View of Le Morne Brabant peninsula from the top of Le Morne Brabant, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mauritius Credit: ©dcarsprungli

Before photos, there were drawings. They ranged from cave drawings of animals like lions, bison, mammoths, horses, and warty pigs, to illustrations in early Victorian botanical journals of the natural world, portraying meticulously described species that served to document life on earth. These drawings brought living things in distant and close destinations to all those […]

Amazon Rainforest, near Manaus

Efforts to save and enhance biodiversity work better when local communities are involved. That is the conclusion of research undertaken in 2021 by 17 scientists on “The role of Indigenous peoples and local communities in effective and equitable conservation,” published in the journal Ecology & Society. “Involving IPLCs [Indigenous peoples and local communities] is perceived […]

“The most important thing is to enjoy your life – to be happy – it’s all that matters.”

Audrey Hepburn

meditation

Following The Good Times’ recent post on the benefits of laughing, did you know that you can get the same benefits and more from meditating? More likely than not, when you hear the word meditation – or in today’s more modern lingo, mindfulness – you picture someone sitting on the ground with their legs crossed, saying […]

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial agents such as natural or synthetic drugs that kill or inhibit the growth of these organisms. Antimicrobials are medicines used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals, and plants. They include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics, and arguably rank among […]

The Homeless World Cup uses football to inspire and demonstrate the power of sport in changing people’s lives. Our tournament brings a sense of purpose to those who may feel like they’ve lost theirs. It’s also a football competition of the highest quality with some outstanding talent on display.” So declares Mel Young, Co-founder and Homeless […]

Let’s imagine a world without homelessness.  That’s the goal of the Homeless World Cup Foundation: to end homelessness. The charity uses football (aka soccer) to help reach that objective. It organizes year-round activities that lead up to an annual association football tournament in which teams of homeless men and women from a multitude of countries […]

Grandmothers for climate action

It’s an extraordinary move that challenges the typical stereotype of Swiss people as being fairly reserved, rather introverted and very uncomfortable with disturbance and controversy: a group of Swiss senior citizens, all women who are 65 years of age or older, are suing the government of Switzerland over climate change. They are making a lot […]

Earth Day

April 22 is Earth Day. According to the Earth Day website, this day “marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.” The theme of #EarthDay this year is “Invest in Our Planet”. Today is the perfect occasion to demonstrate support for environmental protection. The Old Farmer’s Almanac has these suggestions to celebrate […]

Save the World

Yes, each and every one of us can help save the world. “End extreme poverty. Fight inequality and injustice. Fix climate change. Whoa. The Sustainable Development Goals are important, world-changing objectives that will require cooperation among governments, international organizations and world leaders. It seems impossible that the average person can make an impact. Should you […]