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Amia Augsburger writes about three feel-good stories from Poland, the UK, and the USA. At a time where many have been left isolated, community has become more important than ever, with healthcare workers receiving especial appreciation. Thanks to the internet, everyday citizens' efforts have not gone unnoticed, and the ripple effect has been felt across the world. Learn more about projects to save the earth, the significance of giving back, and the value of generosity.
Stunning mural engulfs toxic fumes in Warsaw
A number of colourful murals across the world are being funded by sportswear brand Converse, and are designed to offer a new vision on what helping the planet can look like. The artwork in Warsaw is in collaboration with their City-Forests campaign. Warsaw is one of many cities around the globe partaking in this scheme; this fresh take on street art hopes to reduce the risks posed by climate change, by cleaning polluting smog from the city air.
The spectacle above was created entirely using photocatalytic paint with titanium dioxide. The chemical process, involving sunlight, converts these airborne pollutants into harmless nitrates. It is reported that it would take 720 trees to purify the same amount of air as this mural. When the murals are completed in the other 13 countries, the air purified by the smog eating paint will equate to a mammoth 3,000 trees.
“Create together for tomorrow” is the slogan brandished in the centre of the masterpiece; the building is next to a popular metro-station ,and is designed to leave people feeling inspired after a long period of isolation. Polish artists, Maciek Polak and Dawid Ryski, designed the illustration involving the help of expert muralists Good Looking Studio.
A spokesperson for Converse added, “for the time being everything has slowed down. At Converse we saw this as an opportunity to speak up and help produce fresh air through painting murals.” The company has already helped artists erect a mural in Bangkok, Thailand, as part of their project, and plan to help 11 more cities create murals like these.
Ryski explains, “In my dream future city, billboards would disappear, and everybody here would switch from cars to bicycles." He elaborates, “My vision of a better future was well reflected on our project. I see it as a symbiosis of the city and nature, complementing each other perfectly.”
Captain Sir Tom Moore raises over £32 million for NHS charities
At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Captain Sir Tom Moore pledged that he would raise up to £1,000 to help the National Health Service during these unprecedented times. Moore said he would walk 100 laps of his back-garden in Bedfordshire to fundraise vital funds for NHS Charities. Little did he realise what an outstanding impact he would have on the British public; the World War Two veteran was overwhelmed after his JustGiving page accumulated over £5 million in the first few days.
After less than a week of fundraising, he exclaimed, “Completely out of this world! Thank you so much to all you people who subscribe to the National Health Service because, for every penny that we get, they deserve every one of it. I think that’s enormous.” The figures kept steadily climbing through the next few weeks, until his 100th birthday on the 30th of April.
Eventually, a staggering £32,795,065 was raised. Boris Johnson, the UK Prime Minister, described Moore as a “true national treasure” . He was consequently knighted on the 17th of July, given a Pride of Britain Award, and was made Honorary Colonel of the Army Foundation College Harrogate: a senior title.
Moore concluded with this message, “People keep saying what I have done is remarkable, however it’s actually what you have done for me which is remarkable. Please always remember tomorrow will be a good day."
220-pound tuna fish donated to frontline workers
Even fishermen are sharing the love during the coronavirus pandemic. After feeling inspired to do good for the community, Tommy and Landon Mukaigawa donated their 220lb catch to local healthcare workers. The tuna, which was caught off the coast of Hawaii in May, was cleaned and cooked before being divided into more than 300 poke bowls. The meals were then delivered to the staff at Honolulu’s Straub MedicalCenter and The Queen’s Medical Center.
The fishermen wanted to uphold the legacy of the recently-passed Setsuo Todoroki, who often donated his catch for people in need. He lived to be 104 years old. Kyle Nakamoto, who was on board when the tuna was caught, told CNN, “He passed away last month and was really the inspiration of the project." He elaborated, "It was an amazing opportunity. Giving away two whole yellowfin tuna is a really big thing, this is top of the line, grade-A tuna. We just wanted to do something for the workers at our local hospitals to thank them for everything they are doing for us."
