Reasons To Be Hopeful

Less is more happiness

2010-02-12T00:14:00.005-05:00

Thanks very much to RTBH reader Oliver who sent this story from UK newspaper The Telegraph today, about an Austrian millionaire who decided to part with all his property and belongings, in return for a simpler life. Karl Rabeder had humble beginnings and worked hard to acquire his fortune. But when he realized that his many properties - and six gliders! - were not only not making him happy, but had become a kind of weight around his neck, he began to sell them off. All proceeds are going to charities Rabeder supports in South America. The Telegraph quotes Rabeder: "More and more I heard the words: 'Stop what you are doing now – all this luxury and consumerism – and start your real life'," he said. "I had the feeling I was working as a slave for things that I did not wish for or need. I have the feeling that there are lot of people doing the same thing." That's surely true - though not many of us have six gliders... But perhaps Rabeder's story will cause some of the more privileged among us to stop and think: am I really living, or just living it up?

Getting positively younger by the day

2010-02-06T22:56:00.002-05:00

It's official! Reading RTBH slows the aging process! Well, not quite. But nearly. An article carried by the BBC today (and linked from the post title above) outlines research that appears to demonstrate that thinking positively, and specifically thinking and acting as you did in the past, can overcome some signs of aging. Harvard professor Ellen Langer's groundbreaking research was actually conducted in 1979, but was only partially reported, until now. Her experiments entailed building a 1950s-style enclave and allowing elderly men (in their 70s and 80s) to recreate their past - reminiscing, reliving old political and cultural deliberations, and generally acting as they had 20 years previously. The amazing thing was that, for many of the men, this went as far as jettisoning their walking sticks, cooking their own meals, and even playing touch football - they really did feel and act 20 years younger. It's the excuse for lifelong immaturity that many of us are no doubt looking for! But more seriously, it also adds some scientific weight to the adage that "you're only as old as you feel"...

A beat for peace

2010-01-09T11:54:00.002-05:00

If you like a good beat, you'll love this. Drummers across the world have come together to engage in a 'virtual session', and the result - seen in this short film - is ear-catching and inspiring. The aim of the film, called 'A Beat for Peace', is to highlight the need for sustainable peace in Sudan, which is at risk of slipping back into civil war. The film was the brainchild of Jamie Catto, drummer from UK-based 'Faithless', but the percussionists in the film hail from a range of countries and play many different types of drums (and cymbals, and in one case a marimba). The film is embedded above. You can link from the post title to the campaign website - where, if you are so minded, you can respond to the film by uploading your own 'beat for peace' photo or video. It'll be hard for the international community not to hear this particular message...

Aiming for the top, from rock-bottom

2009-11-28T23:14:00.003-05:00

I had to post this article from CNN today, after watching a related piece on the evening news. It's a great story, of Kenneth Chancey, a Los Angeles teen, and the NFL star - Nnamdi Asomugha - who hopes to help Kenneth on his way to university. Not that Kenneth needs much help... He's a straight A student, class president, and a running back on his school's football team, with his eyes on Harvard or another top school - and he's managed all that whilst living in a shelter on LA's notorious Skid Row. Asomugha runs a foundation that helps get disadvantaged kids into college and went to meet Kenneth after seeing a CNN report about him earlier this year. Asomugha's now invited Kenneth on his foundation's tour to Washington DC, during which - all going well - a trip to meet President Obama may be on the cards. Let's hope that comes off! Either way, though, you get the sense that Kenneth is going to achieve great things. After all, he's already inspired many people - including Asomugha – by overcoming adversity and striving for excellence. Amazing.

Walking for hope and hospice

2009-11-26T22:58:00.006-05:00

Thanks go to RTBH reader Karn for this article, from the Bemidji Pioneer, which reminds me a lot of my previous post (about Jonathon Prince running across America). Colin Skinner walked across the UK, Canada and the US - more than 6000 miles - in 1988 to raise money for hospice care. And now, two decades on, he's doing it again. This time, he was inspired by his own mother's death from pancreatic cancer at the age of 59. On his travels, he's met many cancer sufferers, AIDS patients and others receiving hospice care. He has seen how good hospices can improve the quality of patient's lives, and he walks to raise others' awareness of this as well as to raise funds. His current trek has seen him covering the UK in 2007, and he's now walking from New York to North Dakota, with plans to continue from North Dakota to California in 2010. To quote a nice segment from the article: "The question he poses to other is: If I can walk 12,000 miles to help hospices, what can you do to help? 'There is something everyone can do,' he said. 'It’s just finding that right thing.' "

You can visit Colin Skinner's website to find out more about his walks, his book (Beyond the Setting Sun) and his fundraising efforts.

Hope - and change - start with you

2009-11-16T23:18:00.002-05:00

I discovered this fascinating case study of the power of hope today. In case you haven't heard of him already, let me introduce you to Jonathon Prince. Jonathon has already run across America twice - that's right! about 5000 miles in total, apparently - once to raise money for those affected by Hurricane Katrina, and then again on the hurricane's anniversary. He raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for his chosen cause. He now calls himself an 'athlivist' - an athlete-activist hybrid, using his sporting abilities to effect positive change in the world. And he's just launched his third cross-country effort! This time, he's running from community to community, hoping to help out in some way in each one, whilst also raising money for 6 charities. It's all pretty inspiring, I must say - which is exactly Jonathon's intention. His main aim, he says, is "to inspire others to make whatever change may be desperately needed to give their own lives more meaning. It’s that ‘Hope Factor’ that can move mountains!" I'm sure all RTBH readers would agree with that...

You can link to Jonathon's 'hope or die' website from the post title above, where you'll find his bio, news reports and other information about his quest. You can also donate to any of the charities involved, or follow his blog / tweets.

Saving energy the Danish way

2009-11-07T12:37:00.003-05:00

As promised, a video! I discovered an online news channel called WorldFocus, which was set up by several ex-mainstream journalists who wanted to counterbalance the dearth of international news carried by major networks. The result is well worth a look. Linked from the post title above is a video report from Denmark, which shows how the country has maintained high growth rates over recent decades, whilst keeping its energy use constant and providing lots of 'green jobs' for Danish workers. Renewable energy sources, taxes on energy consumption and an educated and frugal public seem to be the keys to Denmark's success. It's a recipe we could all seek to replicate with a little effort - and some sound public policy!

First Olympic skier for Ghana

2009-11-02T22:13:00.005-05:00

Well, it's been a while... I definitely owe RTBH a post! First, I should say that I am planning to expand the range of things I share on RTBH, moving beyond news articles to include the occasional video, advocacy campaign, inspiring website, competition etc. I'm hoping that will make for a more exciting read - but please let me know your thoughts.

In the meantime, I found this wonderful video on the BBC website today - it's an interview with Ghana's first ever Olympic skier, who will be competing at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February 2010. Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, also known as the 'snow leopard', started ski-ing when he arrived in the UK in 2000 and landed a job in an indoor ski centre. Since then, he's progressed rapidly and has already skied at the World Championships. His aim is to close the gap between his own performance and that of the medal winners - and overall, not to come last in Vancouver. Most Ghanaians think he's 'crazy', he says, but I'm pretty sure they and many other people across the world will be cheering Kwame on in 2010.

Passing it forward

2009-10-12T22:40:00.002-04:00

Every now and then, I read a news report that really stuns me - and this story from the BBC is one of those. It's part of a series the BBC is running at the moment, called 'Hunger to Learn'. At just 16 years old, Babar Ali has set up a school in his parents' yard that now serves around 800 pupils. Each day, he goes to school himself, and then he returns home to transmit the day's lessons to others. Though he started by teaching a handful of friends when he was 9, other student-teachers have now joined him and together they give lessons in a range of subjects to children aged 5 to 14. For many children from poor families, this free school is the only chance they have to escape illiteracy. Most work themselves - as laborers, farmers or domestic workers - in the morning before attending Babar's school in the afternoon. The commitment of these children to better themselves is as inspiring and humbling as Babar's desire to pass on his own knowledge. There's a lesson for all of us there...

Creating a local vision of a better world

2009-10-09T23:21:00.003-04:00

Thanks to RTBH reader Jacqueline for drawing my attention to this local newspaper article about a hopeful initiative in New Jersey, USA. The article from the Star-Ledger highlights an event, to be held tomorrow, entitled 'Visions of a Better World'. The conference-style event is the brainchild of one woman, Barbara Velazquez of Maplewood, whose objective is to foster a "modern renaissance". In other words, it's a chance to get people thinking and exploring how each of us can play our part in creating a more caring, compassionate world... And it's heartening to see modest, local efforts pushing for positive change, even against the backdrop of economic uncertainty and today's (ironic) hullaballoo over the Nobel Peace Prize!

Man's skull regenerates after 50 years

2009-10-06T22:24:00.003-04:00

The BBC reported a fascinating story from the UK today. Gordon Moore suffered severe damage to his skull 50 years ago and has worn a metal plate ever since. However, when surgeons removed the plate recently to treat an infection Gordon had, they found his skull had grown back beneath the plate. This is, apparently, extremely rare in adults - though less so in children whose bones are still growing. Now Gordon has had the plate removed and is, he says, very pleased he won't trigger airport metal detectors any longer.

HIV vaccine promise

2009-09-24T22:04:00.005-04:00

My uncle once joked that this blog should be called 'reasons to be cautiously optimistic'! Well, that moniker could well apply to today's linked article from the Bangkok Post. The world's largest and longest HIV vaccine trial - conducted in Thailand - has just released some promising outcomes, showing that trial participants who received the experimental vaccine were 31% less likely to be infected with HIV over the 6 year trial period than those who received a placebo. So, not good enough to use more widely - but the kind of modest success that could yield significant clues as to what might work better. And with more focused research we may just get an HIV vaccine that bit quicker. Definitely a reason to be cautiously optimistic...

Planting the seeds of hope

2009-09-19T22:38:00.002-04:00

What a wonderful story this is from the BBC! It's about an Indian civil servant, SM Raju, who just led an effort to break the world record for the number of trees planted in one day - but that's really the least of his achievements. He took advantage of an Indian government commitment to guarantee families living below the poverty line 100 days of work a year, and used monies from this program to employ villagers to plant and protect trees. In his state, Bihar, almost half the population is below the poverty line, and on 30 August alone 300,000 of them planted trees that they will tend over the coming years in return for a living wage. SM Raju's initiative not only has environmental and economic benefits, it brings hope to communities that had been hopeless. As a result, fewer people are moving away from the area. And with his success story attracting more attention to the government policy that made it possible, it's quite likely others across the country will seek to replicate it.

