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This Couple Created a Forest! ‘We Are The World’ Blogfest #WATWB

By 31/03/2017April 28th, 2017Blog Fest, We are the World

We are the World Blogfest

To spread peace and humanity on social media, a few of us have worked together to create the We are the World Blogfest:

Belinda WitzenhausenEmerald BarnesEric Lahti, Inderpreet UppalLynn Hallbrooks, Mary Giese, Michelle Wallace, Peter Nena, Roshan RadhakrishnanSimon Falk, Susan Scott, Sylvia McGrath, Sylvia Stein.

——-

Each month a few of us would lead the co-hosting, and the inaugural month Lead co-hosts for  “We Are the World Blogfest” are Belinda WitzenhausenLynn Hallbrooks, Simon Falk, Sylvia McGrath, and yours truly, Damyanti.

In the spirit of “In Darkness, Be Light,” here’s a link to a heartwarming piece of news from southern India: A couple has transformed 300 acres of denuded farmland in Karnataka into India’s first private wildlife sanctuary. Check out pictures of the sanctuary here and watch this video to know more.

Excerpt:

“Once we bought the land, we allowed the forest to regenerate. We planted native species where necessary and allowed nature to take care of the rest,” says Anil.

Today, SAI Sanctuary covers approximately 300 acres, and draws naturalists and scientists doing research on the different animal species as well as hundreds of indigenous trees and plants, which have medicinal value as well. Hunting and poaching was a challenge…They worked with the forest department to set up camera traps and keep poachers away. “There are times I have fought poachers with logs,” says Pamela.

The news of green cover on this planet reducing worries me: my dream is to some day be able to plant trees. This couple’s initiative is an inspiration: two people together can create an entire forest in a denuded land– it boggles my mind, that two individuals with the right intent can make such an impact. It is true that they had resources, but they put those resources to an altruistic  use–caring for our planet.

