Impact!

With Pride Month now in full swing, in this week’s Impact! we celebrate the many positive stories of progress toward tolerance and equality for LGBTQ+ people in many countries, while acknowledging the rollbacks being faced by others. We ask what is pride, as Clive explains why it’s become especially important and meaningful for him. And as always, we take a look at where we might hone in with our intentions and prayers. Intentions and prayers start at 27 minutes 19 seconds. Suggested Intention Focus for this week This week, as we mark Pride Month, we suggest holding as our main intention: We give thanks for the many recent examples of progress and resistance to rollbacks against LGBTQ+ people’s rights, and will that these will serve to motivate continued movement toward full equality and acceptance of non-binary people in all societies. Please join us in holding this. Chapter markers 00:00:00 Introduction 00:05:57 What Pride Means 00:15:05 Signs of Progress 00:27:19 Intentions and Prayers Sources referenced in this episode: https://www.ilga-europe.org/report/rainbow-map-2025/ https://76crimes.com/2026/01/10/lgbtq-rights-update-2025-tally-and-2026-preview/ https://www.humandignitytrust.org/lgbt-the-law/map-of-criminalisation/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2023/06/27/new-lgbtq-safety-report-ranks-trans-friendly-travel-destinations/ https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/trans-rights-23-country-survey/ https://thegaylane.substack.com/p/life-in-the-gay-lane-june-2026 https://www.ippf.org/our-approach/services/lgbti https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2024/may/20240529_pride https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/06/04/lgbt-20-triumphs-and-challenges-rights-around-world https://www.equaldex.com/timeline/2026 https://www.washingtonblade.com/2026/06/10/pride-in-a-new-world-order/ https://prri.org/spotlight/young-americans-views-on-lgbtq-rights/ https://www.americansurveycenter.org/newsletter/have-young-americans-turned-against-gay-rights/ https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/trends-pub-opinion-lgbt-rights-us/ https://www.ilga-europe.org/report/annual-review-2026/ https://publications.civicus.org/publications/2026-state-of-civil-society-report/gender-rights-rollback-and-resistance/ https://nwlc.org/states-in-the-resistance-spring-2026-state-wins-protecting-lgbtqia-and-reproductive-rights-lowering-child-care-costs-and-giving-us-hope/ https://features.hrw.org/features/features/lgbt_laws/ https://theweek.com/96298/the-countries-where-homosexuality-is-still-illegal https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights-2026 https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-budapest-pride-2026-approved-peter-magyar-lgbtq-shift/ Join us in person for intention holding: https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/events-1 Labyrinth Activist Network Zoom calls https://insighttimer.com/cliverj Daily intention holding with Clive on Insight Timer. Our websites: www.heartfulimpact.com/ Our show website. https://globalhealingresponse.com/ Global Healing Response ~ Offers a wealth of prayers, suggested practices and prompts in response to environmental catastrophe, conflict, and other world events. https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/ Legacy Labyrinth Project ~ Creating global energetic connections through the labyrinth; inspiring active intention sending using the labyrinth via labyrinth activism. https://www.clivejohnsonministry.com/ Clive Johnson Ministry ~ Events and offerings aimed at building beloved community, including weekly energy holding vigils and Power of Eight group. https://insighttimer.com/cliverj ~ Daily intention holding. Impact! Is presented by Ellen Bintz and Clive Johnson. It is produced by Impact Productions. Our show content is hosted by Podbean and available from all major podcast platforms. Our theme music is by Chris Collins. indiemusicbox.com. Our logo artwork is by AltoCl

This week we unpack the complex and often fraught relationship between South Korea and Japan — tracing historical grievances from Japan's colonial rule and wartime abuses, key disputes like comfort women, forced labor rulings, and over the Dokdo/Takeshima islands, and recent diplomatic steps toward cooperation. At a time when North Korea is building up its nuclear arsenal and China has responded with fury to Japan’s indication of support in the event of invasion of Taiwan, this cooperation has perhaps never before been more needed for ensuring stability in the Indo-Pacific region as a whole. The U.S. is watching closely, expecting its allies to play a greater part in protecting their own security. Intentions and prayers start at 20 minutes 23 seconds. Suggested Intention Focus for this week This week, as we contemplate the uneasy but essential relationship between South Korea and Japan for maintaining peace in the wider Indo-Pacific region, we suggest holding as our main intention: We will that the peoples of South Korea and