"Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another's pain, life is not in vain."
- Helen Keller
Get Involved
|
|
"Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another's pain, life is not in vain." - Helen Keller
|
Get Involved
|
|||||
|
February 9, 2010 | |||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
Favorite GoodThings 2002 Once again, we have the great pleasure of announcing our annual list of the positive and constructive ideas, actions, and organizations that captured our imaginations -- and those of the readers of our e-magazine, The GoodLetter -- in 2002. As ever, the world seems to grow increasingly complicated, even frightening. We like to believe that these twenty examples represent some of the best of what the world has to offer. We hope you'll use this list as a resource guide to help you start 2003 on the right foot. Favorite Way to Make Waves Favorite Glimpses of Hope Favorite Grassroots Poverty Solution Favorite Inspiration Behind a Cause Favorite Beacon in the Smog Favorite Way to Raise Awareness Favorite World View Favorite Peace Effort Favorite Celebration of Democracy Favorite Recipe for Fighting Hunger Favorite Way to Inspire Youth Favorite Inspired Youth Favorite Meaningful Ways to Reach Kids Favorite Use of the Internet Favorite Visionary Favorite Storytellers Favorite Cross-Generational Connections Favorite Vacations with Purpose Favorite Approach to Restorative Health Favorite Resource for International Activism Favorite Way to Make Waves Oceana The world's oceans -- with their mystery and majesty -- capture our collective imagination as few other things can. But in a year when stories of overfishing and a massive oil spill off of the coast of Spain reminded us of the fragility of the oceans and the threatened wildlife their waters support, it's refreshing to remember the groups working tirelessly to increase awareness of the issues facing the oceans and what's being done to protect them. Oceana, a new and multi-faceted non-profit organization, offers ways to engage people in the effort to keep the oceans healthy. The group's Web site uses personal testimonials, uplifting success stories, and interactive tools to make people of all degrees of dampness passionate about becoming ocean stewards. :: Learn more about Oceana Favorite Glimpses of Hope The Promises Film Project Seeds of Peace The eyes of the world are forever on the Middle East. And while most of us are pondering how the region's volatility will affect our own lives, some of us are actually try to bring an end to it. The producers behind the Promises Project followed seven teenagers on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and were able to illustrate in a powerful, award-winning film the common bonds between these youth whom history would have become mortal enemies. Similarly, a humble summer camp in the woods of Maine has brought children from opposite sides of the world's intractable conflicts together in a supportive, nurturing context to help them realize the human possibilities afforded by peace. Seeds of Peace -- like the Promises Film Project -- celebrates the triumph of people over politics. :: Learn more about the Promises Project :: Learn more about Seeds of Peace [more] [still more] Favorite Grassroots Poverty Solution Women's Bean Project This year, we learned about this inspiring non-profit business based in Denver, Colorado, that since 1989 has helped empower women who lack education, job skills, and the support to break the cycle of poverty. Women in the program are responsible for all aspects of the production of a line of gourmet soups and unique gift baskets featuring the work of Indonesian women. Project participants also run a successful catering business. Like other grassroots poverty eradication projects throughout the world, Denver's Women's Bean Project gives the women it helps a new lease on life. It distinguishes itself by fostering global connections that make the world feel smaller. :: Learn more about the Women's Bean Project Favorite Inspiration Behind a Cause Women of Means Everywhere, homelessness ravages families, affecting the lives of innocent children in tragic ways. In many cases, parents have jobs but simply don't earn enough to afford housing and medical care. Boston's Women of Means is the extraordinary brainchild of physician Dr. Roseanna Means. The group offers free medical care to homeless women in an effort to provide a much-needed boost toward self-sufficiency. In July of this year, GoodThings published a GoodLetter about Women of Means. In response to the piece, we heard from reader Celeste Wilson who described how inspired she'd been by the organization's mission. She shared her plans to develop a new non-profit in the Denver area. The so-called Box Foundation collects new items to be distributed to the homeless, encouraging people to fill boxes with the extras -- the tubes of toothpaste, the bars of soaps, the t-shirts -- in their lives to share with those less fortunate. We will follow the progress the Box Foundation and wish Celeste the best of luck. :: Learn more about Women of Means [more] [still more] Favorite Beacon in the Smog Grist Magazine Grist bills itself as "gloom and doom with a sense of humor." This acclaimed environmental e-magazine has also been called a "beacon in the smog" (hence, this category), reporting a wide range of environmental news and features coverage with the kind of wit that makes it impossible for even an environmental skeptic to zone out. The Daily Grist e-mail reaches loyal subscribers around the world and is the flagship publication of a site that prides itself on its objective independence. Earlier this year, the magazine's subscribers proved their love during a successful, first-ever pledge drive. Grist helps people who care about the planet learn not to take themselves quite so seriously. :: Learn more about Grist Magazine Favorite Way to Raise Awareness AIDSchannel AIDSchannel rises above the monumental clinical challenges posed by the AIDS pandemic and presents it as an issue faced by real human beings around the world every day. Based in London and part of the OneWorld.net online network, AIDSchannel is rich with stories about how the crisis