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We are often bombarded with fear-mongering and shocking headlines that make us feel that the world is falling apart.

While it’s important to report problems and issues, I believe there is so much good in this world that just needs to be found and promoted. This is especially true after the last few years we have had with COVID, political, and social unrest, and seemingly more negative headlines than we care to count.

That’s why I started The Happy Broadcast and, this year, it's why I am so proud to announce WHOLE, the free happiness app. WHOLE is a culmination of what we started 4 years ago with The Happy Broadcast, a positive place filled with activities aimed at improving your mental health and happiness. We partnered with science to identify activities that are known to boost happiness, and then built them into a daily tracker that suggests simple things you can do to boost your mood.

Consuming positive news is one known activity that can boost your outlook and mood. We need more positive news to acknowledge that the world is actually getting better little by little. So, with that said, here are some of the top performing positive news illustrations from 2021.

You can find my previous articles about The Happy Broadcast on Bored Panda here (2020), here (coronavirus), and here (2019). And if you'd like to read about the good news in more detail and see the sources that I used, you can go to my website, here.

More info: Instagram | WHOLE

2020 and 2021 feel very much the same. The challenges facing the human family right now are big and scary and there’s no guarantee we will overcome ALL of them. But, as millions of people have demonstrated in the past 24 months though, action is possible, better solutions are available and a better future can be built. Science has really helped us overcome a pandemic but it is the people that have shown their kindness and love for one another.

One at a time, we can all make a positive impact. While I don’t want to be cynical and stop believing that the world can get better, I’m also not naive to think that the world can change if I don’t contribute. That’s why the future will be better if, instead of getting overwhelmed, we celebrate and get inspired by the millions of people that have shown us that we can all have a positive impact.

I’m always optimistic. Every year is better than the one before and even in the past couple of challenging years, there have been several silver linings. The new generations are becoming more and more aware that we need to advocate for a better future, and we need to do that fast. I see more and more kindness and more and more people acting selflessly to change what’s wrong and help whoever is in need.

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Even small acts of kindness towards the environment will, in turn, benefit all and I see that happening. That’s why I’ve built The Happy Broadcast, to highlight the selfless actions of many amazing human beings.

2021 has been a great year filled with hard work, fun, kindness, pizza, and dogs. I always have to keep my mental health in check, but that’s why I love to use my art as a beacon of positivity for me and the people that are kind enough to follow my projects.

The biggest challenge (and reward) has been the launch of WHOLE. After three years of hard work on The Happy Broadcast, I met Keith, who is now my partner in this amazing company that wants to become the one-stop source for happiness. We created WHOLE, an umbrella brand that included The Happy Broadcast and other projects focused on mental health and happiness.

Ultimately people are not seeking to be “meditators,” “mood trackers,” or “journalers,” they want to be happier. WHOLE is a brand, community, and all-in-one mobile app focused on delivering all the “spokes” of mental health training within a single app that guides users towards the ultimate goal of increased happiness. The first big milestone was the launch of our WHOLE app, now available in the App Store and Google Play Store.

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Our goal is very simple yet ambitious: To provide comprehensive solutions that increase the overall happiness of individuals while improving society as a WHOLE.

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Mazer
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let’s hope it isn’t patented 200 times in order to keep costs out of reach

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One of the best things I heard in 2021 involves an organization in Finland called Aktivistimummot, meaning “Activist grannies.” It’s a group pushing for environmental change that delivers a lot of information about climate change. Their aim is simple: to ensure their grandchildren have a safe and sustainable future.

It’s a great example of how we can all come together, despite our age difference, for the greater good of a sustainable and fulfilling life for everyone.

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Ozzie Ogawa
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not just the number of the trees but the species as well. They should plant not just native trees but natives plants as well. A healthy forest should be diverse, both genetically and species.

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Last year, I told Bored Panda about how rough it was in 2020, what helped me keep my sense of direction and not get lost during the pandemic, and what new artists should keep in mind. I think that 2020 was definitely a rough year, but I’ve never seen so many great stories of human kindness like then.