Japan will be moved to exchange friendship to each other on all levels, including through cultural exchange and having an honest and respectful appreciation of each other’s history. Please join us in holding this. Chapter markers: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:06 Understanding Korea-Japan Relations 00:03:06 Historical Context of Tensions 00:06:21 Recent Diplomatic Efforts 00:10:38 Current Relations Overview 00:12:04 Territorial Disputes and Tensions 00:13:34 Regional Security Challenges 00:16:48 Future Cooperation Prospects 00:20:23 Intentions and Prayers 00:22:54 Generational Responsibilities 00:24:32 The Nature of Apology Sources referenced in this episode: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-sees-no-scientific-problem-with-fukushima-water-release-plan-2023-08-22/ https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230705004100315 https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2025/11/18/china-and-japan-clash-over-taiwan/ https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia-pacific/north-east-asia/chinajapan https://warontherocks.com/2026/02/deterrence-wont-fail-in-the-taiwan-strait-it-will-be-bypassed/ https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/64320 https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260207000500315 https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2023/02/japans-new-defense-budget-is-still-not-enough?lang=en https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan–South_Korea_relations https://keia.org/the-peninsula/2025-year-in-review-progress-tensions-and-what-comes-next-for-south-korea-and-japan/ https://eastasiaforum.org/2024/09/12/historical-memories-haunt-south-korea-japan-relations/ https://www.usip.org/programs/resolving-tensions-between-south-korea-and-japan-essay-series https://read.dukeupress.edu/journal-of-asian-studies/article/81/3/475/342442 https://www.reuters.com/world/china/japans-takaichi-south-koreas-lee-meet-discuss-security-economic-ties-2026-01-13/ https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-japan-defence-ministers-agree-upgrade-cooperation-2026-01-30/ https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-president-says-japan-china-dispute-not-desirable-regional-peace-2026-01-12/ https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/F7DDA42D3881CFF2E83B475739C8BB7C/S0020818322000194a.pdf/div-class-title-memory-institutions-and-the-domestic-politics-of-south-korean-japanese-relations-div.pdf https://www.reuters.com/article/world/japan-stands-by-apologies-for-war-aggression-as-textbook-row-re-emerges-idUSBREA0G0IK/ https://ifex.org/south-koreans-clash-over-history-books/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_surrounding_Yasukuni_Shrine https://www.cfr.org/expert-brief/south-korea-japan-and-wartime-shadows https://www.brookings.edu/articles/korea-japan-rapprochement-creates-new-opportunities-in-the-indo-pacific/ https://thediplomat.com/2021/11/why-did-the-2015-japan-korea-comfort-

In an uplifting episode, we highlight and give thanks for a host of encouraging developments from the early weeks of this year, inviting listeners to share with us in holding an intention of gratitude and continued progress. Suggested Intention Focus for this week This week, as we contemplate the many positive stories to give thanks for so far this year, we suggest holding as our main intention: We give thanks and open ourselves to the joy of sharing the experience of good news in the many stories that we’ve heard, and will for continued progress and the encouragement we all can all take when major challenges are faced with a resolve to honour the highest good. Please join us in holding this. Chapter markers: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:04:02 Celebrating Good News 00:08:43 Progress in Conflict Resolution 00:15:34 Environmental and Climate Advances 00:19:45 Heartwarming Acts of Kindness 00:23:06 Gratitude for Positive Changes Sources referenced in this episode: https://news.sky.com/story/doomsday-clock-moves-closer-to-midnight-what-does-it-mean-12794884 https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/12/10/aid-flow-gaza-falls-short-of-ceasefire-terms-analysis-of-israeli-figures-shows.html https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/1/30/rafah-reopening-set-for-sunday-as-israel-continues-to-block-aid https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/over-500000-people-returned-to-gaza-city-since-ceasefire-hamas-authorities-say/ https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/02/1166899 https://www.crisisgroup.org/cmt/africa/sudan-united-states-egypt-saudi-arabia-united-arab-emirates/all-eyes-quad-how-us-and-its-partners-can-push-peace-sudan https://www.positive.news/society/good-news-stories-from-week-5-of-2026/ https://ecohustler.com/daily/06th-january-2026 https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/news/high-seas-treaty-enters-force-milestone-ocean-conservation-2026-01-16_en https://www.wri.org/insights/high-seas-treaty-explainer