All Change Agent
- 'Popovers for Pigs' helps green up famous Acadia National Park restaurant
'Popovers for Pigs' is just one of the many environmental initiatives undertaken by Jordan Pond House, the only restaurant to operate inside Acadia National Park on the scenic seacoast of Maine.
- Charities plan to distribute $2 million in aid for Colorado shooting victims
More than 2,500 individuals have donated to help victims and their families in the aftermath of a shooting spree in a Colorado theater. At GivingFirst.org donors can choose from a list of 10 organizations to contribute to.
- Teach Twice shares stories with the world
Teach Twice's title echoes its dual purposes: Provide parents with great stories to read to children, and provide financial aid to schools and students in developing countries.
- Fish-loving Japan begins to embrace sustainable seafood
In fish-crazed Japan, where eating seafood is a vital part of the nation's culture, conservation groups are working with companies to persuade more Japanese to eat certified, sustainably caught seafood. If they succeed, it could have a significant positive impact on the world's fisheries.
- Water harvesting slakes thirst at an innovative Kenyan inn
Faced with an expensive and unreliable municipal water supply, an entrepreneur collects rainwater for his inn in an underground tank, creating an abundant supply for the guest rooms, toilets, bathrooms, kitchen, and restaurant.
- Why resilience is the key to solving 21st century problems
Author and PopTech executive director Andrew Zolli says the ability of people and institutions to bounce back from challenges will be needed more and more. It can be learned, as he found out in his own life.
- US students major in ... philanthropy
Indiana University has built a serious program around charitable works, including the first philanthropy doctoral program. Now it has graduated the first students in the US to earn a bachelor's degrees in philanthropy.
- Sharing local knowledge helps farmers succeed
Five groups highlight how farmers can share their problems and solutions with each other and policymakers around the world.
- Clean biogas improves life in rural Vietnam
Thousands of small biogas plants turn manure from farm animals into a useful resource.
- University of the People offers low-cost college courses via the Internet
University of the People has enrolled 1,500 students from 132 countries. Courses are taught online by professors from around the world who volunteer their time.
- Frugal innovation: the lessons of India's 'jugaad'
Corporations may be able to learn from developing-world entrepreneurs, who emphasize frugality, flexibility, and simplicity in designing products.
- Women bring a new approach to philanthropy
Female-headed households are more likely to give to charity than male-headed households, and women are creating their own styles of giving.
- Schwarzenegger still a man of (environmental) action
The former California governor and action film star has founded R20 Regions of Climate Action. It teams local and state governments, and other partners, to find ways to become energy efficient in economically viable ways.
- Seeing 'vacant' lots as a community asset
In many neighborhoods people are turning vacant lots into parks, gardens, playgrounds, and more.
- A 10-year-old urges restaurants to 'be straw free'
Ten-year-old Milo Cress has started BeStrawFree, a website that encourages restaurants to cut plastic waste by not automatically offering plastic straws to customers.
- Three families pledge to raise $30 million in aid for US veterans
Three affluent families have donated more than $1 million to help US veterans groups and plan to seek contributions from other wealthy people.
- Biogas project helps Kenyan school save money, and trees
A school in Kenya uses biogas from human waste for fuel, saving money and trees, and reducing carbon-dioxide emissions from burning wood.
- Turning to old crop varieties for tough times
A new project led by Bioversity International reconnects farmers with older crop varieties developed over millennia – but never bred by scientists – that may help them adapt to changing climate conditions.
- ‘Random Hacks of Kindness’ uses technology to solve problems
At 'Random Hacks of Kindness' events, technology experts volunteer to solve problems facing nonprofits and other organizations interested in doing good.
- Forgive but don't forget, Myanmar comedian-turned-activist says
Zarganar, a comedian who is now a political activist, focuses on ways to ensue the atrocities of Myanmar's past are recorded and not forgotten by future generations.