Efforts to slow the impact of the coronavirus have been compared to rations and restrictions WWII-style and people are getting more anxious every day. This is evident in the panic-buying incidents taking place world-wide and in the fear you see in people’s eyes when you pass too close to them in a shopping center. However, there is much to be said for the positive side of this pandemic (pardon the pun). People are uniting worldwide to fight ‘a common enemy’ and even political parties are setting aside their differences and putting the needs of the people first.

Heroes are popping up everywhere and heartwarming tales are beginning to saturate the internet as much as the tales of panic and mayhem have. On this list are just 10 examples of uplifting things that have the potential to keep people somewhat sane in these crazy times.

10 Clear canals in Venice

While Italy is engaged in a fierce battle with the coronavirus, natural order has returned to Venice in the form of swans and dolphins swimming freely in the now-clear water of the canals.

With the canals usually bustling with boats, the water is always cloudy. But soon after Venice implemented lockdown measures, the water started clearing as sediment remains at the bottom of the canals. And while the mayor’s spokesperson has said the clearer water doesn’t necessarily mean higher quality water, it remains a sight for sore and fearful eyes during this uncertain time.^[1]

9 Penguin field trip

Around the world institutions are closing in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. These include zoos, libraries, museums, aquariums etc. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is also closed to the public, but the staff are determined to keep the animals entertained. This led to a spontaneous penguin ‘field trip’ through the museum.

The penguins met some of the other animals in the aquarium. Wellington the penguin couldn’t get enough of the fish while Monte headed to the dolphins. The aquarium is planning on keeping people updated on animal adventures via social media for as long as the building remains closed.^[2]

8 Singing from balconies

As Italy officially reached the highest death toll from coronavirus, those under lockdown refused to have their spirits broken. In scenes reminiscent of a war-time musical, Italians have come together to inspire and uplift one another by singing aloud and playing musical instruments from their balconies.

The idea spilled over to Spain where people have also taken to singing and clapping together while self-isolating or quarantined in their homes. There was also a call on social media platforms for everyone to stand on their balconies and at their open windows and give a standing ovation to overworked medical personnel. The call was heeded with gusto and the sound of cheering could be heard for miles.^[3]

7 SA supermarket chain accommodates pensioners

In South Africa the news that the Covid-19 pandemic had reached the country’s shores sent hundreds of people into a state of panic. Bulk buying and chaos ensued. Multiple statements and pleas from the SA government seems to have calmed the situation slightly, but the tension still can be felt in the air.

Pick n Pay, a South African supermarket chain, decided to intervene and try to calm the panic. They have introduced a system whereby they open 1 hour earlier each Wednesday for pensioners and people over 65 to do their shopping in peace and limit the time they spend in crowded spaces. As older people are more susceptible to complications of the coronavirus, this plan has been lauded as forward thinking in a time of extreme stress.^[4]

6 Mega stars offering free streaming concerts

People around the world are wondering how they are going to pass the time while in quarantine or self-isolation. Chris Martin live-streamed a mini concert from his home on 16 March which was extremely well received by fans and many other stars have since joined in the effort to keep people entertained while they get used to this strange new reality.

These stars include John Legend, Indigo Girls, Death Cab For Cutie, Pink, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello and Katharine McPhee.^[5]

5 Pollution lifts as quarantines are implemented

In just one month the cloud of toxic pollution hanging over major Chinese cities has nearly dissipated in the wake of quarantines and self-isolation. NASA air quality researcher, Fei Liu, has said that this was the first time he had seen such a dramatic reduction of polluted air over such a large area due to one specific event.

CO2 emissions were down by at least 25% between 3 February and 1 March as China’s coal usage is plummeting. While it is likely that the pollution levels will increase again once the pandemic is contained, it is great to see blue skies again where the smog was potent enough to kill. ^[6]

4 Christmas in March

When social distancing was introduced in March 2020 as one of the efforts to contain the coronavirus, people started looking for ways to entertain themselves but also others and keep them from becoming despondent. Sports broadcaster, Lane Grindle, suggested on Twitter that people could put up their Christmas lights again in order to create a safe activity for families; the favorite pass time of driving around to look at the beautiful lights.