Go, tennis mother!

2009-09-13T23:46:00.002-04:00

I can't help but rave about Kim Clijsters - along with the article linked above from the New York Times! What a woman! After retiring from her tennis career, having a baby girl and raising her through her first 18 months of life, Kim returned to tennis this summer and today won the US Open women's singles title. On the way, she claimed victory over both the Williams sisters (quite a feat in itself) and several other top-seeded players, though she was at the tournament on a wildcard. She really is an inspiration - such character, dedication and grace. In a tournament that has seen a few tantrums on court, there were none today - from either Clijsters or her toddler daughter. Just some good tennis, and a great comeback story.

Improving health and cutting crime

2009-09-12T23:10:00.000-04:00

Poor RTBH has been neglected of late. Sorry about that! I've found recently that my creative, intellectual and emotional energy has been sucked into a range of other things - but I have to say that I've also struggled to find compelling, positive news. The continued anxiety around the world's financial and economic situation seems to have infected reporting on other issues. Perhaps the mood will lift a little now that a few big economies seem to be pulling themselves out of recession? Or perhaps reporters and readers alike will grow weary of the gloom and push towards optimism and hope... Who knows.

Anyway - I did find this interesting story today, in Newsweek (linked from the title above). It's a tantalizing piece on the ways in which some aspects of US healthcare reform may have knock-on social benefits. Specifically, there is evidence from pilot programs that home visits by nurses to support disadvantaged and teenage mothers have helped to cut crime. How? Well, it seems that the assistance given to mothers helped them stay healthy and happy and also reduced substance dependence. This translated into kids that were less likely to commit crime, being arrested half as often and convicted 80% less than similar children whose mothers weren't supported. It's a very interesting approach - and it's in the current draft US healthcare bill... though only time will tell if it'll stay there. Definitely one to watch.

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RTBH reader Karn just sent me something very cool. It's a film about how thousands of Estonian volunteers cleared their nation of garbage in just a day last year. It's 5 minutes long and well worth a watch - very inspirational and translatable to many other contexts. In fact, Karn tells me that Portugal is planning a similar event in March 2010. Hopeful happenings are infectious, it seems! Thanks, Karn!

East Africa gets bandwidth

2009-07-23T21:40:00.002-04:00

Long-time RTBH readers may recall post 311 from August last year, which referred to the new undersea cable gradually being laid along the East African coastline. It's all part of a grand plan to get Africa connected to high-speed internet services, with all that means in terms of tapping into knowledge and market opportunities. Well, now it's finished. According to the BBC article linked from the post title above, launch ceremonies were held in Kenya and Tanzania this week, and some large companies have already started exploiting the new bandwidth. Bit by bit, governments in the region - Kenya's, for example - are laying fibre-optic cable to connect towns to the network, in the hope that schools will be able to access an expanded range of educational materials. The question, as the article points out, is when smaller towns and villages will benefit. Surely something worth funding by international donors and local governments alike?

More than good enough

2009-07-07T18:39:00.003-04:00

I found this a bit late (it's from last weekend) but it's an extremely interesting piece - sad in some respects, but ultimately hopeful - from the UK's Guardian newspaper. It's about Alex Goodenough, a teenager from the UK with Asperger's syndrome, who has struggled to navigate his way through the UK educational system even with his mother battling on his behalf. Despite being let down along the way, Alex has emerged from school with a raft of A grades at GCSE, several more at AS and A level, and a place to study engineering at Cambridge later this year. It's an amazing story, of one woman's determination to get the best education for her son, and of a young man's eagerness to acquire knowledge - but to do that his own way. Alex seems happy in his own skin, whatever labels are applied to him by others. And so he should! His educational achievements thus far should make him, and his mother, proud, as well as offering hope to other children with Asperger's.

An entrepreneurial stimulus

2009-06-26T23:22:00.003-04:00

Over recent months, I've been boring my economist husband with views on what governments ought to be doing in response to the financial crisis, beyond bank bailouts - i.e. extending bridging funds to small businesses and putting in place more effective safety nets for individuals and families in trouble. Well, today I found a great article on CNN about an Ethiopian woman who is working to support communities in New Jersey in exactly this way. Alfa Demmellash watched her mother struggle to thrive economically, first in Ethiopia and then in the US. This inspired her to develop ways to support underserved entrepreneurs - especially women - to develop their business management skills in order to increase their prosperity. She founded the non-profit Rising Tide Capital, with her now husband, which has so far provided training and other support to more than 250 small businesses. 70% of those helped are single mothers. The CNN article includes several quotes from business owners who have increased their profits significantly whilst working with Alfa and her colleagues, which is amazing in the current economic context. If initiatives like these were taken to scale, it might be possible to stimulate the economy from the bottom up - possibly more effective than hoping bank bailouts will somehow trickle down...

A river runs cleanly through it

2009-06-22T23:19:00.004-04:00

I've been out of action for a while - my laptop expired! :-( But I got back online today, just in time to find this great story on NPR. It documents the progress made in cleaning up the Cuyahoga River in Ohio, USA, over the last 40 years. Amazingly, this river was so polluted in the 1960s and 70s it caught fire (more than once). Most fish couldn't survive in the water, and it would certainly have been foolish to swim in it. But media coverage led to environmental activism, which in turn spawned regulation and ultimately the birth of the Environmental Protection Agency - and the Cuyahoga got cleaned up. Now, people kayak up and down the river, which is filled with all kinds of fish. As the NPR article points out, the waters aren't pristine, but they are much healthier. It seems the public spotlight is quite an effective bleaching agent!

Environmental justice comes to those who wait

2009-06-09T22:40:00.004-04:00

A very positive milestone has been reached in the name of environmental justice, as reported in Nigerian newspaper This Day. For more than a decade, the Ogoni tribe in the Niger Delta has struggled to protect their land and their people from the damage done by local oil exploration and extraction. In the 1980s and 1990s, local protesters - many of them targeting their ire at Shell as the major corporation operating in the region - had some success in attracting international attention, but were then suppressed by Colonel Sani Abacha's military regime. Ultimately, several protesters - including local leader Ken Saro-Wiwa - were tried and hanged, all as Shell turned a blind eye. Indeed, many have postulated that Shell gave a helping hand to the Nigerian authorities... We may never know the details. However, the families of the protesters have now secured something of a victory, following a 13-year attempt to take Shell to court under an ancient US federal law, now winning an out-of-court settlement of $15.5m. Saro-Wiwa's son and other plaintiffs will use some of the funds to establish a community trust for the Ogoni, which will support projects in areas such as education, agriculture and small enterprise development. It's not a huge amount of money, but it will help. Perhaps more important are the ramifications of this case across Nigeria and globally, as the concept of corporate social responsibility is reinforced and multinationals are shown not to be above the law. This is Saro-Wiwa's legacy.

Ghana going green

2009-05-30T21:31:00.003-04:00

I often feature stories about the pace of positive change and the rapid adoption of technology in low-income countries, and here's another story in that vein, from the Ghanaian Chronicle. According to the article linked above (from the post title), Ghana's environment minister has announced plans to revolutionize waste management across the country through widespread recycling. The minister made her commitment as she inaugurated a non-profit plastic recycling enterprise. The Cyclus Elmina Recycling Plant will employ local people to collect waste from communities for recycling and aims specifically to create jobs for young people in the surrounding district. The initiative couldn't be more timely, as wealthier Ghanaians are increasingly opting to buy water in plastic bottles and sachets (as tap water is not yet properly treated), and the use of other packaging materials is also on the rise. Unlike many high-income countries, however, Ghana is investing in recycling from the outset, hopefully leading to a more sustainable growth model and a cleaner environment.

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Just to let you know - I am now using Twitter. (I resisted for some time, but eventually caved!) I am posting positive news and other morcels there on a regular basis, so if you need a more frequent dose of good news and other mind-stimulating stuff than you get through RTBH alone, please follow me on Twitter.

Virtual reunion

2009-05-29T23:26:00.003-04:00

Social networking, email and other 'new' technologies are often cited as barriers to forming genuine and meaningful human relationships. So I was interested to find this story on BBC today, about a woman who found her long-lost son through Facebook. Avril Grube from Poole in the UK had not seen her son, Gavin, since he disappeared with his father in 1982. Her former husband had taken the boy to his native Hungary. She and her sister had been searching for Gavin ever since, and her sister finally found his Facebook profile through an internet search engine. Eventually, direct contact was made, and Avril and Gavin were reunited. Now, apparently, they are happily catching up - face-to-face, at last.

Drillbit doctor

2009-05-20T23:08:00.002-04:00

Thanks very much to RTBH reader Robert for sending me this story from the BBC today. (I'd spotted it there myself earlier, in fact, and was already resolved to post it - it's such an amazing little tale!) According to the article - and accompanying video clip - an Australian boy's life was saved recently thanks to a household drill. Nicholas Rossi's parents took him to hospital after he fell off his bike and suffered a head injury. The hospital doctor, Rob Carson, believed Nicholas had bleeding between his skull and his brain, which had to be drained – but as the hospital didn't have any specialist staff or equipment Dr Carson had to use a household drill under instruction from a neurosurgeon via telephone. Fortunately, the procedure worked, and Nicholas was stabilized and transferred to a bigger hospital. He recovered in time to go home on his 13th birthday!

Changing the world 2.0

2009-05-12T22:30:00.002-04:00

I thought I'd share this article from Treehugger today. It's a great list of some of the things you can do to change the world for the better, using social media. The list includes actions like rating a company online, using Twitter to raise funds for charity or to stimulate activism, and working as an online citizen journalist when you travel - and the article provides all kinds of links to help you get started. Definitely some options worth investigating, I'd say. And you don't even have to leave your couch...

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Check out my cousin Maps' new single, which was released yesterday. It's called 'Let Go of the Fear' - the perfect RTBH anthem! Turn it up loud, put YouTube on full screen - and enjoy.

Marathon effort

2009-05-09T11:11:00.003-04:00

What an inspirational tale from the UK's Times newspaper today! It tells of an army major, Phil Packer, who just finished the London Marathon - 13 days after it started. Packer was injured on duty in Iraq and was told he'd never walk again. But he managed to complete the marathon's 26 mile course on crutches, at a rate of 2 miles a day (the most his doctor would allow). In doing so, he was attempting to raise £1m (about $1.5m) for a charity called Help for Heroes, which supports soldiers injured in action. As part of the same fundraising campaign, he's already rowed the English Channel and completed a sky-dive. Next he's planning to climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in California, USA. A truly amazing effort.