Despite all the challenges, it looks like humanity understood how deeply we depend on each other and how much our mental health is central to everyone's recovery and well-being. Sharing good news is a joyful experience for all and also an important part of daily conversations.

There is so much good in this world that just needs to be found and promoted. Never forget that the reason why we have positive news to share is that some amazing and brave individuals did something to solve an issue that worries us all. So, one at a time, we can all make a positive impact. It's our time to BE the positive news.

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Jerry Mathers
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope they take it a step further and prohibit all goods by companies use shark fins in any product.

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One of the things that helped me through the pandemic was working on The Happy Broadcast and interacting daily with my community. Sharing good news is a joyful experience for all and also an important part of daily conversations. Also, baking bread and pizza had a huge impact on my sanity during lockdown.

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One of my favorite pizzas, besides the classic Italian Margherita, is pizza Bianca (which means no cheese and no sauce) topped, after being baked, with a cold mix of vegan feta, arugula, olive oil, salt, and fresh thyme. It’s very fresh and different from the usual pizza we eat at a restaurant, but I’m a creative person, so cooking is another avenue to express that.

Having a sense of purpose makes me feel less lost. I also try to not spend too much time on my phone scrolling through hundreds of posts and I turn my phone off before I go to bed. If I’m feeling blue, I put on some songs that make me want to play the air-guitar and the air-drums, like ‘Gloria’ by ‘The Lumineers.’

I've always loved doodling... especially things with cute faces because it's so relaxing, creative, and fun! I like the message more than the style, so I don’t spend a lot of time on an illustration. Most of my time is spent sketching all the ideas that float in my brain. My advice to young artists is not to focus on trends; focus on what you like to draw. 

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Jo Choto
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We really don't need to keep people in dangerous underground slavery conditions, and allowing a very small number of people to control the supply and get rich on the backs of the workers, just for a tiny gemstone that can be safely replicated in a lab.

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Rissie
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not to be a doozy, because it's admirable that we are capable of change if we set our minds to not using cfc's, but sadly CO2 emissions need to get down (which is a lot harder) to not undo that success in the long run. Bad news stinks of course so, see we can do it, go humans!

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JuJu
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have a few hundred of these in Leipzig. And nobody gets stung.

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Stacy Parker
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I believe that Iceland, Sweden, Costa Rica, and Uruguay are part of that group. Not sure about the rest.

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Romenriel
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very good, also helps with poverty that is endangering humans.

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Alexia
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here is a photo from the campaign. It was actually efficient, several dogs were adopted. It also produced some sweet moments, as some dogs woulnd't leave their humans' arms or would run away on the field :))) 646x528-61...b422a5.jpg 646x528-61b3513b422a5.jpg

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Leo Domitrix
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In short: Common sense! Nature has its pest control. Just make friends with it. (Yes, I am okay with snakes. One black ratsnake native to my area means you won't see rats, mice, or the venomous snakes!)

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Romenriel
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd like to see a source on this one, it would be awesome but I don't see how it could happen.

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ivan bolitekurac
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tbh,if it isn't durable i won't buy it.I have a leather jacket that is 10 years old and it is the same as the first day.I would call that a sustainable piece of clothing.Fake leather will have cracks after a few years so you need to buy new furniture/clothing

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John L
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Of course they do, they evolved with their environment, unlike the colonial powers.

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Kitty Jordan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember reading about this one. It always makes me happy to read about something that was imagined for practical purposes being turned into wholesome, because people can be capable of great good.

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Tamra Stiffler
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Back when I was newly vegan, I would often share information like this, but people did NOT want to hear about it. It made them uncomfortable and challenged the comfort they had with their diets. I learned two things: 1. Don't be a preachy in-your-face vegan and 2. People will change their habits when they are physically or emotionally ready to do so, and not before. But yeah, this type of "farming" practice really tears me up inside.

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BananaJo
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s sad that it’s just one country that has this, but good for Estonia!

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Yort
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait, “fossil-based ones”? I thought fertilizer was usually made of cow poop?