This idea quickly caught on and many people joined in, turning their Christmas lights back on, and spreading cheer around their neighborhoods. The Hallmark Channel also jumped on the festive bandwagon and announced they would air a holiday movie marathon titled We Need A Little Christmas between 20 and 22 March 2020.^[7]

3 Support signs

Becky Wass from Cornwall thought up a fantastic idea to help others who need assistance during their self-isolation period. She came up with a postcard template that could be shared on social media. The postcard simply says “Hello! If you are self-isolating, I can help”, with space below for people to fill out their contact numbers and requests.

Other people are putting huge banners outside their houses that say they support their neighbors and are willing to help with tasks they need assistance with.^[8]

2 Jennifer Haller takes one for the world

On 18 March Jennifer Haller, one of 45 volunteers, became the first person in the world to be injected with a potential vaccine against the coronavirus. She says of the experience that she felt happy and excited to be able to do something to help, considering how helpless people are feeling at the moment.

Volunteers are each given 2 injections 28 days apart to test the safety of the vaccine. The race is well and truly on to find a vaccine that works, and 35 institutions are involved in testing and trialing potential vaccines.^[9]

1 Christ the Redeemer statue lights up in solidarity

On Wednesday, 18 March, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil was lit up in solidarity with countries fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Affected countries’ flags flitted over the massive structure and messages of hope were displayed. Below the statue, the Holy Sacrifice Of The Mass was held to pray for everyone infected by the virus while #praytogether was projected on it in different languages.^[10]

+ Spanish Soldiers Helping An Old Lady

Spain pic.twitter.com/Ks9UsDuk59

— R?MIN N?SIBOV (@RaminNasibov) March 20, 2020

As we can see in this heartwarming video taken in the last twenty-four hours, Spanish soldiers are helping out the old and infirm where needed. As the virus progresses and nations find themselves calling upon the military to provide assistance, we are all more likely than usual to have dealings with the police, medical officers, soldiers, and the like. This is a good time to remind us all that these men and women have been putting their own lives on the line for our sake for many years, and they are stepping up right now against an invisible enemy to do the same in a more visible and direct manner. Give them a big thank you and a smile if you do have to interact with them. They are as worried about loved ones as we all are and a little kindness will go a long way to make their difficult task a little easier.

[From JFrater: For my part I would like to thank all of the readers here who are, or have been, involved in the military, health, religious, or emergency services. Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed. I think I can say, on behalf of everyone here: while we may not be able to be with you in person, we are all with you in spirit.]

Nero is one of the most controversial emperors in Roman history. His rule was marked by violence, extravagance, and tyranny. He was definitely a cruel, heartless emperor, and very few would question this claim.

However, many people don’t know that he also had some positive qualities as a person and ruler that have been overshadowed by his violence and enraged nature. Nero did many positive things for Rome during his early reign. He was quite a good leader and won the love of the Roman people. Later, he became a really cruel man… but that’s another story.

10 Nero Helped Rebuild Rome After the Fire

Believe it or not, during the fire in Rome, Nero was a very generous leader and helped rebuild Rome after the devastation.

In AD 64, a great fire destroyed much of Rome, leaving hundreds of thousands of people living on the streets and countless Roman citizens dead. Nero was no stranger to this tragedy. He was outside Rome and returned immediately to take charge of the situation.

Despite his reputation as a tyrant, Nero was quite kind to the Romans, who lost everything. He often went out of his way to help those in need, even providing food to the people. And after the fire, he improved the infrastructure of Rome and made many reforms that enhanced the urban design of the “eternal city.”^[1]

9 Nero Set New Urban Rules for Rome

Nero is one of the most infamous rulers in history, thanks in part to the legend that he “fiddled while Rome burned.” But, it later turned out that he was not even in the city—and that it was probably an attempt of the Senate to discredit him.

One thing that has never been in question is that after the fire that devastated Rome, Nero took the opportunity to set some new urban rules for Rome. He decreed that all buildings must be constructed of brick or stone, with tiled roofs to prevent future fires.

He also created wide streets and open spaces to help improve circulation and prevent congestion. Thanks to Nero’s urban planning, Rome emerged from the ashes as a safer and more efficient city that has never experienced a fire of the same proportions in its history.^[2]

8 He Significantly Lowered Taxes

Nero completed a significant tax reform during his reign. He inherited a government that was deeply in debt. He realized that the best way to raise revenue was to encourage economic growth and also please the people who would love him even more by having a significant reduction in their taxes—although this would earn him the hatred of the Senate.

To this end, he lowered taxes on businesses and individuals, making it easier for people to earn a living. He also implemented a series of public works projects that created jobs and boosted the economy.

