For the 132nd thru 134th consecutive weeks, the Center for Peace & Conflict Studies has compiled a list of acts of kindness and peace. The initiative began as a response to COVID-19 and the racism pandemic but has broadened to include any act of compassion or service to others. Please share these stories. If you have stories of positive acts people/organizations are taking and you would like to share them, please email them to Madison Pavone (peacecenter@bsu.edu). All the stories starting from week 1 are available online. Additionally, you can follow the Peace Center on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) at bsu4peace.
Week 132
The Earth is Healing: the Ozone Layer will be fully recovered by 2040
Earth’s ozone layer is expected to make a full recovery by the year 2040. This is a major win for climate advocates. In the 1970s, scientists realized that the ozone layer was deteriorating. The ozone layer is very important because it protects Earth from ultraviolet rays. Once scientists realized that the ozone layer was worsening, quick action was taken to phase out the harmful chemicals that were causing the deterioration. Many nations signed on to the Montreal protocol. This protocol is a global agreement to protect the ozone layer. The success of the Montreal protocol is an excellent display of what can and should be done about environmental issues. Because of the fast action that was taken to save the ozone layer, it is now predicted to fully recover. The urgency that was shown to stop using chemicals that were destroying the ozone should now be shown to help limit temperature increase by stopping the usage of fossil fuels.The healing of the ozone layer is a major step in saving the climate. If we can keep up this good work, we can continue to heal our planet!
Source: https://www.positive.news/environment/earths-ozone-layer-is-on-track-to-recover-thats-good-news-for-the-climate/
A Future SuperHero & Friends: Serving the Underserved
A Future SuperHero and Friends is a non-profit organization with goals of spreading love and compassion to those around them. This organization works to serve houseless individuals, where they offer them food, clothing, hygiene kits, and everyday items. They serve veterans, granting them essentials and helping them through times where they have no housing placement. They work with children battling chronic illnesses, terminal illnesses, and those who have special needs. They serve the elderly community through an Art Healing program while also providing hygiene items and companionship. They also work to provide food for emotional support animals. Yuri Williams and Rodney Smith Jr. are the people behind this organization. For the last four years, they have traveled across the United States, dressed as superheroes, for the holidays, surprising and delivering gifts to those in need. Their trip this year lasted twenty days and included visits to homes, hospitals, and animal shelters, their goal is not just to give gifts, but to uplift, support, and comfort those enduring tough times. On their final visit in Hawaii, Williams and Smith visited two children in need to surprise them with Christmas cheer and presents dressed as an elf and a Scout Trooper. One of the children, a six-year-old named Jaysden, is currently battling brain cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. Williams and Smith showered Jaysden with presents such as Pokémon cards and toys. Jaysden and his mother were overwhelmed with happiness as it truly brightened their holiday season. The team behind A Future SuperHero and Friends is looking forward to another trip in 2023, and Williams has plans to make this organization his full-time focus.
Source: https://afuturesuperhero.com/about_us/
Chester Zoo Announces Birth of Endangered Chimpanzee
On January 12, 2023, The Chester Zoo in Cheshire, England announced that they had welcomed a new member of their zoo community- one of the rarest endangered species of Chimpanzee in the world! ZeeZee, an adult female Western Chimpanzee, gave birth to a baby boy last week. Both mom and baby are healthy and doing well, according to representatives from the zoo. Andrew Lenihan, who is the team manager at the zoo’s primate section, said that the zoo community is “incredibly proud to see a precious new baby in the chimpanzee troop,” and that ZeeZee and her baby had been bonding. ZeeZee’s older daughter, Stevie, had also been helping take care of her new brother. According to Lenihan, she seems to love the new baby too! Births and new babies are always an exciting time at zoos, but this one is special. The Western Chimpanzee is the only subspecies of chimpanzee that the International Union for the Conservation of Nature designates as ‘critically endangered’, which indicates that they are at high risk of extinction in the wild. The Western Chimpanzee still lives in some parts of Western Africa, but has faced significant loss of population over the last 25 years as it’s faced habitat destruction, poaching, and disease. The arrival of the new baby is a good sign for the long-term success of its species. The new baby doesn’t have a name yet, but according to the zoo, he will be named after a rock star! We’re all rooting for ZeeZee, her new baby, and the all the Western Chimpanzees out there.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/15/world/western-chimpanzee-birth-scn-trnd/index.html
Week 133
MLK Memorial Sculpture Unveiled in Boston
This Friday the 13th, the city of Boston unveiled a new memorial sculpture commemorating Martin Luther King Jr., and his wife Corretta Scott King. The memorial is named “The Embrace” and was modeled after the photo taken of Dr. King embracing his wife after finding out he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. The monument, sculpted by Hank Willis Thomas, was meant to honor the relationship between the pair and be a “monument of love”. The pair were very familiar with the Boston area being that Boston is the city where they met and began dating. “Thomas emphasized that a physical embrace also offered a sense of spiritual and emotional protection. The finished piece is a 19-ton bronze work made up of over 600 pieces welded together. Below the statue, the plaza is decorated with diamond-shaped stones that evoke African American quilting tradition.” The monument sits on Boston Commons as a part of the 1965 Freedom Rally Memorial Plaza. Although met with several mixed reactions, the memorial is meant to “bring more people into the movement for equity.”
