To read the headlines, you’d think there’s nothing good happening in the world.

At least that’s how it feels some days—especially in the world , where our government regulatory agencies are gutting environmental and food safety regulations right and left.

So today, I want to share a story about something good.

You’re probably more familiar with the work we do in the U.S. But the Organic Consumers Association is also a co-founder of two other organizations: Vía Orgánica, based in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and Regeneration International, which has staff and close allies working in the U.S., Mexico, South Africa, Australia, Belize, the Philippines, London and elsewhere.

Reporter Tracy L. Barnett recently was assigned to cover the work of these two organizations, for an article in Permaculture Magazine.

Calling it “one of my most inspiring assignments so far this year,” Barnett produced a version of the story that appeared in several online publications, including the Esperanza Project. 

Barnett describes the impact of our work through the eyes of several native Mexicans. Two of those, Lourdes Guerrero and Don Martin Tovar, previously worked long grueling hours in industrial chicken slaughterhouses.

Today, Guerrero and Tovar work at the Vía Orgánica ranch just outside San Miguel. 

Barnett reports that Tovar, who immigrated to the U.S. when he was 14 and worked 12-hour days in a chicken processing plant, is “proud to be able to live well in his homeland and show his son how to plant, grow and make organic fertilizers.”

Barnett does a good job of portraying the greatest value of OCA’s international work: hope. Hope for the Earth. Hope for the human spirit. Hope for the future.

And if there’s anything we could use more of these days, it’s hope.

Please read “Regenerating the Human Story.” 

And, if you can, invest in hope, by making a donation to support our international work.