If you liked this piece of news and would like to take part in this blogfest, sign up in the WE ARE THE WORLD Blogfest Linky List below and please help spread the word on social media via the hashtag #WATWB.

~~~GUIDELINES~~~

  1. Keep your post to below 500 words.
  2. All we ask is you link to a human news story on your blog on the last Friday of each month, one that shows love and humanity.
  3. Join us on the last Friday of each month in sharing news that warms the cockles of our heart. No story is too big or small, as long as it goes beyond religion and politics, into the core of humanity.
  4. Place the WE ARE THE WORLD Badge on your sidebar, and help us spread the word on social media. Tweets, Facebook shares, G+ shares using the #WATWB hashtag through the month most welcome. More Blogfest signups mean more friends, love and light for all of us.
  5. We’ll read and comment on each others’ posts, get to know each other better, and hopefully, make or renew some friendships with everyone who signs on as participants in the coming months.

#WATWB also wants to link to charities supported by the co-hosts, and you could choose to donate to some of them or add links to local charities you support. Here’s the organization I’ve come to love and support: PROJECT WHY— and here’s one of my previous posts on the work they do. Feel free to send them a little of your help– every little bit counts.

What piece of positive news have you read lately– would you like to talk about it in the comments, or make a post of your own?  Would you like to visit this sanctuary? Do you think our green cover depleting is a cause for alarm? If so, what can we do to reverse this process?

We Are the World Blogfest

Please join Daily (w)rite on its Facebook Page in case you’d like to be heard by this community. If you liked this post, you can have biweekly posts delivered to your inbox: click the SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL button. (Feel free to share this post if you like it. You’ll find icons to re-blog it via WordPress and Blogger to the left of this post.)

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Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas is the author of You Beneath Your Skin and numerous short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies in the US, the UK, and Asia. She has been shortlisted for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards and is co-editor of the Forge Literary Magazine. Her literary crime thriller series, the Blue Mumbai, is represented by Lucienne Diver from The Knight Agency. Both The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon were published in 2023.

I appreciate comments, and I always visit back. If you're having trouble commenting, let me know via the contact form, or tweet me up @damyantig !

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68 Comments

  • Thanks for writing on this powerful initiative. In today’s world where nature is being destroyed to suit capitalism, it’s heart warming to see this couple making a huge difference to the world.

  • Rads says:

    I’ll sigh up but can’t commit until May. Would taht work?
    Love what you are doing. And thank u!

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Absolutely. We don’t remove anyone from the list unless they don’t participate for 3 consecutive months.

  • Shailaja V says:

    Been so caught up with health, A to Z and a recent loss so truly sorry for stopping by so late! This is a wonderful initiative and I do hope that more people come together and share their stories of hope, warmth and wisdom for the world to read about. To hear of a couple who can transform a 300-acre piece of land the way they have is mind boggling but heartwarming.

    I’ll be sure to link up in the coming months. Much love for this once again.

  • cleemckenzie says:

    Such an inspiring and interesting post! I’m heartened by people who plant rather than cut trees. Thanks for this.

  • lindacovella says:

    Thanks for starting this blogfest, Damyanti! It’s such a wonderful idea. I posted mine blog as well on March 31, and will continue to do so each month! https://lindacovella.com/2017/03/31/good-news-blogfest/

  • Denise Covey says:

    This is beautiful, Damyanti. What we’re doing to this planet is incredibly stupid so stories like this give us hope that all is not lost for our children and grandchildren and so on. Thanks for sharing this story with us. A great idea for a blogfest. A great positive move on social media.

  • pjlazos says:

    How much do I love this video on SAI, Damyanti! What incredible work they are doing. Currently, 1/3 of the world, about 2.5 billion people lack access to clean water and it’s felt the most acutely in developing nations. SAI is giving India a wonderful benefit. Thanks so much for finding this and sharing it. ox

  • What a WONDERFUL initiative, Damyantig – I’m totally on board with the objective.

    As a mental health blogger, I’m not sure I’m a candidate for full participation, especially since I don’t maintain the expected “social” accounts (Twitter etc.), but I’ll add a link to any of my positive news posts in the future (have already linked to Take Me Out to the Ballgame, posted recently, which auto-posts to LinkedIn and FB) and, as soon as time permits, will find a place for the badge on my sidebar, linked back here to help spread the word.

    I’ve also posted the graphic to one of my Pinterest boards “BE the Change.” We all do what we can, right?
    xx,
    mgh
    (Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
    ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
    “It takes a village to transform a world!”

  • Inderpreet says:

    That is an amazing initiative. A small step in the right direction!! Thank you for sharing their story. More power, love and light to us all.

    Thank you so much! Team #WATWB
    *Inderpreet/EloquentArticulation*

  • It’s definitely mind-boggling to read that two individuals with the right intent can make such an impact.
    Wow. Such dedication!
    It makes me think of that quote: If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it, I know I can achieve it.

    It has been SO uplifting to read all the WATWB posts! We need this feel-good day to rejuvenate our spirits that take a beating from all the negative stories that flourish on social media.