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You can visit Phil Packer's website to find out more about his fundraising efforts and to contribute.

When soccer feels like home

2009-05-02T23:21:00.002-04:00

This is a great article from today's New York Times. It focuses on the ups and downs of New York's Street Soccer team, one of 19 US soccer teams for the homeless. Street Soccer NY is made up of players from a homeless shelter on Ward's Island, who now play in a men's soccer league at Chelsea Piers (one of the city's premier sports-entertainment complexes). The team started shakily, as the players didn't know each other's names, let alone trust each other - and some turned up drunk... But with regular practice, donated shoes and other equipment, and a burgeoning team spirit, the team has improved. They won for the first time this week. But it's not just the winning that's important. As some of the players have testified, it's a way to feel normal, interact with others and get fit again - all of which heightens the players' ability to cope with their tough circumstances. One thing's for sure - they'll have lots of people rooting for them now! (PS - there's a nice little video on the NYT website if you go to the article there.)

Some good news for planet Earth

2009-04-26T22:11:00.004-04:00

Thanks very much to RTBH reader Emily for sending in this article from the Good News Network, which highlights seven positive steps taken in recent years that will benefit the environment. GNN surveyed a range of leaders from NGOs and public bodies to identify the list, which ranges from the emerging consensus on and response to climate change, and the growing competitiveness - and attractiveness - of renewable energy, through to the importance of the internet in mobilizing social change. All this does give some cause for optimism that we are at least moving in the right direction, even if we are not yet "at one" with our planet. Let's hope that we have even more than seven good stories to tell when we look back again in 10 years time.

Nature rebounds

2009-04-22T22:15:00.002-04:00

Thanks to RTBH reader Paul for sending me this article today, which comes from the UK's Guardian newspaper. It's perfect for Earth Day! And, funnily enough, it echoes something I posted about this time last year - post 187 on April 15th 2008 - about the amazing recovery of destroyed coral reefs. In that case, the reefs concerned had been damaged by underwater testing of nuclear warheads. Today's article considers the Great Barrier Reef near Australia, part of which was bleached a few years ago due to warm seas and a suffocating seaweed that covered it. However, the reef has grown back, in very little time, amazing scientists with its resilience. The case is significant as it shows damaged reefs can recover swiftly if presented with the right conditions - previously, it was thought they needed to reproduce over many years. There's no room for complacency, though. Many of the world's reefs have died off in recent years. They'll recover if left to their own devices, it seems - provided we keep the seas around them healthy. A 'natural compact', if you like...

Hidden talent has opportunity to shine

2009-04-15T12:17:00.005-04:00

If you haven't yet heard of Susan Boyle, then you're not spending enough time on the internet! ;-) The 47-year-old singer from the small community of Blackburn, West Lothian (Scotland) wowed the world with her stunningly beautiful voice recently, when she appeared on the UK TV show "Britain's Got Talent" - a performance that has since been watched over 5 million times on YouTube by viewers around the world. An interesting opinion piece on Susan's performance, and the studio audience reaction, is linked from the post title above. It's from the Scottish newspaper The Herald; another article, this time from MSNBC is linked here. But to be honest, you just have to witness her performance. She's going to go a long way, and thrill so many more people, with her gorgeous voice - that's for sure. (Photo from MSNBC.)

And, as if that wasn't enough talent, check out another act from the same show here. Hilariously funny, this duo - a British man of Greek Cypriot heritage and his 12-year-old son - had the TV audience and me in tears of laughter. I pretty much guarantee they'll cheer you up too.

But, there's more to this story. First, it says wonderful things about Britain - its rich diversity, its 'have a go' mentality, and the ability so many British people have to keep their feet on the ground and not take themselves too seriously while at the same time celebrating their talents. Some of the many things I like about my birth nation! Second, it just makes you think about how much more talent is surely out there, not just in Britain but around the world. Great minds, great voices, stunning abilities in all walks of life... What if all that richness of humanity were exposed and had an opportunity to shine? To delight all those who witnessed it? That really would make the world a brighter place. I hope fervently that we see that kind of equality of opportunity in my lifetime. "Britain's Got Talent" is just the tip of the iceberg.

It's a dog's life

2009-04-07T21:39:00.003-04:00

Many thanks must go to RTBH readers Ol and Liz for spotting this story today and sending it in. (They saved my blushes, in fact, as RTBH has been a tad neglected recently - I was ill for a bit, then on vacation recovering!) But it's a lovely tale, from the UK"s Telegraph newspaper, about a very tough and clever dog. Sophie Tucker (yes, that's the dog's name) was on a boat with her owners off Australia's Queensland coast when she fell overboard. Her owners searched for hours, but they'd missed her. She swam five nautical miles to an island inhabited only by other animals - including baby goats, which she eventually feasted on to survive. Human rangers appeared on the island and they spotted her looking out of place. Fortunately, her owners were still searching for her and they were soon reunited. Everyone reckons it was a miracle she survived, what with the sharks and all... I'd have to agree. I don't think I'd have made it - and as a vegetarian I wouldn't have been eating many goats either... (Photo AFP from the Telegraph.)

Schoolboy rescued by superhero

2009-03-24T21:23:00.003-04:00

Thank you to RTBH reader Robert for sending in this lovely story from Thailand, as reported on Yahoo news. Apparently, a young autistic boy at a school in Bangkok escaped his frightening first day at school by going to sit on a quiet ledge - the only problem being that the ledge was outside a third floor window. Firemen and teachers tried to coax him back inside to no avail. When his mother revealed his love of cartoon superheroes, however, quick-thinking fireman Somchai Yoosabai saw an opportunity. He rushed back to the firehouse and changed into a Spider-Man suit he uses for school fire-drills, then returned to rescue the schoolboy from the ledge. This time, the boy was easily persuaded back indoors. All in a day's work, as they say!

A very direct fiscal stimulus

2009-03-12T21:24:00.004-04:00

Many thanks to RTBH reader Caroline, who sent this great story from The Charlotte Observer (by one of their columnists, who uses Blogger as a platform, which I thought was quite funny)... It's about an - as yet unidentified - individual who has taken it upon themselves to stimulate the local economy. Their unorthodox method entails putting $10 bills through people's letterboxes in plain white envelopes, with instructions to spend the money locally and wisely. As you can imagine, this act has stimulated a lot of chatter, as well as expenditure - witness the (sometimes hilarious) comments at the end of the story. Wonderful.

Banking on generosity

2009-02-26T21:08:00.001-05:00

Many thanks to RTBH reader Karn for sending in today's hopeful tale from MSN Money. It's a rather unusual story about a banker, Leonard Abess Jr, who saw fit to reward his employees handsomely even in the current financial climate. Having steered Florida's City National Bank through market turmoil, Abess sold a large stake of the business to a Spanish bank for $927m. Rather than passing this windfall to senior executives and board members, though, he decided all his employees and retirees deserved a share, regardless of seniority. So all received cheques in the mail averaging $127k each! In total, Abess handed out $60m to his staff saying "those people who joined me and stayed with me at the bank with no promise of equity, I always thought someday I'm going to surprise them." And what a nice surprise it was - particularly when set against the greed and excess sadly symbolised by so much of the banking industry today...

Planning to keep hope alive

2009-02-20T22:59:00.003-05:00

His heroics have inspired us already. Now, Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger III - the pilot of the US Airways flight that landed, ultimately safely, in the Hudson River (see earlier post) - is sharing some of his reflections, including through this article in Newsweek. I won't seek to paraphrase, but this passage in particular jumped out at me: "We never gave up. Having a plan enabled us to keep our hope alive. Perhaps in a similar fashion, people who are in their own personal crises—a pink slip, a foreclosure—can be reminded that no matter how dire the circumstance, or how little time you have to deal with it, further action is always possible. There's always a way out of even the tightest spot. You can survive." Good advice - planning can help with many things, including working your way out of a crisis. That's something many people need to hear right now. And Sullenberger is, I guess, the living proof. (Photo from Newsweek.)

Happy investments

2009-02-18T15:33:00.002-05:00

This is a nice little piece from the Economist, which suggests that if you want to make sound investments you should put your money into happy companies. Apparently, recent research by the Wharton business school indicates that Fortune Magazine's '100 best companies to work for' have routinely outperformed their less happy competitors on the stock exchange. It could be that strong and effective leadership is the key to both profitability and employee satisfaction, of course. Either way, it's good news!

Cambodia's truth will out

2009-02-17T22:11:00.005-05:00

Some long-awaiting good news from Cambodia's Phnom Penh Post today, as the trial of Khmer Rouge leader Kaing Guek Eav - known as 'Duch' - finally got under way. Duch is the first of several Khmer Rouge officials expected to go before the UN-backed trial, but as he has actually confessed his crimes (which include running the notorious Tuol Sleng detention centre) it's thought his testimony will reveal much about the inner workings of Pol Pot's brutal regime. Substantive hearings should begin in about a month – but even for today's procedural hearing there was, apparently, a huge media presence. It seems likely that Duch's revelations will echo right around the world. (Photo from Phnom Penh Post.)

Yes, you heard right...

2009-02-10T22:57:00.004-05:00

Well, the hope and expectation that some financial bosses would apologize for their part in fueling the economic crisis (see post from 27 January) were not, it seems, misplaced. According to this article from the BBC, two former heads of UK banks said "sorry" today, before the UK Parliament's Treasury Committee. More importantly, perhaps, they also identified specific mistakes they made that led to the collapse of their banks and highlighted changes that must be made across the banking sector if risks are to be reduced in future, including changes to staff bonus schemes that "do not reward the right kind of behaviour". Now we need a bigger discussion about the kind of behaviour we do want to see across the financial sector (and there's been precious little on this line of enquiry from the US administration so far). Behaviour that's more ethical, more socially responsible, with less emphasis on rent extraction... perhaps?

First woman to swim the Atlantic

2009-02-08T21:09:00.003-05:00

Every now and again you witness a feat by a fellow human being that is truly astounding. This story, from Canada's CBC News, documents just such a feat. Earlier today, 56-year-old Jennifer Figge arrived on a small island off the coast of Trinidad. It was the first time she'd set foot on dry land for 24 days, since she left Cape Verde to swim across the Atlantic. In doing so, she became the first woman to swim across the ocean. The first man did so about a decade ago. Apparently, Figge swam in a large cage to ensure she wasn't attacked by sharks! Marine life aside, I'm just amazed she managed to keep warm enough. Rather her than me... I'm seriously impressed! (Photo from AP/CBC News.)

