While some scientists question global warming, and others claim that polar ice is increasing rather than receding, the European Space Agency (ESA) agreed to launch a copy of its lost Cryosat Satellite to definitively measure the effect of climate change on Earth’s ever-changing ice sheets.

The first Cryosat Ice mission was launched last October from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, but was lost when the second stage of its launcher failed to separate. The rocket plunged into the ocean with Cryosat aboard. Cryosat chief scientist Duncan Wingham, however, was undaunted, rallying his supporters behind his firm conviction that “Cryosat is too important to lose.”

Feb. 5, 2006 — A conference to advance the use and technology of wikis and other community-building tools provided the perfect setting to try out the Open Source style of conference called Open Space, which is based upon spontaneous creative collaboration.

That meant that when more than 100 participants arrived in Portland, Oregon, on Friday for the three day event, no schedule, no agenda, and no speakers were on any program. Instead, attendees proposed dozens of topics for small group discussions by announcing and then posting on a wall their proposed sessions, with an attached room number and time. Social activists and software engineers co-mingled in front of the wall searching for the sessions that would fulfill their desires and potential as participants. The conference was called Recent Changes Camp, a name befitting the bustling free-for-all environment.

This is the team that helps me, the editor/publisher (see my bio there) bring you the Good News every day.

Volunteers from the US, Canada and England have stepped forward helping to make the Good News Network a trusted source for daily news and inspiration. In 2005 and 2006 supporters worked hard gathering stories and brainstorming with me to relaunch the website. New volunteers now continue to aid the mission in 2007.

We especially welcome submissions from writers and photographers, but also any person excited to be a part of this historic venture, so just drop us a line.

The Good News Network Team:

Our copy editor has left, so we are need of someone who can take over. Requires adequate knowledge of English grammar. Send me a message if interested (see above).

Joanne Matz has been a contributing author volunteering since May, 2008. She strongly believes in the value brought to subscribers by highlighting the accomplishments of people around the world and sharing positive stories and thoughts. Joanne recently retired from a large corporation where she was doing business strategy and performance analysis. She resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband Al. See her collection of well-researched articles here.

Elan Sun Star is perhaps the world’s most published photographer with more than 10,000 covers and ad layouts over 30 years. His vivid color and uplifting photography is legendary, and in the summer of 2008 Sun opened his entire collection to the Good News Network. He is also a classical musician and fine artist. His favorite topics include health, fitness, surfing and windsurfing. He has studied the field of mind-body-spirit and complimentary medicine for 40 years. He is the author of a new book of photos and writings featuring the human smile and its role in creating inner harmony, optimum health, and peak psychological states. It's called simply, Smile.

Andrew Norris from the UK combs news websites, especially in Britain, to bring more stories to our daily mix. He helps build community by commenting on the stories and he brainstorms with me regarding ways to bring the good news to more people.

Michael Little joined the GNN-i team in May 2007 as the Science Writer. (See his collected articles here) He is an analytical chemist currently working at a research centre for an international pharmaceutical company. He also set up the GNN Group at Facebook, providing headline feeds for Facebook member pages. Originally from Nova Scotia, Michael now resides in Laval, Quebec with his wife and two children.

Cristina Frick is a contributing writer and was our 2007 summer intern, and our 2008 summer intern! She is in the Clinical and Community Psychology Master's program at the University of North Carolina Charlotte and an enthusiastic supporter of the Good News Network. See Cristina's articles here.

Andrew Hemming and Footprint Media provides web site technical support and administration under a freelance contract. Without Andrew I couldn't have brought many of the new features to you, like the Forum and Membership site. I am lucky to have him on call 6 days a week.

Roger Marion serves a dual role at GNN-i as the General Counsel and occasional Science contributer. He loves science and enjoys writing articles that point to the latest achievements in the field. Roger resides and works in the NY/NJ area. See Roger's articles here.

Steve Ghent. is a valuable volunteer who scours the Christian Science Monitor, Atlanta Journal and NC papers to send a significantly number of stories every week. We started keeping track of his contributions in December and you can see Steve's list beginning here.

John Stone is a photographer / philosopher from Ohio who had generously donated his photographs to the pages of GNN-i. He is so prolific that I can pick almost any topic and he delivers a photo from his collection. GNN-i now pays him for his work.

More excellent photography was courtesy of:

—David Nolan, Danville, Ill.
—'Sealion' in Sacramento, Calif.

If you'd like to join our team, please use the Contact Us page and write to tell us about yourself. Passion is the only requirement.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about these things.

- St. Paul