May we gift kindness before things, attention before obligation, and compassion before convenience. And may this season remind us that the smallest, simplest deeds often become the ones that matter most, not just to others, but to our own hearts.
Anjani Amriit
Editor-in-Chief, Doing Good Deeds
Human Development Expert
Speaker | Author | Mentor | Editor in Chief
www.anjaniamriit.com
P.P.S If you have a good deeds story please reach out to us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.
- Safeguard rainforest ecosystems from destruction and exploitation.
- Rescue and rehabilitate orphaned and injured orangutans.
- Support conservation programs that protect wildlife and empower local communities.
This year, that promisestill stands strong. The lions now roam freely at Al Ma'wa Sanctuary, a peaceful refuge that guarantees they'll never again face exploitation or captivity. Their story has become a living testament to what long-term commitment and ethical guardianship look like in action.
Back home, Animals Australia amplified its campaign for one of the country's most iconic species, the kangaroo.
Partnering with supporters across the globe, the organisation challenged major sportswear brands such as Nike, Puma, and Diadora to phase out kangaroo leather. The movement gained massive momentum, with 73,659 emails from supporters calling for compassion over commercialisation.
The campaign didn't just target products, it sparked a conversation about Australia's relationship with its wildlife and pushed companies to reassess their role in creating a cruelty-free future.
Freedom for Farmed Animals
The organisation also made major strides for farmed animals. After years of campaigning, the national decision to phase out battery cages between 2022 and 2036 marked a milestone in animal welfare reform.
But Animals Australia isn't stopping there. The team continues to pressure governments and retailers to accelerate change because hens deserve liberation in years, not decades.
Through powerful storytelling and digital advocacy, their message reached millions: over 14.5 million views on Instagram and 12.3 million on TikTok brought the plight of caged animals into public consciousness, urging Australians to choose kindness at the checkout.
The Heartbeat of a Movement
Whether it's emergency aid, sanctuary care, or social justice for animals, Animals Australia has shown that compassion is not a sentiment, it's a strategy for change.
The 2024–2025 year revealed a global movement powered by generosity and grit. Each action, each rescue, each policy shift moves the world one step closer to a kinder, more conscious tomorrow one where animals are not commodities, but companions in life on Earth.
There are many ways you can support the incredible work that Animals Australia does.
- Recognition and protection for LGBTQIA+ communities.
These changes ensure more people can live with dignity, safety, and equal opportunity.
2. Hard-Earned Gains for Freedom of Expression
In several countries, authorities reversed restrictive laws, journalists were freed, and the right to protest was reaffirmed.
Key wins included:
- Removing criminal penalties for peaceful dissent.
- Protecting independent reporters and media outlets.
- Releasing activists previously detained for speaking out.
Every step reinforced a fundamental truth. Free expression is the heartbeat of democracy.
3. Survivors' Voices Leading Meaningful Reform
Survivors of gender-based violence, state harm, and discrimination sparked major reforms this year.
Their advocacy shaped:
- Stronger legal protections for survivors.
- Better reporting pathways and investigation systems.
-Greater accountability for perpetrators and institutions.
Their courage didn't just change laws, it changed lives.
Environmental defenders and Indigenous communities achieved landmark wins that recognised the connection between a healthy planet and human rights.
These included:
- Court decisions linking environmental damage to human rights violations.
- Victories protecting culturally significant and ecologically vital land.
- Halting harmful extractive and industrial projects.
These wins show that environmental justice is integral to human well-being.
5. Accountability for Abuses and Violations
Across the world, courts and international bodies took steps to investigate injustice, address corruption, and respond to war crimes.
Examples included:
- Progress on international investigations.
- Legal rulings condemning repression and systemic discrimination.
- Sanctions and legal consequences for human rights offenders.
Each one strengthens the global expectation that abuses will not be ignored.
Why These Wins Matter
Together, these 29 achievements remind us that progress is built by people, not only leaders, but everyday individuals who write letters, sign petitions, march, donate, speak up, and refuse to stay silent.
They show us that:
Hope is a strategy.
Change is possible.
And humanity, when united, is powerful.
Ways You Can Help or Get Involved
Read the full list of human rights victories highlighted by Amnesty International.
WWDA exists because no one should have to navigate these experiences alone.
They step in where systems fail.
They challenge policies that don't protect people.
They push back against stereotypes that limit opportunity.
And they bring humanity, dignity and leadership to spaces where these voices were historically missing.
Their mission isn't to "fix" people, it's to fix the systems that failed them.
- university enrolment for women.
These results remind us that education is one of the most powerful levers for long-term equality.
strengthening childcare access,
* closing the gender pay gap,
* addressing gender-based violence, and
* improving economic equity for women in all industries.
As Minister for Women Katy Gallagher put it, this result shows the government is "shifting the dial." And as advocates like Georgie Dent remind us, meaningful change must continue.
As Beatriz O'Brien from Fashion Revolution said, this is the spark for "a new consumer culture" one where clothing is valued, not disposable.
The Human Side: Supporting Communities, Not Landfills
This issue isn't just environmental; it's deeply social.
Tons of clothing are sorted daily by migrant workers at the freeport in Iquique.
