Sea turtles continue rebounding all over the world, with a recent report from NPR claiming that 1 million turtle nests have been counted along the western coastline of India, a number 10-times as high as 20 years ago. Olive ridley sea turtles are the most populous species in the world, but is still listed as […] The post 1 Million Turtle Nests Counted Along India’s Coast, ‘Crazy High’ Number 10x Higher Than Decades Ago appeared first on Good News Network.

Welcome back to The Spark, our monthly celebration of how people just like you are creating positive change, one meaningful step at a time. The Spark is generously supported by Laura Rice. Sign up to Reasons to be Cheerful’s weekly newsletter here and you’ll get The Spark in your inbox at the start of each month. In this issue:  How “free stores” replace commerce with community  Create an alternative gift registry to cut waste  Giftwrap is out — furoshiki is in ‘Give what you can, take what you need’ Every first Saturday of the month, a cheerful group of volunteers sets up tables in front of the Ryan Chelsea-Clinton Community Health Center in New York City. At the intake table, they sift through donations and sort trash from treasure. Textiles, food, pharmaceuticals and dirty or broken items aren’t accepted. The rest is carefully laid out — stacks of dishware over here, lamp shades and picture frames over there, some unused toiletries, a corner for children’s books and toys. Welcome to the Hell’s Kitchen Free Store. “What I love most is that we don’t have a bank account. We don’t have a till, any money to sustain us at all. It is all done through donation,” says Martha Gelnaw, who has been volunteering with the project from the start. “Everybody feels good on both the giving and the taking side.” ‘We don’t have a till.’ Credit: Hell‘s Kitchen Free Store. The project grew out of neighborhood swap parties run by social worker and community organizer Chana Widawski. In March 2021 she recruited a group of volunteers to put up shelves in the disused side entrance of a closed business on West 45th Street in Manhattan, turning it into a 24/7 public storefront where people could leave and take items based on their needs, with no cash changing hands. The inventory evolved organically from day to day, with volunteers chatting to interested passers-by and keeping the store tidy and clean. It immediately attracted interest — as much for the comradery as the promise of free stuff. “It became a community center, a gallery, a place to get things,” remembers Widawski. “It’s about the intersection of waste diversion, mutual aid and community building.”  Overconsumption and waste go hand-in-hand, and both peak around the holidays. Americans spend more money in December than in any other month, while creating 5.8 million tons of additional waste. Gift returns peak in the first week of January, with many going straight to the landfill.  Free stores offer an alternative — finding new treasures and getting rid of unwanted items while bypassing the spend-to-waste pipeline. “It’s such a feel-good thing,” says Gelnaw, who also enjoys selecting small gifts for her grandchildren at the store.  Credit: Hell‘s Kitchen Free Store. They come in all shapes and sizes, from brick-and-mortar shops to permanent public spaces and regular pop-up events, the latter sometimes also called Really Really Free Markets. “It doesn’t have to be a giant 24/7 thing instantly. Mine started as a community event that I did once, and then it was successful, so I did it again,” says Widawski. Another option is to start by focusing on a certain type of item, similar to Little Free Libraries and community cupboards.  When the Hell’s Kitchen Free Store lost its permanent location due to a change in building management in 2023, the volunteer team quickly rallied and started organizing monthly pop-up events in partnership with the Ryan Center. “It’s not that hard. Put your tables out, take stuff in, give it away,” says Gelnaw. “It’s so doable.”  In addition to partnering with local organizations, the key to a successful free store is the cohort that makes it happen, says Gelnaw. “Sustaining a volunteer group is an art.” Their group coordinates via WhatsApp and monthly meetings, with people pitching in in various ways — some volunteer at events while others print flyers, prepare banners, or source new tables as needed. “It was a very important element of our model that anyone could pitch in to do whatever they can, when they can, however they can,” says Widawski. “It’s okay. You’re part of the community. This is yours.” Read a step-by-step guide to starting a free store in your community here. Start an alternative gift registry Between end-of-year holidays, weddings, birthdays and baby showers, buying and receiving endless streams of presents can feel like an inescapable part of the social contract. But alternative gift registries, like the SoKind Registry from the Arizona-based nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity, let you ask for the things you truly want and need, including experiences, used items, charitable donations and gifts of time and skill. How about a notebook of trusted family recipes for the newlywed couple? A home cooked meal or a week of dog walking for the exhausted new parents? A museum pass for the kids? Alternatively, setting up a “Give List” lets loved ones know what kinds of alternative gifts you would like to give this holiday season. See a sample family holiday wish list from SoKind here. The sustainable way to wrap presents Most giftwrap can’t be recycled. The Japanese tradition of furoshiki — which refers both to the practice of wrapping items in reusable textiles, and to the decorative cloth itself — creates beautifully wrapped gifts without the waste. Wait, you're not a member yet? Join the Reasons to be Cheerful community by supporting our nonprofit publication and giving what you can. Join Cancel anytime Since the production of textiles consumes resources and energy, furoshiki is only truly sustainable if the cloth gets reused many times. That’s why furoshiki cloth is traditionally returned to the gift-giver for reuse. Alternatively, parts of the gift, like a scarf or a blanket, can be used to create a furoshiki-like wrapping. Learn different furoshiki wrapping techniques from this infographic by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment. The post The Spark: Maximize the Mirth, Minimize the Waste appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM If you’ve spent any time online lately, you know the world isn’t exactly short on advice. It feels like everyone is ready and willing to talk over each other and shovel out unsolicited counsel: “Fix your mindset.” “Rewrite your habits.” “Become that version of yourself.”  