Turning poverty into peace
What the Nobel Peace Prize means to Muhammad Yunus - and how it shows the way new ideas come into the world. Jurriaan Kamp and Marco Visscher| December 2006 issue When Muhammad Yunus began to lend money to hard-working poor people back in the 1970s, he wasn’t exactly following the crowd. At that Read More...
Four steps to financial sanity
Four things President Obama could do to create a sense of social responsibility in the financial markets. Amy Domini | April 2009 issue Barack Obama has taken office at a critical time in U.S. history. We’re fighting two wars and facing what the new U.S. President and others have called the Read More...
Interview with Jake de Grazia, founder of The Carrot Project
While economic upheaval has caused many businesses to fail, Ode has interviewed several entrepreneurs who have found ways to thrive and remain focused on positive social change. We interviewed them about their companies, how they view the current economic situation, how they define success, and how Read More...
Real people building a better world
A new generation of social leaders is rising up. These are people who dedicate their creativity and passion for a better world. They are able to do this because changing political realities around the world have created new opportunities for citizen involvement. As 'social entrepreneurs', they find Read More...
Africa awakening
In Zimbabwe, Marianne Knuth helps local people draw on the wisdom and talent of each other to solve problems big and small. Marco Visscher | June 2004 issue WHO? Marianne Knuth WHAT? Kufunda Village, a ‘learning community’ for self-support WHERE? Kufunda, Zimbabwe WHEN? 2001 WHY? To Read More...
Any day without a new idea is a day lost
Ervin Laszlo was a child prodigy at the piano who became a professor without finishing school. The former systems theory pioneer is now concentrating on research into the information field, which should not only shed light on inexplicable connections between man and matter, but may help create a Read More...
Cricket in the ghetto
Ted Hayes wondered what would keep young people in one of America's most violent ghettos away from drugs and crime? Cricket of course! Jay Walljasper | June 2004 issue WHO? Ted Hayes WHAT? Compton Cricket Club, for young people from the ghetto WHERE? Compton, California, United States WHEN? Read More...
Everyone's reading in South Africa
Beulah Thumbadoo believes a simple solution can help her country's complicated problems: reading more books. Tijn Touber | June 2004 issue WHO? Beulah Thumbadoo WHAT? ERA, Everyone’s Reading in Africa WHERE? South Africa WHEN? 1991 WHY? A country can only develop when books are widely Read More...
Laughter really is the best medicine
Patch Adams, a physician and clown, considers humour and friendship part of the cure in any healing process. That's why he wants to build his own hospital.Tijn Touber | June 2004 issue WHO? Patch Adams WHAT? The Gesundheit Institute, a hospital where doctors and patients treat each other as friends Read More...
A man with balls
On skates he won four Olympic gold medals and broke 11 world records. Now, using sports and games, he's dedicating himself to helping ensure children in poor areas have safe and healthy futures. Ode speaks with Johann Olav Koss.Marco Visscher | April 2006 issue In the run-up to the 1994 Lillehammer Read More...