 Hi, friends! Here are some great stories collected from the countless countries I have visited. I hope they will inspire you. Whether you are determined to do your part for the world or a little bit sad or unhappy, just read these astonishing messages of hope and you will be stronger. Let's fight together!
- Boopy
The Black Robin's Wonderful Story
 I was flying low and fast under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco--I was late for a talk by the great Jane Goodall, my hero from the time she has been studying chimpanzees deep in the forest of Gombe in Tanzania up to her Roots & Shoots and Jane Goodall Institute organizations that inspire so many people.
Great! I arrived just before the main door closed and it was an incredible experience listening to her stories. You will easily understand why a sparrow like me will be more touched by the saga of the black robin, but I’m sure you’ll agree that it is such a moving story. Let me tell you.
The black robin lives only in the Chatham Islands in New Zealand. It’s a tough place for a little bird, but everything was fine until people settled there in the early 20th century. The introduction of cats, rats and so many other threats were nearly fatal to the bird. They tried to migrate to a nearby place called Little Mangere Island but life there was too harsh with not much food and very little shelter.
By 1980, only 5 black robins were still alive. Yes FIVE, three males and two females. You could count them all on one single hand. You would may be considered the situation as desperate but one man, Don Merton from the New Zealand Department of Conservation, decided that the black robin should not get extinct and with his team he set up a plan with a fostering programme with other birds and move the bird to a safe place.
Only one female and one male were sexually active: Old Blue and Old Yellow. Believe it or not, but today there are over 250 black robins in three islands, all descended from this single pair. Yes, the black robin has been saved by just two birds.
So whenever you think that a situation is a hopeless case, just think twice and remember Old Blue and Old Yellow, our heroes from New Zealand!
Thanks, Jane, for telling us this irresistible true story!
And how many orange sparrows do you think there are in the world? :)
The Story of Ryan
 “One day, I was listening carefully to Jean-Michel Cousteau, the famous ambassador of the marine world. It's not everyday that you meet such a great eco-warrior. It was in Sydney and I went on such a long flight to meet him. The story he told me captured my imagination. It was something that really needs to be known by many kids and adults!
Jean-Michel told me about this kid of six years old, Ryan Hreljac, who lives in Canada. Ryan learned through a TV report that without access to clean water, people (especially kids) become ill and sometimes even die.
So Ryan set out on a mission: raise US$70 towards building a well in Africa. Well Ryan reached this goal in 4 months. But he didn’t stop there. He kept on working and organizing and has now raised over US$1,000,000. His work has helped change the lives of over 350,000 people in ten African countries! Jean-Michel told me that I could find more information about Ryan at this website, www.ryanswell.ca, but I will let you guys do that. I think I’m going to fly to Canada and meet Ryan!
Thank Jean-Michel for showing us that everyone can help and take action! Don’t forget to stop by his website at www.oceanfutures.org.
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