Happy Monday 👋

Did you know that 31% of all shark species are threatened with extinction? 

Unfortunately, many people have an irrational fear of sharks, which has hindered conservation efforts…

However, the truth is that these magnificent creatures play a vital role in supporting marine ecosystems…

So, today, I would like to share an event with you that raises awareness of the plight facing sharks worldwide and breaks down the stigma surrounding them!

Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:

• Boosting conservation for sharks 🦈
• The world’s first truly invisible solar panels ☀️
• The transformation of Germany’s once polluted river 🏞️
• Discussion of the week: the role of education 💬
• And more… 💚

🦈 Event of the Week: Shark Awareness Day

👉 Did you know that today (July 14) is Shark Awareness Day? This event aims to tackle the stigma surrounding sharks and boost conservation efforts to ensure these animals survive for generations to come. 

1️⃣ The big picture: Shark Awareness Day is closely associated with Shark Week, which was founded in 1988 on the Discovery Channel, with the first program to air being Caged in Fear. The initial series of 10 programs proved to be so popular that Discovery decided to continue them. Today, Shark Awareness Day, alongside Shark Week, aims to dispel the fear, stigma, and misinformation that surrounds sharks. It also provides a platform to inspire people around the world to take action to protect the creatures. Countless organizations, such as Shark Stewards, use this event to educate the public and boost conservation efforts. 

2️⃣ Why is this important: Sharks have been on Earth for over 400 million years, meaning that they were already around 200 million years before the dinosaurs! Yet, despite surviving 6 mass extinctions to date, shark species around the world are increasingly under threat from global warming, unsustainable fishing practices, and pollution, to name just a few. For example, 25% of the 494 shark and ray species that inhabit coastal continental shelves, including all reef sharks, are known to be endangered. But, the number is likely to be even higher as the conservation status of 35% is still unknown. 

3️⃣ How can you get involved: You can get involved in Shark Awareness Day by signing the Big Shark Pledge to better protect sharks from excessive fishing practices. You can also set up a fundraising event in your own community or raise awareness on social media using the #SharkAwarenessDay hashtag. In addition, you can make a conscious effort to reduce your fish consumption or ensure that whatever fish you buy is sustainably sourced to help combat overfishing and bycatch. Also remember that many beauty products, such as soap and makeup contain squalene that comes from shark livers.

Below are our favorite charities that are especially relevant for this awareness event:

• 10 Best Charities for Protecting Sharks
• 9 Best Charities for Marine Conservation
• 9 Best Charities That Help Clean Up Our Oceans
• 9 Best Charities to Save Our Oceans

If you are looking for additional inspiration, you can find a wide range of charitable causes to support in our charity support blog.

📢 Three Good News

☀️ South Korea unveils the world’s first truly invisible solar panels:

• South Korean researchers have created the first truly invisible solar panel that allows light to pass through while still generating electricity.
• These invisible solar panels solve a major obstacle to widespread solar adoption by eliminating the aesthetic sacrifices traditionally required. Buildings can now generate clean energy through their windows without altering their appearance. 
• The 16 cm2 transparent solar panel achieves 14.7% power conversion efficiency, making it one of the most powerful transparent solar modules capable of charging a smartphone using only sunlight.

🏞️ Former “Sewer of the Ruhr” is transformed into thriving ecosystem:

• Germany’s once-polluted Emscher River has been transformed from Europe’s dirtiest waterway into a thriving ecosystem through a €5.5 billion restoration project, creating vibrant green spaces in the former industrial heartland.
• Wildlife is returning to the river in impressive numbers, with lapwings, kingfishers, demoiselles, freshwater shrimp, and even beavers now inhabiting the ecosystem.
• The €5.5 billion restoration project included building a 51km sewage highway with a 2.8-meter internal diameter, four treatment plants, and 436km of sewage channels to clean a river that served 2.5 million people.

🐸 Three new frog species have been discovered in Peru’s remote Andes mountains:

• Scientists have discovered three previously unknown frog species in Peru’s Andes mountains; Pristimantis chinguelas, P. nunezcortezi, and P. yonke, enhancing our knowledge of the region’s biodiversity. 
• These discoveries demonstrate that our planet still harbors undiscovered species even in the 21st century, offering new opportunities for scientific research and conservation. 
• Further expeditions in the Cordillera de Huancabamba are needed as researchers believe many more undiscovered species await identification.

💬 Discussion of the Week: The Role of Education

Welcome to our new section, where we spark meaningful discussions about everyday topics that can create a real positive impact in our lives!

This week’s discussion topic: What role do you think education plays in solving global challenges?

• How have you contributed to spreading knowledge or skills that address world problems?
• Why do you believe education and awareness are fundamental to creating lasting change?
• Can you suggest ways to make important information more accessible to diverse audiences?

Let’s explore how knowledge-sharing can accelerate progress on the issues we care about most!

For our founding community members, keep the conversation going in our forum here.

Want to join our community when we reopen? Just reply to this email—I’d love to personally add you to our waitlist so you’ll be the first to know all about it 💚

🤝 Three More Important Awareness Events

🏳️‍🌈 July 14, International Non-Binary People’s Day:

• International Non-Binary People’s Day celebrates nonbinary identities, which reject the traditional categories of male and female. 
• Nonbinary people still face significant stigma in the world today, so it is integral that they get to share their stories and perspectives on this day. 

🐒 July 14, World Chimpanzee Day:

• World Chimpanzee Day commemorates the beginning of Jane Goodall’s journey to research chimpanzees. 
• Her work was incredibly important in the understanding of these amazing creatures and on this day we can reflect on all their interesting qualities and advocate for their welfare.

🪸 July 15-21, Coral Awareness Week:

• Coral reefs are essential ecosystems for a wide range of species, yet they are under threat from extinction.
• So, this event is a great opportunity to get involved in the many campaigns and initiatives held by organizations around the world to ensure the survival of coral reefs for future generations. 

Related: You can discover all the 74 most important awareness events (for the month, days, weeks) in our awareness calendar for July 2025!

📜 These Days in History

⚾ July 14, 1968: American baseball legend Hank Aaron hit his 500th career home run.

🐵 July 14, 1960: British ethologist Jane Goodall first arrived at what would become Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania to conduct her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees. 

💻 July 15, 2006: Evan Williams, Jack Dorsey, and Biz Stone launched their online microblogging service Twitter. Within the next 10 years, the platform had amassed over 300 million followers. 

💭 Quote of the Day

“Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don’t believe is right.”

― Jane Goodall; English zoologist and primatologist

Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society together!

Stay impactful 💚