is being addressed through educational and cultural channels that humanize the forgotten millions struggled with the disease. AIDSchannel promotes action-oriented projects that are going on throughout the world to increase awareness of the battle against HIV/AIDS. Significantly, the Web portal keeps a strong focus on the front lines in Africa. :: Learn more about AIDSchannel Favorite World View OneWorld.net OneWorld.net is the parent Web site to AIDSchannel, but it's too good and too important on its own not to recognize it as one of this year's favorite. OneWorld occupies the recurring "Favorite World View" category perfectly: it provides information on the Internet in at least nine languages and in major social justice subject areas. In addition to HIV/AIDS issues, it covers developing-world debt relief and global education concerns, as well as efforts to bridge widening international technological gaps and broaden the horizons of children. OneWorld.net is a remarkable, topical resource for people who are looking for ways to become a part of campaigns to raise human voices against the world's injustice. :: Learn more about OneWorld.net Favorite Peace Effort War Child Fueled by the alarming statistics on the number of innocent children killed or injured in the wars raging in the world (as many as four million in the past decade alone), War Child was formed in 1993 by two filmmakers who were bewildered by the devastation they had witnessed in the former Yugoslavia and set out by sheer force of will to provide humanitarian aid. Since then, the organization has mobilized other grassroots aid efforts in war-torn areas throughout the globe to feed, clothe, teach, and treat children whose lives are brutally changed by acts of war. With offices in the UK, Canada, and the Netherlands, War Child taps resources in the entertainment community to lend creativity to its efforts to change the lives of children. :: Learn more about War Child Favorite Celebration of Democracy The Orion Society's New Patriotism Book Series Since when did patriotism refer only to ardent nationalism and flag-waving? The writers featured in this collection of essays published by the non-profit Orion Society reminded us in compelling ways that love for one's country is so more than ideology. The truest American patriots, Terry Tempest Williams, Barry Lopez, Richard Nelson, and Wendell Berry contend, are those who love and defend the land itself. Divisive symbols mean nothing to them, only a 'profound love for the earth underfoot.' In a year when civil liberties were put at risk and anti-American fervor was palpable, the New Patriotism series helped bring the flag back down to Earth. :: Learn more about the Orion Society's New Patriotism book series Favorite Recipe for Fighting Hunger World Hunger Year For over a quarter of a century, the New York-based World Hunger Year has been a dedicated leader in the fight against hunger. WHY invests in self-reliance and supports US and international programs that improve access to jobs, education, health care, agricultural, and entrepreneurial opportunities for those most at risk for hunger. WHY uses its contacts in the realms of government, media, and humanitarian assistance to bolster on-the-ground grassroots programs. WHY's annual Hungerthons bring hunger and poverty issues to the attention of six million people a year. The group was co-founded by late folksinger and activist Harry Chapin, who once issued the call: "The question is not 'Is the world changing?' but rather 'Who is changing it?'" :: Learn more about World Hunger Year [more] Favorite Way to Inspire Youth Street Universe Street Universe is tackling the issue of South Africa's street kids with love. Firm in its belief that children left to try to stay alive on the mean streets benefit from having real relationships with responsible -- and responsive -- adults, Street Universe sponsors arts, athletic, and outdoor activities for forgotten youth. From its headquarters in Cape Town, Street Universe. They're offering good, old-fashioned mentoring to guide the first generation of children in a democratic South Africa. But in a place where challenges are profound, it's the rigor of Street Universe's approach that will help ensure the longevity of the country's new future. :: Learn more about Street Universe Favorite Inspired Youth Free The Children International What can kids possibly do to make a difference in the world? They can free other kids, that's what. Free the Children International was started in 1995 by a 12-year-old Canadian boy who read an article in the Toronto newspaper about another 12-year-old boy in Pakistan who had been sentenced to death for protesting the forced child labor that was his own fate. What Craig Keilburger, the young Canadian, soon learned was that there are over a quarter of a million children around the world who are being essentially enslaved as manual laborers. Six months after FTC was formed, Craig had already raised $150,000 to help build a rehabilitation center in south Asia for children like the boy whose story first caught his attention. His organization now galvanizes the efforts of kids in 35 countries. :: Learn more about Free the Children International Favorite Meaningful Ways to Reach Kids This Land Is Your Land: Songs of Unity, by Various Artists (Earthbeat! / Music for Little People) Parvana's Journey, by Deborah Ellis (Groundwood Books) Sometimes, the best ways to connect with the good in our kids is through literature and music. Among the many wonderful examples of words and sounds that educated children this year, these two in particular rose to the top because of the way they helped kids make sense of current events. This Land Is Your Land: Songs of Unity is an amazing collection of songs and readings about diversity, social justice, and humanity for children and adults to share. It's full of lessons that are as fun as they are thought-provoking. Parvana's Journey is the sequel to author Deborah Ellis' groundbreaking children's novel, The Breadwinner, about the extraordinary efforts of a young girl to support her family in Taliban-era Afghanistan. In desperation, Parvana is forced to impersonate a boy to enter the market in order to feed