Small village in Scotland secures massive land buyout to create nature reserve
A small community in the south of Scotland has succeeded in buying a large part of one of Scotland’s most famous grouse moors owned by one of the UK’s most powerful hereditary landowners. The successful initiative will pave the way for the creation of a major new nature reserve aimed at Read More...
Restoration groups use permaculture to rebuild in the wake of the Camp Fire
One year after the Camp Fire destroyed 90 percent of homes in the small Northern California town of Paradise, community members are rallying behind the regenerative nature of permaculture to rebuild their town. Permaculture is an agricultural technique which uses regenerative resources to create a Read More...
Possibility: The justice of the crowd
From The Optimist Magazine Fall 2015 In recent years, crowdfunding has become a popular tool to fund projects and interests shared by groups of people. It is particularly common in arts and culture, leaving it up to the audience to determine what gets done and what they want to see. A British Read More...
Real people building a better world
A new generation of social leaders is rising up. These are people who dedicate their creativity and passion for a better world. They are able to do this because changing political realities around the world have created new opportunities for citizen involvement. As 'social entrepreneurs', they find Read More...
Africa awakening
In Zimbabwe, Marianne Knuth helps local people draw on the wisdom and talent of each other to solve problems big and small. Marco Visscher | June 2004 issue WHO? Marianne Knuth WHAT? Kufunda Village, a ‘learning community’ for self-support WHERE? Kufunda, Zimbabwe WHEN? 2001 WHY? To Read More...
Any day without a new idea is a day lost
Ervin Laszlo was a child prodigy at the piano who became a professor without finishing school. The former systems theory pioneer is now concentrating on research into the information field, which should not only shed light on inexplicable connections between man and matter, but may help create a Read More...
Cricket in the ghetto
Ted Hayes wondered what would keep young people in one of America's most violent ghettos away from drugs and crime? Cricket of course! Jay Walljasper | June 2004 issue WHO? Ted Hayes WHAT? Compton Cricket Club, for young people from the ghetto WHERE? Compton, California, United States WHEN? Read More...
Everyone's reading in South Africa
Beulah Thumbadoo believes a simple solution can help her country's complicated problems: reading more books. Tijn Touber | June 2004 issue WHO? Beulah Thumbadoo WHAT? ERA, Everyone’s Reading in Africa WHERE? South Africa WHEN? 1991 WHY? A country can only develop when books are widely Read More...
Laughter really is the best medicine
Patch Adams, a physician and clown, considers humour and friendship part of the cure in any healing process. That's why he wants to build his own hospital.Tijn Touber | June 2004 issue WHO? Patch Adams WHAT? The Gesundheit Institute, a hospital where doctors and patients treat each other as friends Read More...
A man with balls
On skates he won four Olympic gold medals and broke 11 world records. Now, using sports and games, he's dedicating himself to helping ensure children in poor areas have safe and healthy futures. Ode speaks with Johann Olav Koss.Marco Visscher | April 2006 issue In the run-up to the 1994 Lillehammer Read More...