The best pieces are resold, giving income to families and supporting local markets.
But the waste? That ends up in poorer regions like Alto Hospicio, where burning piles of unwanted clothing exposes communities to toxic smoke.
Chile's new law aims to break this cycle protecting both the land and the people who live closest to the impact.
Chile now stands as one of the first countries in the world to regulate textile waste this boldly. They've recognised that fast fashion isn't just a style problem it's a climate problem, a community problem, and a human problem.
And in a world hungry for environmental good news, Chile's action shows:
🌱 Governments can hold companies accountable
🌱 Circular economies are possible
🌱 Even the largest environmental problems can change direction
This is the kind of leadership our planet needs more of.
Good news grows when we participate in it.
How You Can Play Your Part
You can help reduce fashion waste by:
🙌 buying less and choosing better
🙌 buying from second hand and thrift stores
🙌 supporting slow fashion and ethical brands
🙌 donating, repairing and repurposing clothing
🙌 championing circular economy initiatives in your community
🙌 sharing stories like this that inspire global action
Every conscious choice keeps clothing out of landfills and out of deserts like the Atacama.
Whether it's a live pine cut for the season or a plastic tree stored in a cupboard, both seem harmless. Festive. Part of the "magic."
But beneath this tradition lies a deeper story, a spiritual one, an ecological one that we've forgotten.
Before Christmas was commercialised and shopping centres were filled with glittering trees, the evergreen wasn't a decoration at all. It was a teacher. A symbol. A living bridge between heaven and earth.
As the world faces ecological crisis and collective disconnection, remembering the true meaning of the Christmas tree may be one of the most meaningful acts we can take.
The Sacred Meaning We Lost
Long before Christianity, communities across Europe honoured the evergreen tree as a symbol of:
- Endurance during the harsh, dark winters
- The return of light after long nights
- Life that cannot be extinguished
- The eternal link between the human and the divine
These trees were never meant to be cut. They were honoured where they stood, alive, rooted, connected.
People gathered around living trees, offering fruit, candles, and blessings as gestures of gratitude for the Earth's protection during winter.
The tree wasn't a product. It was a reminder that life persists, light returns and our Mother Earth is our first and forever sanctuary.
Why Cutting or Buying a Tree Misses the Point
A cut tree breaks the ancient covenant
Most Christmas trees take 7–12 years to grow only to be cut down for a few weeks of decoration.
The original wisdom honoured the tree as a living being, not seasonal décor.
Plastic trees harm what the season is meant to protect
Plastic trees are:
- Made using petroleum
- Produced in high-emissions factories
- Non-recyclable
- Destined for landfill
- Break down into microplastics that pollute the Earth
They remain on the planet for centuries long after any Christmas memory has faded.
Christmas is meant to celebrate renewal, not contribute to environmental harm.
The connection between trees and the sacred is even more profound than we remember.
Traditionally, ashes used on Ash Wednesday were made from burned palms or sacred tree branches. The tree transformed from physical form into a symbol of spiritual purification.
When ash is placed on the third eye, it represents:
- Inner clarity
- Dissolving illusions
- Returning to spiritual truth
- Remembering our responsibility to all living things
The tree becomes ash. The ash becomes a blessing. The blessing awakens our inner sight.
Trees were always part of our spiritual journey, not props for celebration.
A New (Old) Way to Celebrate Christmas
This season, we don't need a new tradition. We need to return to the ancient one. The one that honours life instead of consuming it.
Celebrate living trees outdoors
Choose a living tree in your garden, local bushland or neighbourhood.
Adorn it gently with:
- Simple ribbons
- Dried citrus slices
- Bells
- A handwritten blessing
- Your heart / hugs
Let it remain alive. Let it stay rooted. Let it stay where it belongs.
How You Can Be Part Of The Solution
- Plant trees each Christmas
Imagine if every home planted just one tree every December. We could regenerate forests within a generation and raise children who see Christmas as a time of stewardship, not consumption.
- Support organisations restoring nature
If planting isn't possible, support those who do this work with devotion.
One extraordinary example is Green Sakthi, a movement restoring sacred groves, regenerating forests, protecting biodiversity, and teaching children the sacred relationship between humans and the Earth.
This is the true spirit of Christmas. Giving life back to the world that gives us everything.
Have a burning question in mind?
Email Anjani at [email protected] with your question, and it might just feature in our next edition of Doing Good Deeds.
Narayani Food Seva, or Anna Dhanam, has been nourishing thousands of people every single day since its inception in 1999. Hosted at Sri Annapoorani Mandapam in Sripuram, this initiative provides free meals to 8,000–10,000 people daily, ensuring that no one leaves hungry.
This program supports local schools, orphanages, and families in need. The solar-powered kitchen and biogas fuel system help sustain this incredible mission and stay environmentally green.
Green Sakthi's work in tree planting, organic farming, and ecological education is more than a project; it's a living practice of dharma. By donating, you are planting seeds not just in the soil, but in your own destiny.
When we support causes like Green Sakthi, we're not just giving back to the planet, we're participating in an ancient cycle of reciprocity that nourishes the Earth and our own soul. Every act of selfless giving clears our karmic mirror, allowing our true nature to shine
