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My name is Martin Smatana and I am a director of animated films and an illustrator based in Prague, Czech Republic. Every week I pick one good news story from the newspaper and create an illustration to go with it. Since I love recycling and upcycling, every illustration is made from old secondhand clothes and discarded textiles.
My book "A Year of Good News" shows 52 illustrated good news stories which happened in the world during the last year. I hope these positive stories will help to reinforce people´s belief that even in the worst of times, people make many good things happen and that even the tiniest, most inconspicuous gestures can make our world a better place. You can purchase the book here!
Have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year of good news!
More info: Instagram | smatana.com | Facebook
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
A garbage collector in Bogotá, Colombia, has collected over 25,000 books people had thrown out and this year he opened a public library for poor children on the ground floor of his house.
Final score:
255points
Monosyllabic girl 2 years ago
I don't understand why people throw away books. I donate mine to either the local jail or chemotherapy clinics depending on the books. The jail if it's the normal fantasy or classics i read, chemo clinics if it's the easy- read detective books like Patterson my grandma foists on me. Unless it's falling apart someone somewhere will enjoy the book!
Jutta Plötz 2 years ago
Well some books are just outdated at some point or have extremely harmful messages. So it’s better to recycle them into better books.
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Marie Émiel 2 years ago
Bonjour Martin ! I give you a big hug to thank you for the inspiring messages that you share so generously ! God Bless You! You have a beautiful soul !
Marie Émiel 2 years ago
Bonjour Martin ! I tried to email you, but he came back with a notice: «We couldn’t deliver your message. DNS has reported that the recipient domain does not exist.» I wanted to give you a big virtual hug to thank you for sharing good news with so much talent and generosity. God Bless You! You have a beautiful soul ! **Take care ! Marie É.
I have always enjoyed playing with different materials, usually textile and paper, since I was a child. When I was about eight years old, I made an army of little characters. Then I used to move them into small pieces and take pictures. I didn't know then that it was called animation and not stop motion at all.
I have also loved positive stories since I was a child. I tried to search for them not only in fairy tales but also in the real world around me. This is how my journey as an animator and illustrator started.
RELATED:
#2
After war broke out in Ukraine, José Andrés, a famous Spanish chef, traveled to the Polish-Ukrainian border. With his team, he prepared thousands of meals a day for refugees, supported by local chefs, restaurants, food producers and suppliers.
Final score:
239points
awingard1 2 years ago
There is a show about this project, I believe it's on YouTube if you would like to see it
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Michelle D 2 years ago
World Central Kitchen is still in the Ukraine providing hot meals. Jose is amazing!
Sithara James 2 years ago
Jesus bless them alot.. may the Lord use us to serve Him and His people wholeheartedly amen ✝️😇♥️🙇♂️🙌
Alex Martin 2 years ago
and tons of cash donations from people all over the world. World Central Kitchen is a great charity that uses local resources to provide food to people dealing with disaster all over the world. They are huge in Ukraine but have mobilized for dozens of disasters all over the world this year in addition to Ukraine. These guys and Charity Water are just great organizations that help with food and water insecurity. wck.org and charitywater.org
#3
Brazilian skydiver Luigi Cani released 100 million seeds from 28 native trees while leaping from a plane over a deforested area of the Amazon rainforest.
Final score:
237points
DeoManus Argentem 2 years ago
I remember many years ago about a project in the US where seeds were loaded up into soft biodegradable "darts" (so they'd penetrate the ground just enough to germinate) and dropped from aircraft en masse to re-forest/re-seed areas. I think they even had little parachutes on them to help avoid killing people, scarce as they'd be in those areas, but this was probably twenty years ago so the memory is fuzzy.
Regal Kitten 2 years ago
might be better if they did kill people. Extra fertilizer
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When the pandemic started in March 2020, I was reading mostly negative news from the mass media. Like everyone else, I was worried about how long this situation would last, how long I wouldn’t see my friends and colleagues, or whether I would be able to be locked up at home for so long at all. I had to figure out some sort of distraction that inspired me.
