March 20th is International Happiness Day. It’s definitely a day to celebrate!  Aside from all the uplifting news that we report at The Good Times, more reasons to be cheerful and optimistic on this International Day of Happiness include: 9 out of 10 people now live free from extreme poverty Almost 90% of the global […]

In these tense times of COVID-19, some simple suggestions to relieve stress are welcome. Here are 10 good tips: Let your creativity run wild: if you’ve always wanted to paint, write, or compose, now’s the time. Structure and plan your daily life (getting up, taking a shower, having breakfast, starting your work day, going grocery […]

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.”

Helen Keller, Author, disability rights advocate and political activist

What should we believe, and what shouldn’t we, when it comes to information about COVID-19? The World Health Organization (WHO) provides good advice on telling the difference between reliable information and misinformation. It recommends learning about “infodemiology”, the study of the vast amounts of information disseminated on the health crisis, not only from scientific sources […]

Yes, you, you and every single other person, can help to fight deforestation. Change the planet for the better and plant a tree with The Nature Conservancy. Join its effort to Plant a Billion Trees. Donate to “turn the tide of deforestation and help protect and expand forests around the globe,” or get involved in […]

Scientists are cloning antibodies taken from coronavirus patients who have recovered from the disease in an attempt to develop a treatment for the virus. The “monoclonal antibodies,” made from identical immune cells, could “provide an instant immunity boost against the virus,” according to an article published in Science. They could both “prevent and treat the […]

A flowering plant in the daisy family, Echinacea has been shown to improve immunity, anxiety, inflammation and skin health and to lower blood sugar levels. It may even have anti-cancer properties. Although human-based research is limited, it is considered safe and well tolerated for short-term use. Why is this plant important? It’s a good reminder […]

Getting kids out of the mines A model of “radical inclusivity” has been put into action to address household poverty and ensure child protection in artisanal mining communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bon Pasteur (Good Shepherd) Kolwezi, the Good Shepherd Sisters’ operation based there, recruits children from the mine sites to attend […]

“What we have done is totally wrong. We think we can use concrete to channelize a river. We think we can use dykes to protect the city from being flooded.” According to Professor Kongjian Yu, a Chinese ecological urbanist, draining all the water away from cities is a bad idea and not effective in containing […]

Normally, protectors and defenders of the homeless in New York provide them with food and shelter or other necessities. But a few weeks ago, the international, independent medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders began giving them cell phones. The organization handed out 1,000 donated phones with two months’ unlimited texts and calls. Each phone displays […]