Goodnewspaper: Issue 03

NEWSPAPER @GOODGOODGOODCO

CELEBRATE GOOD NEWS. BECOME GOOD NEWS.

ISSUE 03

Welcome to the Goodnewspaper.

You are now a part of a global community that celebrates the people, ideas, and movements that are changing the world for the better and helps others do the same.

It’s when times are hardest that it’s most important that we shine a light on good news.

Not cheesy stuff. Hope — real hope — no matter how messy it may be.

There’s a lot of good in the world that needs to be celebrated. And we need to be a part of it.

2

H E L LO H E L LO !

We’re Doing Better Than We Thought

WHO MAKES THE G O O D N E W S PA P E R ?

Editor-in-Chief Branden Harvey - @brandenharvey Managing Editor & Writer Kailey Thompson - @kaileythompson Art Director Judson Collier - @judsoncollier Creative Strategist & Copy Editor Sammi Harvey - @sammiharveyco Community & Communications Lead Kristi Karrenbrock Podcast Producer Chad Michael Snavely - @chad_michael Strategy Consultant Katie Lentile - @katielentile Photography Support Stocksy United - @stocksyunited

Over the last 20 years, do you believe global poverty increased, decreased, or stayed the same?

A year ago, the research agency Motivaction surveyed 26,000 people in 24 countries (in 15 languages), asking this very question.

volving around the ways we share and hear mostly bad news.

And with the Goodnewspaper, that’s what we’re working to push back on.

Of course, there are still 836 million people who are living in extreme poverty — and we want to be aware of that. But the truth is that number

The reality is that global poverty has more than halved since 1990 — based on the World Bank’s measure of living on less than $1.25 per day. At least 1 billion people have risen out of extreme poverty in the last three decades. This is truly incredible news!

is way down because people saw the numbers and then took action to reduce them.

We can do the same thing. And we can be encouraged knowing that change is possible — and that we can be a part of it.

The Goodnewspaper is filled with stories of hopeful trends, bril-

But this is how people responded to the survey:

liant world-changing initiatives, and — most importantly — oppor-

Most people — 70 percent — said poverty increased,

tunities to become a part of the solution.

and 18 percent said poverty stayed the same. Just 13 percent said poverty decreased.

I’m especially drawn to our incredible conversation with Ilwad Elman — a brilliant woman who is changing lives in Soma-

It’s almost alarming to see that so many respondants

lia, our piece on why the #MeToo movement is shifting our cul-

said the exact opposite of what is true. If people were

ture for a better future, and our trend piece on how child labor is

just randomly guessing, the percentages across the

continuing to drop around the world.

board would have been 33 percent. But they aren’t. It’s

I hope you come away from this issue feeling hopeful about

not just that people are ignorant about the world getting

the progress we’ve already made in the world and ready to join

better — it’s that their perspective is unknowlingly and

in and be a part of it yourself.

wrongly skewed toward pessimism.

-BRANDEN HARVEY

There are multiple reasons for this viewpoint, often re-

Centerfold Poster Featured Artist Michael-Andrew Spalding - @mandrewspalding Contributing Sports Writer Sarbjit “Sab” Singh - @sportsdoinggood Comic Artist Brad Montague - @thebradmontague ••••••••••••••••• Learn more about the Goodnewspaper and Good Good Good at goodgoodgood.co Update your subscription and mailing address at goodgoodgood.co/update Keep up with more good news by following us everywhere at @goodgoodgoodco Get in touch about feedback or questions at hello@goodgoodgood.co For advertising, email ads@goodgoodgood.co

@BRANDENHARVEY

SPREAD GOOD NEWS Share a good news story, post an inspiring quote, or just brag about getting the third issue of the Goodnewspaper.

Tag your photos of the Goodnewspaper with #goodnewspaper and @goodgoodgoodco.

This issue was made possible by the support of our loyal subscribers, 1,439 Kickstarter backers, and generous and impactful advertisers. Thank you!

3

W E ’ V E G OT G O O D N E W S

A Reforestation Project In the Brazilian Amazon Is Planting 73 Million Trees

Scientist that rather than what we might consider an inability to

This sort of global strategy can be majorly effective — just

socialize, people with ASD simply have an unconventional social

take a look at what happened with polio. In 1988, govern-

Over the last 40 years, about 20 percent of the Amazon has

style. And because we don’t usually operate within this viewpoint,

ments adopted a resolution for the worldwide eradication

been cut down. And it turns out that these rainforests play

some well-meaning interventions for children with ASD can

of polio. Since that year, cases have decreased by more than

an enormous role in keeping our Earth cool. Simply halting

fall short because they emphasize social knowledge instead of

99 percent, from an estimated 350,000 polio cases to just 37

deforestation could allow existing trees to absorb up to 37

genuine social skills. After all, the social sphere is so much more

reported cases in 2016. We’ve seen governments come

percent of our annual carbon emissions, and replenishing

complex than simply learning a script for every interaction.

together and end a disease before, and we’re hopeful that we

what we’ve already cut down could do even more.

