Everyone is considering 2020 as the worst year of their life so far. This year has not even ended and we have already seen Covid-19 Pandemic, storms,floods,forest fires and blasts. Corona has taken over the attention all over the world and made people forget about other things taking place in the world too. Here are 10 incidents filled with positivity and goodwill that helped lift the dark pall from our spirits in 2020.
1. People locked but Nature unlocked!!
As economies have ground to a halt, so has fossil fuel usage. Carbon emissions are set to decrease by 8 percent in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic causes the biggest shock to the global energy system in over 70 years, according to the International Energy Agency.
In China, the country with the world’s biggest carbon footprint, emissions were cut by a quarter.
In addition to this, many forest animals have been captured on the streets of various places of the world including Canada,India and US. They have been seen enjoying clean air and calm roads.
2. Essential workers are Heros!!
Supermarket cashiers, shelf-stackers and delivery drivers are not generally thought of as heroes. But the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the essential roles played by key workers who we all depend on.
Across Europe, people locked in their houses have been applauding their medical staff and other key workers who are continuing to go to work despite the health risks. Suddenly, these often low paid workers are getting the appreciation they deserve.
With Spain in complete lockdown at nearly 10,000 Coronavirus cases, citizens have been ordered to stay home for two weeks. However, Spain wanted to show their support for those in the medical field, namely the countless doctors and nurses risking their lives in the wake of the crisis. So they, like the Italians, took to their balconies.
3. Time to release mental stress!!
Despite this pandemic, people started focusing on their mental health and anxiety. Earlier they didn't have time to relax due to hard schedule of work. In a survey, it has been found that people are getting an average of 17 minutes more sleep each night during lockdown than before Covid. A good sleep is very much important for productivity, mood and overall health.
4. Change in Working culture!!
Many workers have taken their office jobs home with them and are now fulfilling the same role from the safety of their home.
While some jobs cannot be replicated online, many people are saving time and money by not travelling. Whether it’s an hour’s daily commute or frequent business meetings around the world, that travel time adds up and can now be spent getting more work done or just relaxing.
Changes in working habits may also encourage employers to switch from outdated business models that are over reliant on face-to-face meetings and fixed working hours. Technology such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams gives the potential for more streamlined workflow and productivity – without those unnecessary meetings.
5. Family became priority!!
While many are spending the coronavirus pandemic alone and unable to meet up with anyone in person, others have reported being more in touch with their friends and family than before. Furloughed workers may suddenly have found themselves with more time on their hands, while others might be reminded of the importance of family and friends in this time of crisis.
Thankfully, internet technologies have meant that many people have been able to reconnect with their loved ones online.
6. Locals help to save many lives in the Air India Crash!!
n Air India Express flight carrying 190 people from Dubai attempted to make a landing on the runway at Kerala’s Kozhikode airport. Unfortunately, the plane skidded off the runway and fell into a 35-feet valley, ultimately splitting into two.
Scores of people from the neighbouring areas braved the rains and the fear of COVID-19 to reach the site and helped in the evacuation of the passengers in less than two hours. Several others lined up at the nearby hospitals to donate blood.
7. Kerala teachers extended their helping hand for kids living under bridge!!
Six children of migrant workers from Mysuru, Karnataka, have been living under the Vallarpadam Bridge in Kochi for more than 10 years. And when the lockdown started, they lost access to their education.
But the teachers at St. John Bosco U.P. School took the school to these kids!
By taking all the necessary precautions, these four teachers have been travelling long distances for the past month to take daily classes of these children.
8. Virtual World Tours!!
Many youtubers , travel bloggers and Instagram travellers started a new way of making their travel blog which is virtual tours. You can sit at your home and can enjoy your favourite places in 360 degree revolving camera videos. Many places like London, Paris, Niagra Falls, Mexico, Bali etc has been captured under this category.
9. Madgascar is going to plant 60 million trees in 2020!!
A tremendously bio-diverse island, Madagascar has unfortunately suffered massive deforestation over the past century, losing 40 percent of its forests in the past 80 years. Last year, President Andry Rajoelina’s campaign platform promised to “Make Madagascar Green Again,” which is the culmination of “months of hard work by many organizations amassing around 100 million seeds to place into cultivated nursery beds.
Also Read: Air India comes up with mandatory dress code for employees
10. Rewatching Ramayan? Doordarshan To Also Re-Telecast Circus & Byomkesh Bakshi!!
Amid the 21-Day lockdown due to coronavirus, fans demanded that Doordarshan re-telecast Ramayan and Mahabharat, and Prasar Bharti heard their prayers.
Apart from Ramayan, Mahabharat is also being aired on DD Bharti.