Searching the newspapers, I discovered that positive news isn’t actually that rare: it’s often small, seemingly unnoticed deeds and facts that can be found at the other end of the street as well as on the other side of the world. Lots of good things happen every day, but they are often buried under the weight of “big” events and dry news agency reports: that’s why I decided to put positive stories in the spotlight and retell them in my own way.
#4
A dog named Patron helped Ukrainian emergency services find 200 unexploded bombs. President Zelenskyy awarded Patron the Order of Courage.
Final score:
227points
Aria the Dog Lover 2 years ago
Poor dog. Helping humans in an unnecessary war. It's not the dogs job. I'm gonna get down voted, but that's just how I feel.
Ivanokt Van 1 year ago
Those kind of dogs specifically trained to do that, but you somewhat right. Animals don't need to help us and this war is unnecessary.
Load More Replies... #5
When the 11-day war between Israel and Palestine ended, an Israeli kindergarten teacher donated a kidney to a three-year-old boy from Palestine.
Final score:
218points
Jp@nda 2 years ago
If every single person signed up for organ donation there would be zero wait lists. Everyone talks about how wasteful of a society we are, yet how many people die and take all of their organs with them. What an absolute waste. Besides the fact that there are so many donations you can do while alive.
Amy Beckler 2 years ago
I am a nurse x 35 years-judging my who my patients were? Never ever ever. Nursing starts in your heart 💞
Long White Mane 2 years ago
FINALLY! Not all Israelis are the Zionist lunatics portrayed in the media.
From week to week, I found one piece of good news from around the world and made a picture of it. Since I wasn’t really good at drawing, I made them from used or old textiles: that’s how I kept my good mood. However, when I saw how positive the feedback was, I decided to try to please people with a new picture every week. This allowed me to stay calm during the pandemic instead of feeling anxious.
#6
A Japanese grandma, Masako Wakamiya, couldn’t find a game app for elderly people on her smartphone. At the age of 81, she took up a course in programming. After three years of studying, she designed a mobile game app, “Hinadan,” inspired by traditional puppet theatre. The game has since been downloaded by tens of thousands of users around the world. Today, at the age of 85, she is one of the oldest app developers in the world. She encourages other seniors to use digital technology to enrich their lives.
Final score:
208points
It's_me 2 years ago
I love all this good news, but it's not okay to represent east Asia folks with lines for eyes. My sister, whose ancestry is Korean, grew up with these kinds of images. Our mother shared how, as a child, my sister said, "I have eyes, why don't they have eyes?" We can do better.
that weirdo in ur closet 2 years ago
Yea, I get what u mean, but she could just be smiling and closing her eyes like this emoji 😊 or something, but I get what u mean
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E Talavera 2 years ago
I went to playstore looking for this app & could not find it. Hanidan right?
#7
When students in Bristol learned that their school’s caretaker hadn’t visited his relatives in his native Jamaica for four years, they collected money for his air ticket.
Final score:
206points
Three or four years ago, when I was preparing scenes and scenography for my animated film The Kite, I realized that textiles are a very good raw material for both illustration and animation. The whole environment of the film was made of fabrics and old clothes that my friends wanted to get rid of. I fell in love with the textile because I could move its structure from fiber to fiber: I was thinking of details like the flow of grass in the wind, which I made from a long-haired, green, fluffy carpet during the animation. This book was made exactly the same way: using old sweaters, rugs, or scarves, I created soft illustrations that were lit with soft light and photographed.
#8
A father who wanted to spend Christmas with his daughter bought tickets for all six flights she worked as a flight attendant so they could be together on the 24th and 25th of December while flying around the country.
Final score:
199points
Erica Knapp 2 years ago
I've followed this story 😃 this year she was home for Christmas 💜💜💜 What a great dad though!
therealprincessfiona 2 years ago
probably, but she likely could still talk to him as she was passing by or on break.
Load More Replies... #9
The director of a zoo in New South Wales, Australia, brought home several red pandas, saving them from a blazing bushfire.
