In spite of everything, a culture of peace is emerging in all fields of human endeavour
monthly, year 25th, number 333 – 30th May 2025
Good News Agency carries positive and constructive news from all over the world relating to voluntary work, the work of the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and institutions engaged in improving the quality of life – news that doesn’t “burn out” in the space of a day. It is distributed free of charge through Internet to media and editorial journalists, NGOs, service associations and high schools and colleges around the world.
It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà Mondiale, an educational charity associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information It is a supporter of the Global Movement for the Culture of Peace. In the final report of the Decade for a Culture of Peace project (2001-2010) provided to the UN Secretary-General for presentation to the UN General Assembly, Good News Agency is included among the three NGOs that have been playing an active role in the field of Information through Internet.*
Government and politics – Education and teaching – Economy, finance and planning
Arts of living and relationships – Work, science and industry
Society and communication –Rules, regulations and environment
COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2025/889 of 12 May 2025 supporting the European network of independent non-proliferation and disarmament think tanks
May 13, 2025 - The Council of the European Union (…) has adopted this decision:
Article 1
1. For the purposes of contributing to the enhanced implementation of the EU Strategy against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as well as the EU Strategy against illicit firearms, small arms and light weapons and their ammunition, the support of the activities of the European network of independent non-proliferation and disarmament think tanks is hereby continued in order to further the following objectives:
(a) to encourage political and security-related research and debate within civil societies and, in particular, among experts, researchers and academics, on measures to prevent and combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their delivery systems, and the proliferation of conventional weapons, including on export control; (…)
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202500889
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
United Nations – General Assembly – Seventy-ninth session – Agenda Item 13 –Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 16 April 2025: United Nations Decade for Afforestation and Reforestation in line with Sustainable Forest Management (2027–2036)
April 16, 2025 – The General Assembly (…)
1. Decides to proclaim the period 2027–2036 as the United Nations Decade for Afforestation and Reforestation in line with Sustainable Forest Management, within existing structures and available resources (…)
2. Emphasizes the need for full consistency and coordination between the implementation of the Decade and existing global frameworks, including the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) and the United Nations strategic plan for forests 2017–2030 and its global forest goals (…)
https://docs.un.org/en/A/RES/79/283
News related with SDGs number 15-Life on Land
United Nations – General Assembly – Seventy-ninth session – Agenda Item 3 –Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 April 2025: Freedom of religion or belief
April 3, 2025 - The Human Rights Council (…)
1. Reaffirms that cultural rights are an integral part of human rights, which are universal, indivisible, interrelated and interdependent, and calls upon all States to respect, promote, protect and fulfil cultural rights; (…)
3. Reaffirms that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms; (…)
5. Reaffirms that States have the responsibility to promote and protect cultural rights, and that these rights should be guaranteed for all, without discrimination; (…)
https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/RES/58/11
News related with SDGs number 10-Reduced Inequalities
Human Rights Council - Fifty-eighth session - 24 February–4 April 2025 - Agenda item 3 - Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 3 April 2025: Open-ended intergovernmental working group for the elaboration of a legally binding instrument on the promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons
April 3, 2025 – The Human Rights Council (…)
https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/RES/58/13
News related with SDGs number 10-Reduced Inequalities
United Nations – Economic and Social Council – Sixthy-ninth session – Agenda Item 3 (a) – Ministerial round tables on national mechanisms for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls: recommitting to, resourcing and accelerating the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, also with a view to contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals
April 3, 2025 - Chairs’ summary (…)
4. (…) Ministers stressed the importance of foreign policies that place gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights at the centre of international agendas and reaffirmed their commitment to the women and peace and security agenda. They noted progress in implementing national action plans aligned with Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security to bolster women’s participation in peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery.
