Reasons to be cheerful include signs that a renewables revolution could soon end rising demand for fossil fuels

Oil has been a game-changer for humanity. It turbocharged more than a century of growth and destruction: people got bigger, went further, stayed warmer and lived longer. Oil powered travel, exploration, science, industry and innovation.

But it also powered conflict, both as a fuel and a potential spoil. It exacerbated inequality. And it polluted – oceans, rivers, wildernesses and, of course, the atmosphere.

It is clear that we cannot go on like this. That is why it was heartening this week to learn that renewables were experiencing such strong growth that demand for oil might peak in the next decade.

Barely a week goes by without some new renewables record being achieved. In London, environmental activists are glueing themselves to trains and railings to urge the transformation that can halt the climate crisis. It may be quietly and slowly happening already.

Elsewhere, we had an eclectic mix of stories on the Upside, including:

• a soap opera as birth control? Two-minute read

• a promising innovation in treatments for eating disorders. Three-minute read

• young people having a great night out (in New Zealand local elections). Three-minute read

Lucky numbers

Gender equality is improving across Europe, according to the latest survey. But which country is best? Have a guess, then click here.

Meanwhile, the World Bank reported that India has halved its poverty rate since 1990.

What we liked

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Rwanda has just released the first smartphone made entirely in Africa. Photograph: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images

An initiative founded by the journalist and photographer Oliver Gordon called Struggles From Below, which aims to “focus on solutions – and the people behind them”. Sounds like a fellow traveller…

We also liked the idea of an all-African smartphone, made entirely within the continent, as reported by CNN.

What we heard:

Kalumba wrote below the line on an article about opposition to fracking:

Excellent article which captures so well the grit and stamina of this inspired group. Their collective achievement is massively inspiring in the climate of these troubled times ... Long live!

Councillor Tim Gard, in South Australia, called for “the means for bringing the large groups of under-40s together from each nation to create international synergies” on a range of issues.

It is most stimulating to hear of trends towards reversing the manmade effects of climate change, albeit it must not be viewed as a replacement or reduction of pressure on the need to reduce emissions in any case. Ideally the best solution is not to pollute in the first place.

Robert Griffin emailed:

Love the emails. I think they would flow and read better if you didn’t underline the links in the text. Having them a different colour is enough, they don’t need to be underlined as well.

To which our design team replied:

We don’t rely on colour alone for the important element like hyperlink on the website, as some users have difficulties to distinguish the differences between certain colours.

Sorry about that.

Where was the Upside?

In Vienna and Chicago, where a man and a woman ran very, very fast

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Marathon man Eliud Kipchoge. Photograph: Xinhua/REX/Shutterstock

Thanks for reading. If you haven’t already, get this digest emailed to you every Friday by signing up here. Then write to us at theupside@theguardian.com with your great ideas, so we can pretend they are ours. Have a lovely weekend.