This subtle shift in framing can change how we think about

It’s not that there haven’t been efforts to restore the

autism for good because instead of viewing people with ASD as

rainforests. Traditionally, these projects focus on planting

socially awkward, Kaufman says, we can conceptualize them

saplings, which are relatively easy to manage but, as it turns

as socially creative. “They may not do things the ‘right’ way,

out, can have poor survival rates because the species are

but they do them their way,” he says. Something as simple as a

not always suited for the territory. An organization called

repositioning in our language can transform how people with

Conservation International knew the process needed an upgrade.

autism spectrum disorder see themselves in the world and

They’re undertaking the largest tropical reforestation project in history using a different approach. The team is

can see the same outcome with TB.

think about what they are capable of becoming.

planting more than 200 native species using a process called

We Could See Tuberculosis End In Our Lifetime

Eyeglasses Are Boosting Test Scores In Baltimore

muvuca — a strategy that can lead to resilient and drought-

Since the year 2000, global efforts to fight tuberculosis have

The gap in reading proficiency between poor and wealthy

resistant trees. The short-term goal is to restore 70,000 acres

reduced the TB mortality rate by 37 percent, saving about 53

students might have an easier fix than we thought. Researchers

of land with native trees, and get this: It’s actually indigenous

million lives — that’s more than the populations of California

at Johns Hopkins University knew poorer children were less

communities and farmers who are carrying out the project.

and Pennsylvania combined. In many parts of the world, howev-

likely to have access to eyeglasses than wealthier children, so

This sounds like a win-win in our book — for the livelihoods

er, progress has stalled, and many gaps remain in TB prevention

they screened several hundred second and third graders and gave

of local families and for the health of our planet.

and care. As a result, tuberculosis kills more people than any

eyeglasses to students who needed them. The results? These

other infectious disease. It’s even the leading killer for people

students’ reading proficiency notably improved over the course of

with HIV. But there are people working to end TB for good:

a year compared to the students who didn’t need glasses.

We Can Reframe the “Downsides” to Autism When we talk about autism, we generally place it in the con-

Leaders from 75 countries met in November and committed to

text of how people with autism spectrum disorder are at a

ramping up on actions to end the disease by 2030. The group has

disadvantage. But what if we stopped viewing autism in terms of

promised to increase multisectoral action, track progress, and

its downsides and started focusing on its benefits? Researcher

build accountability. With this collective effort, tuberculosis

Scott Barry Kaufman says in the online magazine Behavioral

could be out the door in our lifetime.

HOW TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH AUTISM

What’s this? This is the Good Bar! We believe in celebrating good and then joining in and making a difference ourselves.

The Good Bar is full of recommendations from the Good Good Good community on how to take action in meaningful ways.

GO OD

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BEST

Read through the #ActuallyAutustic hashtag to learn more about the experiences of people with autism from people who actually have autism.

Donate to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. They empower people with autism to take control of their lives and seek to ensure autistic voices are heard.

58% of young adults with autism are unemployed. And yet, many of them have skills that businesses are looking for. Do you own a business? Be a part of the change.

4

W E ’ V E G OT G O O D N E W S

After the study, the Baltimore Health department joined forces

The group publishes the true cost of their goods so consumers

But there is good news: For the second year in a row, the total

with other groups — including the city’s public school system can see the transport costs and how much the farmer and butch-

number of deaths across the world caused by terrorism has de-

and eyeglasses retailer Warby Parker — to tackle the proficiency er get paid, among other things. And it turns out that these sorts

clined. Data from the Royal United Services Institute indicates

gap at a larger scale. The program, called Vision for Baltimore, of things can all be verified using blockchain — you know, the

there has been a 22 percent decline in deaths caused by terror-

plans to screen 60,000 students and give out 8,000 pairs of same technology behind bitcoin.

ism since 2014. And there’s much to gain from a comprehensive

eyeglasses over the course of three years — all for free.

The cooperative’s goals have huge implications, too, on the

understanding of the impact of terrorism at the local, national,

This could change things for students in a big way. Stud- future of small-scale farmers, food safety, and ethical treatment

and global levels: We can inform our response to terrorism and

ies indicate that children with poor school performance are of animals. The transparency this technology provides means a

learn how to take a practical approach moving forward. And this

sometimes misdiagnosed with behavioral problems or huge win for conscious consumers.

doesn’t just happen in high-level government — we can all play

special education needs, when in reality some of these children

our part by getting the facts straight and not giving into fear.

simply have poor eyesight and don’t have access to health care.

It’s remarkable that such a significant problem could be solved with a simple pair of eyeglasses.

A Cooperative In Arkansas Is Using Blockchain to Make Farming More Ethical A small cooperative in Arkansas made up of sustainable, ethical farmers wants to provide the best traceability in the world for all of their products. The group, called Grass Roots, is made up of of humanely sourced meat. And get this — they’re tracking all of

A Drone Is Delivering Medical Supplies to People Who Need Them

their products from farm to plate via blockchain.

More than 2 billion people lack access to essential medical

sustainable farmers who want to be the most trusted provider

supplies such as blood and vaccines, and a drone just might

“The likelihood that your acts of resistance cannot stop the injustice does not exempt you from acting in what you sincerely and reflectively hold to be the best interests of your community.”

—Susan Sontag

be the solution. Sometimes gaps in infrastructure and tough terrains make it difficult to get the right supplies on time, but a Silicon Valley company and the Rwandan government are teaming up to address the obstacles health care workers face in accessing the products their patients need.

More Women Are Running for Office Than Ever Before

The company, Zipline, is the world’s first commercial

The U.S. is far behind in female representation in politics.

drone delivery system designed to quickly get critical

In fact, it ranks 98th worldwide for percentage of women in

medical supplies where they’re needed. The initiative aims

national legislature at less than 25 percent as of 2017. We know

to put every single one of Rwanda’s 12 million citizens within

representation in government is crucial in creating policy that

a 15–35-minute delivery range of any essential medical

serves people well. While we do have a ways to go, we’re now

product. It’s really easy to use, too: Health workers at remote

seeing more and more women stand up to lead. In fact, while

clinics simply order supplies via text message, the supplies

female representation in Congress sat at just 6 percent before

are packaged at a distribution center, and within minutes a

the 1992 election, it grew to 20 percent as of 2017.

drone is on its way — no pilot required. This revolutionary

There could be a funny reason why having more wom-

technology means significant savings for clinics and will

en in office would be beneficial all-around. It might be that,

ultimately protect lives in places where workers previously

well, women are better at working together to solve problems.

could not access essential life-saving supplies.