5. Ministers underlined the enormous potential of new and emerging digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, while also recognizing persistent digital divides and pervasive online gender-based violence. Ministers shared several promising practices for harnessing the opportunities and mitigating the risks of digital technologies (…)
https://docs.un.org/en/E/CN.6/2025/12
News related with SDGs number 5-Gender Equality
Study reveals vast Aztec trade networks behind Mexico City’s Pre-Colombian obsidian hoards
May 5, 2025- There’s an old saying that if goods are crossing borders, generally soldiers don’t, a saying that new research has shown to be true even in the case of the warlike Aztecs in central Mexico. A new study sheds light on the economic networks, rituals and political influence the Mexica Empire (the word the Aztecs used for themselves) relied on to maintain their economy and grip on power. The research was conducted by Tulane University and the Proyecto Templo Mayor in Mexico reveals how obsidian—a volcanic glass used for tools and ceremonial objects and one of the most important raw materials in pre-Columbian times—moved across ancient Mesoamerica and shaped life in its capital, Tenochtitlan.[...] The analysis showed that nearly 90% of the obsidian artifacts in the sample were made with Sierra de Pachuca obsidian – prized for its green hue and symbolic connection to the mythical city of Tollan. Almost all the ceremonial artifacts found inside buried offerings at the Templo Mayor were made with this type of obsidian, including miniature weapons, jewelry and inlays for sculptures.(…)
https://news.tulane.edu/pr/study-reveals-vast-aztec-trade-networks-behind-ancient-obsidian-artifacts
News related with SDGs number 4-Quality Education
Teaching Peace: nurturing young peacemakers in Ghana through education
April 18 - In a region where ethnic and religious diversity sometimes fuels tension, Ghana stands out as one of West Africa’s most peaceful nations. This reputation, however, cannot be taken for granted. In September 2024, Ghana experienced incidents of violence over upcoming elections. Other countries in the region such as Mali and Guinea have dealt with ethnic and religious violence in recent decades, including violence committed by youth. But efforts are being made to sustain harmony, particularly through peace education in schools. Peace education and sensitization programs aim to empower students as peace ambassadors. Schools across the Ashanti and Central Regions of Ghana are teaching peace education, where students learn conflict resolution skills, social justice principles, and the value of peaceful coexistence. (…)
https://cpnn-world.org/new/?p=36420
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Ethiopians succeed with sustainable forestry program that transforms coffee and money.
May 17, 2025 -Coffee is a major source of income for the Ethiopian economy, accounting for about a quarter of all production, and provides about half the livelihoods of 15 million people, 95 percent of whom are smallholder farmers. Connections with domestic lending institutions have enabled cooperatives to purchase drying and storage equipment, as well as support from city marketing agencies that have been able to work directly on behalf of Ilu Ababor farmers to carve out a niche in domestic and international markets.
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
Forest coffee cultivation: a win-win for conservation and livelihoods
May 13, 2025- A new report published by the NGO Farm Africa outlines how a transformative forest conservation and sustainable agriculture initiative in south-eastern Ethiopia has concluded with striking success, demonstrating that economic resilience and environmental stewardship can reinforce each other.
The report, Coffee for conservation – Protecting forests by growing a thriving forest coffee value chain, charts how a three-year Farm Africa project in the ecologically vital Ilu Ababor Zone of Ethiopia’s Oromia Regional State protected natural forests while improving the livelihoods of 4,000 people through sustainable coffee production and alternative income sources. With its rich forest ecosystems, Ilu Ababor Zone plays a critical role regionally in water regulation and globally in carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation[...]
https://www.farmafrica.org/forest-coffee-cultivation-a-win-win-for-conservation-and-livelihoods/
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
World Economic Forum Stories - What can we learn from cities about water innovation?
