Be the change you want to see in the world

Home
Be the change you want to see in the world

We deliver NEWS that matter and UPLIFTING and POSITIVE stories to MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the world. https://www.facebook.com/bechangeworld/
(214)

04/09/2025

She was just seconds from the finish line in her final race when she stopped to do this. 🏃‍♀️

28/08/2025

In Finland, innovation is turning waste into a valuable resource: public buses are now running on fuel made from recycled cooking oil collected from restaurants. Instead of being discarded, the oil is filtered and processed by recycling companies into biodiesel, a cleaner-burning fuel that significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional diesel.

This transition supports both sustainability and the circular economy by repurposing waste instead of throwing it away. Remarkably, the shift requires only minimal engine modifications, making it a cost-effective way to modernize public transport without replacing entire fleets.

For passengers, comfort and reliability remain the same, but the environmental impact is drastically improved. The initiative has also raised awareness of renewable energy and inspired similar projects in other countries. By transforming leftover cooking oil into sustainable fuel, Finland shows how small adjustments in waste management can lead to major environmental benefits.

This example proves that the journey toward greener cities can begin with simple, everyday habits — even with the oil from last night’s fries.

Sources: Finnish Transport Agency, Renewable Fuels Report, 2022. Helsinki Regional Transport Authority, Sustainability Initiatives, 2023. European Environment Agency, Biodiesel and Emission Reductions, 2022.

22/08/2025

Trapped in a freezing swamp for hours, this desperate horse shivers helplessly as time runs out … until a group of determined villagers came to the rescue.

Working against time, they brought in an excavator to carefully dig around the animal and thin the mud - while others used ropes and teamwork to guide and pull the horse toward freedom.

After a tense struggle, the exhausted horse finally breaks free to safety! (Courtesy SWNS)

Be the change you want to see in the world

17/08/2025

Europe averages 500 kilos of trash per person each year. Capannori, Italy, is different. Its 46,000 residents recycle, reuse, and strive for zero waste.

Anna Lisa Pace is working at one of six warehouses in the municipality. “People are donating items directly to us”, she says. Clothes, furniture, and much more are given a second life – through the social thrift store or redistribution.

"If they meet our criteria, people with low incomes can take what they need for free."

The warehouses are also creating jobs for those in need. Currently, there are 30 employees working at the project. More than 100 families a year benefit from it.

On top of reusing, Capannori even pushes companies to produce recyclable products.

The town has become a pioneer and it’s not just policy—it’s a cultural shift. Locals are deeply involved, and the town’s success is often credited to strong community engagement and grassroots activism.

The overall result is impressive: With 59 kilos of residual waste per capita, Capannori produces roughly 88% less than the EU average.

29/05/2025

Millionaire Marcel Lebrun is making a significant impact in Fredericton, New Brunswick, by building 99 tiny homes for individuals experiencing homelessness. With a focus on subsidized rent tailored to income, Lebrun's approach offers a practical solution to homelessness, emphasizing community and resilience. 🏠💡❤️

24/02/2025

Sam Simon, co-creator of The Simpsons, gave away his $100 million fortune:

Sam Simon, the co-creator of The Simpsons, left behind not just a groundbreaking television legacy but also one of extraordinary generosity.

Diagnosed with terminal colorectal cancer in late 2012, Simon chose to dedicate his final years to giving away his $100 million fortune, directing most of it toward animal welfare and homelessness initiatives. "I have more money than I'm interested in spending," he explained, adding, "And I enjoy this."

However, Simon, a passionate animal rights activist, had already been making an impact long before his diagnosis.

In 2002, he self-funded The Sam Simon Foundation, a multimillion-dollar endeavor that provides free veterinary surgeries for cats and dogs via a mobile clinic and rescues shelter dogs, retraining them to help people in need.

Despite being given just months to live, chemotherapy extended his life, allowing him to continue his philanthropy. Sam Simon passed away on March 8, 2015, at the age of 59.

Learn more: https://www.ssfdogs.org/

Image: The Sam Simon Foundation

25/12/2024

Bridging generations: A care home with a difference

“Belong Chester” is an elderly care home and a kindergarten under one roof. Old and young play together, eat together and sing together.

It’s time to celebrate our most-loved videos of 2024! Here’s the first of six fan-favorites we’ll be sharing throughout the week.

11/09/2024

Bread for people in need

Many bakeries in Germany throw the bread away if they can't sell it. Müslüm has a better idea.

27/08/2024

The Molai forest is named after Jadav 'Molai' Payeng, Indian environmental activist and forestry worker. After an initial 200 hectare (500 acre) planting by the social forestry division of Golaghat district was abandoned in 1983, the forest was single-handedly attended by Payeng for 30 years and now encompasses an area of about 1,360 acres / 550 hectares. Payeng planted and tended trees on a sandbar of Majuli island in the Brahmaputra River, eventually becoming a forest reserve.

Molai forest now houses Bengal tigers, Indian rhinoceros, over 100 deer and rabbits besides monkeys and several varieties of birds, including a large number of vultures.

11/07/2024

This rarely-seen glass octopus was caught on camera.

The clear sea creature was filmed by an underwater robot during an expedition off of the Phoenix Islands, more than 3,200 miles northeast of Sydney, Australia.

Little is known about the unique cephalopods aside from the fact that they live in tropical and subtropical areas of the deep ocean. Glass octopuses are so elusive that they were unknown to science until 1918.

‘Expeditions like these teach us why we need to increase our efforts to restore and better understand marine ecosystems everywhere—because the great chain of life that begins in the ocean is critical for human health and wellbeing,’ said Wendy Schmidt, the co-founder of the Schmidt Ocean Institute to Live Science.

Address

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Be the change you want to see in the world posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.