Image Credits

Unattributed photos are used with gratitude from Unsplash. The cover images for the following posts are attributed to…

Good news & Change Blog

May 2018

  • Boko Haram has been routed from the 24 local areas in Nigeria they used to administer: “More Boko Haram Terrorist Attacks” flickr photo by ssoosay https://flickr.com/photos/ssoosay/13954329516 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • California becomes first state to order solar on new homes: “Solar panels” flickr photo by wallheater https://flickr.com/photos/86835498@N00/15014808403 shared into the public domain using (PDM)
  • EU bank to invest €300 million in Chinese climate projects: “EU Flag” flickr photo by EU Naval Force Media and Public Information Office https://flickr.com/photos/eunavfor/8250009574 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-ND) license
  • Lloyds Bank launches £2bn green business lending drive: “lloyds-bank-building” flickr photo by jasonmountier https://flickr.com/photos/52852078@N02/13449655843 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • Ohio voters approve gerrymandering reform for US House seats: Steven Nass (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:How_to_Steal_an_Election_-_Gerrymandering.svg)
  • Small minimum wage rises don’t cause job losses, Reserve Bank of Australia study finds: “Protest march for a $15/hour minimum wage in the Dinkytown neighborhood” flickr photo by Fibonacci Blue https://flickr.com/photos/fibonacciblue/16543555173 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license

April 2018

  • Afghanistan sets October date for much-delayed elections: “IMG_3645” flickr photo by philmofresh https://flickr.com/photos/phickmanfresh/10621978575 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • Alaskans reject anti-transgender ‘bathroom bill’:
  • Costa Rica’s young president-elect Carlos Alvarado Quesada wins pitching progressive values: “Costa Rican Flag” flickr photo by kasthor https://flickr.com/photos/kasthor/79941814 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Decline in plastic bags on seabed near UK suggests measures to tackle waste are working: MichaelisScientists (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1682478-poster-1280-plasticbags.jpg), „1682478-poster-1280-plasticbags“, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode
  • Iran raises minimum wage in concession to workers: “Pol-e Tabi’at, Tehran, 20170407” flickr photo by G · RTM https://flickr.com/photos/g-rtm/33840466662 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND) license
  • The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, dedicated to victims of American white supremacy, opens in Montgomery, Alabama: “Monument to “Our Confederate Soldiers”, Wiess Park, Beaumont, Texas 1604281404bw” flickr photo by Patrick Feller https://flickr.com/photos/nakrnsm/26169007264 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • New Zealand bans new offshore drilling, citing climate change: “Amelia-A” flickr photo by Strocchi https://flickr.com/photos/strocchi/2057466280 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Trinidad & Tobago decriminalizes homosexuality in landmark court case: “Maracas, Trinidad” flickr photo by neiljs https://flickr.com/photos/neiljs/4500445157 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • UK department store Sel:fridges to stop selling single-use plastic bottles: “Selfridges” flickr photo by ell brown https://flickr.com/photos/ell-r-brown/3623340962 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • UK’s Costa Coffee to recycle equivalent of all its takeaway cups each year: “COSTA COFFEE” flickr photo by Richard, enjoy my life! https://flickr.com/photos/ladyous/8303332797 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • UK supermarket Waitrose to stop using disposable coffee cups: “waitrose cricket” flickr photo by osde8info https://flickr.com/photos/osde-info/14738419933 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Wells Fargo commits $200bn towards low carbon projects by 2030: “Wells Fargo Bank” flickr photo by JeepersMedia https://flickr.com/photos/jeepersmedia/13754128855 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license

March 2018

February 2018

January 2018

December 2017

November 2017

October 2017

September 2017

  • Bernie Sanders to introduce single-payer bill with major support in Senate: “Bernie & Jane Sanders” flickr photo by Gage Skidmore https://flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/25826818705 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Cambodia and Laos wipe out trachoma—leading infectious cause of blindness: “IMG_6413” flickr photo by Pan American Health Organization PAHO https://flickr.com/photos/pahowho/14176342451 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-ND) license
  • Duke to increase employee minimum wage to $15 by 2019: “Duke University” flickr photo by ilysewhitney https://flickr.com/photos/134348486@N05/35365922032 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • Harvard pays students to host ‘brave spaces’ for social justice: “Harvard” flickr photo by angela n. https://flickr.com/photos/aon/6273971705 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license

