black-owned business in your area and to get involved in the #BlackFoodFridays event. In addition, check out the organizations below that fight for a more systemic change:
- 9 Best Charities That Support the Black Lives Matter Movement
- 9 Best Charities That Fight for Racial Equality
- 9 Best Charities That Fight for Racial Justice in America
📜 This Week in History
🇮🇸 August 1, 1980: Vigdís Finnbogadóttir became president of Iceland. She was the first woman in the world to be elected Head of State by general election.
🖤August 01, 1943: The Harlem Riots broke out in New York City after a white officer shot a black soldier at the Braddock Hotel. This sparked a huge uprising against the continued discrimination of black residents.
🛠️August 01, 1834: The Slavery Abolition Act came into effect in England. This resulted in the freedom of over 800,000 enslaved Africans in the Caribbean, South Africa, and Canada.
💭 Quote of the Day
“On that day, society in a way shut down and it proved that women are – like men – pillars of society”
— Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, former president of Iceland
Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society together!
Stay impactful 💚
Dennis