Where this economic wake-up call might take us

2009-01-28T23:52:00.005-05:00

Following up on yesterday's theme, trying to find some silver linings in current economic news, I stumbled across this piece on the Huffington Post website. It's an opinion piece, on the theme of America's "awakening". But it's not just America, of course. Many in the West, and beyond, are waking up - to what they've spent, what they owe and what they've lost in the process. The latter is an interesting theme - one that the author of the Huffington Post column says she's going to pursue in the weeks to come. The big question of course is whether and how we can recover what we've lost, find meaning beyond consumerism and achieve a more sustainable lifestyle. At the end of the day, we each have to answer that for ourselves...

What the WEF? Is that an apology?

2009-01-27T21:54:00.003-05:00

I'm not going to lie to you, folks. There really isn't much good news to be found when it comes to the global economy. But this article, from the UK's Guardian newspaper, does suggest we may have reached some kind of turning point. Apparently, the organizer of the annual World Economic Forum - which kicks off tomorrow in Davos - thinks the world's economic and financial sector leaders should feel and demonstrate remorse, and that some at least should publicly apologize. Who knows whether that will happen, but it does sound as if belts will be tightened at this year's WEF - fewer parties are planned, fewer celebs are expected and some business leaders are staying away. (Maybe they're not ready to say sorry?!) Let's hope the 2600 participants, who will be dominated by the world's political leaders, will seize the opportunity before them. It's time to get serious, take responsibility and address the weaknesses of the global economic system. If that doesn't happen this week, we'll need a lot more than an apology...

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Want to focus on the long-term? Come and join Vision 2100 - and share your hopes, fears and expectations about the future of our planet and your community. It'd be great to see you there... :-)

Dancing for hope in Kenya

2009-01-19T23:01:00.005-05:00

People dancing, singing, waving posters of Barack Obama... no, not in Washington DC (though there's definitely a party atmosphere there tonight) but in the Kenyan village of Kogelo, the hometown of Obama's father. According to today's linked article from the BBC, residents of the village have already gained from Obama's election win - with the eyes of the world upon them, local authorities have now installed electricity to the village. Tourists are starting to drop by. But, more importantly, people feel more hopeful for the future, buoyed by a strong sense of what is possible through hard work and opportunities handed from one generation to the next. May that hope be kept alive - and realized - for many years to come... (Beautiful photo from BBC online.)

A pretty neat plane crash

2009-01-15T22:25:00.003-05:00

Today saw one of the happiest news stories of the year so far (though we are, of course, only 15 days into 2009!), as reported here by MSNBC. As birds hit a plane in New York and brought it down, the plane's crew avoided catastrophe by landing skillfully on the Hudson River and then rapidly evacuating all passengers with the help of local emergency services. Some good luck, for sure, but a whole lot of judgement too - and proof that practice does indeed make perfect, as the pilot's training and experience, in particular, paid off handsomely. Could it be that the best way to foster and reward hope is through old-fashioned preparation? (Photo from MSNBC.)

Nepalese children won over by computers

2009-01-06T21:57:00.003-05:00

This is a really touching - and truly hopeful - piece from the BBC. It's about a project in Nepal that's trying to establish an e-library in every district in the country. So far only six districts have one of the e-libraries, but the aim of the Help Nepal Network is to reach all 75 districts eventually, serving communities with computing facilities, scanned books and other educational resources - including materials developed by Save the Children on issues such as children's rights. The health manual 'Where There is no Doctor' has also proved popular! The early reaction to the centers has been positive - though some children were fearful initially, thinking the computers might harm them in some way. Now, it looks as if the main challenge will be keeping pace with demand for the facilities. Let's hope the project gets the investment it needs to expand soon, as the existing e-libraries sound likely to become the hub of the communities they serve. (Photo from BBC online.)

Grape potential

2009-01-01T23:42:00.002-05:00

The antioxidant powers of grapes - particularly red or black grapes - have long been mooted. But today's linked article from the UK's Independent newspaper documents scientific research confirming this potential. Recent studies conducted by scientists from the University of Kentucky found that 76% of leukemia cells exposed to grape seed extract destroyed themselves within 24 hours. Significantly, healthy human cells were left unharmed. It's early days in this line of research, but these striking results suggest grape seed extract may have a role to play in treating leukemia and other cancers. Meanwhile, keep drinking the grape juice (and red wine - in moderation, of course)...

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HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope 2009 is a great year for all RTBH readers! And, as we all focus our minds on the year ahead, I thought it a good time to draw your attention to a new project I'm involved with - Vision 2100. Vision 2100 aims to bring people from across the world together, to share their vision of the world in the year 2100. In part, it's a bit of good fun. But it could also be a fascinating demonstration of the 'wisdom of crowds' - can we collectively build a vision of the future that we can work towards, across borders, and across cultures? Let's find out! Come and join Vision 2100 today!

Climate related investments will pay

2008-12-22T22:19:00.004-05:00

The message from today's linked article from Scientific American is clear: invest significantly now in tackling climate change and its worst impacts will likely be avoided. But cautious investments may well be wasted - they simply won't be enough to make a difference. This is the conclusion reached by researchers in Germany and the Netherlands, who studied how much it would take to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius above 19th Century levels (generally considered the 'tipping point' for catastrophic impacts). They found there was a 90% chance of meeting this goal with average annual investments of 2% of GDP globally, made from 2005 through to 2100. That's definitely a big commitment... It's a wake-up call to leaders across the world as they consider the consequences for their environmental policies of the global economic downturn. But it's also a hopeful sign, as it underscores the value of acting collectively and boldly today to secure our future. If those same leaders are listening, they may find their policy decisions easier to make...

Concerted acts of kindness

2008-12-21T21:21:00.005-05:00

This is a great story of some young men trying to spread festive cheer. I found it in the UK's Independent newspaper. The four men concerned are housemates in London, and some time ago they decided to try and brighten the lives of others by making their wishes come true. For example, they managed to persuade Yamaha to donate a red guitar to a child, and helped send people to see a soccer game at the new Wembley stadium and others to see the Moscow State Circus. More recently, though, their "Kindness Offensive" project has focused on gathering donations of food and toys to share with unsuspecting, but deserving, members of the public, such as asylum seekers. It's a great example of how - not so much random as calculated - acts of kindness can have a knock-on effect... not least of all on those being kind, as these guys seem to be really enjoying themselves! (Photo from the Independent.)

Guinea worm may soon be eliminated

2008-12-13T23:11:00.003-05:00

Woah - I just realized how long it was since I last posted. Sorry folks. I've been consumed by work over the past two weeks. Fortunately, RTBH reader Stacey reminded me of a story I'd seen but was too tired to post! (Thanks, Stacey!) It's from the BBC, and it documents the progress made in preventing guinea worm infection. The worm is present in water in many poor countries - when people drink water containing guinea worm larvae, the little critters stay in their bodies and grow. They can reach a meter in length and eventually emerge from the skin - as you can imagine, it's extremely painful and disabling. There's no vaccine or treatment for the disease - you avoid it by filtering water and taking other precautions. Thankfully, through such measures, the disease has already been eliminated in many countries, and worldwide infection rates have dropped by 99% since 1986. 80% of all remaining cases are in Sudan. Former US president, Jimmy Carter, is spearheading the final push towards worldwide elimination - with additional support from the Gates Foundation and the UK government - and he thinks it could all be over within 2 years! That really would be quite an achievement... (Photo from BBC.)

HIV positivity in Lesotho

2008-12-01T23:59:00.006-05:00

It is World AIDS Day - as it is each year on 1st December - and there was plenty of coverage of the topic on the newswires. In general, it was rather muted and somewhat overshadowed by other big stories (such as the fallout from the Mumbai attacks last week, and the global economic crisis). However, once again the BBC produced a great photo-journalism piece to mark the event - linked from the post title above. For the last month, the BBC has been covering the day-to-day lives of HIV positive people in the small African nation of Lesotho. Today's photo montage focused on Joseph Ramokoatsi, an HIV and AIDS counsellor in the remote community of St Rodrigue, who is also HIV positive. Joseph's openness about his own HIV status has inspired many other people to discover theirs, and to seek treatment for HIV or TB if they need it. He's even appeared on posters advertising HIV testing services, and has motivated others to work as counsellors (such as Mamatsoele Leseo, pictured here in the red t-shirt next to Joseph). In short, he's a symbol of hope in the fight against this disease - across Lesotho and beyond. (Photo from BBC online.)

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Bloggers Unite for World AIDS Day 2008 - challenge site

Nature's own remedy for turtles

2008-11-29T21:04:00.002-05:00

This story from The News and Observer (a local paper from North Carolina) caught my eye the other day. Apparently, vets at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center are using a new remedy to treat rare loggerhead turtles that have been injured by boat propellers, and it's proving very successful. It's nothing high-tech, though: it's honey, mixed up with beeswax. Honey has great antibacterial properties - which have been well-recognized since Roman times - and when mixed with wax it can plug a tear in a turtle shell, keep out water and bacteria and help it to heal. This story underscores once again the importance of the humble honeybee to our planet - and reminds us that many of life's best remedies are really very simple.

A gift for life

2008-11-28T19:45:00.004-05:00

Thanks very much to RTBH reader, Karn, for sending in today's touching tale. The article comes from a local paper, the Bemidji Pioneer from Minnesota, US. It tells of an incredibly generous young woman, Tausha Smith, who recently donated one of her kidneys to her ailing grandfather. She decided to donate when her grandfather became increasingly tired after his dialysis sessions and tests suggested that, with an O-positive blood type, she could be an ideal donor. As her grandfather, Don Cook, intimated, he's received a pretty extraordinary gift - one that will be appreciated daily, long after both Don and Tausha have recovered from surgery and well beyond the upcoming holiday season. It's a gift that is, quite literally, for life. (Photo from the Bemidji Pioneer.)

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As you may already know, RTBH was nominated for a Divine Caroline award this year - and voting ends soon! (The end of November, I think.) If you are enjoying RTBH, please cast a vote by clicking the button to the right and following the on-screen instructions. Many, many thanks.

Also, although the RTBH blogger's challenge for Donors Choose was running throughout October, you can in fact donate to this fabulous cause any time. The kids' clay art projects selected for funding by RTBH are now fully funded - yeah! - but the two other projects (for musical instruments at a school in Massachusetts and for books at a school in New York) are not. Please consider donating by clicking the button to the right - there is literally no donation too small, as the idea is to gradually amass enough from different donors to buy the classroom equipment needed, and your donation is tax deductible. THANK YOU so much...! (For background, you may want to take a look at RTBH post 356 from October 1st.)

