You Make a Difference Everyday

"You make a difference everyday. You matter. Your life is important," said Dr. Jane Goodall on Bill Moyer's Journal yesterday. Over the years , she has inspired hundreds of "Roots and Shoots Groups" around the world. She encourages young people to do some small thing to help wildlife. She says her belief that every person can and does make a difference in life around them is central to the success of these many groups of young people, and their impact on their local ecosystem.
One group in western United States saw that they could encourage a dried up river to flow again by planting trees on its banks, removing blockages, and reintroduced plants for the fish that had inhabited the stream. Now it is a thriving home for large members of that fish species.
She observes the "peace of the forest" in her years of living in natural settings in Africa where she quietly "encompasses a vague feeling of the universe." She feels that modern humankind has suffered a "disconnect between their intellect and the wisdom of the heart". That disconnect has contributed greatly to the ecological collapse wherein over 7000 species of animals are in danger of extinction now. Though something similar has apparently happened 5 times before in our planets history, she said it is coming on much more rapidly this time due to unwise decisions of continuing depletion of habitats even after seeing dire consequences to animal life.
Dr Goodall has written a book Hope for Animals and their World that is currently available and would make a good read for anyone interested in our planet..
I appreciate her years of expertise and wonderful awareness. Let me quote 2 verses of a poem that Bill Moyer read of hers called..................................... "The Old Wisdom": (by Dr. Jane Goodall)

When the night wind makes pine trees creak,
and pale clouds glide across the dark sky.
Go out, my child, go out and seek
your soul, the eternal I....
Yes. my child, go out into the world. Walk slow
and silent comprehending all, and by and by
Your soul, the universe, will know
itself, the eternal I.

Enjoy and take inspiration from her mention of those she calls "Keepers of the Planet" such as Dan Merton of New Zealand, whose efforts brought the Black Robin back from near extinction. Dr. Jane is firm in her belief that if we "Never give Up" we can make a difference in life around us. She has discovered a secret to "Unlock Your Personal Power".
Read her book Hope for Animals and their World and give it as a gift to many. Also read parts of it to your children as part of your daily reading time together.

Millions of CNN Fans Vote For Teen Education Hero

We give thanks for millions of CNN fans who voted to support Efren Penaflorida as Hero of The Year. This remarkable Filapeno young man has formed www.dynamicteencompany.org with several other teens to create learning carts that they physically push to the many homeless children who live in garbage dumps in the Philippines.
They have one cart for literacy, one cart for games, one cart for computer. When these remarkable teens who managed to get some educational help from a mentor, roll their carts into the dump area, hundreds of little children pour out excitedly.
Efren Penaflorida's comment about education was aimed at "all the children of the world" :
"Embrace learning. Love it, for it will embrace you and love you back, and shall enable you to change your world."

The teens teach what they have learned. Theirs is a power we all have, to share what we know with others. Young Efren winner of the grand prize $100,000 as CNN Hero of the Year 2009, said, "There are many heroes throughout the world of different colors, shapes and sizes. Each person has a hero within. All they have to do is search their hearts and change their world. You are the change that you dream, as I am the change that I dream"
I would add the Efren has learned the secret of "Unlock Your Personal Power".

I celebrate and give thanks for all the CNN heroes and all the CNN fans who recognized the exceptionally clear and bright shining light of Hero Efren Penaflorida. He is a good role model for us all.