May 5, 2025 –Cities can act quickly, engage communities directly and serve as innovation clusters for water. Valencia’s and Singapore serve as examples of executing effective water innovation at the city level. Water innovation thrives when public-private partnerships, academic collaborations, and anchor institutions align. (…) Cities focus on the challenges — such as scarcity, floods and ageing infrastructure – and the opportunities to test and scale emerging solutions. Unlike large-scale national strategies, cities can act fast, engage communities directly and serve as living labs for new technologies. (…)
News related with SDGs number 6-Clean Water and Sanitation
Costa Rica achieved the highest EV Market Share in the Americas for 3rd consecutive year in 2024
(by Mario Duran Ortiz)
May 4, 2025 - Sales of new all-electric passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks) in Costa Rica reached a record of 11,373 units in 2024, up 80% from 2023. This sales volume exceeded cumulative registrations of light-duty pure electric vehicles (BEVs) from 2010 through 2023. The segment’s market share achieved a record 15.4%, up from 11.6% in 2023, making Costa Rica the leader in all-electric car penetration in Latin America for the third consecutive year. (…)
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
UK govt seeks to bar state energy firm from using forced labour
April 23, 2025 - The UK government moved to bar its new state energy company from using components linked to forced labour on Wednesday, which could affect solar panel parts from China. A government amendment to a bill establishing publicly owned company GB Energy calls for measures to make sure "slavery and human trafficking" do not take place in its business or supply chains. Earlier, The Times newspaper reported that the move would prevent GB Energy from using "solar panels linked to Chinese slave labour," saying the plans would also affect wind turbines and batteries. China has been accused of torture, forced labour and large-scale arbitrary detention of Uyghur minorities in the western Xinjiang region. (…)
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
World Economic Forum Stories - Jobs and the Future of Work: The four things workers really want from their job in 2025
April 23, 2025 – (…) Here, four experts share how businesses can keep their people engaged and performing at their highest level:
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/04/work-jobs-employers-reskilling-flexibility-trust//
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
World Economic Forum Stories - Jobs and the Future of Work - Future of jobs: 5 ways to match skills to more meaningful work
March 28, 2025 –
Matching talent to the jobs of tomorrow: the Forum’s guidebook for public employment services, outlines a five-step framework to help policymakers harness technology to connect talent with the jobs of the future. Here are its 5 key recommendations. (…)
News related with SDGs number 8-Decent Work and Economic Growth
World Economic Forum - Targeted action and financing the fight against Antimicrobial Resistance in Asia
May 5, 2025 - Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a deadly global crisis, linked to 4.71 million deaths in 2021 and projected to rise to 8.22 million annually by 2050 – surpassing cancer as the leading cause of death. Asia stands at the epicentre of this threat, driven by overuse of antibiotics, weak health systems, poor sanitation and climate vulnerabilities. (…)
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
UNAOC and Religions for Peace: “A call for Peace, the end of wars and respect for international Law”
April 18, 2025 - The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and Religions for Peace (RfP) are joining forces to launch “A Call for Peace, the End of Wars and Respect for International Law”, an initiative aiming to amplify a condemnation against war while fostering a message of peace and upholding respect for international law. The initiative, presented on April 3 at the UNAOC headquarter in New York, will be held on 25–26 April 2025 in Gernika, Spain, a town that has become a universal symbol of the horrors of war and the enduring spirit of peace. The two-day event will kick off on 25 April with roundtable discussions at the Liceo Theatre, featuring religious leaders, faith-based actors, and civil society representatives, followed by a screening of “Why War”, a film by renowned filmmaker Amos Gitai. On 26 April, the high-level opening ceremony and the official launch of the “Call for Peace” initiative will take place in Fronton Jai Alai, with distinguished speakers led by Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for UNAOC, and Dr. Francis Kuria, Secretary-General of RfP.
https://cpnn-world.org/new/?p=36417
News related with SDGs number 16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Mystical eagle thought to be extinct in Mexico reappears in Chiapas
April 18, 2025- The harpy eagle — a striking, almost mythical-looking species thought extinct in Mexico — has been documented in the Lacandon Jungle of Chiapas, marking a landmark moment for conservationists.
The discovery of the elusive eagle, announced this month at the Chiapas Birding and Photo Festival, follows nearly a decade of community-led monitoring in the region (…) Listed as endangered under Mexican law, the harpy eagle is one of the world’s largest birds of prey, with females typically being larger than males. Though both have a wingspan that can reach 2.2 meters (7 feet), females generally weigh 6 to 9 kilograms (13 to 20 pounds), with males generally 4 to 6 kilograms. Both sexes are skilled hunters whose diets are dominated by arboreal mammals like monkeys and sloths. The harpy breeds only once every two to three years, which is unusual among birds and contributes to its rarity, and females manage to conceive only one baby per nesting effort.(…)
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/believed-extinct-mexico-harpy-eagle-resurfaces-chiapas/
News related with SDGs number 15-Life on Land
World Economic Forum - Wellbeing and Mental Health - Urban planners are promoting active lifestyles. Here’s how
April 16, 2025 –
(…) Addressing the challenge of rising NCDs partly hinges on rethinking how we shape our environments and implement interventions to foster healthier outcomes. Since NCDs are linked to behavioral and environmental risk factors — such as physical inactivity, poor diet and air pollution — preventive measures integrated into urban spaces by design can promote healthier living to be the default. (…)
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
What is happiness? Here is the first index that reveals how to be happy
April 15, 2025- Today, happiness can be measured thanks to a specific index. Last February, the Piepoli Institute conducted research on behalf of Udicon (Union for the Defense of Consumers) in which, for the first time, the well-being of the population was assessed by going beyond the classic economic parameters, trying to establish what happiness is and the factors that determine it.