her family. Ellis' latest novel is suspenseful, challenging, and ultimately uplifting as Parvana demonstrates to other children what it takes to overcome tremendous adversity. All proceeds from sales of Parvana's Journey support the non-profit work of Women for Women in Afghanistan. :: Learn more about This Land Is Your Land: Songs of Unity :: Learn more about Parvana's Journey Favorite Use of the Internet NOVICA With all that the Internet has done to improve the flow of information and to foster connectivity throughout the world, it's also flooded with worthless drivel. That's why we love to celebrate wonderful examples of how the Internet has been used to improve the world -- and the ways we understand one another. NOVICA, a for-profit venture affiliated with National Geographic, helps nearly 2,000 artists from all corners of the globe reach customers thousands of miles away. NOVICA beautifully presents handmade arts and crafts from Andean South America, Bali and Java, Brazil, India, Mexico, Thailand, and West Africa, coupled with the personal stories of the artisans who created them. By creating this sort of unique marketplace, NOVICA helps artists continue to do the work they love while it educates its customers about the world beyond their backyards. :: Learn more about NOVICA [more] Favorite Visionary Sebastio Salgado Brazilian photographer Sebastio Salgado believes in the power of an image to inform. He's traveled the world capturing stunning photographs of the planet's forgotten people -- its infirm, its displaced, its exploited -- and he's shared them. He uses photography to display what might be considered the terrible beauty faced by so many of the world's people and, as a result, makes a difference. He founded a non-profit organization, Instituto Terra, that demonstrates his commitment to his own birthplace and only elevates his visionary status. The group works to preserve Brazil's great Atlantic Forest -- often overshadowed by the country's interior rainforest -- and helps its inhabitants combine ecological stewardship with economic stability. :: Learn more about Sebastio Salgado [more] Favorite Storytellers 1st Person Stories by MediaRites This project emerged out of the ashes of September 11, 2001, as a place on the World Wide Web for the impassioned commentaries of public radio contributors to live long after being heard on-air. The Web site is organized around a different theme each quarter and features written transcripts, as well as links to audio clips, of pieces that have appeared on public radio -- or not. Recent themes have included "Landscape of Loss and Hope," "Acts of Peace," "Heart of Nature," and "Arts and Healing." All the pieces that appear on the 1st Person Stories Web site are unified by the personal, emotional voices they represent. :: Learn more about 1st Person Stories [more] Favorite Cross-Generational Connections Jumpstart Generations Inc. The honorees in this category give new meaning to the concept of a May-December relationship. Jumpstart enlists the help of energetic college students eager to dedicate themselves to helping at-risk children who are falling short at reading and social skills get prepared to start elementary school. Founded in 1994, the Jumpstart program is now available in 30 communities through the US and reaches 4,500 pre-school kids each year. Boston-based Generations Incorporated innovatively pairs youth with seniors. School-age children get inspired mentoring and experienced help with reading, and the older adults who become their role models get companionship and sense of purpose. This ten-year-old program hopes to be reaching no fewer than 10,000 youth and seniors by 2006. :: Learn more about Jumpstart :: Learn more about Generations Inc. Favorite Vacations with Purpose Cross-Cultural Solutions Most people would love to be able to volunteer to help other people. And everybody would love be able to plan a nice long vacation every year. But unfortunately, we don't always have time to do both. That's where Cross-Cultural Solutions comes in. This New Rochelle, New York-based non-profit makes it easy for adventurous souls to have their cake and eat it, too. With engaging international programs in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, India, Peru, Russia, Tanzania, and Thailand, CCS fosters cultural sensitivity and gives people constructive ways to contribute to grassroots efforts to make lives better for people throughout the world. :: Learn more about Cross-Cultural Solutions [more] Favorite Approach to Restorative Health Casting For Recovery Avid fly-fishers revel in the serenity of a cool stream on a crisp blue morning and a culture of catch-and-release that is as much about honoring the simple majesty of the fish as anything else. That's why fly-fishing is such a perfect match for breast-cancer survivors. The non-profit organization Casting for Recovery helps women who have suffered from the ravages of breast cancer rediscovery their lust for life. They fellowship with other women, learn to appreciate being in a stream and the life it supports, and participate in an activity that rehabilitates their upper bodies and their spirits. In 2003, CFR will offer retreats in 18 US states for 400 survivors of the devastating disease. :: Learn more about Casting for Recovery [more] Favorite Resource for International Activism Global Exchange Like so many of the non-profit organizations honored in this year's "Favorite GoodThings" list, San Francisco-based Global Exchange focuses its efforts on connecting people in the world with the ability to help with those who would most benefit from that aid. The non-profit provides helpful information and up-to-date opportunities for activists to get involved on civil and human rights and fair trade issues in hotspots around the world. Perhaps most importantly, Global Exchange is situated at the forefront of the movement for peace and reconciliation in the aftermath of the events of September 11. :: Learn more about Global Exchange [more] ::: GOODTHINGS
|
Want to share your thoughts or ideas about Favorite GoodThings 2002 honorees with other people who care about good things? Send 'em our way. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