  • Mark Zuckerberg’s massive share sales will support prison reform and other progressive causes: “Alcatraz Prison” flickr photo by Alexander C. Kafka https://flickr.com/photos/alexanderkafka/14929841472 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-ND) license

  • Mars counters Trump’s climate stance with $1bn sustainability plan: “MANDM” flickr photo by Dominic Rooney https://flickr.com/photos/rooneydom/7298143350 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • Minnesota’s clean energy jobs grew 3.8 times faster than overall job growth: “Downtown Minneapolis” flickr photo by m01229

  • New blockchain-based ‘carbon currency’ aims to make carbon pricing mainstream: “Bitcoin Chain IMG_9179” flickr photo by btckeychain https://flickr.com/photos/btckeychain/14861107819 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license

  • Scotland to ‘phase out’ new petrol and diesel cars by 2032: “Edinburgh Prince’s Street” flickr photo by ddh Photos https://flickr.com/photos/16190595@N05/32312365752 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-ND) license
  • Somalia gets first forensic center to deliver justice in sexual assault cases: “Feeding center” flickr photo by rjones0856 https://flickr.com/photos/91829349@N00/3222724232 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • Target to raise its minimum wage to $11 per hour, promising $15 by 2020: “At Target again!” flickr photo by cote https://flickr.com/photos/cote/4902896335 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • UC Irvine aims to transform public health with record-breaking $200-million donation: “Love those Anteaters” flickr photo by cogdogblog https://flickr.com/photos/cogdog/10014174454 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • UN brokers deal to end use of children in Nigeria’s battle with Boko Haram: “More Boko Haram Terrorist Attacks 3” flickr photo by ssoosay https://flickr.com/photos/ssoosay/13979209164 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • A “world first” fusion reactor just created its first plasma: “Nuclear Fusion Reactor” flickr photo by jurvetson https://flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/4844626925 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license

July 2017

  • 46 Republicans buck party to help Democrats take down anti-climate military action amendment: “U.S. Capitol Building detail” flickr photo by Kevin Burkett https://flickr.com/photos/kevinwburkett/3415364650 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Cameroon fights pollution by turning used plastic into jobs: “Plastics” flickr photo by EdinburghGreens https://flickr.com/photos/edinburghgreens/5326907987 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • Court finds that approval of Dakota Access Pipeline violated the law: “Standing Rock 4” flickr photo by unitedchurchofchrist https://flickr.com/photos/7724093@N05/30205885184 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Court rules it’s reasonable consumers wouldn’t consider glyphosate-containing Nature Valley Granola Bars ‘natural’: “Chafer -43” flickr photo by Chafer Machinery https://flickr.com/photos/chafermachinery/15412945324 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • The good news of haters: “Haters” flickr photo by Johnny Silvercloud https://flickr.com/photos/johnnysilvercloud/24011761923 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Human Rights Campaign announces largest grassroots expansion in its history: “Human Rights Campaign 2791” flickr photo by tedeytan https://flickr.com/photos/taedc/5824691944 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Kenya is first in Africa to get latest generic AIDS drug: “kenya” flickr photo by kevinzim https://flickr.com/photos/86624586@N00/112509725 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • Microsoft and Puget Sound Energy get OK for clean-energy deal to help power software giant’s campus: “Microsoft” flickr photo by bfishadow https://flickr.com/photos/bfishadow/4405446485 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • Reimagining Progress: “Abstract” flickr photo by EuroSlice https://flickr.com/photos/104021946@N05/15436324094 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Scientists report a rare case of H.I.V. remission: “Virus” flickr photo by Dominic’s pics https://flickr.com/photos/dominicspics/5425951169 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license, cropping by Peter Schulte
  • Should Radiohead perform in Israel?: “Radiohead” flickr photo by angela n. https://flickr.com/photos/aon/2488538303 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • Target tackles “branded trash” with new recycling initiatives: “At Target again!” flickr photo by cote https://flickr.com/photos/cote/4902896335 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • Washington State will now alert survivors when domestic abusers try to buy a gun: “handgun” flickr photo by robertnelson https://flickr.com/photos/robertnelson/439618310 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • World’s first malaria vaccine will be given to thousands of babies in Africa: “Mosquito” flickr photo by turkletom https://flickr.com/photos/turkletom/4584117897 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license

