A World Set Right

Each day we hear such gloom and doom about our world, and people feel so weighed down, that everything is heading toward an apocalypse. But this week I read two stories that tell a different story. In Sunday’s LA Times, a front page feature showed the fantastic recovery of the Bolsa Chica wetlands, how thousands of birds were now nesting and making their homes in the watery meadows, and how scallops were multiplying, and dozens of endangered species were making a comeback. By recovering the precious wetlands from parking lots and an oil field, environmentals, federal and state agencies and volunteer groups had transformed the Bolsa Chica area once again into a natural haven for wildlife. It’s a true transformation and the experts are just awestruck by the success! Where there is a will, (an intention or conscious creation) there is a way!

I also read today about Steven Kwon, a 60-year-old scientist and researcher from Pasadena who has single-handedly convinced 4,400 Afghan farmers in 15 provinces to plant 80 tons of soybeans, resulting in 2,000 tons of protein for the nutritionally-starved nation  –and in so doing gotten them to forego planting opium poppies. And 6,000 more farmers are waiting to get into the program, but limited funding from Kwon’s nonprofit Nutrition and Education International and the Afghan government means that only 25% of them will be able to participate. But there is great hope for the future! There wasn’t one soybean plant in the country when Kwon started in 2005! This is a real solution to the protein shortage and a way to stem the drug trade!

Now I prefer to see these as the leading edge toward taking the world in the right direction,and by focusing on these victories and applauding them, we open the door for more!