Ode's top 10 positive stories from 2009

Good news rarely makes the headlines... except in Ode. To celebrate 2009 - and anticipate more good news to come in 2010 - here are Ode's 10 most positive stories from the year that was.

1.		The altruism in economics Standard economic theory states that people are interested only in their own material gain. But new insights from behavioral economics show that altruism rather than avarice is our primary motivation. Jeremy Mercer
2.		Five steps to better health through integrative medicine How integrative medicine can make health care simpler, more effective and more affordable. Marco Visscher, Ursula Sautter, Carmel Wroth
3.		Microjustice: Helping those who are excluded from the legal system More than 4 billion people don’t have access to even the most basic legal protections. The microjustice movement is giving them a voice. Carmel Wroth
4.		Creating comics for the Middle East Comic book artist Suleiman Bakhit looks for stories and role models that will empower and inspire a new generation of comic book readers in the Middle East. Marco Visscher
5.		Markets with a social mission After the meltdown on Wall Street, a small group of entrepreneurs is trying to make the market better, stronger and focused on the social good. Janet Paskin
6.		Blue Energy: A potential source of renewable energy What do you get when saltwater and fresh water meet? A clean, renewable source of power called blue energy. Diane Daniel
7.		Six eco-trends reshaping the fashion industry Major brands and young, globally minded designers alike are asking the question: How do you come up with a garment that is sustainable, that can stand on its own and not rob from the future? Here are six trends that eco-designers are currently following. Carmel Wroth
8.		Time banks thrive in the midst of the recession Even in the midst of the recession, Portland, Maine, has a bank that's generating an unusual amount of wealth. It's a time bank called Hour Exchange Portland (HEP) and the wealth is an alternative currency called "time dollars." Spend an hour doing something for somebody else; deposit an hour into your time bank account as a time dollar. Leah Dobkin and Carmel Wroth
9.		Fat is where it's at For decades, fat has been blamed for everything from heart disease to obesity to cancer. But new research shows that fat can be good for you. Janet Paskin
10.		Slum tours: Traveling off the beaten path Slum tours offer travelers an authentic, offbeat look at foreign cultures-and locals a new way to make a living. Vicky Collins