20 Amazing Things That Happened In 2016 | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

20 Amazing Things That Happened In 2016

Take a break from the bad news and remember that good things happen, too!

19
20 Amazing Things That Happened In 2016
NBC News

This year has been pretty uniquely horrible. Marked by the presidential election from hell, numerous heartbreaking celebrity deaths, devastating war, and widespread suffering, most of us can't wait for the clean slate of 2017.

But as we enter the new year, we can also look back and see that 2016 has brought some wonderful things too!

1. The world tiger count rose for the first time in 100 years (The Telegraph)

2. It was announced that Harriet Tubman will be added to the $20 bill, and other suffragists will be added to the $10 bill (PBS)

3. The Pan American Health Organization pronounced the Americas measles-free (NPR)

4. More than 90 countries gathered to pledge $5.3 billion for ocean conservation (Reuters)

5. Life expectancy in Africa increased by 9.3 years (Quartz)

6. U.S. High School graduation rates reached a record high (NPR)

7. Hillary Clinton was the first woman to garner a major party's presidential nomination (Daily News)

8. Russian infant mortality rates decreased and life expectancy increased (Sputnik)

9. Scientists at Harvard took a huge step towards overcoming antibiotic resistance (GEN)

10. Canada officially announced a ban on transgender discrimination (The Telegraph)

11. The Paris Agreement, a landmark climate change deal, was signed and ratified by landslide (PBS)

12. Global carbon emissions flatlined for the third year in a row (Scientific American)

13. More than 800,000 Indian volunteers planted 50 million trees in one day (National Geographic)

14. The Arctic ozone hole is shrinking and could be fully healed by 2050 (Sydney Morning Herald)

15. Norway became the first country in the world to commit to zero deforestation (Independent)

16. SeaWorld agreed to stop breeding killer whales in captivity (NPR)

17. Germany welcomed over 300,000 refugees (The Guardian)

18. U.S. ivory regulations were finalized that will cut down trade of illegal elephant ivory (WWF)

19. Twenty-five percent of Europe quit coal (EcoWatch)

20. Though still at risk, manatees, Columbian white-tailed deer, green sea turtle populations in Flordia and Mexico, most humpback whales, and giant pandas were removed from the endangered species list!

No matter what happens in the coming year and beyond, remember that there will always be good and if you choose to stay positive, the bad can't keep you down.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

197563
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

19280
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

461197
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

28484
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments