India’s first transgender Sub-Inspector

This is a story about beating incredible odds. K Prithika Yashini has reported for duty to serve the country in Dharmapuri in Tamil Nadu.


http://www.thebetterindia.com/94432/irst-transgender-sub-inspector-india/?utm_source=The+Better+India+Newsletter&utm_campaign=52d85a66b4-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cd579275a4-52d85a66b4-74060141

The couple who transformed barren land into a wildlife sanctuary

Pamela and Anil Malhotra bought 55 acres of land in the Kodagu district of Karnataka 23 years ago, and today they have converted it into a beautiful forest of over 300 acres. Here’s how SAI Sanctuary, the only private wildlife sanctuary in India, came to host animals like Bengal Tiger, Sambhar and Asian Elephants.


http://www.dailygood.org/story/1555/the-couple-who-bought-barren-land-in-1991-and-transformed-it-into-a-300-acre-wildlife-sanctuary-shreya-pareek/

Mexico's piñatas

A piñata is a colourful, hollow papier-mâché sculpture designed to be filled with candy and then smashed to smithereens. Piñatas are a ubiquitous ingredient of life in Mexico, and are as vital to Mexican celebrations as mariachi music.


http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170331-the-mysterious-origins-of-the-piata

Jeff De Young and his black Labrador Cena

Jeff De Young served in Afghanistan with a bomb-detection dog named Cena N641, a black Labrador. In the intense atmosphere of war the two developed an unbreakable bond. This is the story of how Cena helped Jeff survive not only war, but also life after war.


http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-39355775

Photographer captures the beauty of Europe's abandoned buildings

Over the last six years, London-based photographer Gina Soden has photographed some of Europe's most beautiful derelict buildings.


http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/28/arts/abandoned-architecture-photography-gina-soden/index.html

How tiny pies changed the English language

Tiny pies have been a favourite food in Britain since the Middle Ages – and have changed the English language with idioms, nursery rhyme verses, even a mention by Shakespeare. In fact, records go back to the 11th Century!

Every March, St Mary’s church in the Leicestershire town of Melton Mowbray becomes a cathedral of pies: it fills with tables bearing more than 800 pastries.


http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170322-how-a-pocket-sized-snack-changed-the-english-language

Brazil teacher changes hairstyle to support bullied girl

Ana Barbara Ferreira, from Sao Paulo, said her student was "sad" after being ridiculed by a boy, who had said her hair was "ugly".

Though she supported the child in a Facebook post telling her 'she was wonderful and shouldn't care about what he was saying,' a bigger show of support came in the following day, when she went to work wearing the same hairstyle as her pupil.


http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-39393371

Employee of the Quarter four times - so far

Accuride International makes drawer slides but only has three employees at its sales base in Georgia, in the southeast of America. Two of those are dogs - Meeka and Kya. The other is human, Michael Reeg, who started working from home early last year.

During a visit to the family home, his daughter Madison noticed that her dad had named eight-year-old Meeka as his "employee of the quarter".

Michael told the BBC that when he started working from home last year, he needed a companion to keep him motivated. "I remember looking at her laying in my office, which she did faithfully every day, and thinking about how happy she was when I was home and how excited she was when I said, 'Let's go to work.'"

"That was the end of the first quarter in 2016 and it struck me that she deserved to be rewarded for that quarter, based on her consistent attendance and her honest enjoyment of working," Reeg said.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/item/91825d64-5bff-43fb-a018-a90a135ce591

Spain's female bodyguards who protect abused women

When Ana reported her male former partner for an assault at her home in Spain she thought she would be protected. In fact she ended up living as a prisoner alone in her own house, afraid to go out in case she was confronted by her aggressor once more.

Ana went online to contact women's support groups and was put in touch with Carolina, a former police bodyguard now using her skills and training to keep women safe from violent men.


http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39283407

One of Emma Watson’s costumes in Beauty and the Beast was made in India

Kasam and Juma Sangar, two artisans from Bhuj, Gujarat, India, have embroidered one of the costumes worn by Belle, played by Emma.

This collaboration was made possible by Sinéad O’Sullivan, the movie’s assistant costume designer. Sinead is committed to the #whomademyclothes campaign, which strives to promote supply chain transparency and ethical sourcing in the global clothing industry.


http://www.thebetterindia.com/92405/gujarat-artisans-behind-emma-watsons-costumes-beauty-and-the-beast/?utm_source=The+Better+India+Newsletter&utm_campaign=26431fce36-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cd579275a4-26431fce36-74060141

How Green became associated with St. Patrick's Day

Blue is believed to have been associated with Ireland before green was.

A light blue became associated with the Order of St. Patrick.

The earliest use of green for nationalistic reasons was seen during the violent Great Irish Rebellion of 1641.

The Society of United Irishmen, wore green, especially an Irish version of the "liberty caps" worn during the French Revolution.

The importance of the color green spread, thanks in part to the poems and ballads written during this time, most famously "The Wearing of the Green."

The origins of the wearing of green clothing in the U.S. on St. Patrick's Day and for St. Patrick's Day celebrations in general date back to the 19th century, when waves of Irish immigrants came to America looking for better job opportunities, especially after the Great Famine of the 1840s-50s, and began wearing green and carrying Irish flags along with American flags as a point of pride for their home country.

http://time.com/4699771/green-irish-st-patricks-day-color/?xid=newsletter-brief

'Healthiest hearts in the world' found

The healthiest hearts in the world have been found in the Tsimane (pronounced "chee-may-nay") people in the forests of Bolivia, say researchers. Barely any Tsimane had signs of clogged up arteries - even well into old age - a study in the Lancet showed.


http://www.bbc.com/news/health-39292389

How Nature resets our minds and bodies

"Nature restores mental functioning in the same way that food and water restore bodies." This fascinating article from the Atlantic explores how Nature resets our minds and bodies.


http://www.dailygood.org/2016/03/12/how-nature-resets-our-minds-and-bodies/

Homeless man given makeover

A homeless man in Majorca, Spain, was left in tears when he was given a free makeover by a local hair salon.

Jose Antonio has been homeless for 25 years and is well known to local people. The owner of La Salvajeria invited Jose to his business after getting to know him as an "unlicensed car parking attendant".


http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/39292293/homeless-man-given-makeover-after-25-years-living-on-the-streets

The orangutan grandfather

Dr Peter Pratje manages a 'jungle school' in Sumatra for orphan orangutans.

This is definitely a must-see.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04wrwvg

"The Power of Different: The Link Between Disorder and Genius": Dr. Gail Saltz

There are numerous examples of people with learning disabilities and mental health disorders doing extraordinary things: the child on the autism spectrum who is masterful at putting together incredibly intricate Lego creations, the young person with Asperger's syndrome who knows more about presidential history than most adults, the child with dyslexia who is a master chef in the kitchen.

Dr Saltz's findings could help turn the stigma associated with these challenges on its head.


http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/09/health/learning-disabilities-mental-health-genius-parenting/index.html

The slow death of purposeless walking

We are talking here not of the distance between porch and corner shop. But a more aimless pursuit.

Some key tips:

•     Walk further and with no fixed route
•     Stop texting and mapping
•     Don't soundtrack your walks
•     Go alone
•     Find walkable places
•     Walk mindfully

Then you may get the rewards. "Being out on your own, being free and anonymous, you discover the people around you," says Solnit.


http://www.dailygood.org/more.php?n=6648

The rise of 'modest' fashion

Modest dressing is a global cultural movement on the rise.

A search of the word modest on Instagram opens a treasure trove of evidence. Sensitive layering, long silhouettes, raised necklines...

Trend analysts have dubbed what they interpret as a new wave of feminism the "pluri-empowerment" factor, says Iza Dezon, a trend forecaster at Peclers Paris. "An empowered woman is no longer subject to a specific definition, nor must she live by a specific set of values," she explains. "We're seeing the opening up of what empowerment means, allowing women to create their own definitions."


http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/08/fashion/the-modist-modest-fashion-online/index.html

A "Brownlee brothers moment"

Riley Watson, 10, was 60ft from the end of a cross-country race when he collapsed with a stitch. But classmate Julian Otu, also 10, came to his rescue - carrying him in his arms.

The gesture came during an inter-school race in Grimsby.


http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-humber-39215616

East and West think in profoundly different ways

Psychologists are uncovering the surprising influence of geography on our reasoning, behaviour, and sense of self.

From the broad differences between East and West, to subtle variation between States in the US, it is becoming increasingly clear that history, geography and culture can change how we all think in subtle and surprising ways – right down to our visual perception. Our thinking may have even been shaped by the kinds of crops our ancestors used to farm, and a single river may mark the boundaries between two different cognitive styles.


http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170118-how-east-and-west-think-in-profoundly-different-ways

Namibia's nomads

he Himba people of Namibia can see fine details and ignore distraction much better than most other human beings – a finding that may reflect the many ways that modern life is changing our minds and abilities.

Findings show that even the most basic aspects of our perception – which you may assume to be hardwired in the brain – are shaped by our culture and surroundings.


http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170306-the-astonishing-focus-of-namibias-nomads

A message of love from two small boys

We tend to lose sight of the human part of the human beings we see around us. These two boys bring us back to our senses...


http://edition.cnn.com/videos/us/2017/03/03/boys-jaxon-reddy-haircut-louisville-kentucky-sfc-orig.cnn

Neighbours put up Christmas lights after elderly man sent 'bullying' letter

People in Homewood, Alabama have put up their Christmas lights very early this year, after one of their neighbours, Mr Frank, received a letter asking him to take his decorations down.

Mr Frank said he kept his lights up to stop traffic from crashing into his tree. There was a danger of someone getting hurt.

When they heard the news, about 30 homeowners took out their Christmas decorations and put them up in their gardens.

"It's been a neat way for the community to slow down, and make it a priority to get to know him.

"It's an opportunity to take time to stop and make sure he knows we're there and we appreciate him."


http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/39171894/neighbours-put-up-christmas-lights-after-elderly-man-sent-bullying-letter

The first Vogue Arabia issue

Vogue Arabia launches this month - and Gigi Hadid has been revealed as its first cover star. "Being half-Palestinian, it means the world to me to be on the first-ever cover(s) of Vogue Arabia," the model said.

Two different editions of the magazine's first issue have been produced - one in English and one in Arabic.


http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-39139170

Great-grandmother cycles 10,000 miles

78-year-old Montana woman, Ethel MacDonald, took up tour cycling at the age of 65. Fourteen years later, the retired French teacher has covered more than 10,000 miles across Europe and North America and she's not stopping yet.

"I like what I like to do without having to wait for someone else to be ready," explains the 78-year-old great-grandmother. The appeal of biking alone on the open road, she says, is "just feeling like I'm my own boss."


http://edition.cnn.com/2017/02/08/travel/ethel-macdonald-cycling/index.html

Devon mud-hut woman 'allergic to modern life'

Kate Burrows and partner Alan built their home in Devon of tree trunks knitted together and covered with mud and straw. She says the move was prompted by a series of illnesses, called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), caused by living in her former rented home.


http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-38852842

The interesting history of the Michelin Guide

Michelin Guides are a series of guide books published by the French company Michelin for more than a century.

Its history dates back to 1900 when tyre manufacturers André Michelin and his brother Édouard published the first edition of a guide for French motorists. At the time there were fewer than 3,000 cars in France, and the Michelin guide was intended to boost the demand for cars, and thus for car tyres. It was given away free of charge, and contained useful information for motorists, including maps, instructions for repairing and changing tyres, and lists of car mechanics, hotels and petrol stations.

In 1954 they made several changes, the notable ones being: listing restaurants by specific categories; hotel listings (initially only for Paris); and the abandonment of advertisements in the guide. Recognizing the growing popularity of the restaurant section of the guide, the brothers recruited a team of inspectors, who were always careful in maintaining anonymity, to visit and review restaurants

In 1926, the guide began to award stars for fine dining establishments. Initially, there was only a single star awarded. Then, in 1931, the hierarchy of one, two, and three stars was introduced. Finally, In 1936, the criteria for the starred rankings were published.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelin_Guide

The mysterious origins of Jazz

The anniversary of the first jazz recording 100 years ago also marks the beginning of debates that are still ongoing, writes Christian Blauvelt.

The date was 26 February 1917, and this novelty song, Livery Stable Blues by the Original Dixieland Jass Band, was the first jazz recording. That would be a remarkable milestone in its own right, but embedded into Livery Stable Blues are issues that have haunted jazz, and popular music as a whole, ever since.


http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170224-the-mysetrious-origins-of-jazz

When in trouble, call the cops

It is fair to say, no police officer expects that trouble to be related to the complexities of a 10-year-old's maths homework. Yet when faced with just such an issue, one brave officer in Marion, Ohio, stepped up to the mark.

Lena Draper decided to use Facebook to get in touch with her local police force, sending them an appeal for help at the weekend. Undeterred by the nature of the homework - Math (not the officer's strong suit) - Lt Gruber threw himself into the challenge.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39045906

The Pope on who is a believer

If you're a Christian who exploits people, leads a double life or manages a "dirty" business, perhaps it's better not to call yourself a believer, Pope Francis suggested in a homily on Thursday in Rome.


http://edition.cnn.com/2017/02/23/world/pope-atheists-again/index.html

There's something very charming about tea houses

Here are 11 of the world's best tea houses:


http://edition.cnn.com/2017/02/16/foodanddrink/worlds-best-tea-houses/index.html

Devon bus shelter gets mystery 'Banksy-style' makeover

A bus shelter in the village of Walkhampton, Devon, is being secretly decorated and furnished by an unknown person, sparking intrigue in the community.


http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-39028130

The 14-year-old who made the best Facebook Messenger chatbot

For the past six months, Alec Jones, a 14-year-old from Victoria, Canada, has been working on Christopher Bot, a chatbot that helps students keep track of homework they've been given over the course of a week.


http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-39013950

Kung fu granny

The 93-year-old grandmother may be petite, but Zhang Hexian can pack a punch. It's one of the many martial arts moves she's mastered in her 89 years of practicing kung fu. Zhang, who lives in China's southeastern Zhejiang province, says all her family members have learned kung fu, which instills discipline and strength.

She credits kung fu, plenty of sleep and a healthy diet of mainly vegetables and a little bit of meat for keeping her healthy, pointing out that she's never had to go to the hospital.


http://edition.cnn.com/2017/02/19/asia/china-kung-fu-granny-trnd/index.html

"dear Google boss"

An "entrepreneurial" seven year old wrote to Google for a job and its CEO replied. After discussing her father's work, Chloe Bridgewater decided she would like to work for Google and penned a letter beginning "dear Google boss".

It was only the schoolgirl's second letter, after her first missive to Father Christmas, but the search engine's CEO Sundar Pichai wrote back.


http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-38990254

The Art & Inspiration of Laurel Burch

Diagnosed with severe osteopetrosis at the age of 7, Burch's bones would easily break or fracture just from a fall or bump. Raising two children on her own was quite a challenge not just physically but financially. Art proved to be her saving grace. Rather than expressing her pain, she chose to lift people up, to make them feel good.


http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=7438

The surprise ingredient one chef never leaves behind

Pichet Ong, the A-list pastry chef, who has worked with world-famous chefs including Jean-Georges Vongrichten, published cookbooks, appeared on Top Chef and was named one of the Top 10 pastry chefs in America, travels with his own vanilla beans so he’s always prepared to whip up some last-minute cake batter for clients in need of a tasting.


http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20170214-the-surprise-ingredient-one-chef-never-leaves-behind

Dubai announces passenger drone plans

A drone that can carry people will begin "regular operations" in Dubai from July, the head of the city's Roads and Transportation Agency has announced at the World Government Summit.


http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-38967235

Three amazing women from Delhi’s urban slums

For many women living in urban slums, self-sustainability and independence from family and societal pressures is a mere pipe dream. However, these three women from South Delhi’s slums are challenging these pre-defined gender roles and making their mark boldly.


http://www.thebetterindia.com/85843/how-3-women-defying-great-odds-pursue-dreams-work/?utm_source=The+Better+India+Newsletter&utm_campaign=f97af7c693-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cd579275a4-f97af7c693-74060141

Tihar Jail launches fashion lab and training programmes

Tihar Jail in association with Pearl Academy, the fashion laboratory, will offer training for the prison’s female inmates.

Sudhir Yadav, Director General of Tihar Jail, said it would help the women inmates learn life sustaining skills and provide them with great opportunities to earn a livelihood in their life after prison.


http://www.thebetterindia.com/86362/tihar-jail-pearl-academy-fashion-laboratory/?utm_source=The+Better+India+Newsletter&utm_campaign=f97af7c693-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cd579275a4-f97af7c693-74060141

How the RCS helps China's stressed out millennials

The Rainbow Chamber Singers (RCS) was founded in 2010 by conductor Jin Chengzhi and a small group of his fellow students at the prestigious Shanghai Conservatory of Music. The choir puts on a concert every six months, performing old favorites and newly written traditional-style choral pieces.

Jin -- who describes himself as a "rational optimist" -- said that his work comes from his own experiences and anxieties, but that he hopes the songs "can bring people understanding and hope for life."


http://edition.cnn.com/2017/02/09/asia/china-rainbow-chamber-singers/index.html

The Afghan girls with silver swords

Led by 20-year-old Sima Azimi, the Shaolin Wushu club practises on a snow-covered mountaintop to the west of Kabul.

A great tribute to the human spirit......in spite of what Afghanistan has gone through..is still going through.


http://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-38880353

The one quality that builds trust and loyalty

Pink Jeep Tours, the 57-year-old Arizona-based company, which offers sightseeing excursions around the Grand Canyon, Sedona and Las Vegas in bright pink jeeps, had set its sights on growth throughout the US and new markets abroad. When it decided to expand, it investigated exactly what set it apart from the competition and in which areas it could improve.

Read here what they found the secret of their success was:


http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20170130-there-is-one-quality-that-builds-trust-and-loyalty

The Eagle Huntress

The story of the Eagle Huntress is simple and heartwarming. Aisholpan Nurgaiv, the rosy-cheeked 13-year-old heroine, is trained by her father to hunt on horseback with a golden eagle - traditionally a male pursuit - and shocks everyone by winning the prestigious eagle-hunters' competition held annually in the town of Ulgii, in north-western Mongolia.


http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-38874266

What Peter Pan teaches us

With its astute observations about the human brain and behaviour, JM Barrie’s classic tale pre-empted modern neuroscience by decades. Within Peter's whimsical adventures, Barrie was hiding some profound insights into the human mind, and in particular, the ways it develops over childhood.

Here, neuropsychologist Rosalind Ridley realised, was a tale that teaches us all how we learn to think.


http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170201-what-peter-pan-teaches-us-about-memory-and-consciousness

A surprising way of showing gratitude

In remote fishing communities across southeast Alaska live the intensely generous Tlingit (pronounced klink-kit) and Haida tribes, a nation of matrilineal Native Alaskan Indians that have called this region – along with parts of Western Canada – home for more than 10,000 years.

Their ceremonies of generosity are an economic, social, religious and political glue like no other. As Rosita Kaa háni Worl, president of the Sealaska Heritage Institute, an organization of cultural preservation, creation, advocacy and education for Native Alaskan artists, explained, “These ceremonies bring together opposite clans and help create balance among our moieties, clans and houses; and our ancestors. They keep harmony in our very complex social structure — and that’s really important.”


http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170202-a-surprising-way-of-showing-gratitude

Karen Danczuk

Karen Danczuk has said she wants to shed her "selfie queen" tag and become an MP to help sexual abuse victims.

"What drives me is I feel I'm an underdog, and there are millions of people out there like me," she said. "It takes just one person to say 'I'm going to fight this and we're going to take it on.'"


http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-38842671

Barry White Jr

This is  is the teacher we all wish we had. Ask the fifth-graders at Ashley Park Elementary School in Charlotte, North Carolina.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/item/943f27a0-bae0-4dcc-ac5f-4014ef1d4b09?oihiyv

The dogs that protect little penguins

When foxes discovered little penguins on a small Australian island, they nearly wiped the colony out. But a farmer came up with a novel way to protect the birds.


http://www.dailygood.org/more.php?n=6562

A new threat to poachers

Asuka Takita was born and raised in Japan, but she has made her home on the Maasai Mara, where she leads patrols to stop ivory poachers


http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20170130-the-woman-working-on-the-front-line-of-the-war-on-poaching

Better Shelter by the Ikea Foundation and the UN Refugee Agency

This modular structure is made from recyclable plastic, comprises only 68 compononets and can be assembled in four hours.


http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/27/design/design-of-the-year-2016-ikea-refugee-shelter/index.html

Tangier to Casablanca

Morocco to get Africa's first high-speed train.


http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/20/travel/morocco-high-speed-tgv-trains/index.html

India’s first green village

Home to a 700-year-old settlement and perfectly terraced fields, Khonoma is a unique, self-sustaining village in Nagaland of the Angami tribe.


http://www.thebetterindia.com/82746/khonoma-green-village-nagaland/?utm_source=The+Better+India+Newsletter&utm_campaign=501762ac38-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cd579275a4-501762ac38-74060141

Furious Indian women fight back

Enough is really enough. NO MORE.

"The day is ours and so is the night," Ankita Luharia shouted, along with the other men and women.

Their march was a part of #IWillGoOut -- a nationwide march of thousands in India reacting to an alleged attack on multiple women in Bangalore on New Year's Eve.


http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/26/asia/india-march-i-will-go-out/index.html

Meet 15-year-old ‘Mizo Messi’

India's northeastern state of Mizoram has, for long, been a breeding ground for football players. 15-year-old Lalchungnunga, a football player from the state, has been chosen to train at Germany’s prestigious football league, Bundesliga, for six years.

One of eight siblings born to a daily wage labourer, Lalchungnunga overcame poverty and lack of resources to continue his game. His natural flair for the game has earned him the nickname Mizo Messi (the young footballer is a big fan of the Argentinian star) among friends and locals.


http://www.thebetterindia.com/83242/mizoram-football-player-germany-bundesliga/?utm_source=The+Better+India+Newsletter&utm_campaign=d5f6f88e45-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cd579275a4-d5f6f88e45-74060141

Where people don't like to say no

Thailand is famously known as the Land of Smiles, and its residents pride themselves on being gracious and accommodating. As a collective culture, Thai people are taught to be more concerned with what’s best for the group rather than what suits them personally. Perhaps this is why “no” is always tempered with a “yes”. “Not yes” seems to imply in one small phrase their regret at not being able to consent to what you’ve asked. In fact, when mai chai is proffered, it’s often with downcast eyes and a small bow called a wai or a hand waved in front of the face apologetically.


http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170123-where-people-dont-like-to-say-no

Kalki Subramaniam, the transgender woman, is invited to speak at Harvard

Kalki Subramaniam is an inspiration not only to the transgender community but to society as a whole. This multi-hyphenated writer, activist, media personality, and actor, has been at the forefront fighting for transgender rights in India. Now she is preparing to take her message to a global platform, as Harvard University has invited her as a speaker.


http://www.thebetterindia.com/82883/kalki-subramaniam-transgender-woman-invited-speak-harvard/?utm_source=The+Better+India+Newsletter&utm_campaign=f9914680c2-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cd579275a4-f9914680c2-74060141

