by Mike Whitney‚ The Unz Review: After six months of blocking ceasefire resolutions at the United Nations‚ the US delegation submitted its own draft resolution on Friday ostensibly aimed at stopping the hostilities so humanitarian aid can reach the starving people of Gaza. Unfortunately‚ the American team linked the proposed ceasefire to the release of hostages and […]

Francis Rossi reveals why the Rolling Stones annoy him‚ names the guitarist whose onstage farewell he copied‚ and reveals the band "who should have been drowned at birth"

The Obama Regime did the same thing. How much lower will Biden stoop to get back those radical Muslim votes in Michigan and Minnesota?  Internal documents show the entire Intelligence Community has been warned to avoid using “problematic phrases” for Islamic terrorism such as “Islamic terrorism.” And staff must avoid calling terrorists “radical Islamists‚” “Muslim […]

Among the global push for forestry‚ one African project stands out for its novel approach. Could the Trees for the Future (TREES) effort help to reverse deforestation and desertification? This innovative project‚ which promotes the conversion of monoculture landscapes into biodiverse forest gardens‚ received considerable praise for its practical results.  The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) awarded TREES the distinguished designation of World Restoration Flagship‚ catalyzing the planting of millions of trees each year across nine countries and covering over 41‚000 hectares—a land area seven times the size of Manhattan. Let’s look at how this revolutionary endeavor is making a difference. The TREES Project: a green revolution for Africa Since its debut in 2015‚ the TREES program has helped to reshape Africa’s environmental landscape. With lofty goals and a dedication to grassroots participation‚ TREES intends to create 230‚000 jobs and plant a billion trees by 2030‚ establishing the groundwork for sustainable development and ecological resiliency. According to Inger Andersen‚ executive director of the UNEP‚ “Initiatives like TREES are playing an important role in reversing decades of ecosystem degradation‚ especially across the Sahel‚ pushing back desertification‚ increasing climate resilience‚ and improving the wellbeing of farmers and their communities.” This recognition emphasizes the importance of solving Africa’s serious environmental concerns‚ as well as the critical role that grassroots efforts play in generating transformative change. Overcoming historical challenges Despite TREES’ remarkable progress‚ historical pessimism about large-scale regeneration programs persists. Previous attempts have frequently failed to meet expectations due to a lack of follow-up‚ insufficient resources‚ and unrealistic goals. However‚ TREES distinguishes itself by taking a comprehensive approach that extends beyond tree planting. Vincent Mainga‚ the Kenyan director of TREES‚ emphasizes‚ “This is a massive restoration movement using regenerative agriculture. This model is very easy to adopt.” The promise of forest gardens One of the TREES initiative’s defining aspects is its emphasis on forest gardens‚ a concept that combines agroforestry concepts to build resilient and productive ecosystems. TREES supports smallholder farmers to move from monocultural techniques to diverse agroecological systems by providing thorough training‚ seeds‚ tools‚ and grants. Farmers in Kesouma‚ western Kenya‚ whose agricultural land borders Lake Victoria‚ have fully embraced this strategy. According to Mainga‚ “We work with the farmers for four years. After that‚ they can understand all the components‚ and they can use what they learn from our technicians to produce thriving farmlands‚ usually with a surplus. It is self-sustaining.” This bottom-up strategy promotes ownership and long-term sustainability‚ ensuring that communities realize the benefits of forestry while also protecting their livelihood. Monitoring and sustainability However‚ the path to ecological restoration is laden with difficulties‚ from assessing progress to obtaining financial incentives. To address these concerns‚ TREES works with stakeholders to develop robust monitoring tools and novel finance approaches. Notably‚ collaborations with institutions such as the University of Nairobi and the Wangari Maathai Institute of Peace and Environmental Studies support research and carbon credit projects. As Africa prepares for historic demographic transitions and environmental turmoil‚ programs like TREES provide a ray of hope amidst hardship. With visionary leadership‚ local involvement‚ and international assistance‚ reforestation is on track to forge a new course—one in which ecological resilience and human prosperity coexist harmoniously.The post How the TREES initiative will help reverse deforestation in Africa first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

In the records of Indian folklore‚ there is a timeless story about six blind men discovering an elephant for the first time. As each man touches a different part of the elephant – its trunk‚ tusk‚ or tail — they generate vastly different conceptions of the creature. “It’s like a snake‚” one exclaims‚ while another believes it’s like a tree trunk. This parable shows our tendency to see reality through narrow perspectives. As psychologist Tenelle Porter affirms‚ “When we’re more engaged and listening to the other side‚ the disagreements tend to be more constructive.” The power of intellectual humility: expert perspectives Intellectual humility goes beyond conventional modesty; it represents a deep openness to new ideas and a willingness to learn from others. Tenelle Porter‚ Assistant Professor of Psychology at Rowan University‚ extols its merits‚ pointing out that intellectually humble people are not only better learners but also excellent at civil discourse. In an era marked by information overload and ideological polarization‚ maintaining intellectual humility is critical for generating true knowledge and personal development. According to Laszlo Bock‚ Google’s former VP of Hiring‚ intellectual humility is a desirable trait in candidates. “Without intellectual humility‚ you are unable to learn‚” he emphasizes. Embracing growth mindsets as a path to lifelong learning Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck’s concept of a development mindset is critical for developing intellectual humility. According to Porter‚ “This kind of belief can be very threatening because it risks branding people as‚ sort of‚ losers in the intellectual lottery.” In contrast‚ adopting a growth mindset opens up a world of possibilities‚ allowing people to thrive and adapt to adversity. Wisdom in humility: the intersection of learning and virtue Psychologists Ethan Kross and Igor Grossmann administered a study in 2012 that discovered a link between intellectual humility and wisdom. Kross and Grossmann emphasize the necessity of understanding one’s own knowledge limitations and cultivating a prosocial mindset. Intellectual humility‚ they argue‚ enhances social well-being and community concord. Navigating bias and prejudice: overcoming cognitive blind spots Our cognitive biases frequently distort our perspective of reality‚ causing us to overestimate our objectivity. According to Porter‚ recognizing this prejudice blind spot is critical for developing intellectual humility. By honestly accepting our prejudices‚ we open ourselves to other views and enrich our understanding of the world. Bridging divides: practicing intellectual humility in everyday life In an era of polarization‚ intellectual humility provides a road to productive discourse and collaboration. Individuals can bridge party divides and promote greater understanding by actively listening to other points of view. Porter sees intellectual humility as a motivator for positive interactions and effective problem-solving. Developing empathy: from emotional to intellectual connections Empathy promotes emotional resonance‚ whereas intellectual humility improves our connection with others. Writer Lisa Miller’s investigation of empathy in “Guns and Empathy” emphasizes the value of intellectual connection in transcending ideological divides. By practicing intellectual humility‚ we foster true understanding and mutual respect in our interactions.The post What is intellectual humility? How intellectual humility unlocks learning and understanding first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

I cannot be a good steward of what God has given me if I'm not clinging to him‚ being obedient to the call God has given me.