Goodwill in Action

The Reluctant Rebels

The Reluctant Rebels. Ursula and Michael Sladek are award-winning green energy campaigners who are now at the forefront of Germany's new industrial revolution.

A courageous message

Canadian Politician Jack Layton, who recently died of cancer, wrote this last letter to Canadians 

Afghan community torn apart but not beaten by the Taliban

Afghan community torn apart but not beaten by the Taliban - a story of resilience and creative leadership.

For Some With Autism, Jobs to Match Their Talents

For Some With Autism, Jobs to Match Their Talents. Steen B. Iversen tests mobile phones for the Danish telecommunications firm TDC. Before landing his job two and a half years ago, Iversen, 50, who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, spent more than 12 years looking for work. 

Iversen works for a remarkable Danish company, Specialisterne (“The Specialists”), that is improving the futures of many families by opening up job opportunities for people with Asperger’s Syndrome and high-functioning autism who have historically found themselves excluded from employment, largely because they don’t fit in with workplace norms.

Mogadishu mayor returns to London to ask for investment

Mogadishu mayor returns to London to ask for investment. A former Londoner who is now the mayor of Mogadishu has returned to London to ask Somalis living here to invest in their homeland.

On his visit to the capital he addressed a meeting of the Somali community to ask them for investment and their help to rebuild Mogadishu, long seen as one of the most dangerous cities in the world.

Different types of heroism

Different types of heroism. In the light of the recent disaster in Japan, a reflection on how the short term heroic actions of individuals can be compared with the long term efforts of groups to improve society.

craigconnects | Connecting the World for the Common Good

craigconnects | Connecting the World for the Common Good. The founder of the well-known online advertising service, craigslist, is setting up an initiative to connect people of goodwill and support effective civil society organisations.

Egypt's Muslims attend Coptic Christmas mass, serving as "human shields"

Egypt's Muslims attend Coptic Christmas mass, serving as "human shields". In the days following the brutal attack on Saints Church in Alexandria, which left 21 dead on New Year’ eve, solidarity between Muslims and Copts saw an unprecedented peak. Millions of Egyptians changed their Facebook profile pictures to the image of a cross within a crescent – the symbol of an “Egypt for All”. Around the city, banners went up calling for unity, and depicting mosques and churches, crosses and crescents, together as one.

And on the 7th of January, Coptic Christmas eve, thousands of Muslims showed up at Christmas eve mass services in churches around the country and at candle light vigils held outside.

Honesty and hypocrisy in facing terrorism

The unredeemed, unrecognised aspects of the personality of an individual or a people constitute a barrier to the soul. Goodwill helps to foster an atmosphere of clarity, courage and honest self-evaluation in which this psychological blind spot can be recognised and vanquished. In the linked article, Ziad Asali and Hussein Abish shine a light on attitudes to Christians within the Arab world, and make constructive suggestions for change.

Honesty and hypocrisy in facing terrorism.

Health Care and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Health Care and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Tsepo Kotelo’s story shows the critical need for something not usually on the global to-do list for Third World health:  motorcycle maintenance.

  Lesotho has some of the world’s highest rates of AIDS and tuberculosis, and much of Kotelo’s time is spent counseling and testing people for these diseases, giving talks about AIDS prevention, and helping people stick to their treatment plans and deal with side effects. He also checks the water supply, helps villagers improve sanitation, weighs and immunizes babies, examines pregnant women and treats basic diseases.

Until 2008 Kotelo could visit only three villages a week, because he had to reach them on foot, walking for miles and miles.  But in February of that year, Kotelo got a motorcycle ─ the best vehicle for reaching rural villages in Africa, most of which are nowhere near a real road.  Just as crucial, he was given the tools to keep the bike on the road:  he received a helmet and protective clothing, he was taught to ride and trained to start each day with a quick check of the bike.  His motorcycle is also tuned up monthly by a technician who comes to him.  Now, instead of spending his days walking to his job, he can do his job.