[WSMDiscuss] Fwd: Something beautiful is happening 🌈

Thu May 14 15:56:49 CEST 2020

Friends, I could not but help being moved  by these stories. I imagine 
some will ask 'where is the structural, systemic change in this' ... 
perhaps a valid question, but something in these stories points to the 
possibility of deep behavioral change, of the possibility of the 
'better' parts of our nature surfacing and overcoming the hostility and 
selfishness that we are also capable of. Anyway, these are just lovely 
stories, no analysis ...  so sharing.

ashish

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	Something beautiful is happening 🌈
Date: 	Thu, 14 May 2020 09:04:49 -0400
From: 	Mike Baillie - Avaaz <avaaz at avaaz.org>
To: 	chikikothari at gmail.com <chikikothari at gmail.com>

Avaaz.org - The World in Action
Covid-19: Reasons to Hope
<https://avaaz.org/>

Dear friends,

*Something beautiful has happened in the last few weeks* -- I think 
we’ve all seen it.

In the face of a vicious pandemic, when it would have been so easy for 
fear and selfishness to rule, *we've found our shared humanity* again.

But *there's a danger that as we beat this pandemic, the tenderness of 
this moment will fade too*. We can already see it in the divisions being 
redrawn for political gain and the conspiracy theories going viral.

The spirit of compassion, wisdom, and unity that millions of us have 
felt amidst this horrific crisis is a fragile thing that needs to be 
defended.

That’s why, with the help of Avaazers across the globe, *we've curated 
ten of the most beautiful stories of this shining new humanity*. It's to 
remind us of who we really are when it matters most, and that we really 
are capable of meeting the biggest threats we face -- together.

In Bangalore, India, one little restaurant called Desi Masala is feeding 
more than 10,000 vulnerable people every day -- and they aren't the only 
ones! Thousands of volunteers, everywhere, are helping to cook fresh, 
healthy food for frontline workers and those in need.

This is Elena Pagliarini, a nurse from Italy, passing out at her desk 
after an exhausting night shift -- days later she tested positive for 
Covid-19. Elena’s passion stands for the millions of hospital staff who 
are risking their own lives to save those of others. Every. Single. Day.

After decades of fighting each other, rival gangs around Cape Town have 
agreed an unprecedented truce and are now working together to bring food 
to struggling households in their communities. "What we're seeing happen 
here is literally a miracle," said Pastor Andie Steele-Smith.

When the Maasai of the Nashulai conservancy in Kenya sent Avaaz an 
urgent cry for help after tourism collapsed because of Covid-19, over 
100,000 of us answered in a heartbeat, with funding for food, health and 
sanitation supplies, and to pay rangers to keep protecting the wildlife. 
Thank you, Avaazers, you are wonderful!

Never before, scientists say, have they seen such collaboration across 
the globe. And Prof Sarah Gilbert is one of the women at the forefront, 
leading a team of dedicated researchers to find a vaccine against 
Covid-19. Now world leaders have pledged €7.4 billion to help and ensure 
any vaccine is also distributed in poorer countries.

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At the end of April, more than 200 brave doctors from Cuba got on a 
plane to South Africa to help fight coronavirus. They're part of a 
global army of medical professionals that are leaving their families 
behind to help countries in need.

This is Hassan, a former Syrian refugee who joined over 750,000 (!!) UK 
citizens who signed up to help the national health service. He's now 
working as a cleaner at his local hospital, and says, “London has been 
my home since leaving Syria, and the least I can do is make sure my 
neighbours and the amazing NHS staff are safe and sound."

People in Naples, Italy, have been leaving "solidarity baskets" for 
those who are struggling. The note reads: "Put in, if you can. Take out, 
if you can't." And it’s not just Naples: across the planet, citizens are 
helping out their neighbours, from buying groceries to cooking meals for 
those in need. How beautiful is that?

Setting an example for countries everywhere, Portugal has given all 
refugees and migrants with pending applications full citizenship during 
the crisis, granting them access to free health care, welfare benefits, 
bank accounts, and rental contracts.

This is Captain Tom Moore, a 100-year-old man in Britain who set out to 
raise some money for the health service by walking back and forth in his 
garden. His walk captured the hearts of thousands, and he's now raised 
over £32 million! And for his 100th birthday, people sent him more than 
125,000 birthday cards! 💛

If you enjoyed these stories,
feel free to share them 😊

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And those are just ten stories; there are thousands more, of ordinary 
people doing wonderful, heartwarming things, everywhere.

*They're a reminder of humanity's inherent goodness, and an invitation 
to reimagine our world*, and what it means to be human in these 
unprecedented times.

This pandemic is far from over, and there will be many more crises to 
come -- but seeing how we are able to rise to this one, together, gives 
me confidence for what lies ahead.

Here's to humanity!

Mike, Nax, Fey, Martyna, Mouhamad, Chris, Ricken and the whole team at 
Avaaz

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