A study of more than 100,000 15-year-olds across 52 countries

Global Deaths Caused By Terrorism Have Declined for the Second Year In a Row

actually found that to be true. The findings, released in November 2017 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, showed girls are 1.6 times more likely than boys

It’s important we get the facts right about terrorism. Sometimes

to perform well in collaborative problem-solving, contrasting

it feels like it dominates the national headlines and conscience,

with the organization’s 2012 study, which found boys performed

so it’s easy to feel like terrorism is getting worse and worse each

better in individual problem solving.

year. It’s true that terrorist actions have been experienced in

There’s no way to know for sure, but we know that for a

more countries since 2000, so we totally get it if it feels like it’s

country of 51 percent women, we can do better to encourage

been spreading across the globe and becoming more common.

women to enter into candidacy so that the U.S. government

That can be overwhelming.

looks more like its people.

HOW TO SUPPORT WOMEN RUNNING FOR OFFICE GO OD

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BEST

Know when all of your local elections are, and vote all the way down the ballot. Don’t just show up for big elections.

Do research ahead of time. Every office matters.

Donate to nonpartisan organizations that support women running for office such as Off The Sidelines, She Should Run, Women’s Campaign Fund, and Running Start.

Are you a woman? Run! Do you know a qualified woman?

Encourage her to run! Start small and focus on the difference that can be made in your local community.

6

SPORTS DOING GOOD

lain to many, mainly because the narrative

This West Point Student Made History — And Thanks Sports for Shaping Her Success

of his efforts was hijacked by those afraid

We’re impressed when someone is first to

of the story he was trying to publicize. We

do something. It indicates courage, pas-

heard Kaepernick and know his story, while

sion, and talent. ESPN reported that Si-

hard to hear, is one that must be heard if we

mone Askew — recently named a Rhodes

are to be better in 2018.

Scholar — is the first African-American

Kaepernick. He was a hero to some, a vil-

A Golfer Donated Her Tour Winnings to Charity

if you ask her what got her to this position, she’ll thank sports. Askew started partici-

resonates even more when you don’t have

pating in triathlons with her mother and

much to give but do it anyway because you

sister when she was 10, played volleyball,

see a chance to help others access oppor-

basketball, and ran track, and later rowed

tunities in life that helped you to get where

crew at West Point. She credits the disci-

you are today. ESPN reported that budding

pline and inclusivity of team sports to get-

professional women’s golfer Hyemin Kim

ting where she is today.

her $15,000 winnings from the 2017 POC

One Athlete Is Transforming Football and the World 1 Percent at a Time

Med Golf Classic.

Does 1 percent sound like a lot? Certainly

empathy and her charity when she donated

By Sarbjit “Sab” Singh of Sports Doing Good

the highest-ranking student position. And

Giving is good, no matter how much. It

did exactly that, blowing us away with her

Athletes Are Using Their Platforms for Good

woman to be First Captain at West Point,

One Athlete Refused to Let a Traumatic Injury Stop Him From Helping Others

not enough to have any impact, right? Well, according to The Guardian, Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata thinks differ-

Overcoming challenges is a regular theme

ently and has called on footballers — and

found in Sports Doing Good. It’s a theme

those who love the “beautiful game” — to

that resonates with most people: seeing

join him in pledging 1 percent of their sal-

someone confront a difficult situation or

aries to Common Goal, a collective fund

circumstance and continue to fight despite

that supports football charities around the

the odds. Ron Tuscany not only fought his

world. So far, he’s already recruited three

We like to think that the phrase “good things

spend. When that spending is for good, it

own incredible battle after a severe skiing

dozen athletes and executives to share a

happen to good people” is true. I like to think

gets our attention. Eagles defensive end

accident left him paralyzed from the waist

percent of their salaries.

“great things happen because of great people”

Chris Long doubled down on his initial

down, but, according to GOOD, he created

is also true — maybe more so. The difference

donation of six NFL game checks to a mid-

High Fives Foundation to educate others

between the two ideas is the impact these

dle school and high school by committing

and help them in their own recovery.

great people can have on other people. In ways

the remaining 10 checks to educational

big and small, they extend the power of the

equality organizations in three cities. The

positive beyond themselves to include people

campaign, called “Pledge 10 for Tomor-

This Olympian Once Couldn’t Afford Shoes But Now Donates Them to Kids

near and far, many times not knowing who

row,” also encourages fans and businesses

“I’ve been there.” This phrase provides a level

was fighting for fair play and fair pay. Much

exactly is benefiting from their generosity and

to match Long ’s contribution.

of comfort to us when we hear it. The person

like their sisters from the U.S. soccer team,

saying it hopefully understands our own situ-

the hockey players threatened to give up

ation and can offer up some support, whether

what they love most, the chance to play

emotional or financial. U.S. Olympian Brenda

their sport, to get the powers-that-be to

hard work. They’re difference makers.

The U.S. Women’s Hockey Team Fought for Fair Pay — They Got It, Along With a Championship “You have to fight for your right…” Instead of partying, the U.S. women’s hockey team

The Goodnewspaper is about, well, “good,

A Teenage Refugee Olympian Is the Star of New Under Armour Ads

good, good.” We reviewed more than 10,000

It’s nice to be good at a sport. It becomes

Martinez has been there and is giving her

recognize their hard work and passion. As

stories in 2017, looking for news that is

essential if your skills from that sport help

support — both emotionally and financially.

featured at the Huffington Post, the team

often overlooked in favor of controversy and

you survive a dire situation. That is the

Working with her sponsor New Balance,

ended up winning that battle — and the

arguments. We undertook the challenging

story of Yusra Mardini, a Syrian refugee

Brenda is helping young girls find their way

world championship.

task of finding the ones we felt resonated the

who fled her country not to be an Olympian

when it comes to track and life.

most. And boy, did we find them — thousands

but simply to live. The fact that the teen-

in fact. We wish to highlight the difference

age swimmer participated in the Rio 2016

makers in the world of sports to inspire you

Sports Doing Good is about the good.