https://highseasalliance.org/2025/10/09/from-60-to-global-what-happens-next-for-the-high-seas-treaty/ https://www.sunnyskyz.com/feel-good-stories https://unn.ua/en/news/president-zelenskyy-announced-the-timeline-for-approving-the-peace-plan https://amaniafrica-et.org/provisional-programme-of-work-of-the-peace-and-security-council-for-january-2026/ https://www.positive.news/society/good-news-stories-from-week-5-of-2026/ https://www.globalnewsdiscover.com/2026/01/global-news-highlights-01-january-2026.html https://www.euronews.com/green/2026/01/19/carbon-sucking-fungi-and-forever-chemical-crackdowns-positive-environmental-stories-from-2 https://tedxlondon.com/news/good-climate-news-to-kick-off-2026/ https://conservationoptimism.org/7-stories-of-optimism-this-week-20-01-26-26-01-26/ https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/news/fieldnotes/january-2026 https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/resources/newsletter/environment-whats-up-in-geneva-19-25-january-2026/ https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/01 https://www.the-londoner.co.uk/london-is-officially-one-of-the-safest-cities-in-the-western-world/ https://impact.economist.com/projects/safe-cities/assets/documents/Safe-Cities-Index-2021_eng.pdf www.kindspring.org/story/view.php?op=sg&sid=243199 Join us in person for intention holding: https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/events-1 Labyrinth Activist Network Zoom calls https://insighttimer.com/cliverj Daily intention holding with Clive on Insight Timer. Our websites: www.heartfulimpact.com/ Our show website. https://globalhealingresponse.com/ Global Healing Response ~ Offers a wealth of prayers, suggested practices and prompts in response to environmental catastrophe, conflict, and other world events. https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/ Legacy Labyrinth Project ~ Creating global energetic connections through the labyrinth; inspiring active intention sending using the labyrinth via labyrinth activism. https://www.clivejohnsonmi

To mark the United Nations’ 80th anniversary, we trace its origins, major achievements, and reflect upon its vital role in multilateral cooperation. We also note its shortcomings and consider the many challenges it faces at what seems like a critical crossroad in world history. Can the UN stay fit for purpose and hold together as global powers increasingly shift focus to regional influence and finding unilateral solutions to issues like migration, security and health? As UN Secretary-General António Guterres says, despite its need to reform, the UN may never be more needed. As always, we invite listeners to join us in holding intentions and prayers for wise leadership, fairer funding, and renewed global cooperation. Prayers and intention start at 42 minutes 31 seconds. Suggested Intention Focus for this week This week, as we consider the vital role and many challenges the UN faces as it marks its 80-year anniversary, we suggest holding as our main intention: We will that all global leaders will be moved by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ call to “Get serious. Choose people and planet over pain.” Please join us in holding this. Mentioned in this episode: Contemplative activism online workshop hosted Legacy Labyrinth Project THIS SATURDAY, 31 January 2026 at 10am MST (2 hours): https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/llpa Find out about the UN’s 80th anniversary, its achievements and challenges at: https://www.un.org/en/UN80 Chapter markers: 00:00:08 Introduction 00:01:32 UN’s 80th Anniversary 00:08:08 Achievements of the UN 00:17:09 UN’s Challenges and Critiques 00:24:44 Current UN Engagements 00:31:09 UN’s Future Initiatives 00:37:48 The Path Forward for the UN 00:42:31 Intentions and Prayers 00:46:16 Contemplative Activism Initiative Sources referenced in this episode: https://unacov.uk/un80-initiative/ https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/articles/wb12-un-greatest-accomplishment/ https://www.ungeneva.org/en/meetings-events/events/observances-special-events/2025/10/united-nations-80 https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/09/un-marking-80th-anniversary-plan-for-change/ https://ace-usa.org/blog/research/research-foreignpolicy/failures-and-successes-of-the-un/ https://www.cfr.org/timelines/major-moments-un-history https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2025 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7128315/ https://www.crisisgroup.org/global/sb13-ten-challenges-un-2025-2026 https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/whatsinblue/2025/11/un-peacekeeping-operations-closed-consultations.php https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/world/united-nations-humanitarian-aid-cuts.html https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statements/2026-01-15/secretary-generals-remarks-the-general-assembly-priorities-for-2026 https://press.un.org/en/2026/db260119.doc.htm https://press.un.org/en/2026/db260120.doc.htm