Final score:
195points
Peter Buckley 2 years ago
All the staff took animals home where they could and some stayed at the zoo with animals that couldn't be moved. Well done staf and friends of Mogo Zoo
Unwelcome guest 2 years ago
Fun fact the main reason animals are enclosed in Australian zoos is to keep the native species from de_living them (well the main reason is humans but that goes without saying)
It takes me about 5 days to make one illustration. Paradoxically, the longest part is to find suitable good news. Sometimes I scroll through dozens or hundreds of news articles until I find one that makes me happy, sometimes it even moves me or gives me goosebumps. That's when I know it was the right one! I start reading more about it, looking for photos of it, verifying the facts, then I draw a few sketches on paper and try to look for composition and shape.
Once I'm happy with it, I color it so I know what fabric colors to look for. Then I dig for hours in old clothes and discarded fabrics and only then do I start cutting, sewing, and gluing. Afterward, I will just light everything nicely, take pictures, edit and add message text.
#10
A hiker who was injured while climbing in Croatia’s mountains was saved from freezing to death by his dog. An Alaskan Malamute dog named North lay on top of him, keeping him warm for 13 hours until they were reached by rescuers.
Final score:
193points
Firstname Lastname 2 years ago
Full story: https://www.upworthy.com/a-brave-dog-save-an-injured-hiker-from-hypothermia-by-laying-on-him-for-13-hours
#11
A Finnish woman has been cleaning the grimy homes of strangers for free. Auri Kananen (aka Queen of Cleaning) has focused on people who are unable to look after their own homes because they have found themselves in difficult situations or suffer from mental health problems.
Final score:
190points
Chrissie Anit 2 years ago
I watch her videos on youtube, she is doing a good job, helping these people!
Roos Dillema 2 years ago
Aurikatariina, and she is wonderfull! And a very good cleaner and I learned a lot from her
So far, I feel that this project helps many people cope with difficult times. I still receive a lot of good feedback after the book was published. Many have written to me that reading the book has encouraged them to do a little favor themselves, or even to call and talk to their loved ones. I think the book can help all of us realize that this past year hasn’t been so bad after all. So I plan to continue creating it in the near future. I am currently starting to prepare A Year of Good News 2023. I believe that one day such a book will not be necessary.
#12
Valentina and Leonid Stoyanov, a veterinarian couple from Odesa, turned their house into a shelter for abandoned animals from Ukrainian towns affected by war.
Final score:
180points
️️Upvote faery️ 2 years ago
It's really sad this is necessary :( My heart goes out to everyone suffering or displaced by Putin's BS war. He needs to be stopped
#13
Australian firefighters dropped tons of fruit and vegetables from helicopters to feed starving animals whose habitats have been burned in the bushfires. Australian rescue centers have helped kangaroos, camels, horses and alpacas to survive.
Final score:
171points
Raccoon panda 2 years ago
Did you know they do something similar to prevent rabies outbreaks? People gather leftover meat products, infuse them with a vaccine, and drop them off airplanes over forests filled with carnivores. Foxes, wolves, and raccoons are then less likely to attack humans.
AbsintheMinded 2 years ago
Not to take away from the actions of those helping, but… is it just me, or does it look like kangaroo tooted?
#14
After a year of remote learning and socially distanced classrooms, one school in Spain decided to adapt to a new way of teaching and moved lessons to the beach. The children were socially distanced in the fresh air and the teachers could give object lessons in biology and geography near the sea islands.
Final score:
170points
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 2 years ago
I would have loved to have class outdoors during a nice day.
Cindy Irvin 2 years ago
I had teachers who would take us outside to have class on particularly nice days. I always thought it was for us; looking back, it was probably for the teacher.
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Logan Garwacki 2 years ago
Would not have worked for me I would have been distracted by birds.
#15
For the second time in history, the International Refugee Olympic Team was competing in the Olympic Games. 29 professional athletes forced to leave their homes by war or oppression competed in Tokyo together under a joint flag. They act as a symbol of hope for refugees worldwide and bring global attention to the magnitude of the refugee crisis.
Final score:
167points
#16
Female Afghan scientists who were forced to leave Kabul showed their robotic inventions at the World Forum in Doha. They have been taking part in science competitions around the world to help young Afghan women develop their engineering, science and technology skills.
Final score:
167points
Monosyllabic girl 2 years ago
Can people please downvote waiteforit to get him a short ban? He just needs 10 in order to not ruin these posts
#17
A 22-year-old student with disabilities dreamed of climbing Mount Olympus. Her dream came true when an endurance runner Marios Giannakou carried her to Greece‘s highest peak in a specially modified backpack.
