Positive Changes in Countries Part 23 - Genuine Governments, Genuine Citizens: The Gambia, Georgia, Germany

Africa’s smallest country, The Gambia, opens onto the Atlantic coast on the west and borders Senegal in all three other directions. On May 28, 2010, The Gambia took a giant step toward gender equality when His Excellency President Yahya Jammeh signed the Women’s Act. The Gambian government has also been working to protect citizens through a National Adaptation Plan to build resilience to climate change. With support from the United Nations Green Climate Fund, a large-scale project has been launched to plant trees and shrubs over a 10,000-hectare area. What’s more, the compassionate vegan lifestyle is flocking like doves of peace to The Gambia.

Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, intriguing Georgia has been enriched by diverse cultural and social influences for thousands of years. The Georgian government has been striving to improve citizens’ lives through connections with neighboring countries and organizations like the European Union. As part of an agreement with the European Union, Georgia joined the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. Moreover, Georgia has made considerable progress in environmental protection. Since April 2019, the production, use and import of polyethylene bags has been prohibited. Also, in collaboration with the European Union, three new environmental protection projects have launched. As a Shining World Leadership Award for Compassion laureate and Shining World Caring Leadership Award laureate, Germany is one of the most developed countries in the world. Germany is also an exemplary leader in addressing global warming. The Energiewende, launched in 2010, seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% and to increase renewable energy to 60% by 2050 compared to 1990.

Germany also plans to shut down all of its 84 coal-fired power plants by 2038. With a program to eliminate all nuclear power as well, the country is instead implementing wind, sun, and hydro-technology. What’s more, Germany has been an uplifting example of mercy in its treatment of our benevolent animal friends. With legislation already in place that awards animals the same rights as those given to humans, Germany in 2017 went on to ban fur farming. Additionally, the nation’s Federal Ministry for the Environment no longer allows meat or fish to be served at official government events. Only seasonal, regional and organic vegetarian ingredients are used.