Source: https://www.wcvb.com/article/boston-common-mlk-embrace-monument-unveiling-boston-common-massachusetts/42472968#
Afghan Women are Being Given a Chance to Take Free Online Courses
Back in 2021, when the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, they banned most women from being able to receive a high school education. Now, just last month, the Taliban announced that women would no longer be allowed to attend universities or any higher education establishment. To combat this ban, twenty of the UK’s top universities have begun to offer Afghan women free learning. These universities teamed up with FutureLearn to offer 1200 online courses to these women. Now, any woman in Afghanistan who has an internet connection will be able to have access to education. This move by FutureLearn and UK universities is so important in keeping education within reach for women in Afghanistan. Many of the world’s nations have spoken out condemning the decision made by the Taliban. In a joint statement they said, “A stable, economically viable, and peaceful Afghanistan is only attainable and sustainable if all Afghans, including women and girls, can fully, equally, and meaningfully participate in and contribute to the country’s future and development.” It is very important that these nations continue to speak up and take actions to defend Afghan women.
Source: https://thegoodnewshub.com/society/universities-offer-afghan-women-free-courses-after-taliban-bans-women-learning/
Conservation Efforts Restoring Native Plant and Animal Species in New Zealand
After decades of working to restore native plant and animal species to the Mercury Islands off of New Zealand, scientists have finally seen some success. Aotearoa New Zealand is a conservation group that is globally recognized for their efforts at removing pests and invasive species from ecosystems. On the mercury islands, which are off the coast of New Zealand, humans had unintentionally introduced cats and rats to a delicate ecosystem. The consequences were devastating for native species. However, through the efforts of conservation scientists, many of these species have made a huge comeback! Several species of birds as well as some types of lizards, insects, and plants have rebounded in recent years. The work of scientists such as conservation biologist Dr David Towns to clear non-native predators from the islands has been instrumental in the recovery of the islands. Dr. Towns summed it up by describing how constant birdsong has returned to areas of the islands that were silent for so long because of the devastation to bird species. Seeing the recovery of these unique ecosystems is amazing and a huge step forward in worldwide conservation efforts!
Source: https://www.miragenews.com/constant-bird-song-result-of-conservation-on-930633/
Week 134
Man Donates Thousands of Dollars Over Lifetime to Help Pay Pharmacy Bills
Hody Childress was a farmer from Geraldine, Alabama, who passed away this year on New Year’s Day. Ten years ago, Childress visited his hometown pharmacy where he gave one-hundred dollars to the owner, Brooke Walker, for her to use it towards people who couldn’t afford their prescriptions. Childress did not want others to know about his donation, and asked Walker to tell customers that “it’s a blessing from the Lord.” Childress returned to Walker’s pharmacy every month with one-hundred dollars to further his support of customers who didn’t have insurance or benefits to cover their medication. Childress’s monthly contribution lasted for years until his sickness progressed, making him too weak to visit the pharmacy. Eventually the monthly one-hundred dollars added up to thousands of dollars, and Walker said she was able to help about two people every month for years. Only Walker and Childress’s daughter, Tania Nix, knew about his donations. It was not revealed to the community until he passed. When the word spread, Nix says, “We were all amazed, but we knew he was full of goodness.” It was discovered that Childress had helped many people who had been going through a rough time, brought many families much relief. The community in Geraldine have now established the Hody Childress Fund, as many people have been making their own donations to the pharmacy, inspired by Childress. Hody Childress worked until his retirement and always found time for farming. He was an Air Force veteran who faced many hardships, but never lost his optimism, Walker states, “He was just a good old guy who wanted to bless his community, and he certainly did. He established a legacy of kindness.”
Source: https://www.al.com/news/2023/01/how-to-donate-to-hody-childress-fund-alabama-man-who-helped-pay-pharmacy-bills.html
Pope Francis shows support for LGBTQ rights in recent interview
There are currently still 67 countries that have laws in place that criminalize homosexuality. In a recent interview, Pope Francis stated that homosexuality should not be a crime. In the same interview, he called on all countries with laws that criminalize homosexuality to decriminalize. This is a major statement of support for LGBTQ rights. There has been major backlash against LGBTQ advancement in recent years, so these statements made recently by Pope Francis offer a major step forward and even a glimmer of hope for what’s to come in the future. These recent statements made by Pope Francis are not the first time that he has displayed his support for LGBTQ rights. In 2018, he urged parents of gay children to maintain relationships with their children and love them. Even though these displays of support may seem small, it is important to not undermine the importance of a powerful figure, such as Pope Francis, standing up for LGBTQ rights. Little wins can be just as important as the big ones.
Source: https://charlotteclymer.substack.com/p/pope-francis-calls-on-world-to-decriminalize#details
A New Way to Treat Anxiety
GoPatch is a new holistic way of treating anxiety. We can all agree that anxiety affects us personally, or someone we know. It has become extremely prominent in our society, especially post-pandemic. The founder of GoPatch, Nicole Burdock says, “I can only imagine, after these past 2 years with so many individuals working remotely, being isolated, and unable to connect with friends and loved ones, how devastating this has been to our mental health. I can’t even fathom.” “The homeopathic patches are formulated with micro-doses of diluted essences from plants, minerals, and natural ingredients—and are made in the USA.” And it is readily available for anyone over the age of four. The company also promises your money back if you find it does not help in reducing/eliminating your anxiety. That does not seem to be the case though as many people are finding it to be extremely helpful in battling their anxiety. The company also has patches that not only target anxiety, but also relief during women’s menstrual cycles and nausea in people and pets.
Source: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/holistic-patch-is-cutting-anxiety-successfully-without-drugs/