Good News: Stepwell Revivals, The World is Smoking Less, and More

Stepwell Revivals

Once central to water management and travel in arid regions, stepwells fell into neglect under British rule in the 19th century and remained largely forgotten for decades. Today, they are making a quiet comeback. Across Delhi, Gujarat and Rajasthan, governments, conservationists and NGOs are restoring stepwells as functional water sources. In Delhi alone, 16 restored stepwells now supply over 33,000 gallons daily. Jodhpur receives up to 6.2 million gallons per day, while seven restored stepwells in Jaipur provide freshwater to more than 25,000 people—proof that old wisdom still holds water.

A Map to Judgment‑Free HIV Prevention

In India, HIV prevention tools like PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) have been available on paper for years—but often out of reach in real life, especially for queer and trans people. Many don’t know whom to ask, fear stigma at clinics, or face shocking markups for medicines. Safe Access, a community‑led organization, decided to change that. In September, it launched India’s first queer‑centred PrEP/PEP Locator: a free, anonymous, mobile‑friendly tool that lists trusted doctors, time‑critical PEP centres, online PrEP providers and transparent price ranges. Every listing is vetted by the community. Users can review experiences and flag problems. It’s just a website. Yet for someone staring at a ticking 72-hour window, it can feel like a lifeline—and like proof that their health, and dignity, matter.

When Animals Took Climate Change to the Streets

From April to August, city streets across continents turned into moving theatres of climate storytelling. A public art project called The Herds sent life-size animal puppets on a 20,000-kilometre journey from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle. Made from recycled materials like cardboard and plywood, the giraffes, antelopes, lions and elephants stopped traffic—not with noise, but with wonder. Their slow procession mirrored the forced migrations of animals fleeing climate-driven disasters. Crowds gathered not just to watch, but to walk alongside, turning spectators into participants. Artists behind the project said the goal was simple: make climate displacement visible, emotional and impossible to ignore. By blending art, activism and spectacle, The Herds proved that sometimes the most powerful climate messages are not delivered in reports—but on the streets, one careful step at a time.

A public art project called The Herds sent life-size animal puppets on a journey from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle. Photo: AFP

Norway Showed the World How to Ditch Petrol Cars

Norway is racing toward an all-electric future—and winning. In 2024, nearly nine out of ten new cars sold in the country were electric, putting it firmly on track to end petrol and diesel sales altogether. The secret was not flashy slogans but steady policy: high taxes on polluting cars, generous incentives for electric vehicles, and long-term consistency across governments. Charging infrastructure kept pace, easing consumer anxiety. Officials say predictability made all the difference, giving buyers and manufacturers confidence to commit. As other countries hesitate or reverse course, Norway’s experience offers a clear lesson: when governments make clean choices easy and reliable, people take them.

The World Is Smoking Less

Global smoking rates have dropped by about 27 per cent since 2010, according to new figures from the World Health Organization (WHO). The decline reflects years of public smoking bans, higher tobacco taxes, plain packaging, and stronger health warnings. But the picture is not entirely rosy: the WHO notes that one in five adults worldwide is still addicted to tobacco. That means progress, while real, is uneven and fragile. Health experts say the lesson is clear—policies work when they are sustained. As countries debate regulation and harm reduction, the long-term trend shows that determined public health action can change behaviour, save lives, and slowly break one of the world’s most stubborn addictions.

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