Sarbjit “Sab” Singh is a professor of sport

Summer Olympics is astounding, and with

Michael Phelps Finds New Meaning In Helping Others Who Deal With Depression

and motivate you to keep this “cycle of good”

her endorsement from Under Armour and

Michael Phelps is someone who, many would

and the creator of Sports Doing Good, a web-

going. What you see here are 10 stories that

work with the UN Refugee Agency, her im-

say, has it all: unparalleled athletic success,

site and newsletter built on the premise that

are firmly grounded in 2017 but poised to

pact is sure to continue.

worldwide fame, and financial security. Heart-

sports can be a tool for positive social change.

have an impact for years to come:

Colin Kaepernick Has a Vision for This NFL Player Will Donate His Salary Change in America for Educational Equality “Give him a chance.” That was our thought

management at Farmingdale State College

breakingly, depression can hit even in the midst of all of this. Phelps will always have an athletic

You can read more stories of sports doing

legacy, but, according to the New York Times,

good at sportsdoinggood.com

he is finding his role as friend and confidante to

A lot is made of how much money profes-

when we read more stories than we could

those similarly suffering from mental illness to

Learn more about these 10 stories by

sional athletes make and how much they

count about former NFL player Colin

be perhaps his greatest achievement yet.

visiting goodnewspaper.org/athletes

7

GAME CHANGERS

Research

at how drivers and passengers within seconds, and are designed to incapaci-

Center, 30 percent of American

get hurt, and then they work to tate an attacker for up to 30 minutes without

adults own a gun, but only seven

improve cars so fewer people deadly force.

in 10 gun owners report having

are injured.

According

There’s a NonLethal Firearm That Fires Pepper Spray Instead of Bullets

to

Pew

Adam Kennedy and Andy MacIntosh de-

taken a gun safety course. With

We haven’t seen the same pro- veloped the idea for the non-lethal defense

Americans having more guns per

gression in the firearm industry. against home intruders after a young man was

capita than any other nation in

The odds of dying in a car crash shot and killed on Kennedy’s neighborhood

the world, it’s no surprise that

have dropped since the 1960s, street. They wanted a way to feel safe just in

Americans are 10 times more

but the odds of dying from a fire- case violence made its way to their homes.

likely to be killed by a gun than

arm have gone up. That’s why it’s

people in other developed coun-

remarkable that a company has Kennedy writes on the Salt Supply Co. web-

tries. And in the U.S., access to

focused on innovation in the fire- site. “On one side there was the traditional

firearms is associated with in-

arm industry — they built a fire- firearm which requires tactical training, re-

creased risk of contemplated

arm under the unique premise solve to take a life, the risk of unintentional

suicide. According to the U.S.

that a gun doesn’t have to take a accidents and its violent kick that made it

Department of Justice, firearms

life to protect a life.

“We found … two very different options,”

scary for my wife to use. On the other side

account for more than half of all

A startup called Salt Supply there were traditional pepper sprays or tasers.

suicides. We want to see change.

Co. has developed a firearm for But they only work if the danger is right on top

The Centers for Disease Con-

people who are concerned about of you. And that’s all there was.”

trol shared a list of the greatest

protecting themselves and their

public health achievements of

families but are conflicted about answer they were looking for: a gun made for

the 20th century, most notably

owning a firearm. And it’s unlike people just looking for self protection. It’s in-

including motor vehicle safety.

anything else on the market — it novation like this that makes home protection

Over time, cars have become safer

fires pepper spray capsules in- accessible and approachable for homeowners

and safer because auto engineers,

stead of bullets. The capsules ex- who do not feel that a traditional firearm is

regulators, and activists look

plode on impact, affect the target the right choice for their homes.

So the Salt Supply Co. team created the

The Number of Convictions for Human Trafficking Is Rising The International Labour Organization estimates that

than doubling. More than half of the UN Member States

nearly 21 million people are forced into labour globally,

have established an anti-trafficking police unit, and many

making up a $150 billion industry affecting every country in

have launched a national action plan.

the world. Trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery and

There’s still work to be done, though, because many

has many faces, including domestic servitude, sex trade,

countries lack the necessary legal tools or political will to

exploitation of children, forced labor, warfare, and forced

take action. The conviction rate in most countries is well

marriage. Sexual exploitation continues to be the most

below the level recorded for crimes such as kidnapping,

prevalent form of trafficking, and women are dispropor-

and the UN reported many countries haven’t recorded a

tionately affected as victims, at two-thirds, while men make

single conviction related to trafficking.

up the majority of traffickers.

But organizations exist that are full of people rising up

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports

to fight against these human rights violations by rescuing

that convictions for human trafficking and related of-

victims, pursuing convictions, and pushing for better

fenses are increasing. The 2003 UN Protocol against traf-

legislation. Chances are, there’s an organization near you

ficking, which was the first global, legally binding instru-

doing good work to fight against these crimes. You can

ment against trafficking in more than half a century, has

personally get involved by advocating for others or donat-

inspired widespread legislative response, with the number

ing your time and resources to play a meaningful role in

of countries that have anti-trafficking legislation more

working toward a world free of trafficking.

HOW TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SUPPORT SURVIVORS GO OD

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BEST

Donate to organizations doing great work fighting human trafficking: International Justice Mission, Polaris Project, or the Human Trafficking Institute.

Ask your elected representatives to use their power to combat human trafficking. All it takes is a letter, phone call, or meeting to communicate this is a priority to you.

Volunteer with an organization fighting trafficking.

Enter your zip code at humantraffickinghotline.org to find an organization near you.

8

HOPEFUL TRENDS

IN 2000, 23% OF CHILDREN AGED 5 TO 17 WERE INVOLVED IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY 12 YEARS LATER, THAT NUMBER WAS DOWN TO LESS THAN 17%.

Child labor is still a real

problem worldwide. The In-

ternational Labour Organization estimates that as of 2012 about 265 million chil-

dren across the world work.

And contrary to popular be-

lief, most working children are not paid manufacturing

workers but unpaid family workers. In fact, as of 2013

almost 69 percent of working children were unpaid.

25%

Source: https://ourworldindata.org/child-labor

But global trends show child labor has been decreasing over past decades, with places such as the United Kingdom virtually eliminating child labor. In the year 2000, 23 percent of

20%

children aged 5 to 17 were involved in economic activity, but 12 years later that number was down to less than 17 percent.

15% 2000

2004

2008

2012

There are a number of economic and cultural factors that could

plementing non-coercive economic intervention methods that

explain why child labor is decreasing around the world, one of the

can encourage household decision makers to allow their children

most important factors being schooling. But it isn’t clear to what

to stay out of work, such as a program in Mexico that offers cash

degree lack of schooling is the consequence of child labor or vice

transfers to poor, rural populations, depending on whether fami-

versa. Studies do indicate that countries have seen success in im-

lies follow through on school attendance and clinic visits.

HOW TO FIGHT CHILD LABOR GO OD

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Download the app Sweat & Toil. It’s a simple, well-designed app that offers helpful information about which products and countries often support child labor.

Schools are an incredible weapon to end child labor.

Support organizations that support schools around the world, such as Pencils of Promise.

Buy fair trade and sweatshop-free products whenever possible. Especially pay attention to clothing, coffee, and chocolate. Look for certified fair trade labels to verify.

#GOODNEWSPAPER

@GOODGOODGOODCO

I LWA D E L M A N

Ilwad Elman is no stranger to

“Most of [the businesses he cre-

change. She left Somalia in 1992

ated] were electrical shops and me-

as a young child with her mother

chanic shops, and he was hiring only

and two sisters to seek refuge from

young people that were orphaned

the conflict that had begun in the

on the streets,” Ilwad says. “He was

country the year before, leaving be-

teaching them the skills, getting

hind her father, activist Elman Ali

them off the street.”

Ahmed, who is known as the Somali

Elman’s entire workforce was

Father of Peace even today. It was

made of youth who had an upbring-

the last time they saw him. Tragi-

ing similar to his own. He wanted

cally, he was assassinated in 1996.

them to have a new status in society

The still-ongoing civil war in So-

and enjoy opportunities he benefited

malia grew out of resistance to the

from after receiving an education.

military dictatorship run by Moham-

And he hoped that by teaching them

ed Siad Barre beginning in the 1980s.

valuable trade skills, these children

By 1991, the Somali Armed Forces had

would have access to other options

recruited various armed rebel groups

besides joining the war.

and overthrew the Barre govern-

When the civil war broke out,

ment. Just a year later Ilwad and her

Elman shifted to helping not just

family fled war-stricken Somalia and

youth who were abandoned or bat-

lived for a few years in a refugee camp

tling drug addictions as he had

called Tango in Kenya — now called

focused on before, but also those

Dadaab, the largest refugee camp in

who were being co-opted into clan-

the world — before seeking asylum

based militias and giving them an

in Canada, where Ilwad grew up and

alternative to escape a life of vio-

stayed until 2010.

lence. This is around the time he

Almost 20 years after leaving So-

coined the phrase that’s now cen-

malia, Ilwad returned to her home

tral to his legacy: “Drop the gun;

country and is now responsible for de-

pick up the pen.”

signing and overseeing the peace and

“He was so successful in doing

human rights programs at the non-

this that he was demobilizing young

profit her parents founded in 1990,

men and even children by the thou-

called Elman Peace. She runs the

sands,” Ilwad says. “[His phrase] can

happening in her home country, but she was always curious about

organization with her mother, Far-

still be seen marked up in the ruins

returning to connect to the place she was born.

tuun Adan, and together they work to

of different streets in Mogadishu.”

“The only real thing that we ever saw about Somalia was always

promote peace, cultivate leadership,

Ilwad was still a young child when

on mainstream media, and that is no different [than] how it’s de-

and empower marginalized groups,

her father was assassinated and says

picted today: suffering, war, famine, conflict,” Ilwad says. “Just a

furthering the mission and legacy her

she was too young to understand the

failed state. And for me and my family, we felt even more attached

father left behind.

gravity of both his presence and loss

to Somalia even though we were not physically there because we

at the time. In fact, she doesn’t even

just lost so much.”

The Daughter of Peace

have memories of her father.

The disconnect between the attachment she felt to the place

Ilwad is connected to a legacy of

“Everything that I really know

she was born and the heartbreaking stories she heard about it left

peacemaking. When her father was a

about him and his impact has been

much to be desired. Ilwad didn’t have any positive representations

child, he was neglected by his family

passed on to me from both my moth-

of her country to cling to — just stories of her father and the work

and worked by polishing shoes on the

er and from other people around the

he and Fartuun started together.

streets of the Somali capital, Moga-

world,” Ilwad says. “I don’t have any

“My mother has been the biggest time vault, if you will, of

dishu. He later became the recipient

actual memory of him or being with

those memories [of my father],” Ilwad says. “She has really ded-

of social support services provided for

him, but I just feel so fortunate to

icated her life to his legacy and to us — my sisters and I — and

years following Italian colonization

be able to learn about him continu-

it’s because of her that I’m also back in Somalia now trying to do

and had the opportunity to study in It-

ously through these stories and an-

my part and honoring his legacy.”

aly. He went on to receive his Master’s

ecdotes and encounters that people

degree in Germany and became an

cherish so much.”

