Mo' Money, mo' problems? One couple in Berlin, Germany thinks so! Raphael Fellmer, his wife, and child have lived without money for over two years!!! Two years! This is not because they cannot find work, but because they choose to. They believe that society can be better without money.
Fellmer decided to embark on this journey after college. He wanted to raise awareness for how wasteful our society can be. To spread his ideas, Fellmer and a group of friends travelled from Europe to Mexico without money! How'd they do it? They did small jobs for people and good deeds. They eventually got a ride on a sailboat in exchange for crew duties. On his trip, Fellmer met his wife and they quickly had their child.
Now the happy couple lives in Berlin money free. Fellmer says he's not lazy as many people claim. Instead he says, "I’m working 40 to 50 hours a week on projects for the good of society.”
The couple does small jobs for people - gardening, etc… in exchange for goods, food, and living space. Germany offers free universal healthcare so they have medical expenses covered. They managed to find a gynecologist while his wife, Nieves Palmer, was pregnant. The doctor assisted her in exchange for gardening work.
Fellmer calls this working together for goods and services "collaborative consumption".
“We have not only a surplus of food but of housing,” Fellmer says. “Everything we need is already there. We just need to make the connections.”
And that's what's good,
Jon
The Good World News
By day, he is a normal man, but by night, he jumps in a giraffe costume and does good deeds for random people! Super-giraffe? Well he actually calls himself "The Good Giraffe".
Armstrong Baillie is his name, and good deeds is his game.
“I busk during the week, playing the drums and kazoo dressed as The Good Giraffe. Then I use the money I get from busking to do good things for people.", Armstrong describes in an interview with The Sun.
He does nice simple things for people. Armstrong has purchased coffee for people, cleaned up beaches, and handed out water bottles to runners. He has also dropped off toys to kids in hospitals.
These good deeds have given him worldwide attention:
“Since I set up my blog I’ve been getting requests from all over the world… I’ve also had emails from Germany, Malaysia, Hong Kong and even Syria".
It's always good to see someone paying it forward and hey, it also helps that he really enjoys it!
“People are always happy to see me. It puts a smile on their faces.", Armstrong says.
Peace & Love,
Jon
The Good World News
"Mahal kita", "Je t'aime", "Ti amo", are only a few of the hundreds of "I love you's" written on a 416 foot wall in Place des Abbesses, Square Jehan Rictus in Paris, France. Two artists, Frédéric Baron and Claire Kito,
created the beautiful wall as a tribute to love and happiness. awwwww. The wall has "I Love You" written in 250 different languages!
The "I Love You" wall spans 416 feet! - Image Credit: Matthieus Mueller/Flickr
How did they find out who to say these sweet words in so many languages? They originally collated all of the phrases by going to many different embassies and asking their neighbors and soon enough they had over 300 ways of saying those words that make your heart lift.
"Nian'-ni-né-sné-i-kou-nou." is another way to say "I love you". I'm not sure what language that is, but if you say something that long, then you must really mean it!