Final score:
153points
ShutUpAboutYourDiet 2 years ago (edited)
She doesn't have a name huh? Edit: she does! It's Eleftheria Tosiu.
that weirdo in ur closet 2 years ago
Maybe they just didn’t know, but I love her name it’s so pretty
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#18
To give back to nature what it has taken from it, a Danish company has invented pencils that can be planted after use so that they grow into a herb, a shrub or a tree.
Final score:
149points
JustAnotherCommenter 2 years ago
I have these Pencils! They’re on Amazon; look up “plant your pencil”
Yeah, okay. 2 years ago
I love this idea! This should be standard - "what are you doing today? The ground is thawed so I have to plant all the pencils I used this winter". Wonderful concept!
Little Bob 2 years ago
I have a couple of these! Mine have basil and cherry tomato at the ends. The only problem with them is that they have no eraser.
#19
As flights from Italy were canceled due to the pandemic, a ten-year-old boy decided to walk with his father to visit his grandma in London. After 93 days, 2.800 kilometers and two weeks in quarantine, they made it to Trafalgar Square so the boy could finally give a hug to his grandma.
Final score:
142points
Keley Babs 2 years ago
Hopefully they didn't have the virus?!? That's the whole reason traveling was stopped!!
#20
When the war in Ukraine broke out, twelve-year-old Gabriel Clarkie from England decided to help children caught up in the conflict by making a wooden bowl. His Bowl for Ukraine went viral, raising a quarter of a million pounds sterling, which he sent to the war-torn country.
Final score:
142points
Moon Cheese 2 years ago
Hey I saw this story on the news :) Sweet boy, this really touched me.
#21
Italian street artist CIBO has been fighting hatred in the public space by covering neo-Nazi graffiti with colorful murals depicting all kinds of foods.
Final score:
139points
#22
An old man in Australia knitted woolen jumpers for penguins threatened by an oil leak to stop them from swallowing the toxic oil while cleaning themselves.
Final score:
136points
#23
When the border between Český Těšín and the neighboring Polish city of Cieszyn was closed during the pandemic, residents of the two cities exchanged messages across the river to tell their neighbors how much they missed them.
Final score:
127points
#24
Two-year-old Barrett from Texas accidentally ordered 31 cheeseburgers while playing with his mother’s mobile phone. Since the order couldn’t be canceled, she threw a cheeseburger feast for people in the neighborhood.
Final score:
117points
Arunei Shade 2 years ago
I'm not sure how 31 burgers constitutes as a feast for an entire neighborhood, unless said neighborhood only had like 10 people in it. Nice of her to give the food away though.
#25
To protest against unequal Covid restrictions that forced museums and galleries in Holland to stay closed, leading cultural institutions were temporarily transformed into establishments not affected by the lockdown. For one day, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam turned into a nail salon, the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague into a gym, and concert halls across the country into hair salons.
Final score:
108points
Chrissie Anit 2 years ago
Maybe there was a reason behind these restrictions, that they circumvented??
Sue User 2 years ago
You cant make me believe that nail salons are more essential than art.
Load More Replies... #26
The Slovak ultramarathon runner Lenka Vacvalová went to Peru where she ran 850 km along one of the most ancient trails in the world, raising money to buy unique equipment for the children’s oncology clinic in Bratislava.
Final score:
106points
#27
After more than thirty years, women cyclists have returned to the Tour de France.
Final score:
105points
Theresa Stephenson 2 years ago
I have always wondered if women would ever get a chance to do this
#28
A French florist left bright bunches of flowers on cars parked outside a hospital to thank healthcare workers.
Final score:
100points
TS Rhodes 2 years ago
Healthcare workers don't need flowers, pizza, or to be labeled "heroes". They need living wages and livable working conditions.
Violet Jensen 2 years ago
I agree but tf is a florist going to do about it? It’s a kind gesture from a stranger, not from the companies supposed to be caring for them
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Theresa Stephenson 2 years ago
I agree but unless you own a business to make it happen people want to give these things out to let them show someone appreciates them.