Some of it might be helpful, a lot of it contradictory, and most of it just overwhelming. Under this constant tirade of voices, it can be hard for young people (and let’s be honest, the rest of us, too) to know what guidance to follow. With opinions coming at us every time we pick up our phones, clarity can feel out of reach. But beneath all the noise, researchers and mental health experts tend to agree on a handful of foundational tenets that help people thrive. These aren’t quick hacks or trendy challenges. They’re long‑studied, deeply human practices drawn from positive psychology, decades of behavioral‑health research, and conversations with people who’ve spent their careers helping communities navigate real‑world stress. Julie Radlauer-Doerfler, LMHC, a leading expert on the social influences of mental health, shares these five simple principles anyone can return to when life feels chaotic, complicated, or a little off‑track. The five principles for building a happier, steadier life 1. Know your values and use your voice Most people get that immediate, nagging feeling when they stray from what matters most to them. When our daily lives don’t align with our core values, whether that’s freedom, stability, creativity, community, or anything else, stress, discomfort, and dissatisfaction are sure to follow. Finding your voice starts with noticing what lights you up and what drains you. It also means communicating honestly (and kindly) with others. Radlauer-Doerfler emphasizes that “our words shape the world around us as well as the world inside us,” and that curiosity, rather than judgment, often prevents conflict before it starts. Speaking up with clarity and compassion is one of the most powerful ways to move through the world with ease. 2. Protect your peace like it’s a resource In a world where content never stops and notifications are constant, deciding what deserves your attention is an act of self‑preservation. This is where boundaries come in, not as a harsh line, but as a healthy practice. Protecting your peace can look like taking digital breaks, saying no when your plate is full, or limiting the emotional energy you give to draining environments. Research consistently shows that what we consume influences how we feel. A more intentional “mental diet” supports better mood, steadier energy, and healthier coping. Your peace is priceless. Treat it that way. 3. Let integrity and humility guide how you show up Happiness isn’t only about how we feel; it’s also about how we behave. Following through on commitments, showing up when we say we will, and honoring our word strengthens relationships and builds inner confidence. Integrity keeps us grounded in who we are. Humility keeps us open to who we can become. Together, they form the backbone of trust, both with others and within ourselves. 4. Choose connection, even when it feels vulnerable A growing body of research highlights what many people already feel: loneliness is taking a real toll. In one recent survey, 73 percent of Gen Z respondents reported feeling lonely at least some of the time, and many parents worry their children are struggling to make friends. Human beings are built for community, and meaningful relationships are one of the most consistent predictors of well‑being. Face‑to‑face connection (think sharing meals, joining clubs, volunteering, playing sports, showing up for others) offers something no algorithm can replicate. If building community feels daunting, start small. Follow your interests and join spaces where people share your passions. If you feel like you haven’t yet identified a passion or hobby, use that blank slate as a launchpad to try out new things. Creating community and connections, like everything, starts by just taking that first step. 5. Practice resilience as a learned skill—not a personality trait Everyone faces challenges. What matters is how we move through them. Resilience isn’t about avoiding hard things. It’s about learning from them, asking for help when needed, and trying again with new insight. Experts note that resilience strengthens through actions like seeking meaning in difficulties, staying patient through setbacks, and staying connected to something larger than yourself. It’s not about being unbreakable. It’s about staying flexible. Putting it all together These five principles aren’t quick fixes, and they aren’t rules. They’re gentle anchors and guiding ideas that can help us understand ourselves more deeply, protect our emotional energy, and build lives filled with purpose, connection, and growth. If your life doesn’t feel the way you want it to yet, that’s okay. You’re allowed to start again, begin small, and build slowly. With the right tools, anyone can create a life that feels good from the inside out.The post How to build a life that feels good: 5 guiding principles to happiness  first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Starting this week, on December 10th, Australia will become the first country to ban all children under 16 from having social media accounts. This is meant to be a sweeping law that covers TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Threads, and other popular platforms. Whether the move will meaningfully protect young people or simply push them toward digital workarounds is still unclear. The only thing that is clear is that the rest of the world is watching closely. A radical response to growing harm The ban follows a government-commissioned study released earlier this year that painted a troubling picture of kids’ online lives. 