When the sisters had grown into teenagers, Fartuun returned to conflict-laden Somalia to continue the work her

electrical engineer before returning

But even though she doesn’t have

husband was killed. She returned at a crucial point in the

to Somalia and setting up businesses

any direct memories of her father, she

war, around the time Ethiopian troops had seized most of

in the 1980s.

stays connected to him through the

the southern region from a loose formation of judicial sys-

work she now does with her mother at

tems called the Islamic Courts Union, which briefly brought

his namesake organization.

some order to the country but later splintered into other

Ilwad says her father’s difficult upbringing inspired him to return to Somalia to give back and promote an

militant groups, most notably al-Qaeda-linked terrorist

enabling, positive environment for

A World Away from Home

children in the difficult position he

Growing up in Canada, Ilwad was

Ilwad and her sisters would sometimes lose contact with

once experienced.

largely disconnected from what was

their mother for weeks at a time, and seeing media coverage that

group al-Shabab.

12

We felt even more attached to Somalia even though we were not physically there because we just lost so much.

13

I LWA D E L M A N

her father’s side of the family. They opposed her mother’s leadership in an organization named after Elman because as a woman with only daughters, the uncles didn’t believe any of them could carry on his legacy.

The opposition became so intense that at the launch of a new program at one of the organization’s centers, Ilwad’s uncle arrived and fired gunshots in an attempt to disperse people. That’s the moment Ilwad knew she had to stay with her mother. It’s the same time she realized ways the war was silencing and sidelining women.

“If we as women that are educated, that have come from Canada, and really have the freedom and mobility to leave at any moment with our passport have this level of resistance and challenges that are 100 percent gender-specific, then what does that mean for the 8-year-old girl or the 22-year-old woman or the widowed grandmother in the streets of Mogadishu?” Ilwad says. “That moment really was a watershed for both of us, and for me it was the turnaround moment that I realized that I need to stay. I’m so much more useful here.”

Ilwad knew she could help empower, equip, and help rebuild communities if she stayed and worked alongside her mother. And the longer she stayed, the better she was able to reconcile

When you hear about war or conflict, you never really are able to understand it really until you’re in it. Everything that we see in Hollywood productions — in big movies — was in my backyard.

Returning Home

the conflict she grew up seeing on the news and

But Ilwad did worry. She was so worried that in

the beauty that brought her mother back after

2010 she decided to go visit her mother in So-

so many years.

malia. The plan was to stay for one month — no

“It’s a land of many contradictions,” she

more than three months. At this time the con-

says. “There’s so much chaos, but so much

flict still heavily raged, and the majority of Mog-

calm. There’s conflict, but beauty. There’s love.

adishu and south central regions of the country

There’s laughter. There’s joy. There’s incredible

were controlled by al-Shabab. When Ilwad ar-

momentum right now, and it’s a place that’s —

rived, she was confronted with everything she

after 25, 26, 27 years of conflict — is slowly get-

had seen growing up on TV.

ting back on its feet. It’s where I was born. It’s

“Everything that I saw shook me to my core,”

the place I feel most grounded, and it’s home.”

she says. “When you hear about war or conflict, you never really are able to understand it really

Doing Good Work

until you’re in it. Everything that we see in Hol-

Today Elman Peace sustains Elman’s mission

lywood productions — in big movies — was in

and legacy of protecting human rights and pro-

my backyard.”

moting peace by supporting communities cent-

But in the midst of the chaos, she started to un-

ers through locally driven solutions. At its core,

derstand why her mother had returned. She saw

the nonprofit is a human rights institution. The

showed turmoil in Somalia left them with the

how early in the morning her mother would get

team focuses on monitoring, documenting, and

question: Why did their mother return?

up to help others, how many people in the com-

reporting human rights violations and abuses

“I just couldn’t wrap my head around it, and

munity needed her, and how many children called

that happen throughout the country and then

I really just wanted to know she was OK and to

her “Mom.” She knew her mother was doing im-

uses their findings to inform the different pro-

see for myself what it is that is really happen-

portant work to restore peace in the region.

gramming and services that they provide.

ing there,” Ilwad says. “Every time we’d speak

“I fell in love with the work that she was do-

Fartuun and her daughters also founded

to her she’d be so positive. Then we’d hang up

ing instantly, and I felt also a responsibility to

the Elman Peace and Human Rights Center in

the phone, look at what’s on the media, and

help her because I saw the level of resistance

Mogadishu in Elman’s honor. Fartuun serves

that does not reflect at all the courage and the

she was getting, and it was really heartbreaking

as the center’s executive director, while Ilwad

positivity that she carried when she was on the

for me,” Ilwad says.

serves alongside her as director of programs

phone with us, so I felt like she was just try-

Ilwad’s short-term trip soon turned perma-

ing to make things lighter so that we wouldn’t

nent when she learned that her mother was

Since she’s been in Somalia, the most tan-

worry.”

facing serious resistance from the uncles on

gible work she’s been a part of has been with

and development.

14

I LWA D E L M A N

survivors of of sexual- and gender-based violence. She

Although the country still faces a difficult road ahead, the

ther and the honor it is to carry the torch to create a better fu-

helps oversee a subsidiary of the center called Sister So-

first permanent central government since the war founded in

ture in the country where she was born and now calls home.

malia, the country’s first rape crisis center. In 2012, Il-

2012 and is making progress toward stability, thanks in huge

wad spoke at Mogadishu’s first TEDx conference, where

part to the peacemaking work people like Ilwad are leading.

“I learned so much about myself being here,” Ilwad says.

“I learned about patience. I learned about community. All

she explained the role of Sister Somalia in reconstruction

So many people, from child soldiers to community mem-

of these very important things that surely I could learn

within the country through counseling, trauma healing,

bers who have lost loved ones in the war, have experienced

anywhere in the world, but really being here [in Somalia]

housing support, and emergency medical care for women

conflict. But now many have an outlet for their trauma and

I feel that everyday I have an opportunity to live with pur-

in need.

are on a path toward healing. Ilwad is exploring the effective-

pose. Everyday I have an opportunity to live intentionally

Ilwad has also hosted educational workshops for society’s

ness in treating symptoms of trauma through alternative

and to serve, and I just feel so grateful for that opportu-

most vulnerable communities and designed and implement-

health techniques for people who live in conflict zones, such

nity. It was scary to make that leap, but anything worth

ed projects promoting alternative livelihood opportunities.

as yoga, painting, or music therapy.

doing takes risks.”

