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Amanda C. Sandos's avatar

I am going to read this to my family at our brunch today because we all need hopeful headlines. Yay!

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Amanda Royal's avatar

I love this.🙏

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Amanda C. Sandos's avatar

You brought smiles to all our faces. Thanks for that! Especially happy about the sea turtles as I have a special love for them

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James Freitas's avatar

Thank you for these hopeful headlines, Amanda! I love the comparison that sunflower stars are the wolves of the kelp forest. I hope the sea turtles serve as an example that responsible changes to our lifestyles--e.g. fishing gear--can pay off if we broaden our sphere of concern to include wildlife. If we broaden it even further, to the entire planet, we can see that changes like more fully embracing renewables and leaving fossil fuels in the past will allow us to preserve a healthier planet without slowing economic development. 41% is an encouraging statistic.

Thank you also for the kind mention. That's seriously high praise, and I'm grateful you read my writing here.

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Mariana's avatar

I subscribed to your column because of Amanda's recommendation. I looked it up and I like it a lot.

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James Freitas's avatar

Glad to have you as a reader! Thank you so much for subscribing.

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Amanda Royal's avatar

Yes, and sometimes it feels like doing these things requires very little effort, with big payoffs.

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Lyns McCracken's avatar

This is so cool! Also I forgot about otters being so helpful for kelp as well. I agree, one more reason to stay friendly with Canada. I am obsessed with both turtle stories and thank you for re-recommending the substacks at the end. I love the peregrine falcon note and the story about the frogs. I too get nostalgic thinking of my childhood with a plethora of frogs who are just no longer there today. I definitely need to read the article. Thanks Amanda! Your posts always put me in a better place. 🥹

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Alexandra Kennedy's avatar

I look forward to all of your posts, Amanda, which always give me so much needed perspective. So to get this lovely shout out? And in the company of James Freitas? Well, I'm bowled over. Thank you.

I hope your mother-in-law is hearing the same happy spring choruses of peepers and wood frogs that I am. Like your latest reporting on sunflower stars, giant tortoises, loggerheads, and those inexhaustible beavers, they all make me feel HOPEFUL.

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Julie Snider's avatar

You’ve written about several things near and dear to my heart, Amanda. The Sunflower Seastar is one of my absolute favorite creatures, and I’m so glad to know it’s finally making a comeback in Canada! I’m sure the folks at Sunflower Star Lab are over the moon, too. I’m currently vacationing in the Netherlands, and the topic of wind power is inescapable here. By 2030, 50% of the energy needs here will be met with wind. Thanks for a terrific post!

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Amanda Royal's avatar

I love to write about those creatures that aren't typically considered "charismatic." 😊Go Netherlands!

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An Duine's avatar

I was really enjoying reading the good news this morning however this phrase gave me pause 'that renewables — including wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower and nuclear'. When or how did nuclear energy become renewable? Perhaps it's pedantic, however it certainly is not listed as renewable when I myself think about renewable energy.

I do love your posts though and we won't fall out over it ;-)

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Amanda Royal's avatar

Thanks for reading and for not having a falling out over nuclear : )

Many climate activists now consider nuclear a clean energy, though not technically renewable. I did follow the lead of this think tank Ember in placing it in the renewable category.

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marianna .☘︎ ݁˖'s avatar

All great things to hear! Thank you for putting this together :)

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Mariana's avatar

I subscribed to your column because of Amanda's recommendation. I looked it up and I like it a lot.

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