By Pankaj Adhikari, Amarkantak (Madhya Pradesh) – This story is about a doctor in central India. He is fighting a lone war against government apathy and bureaucratic bungling to raise funds for a school for tribal girls in a remote village called Pondki in Madhya Pradesh. He is badly in need of funds for the […]

Here’s a follow on story to Vertical Farming. It’s also about urban farming and “inspiring communities to build sustainable food systems that are equitable and ecologically sound, creating a just world, one food-secure community at a time.” Check out Growing Power. Founded in 1993 by retired basketball player, Will Allen, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Growing Power […]

Here’s a mechanism to ensure around 7 billion people have enough to eat: vertical farming! The idea comes from Dr. Dickson Despommier, a retired professor of microbiology and public health in environmental health sciences at Columbia University. What is vertical farming? It’s indoor farming, like the concept of greenhouses, but on a much larger scale. […]

By Danielle Carpenter (June 2012) – Rio+20 sounds like the name of a band, or perhaps a kind of sunscreen that works best in the southern hemisphere. In fact, Rio+20 is the short name for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. It will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20-22 June 2012. Coming […]

There are many proponents of the power of positive thinking. One of them, Antonia Hall, who is a writer, artist and communications professional, suggests in an article for Ode magazine that negative thought patterns in our everyday lives can affect us in unproductive and harmful ways. For better self-esteem and health, it’s quite simple to “change one’s thinking from […]

A bit of good news from Afghanistan! As this story shows, it’s possible to have a good time in Kabul, and it’s possible for one woman, against the odds, to own and run a business in this male dominated society. Meena Rahmani, 28, borrowed money from her parents and opened a 12-lane bowling alley in the […]

By Pankaj Adhikari  BEIJING (June 4, 2012) – This is the story of a Bengali in Beijing, of the searingly intense personality of a creative artist whose enthusiasm for Potunghua (Mandarin) borders on passion. His extraordinary tale is filled with scholarly eccentricities, wit, humor and a deep love for everything Chinese. Meet Amitava Bhattacharyya. Armed […]

… Arnold Schwarzenegger They are: 1.Trust Yourself 2.Break the rules 3.Don’t be afraid to fail 4.Don’t listen to the naysayers 5.Work your butt off 6.Always give something back

In April of 2010, The Good Times reported that mountain guides and directors of MatterhornNepal-GuideSource Treks & Expeditions Ltd (MNGS), RJ Fleming and Ang Kami Sherpa, were climbing Himalayan peaks to raise awareness of the plight of Nepalese orphans. Their goal was to expose the fact that one out of every 25 people in Nepal […]

Azad Foundation is challenging stereotypes in India. It is fighting discrimination against women and girls. The Foundation’s mission is “livelihoods with dignity for women.” Azad Foundation has reached into the slums of Delhi, recruiting young women to help them become breadwinners, while simultaneously giving them a profession, empowerment and confidence. It does this through one of […]