Sikkim, India, a fully organic state

Sikkim is fast becoming India’s first fully organic state. Over 75,000 hectares of agricultural land in Sikkim are now free of pesticides and chemicals, and are healthy, allowed to rejuvenate, and helping people eat and be healthier. Every bit of credit goes to the progressive Sikkim State Government for thinking beyond immediate benefits and profits, and considering the greater good for both its people and its lands.


http://www.thebetterindia.com/82304/why-adopt-organic-farming-practices-important-india/?utm_source=The+Better+India+Newsletter&utm_campaign=591ff1105e-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cd579275a4-591ff1105e-74060141

A remarkable lady

Chelsea Clinton

Chelsea Clinton has kept a low profile since her mother's election defeat in November.

But in a new interview with Refinery29, Clinton called on those disappointed with the outcome to not lose hope.


http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/18/entertainment/chelsea-clinton-interview-hillary-clinton/index.html?iid=ob_article_footer_expansion

Desperate to study and learn

The largest non-Muslim minority in Iran, the Bahais, are persecuted in many ways - one being that they are forbidden from attending university. Some study in secret, but for those who want to do a postgraduate degree the only solution is to leave their country and study abroad.


http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-38656871

What does post-truth mean for a philosopher?

"Post-truth" has come to describe a type of campaigning that has turned the political world upside down.

Fuelled by emotive arguments rather than fact-checks, it is a phrase that has tried to capture gut-instinct, anti-establishment politics.

Oxford Dictionaries made it the word of the year, defining it as where "objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief".


http://www.bbc.com/news/education-38557838

Chinese billionaire launches biggest education prize

The Yidan Prize will award nearly $8m (£6.64m) every year to two research projects that have the potential to "transform" global education.

Charles Chen Yidan, who co-founded China's internet company, Tencent, wants to use the prize to scale up innovative education research projects and replicate them across the world.


http://www.bbc.com/news/business-38639891

Walls of Kindness

Walls of kindness are springing up all across North Indian cities — thanks to some good Samaritans who wish to help people from underprivileged backgrounds. These citizens are coming together to set up walls in public spaces where anyone can leave clothes and other necessary supplies, and those in need can take whatever they want.


http://www.thebetterindia.com/82077/the-wall-of-kindness-india-underprivileged/?utm_source=The+Better+India+Newsletter&utm_campaign=4bfa9626e4-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cd579275a4-4bfa9626e4-74060141

Saving the horses in Spiti's Pin Valley

Tucked away in the interiors of the beautiful Pin Valley, Sagnam village is a place where sublime beauty meets the practical struggle for survival. Home to the extraordinary Chamurti horses, this Himalayan hamlet runs its own insurance scheme for its precious equines!


http://www.thebetterindia.com/81700/sagnam-pin-valley-spiti-insurance-chamurti-horses/?utm_source=The+Better+India+Newsletter&utm_campaign=b9a36708b8-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cd579275a4-b9a36708b8-74060141

Eva Kor

Survivor of Auschwitz Nazi experiments preaches forgiveness.


http://edition.cnn.com/2017/01/12/world/my-hero-max-foster-eva-kor/index.html

How food trucks took over city streets

From humble origins, four-wheeled kitchens have redefined urban al fresco dining.


http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20170104-building-a-better-food-truck

5 Rare species of migratory birds that fly to India during winter

These birds love the Indian winter.


http://www.thebetterindia.com/81077/migratory-birds-india/?utm_source=The+Better+India+Newsletter&utm_campaign=9644bc2e7b-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cd579275a4-9644bc2e7b-74060141

Sexuality and gay acceptance

UK, Birmingham-based Manjinder Singh Sidhu spoke about how his very desi (traditionally Indian) Mom came around to supporting him as a proud gay man and also crusades for LGBTQ rights now.


http://www.thebetterindia.com/81128/sikh-lgbtq-mans-mom-supportive-parents/?utm_source=The+Better+India+Newsletter&utm_campaign=085155a8f0-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cd579275a4-085155a8f0-74060141