June 2017

May 2017

April 2017

March 2017

  • 43 brands will fix or replace anything you buy from them — forever: “Patagonia Wood Sign” flickr photo by Dave Dugdale https://flickr.com/photos/davedugdale/4959660085 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Berkeley becomes first city to divest from U.S.-Mexico border wall companies: “Berkeley, California (1959)” flickr photo by roger4336 https://flickr.com/photos/24736216@N07/4071052000 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Breckinridge Capital adopts Social Progress Index to reward cities for “inclusiveness.”: Matt Mechtley from Heidelberg, Deutschland (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Inclusive_community_(citation_needed)_(2205859730).jpg), „Inclusive community (citation needed) (2205859730)“, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode
  • Lithium-ion battery inventor introduces new technology for fast-charging, noncombustible batteries: “New electric car charging station at Kahala Mall” flickr photo by coconut wireless https://flickr.com/photos/frikitiki/6784128074 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-ND) license
  • Maryland House votes to ban fracking by veto-proof margin: “Fracking” flickr photo by SFU – University Communications https://flickr.com/photos/sfupamr/14601885300 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • Rikers Island prison to close, New York mayor says: “2012_03_14_aus-iah-bos_402” flickr photo by dsearls https://flickr.com/photos/docsearls/7042515751 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license

February 2017

January 2017

December 2016

November 2016

  • Duke University launches program for men to consider their toxic masculinities: “Duke University Library” flickr photo by fw_gadget https://flickr.com/photos/26240579@N05/3926497441 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • The first Latina senator ever is coming to Washington: “Catherine Cortez Masto, Nevada Attorney General” flickr photo by The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Right https://flickr.com/photos/lccr/6777894706 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC) license
  • George Soros pledges $10 million to fight hate crimes: “George Soros, Rebecca Harms” flickr photo by boellstiftung https://flickr.com/photos/boellstiftung/13307595893 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Hillary Clinton: The next systems candidate: “Hillary Clinton” flickr photo by Nrbelex https://flickr.com/photos/nrbelex/2232632457 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Progressive champion Pramila Jayapal became the first ever Indian-American woman elected to congress: “Pramila Jayapal” flickr photo by javacolleen https://flickr.com/photos/javacolleen/5682448787 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND) license

October 2016

September 2016

August 2016

July 2016

June 2016

February 2016

Timeline of Human Genius

Prehistory (125,000 - 10,000 B.C.)