Women drive towards independence in Iran

2008-11-25T23:28:00.005-05:00

This story from the BBC caught my eye today. It reminded me of one of my favourite stories from RTBH's past, about the Taxi Sisters of Senegal (Day Forty-Three, posted almost exactly a year ago in fact). According to today's BBC report, a women's taxi service now operates in Tehran - run by women, exclusively for female customers. On the one hand, of course, this reinforces the separation of men and women in Iran's conservative society. On the other hand, the female taxi drivers are thriving in a male dominated trade - and many of them have gained financial independence and new skills. Women run the call centre, drive the taxis and maintain them too - the only man about the place seems to be the company's owner... He now plans to expand the service in Tehran to around 2000 cars and take the business model to other cities across Iran. it sounds as if these taxis will bring increased independence to many more women in the years ahead. Maybe they'll be the next generation of business owners too? (Photo from BBC online.)

The electric bay

2008-11-21T22:29:00.003-05:00

News today that San Francisco Bay is leading the way - in rolling out alternative transportation. The UK's Guardian newspaper reports that the bay area – which is home to around 7.6m people - intends to replace 1 million gas-guzzling cars with electric ones by 2015. Billions of dollars will be invested in developing the infrastructure, such as charging stations, that can support this major shift in the way people get around. The plan is supported by local politicians and officials, including San Francisco's mayor, and California state governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. It's not the first time California has led the way on the environment and it probably won't be the last. The state, which is in effect the world's eighth largest economy, aims to reduce greenhouse gas levels to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050 and has environmental legislation that is very progressive compared to the rest of the US. Hopefully it won't stay that way - we all need to catch up! Call it an electric car chase, if you like...

A letter full of reasons to be hopeful

2008-11-18T14:30:00.006-05:00

This is a very moving and poignant story from the BBC in the form of a letter written to Noel Martin, a man attacked and paralysed by neo-Nazis in Germany 12 years ago. Noel currently plans to travel to Switzerland to have an assisted suicide. The letter is written by disabled broadcaster Liz Carr who met Noel when she interviewed him for a BBC Radio 5 Live report. She asks "Is your life really not worth living?", before reminding him of some of the reasons he has to be hopeful. She cites the fundamentals - feeling powerful emotions, being surrounded by people who love and care for him, reaching out to others through his writing... the kinds of things that make all our lives worth living, in short.

The genius in all of us

2008-11-16T23:44:00.003-05:00

Well, this article from the UK Times newspaper is certainly encouraging. It explores what we know - and don't yet know - about the human brain: how it works, and how it maintains its abilities as we age. On the latter, the evidence appears to suggest that the 'use it or lose it' maxim is a good one to live by - play chess, do puzzles or mind games, or just read a lot. It's all good for your brain, which can grow new cells when challenged in this way. But there is also evidence, apparently, that everyone can experience 'eureka' moments - bursts of creative genius - when faced with difficult challenges. In other words, we plug away trying to find the answer to a particular question, analyzing the options, then all of a sudden - just as we have given up hope - we break through and solve the problem. This likely relates to use of the brain's 'prefrontal cortex', which has the ability to 'freewheel' (allowing us to generate unusual or surprising associations between different ideas) and then pull everything together. This ability is particularly well-developed in 'divergent thinkers', including creative geniuses, but we are all capable of it. So, there you go - let your brain freewheel! You may be surprised at the ideas you generate or the problems you solve...

It's never too late to say sorry...

2008-11-08T22:17:00.003-05:00

This is a lovely story. It comes from a local newspaper in the UK – the Bristol Evening Post. According to the article, a Bristol shopkeeper recently received a letter of apology from an former drug addict, who stole 400 cigarettes from his shop - seven years ago. The anonymous letter-writer said they'd been 'a mess' at the time but had now given up drugs and wanted to make amends - indeed, the letter contained £100 in lieu of the stolen cigarettes! The shopkeeper, Imran Ahmed, displayed the letter in his shop, where it's attracting a lot of positive attention. He's also said he will give the £100 to a drugs charity, to help other addicts turn their lives around. It's never too late...

The youth of today...

2008-11-07T23:21:00.003-05:00

Many thanks to RTBH reader Suzie for sending me this story from the BBC. It's about a man and his dog who owe their lives to a few skilled and dedicated local students. Stephen Kelly and his dog Molly became stuck on a cliff ledge in Somerset, England, after Molly went over the edge of the cliff and Stephen attempted to rescue her. Fortunately, some pupils from a nearby school were in the area with (as fate would have it) their abseiling gear - and they set about winching both man and dog to safety. What brave young people! The story is also a reminder that we all possess skills that can be put to good use, one way or another - even at the most unexpected moments. (Photo from the BBC.)

Hope personified

2008-11-05T23:13:00.004-05:00

If ever a man carried the hopes of a nation - indeed, of the world - upon his shoulders, this man does. Barack Obama. Sí, se puede!! Let's hope we do... (Photo from NDTV.)

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Thanks to RTBH reader Jack for alerting me to today's linked article from NPR, about a 109-year-old woman who voted yesterday for Obama - and herself personifies the huge changes in American society over the last century, which have culminated in Obama's election as the next US President. Amanda Jones' father was a slave until he was freed at age 12. He went on to have 13 children. Only Amanda survived to witness the election of America's first black President. It's a world away from the segregated America of her youth. Now that's change we can believe in...

Bat returns from brink of extinction

2008-11-03T23:22:00.003-05:00

Although it was only yesterday that I was reading about declining bat populations in the US, today Science Daily carried this story, about the resurgence of the 'Pemba flying fox', a bat from Tanzania. The bats had been hunted for many years and were considered a local delicacy. Sadly, as a result, their numbers were so depleted by the 1990s that they were thought doomed to extinction. But with support from conservationists, and a local community now proud of this unusual creature in its midst, the bat population has soared to at least 22,000. And they do sound quite amazing - with a wing span of around 5.5 feet but with a weight about half that of a guinea pig. Let's hope this flying fox soars even higher in the years ahead. (Picture from Science Daily.)

Living a dog's life

2008-11-02T23:21:00.004-05:00

I found this interesting column in the Star Tribune, a local newspaper from Minneapolis-St Paul, today. It offers some useful lessons on how to life a good and happy life - but from an unusual perspective, as the author draws his lessons from the way dogs live their relatively short lives... with deep loving and loyalty, knowing when and how to rest, and taking plenty of exercise, for example. Oh, and demonstrating real persistence, of course. Never giving up. Perhaps we should all be a bit more 'dogged' in our approach to life?

Beginning of the end for West African slave trade

2008-10-27T18:44:00.007-04:00

A landmark ruling on slavery was reported by the BBC today, which could hasten abolition of the practice across West Africa. Hadijatou Mani from Niger was sold into slavery at age 12 and then forced to work and to bear her master's children - all despite the fact that slavery is outlawed in Niger. With support from Anti-Slavery International, Hadijatou sought compensation from the government of Niger, which she says failed to protect her. She took her case to the ECOWAS (West African regional) Court of Justice... and won. Niger's government has been ordered to pay her $19,750, which she says she will use to feed, educate and house her young family - so they can avoid her fate. She may have helped many other victims of slavery too - the ECOWAS ruling will be binding on all West African states, and has also drawn much-needed attention to the extent that slavery persists across the region. Certainly it's an important step towards eradicating this evil trade, once and for all. (Photo from BBC online.)

Heroes sharing hope

2008-10-26T20:53:00.003-04:00

As it did last year (see post Fifty-Eight on this blog), CNN is running a 'Heroes' special for 2008. Ten inspiring individuals, who spend their lives helping others, have been shortlisted by CNN - and now you can vote for those whose stories you find most compelling. I'm not sure whether it's deliberate, but this year more than half those shortlisted work with children - helping them learn, ensuring they eat, and in one case making it possible for them to stay in touch with their parents who are in prison... and all these heroes have an interesting story to tell about their work and how they got there. Well worth a read.

Environment not to be sacrificed during recession?

2008-10-16T22:30:00.003-04:00

Somewhat surprisingly, WTOP news reported today that the 15 original European Union countries are on target to meet their Kyoto targets on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Three countries - Denmark, Italy and Spain - are making slightly slower progress than hoped, but this is offset by the rapid progress being made by the UK, Germany and Sweden. Elsewhere in the news today, European leaders committed themselves to sustaining their efforts to tackle climate change regardless of the economic downturn. For now, of course, we have only their word - but at least today's confirmation of progress suggests they're on the right trajectory.

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I wanted to let you know about this year's Stand Up campaign from UNIFEM and others, which aims to mobilize people across the world to press for an end to poverty and inequality. Last year, 43.7 million people joined Stand Up, setting a new world record. This year, you too can join Stand Up between 17–19 October 2008, by clicking the link above and signing up to the campaign.

Fighting poverty by restoring women's dignity

2008-10-15T22:25:00.006-04:00

Today is Blog Action Day 2008. The idea of Blog Action Day is that all participating bloggers post on a chosen theme - and this year's topic is 'poverty'. In recognition of that, I am sharing an article from the BBC, about a community in Uganda that has banned the degrading practice of female circumcision. Also known as female genital mutilation (FGM), the practice generally involves removing the clitoris and partially sealing the vagina of young girls. The Kapchorwa district council in Uganda banned it on the basis that it was 'outmoded' and 'not useful' for women, but it's also dangerous - circumcised women are more likely to suffer from sexually transmitted and other infections and they incur significant risks to themselves and their babies during childbirth. Further, there's a good deal of evidence to suggest that improving women's rights and position in society - and specifically supporting women to take control of their sexual and reproductive health - is one of the most effective ways to fight poverty. Where women are empowered, households are better off economically and children - especially girls - fare better in terms of their health, education and general well-being. Banning female circumcision is both a practical and symbolic step towards realizing women's rights in Kapchorwa. For the sake of the 3 million women and girls at risk of FGM annually across Africa, let's hope others follow their lead.

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Thank you to RTBH reader Suzie for sending in this article, also from the BBC, about a new technology that may help people overcome paralysis. The 'brain-machine interface' works by interpreting brain signals and converting them into electrical impulses to stimulate muscles. US scientists have been testing this device on monkeys with positive results. Now they must test it in humans. So it's early days, but it's definitely promising research. Thanks again, Suzie!