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
Two chefs unite for a good cause
April 2, 2025-A sense of responsibility, an explosion of creativity and the desire to put gastronomy at the service of a greener world. These are some of the driving forces behind Michelin-starred chefs Mauro Colagreco, chef at Mirazur in Menton (France), and Daniel Humm, chef at Eleven Madison Park in New York (USA). As UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors, they raise awareness of the considerable impact that our food choices have on our health and that of the planet.
https://courier.unesco.org/en/articles/two-chefs-come-together-good-cause
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
World Economic Forum Stories – Australia cut beach plastic by over a third. Here’s how
May 9, 2025 - Beaches across Australia are significantly cleaner than they were a decade ago, thanks to a sustained national effort to reduce plastic pollution. A study of coastal areas around six cities — from Hobart in Tasmania to Queensland's Sunshine Coast — found a 39% drop in plastic waste. Even more promising, the number of locations with no plastic at all rose by 16%. (…) Australia is aiming to cut plastic waste by 80% by 2030. To reach this goal, the country has introduced more public bins, launched anti-littering campaigns, and created hotlines to report illegal dumping. Container-deposit schemes reward people for returning plastic containers, and several states have already banned or are phasing out single-use plastics. (…)
News related with SDGs number 14- Life below Water
Aberdeenshire consents UK’s largest green hydrogen project
May 1, 2025 - Aberdeenshire consents UK’s largest green hydrogen project Kintore Hydrogen aims to produce zero-carbon hydrogen using renewable power sources, notably by utilising surplus energy from Scottish wind farms that would otherwise be curtailed to balance the electricity grid. This approach is said to not only improve the cost-effectiveness of hydrogen production but also enhance the UK’s energy security by providing a low-carbon alternative to natural gas for carbon-intensive industries. (…)
https://energycentral.com/c/cp/aberdeenshire-consents-uk%E2%80%99s-largest-green-hydrogen-project
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
Politecnico di Milano explores global potential of agrivoltaics for land use harmony
April 23, 2025 - A research team from the Politecnico di Milano has presented new insights into how agrivoltaic systems could resolve growing tensions over land use between agricultural production and solar energy development. (…) The study demonstrates that integrating photovoltaic panels with crop cultivation can significantly mitigate land-use conflict while maintaining food output. (…)
News related with SDGs number 15-Life on Land
Eurovision 2025: not just music, but also inclusion and constructive values
May 11, 2025- The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 promises to be one of the most innovative and significant editions ever. It won't just be the music that will make the news: constructive values, inclusion and a revolution in hosting make this edition a symbol of change. Eurovision 2025 will be fully accessible to deaf and hard of hearing people, thanks to simultaneous translation into Swiss Sign Language (DSGS), French (LSF) and Italian (LIS). In addition, the streaming offer will be enhanced with real-time subtitles and audio commentary for the blind.
News related with SDGs number 3-Good Health and Well-Being
A gift from Pope Francis inspired a restaurateur to feed the hungry for years
May 7, 2025-When firefighters pulled a silver crucifix from the ashes of Bruno Serato’s burned-down California restaurant, he took it as a sign from God: Despite having lost so much, he needed to keep faith in the Lord and keep going. Since that day, one of Anaheim’s most beloved Italian importers has opened the doors of a new location, as well as his heart, feeding the city’s rich at night so he can feed the poor during the day.
News related with SDGs number 2-No hungry
Extraordinary reuse of an abandoned church: transformation into a public swimming pool in the Netherlands
April 19, 2025- Two architectural firms have teamed up to win the competition to transform the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Heerlen into a public swimming pool. Dubbed “Holy Water,” the project gives the vacant church a new social function while preserving the historical elements of this national monument.
