Why I don't feel completely hopeless today
6 big stories of progress from this week that you probably haven't heard...
Hey fam,
We’re over a quarter of the way through 2026… do whatever you want with that information :) Now that we’ve passed 10,000 subscribers (!) and started our community chat, I have a quick question to help this newsletter grow and improve.
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This week’s underrated stories
6. The leading environmental law nonprofit is winning in court
This story is from a paid social media collaboration with Earthjustice. I only partner with those that I truly believe in & want their story to be told. Which is why I’m including it here for more content that you’ll enjoy :)
Sometimes I feel hopeless but then I remember that…
The government tried to open up 400,000 miles of protected waters to commercial fishing, but failed when they got blocked in court.
And then they tried to cancel 600 grants worth $34 million for farmers using sustainable agriculture, until they failed when they got blocked in court.
And then they tried to stop New York City’s congestion pricing despite the data showing its massive success, until, you guessed it, they failed when they got blocked in court.
Plus a toxic facility in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley had to suspend operations, a polluting oil storage tank expansion was forced to stop, a freeze of high-speed electric vehicle charging stations along highways was unfrozen, and hundreds of other lawsuits are currently underway to hold all of these lawless government activities accountable.
Each of these cases plus 150 more are brought by Earthjustice, representing all of their clients completely for free while fighting for the planet. And they’re winning!
Because the best way to counteract our despair and the relentless attacks on our environment is with legal expertise that won’t back down.
By supporting Earthjustice we can help them hire more lawyers and file more lawsuits that protect our home and lives, so join me here and together we can turn our dread into action and victory!
5. 100 old dams were removed
Last year across the US, 100 unsafe dams were removed, each one outdated, falling apart, and no longer serving a practical purpose. This is reconnecting a record 4,893 miles of rivers, allowing fish to swim freely for spawning while lowering flooding risks during storms. (Jessie Thomas-Blate|American Rivers)
4. Coral colony found in the deep sea
A coral colony bursting with life despite living in complete darkness was discovered a few kilometers down in the deep ocean off the coast of Argentina. Researchers are studying around 40 unidentified animals that could be new species, while also testing new ways to safeguard the health of this ecosystem that have never been tried before, like special artificial coral that attracts animals and acts as a home base. (K. R. Callaway|Scientific American)
3. UK money will feature native species
The UK’s banknotes are getting redesigned to feature native wildlife instead of historical figures. This serves the dual purpose of introducing new designs to reduce counterfeits while also raising wildlife awareness, and the featured species to be chosen later this year. (Angela Symons|Euronews)
2. How the world’s best sea otter rescue program happened
Two partnerships in one week?! Yes, it’s true. This is a paid partnership just for social media with the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I include these disclaimers to be fully transparent with you, but again, I’m only including this here because it aligns with my normal free content and I’m sure you’ll love it!
After fur traders hunted Southern sea otters to near extinction for their thick pelts, the few remaining in remote areas (around 50 were left in California) were given legal protections as a threatened species.
Then in 1981, a concerned citizen brought a young pup that washed up on the beach to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, three years before it even opened.
Despite the best efforts of the nine staff members, the little one didn’t make it, yet they were determined to keep trying to find new ways to rescue orphaned pups. While researching the remaining wild population’s threats and behaviors, they tried helping an abandoned pup by introducing him to a mother who just lost her own.
And it worked! In time revealing that otters raising otters were more successful than humans raising otters, so they continued this surrogacy program, introducing orphaned pups to non-releasable mothers and bringing 300 back into the wild so far through this and other rescue methods.
Which is not only heartwarming but is also saving many more lives as the otters keep sea urchin populations in check, not letting them gobble up massive underwater kelp forests that are home to many ocean species and reduce the impact of storms on the coast.
These keystone species continue to bounce back and help others, but they are still vulnerable to a number of threats facing our ocean.
So if you love otters as much as I do and want to see them continue to grow and thrive, please join me in signing up for Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Ocean Action newsletter: they’ll alert us at key moments to use our voice on behalf of sea otters and the ocean!
1. Our community took action
🪡 reenee214 is working with a tailor to learn how to repair their own clothing instead of tossing it away for new pieces.
🙌 Liaya is going to finish their AA and apply for university at age 41, now that their kid is grown.
🫵 How about you?
+ Bonus stories
Reintroduced toucans are dispersed endangered seeds over the Amazon.
An epic spoof on Lululemon called “Mumumelon” is showing the popular clothing brand (one of my favorites) how they can operate without reliance on fossil fuels.
Speaking of, at least 46 nations are planning to join a fossil fuel phase out summit later this month.
This newsletter was written by Jacob Simon. Over 1 million people are in our community across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. You can say hi on LinkedIn, or by hitting reply. Brand illustration by Andrea Miralles. Thanks for helping spread some positivity, and see you next week for more.