• Between 2000 and 2020 the annual number of measles deaths fell by 94%, from 1,072,800 to 60,700, averting an estimated 31.7 million deaths. WHO (PDF).
• New Canadian Cancer Statistics report reveals 50% decline in prostate cancer death rate since peak in 1995. Newswire.
• After 35 years of conservation, the population of the endangered Burrowing Parrot in Chile has increased from 217 in 1986 to over 4000. Evolve to Ecology.
• Coastal marine species carried out to sea on debris are not only surviving, they’re colonizing the high seas and making new communities on the floating plastic detritus that make up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an accumulation of trash stuck in ocean currents that’s estimated to be about twice the size of Texas. NBC News.
• After more than 15 years of fear and intimidation, Mosuli musicians in Iraq can finally play music in public again. New Lines.
• There’s been a massive decrease in global deaths from disasters over the last hundred years. Our World in Data.
• Thousands of farmworkers will see pay raises in 2022. The Counter.
• Renewable energy has ‘another record year of growth’ says IEA. The Guardian.
• Hackney man first to receive 3D-printed prosthetic eye. BBC.
• Unique effort reopens girls’ schools in Afghan province. AP News.
• 200 years ago, everyone lacked democratic rights. Now, billions of people have them. Our World in Data.

For more good news, check out The Progress Network, Future Crunch, and Reasons to be Cheerful.