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Rissie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Human-composting? Say what now? Do they mean burials without embalming and large caskets? Because that's not new ;)

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Alberto Alves
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also Portugal Establishes the Largest Fully Protected Marine Reserve in Europe & North Atlantic.

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GoddessOdd
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We need these everywhere. I think it should be made very difficult to make new plastic, forcing companies to use recycled plastic for everything.

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September Meadows
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unfortunately in 2021 alone, forested areas around the world, enough to cover all of Europe went up in flames, contributing to the CO2 levels considerably and diminishing the ability to scrub CO2 from the atmosphere greatly. Fires in 2022 are expected to be as expansive if not bigger than those in 2021.

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Bobby
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only 2 things keeping me from electric is the cost and distance on a charge. I don't know about other countries but electric cars with an appreciable range in the US are much more expensive than an economy gas vehicle. The cars I could afford won't get me round trip from home to work and back and there is no place to charge near my work.

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MikeWheelerFan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, Atlanta is actually kind of close to me! (I live in Florida but it still takes 5+ hours to get there)

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Karis Ravenhill
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Are they going to put back the beautiful 19th century benches that they replaced with ugly blocks of cement?

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Jo Choto
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Microdosing of mushrooms, ketamine, and LSD have been proven to radically turn around things like anxiety, depression and PTSD. These need to become part of regular medical treatment for these conditions.

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Glenn Zoontjens
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm missing something- I thought fish farming was where fish were bred in captivity and either grown to maturity (thereby removing the need to draw fish from the ocean) or released into the wild (thereby at least replacing what is taken from the ocean)

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Jo Choto
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's a fun idea! You get a ticket in the mail, like with a driving offence!

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John L
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is important. Artists contribute greatly to culture. A very underappreciated discipline.

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Bobby
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do hope that animal testing is still permitted on the animals the product is intended for. Flea or heartworm meds for example

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Jo Choto
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is fantastic news, but these plans also need to contain contingencies, business investment and job opportunities for the communities and families who are dependent on the coal industry for their income.

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Jo Choto
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How? I mean, how do they store it? And when they breathe/fart/die do they release it?

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MikeWheelerFan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait…but…new people moving in won’t have a way to access most of town or even their jobs.

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That_One_Harry_Potter_Nerd
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏Rhinos for the win!

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Vansh Popli
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

hopefully this progresses much further to the point where it is more efficient and faster than cutting down actual trees

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MikeWheelerFan
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They’ve only reached half their goal with only 21 days left…I hope they can make it.

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GoddessOdd
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What does this even mean? The populations were reduced to 250k, but I worked in an adult school, where people that were only 1/16th 1st Nations people were able to take advantage of subsidies for education and so on, so 10m can mean lots of 1/16th, 1/8th, 1/4th people who are claiming benefits. Many of the people I served, who were receiving subsidies, didn't even consider themselves Native Americans, except that it helped them to receive federal help. It also doesn't address the fact that a great many indigenous people live in abject poverty. I know this is meant to be a positive thing, but I need more information.

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Romenriel
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's great! A change in lifestyle can be very important in combating depression, but not everyone can afford to try it.

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Klas Klättermus
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This makes me wonder, will they sell some of the CO2 to the soda companies? Is the CO2 in soda chemically produced or "recovered CO2"? If produced only for soda, why do nobody talk about that?

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Osgood_7
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok, but what about people who can't afford to do that? It's a good tip but it's also important to remember that being poor is damaging to your physical and mental health and means you can't easily do things like this.

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Jo Choto
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, they need to add bear bile, rhino horn, shark fin, etc. to the list. The biggest cause of worldwide poaching is to supply to the Chinese markets for traditional "medicines".

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jennifer chriestmon
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm more worried about the cats being injured or killed by cars, stray dogs, ect... I hope it all works out!

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Jo Choto
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think insects will be the future of mankind's animal consumption but we have a ways to go yet to get anyone on board.

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MikeWheelerFan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m super picky and meat makes up a lot of my diet, there’s no way I could do this

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