You sit down in the living room as the TV comes alive and the news begins to play, and all that can be seen is disaster after disaster. The chaos of this year is never ending and can potentially make you lose hope for what’s to come next. 

There is no one that will argue that 2020 has been unfavorable with a worldwide pandemic, locust swarms, wildfires and more on the ever growing list. These negative events make it difficult to see a sliver of light this year, but maybe there are positive aspects within this unreal time. 

Costa Rica legalizes same-sex marriage

On May 26, 2020, Costa Rica became the first country in Central America to recognize same-sex marriage. In Aug. 2018, the country’s constitutional court declared any laws preventing same-sex marriage as unconstitutional. They were given 18 months to do so or the recognition of same-sex marriages would go into effect immediately after the deadline. While it may only be one country, it could be a step towards the legalization of same-sex marriage in more places to come. 

The bushfires of Australia stopping 

From Sept. 2019 to March 2020, bushfires tore apart Australia causing harm to the wildlife as well as the environment. After months of fighting, heavy rain and animal rescue missions, the fires began to die down until there was no flame left. Finally, the land can begin to heal and the animals can start to slowly re-enter their homes. 

Black Lives Matter movement 

After the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, the number of supporters for the Black Lives Matter movement increased, and more people began to call out the systematic racism that has been ignored for decades. The movement has made some steps this year with growing support, but there is still more to come for the fight of equality.

Pollution levels have dropped

The coronavirus pandemic has been one of the worst parts of 2020 with quarantine and businesses being shut down, but because of the lack of additivity, mother nature is getting a well deserved break. Regardless of what happens when the world goes back to its previous state, concerns for air pollution have grown, and the fight for the environment is still going on. 

Pet adoptions have increased

Coronavirus may have decreased air pollution, but it has also increased pet adoption levels. Initially, shelters began doing Zoom calls to introduce families to potential pets before the organizations had to shut down. This caused the number of adopted pets to begin to grow. Some shelters have stated that their adoptions have doubled this year, and they’re low on animals to give. 

Coronavirus health benefits 

Coronavirus is high on the list of the disasters of 2020, but the virus has taught us a thing or two about staying healthy. People are now washing their hands at a frequent level and are being more cautious when they are sick or are exposed to sick people. These safety precautions could blend over into our normal lives once the virus has ended. 

2020 has been a troublesome experience for just about everybody. However, it is important to look at what the world has accomplished despite everything going on and to look for the positive during these difficult times.