96 percent of children aged 10 to 15 were using social media, and 70 percent had been exposed to harmful content, including misogyny, violence, and material promoting suicide and eating disorders. One in seven had been targeted by grooming behavior, and more than half reported being cyberbullied. The government cited these findings when introducing the ban, accusing social media platforms of promoting “design features that encourage [young people] to spend more time on screens” while pushing content that “can harm their health and wellbeing.” What the ban actually does Children under 16 can no longer create or maintain social media accounts across ten platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, and Twitch. Existing accounts must be deactivated. However, kids can still watch most content passively as the ban only blocks interactive accounts. Interestingly, platforms like YouTube Kids, WhatsApp, and Google Classroom are exempt, as they don’t meet the criteria for being “social” in the legal sense. Online games such as Roblox and Discord are also excluded, though some have quietly added age-gating features. Who’s responsible—and what’s at stake The law doesn’t punish children or parents. Instead, the burden falls entirely on social media companies, who must take “reasonable steps” to keep under-16s off their platforms or face fines of up to A$49.5 million (about USD $32 million). To comply, companies must implement age assurance technology that goes beyond simple self-declared birthdays. That may include government ID checks, facial or voice recognition, or advanced algorithms that infer a user’s age based on online behavior. Companies like Meta and Snapchat are already adapting. Meta began removing teen accounts in early December, allowing wrongly flagged users to appeal using ID or video selfies. Snapchat offers age verification through bank accounts and photo IDs. Why critics say the policy is flawed Despite good intentions, critics worry the rollout may backfire. Facial recognition is notoriously unreliable for teens, and many fear the law will block adults by mistake while letting determined underage users slip through. Stephen Scheeler, a former Facebook executive, questioned the effectiveness of the fines. “It takes Meta about an hour and 52 minutes to make A$50 million in revenue,” he told AAP. Others point to loopholes: dating apps, gaming platforms, and AI chatbots, some of which have been flagged for predatory or sexually suggestive behavior, are not covered by the ban. Even teens themselves seem skeptical. Some admitted that they’re setting up fake accounts, switching to shared family profiles, or planning to use VPNs to mask their age and location. These are all tactics already used by kids in the UK after similar laws were enacted. Platform pushback and privacy concerns Tech companies weren’t shy about their frustration. YouTube’s parent company, Google, called the new law “rushed” and warned it may make kids less safe by removing access to safety tools built into accounts. Meta warned of “inconsistent protections” across apps. Critics also flagged the privacy implications of collecting biometric data and IDs to verify age, especially in a country where data breaches have exposed sensitive personal information in recent years. The government insists the legislation includes strong data protections: information collected can only be used for age verification and must be deleted immediately after. “It’s going to look untidy” Communications Minister Annika Wells admitted the rollout won’t be flawless. “It’s going to look a bit untidy on the way through,” she said. “Big reforms always do.” The government maintains that doing something is better than doing nothing, especially as global anxiety around kids’ digital safety grows. Denmark has announced a similar under-15 ban, France is debating a curfew for teens on social media, and Spain and Norway are exploring new restrictions. In the UK, companies now face major fines or even jail time for executives if they fail to prevent kids from accessing harmful content. In the U.S., efforts like Utah’s under-18 ban have been blocked in court. A test case for global policy Australia’s law is a bold experiment in regulating digital spaces for children. It’s messy, imperfect, and controversial, but it may also become a blueprint for countries grappling with how to raise kids in a hyperconnected world. The post Australia’s bold move to ban kids under 16 from social media sparks important global debate first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

Mary Skinner went to Aldi to do some last-minute shopping on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. The new mom had her 5-month-old son with her as she shopped for food ahead of her first holiday feast as host. As babies often do, the little guy became fussy. Mary tried her best to bounce him on her hip and fill her cart. “I already feel when I go into a store, people give me that look like, ‘I’m trying to shop and you’re bothering me.’ So I was already stressed because I don’t want to be that parent with a screaming kid,” she told KSDK. The Aldi store had people, and one special couple noticed the young mom’s struggle. Instead of judging, they swooped in to help. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Genell Reynolds (@genellwiththegoodnews) The Couple Helped Mary Skinner When She Needed It Most Mary Skinner, who lives in Glen Carbon, Illinois, finally reached the bagging area at the end of her trip. She said an older couple approached and asked to help, but Mary didn’t want to be a bother. “Oh no, no, I couldn’t possibly,” she said. But this couple wouldn’t hear it. They saw her and her baby and felt empathy stemming from their own lives raising kids. “Oh no, we had four kids and have six grandkids now. We know what it’s like,” they told Mary. She said she stood in shock as the total strangers helped her just to be nice. They wanted nothing more from the interaction. Mary said she wound up sitting in her car crying because that little bit of kindness meant so much to her. “Oh my gosh, sometimes like people do things that are just so, it may not seem like such a big thing, but seeing someone struggling and just stepping in without judgment, without expectation, it just felt my heart was so full,” she said. Mary Skinner felt the love of strangers who wanted to help just because. It’s so nice to hear about the good and how the smallest gesture can have a huge impact. This story’s featured image is by Oscar Wong.