My name is Martin Smatana and I am a director of animated films and an illustrator based in Prague, Czech Republic. Every week I pick one good news story from the newspaper and create an illustration to go with it. Since I love recycling and upcycling, every illustration is made from old secondhand clothes and discarded textiles.
My book "A Year of Good News" shows 52 illustrated good news stories which happened in the world during the last year. I hope these positive stories will help to reinforce people´s belief that even in the worst of times, people make many good things happen and that even the tiniest, most inconspicuous gestures can make our world a better place. You can purchase the book here!
Have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year of good news!
#21
Italian street artist CIBO has been fighting hatred in the public space by covering neo-Nazi graffiti with colorful murals depicting all kinds of foods.
139points
#22
An old man in Australia knitted woolen jumpers for penguins threatened by an oil leak to stop them from swallowing the toxic oil while cleaning themselves.
136points
#23
When the border between Český Těšín and the neighboring Polish city of Cieszyn was closed during the pandemic, residents of the two cities exchanged messages across the river to tell their neighbors how much they missed them.
127points
#24
Two-year-old Barrett from Texas accidentally ordered 31 cheeseburgers while playing with his mother’s mobile phone. Since the order couldn’t be canceled, she threw a cheeseburger feast for people in the neighborhood.
117points
#25
To protest against unequal Covid restrictions that forced museums and galleries in Holland to stay closed, leading cultural institutions were temporarily transformed into establishments not affected by the lockdown. For one day, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam turned into a nail salon, the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague into a gym, and concert halls across the country into hair salons.
108points
#26
The Slovak ultramarathon runner Lenka Vacvalová went to Peru where she ran 850 km along one of the most ancient trails in the world, raising money to buy unique equipment for the children’s oncology clinic in Bratislava.
106points
#27
After more than thirty years, women cyclists have returned to the Tour de France.
105points
#28
A French florist left bright bunches of flowers on cars parked outside a hospital to thank healthcare workers.
100points
#29
Many families adopted dogs during the lockdown, leaving dog shelters almost empty. Lonely people appreciated animal companionship which helped them overcome their fear of the pandemic and made them feel safer.
86points
#30
Children around the world who were stuck at home for months during the pandemic drew pictures of rainbows and put them up in their windows to cheer up their neighbors and spread hope by showing that after every rain the sun always comes again.
78points