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
Rules, regulations and environment
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World Economic Forum Stories - Why clean energy is key to building a more resilient future in uncertain times
April 30, 2025 – (…)
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
World Economic Forum - Urban Transformation - Asia's megacities at a crossroads – and other urban transformation stories to read this month
April 28, 2025 –
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
World Economic Forum Stories - Rewilding our cities: how urban nature restoration is reshaping the future of urban life – and business
April 22, 2025 - This article is part of: Centre for Urban Transformation
As climate extremes, ecological degradation and widening social inequities collide, cities worldwide seek solutions. Many are now turning to the powerful yet overlooked resolve of reintroducing nature into the built environment. This movement – urban restoration – is more than a sustainability trend. It’s becoming a blueprint for resilient, inclusive and economically vibrant cities (…)
News related with SDGs number 11-Sustainable Cities and Communities
1.2GWh, BYD's Chilean Quillagua photovoltaic storage power plant put into operation April 21, 2025 - According to Wechat Official Account @EnergyStorageMarket, Contour Global's Quillagua photovoltaic storage plant in Chile, the largest photovoltaic storage plant in Latin America, has successfully completed its commissioning and has been put into operation. The project has a scale of 221MW/1200MWh, equipped with over 452,000 solar panels and 267 sets of the BYD MC Cube energy storage systems. The Quillagua Power Station is located on the edge of the Atacama Desert, which boasts the richest solar energy resources globally. (…)
https://www.energytrend.com/news/20250421-49300.html
News related with SDGs number 7-Affordable and Clean Energy
World Economic Forum – Climate Action - Earth Day: what is it, when is it and why is it important?
April 16, 2025 - Earth Day takes place every year on 22 April and is one of the biggest environmental protest movements on the planet. The theme of Earth Day this year is 'Our Power, Our Planet' – calling for people across the globe to unite behind renewable energy, and to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030. The World Economic Forum Global Risks Report 2025 finds that environmental risks make up half of the top 10 risks over the next 10 years. (…)
News related with SDGs number 13-Climate Action
United Nations – General Assembly – Human Rights Council - Fifthy-eighth session – Agenda Item 3 – Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 3 April 2025: The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment: the ocean and human rights
April 3, 2025 - The Human Rights Council (…)
5. Calls upon States:
(a) To respect, protect and fulfil human rights, including in all actions undertaken to address environmental challenges, including climate change, marine biodiversity loss, pollution and land degradation; (…)
(i) To take into account human rights obligations and commitments relating to the enjoyment of a clean, healthy and sustainable environment in the implementation of and follow-up to the Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 14, on life below water, and Goal 6, on clean water and sanitation, bearing in mind the integrated and multisectoral nature of the latter; (…)
https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/RES/58/16
News related with SDGs number 14- Life below Water
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Good News Agency is published monthly (except August) in English, Italian and Portuguese. Past issues are available at www.goodnewsagency.org . Rome Law-court registration no. 265 dated 20 June 2000. Managing Editor: Fabio Gatti. Editorial research by Fabio Gatti, Isabella Strippoli, Elisa Minelli, Salvatore Caruso Motta, Chiara Damilano, Francesco Viglienghi, Carlo Toraldo, Andrea Landriscina, Nazzarena Franco. Webmaster, media and NGO coverage: Simone Frassanito (simone.frassanito@goodnewsagency.org)
Good News Agency is distributed free of charge through Internet to media and editorial journalists of the daily newspapers and periodical magazines and of the radio and television stations, NGOs, service associations, high schools and colleges as well as over 26,000 Rotarians around the world.
It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà Mondiale, a registered, not-for-profit educational charity chartered in Italy in 1979 The Association operates for the development of consciousness and promotes a culture of peace in the ‘global village’ perspective based on unity in diversity and on sharing. It is based in Piazzale degli Eroi 8, 00136 Rome, Italy. The Association is a member of the World Association of Non Governmental Organizations.
* http://decade-culture-of-peace.org/2010_civil_society_report.pdf - In section A - International Organizations, page 12, the Report says: ”Diffusion and exchange of culture of peace information via the Internet has become the major instrument for several international organizations, notably the Culture of Peace News Network, the Good News Agency and the Education for Peace Globalnet.”