College Student Shares Positive News Stories From 2017, Wins Twitter’s Heart
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Looking back on 2017, this year was marked by violent, heartbreaking and disastrous events all over the world.
Unprecedented wildfires that raged through millions of acres of forest, a record-setting hurricane season, the growing humanitarian crises of conflict zones, Hollywood’s rampant sexual misconduct problem, terrorism, and public health emergencies, like the U.S. drug overdose epidemic were just a few of the year’s dominating headlines, painting a bleak picture of the present.
Image: Jacob Atkins via Twitter
Among those exhausted by the onslaught of negative news coverage was Jacob Atkins, a 20-year student at the University of Iowa.
But while most of us stopped at just complaining about all the negativity out there, the biology major took to Twitter a few days ago to share some of his favorite uplifting news stories from 2017, in an effort to refocus attention on the often-neglected positive happenings of the world.
Since I’m bored and 2017 was full of negative news stories, I’ve found some positive stories you probably didn’t hear about.
A thread:
— Jacob Atkins (@atkins_jacob1) December 21, 2017
Jacob’s highlights included corporate charity and community involvement…
Once Amazon’s new headquarters is finished it will include space to shelter 200 homeless people. pic.twitter.com/8ki9aCmKlT
— Jacob Atkins (@atkins_jacob1) December 21, 2017
Improving endangered wildlife populations…
The snow leopard has been taken off the endangered species list. pic.twitter.com/nryfZ7EN45
— Jacob Atkins (@atkins_jacob1) December 21, 2017
Ethical businesses…
A shoe company in Argentina makes shoes from recycled tires and employs only women from rural areas. pic.twitter.com/KsIpbarlXj
— Jacob Atkins (@atkins_jacob1) December 21, 2017
Decreasing crimes rates…
Even though it doesn’t seem like it, crime has decreased by 2.7% this year. pic.twitter.com/066fy2ksNq
— Jacob Atkins (@atkins_jacob1) December 21, 2017
And reforestation efforts among many more…
Conservationists agreed to plant 73 million trees over the next 6 years in the Amazon rainforest. New Zealand’s next prime minster wants to plant 100 million trees next year. pic.twitter.com/VkrPiun0Hx
— Jacob Atkins (@atkins_jacob1) December 21, 2017
HIV/AIDS is no longer the leading cause of death in Africa. pic.twitter.com/x3tfXjPzPS
— Jacob Atkins (@atkins_jacob1) December 21, 2017
In Lexington Kentucky, people who get parking tickets can pay them off by donating canned goods to the local food banks. pic.twitter.com/z7mu5qJnbT
— Jacob Atkins (@atkins_jacob1) December 21, 2017
Last story, probably heard of it but I like it. At the end of the 1st quarter of football games the University of Iowa fans stand and wave to the kids in the children’s hospital across the street. pic.twitter.com/dALmeP3BFy
— Jacob Atkins (@atkins_jacob1) December 21, 2017
Jacob’s initiative soon caught the attention of the Twitterverse, as thousands over thousands connected with his story and perspective.
The intrepid student’s story has since gone viral, with most of the public reaction one of support. As a result, Jacob has already shared his intention to revisit this new tradition next year, taking the opportunity to clap back at critics at the same time.
Because this thread did numbers, I’m doing a 2018 edition next year… with the sources since some of y’all became professors and want citations in MLA format.
— Jacob Atkins (@atkins_jacob1) December 22, 2017
What are your favorite positive news from 2017? Share in the comments below.