Her work has raised awareness and even encouraged chang-

They’ve even seen success in taking children to the beach

es in government policy. In 2015 she briefed the UN Security

to sit and talk in the sand, to float and learn to feel safe in the

Council on the challenges Somali women face and now con-

water, and to go surfing.

WHERE TO FIND AND SUPPORT ILWAD ELMAN AND ELMAN PEACE

@i_elman // @elmanpeace // elmanpeace.org

tinues to work as a global advocate for Somali communities.

“Children can be children again as long as they’re just

The conflict between al-Shabab and the Somali govern-

taken out of this context of violence,” Ilwad says. “We al-

ment and peacekeeping forces still rages on today. We see it

ways try to ask the question: How do you teach or empower

LISTEN TO ILWAD’S PODCAST INTERVIEW ON OUR PODCAST, SOUNDS GOOD

on the news: terrorism, child soldiers, and war zones, among

a child that’s been stripped of his childhood to be a child

soundsgoodpodcast.com/ilwad

other things. Just last year a truck bombing blamed on al-

again? And sometimes it’s as easy as just having beach days.”

Shabab resulted in more than 500 casualties in the capital.

No matter what she’s working on, Ilwad remembers her fa-

HOW TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF SOMALIA GO OD

BET TER

BEST

Search #FutureForSomalia on YouTube and watch a few videos about the hopeful future many Somalis believe is in store for their country.

Donate to support the impactful work being done by Elman Peace in Somalia. 100 percent of your online donation goes to projects.

Many communities around the world have taken in Somali refugees. Reach out to a local refugee organization to ask how you can support Somalis in your community.

15

GAME CHANGERS

The World Was More Peaceful Last Year Than In 2016 The people behind an Australian nonprofit think

But we know there’s major room for improvement. Despite

they’ve figured out a way to measure peace,

the world being more peaceful in 2017 than in 2016, it’s actu-

and their most recent report shows the world

ally less peaceful than it was almost a decade ago. The decade’s

was more peaceful last year than in 2016. The

deterioration has been dominated by conflicts in the Middle

Institute for Peace and Economics quantifies

East and the ensuing battlefield deaths, increased terrorism,

peacefulness using 23 metrics related to three

and refugee flow. One of the most startling trends is the gap

domains: levels of safety and security, extent of

between the most and least peaceful countries, with the differ-

ongoing domestic and international conflict, and

ence in measured peace between these countries increasing.

the degree of militarization. They even analyze

The group’s analysis tackles a central question facing poli-

their findings and work with governments to

cymakers: How and why does a society transition from one

make peace achievable.

state of peace to another? According to the study, the best

According to their report, the global level of

long-term indicator of how peaceful a country will be is what

peace improved in 2017 compared to the previ-

the organization calls its level of “Positive Peace,” defined as

ous year. The greatest improvement was related

the attitudes, institutions, and structures that create and sus-

to external conflicts because many countries are

tain peaceful societies, contrasted to “Negative Peace,” which

winding down their involvement with conflicts

is simply the absence of violence and fear of violence.

in Afghanistan and Iraq. The measure of political

Positive Peace is systemic, with the most peaceful countries

terror also notably improved in all regions except

performing strongly on all eight pillars of Positive Peace: sound

for sub-Saharan Africa and the MENA region

business environment, good relations with neighbors, high

(Middle East and North Africa). Over the last

levels of human capital, acceptance of the rights of others, low

decade, 72 percent of countries reduced the size

levels of corruption, well-functioning government, free flow of

of their armed forces, 67 percent of countries ex-

information, and equitable distribution of resources. The Posi-

perienced a drop in the homicide rate, and 65 per-

tive Peace framework can be used to monitor progress moving

cent of countries reduced military expenditure.

forward to create a more peaceful world for all.

The #MeToo Movement Tells Survivors: “We Believe You” Last year was marked by report after report of men behaving badly.

fatigue. Some of us are seeing our heroes ousted, and it can be

Media powerhouses Harvey Weinstein and Matt Lauer, politicians

painful and complicated to make sense of that. It seems that

Al Franken and Roy Moore, comedian Louis C.K., actors Kevin

every week a new name was in the headlines. And the hashtag

Spacey and Dustin Hoffman, among dozens of others, all accused of

movement can even be re-traumatizing for survivors because

sexual misconduct or even assault. And it goes beyond high-profile

the responsibility of naming harassment and abuse falls on the

cases. Last year, the #MeToo movement launched as a way for wom-

shoulders of those who experienced it.

en across the globe to denounce their own experiences with sexual harassment, assault, and other misogynistic behavior.

It isn’t a perfect movement, but this purge is ultimately good for the future of how we handle sexual misconduct as a society.

The day after actress Alyssa Milano encouraged use of the hashtag

We’re sensing a change in the air. We are believing victims and

last October — originally coined by activist and organizer Tarana

holding power to account. We’re seeing the impact of putting

Burke in this context more than 10 years earlier — more than half a

collective pressure on power structures to bring about conse-

million users tweeted using the hashtag. In those same first 24 hours,

quences, with many of these men seeing social condemnation,

the term was used more than 4.7 million times on Facebook. The so-

loss of employment, and even legal repercussions. And the men

cial network even reported that 45 percent of American users had a

in our everyday lives are learning how far-reaching this issue

friend who posted the term. Most women aren’t surprised by the con-

is — that every woman has experienced misogyny. Most impor-

tent of these stories or even the vast number of them. Some men are,

tantly, we are sending a message to women that their stories are

though, because they simply hadn’t heard them before.

worth telling. Maybe, just maybe, this shift will stick. We think

For many, the overwhelming weight of the movement inspires

it will. And we can collectively take action to ensure it will.