  • Bands of human begin forming in tribes, starting in the the Fertile Crescent (~11,000 B.C.): “Naga women from the Patkoi hills, Assam” flickr photo by collection of old photos https://flickr.com/photos/54729153@N07/10495675535 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-ND) license
  • First human settlement is built in Australia (~50,000 B.C.): “Flinders Ranges” flickr photo by mecookie https://flickr.com/photos/mecookie/3166232212 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • The first permanent human settlement is built, perhaps in modern day Czech Republic (~25,000 B.C): “Dolni Vestonice  (12)” flickr photo by korom https://flickr.com/photos/korom/8310424708 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Humans arrive in Australia for first time (~65,000 B.C.): “Uluru” flickr photo by robertpaulyoung https://flickr.com/photos/robertpaulyoung/2715652141 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • Humans begin practicing ceremonial burial (~50,000 B.C.): “Skeleton” flickr photo by farrokhi https://flickr.com/photos/farrokhi/5035628957 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license, cropping by Peter Schulte
  • Humans begin to use spears with complex stone blades (~200,000 B.C.): “Spears” flickr photo by Hilde Kari https://flickr.com/photos/29745454@N04/5075033849 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-NC) license
  • Humans begin using flutes – perhaps first musical instruments ever – in modern-day Germany (~49,000 B.C.): “Music” flickr photo by Steve Snodgrass https://flickr.com/photos/stevensnodgrass/2449130669 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • Human behavior evolves to “behavioral modernity”, including abstract thinking, planning depth, and symbolic thinking (~50,000 B.C. ???): “Exercise Plays Vital Role Maintaining Brain Health” flickr photo by A Health Blog https://flickr.com/photos/healthblog/8384110298 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Humans created art for the first time, possibly in Indonesia (~40,000 B.C.): “Cave Paintings” flickr photo by GOC53 https://flickr.com/photos/graeme/8977513982 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • Humanity develops mysticism, creating meaning and purpose beyond survival (???): “Cave Paintings” flickr photo by GOC53 https://flickr.com/photos/graeme/8977513982 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • Humans first arrive in New Guinea (~40,000 B.C ???): “Goroka Show” flickr photo by Anselmo Lastra https://flickr.com/photos/lastra/1547170234 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • Humans in Africa invent the bow and arrow (~60,000 B.C.): “hunters” flickr photo by hans s https://flickr.com/photos/archeon/3950771215 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-ND) license
  • Humans in Ancient Morocco manufacture jewelry for first time (~80,000 B.C): “Button LACMA M.76.97.626” flickr photo by Fæ https://flickr.com/photos/wikimediacommons/15777964424 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • Humans invent clothing (~170,000 B.C.): “Pels – liv og død / Fur – an issue of life and death” flickr photo by Nationalmuseet https://flickr.com/photos/nationalmuseet/15425279721 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Human invent pottery, perhaps in modern-day Jiangxi province in China (~18,000 B.C. ???): Zhangzhugang (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:National_Museum_of_China_2014.02.01_14-43-38.jpg), „National Museum of China 2014.02.01 14-43-38“, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode
  • Human invent tally marks, their first numeral systems (~40,000 B.C): “counting IIII (cc)” flickr photo by marfis75 https://flickr.com/photos/marfis75/13848268535 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Humans migrate from Siberia to Americas across the Bering Land Bridge (~20,000 B.C.): “20150603_BELA_KutiztrinRiver_KenHill” flickr photo by AlaskaNPS https://flickr.com/photos/alaskanps/33365592715 shared into the public domain using (PDM)
  • Humans reach and begin settling Tasmania (~40,000 B.C. ???): “Autumn. It’s raining in Queensland!” flickr photo by Tatters ✾ https://flickr.com/photos/tgerus/4399205945 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
  • Humans reach Europe (~43,000 B.C.): “Travel Map : Europe” flickr photo by roundedbygravity https://flickr.com/photos/unfoldedorigami/3080582791 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Kebarian Culture thrives in the Levant (~17,000 B.C.): The-Levant-sr.svg: *The_Levant_3.png: MapMaster derivative work: Ivan25 (talk) derivative work: Snaevar (talk) (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The-Levant-is.svg), „The-Levant-is“, Cropping by Peter Schulte, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode
  • “Mitochondrial Eve” is born, probably somewhere in Africa (~200,000 B.C. ???): “Adam and Eve in the Earthly Paradise” flickr photo by rjhuttondfw https://flickr.com/photos/rjhuttondfw/20199540225 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-SA) license
  • Proto-humans in modern-day Siberia begin using sewing needles (~50,000 B.C.): “Viroconium Cornoviorum . Roman bone sewing needles” flickr photo by John McLinden https://flickr.com/photos/fogey03/14012853820 shared under a Creative Commons (BY-ND) license
  • Rock paintings tradition begins in Bhimbetka rock shelters in India (~30,000 B.C. ???): “Bhimbetka, rock paintings” flickr photo by Arian Zwegers https://flickr.com/photos/azwegers/9839910925 shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license

Agricultural revolution (10,000 - 3,000 B.C.)

Ancient civilizations (3,000 B.C. - 500 A.D.)

Postclassical era (500 - 1500 A.D.)

Modern era (1500 - 1945 A.D.)

Post-modern era (1945 - 2016 A.D.)

Next Systems

New economy 101

Systems thinking 101

  • “I need a rock this size…”: Lee Sauer
  • “Tools of a systems think”: Emma Segal

Food forests 101