    Thanks, Damyanti! 🙂

  • ericlahti says:

    Amazing and inspiring! It’s always great to see people build things up rather than tear them down.

  • Dahlia says:

    Wow! Very inspiring – thanks for sharing. I have been trying to add my blog to the linky list but quite unsuccessfully. I wonder if you could help? Thanks!

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Thanks, Dahlia. About your link– it is already on there—Stories and More is No.42 on the list. Please don’t add your blog to the list again–repeated entries confuses readers and will be deleted.

      The same list will remain live for each month, so you only have to make your #WATWB post on your blog on the last Friday of a given month, and everyone will still find it on the linky list.

  • That is amazing–and cool–and wonderful.

  • Wendy says:

    Wow – how amazing and dedicated this couple are and what a difference they are making.. Very inspiring x

  • Ally Bean says:

    I find it amazing that these two people have accomplished so much good, adding all that greenness back to the earth. Inspiring story choice for your first #WATWB post. Thanks for sharing it.

  • sapna bansal says:

    wow..read about them in daily newspaper..nice post

  • Lakshmi says:

    Very inspiring…coming from Bangalore, I would love to do a post on.them on my blog too

  • Inspiring! Thank you

  • Such an inspiring post! Thank you. Too often, people look at the state of the world and despair that they can do anything to make a difference. This dedicated pair has proven that individual CAN make a difference.

  • Birgit says:

    This is wonderful and inspiring. It also shows how fast the earth can regenerate which gives hope. Animals need our care more than ever

  • This issue is dear to my heart, and I’m grateful to you for bringing this couple’s work and the SAI Sanctuary to my attention. Such a beautiful dedication.

  • BellyBytes says:

    To be truly passionate is one thing but to achieve your passion is indeed commendable.

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      It has taken them years, but they have created something of a miracle.

  • Rajlakshmi says:

    wow that’s requires so much dedication and passion to do something good… a truly selfless act!! Thanks for sharing.

  • What a wonderful thing this couple is doing. Thanks for starting this blogfest and for sharing positive messages around the globe. I’m proud to be part of this group. Mary at Play off the Page

  • Good for them. One patch of Heaven for the plants and the animals.

  • spunkonastick says:

    Fortunate they had the funds to do that. I have friends who live on 300+ acres outside of town. Two small sections they rent out to farmers, but the rest is all natural forest with a stream and several ponds. They’ve made it almost a bird sanctuary.

  • Ramya says:

    What a great initiative … The SAI sanctuary stands to tell each one of us that its important to protect our forests and wildlife.

  • Susan Scott says:

    planting trees – so worthwhile. Thanks Damyanti …

  • hilarymb says:

    Hi Damyanti – what an amazing looking sanctuary … definitely falls into the passion for nature class … that’s wonderful and to know they are letting others share their vision … cheers Hilary

  • See. For me, these are the real heroes of the world. It is insane that we need to be pushing for people to recognize individuals and groups trying to literally save the planet! Everyone should know them already by now.

  • Amazing story .Cannot believe how we have allowed the environment to become so bad!.We really need to do urgent work to make up for the damage.Thanks for sharing Damyanti

  • Beautiful! I wish more people preserved the environment. I live in Toronto, more and more our green space is deteriorating. Thanks so much for sharing this! #WATWB

    Belinda Witzenhausen~Writer, Creativity Coach & Artist

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Thanks for stopping by, Belinda, and for this blogfest. We need green spaces, especially in our urban areas.

  • Abhijit says:

    This is a really great effort. I read it in news paper last year. So heart warming!

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      I really hope they get all the support they need. It can’t be easy.

  • Vinodini says:

    Kudos to this couple! They really are doing such a beautiful job of preserving the environment. Not many people are selfless for such causes.

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      They’re doing a fab job– I hope more of us follow suit.

  • bikerchick57 says:

    Very nice Damyanti. The world needs more people like this…those who want to save the land and take it back to nature in the way it was intended. Thanks for sharing their story.

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      I know. As a race, we’re the worst caretakers of this planet. People like this redeem us– we need more of them.

  • smickey007 says:

    An inspiring story on so many levels: 300 acres, attracting naturalists and scientists, indigenous trees and plants, and fighting poachers with logs. Would love to visit the SAI Sanctuary. Look forward to more stories with the #WATWB hashtag.

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Thanks, Mickey. This couple is absolutely who I always wanted to be. Maybe there’s still time.

  • simonfalk28 says:

    In Australia we have so much space that we could better utilise for these kind of purposes. It makes you want to get out in the garden! 🙂

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Yes. This couple is basically doing what I’ve dreamt of doing ever since I was a child– grow a forest of my own!

  • This is very interesting. Makes me appreciate the area I live in even more. Thanks for sharing. If you are any of your visitors would like to meet a gentleman who is bring light into other people’s darkness feel free to stop by.
    BringLightIntoSomeoneElsesDarknessWATWBviaCallSignWreckingCrewOnTheRun

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      I live in a tiny dot of an urban jungle, that does its best t save its greenery. I’d love to grow my own forest, though.