HOW TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT GO OD

BET TER

BEST

If someone in your life tells you they’ve been sexually assaulted, follow RAINN’s tips for how to offer support. goodnewspaper.org/rainn Most of all, believe women.

Donate to the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund on GoFundMe to provide legal support to those who have experienced workplace sexual harassment, assault, or abuse.

Support survivors by volunteering for the National Sexual Assault Hotline. You will be trained to provide live, anonymous crisis support to survivors.

17

GO OD QU E ST ION S

Finding good news isn’t always easy, and finding ways

ics that matter to you. You can submit a question

to inform yourself about good things happening in the

at goodnewspaper.org/goodquestions or tweet us

world is even harder. That’s what Good Questions is

@goodgoodgoodco. Our team and the Good Good

for: to help you learn more good stuff about the top-

Good community will answer as many as possible.

2017 was the year I started to really get to know myself and become more self-aware. Do you have any recommendations on how I can grow in my self-awareness? —Richard M.

I’m studying journalism in school but am worried my classes are just teaching me “if it bleeds, it leads.” I’m inspired by the Goodnewspaper. How can I be more constructive with my journalism? —Megan K.

GOOD ACTION

GOOD SITE

Counseling — If you have the means to attend counseling, truly consider it. It

SolutionsJournalism.org — We’re huge fans of Solution Journalism

can do wonders for self-awareness, and many counselors have sliding scales

Network’s work training journalists to cover what’s missing in today’s

based on income. Apps such as Talkspace and Betterhelp can be great, too.

news: how people are responding to problems.

GOOD READ

GOOD SUBSCRIPTION

Brené Brown — You might be one of the 32 million people who have seen

Local Journalism — Subscribe to your local paper. Local journalists

Brené Brown’s TED talk , but if you haven’t read her books yet, you’re miss-

work diligently to report community issues, informing and equipping

ing out on an opportunity to get to know yourself and become a better you.

you with the most up-to-date and relevant news close to home.

GOOD EMAILS

GOOD WATCH

Enneagram Institute — The Enneagram is an ancient personality typing

Spotlight — This Academy Award-winning film told the true story of

system that’s recently grown in popularity. Every morning, the Enneagram

journalists at the Boston Globe who investigated allegations of a priest

Institute sends out an email focused on growth for your Ennegram type.

accused of sexual assault and ultimately proved the Roman Catholic

Take the test to find your type and sign up for the associated email.

Church’s cover-up of abuse. It shows the importance of journalism.

I want to better understand the criminal justice system. I’ve been hearing so much about inequality in the news, and it’s left me thinking about how I can become more knowledgable and maybe even do something about it. Advice? —Mac Y. GOOD READ

GOOD LISTEN

GOOD WATCH

The New Jim Crow — Civil rights litigator and

Marshall Project Recommendations — The Marshall

13th — In Ava DuVernay’s thought-provoking documen-

legal scholar Michelle Alexander wrote this in-

Project works on nonprofit journalism about crimi-

tary, scholars, activists, and politicians analyze the crim-

credible book about mass incarceration in an age

nal justice and put together a curated list of great

inalization of African-Americans and the United States

of colorblindness. It’s thick with data and stories

episodes to learn from at themarshallproject.org/

prison boom. It’s informative and well-made. And good

but very approachable.

records/1401-podcast

news: It’s on Netflix.

I know you guys are all about hope and optimism, and that’s why I subscribe to the Goodnewspaper. But I was wondering what other resources you could recommend for learning about why we should actually be optimistic. — Sasha M. GOOD LISTEN

GOOD DATA

GOOD READ

Rick Hanson on Sounds Good — On our podcast,

Our World In Data — We love digging through

The Better Angels of Our Nature — This book, written

Sounds Good, we had a conversation with psychologist

data that shows the many ways the world contin-

by psychologist Steven Pinker, comes recommended

Dr. Rick Hanson about the way our brains are all built

ues to become a better place. We especially rec-

by Bill Gates, one of the most realistically optimistic

with an internal negativity bias. Listen to the episode

ommend ourworldindata.org, an incredible site

people in the world, who called it “the most inspiring

wherever you listen to podcasts.

doing incredible data work.

book I’ve ever read.”

18

GOOD CLASSIFIEDS

GOOD FUN!

This is the Goodnewspaper’s Good Fun section,

friend, and challenge them to a game. Best two out

where you can take a break from all the good news

of three wins!

to have a little (more!) good fun. See if you know all

And of course, what newspaper would be complete

the answers to our Good Crossword, or play a game

without a comic? Sunday morning coffee (or choco-

of Tic-Tac-Toe with a friend. Better yet: Make a new

late milk) not included.

Find the answers to the crossword at goodnewspaper.org/crossword

GOOD CROSSWORD

GOOD COMIC

AC ROSS

DOWN

1. A person who campaigns to bring about political or social change

2. Daughter of Peace

3. A Syrian refugee who competed in the Rio Olympics and is now endorsed by Under Armour 4. The first African-American woman to be First Captain at West Point 6. This Olympian once couldn’t afford shoes but now she donates kicks to kids

5. A drone delivery system will put every single one of this country’s 12 million residents within quick reach of essential medical products 8. You’re reading it right now!

9. More women running for elected office means more _____ 10. This is the capital and most populous city of Somalia

7. This podcast is created by Good Good Good

13. The technology behind bitcoin ... and a farming cooperative in Arkansas

11. NFL player Chris Long donated his salary for _____ equality

14. Alyssa Milano encouraged use of this hashtag — originally coined by activist and organizer Tarana Burke

12. Public support for a particular cause or policy 15. The level of _____ increased in 2017 because of a decrease in external conflicts

17. This American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and several books of poetry

16. By giving students in Baltimore _____, school performance increased

18. We mentioned in this issue that we could see this disease end in our lifetime

19. The process of replanting an area with trees 20. Feeling or inspiring optimism about a future event

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GOOD GAME

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Best two out of three!

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