Positive News
When we open newspapers or watch the news on television it is easy to feel overwhelmed and discouraged by the amount of negative news that is the media’s focus.
And yet, throughout the world, there are many “points of light” – people and organizations who labour hard and tirelessly to make this world one that is brighter, more equitable, and responsive to the needs of the most vulnerable among us. These are the types of inspiring stories this new section will include – they can’t help but bless!
The Irish are sending relief to Native Americans –
- inspired by a donation from a tribe during the Great Famine Excerpts from an article by By Harmeet Kaur, CNN May 6 2020 People in Ireland inspired by an act of generosity committed more than 170 years ago are paying it forward. In 1847, the Choctaw people collected...
‘Literally A Miracle’: Rival Gangs in South Africa Call Truce To Help People During Pandemic
Around the globe, as uncertainty still looms over us, people are continuing to step up their compassion -- in unprecedented ways. This story is one of many in the Karunavirus.org newsletter of April 23 (Karuna is Sanskrit for Compassion) Warring gangs in South Africa...
A spiritual purpose behind everything that happens
Chicago Sun-Times Editor’s note: A supposed “open letter from Bill Gates,” the tech billionaire and philanthropist, has been bouncing all over the internet since at least March 23. The letter — titled “What is the Corona/Covid-19 virus really teaching us?” — is a...
Saving whales helps save the planet
By Chloé Gurdjian, February 18th, 2020, Shared from https://www.7sky.life/ Would whales be much more efficient than trees at absorbing CO2? The result of this study may come as a surprise, and yet it is all the more serious. Whales would be powerful allies in the...
Landfill Harmonic: Paraguay’s Recycled Orchestra
A music teacher helps children living by a Paraguay landfill site to reach stardom with instruments made from rubbish. "To have nothing is not an excuse for doing nothing," says Favio Chavez. On the edges of the Cateura landfill near Paraguay's capital, he teaches a...
Help for the homeless in Lyon, France
In Lyon, France, "L'Entreprise des possibles" helps the homeless. Some 3,000 people sleep every night in the streets of Lyon. A daily tragedy that a local entrepreneur wants to end. His idea? Mobilize all the companies in the region and pool their resources so that...
The soft power of mothers: Fighting extremism begins at home
What if you could actually train mothers to turn their compassion and connection into the first line of defense against terrorism? In Germany and 15 other countries, it’s happening. Their sons were dropping out of school, joining radical mosques, and breaking off...
1 million children get together and meditate for world peace in Thailand
One million children join a Buddhist annual meditation event called V-Star Change the World at the Phra Dhammakaya temple near Bangkok. They believe that when all these children meditate together for a whole day it will help change the world. The V star children’s...
Advances in reforestation!
Danish telethon raises cash to plant a million trees Danes donated around 2.4 million euro (£2.6 million) for the planting of trees, in a Telethon event on September 14 described as the world's first to focus on the climate. For every donation of 20 Danish kroner...
Billionaire Jeremy Grantham dedicates his fortune to the environment
New hero of the eco-lovers and black beast of the traders, Jeremy Grantham, a Wall Street star, has decided to dedicate 98% of his fortune to the ecological cause. Jeremy Grantham is a financial legend. The Englishman, who has been living in the United States for some...
Canada has officially banned dolphin and whale captivity
Elias Marat Canada will no longer allow whales, dolphins and porpoises to be bred and held in captivity for the purpose of entertainment. In a big win for animal rights advocates, Canada will no longer allow whales, dolphins and porpoises to be bred and held in...
Sweden reaches its 2030 renewable energy target 12 years ahead of schedule.
As of the beginning of this year, 2019, Sweden has completed its energy transition while France and a good number of countries are struggling to achieve theirs. Since 2015 Sweden has been part of the UN Transforming Our World project and their reforms have allowed the...
‘Feels like home’: Israeli school for migrant kids wins by bridging worlds
Israeli government plans last year for a mass deportation of African asylum-seekers created a public outcry and remain on hold. But migrant families and their children live in a painful state of uncertainty. Yet in an impoverished neighborhood in Tel Aviv is a school...
Why is Cuba having the healthiest bees?
A Blessing for Bees (Excerpts) Many of us are aware that bees are facing possibly the most critical period of their existence on earth. Some years ago, in one region in China, the excessive use of pesticides had totally eliminated the bees and trees were pollinated...
Joy for the Planet
“The Infinite is the source of joy!” (Chandogya Upanishad 7.23) There is a mighty rushing river of deep Joy at the center of all life. Oh yes, there is also a roller-coaster ride of pleasure and pain at the surface of human experience. Yet transcending this is a Joy...
In Morocco, women find a recipe for success and gainful employment
Nora Belahcen Fitzgerald born In Morocco of American parents, founded the Amal for the Culinary Arts association in Marrakesh, Morocco, in 2012 as an NGO for give unemployed women hands-on experience at the association’s own restaurant, before finding them a job...
Flowers that bring a smile
Floral Angels, a charity re-purposing flower bouquets is helping to spread joy to others It was only when she read the letter from the women’s refuge that Frances Hunter fully realised the difference she and Floral Angels were making. “We had made up some posies and...
Musicians for World Harmony
Below is an excerpt from a recent feature in “Grateful Changemakers” of Gratefulness.org. We hope this short summary will encourage you to click on the link and read the entire inspiring story and, who knows, perhaps get involved....
The Science of Gratitude: How being grateful directly affects our brain
How many times do you give thanks in your life? Being grateful is not only a nice gesture, it actually creates positive changes in the neurological structure of your brain. This powerful practice can have a lasting stimulation of the feelings of joy and motivation and...
How a nightmare childhood inspired one-of-a-kind gifts
“I bless children in foster care, that the challenges of their past weigh not unduly on their future. I bless the hosting families that they may welcome their foster child with gentleness, deep compassion and caring and an understanding of their special needs.”...
Costa Rica to ban fossil fuels and become world’s first decarbonized society
from The Independent - May 10, 2018 “…we bless the human race in its ability to exercise wise stewardship in all areas of the environment.” Excerpt from https://pierrepradervand.com/365-blessings-to-heal-myself-and-the-world/ Costa Rica’s new president has announced a...