Despite the news you had seen on tv and read last year always seeming to be bad, it turns out there are also many good things that happened in 2022 that are worth celebrating.
In 2022 you could have been forgiven for thinking that all the news was terrible as the world seemed to plunge from one crisis to another.
From dealing with the effects of the pandemic and war breaking out in Europe to the stress caused by energy shortages and inflation and the suffering caused by extreme weather events, it seemed to be neverending.
However, there were many positives to be found in 2022, too, many of which perhaps didn’t grab the headlines as much as they deserved to.
This article will shine a light on these positive news stories as we list what we believe were the top ten good things that happened in 2022.
10. More countries banned conversion therapy – banning a controversial practice
The controversial and immoral practice of conversion therapy which aims to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity forcibly, was banned by more countries in 2022.
France and New Zealand passed laws to ban these practices at the beginning of the year. Then, in October, Mexico voted on a bill which would make conversion therapy a criminal offence.
9. NASA provided us with an insight into distant galaxies – looking to the stars
The James Webb Telescope, which is famous for being the largest space telescope ever built, finally reached its destination in orbit around the sun in January.
The telescope captured genuinely stunning images of a planet outside our solar system, distant galaxies and nebulae where stars are born.
8. Countries agreed on climate and biodiversity funding – fighting climate change
The fight against climate change experienced a vital development following the historic decision at COP27 in November by member countries to financially compensate the countries which are worst affected by the ongoing climate crisis.
Countries agreed to allocate $200 billion annually by 2030 to protect biodiversity. $30 billion will come from countries in the Global North for conservation efforts in developing countries.
7. Lab-grown meat was deemed safe to eat – meat without the need to slaughter animals
The ability to serve meat without the slaughter of an animal is becoming more of a reality. Lab-grown meat was deemed safe to eat in 2022.
The US Food and Drug Administration has deemed a Californian company’s cultivated chicken safe to consume. This brings the practice one step closer to becoming a commercial reality.
6. Women’s sports surged in popularity – gaining more and more fans
The popularity of women’s sports surged in 2022, with a world record of 91,000 spectators watching Barcelona play Real Madrid in the March UEFA Women’s Champions League.
While there is still a long way to go, it was heart-warming to see that viewing figures, prize money and funding increased across a wide variety of women’s sports in the US.
5. Patagonia founder donates billions to protect the environment – an altruistic act
Yvon Chouinard, the 83-year-old founder of American clothing brand Patagonia, selflessly announced that he had transferred ownership of his $3 billion company to a set of trusts and non-profits.
This altruistic act means that all of the company’s profits, which amount to around $100 million per year, will actively go towards the fight against climate change.
4. The Ethiopian civil war came to an end – peace at long last
The brutal civil war in Ethiopia left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced and starving. After two years, peace finally broke out once more in Ethiopia.
On 2 November 2022, the federal government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) signed a peace treaty. This effectively ended the ongoing violence, with both sides determined to make the peace deal last.
3. Alzheimer’s became partially treatable – a promising development
As a terrible disease that troubles so many people worldwide, any news regarding it possibly being treatable is welcome.
In a clinical trial involving almost 1,800 people with early Alzheimer’s disease, an antibody-drug was found to successfully slow down the rate of cognitive decline by 27% in patients treated for 18 months. While there is much more work to be done, the results so far are promising.
2. Spinal implants helped paralyzed people to walk again – helping people to regain what they have lost
Several people with severe spinal injuries were able to walk again within hours of neurosurgeons implanting nerve-stimulation devices into their spines.
With months of consistent training and controlling the device using a touchscreen tablet, the hope is that many more people will continue to regain the ability to walk following spinal injuries.
1. Doctors performed the first pig-to-human heart transplant – a procedure which may save countless lives
In first place on our list of the top ten good things that happened in 2022 is that in January, David Bennett from Maryland became the first person to have a pig’s heart transplanted successfully.
While he sadly passed two months after the procedure, researchers are keen to do more human trials. The hope and aim is that xenotransplantation procedures such as this may be the key to ending organ shortages.
That concludes our article on the top ten good things that happened in 2022. Are there any other good things that you think deserve a place on our list?
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