A bitter pill, made sweeter

2008-10-14T22:06:00.002-04:00

I was very glad to see this article, from Reuters, today. I have a bit of a 'thing' about how few infectious disease treatments in developing countries are formulated so children can - and might actually want to - take them. After all, we have the technology to flavor medicines, and to make them chewable, meltable, dispersable... and we use it in many over-the-counter children's medicines in the US and Europe. Now, the makers of one of the most effective anti-malarials on the market in Asia and Africa may follow suit. Researchers in Tanzania have been treating children with cherry-flavored chewable Coartem pills. These are more palatable than the original pills, which are very bitter and often crushed by hand so children can take them. The researchers think that if the pills are easier to take, kids are more likely to complete their treatment course - so they're more likely to get well and there is a lower chance of drug resistance emerging. Sounds good and tastes good...

366: keeping yourself sane, even if others aren't!

2008-10-11T21:38:00.007-04:00

This article, from the UK's Times newspaper, seemed a very appropriate way to end the RTBH 'year of good news' in these uncertain economic times. It is an excellent assessment of the ways in which fear and panic can be contagious - the old 'madness of crowds' at work, basically. But it also gives some helpful hints on how to build your own resilience and resist the wave of mass anxiety. Not surprisingly, the tips include employing techniques such as deep breathing, yoga and meditation, and drawing on communities you're involved in, including religious groups. Other tips are more interesting. The article's author urges us to stay curious and not to lay too low - in other words, don't avoid doing new things, even though you may feel particularly risk-averse right now. Another tip is to keep a 'gratitude journal' - some kind of record of things that bring you joy in your life, or just things that help you keep going. I suppose that's what I've been doing all year, in fact. And, no, I'm not going to stop just because the 366 days (it's a leap year) are up. RTBH will keep going - I'm going to try and post regularly, particularly if readers keep sending in the helpful tales they find. Because there are always reasons to be hopeful - even if sometimes you have to hunt around a bit to find them...

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I'd like to thank all those readers who have sent articles to me over the course of the last year, as well as those who have sent messages of thanks, encouragement and support. I can't tell you how much that has meant to me. It's been a great source of inspiration, truly. Some of my favourite messages include those from the young man who wrote to say that RTBH had helped him keep going through tough times in his life, the woman who let me know that she sometimes saves stories from RTBH and reads them out in church, and several people (from places as diverse as Japan, South Africa and the US) who wrote to urge me to keep going... I am so grateful for your kind words, and am so glad that RTBH has brought you some solace and some smiles. :-)

365: multi-party democracy in South Africa?

2008-10-10T22:23:00.003-04:00

I chose this editorial from Gulf News today, as it struck a cord with me. South Africa is a country I know pretty well, and one of the things that's troubled me about that great nation of late is its 'benevolent dictatorship'. Since 1994, when democracy came to South Africa and the ANC came to power, it's essentially functioned as a one-party state. That has probably served the country well in some respects - it's aided economic and political stability for example - but for democracy to mature the electorate needs choice. And, as today's linked article points out, it may be about to get it. The ANC appears to be on the cusp of splitting in two, as Mbeki's supporters play out their differences with Jacob Zuma and his followers. There is little doubt that this will be an ugly situation for some time to come, but in the long run it may be just what's needed - if, as the article suggests, the differences between the resulting political parties are based on policies, not just personalities.

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NEARLY THERE! It's the penultimate day of my year-long experiment today. And with the amount of bad news about at the moment, particularly on the economic front, I've been reflecting on what it's been like hunting for good news for the last year. It hasn't always been straightforward - some nights (though not the majority!) it's taken me several hours to find a story positive enough to post! But generally there is good news around. Some sources are better bets than others, and there are topics that reflect more hope than others (science, health and environment sections of newspapers are always good places to look). I have noticed that a greater number of publications now include sections with inspirational stories etc. But where the newswires dominate - which is in many places (this, I've discovered, is one of the media's great cons - you see the same stories, from the same agency reporter, and just different vehicles for transmission, with plenty of ads thrown in...) - the news tends towards crises or trivia, with the odd hopeful tale popping up every now and again. I'm sure there's more good stuff going on out there. If we want to read about it, we need to ask newspapers and broadcasters to report it - and then read it when they do...

364: breathe in the benefits of red wine

2008-10-09T22:25:00.005-04:00

This story may surprise you. Today's linked article from Scientific American suggests that drinking red wine may actually reduce your chances of developing lung cancer. Not quite the association you'd expect, perhaps, but the results of a recent study cited in the article were pretty conclusive. Specifically, even people who had smoked at some point in their lives were 60% less likely to suffer lung cancer if they drank at least one glass of red wine a day. And apparently - and this is a statistic I find really hard to believe – men who were heavy smokers saw their risk of lung cancer drop by 4% for each glass of red wine they drank per month. Drinking white wine, or other types of alcohol, had no effect. So it's yet another testament to the power of red wine (and specifically compounds such as flavonoids and resveratrol). Cheers, everyone!

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THREE DAYS TO GO until the end of my year-long experiment. A time to reflect, I think... Today, I'm reflecting on the challenges of daily blogging. As I'm sure you've all realized, posting every day isn't easy! It takes time - in this case to find an appropriate article and then draft a post - and there are some days when you really don't feel like it. It takes ingenuity - there have been times when it really wasn't evident exactly how I was going to post, and I had to go in search of wi-fi signals, or access the internet through my cell phone and painstakingly note down and then type in URLs of articles to link! Crazy stuff... On the plus side, though, there's nothing like having made a commitment to keep you going. If I hadn't said I'd do this every day, I might not have done it at all. And that would have been a great shame. This is, after all, a pretty amazing hobby - bringing people some positivity, something to brighten their day. It's been worth the daily effort.

363: community collaboration feeds on itself

2008-10-08T23:50:00.004-04:00

This is a great story! I found it in the New York Times today. It's about a small community in Vermont - a town called Hardwick - which has recreated itself as a kind of food-lover's paradise. Hardwick fell on hard times after its granite companies shut down, it seems. But in recent years, local entrepreneurs have banded together to revitalize the local economy - by making great cheese, growing wonderful vegetables, processing soy, creating lovely soups and more besides. Most interestingly, though, all these local entrepreneurs work collectively - they loan each other money, support each other with training, market each other's products, and of course they use each other's ingredients in their recipes! And they are keeping the local industry as natural and sustainable as possible - most produce is organic. As word of their success gets round, many more people are looking to join the team. Apparently, other agricultural entrepreneurs are actually asking if they can move into the area! It's a great testament to the benefits of collaboration - and I should think it's a pretty nice place to live too. (Photo from NYT.)

362: clean energy that's worth a punt (or barge)

2008-10-07T23:58:00.008-04:00

Thanks very much to RTBH reader Paul for sending in today's linked article from the BBC. (I must say I have been very fortunate in this, my final week of the original RTBH experiment - I've had some great articles from readers! Thank you!) The article showcases just the type of innovation we need - small-scale but appropriate, and meeting the demands of tough economic and environmental times. Apparently, British Waterways (a public body) is planning to install about 50 wind turbines and additional small hydro-electric turbines along Britain's canals, which will power around 45,000 homes. That's not all though. It is thought the scheme could generate more than £1m a year to protect and maintain Britain's waterways. It sounds like a genuine win-win: historical bridges, locks and canals are conserved, while clean, affordable energy is generated. More of that, please! (Photo from BBC online.)

361: breast cancer prevention hope

2008-10-06T21:27:00.004-04:00

Thank you to RTBH reader Tasha for sending in today's linked article, from the UK's Guardian newspaper. It suggests a vaccine to prevent breast cancer could be a real possibility - that is, if all avenues of research are pursued. We know much more about this disease now, thanks to the results of a huge study - The Million Women's Study - into the causes of breast cancer. The study confirms that the women at greatest risk are those who do not experience the hormonal changes associated with childbirth and breastfeeding. Meanwhile, genetic factors appear far less important. The study co-ordinator, Professor Valerie Beral, is calling for more research into which hormones are most critical and how their effects might be mimicked to produce an effective vaccine. Such research will require significant investment. The wealth of information yielded by Beral's study can't be ignored - let's hope her message on vaccine research isn't ignored either. (Photo from the Guardian.)

360: justice for Pitcairners

2008-10-05T22:36:00.006-04:00

Today's linked article from the UK's Independent newspaper suggests justice may be imminent for many women abused as children in the Pitcairn Islands. The tiny, isolated group of islands - only one of which is inhabited, currently by about 50 people - was settled by the famous Bounty mutineers. It later became a British colony, though apparently it was neglected by its foreign administrators in recent years. When it became evident that many young girls had been abused on the island, Britain eventually agreed to take the accused to trial, and in 2004 six men were convicted and later imprisoned on Pitcairn. Three more have been convicted subsequently. Many believe the men's sentences were too lenient, and Britain has been urged to compensate the victims. Now it seems they may do just that - an announcement is expected this week. It would be unusual for the UK's compensation arrangements for victims of crime to be extended to an overseas territory - but there's nothing 'usual' about Pitcairn. And though the compensation will not undo the past, it would bring some kind of justice for the women affected, whose childhood the British government arguably failed to protect. (Photo from the Independent.)

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A quick reminder to PLEASE support the fundraising campaign at DonorsChoose.org, which supports America's public schools. You can donate by clicking on the button to the right of this page. THANKS!

359: communities reunite in Baghdad

2008-10-04T22:31:00.005-04:00

One of those lovely BBC photo-journalism pieces again today. This time, the subject is peace and unity in Iraq. Apparently, today saw the dismantling of a wall that had divided - physically and symbolically - two districts in Baghdad: one Shia, one Sunni. The reunification of these communities has been made possible by the Sunni and Shia 'Awakening' movements, which have worked to overcome the sectarian violence they say was instigated by foreign militants. As the wall came down today, people rallied. Reportedly, one leader of the Sunni Awakening cried out: "Iraq is one family... We are united now, Sunni, Shia, Christian, Turkmen and Kurd. One Iraq." And the crowd cheered. (Photo from BBC slideshow.)

358: climate change prioritized in UK government shake-up

2008-10-03T23:25:00.003-04:00

Good news for all those concerned with climate change and energy security today, particularly if they happen to live in the UK. According to today's linked article from the BBC, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has just created a new government department to focus on climate and energy, headed by a Cabinet-level minister. Given the importance of the two agendas, both in the UK and globally, this kind of attention is certainly merited - long overdue, some have said. It's definitely a bold move, since it raises expectations that the UK will deliver on climate change - and soon. It would be rude to disappoint...