#29
Many families adopted dogs during the lockdown, leaving dog shelters almost empty. Lonely people appreciated animal companionship which helped them overcome their fear of the pandemic and made them feel safer.
Final score:
86points
Brindle Nutter 2 years ago
now they're getting dumped back into shelters, very unfortunate that so many people think living, sentient beings are disposable when they become inconvenient
Chrissie Anit 2 years ago
This is absolutely not good news. Many of these animals are now back in the shelters because their owners noticed that taking care of an animal is actually work.
Loki’s Lil Butter Knife 2 years ago
Please remember that when you adopt a pet that it is for their life. Pets are wonderful and sweet companions, but they are also a big responsibility and require lots of love and care.
Theresa Stephenson 2 years ago
I can't understand this! I already had pets but once I got them I knew taking care of them would be a long term commitment
Julie 2 years ago
Our little boy has always had separation anxiety but made really great progress as he got old. Then the pandemic hit and he loses it when we get home from somewhere now since he got so used to at least one of us always being home. I've heard that dogs who never had anxiety are getting it now because they got used to someone always being there.
naylene hess 2 years ago
Yep however there is stuff you can do to help it look up separation anxiety and girl with the dog on YouTube youll find great tips to fix this i had s severely anxious dog (pre lockdown) and it helped her alot shes not perfect but she can cope much better now after doing what she suggested
Load More Replies... #30
Children around the world who were stuck at home for months during the pandemic drew pictures of rainbows and put them up in their windows to cheer up their neighbors and spread hope by showing that after every rain the sun always comes again.
Final score:
78points
hereforthecatpics 2 years ago
Actually in the UK the rainbow is a symbol of the NHS and it was a sign of support for them
PeridotPlatypus377 2 years ago
Rainbows do appear when the storm begins to fade and you can see the sun again. I think it was about hope too
Load More Replies... Social media 2 years ago
As long it is just a rainbow. No need to bring in the rainbow people.
A Year of Good News
Add New Image
What do you think ?
BlackAdder 2 years ago (edited)
This is so beautiful and creative. On the other hand it's a little sad. I realized that this good news is almost entirely about a single person making a difference. Although sometimes it takes only one person for a great change, what about governments or large groups of people working together for the best? (I don't want to be pessimistic, just a thought)
anima vienna 2 years ago
I love the artistry and the stories he chose - what a creative talent. Keep going, and keep us posted!
Bored Birgit 2 years ago
Wow, so much work doing all these little art pieces. I like the materials and this style. Thank you!
Monosyllabic girl 2 years ago
If you can, please scroll into the top one and downvote waiteforit so he gets a short ban. It sucks to see someone copy/paste harassment on every one of someones comments
El Dee 2 years ago
I love to hear of the true heroes. Those who have done their thing without trying to publicise themselves, get a pat on the back or 'raise their profile' The real heroes often give up lots of time, give up the chance to earn money or risk life and limb to do something no one will ever hear about most likely..
Anon Ymous 2 years ago
Most of these really are just dystopian nightmares disguised as wholesome news. I'm not fooled BP
BlackAdder 2 years ago (edited)
This is so beautiful and creative. On the other hand it's a little sad. I realized that this good news is almost entirely about a single person making a difference. Although sometimes it takes only one person for a great change, what about governments or large groups of people working together for the best? (I don't want to be pessimistic, just a thought)
anima vienna 2 years ago
I love the artistry and the stories he chose - what a creative talent. Keep going, and keep us posted!
Bored Birgit 2 years ago
Wow, so much work doing all these little art pieces. I like the materials and this style. Thank you!
Monosyllabic girl 2 years ago
If you can, please scroll into the top one and downvote waiteforit so he gets a short ban. It sucks to see someone copy/paste harassment on every one of someones comments
El Dee 2 years ago
I love to hear of the true heroes. Those who have done their thing without trying to publicise themselves, get a pat on the back or 'raise their profile' The real heroes often give up lots of time, give up the chance to earn money or risk life and limb to do something no one will ever hear about most likely..
Anon Ymous 2 years ago
Most of these really are just dystopian nightmares disguised as wholesome news. I'm not fooled BP
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