https://www.unrefugees.org/news/un-refugee-agency-estimates-25-million-people-need-resettlement/ https://www.zif-berlin.org/sites/zif-berlin.org/files/2025-11/ZIF World Map Peace Operations_2025-2026.pdf https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/united-nations-peacekeeping-ministerial-2025 https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/stronger-together-milestones-that-mattered-in-2025 https://www.who.int/about/general-programme-of-work/fourteenth https://sdg.iisd.org/commentary/policy-briefs/pact-for-the-future-from-adoption-to-implementation/ https://www.justsecurity.org/103380/un-future-pact-reform/ https://globalsolutions.org/updates/mondial-journal/the-pact-for-the-future-steps-toward-a-modernized-united-nation/ https://www.un.org/pact-for-the-future/en/about-pact https://passblue.com/2025/01/14/security-council-reform-when-and-how-it-can-be-done/ https://unfccc.int/news/secretary-general-s-remarks-to-the-general-assembly-on-priorities-for-2026 https://www.ipinst.org/2025/09/the-un-at-80-c

In a week in which Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated, we reflect on whether the principles of nonviolence and strategic approach to protest that he advocated are still relevant for what is happening in our world today, especially focusing on demonstrations in Minneapolis and Iran. We explore what King taught, and consider how we may individually apply his teaching, as well as when we join with others in a collective. As always, we return to see where our intentions and prayers may be most needed, as vitally important demonstrations continue in various parts of the world. Intention and prayers start at 34 minutes 55 seconds. Suggested Intention Focus for this week This week, as we wrestle with the challenge of maintaining peace, compassion and non-divisiveness in protests, and remembering that protesting is often so needed in a violent and volatile world, we suggest holding as our main intention: We will to remain strong in remembering and putting into practice the principle of non-violence whenever we feel called to protest against injustices in our communities and world. Please join us in holding this. Mentioned in this episode: Ellen's Sacred Feminist blog, Climbing to the Mountaintop Parts 1, 2 and 3: http://sacredfeminist.com/happy-mlk-day/ http://sacredfeminist.com/climbing-to-the-the-mountaintop-part-1/ http://sacredfeminist.com/climbing-to-the-mountaintop-part-2/ http://sacredfeminist.com/climbing-to-the-mountaintop-part-3/ Book: The Hope by Andrew Harvey Amazon.com link: https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Guide-Sacred-Activism/dp/1401920039/ref=sr_1_1 Chapter markers: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:05 Protests and Change 00:05:31 The Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. 00:07:17 Nonviolent Strategies for Activism 00:10:33 Compassion in Activism 00:12:20 Modern Movements and Their Challenges 00:15:46 Ellen’s Reflections on Feminist Action 00:19:07 The Montgomery Bus Boycott 00:20:47 Creative Protests and Media Influence 00:27:06 The Power of Collective Will 00:29:05 Individual Responsibility in Activism 00:33:34 Engaging with Nonviolent Protest 00:34:55 Intentions and Prayers Sources referenced in this episode: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/04/kings-message-of-nonviolence-has-been-distorted/557021/ https://www.westmont.edu/civil-disobedience-and-legacy-martin-luther-king-jr https://commonslibrary.org/198-methods-of-nonviolent-action/ https://the-conflictexpert.com/2025/04/29/non-violent-protest-heres-how-to-do-it/ https://frompoverty.oxfam.org.uk/what-tactics-are-most-effective-in-non-violent-protest/ https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/how-to-sharpen-a-nonviolent-movement/ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00905917211021796 http://prt.civicus.org/strategies/ https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/how-violent-protests-change-politics https://ejournal.umm.ac.id/index.php/celtic/article/download/12126/pdf https://ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ijel/article/view/0/51143 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00947679.2000.12062526 https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/f00eed15dc258c516cd6f56a880090ecbf027cd1 https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/0483f2020086d3cdf6293095227f75bab62207e6 https://www.ojcmt.net/download/effects-of-mass-media-framing-of-protest-movements-a-meta-analysis-and-systematic-review-of-mass-11538.pdf http://arxiv.org/pdf/2406.13820.pdf https://ojs.unm.ac.id/iap/article/download/17929/9861 https://ojs.unm.ac.id/sosialisasi/article/download/13889/8131 https://revistas.pucp.edu.pe/index.php/psicologia/article/download/27887/25877 http://hfrir.jvolsu.com/index.php/en/component/attachments/download/1093 https://www.cogitatiopress.com/mediaandcommunication/article/download/5796/5796 https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Peaceful-Resistance-and-Nonviolent-Actions-for-S