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Thanks very much to RTBH reader, Steve, for sending in this article from local newspaper Asbury Park Press about World Orphan Week 2008. The week exists to raise awareness about the 133 million orphans (children that have lost one or both parents) across the world. According to the article, one organization celebrating World Orphan Week is Sylvia's Children, a New Jersey charity that supports orphans in Uganda and helps them go to school - sharing hope community to community, you could say...

357: time to 'get it right' on HIV/AIDS

2008-10-02T21:58:00.004-04:00

Anyone watching the South African political situation currently will know that former President Mbeki's deeply unpopular health minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, was replaced in that role by veteran anti-apartheid campaigner Barbara Hogan last week. Hogan's appointment was met with acclaim by AIDS activists - and it seems their faith was well-placed. As an article (linked above) from South African news site The Citizen reports, Hogan today stated her firm commitment to expanding AIDS treatment and to urgently addressing gaps in healthcare provision across the country. She is, she said, "passionate about getting things right". And there's a lot to put right, given that her predecessor denied the seriousness of the AIDS epidemic and suggested that sufferers eat beetroot, lemon and garlic rather than take ARVs... Hogan has an incredibly difficult job to do, but I suspect that if anyone can get it right, she can.

356: resourcing the future

2008-10-01T23:21:00.002-04:00

Thanks to DonorsChoose.org for sending in today's linked article from Fortune magazine. It's about... er... DonorsChoose.org! The article documents the highlights from last year's bloggers' fundraising challenge on DonorsChoose.org, a website that allows teachers across the US to showcase their potential classroom projects and then request modest donations to make them happen. According to the article, last year's challenge was very competitive - but most importantly it raised $420,000 for classrooms across the country. It's a great idea - all year round, not just during the bloggers' challenge - and a chance for all of us to help teachers and kids add something special to their educational experience. It's an investment in the future, really...

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This year, DonorsChoose.org asked RTBH to participate in the Blogger Challenge - so I've set up a challenge page, I've selected three projects from three of the most underprivileged US communities, and they've attracted two donations already! The challenge started today and will run for the month of October. If you would like to help, please give a small donation (or a large one!), by clicking on the link opposite. THANK YOU SO MUCH in advance! Hope shared is hope squared... (My hapless attempt at a vaguely educational allusion there...)

355: promising prognosis for those with Down syndrome

2008-09-30T23:31:00.002-04:00

Many thanks to RTBH reader Paul for sending in today's linked article from CNN. The article reports that, a century ago, the average life expectancy of someone with Down syndrome was just 9-years-old. But medical advances and stronger support mechanisms have now dramatically improved these odds, and those with Downs generally live well into middle-age, with high levels of functioning and greater independence. By way of an example, CNN cites the story of Zach Wincent, a 19-year-old with Down syndrome who works in Target, coaches ice hockey and attends community college. Oh, and he was 'Prom King' at his high-school. In other words, he enjoys life - though his mother has had to fight for access to certain services and Zach's whole family has had to protect him from intolerance and misunderstanding. So there is some way to go, but also much progress to be celebrated, and certainly greater hope for children diagnosed with Down syndrome and their families.

354: strengthening hearts... and minds

2008-09-29T23:11:00.006-04:00

Woah... I think I may have voluntarily taken on one of the most difficult tasks on the web! Finding good news today was, well, something of a struggle. (No prizes for guessing which story dominated the headlines on the newswires today.) But this story - once again from the BBC - caught my eye and suggested some hope. According to today's linked article, new research shows that statins may not only help lower your cholesterol, they may also slow the aging of your arteries. In other words, they keep your arteries fitter for longer. They do this, apparently, by increasing the body's levels of a protein that repairs DNA. All of this suggests that statins could be of value to many more patients, not just those suffering high cholesterol. Though given today's financial system fall out, heart medicines will be in enough demand...

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I was given another blog 'bailout' today by RTBH reader Charlotte - many thanks, Charlotte! - who alerted me to this article from a local website in Winchester, England. The city will launch a new Centre of Real-World Learning on Wednesday, to focus on helping people develop the skills they need to survive in the workplace, using lots of different learning techniques. They will draw on scientific data suggesting that much of the capacity to learn comes from one's attitude. I liked this quote from the article: ' “At the heart of our work is the realisation that practical intelligence is, contrary to much received wisdom, learnable,” said Professor Lucas. “Human beings have capacities which can be expanded. And our mind-sets – what we believe in our own minds – really matter. Research has shown that those that believe they can expand their mental powers generally do so and are more successful in life.” ' How's that for encouragement?

353: beautiful mosque brings cultures together

2008-09-28T23:17:00.007-04:00

I found today's intriguing story on the BBC website. Apparently, a female designer is making history in Turkey as she changes Istanbul's skyline. She's leading a project to construct the city's newest mosque, which she says reflects a blend of Islamic and Western influences - one of the original aims of the project. Its centerpiece is a metal sphere designed by a Brit, William Pye. The designer, Zeynep Fadillioglu, is a strong supporter of Turkey's secular status and its emphasis on equality for men and women. But she is the first woman to lead on the construction of a mosque, and she says she's been well-supported in this role by the traditionally conservative local community. In this sense, the Sakirin Mosque and its designer symbolize Turkey's apparent ambitions: to act as a bridge between East and West, and to draw on the best of its religious and cultural heritage whilst preserving the secularity of its state. It's a difficult balance to strike, but Zeynep Fadillioglu's design hints at what is possible. (Photo from BBC online.)

352: amazing mathematic discovery

2008-09-27T22:16:00.003-04:00

Fascinating news today from the BBC. Apparently, a team of mathematicians in California has discovered the world's largest prime number - a number that can only be divided by itself and the number one. The newly identified number has 13 million digits! Yes, you read it right... Needless to say, it wasn't discovered with a pencil and a piece of paper. The team linked 75 computers across the world via the internet and used their combined power. As a result, the mathematicians look set to gain financially too, having picked up a prize for 'co-operative computing' through their work (the prize amount doesn't have 13 million digits though...). We all win in the end, of course, as human knowledge advances in this way.

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So, here I am with two weeks left of my original experiment. I almost can't believe I've got this far myself! Over the next couple of weeks, I have to decide how best to continue this blog, but I'm also going to be making some changes to its layout and content. So look out for those! Hope you like them. As always, send me your thoughts at eazibee@gmail.com

351: scientists discover possible autism 'switch'

2008-09-26T19:19:00.006-04:00

There was some promising news in Scientific American today. It seems that scientists have identified a gene - called Npas4 - that, by releasing a protein, can calm nerve cells down if they become too active. This is important for sufferers of neurological disorders such as autism and schizophrenia, because this discovery may one day lead to treatments that can manage those conditions by balancing brain activity. it's early days for this research, but promising nonetheless. (Photo from Scientific American.)

350: sustainable learning?

2008-09-25T23:47:00.002-04:00

Still feeling under the weather, so will keep it brief! I liked this story from the BBC today, about a new museum in the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. It's huge, for a start, with an aquarium, rainforest dome and an ambitious sounding planetarium... and more. But it's also been designed by a prize-winning architect to be as green as possible, with non-toxic insulation, a passive heating and cooling system, a 'living roof' (a garden essentially) and solar-generated electricity. Plus the entire structure is made of recycled steel, apparently. It sounds amazing - an educational experience even before you get to the exhibits...

349: 95-year-old finally inspired to vote!

2008-09-24T14:46:00.003-04:00

I have a terrible cold at the moment and feel pretty tired, but this story lifted my spirits today. According to the TV segment linked here, from Channel 3000, a 95-year-old woman from Virginia has finally registered to vote for the first time in her life. Florence Washington was first eligible to vote when Franklin Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover competed for the White House, but until now she hadn't been moved to do so. It was her grand-daughter, apparently, who persuaded her to register - though Florence cites Barack Obama's candidacy as the source of her inspiration. Whatever the reason, it all just goes to show it's never too late to exercise your democratic rights!

348: Burmese prisoners released

2008-09-23T21:20:00.004-04:00

A little sign of hope from Burma today, as the military junta released four political prisoners including the prolific U Win Tin, one of Aung San Suu Kyi's former advisers and a well known writer. As reported in today's linked article from news site Democratic Voice of Burma (based in Norway I believe), the prisoner release follows the junta's announcement of an amnesty that will, it says, allow opposition party members to prepare for elections scheduled for 2010. Up to 9002 prisoners may be released. So far, however, it seems that most of the freed prisoners are not 'political' but others released for 'good behaviour'. Nevertheless, the release of U Win Tin and other NLD members is encouraging, not least since U Win Tin says he will start campaigning again right away. After 19 years in prison, that kind of commitment and resilience is truly inspirational. (Photo from Voice of America.)

347: eye gene therapy could bring hope to thousands

2008-09-22T22:10:00.002-04:00

Thanks to what sounds like an important medical breakthrough, a cure for several forms of blindness could be in sight. Today's linked article, from the UK's Daily Mail newspaper, reports that a new therapy - which involves injecting genetic material into the retina - has restored the sight of three new patients, following one other successful operation on a UK teenager earlier this year. So far, all those treated had an inherited condition called Leber's congenital amaurosis, which was previously untreatable. But the US scientists developing the gene therapy believe they'll be able to treat other inherited conditions within two years and age-related macular degeneration within five years. In Britain alone, this means the new therapy could restore sight to hundreds of thousands of people. An amazing thought.

346: environmentally friendly fridges

2008-09-21T23:11:00.005-04:00

As the world becomes more concerned about climate change, there is a definite trend emerging whereby 'old' technologies with lower environmental impacts are re-examined. Now, one of Einstein's abandoned concepts is up for scrutiny. As today's linked article from the UK's Observer newspaper reports, Einstein and Hungarian physicist Leo Szilard patented a design for a refrigerator back in the 1930s, which used ammonia, butane and water to keep things cold and had no movable parts. Today's fridges generally use freons, particularly potent manmade greenhouse gases. Though Einstein's and Szilard's design was inefficient at the time, engineers from Oxford are working to improve it and they think they will have a working version of the fridge - powered by solar panels rather than mains electricity - in a month or so. If they manage that, the implications are potentially very exciting - not only would a fridge of this type be better for the Earth's atmosphere, it could also be used in areas where there's no electricity (very useful when transporting vaccines or other medical supplies, for example). Cool idea, or what? (Image from the Observer.)

345: tree of promise?

