Reasons to Be Cheerful – This is a wonderful read not least because amidst the upheavals of life in the time of COVID, individuals and groups around the world have chosen, in a myriad of ways to create change in innovative and impactful ways that benefits the lives of millions around the world.

• A sustainable gardening program for incarcerated people in Oregon grew 365,536 pounds of food last year, 97% of which went into the prisons’ kitchens.
• “Conservation dogs” are sniffing out invasive species that cost the U.S. economy over $120 billion a year.
• Citizen-caretakers are making sure 760,000 of Berlin’s trees stay well hydrated.
• Cities around the world are creating micro-forests in spaces no bigger than a tennis court that can attract up to 600 species of native plants and animals.
• Over 540 libraries across the U.S. have eliminated fines for overdue items.
• A French ban on single use plastics for many fruits and vegetables will reduce plastic packaging by one billion units per year.
• And thanks to the readers who support beSpacific, I continue to share knowledge resources and research insights throughout this site’s 22nd year. I am deeply grateful for your trust in my work.