However, after the fire, he changed the Roman economic policies to rebuild the city, increasing taxes again to deal with the disaster Rome had to face.^[3]

7 He Built the Biggest Roman Palace at the Time: The Golden House or Domus Aurea

After the fire, Nero built many new public buildings and monuments. But the most impressive was the Golden House, a lavish palace that was one of the most luxurious buildings ever built in Rome.

In fact, he was an ambitious builder who left a lasting legacy in Rome. The palace, or Domus Aurea, was a massive complex constructed in what would have been the remains of a neighborhood consumed by fire and burned to ashes.

However, the construction of this palace was seen as a bad joke as he took advantage of such a huge tragedy to build the palace. It quickly became one of the most talked-about buildings in Rome. Some contemporaries praised Nero for his vision and engineering prowess. In contrast, others denounced him as a megalomaniac who had squandered public resources on an extravagant personal project that was far from being the priority.^[4]

6 Nero Relentlestly Promoted Artistic Expression

Nero was also a great patron of the arts. He encouraged artistic expression and supported many artists during his reign. He even composed music and poetry himself and, shockingly, performed in front of the people and senators! Although he forced his audience to listen to him, some recognized that he had some musical and poetic talent.

During his reign, he commissioned artworks by some of the most famous artists of the day, including a statue of himself, the Colossus of Nero.

Nero may have been a cruel ruler, but he was also an artist… And even at the time of his death, his last words were: “What an artist perishes in me!”^[5]

5 Nero Backed and Encouraged Athletic Events

Nero was a big fan of athletics and did everything he could to support and encourage athletic events. He even was a charioteer himself and once won a chariot race at the Olympic Games… Of course, he cheated, and nobody dared to beat him.

In any case, he was a good athlete, and very few rulers can claim to have won the Olympic Games. In addition to participating, he enjoyed watching sports. So he promoted sports and their role in Roman society, resulting in the people filling the arenas to see the chariot races that flourished during the time of Nero.^[6]

4 Nero Allowed Slaves to Complain Against Their Master

In ancient Rome, slavery was a fact of life. Slaves were used for everything from manual labor to providing entertainment, and they had few rights. However, under the rule of Emperor Nero, slaves were allowed to file complaints against their masters when it was normal for slaves to be treated like animals.

This may seem small, but it was a significant step forward for the rights of slaves. Before Nero, slaves had no legal recourse if they were severely mistreated by their owners. By allowing them to lodge complaints, Nero helped to protect them from abuse and gave them a voice in Roman society.

This helped to elevate the status of slaves in Roman society and sowed the seeds for future reform.^[7]

3 Millions of People Loved Him… Even After His Death!

Nero was a popular ruler of Rome despite the fact that he was not liked by the Senate. Millions of people loved him because he was very generous to the Roman people and a great entertainer.

Nero was indeed known for his generosity. He would often give money to the poor and help those in need. However, the Senate hated him, and they believed that he was too wasteful—and they were right.

Nero constantly demanded more money from the Senate, forcing them to kowtow to his every whim. As a result, the Senate saw Nero as a danger to their power and position and a threat to the stability of Rome itself, while in public eyes, he was a hero.^[8]

2 Nero Enhanced the Greek Culture

As an artist, Nero had a great appreciation for Greek culture. He enhanced the culture by inviting Greek scholars to Rome and commissioning copies of Greek statues. Nero also built his Domus Aurea, incorporating several aspects of both Roman and Greek architecture.

By mixing the best of both cultures, Nero created a truly unique and spectacular setting.

There is no doubt that Greek culture had a profound influence on Nero’s life and reign. As emperor, Nero made sure that Greece remained an important part of the Roman Empire and the influence of Greek art and culture in Rome grew even further.^[9]

1 His Diplomatic Abilities Ended the War Against the Parthian Empire

Nero also had a keen political mind, and he was often able to broker peace agreements with Rome’s enemies. One of his most famous peace deals was with the Parthians over the control of Armenia.

Nero oversaw a period of great peace and prosperity, in part due to his successful negotiations with the Parthian Empire (located in Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkey today). The Parthians were a major threat to Roman territory in the East, and Nero realized that it was in Rome’s best interest to reach a peaceful resolution.

He dispatched envoys to the Parthian court, where they successfully negotiated a peace treaty. This treaty allowed Rome to focus its resources on other areas, such as expanding its territories in Britannia.

As a result, Nero’s reign was a crucial period in Roman history, during which the empire achieved new heights of power and stability.^[10]