2008-09-20T22:06:00.004-04:00

I found a very interesting article today in the Christian Science Monitor. It's about a tree called the moringa, native to South Asia but found in many countries across the world, which some think could help families battle malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa. Apparently, the tree's seedpods are highly nutritious, as are its leaves - indeed, to quote the article, its leaves contain "more beta carotene than carrots, more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach, more Vitamin C than oranges, and more potassium than bananas" and are rich in protein too. The tree's also pretty drought resistant - useful in dry regions, particularly amidst a changing climate. Sounds good - but experts say more studies are needed to ascertain the dietary benefits of the moringa before extensive tree planting can be justified. Let's hope the evidence comes quickly - and that the tree's promise is born out. (Photo from Christian Science Monitor.)

344: a visible existence for Namibia's children

2008-09-19T22:30:00.004-04:00

Interestingly, yesterday Namibia became one of the few African nations to have introduced routine registration of children's births. As today's linked article from Namibian newspaper New Era reports, the Namibian government will work with UNICEF to pilot birth registration in public health facilities such as hospitals and clinics. Uganda and Angola have launched similar initiatives, alongside several other African nations that already have more systematic recording of births, deaths and marriages - so called 'vital statistics'. Sounds like a formality, perhaps - but without a recorded name, date and place of birth, many children find themselves unable to access education and welfare services and they also become more vulnerable to exploitation. So this is an important step for Namibia's children - one that should help them realize their rights in future years.

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I found out today that Reasons to be Hopeful has been nominated for another award - the Divine Caroline 'Love this Site' award, 'neighborhood and world' category. I'm not sure who nominated it, but many thanks to whoever that was! In any case, voting isn't open for long - just until the end of November, I think - so if you'd like to lend RTBH your support, please register and vote by clicking on the button opposite. THANK YOU!

343: English hospitals clean up

2008-09-18T15:11:00.004-04:00

Reassuring news for all hospital patients in the UK today, as the English National Health Service (NHS) released statistics on the cleanliness of its wards. As today's linked article from the UK's Guardian newspaper reports, the NHS has struggled with a large number of cases of MRSA and another 'superbug' called C difficile acquired in hospital. To tackle the problem, huge sums of money were invested in cleaning wards from top to bottom and ensuring staff practice impeccable hygiene. The result? MRSA cases have dropped by a third in the past year, and other superbugs are on the retreat too. Quite some success. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown also thought so - apparently he's written to NHS staff congratulating them. As annual appraisals go, that's probably as good as it gets...

342: women rise through Rwandan democracy

2008-09-17T22:10:00.005-04:00

The African nation of Rwanda broke a symbolic record today, as it became the first country in the world to elect more female than male Members of Parliament. As today's linked article from the UK's Independent newspaper points out, recent election results aren't yet all in, but already women have taken 44 of the 80 available seats. Positive discrimination policies introduced following the Rwandan genocide of 1994 have helped, but the number of women elected this time far exceeds relevant quotas. When you consider how slowly gender equality in senior political and management roles has advanced in 'developed' nations, Rwanda's achievement is all the more impressive. The country and its women have come a very long way since 1994. (Photo of election in progress from the Independent.)

341: influencing your DNA for the better?

2008-09-16T21:48:00.006-04:00

Well, I'd just about gone to sleep in front of my laptop tonight, when this fascinating article grabbed me and shook me awake! It's an intriguing commentary, from the UK's Times newspaper, which documents new research suggesting our genes are more influenced by environmental factors - or 'nurture' - than we'd previously thought. This means your lifestyle could modify your DNA, affecting you but also future generations. Obviously, this can cut both ways - treat yourself poorly and you (and your kids, and their kids...) could pay the price; but on the other hand, if you treat yourself kindly, this new evidence suggests you could reduce the likelihood of suffering ill health even if you've inherited 'less favourable' DNA, benefitting your future offspring too. There's a lot more research to be done, to discover the extent to which DNA can be modified and what that might mean for humanity - but such advances in knowledge could alter the way we live in profound and potentially very positive ways.

340: how to enjoy life a little more

2008-09-15T23:48:00.003-04:00

I have to say, finding good news hasn't been easy in recent days. Stories of economic decline abound, alongside those predicting the political and social collapse of Pakistan and/or North Korea...and more... It's enough to make anyone feel anxious. So I thought I'd post this really clear and helpful article from the UK's Independent newspaper about the relatively simple strategies we can all adopt to help us cope. They include - not surprisingly - eating well and exercising (though not too much, the experts tell us), relaxing fully and learning to breathe properly. Saying 'no' - e.g. to additional work, people you don't want to spend time with - is also advised. Not easy by any means, but worth it to enjoy life, surely...

339: being the change you want to see in the world

2008-09-14T23:06:00.002-04:00

I thought I'd post an ongoing series today, rather than a one-off article. I just discovered a bit of the CNN website dedicated to a program called Be The Change, which follows a group of young people working as volunteers across the world. The news channel has equipped them with cameras and laptops so they can record their experiences, which they'll be doing for a whole year. These
journal-style reports are then uploaded in video and blog format to the Be The Change site. It's not just an insight into the societies the volunteers wish to support, it's also an interesting chronicle of the joys - and frustrations - of those seeking to change the world for the better. A 'hope experiment', if you like...

338: symbols of hope in Costa Rica's forests

2008-09-13T21:45:00.004-04:00

An article full of hope from the BBC today. It's a report by biologists from Manchester University and Chester Zoo, in the UK, who have been working with Costa Rican conservationists to seek out rare amphibians in local rainforests. They've had some success - several species previously thought to be extinct have been sighted, including a pregnant female 'Isthmohyla rivularis' and several groups of green-eyed frog. But what's really given them hope is the passion and commitment of Costa Rican scientists, who seem to be dedicated to protecting the country's forests and the rich diversity of species within them. Given the number of stories I've featured on this blog about Costa Rica's stunning wildlife, it would appear they're doing a sterling job! (Photo from BBC online. There's also a video with the linked article.)

337: how to live to 100

2008-09-12T20:53:00.005-04:00

Some mindblowing statistics from Japan today, as reported by the BBC. Apparently, according to today's linked article, there are now 36,276 people in Japan who have reached the grand old age of 100 - and it's thought there could be as many as 1 million Japanese centenarians by 2050. This brings its challenges demographically, of course, but for Japan to have achieved this standard of population health and well-being is quite remarkable. The hope for the rest of us comes through learning - and replicating - the secrets of Japan's success. These are thought to include "healthy diets, strong communities and excellent medical care." There are very many people across the world who would benefit from that recipe... (Photo from BBC online.)

336: a chance that Zimbabwe can move on

2008-09-11T22:03:00.003-04:00

I thought long and hard before posting news of today's long-awaited power-sharing deal between the MDC and Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe. Partly because I am very disturbed by the idea (gaining currency not just in Zimbabwe but elsewhere) that those who lose elections can have a second chance by forming a 'unity government'. And partly because I'm sure there's a lot more to the deal than meets the eye - and there's a reasonable likelihood of it unravelling. So is there hope in it? Well, yes - because Zimbabwe needs it urgently. Stability is key to rescuing the nation's economy and its people, many of whom are destitute - and desperate. So the deal is an important first step. Also, in searching for different versions of the story, I came across a great Zimbabwean news site - The Zimbabwe Times - with balanced and considered journalism and some thought-provoking opinion pieces too. Click on the post title above to get their simple, factual account of the deal - but also to browse the rest of their site.

335: still happy together after all these years...

2008-09-10T23:15:00.002-04:00

This is such a sweet little video, I had to post it. According to today's linked article (well, it's actually a news segment from ITV in the UK, via CNN) records were broken today, as Phyllis and Ralph Tarrant became Britain's oldest couple. He is 105, she just turned 100 - so they have a combined age of 205! They've been married for 75 years, and are still totally devoted to each other. How have they lasted so long? Well, according to Phyllis, at least in part because her husband lets her get her own way much of the time. Now we know! Sounds like a great lesson to me... ;-)

334: Bangladesh will adapt to the future

2008-09-09T22:22:00.006-04:00

Some hope was handed to Bangladesh today, in the form of UK aid to support the low-lying nation's adaptation to climate change. According to today's linked article from the BBC, the aid will be used to strengthen sea defences and to 'climate proof' buildings - for example, building schools on stilts to protect them against flood waters and constructing multi-purpose cyclone shelters. New, more resilient crops will likely be needed too. Developing country governments and NGOs have argued for fast and flexible funding from international donors to help poorer communities prepare now for the likely impacts of climate change. Up to $50bn per year may be needed. The new support to Bangladesh is just a drop in the ocean, therefore, but it gives the country a fighting chance. And it may be - should be - a sign of further support to come.

333: peace deal signed in Tripoli

2008-09-08T17:53:00.003-04:00

Some positive news from Lebanon today, as leaders met in Tripoli in an effort to end sectarian violence, which has dominated the port and surrounding area in recent months. According to today's linked article from Lebanon's Daily Star newspaper, Sunni and Alawite leaders agreed and signed a truce deal committing all parties to refrain from violence. It also confirmed that those displaced through the fighting should return to their communities, with compensation for those whose homes have been damaged and temporary shelter for those in need. The Lebanese Armed Forces have been drafted in to keep the peace. Those engaged in the talks have stated their optimism that the truce will hold, as all parties were involved. The stakes are high - so let's hope they're right... (Photo from Daily Star.)

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332: India offers friendship to Pakistan's President-elect

2008-09-07T22:06:00.004-04:00

Some promising news from India today, as the country's Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, extended a welcoming hand across the border. As today's linked article from Gulf News reports, Singh congratulated Asif Ali Zardari upon his Presidential election victory in Pakistan, and said he was hoping for increased friendship and partnership between the two South Asian nations. Zardari - the widower of former Pakistani premier and recent Presidential candidate Benazir Bhutto - has given positive signals about co-operation with India in the past. So it's an opportune moment. Let's hope both leaders can make the most of it.

331: city hotels as sign of greener times

2008-09-06T23:08:00.003-04:00

This is a very interesting article - because through a relatively narrow story it hints at bigger changes taking place. The article, from the UK's Independent newspaper, highlights the many eco-hotels springing up in cities across the world. Though the idea of environmentally sustainable getaways is nothing new, the article points out that these have largely taken the form of rural retreats. Now, however, both boutique hotels and bigger city chains are going green - employing everything from kitchen gardens to microgeneration to composting, in an effort to strengthen their environmental credentials. As you will see from the article and accompanying photos, many of the hotels in question are very comfortable and stylish too - so you can still have a great, relaxing holiday in beautiful surroundings, without compromising on cutting waste and reducing your carbon footprint (though best if you travel by train, I suppose). Green doesn't have to be mean - or boring! (Photo from the Independent.)