Top Ten Good News of the Week (Aug 26-Sep 1)

By Good News Network Saturday, September 02, 2006

Archives - Week in Review

1) Philippines Set Tree-Planting Record - A massive tree-planting campaign in the Philippines set a world record of a half million simultaneous plantings along highways. AP reports the participation was phenomenal proving citizen's interest in cutting air pollution and beautifying the islands. (Earth)

2) Donors pledge Palestinians $500 Million - International donors meeting in Sweden have promised $500 million in aid for the Palestinian territories. A total of $114m would be spent on humanitarian aid, with the rest going towards the rebuilding of infrastructure and other projects. (Civics)

3) Significant Coral Reef Regeneration in Arabian Gulf - Researchers studying coral reefs in the Arabian Gulf have found encouraging signs that corals in Abu Dhabi and Qatar are regenerating and the entire range species may be re-established within a decade. (Earth)

4) New Way for Cancer Cells to Commit Suicide - "Healthy cells have a built-in process (to) commit suicide if something is wrong, a process which fails in cancer cells. A University of Illinois team created a synthetic molecule which caused cancer cells to self-destruct." (Health)

5) UN Treaty Protects Rights of Disabled - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan hailed the new treaty to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, calling the agreement "a historic achievement for the 650 million people with disabilities around the world" that have lacked adequate protection until now. (Civics)
6) Need a Lightbulb? Change the World - "If every one of 110 million American households bought just one Compact Fluorescent bulb, took it home, and screwed it in the place of an ordinary 60-watt bulb, the energy saved would be enough to power a city of 1.5 million people. In terms of greenhouse gases , it is equivalent to taking 1.3 million cars off the roads." (Home Life)

7) On the Anniversary, Brad Pitt Unveils Green Housing Contest Winner for New Orleans - Pitt, the design jury chairman, unveiled a 'green' housing plan for the city's Lower Ninth Ward that incorporates the newest sustainable technologies to cut pollution and energy costs by 50 to 60 percent and provides for a community center, walkway and garden. (Celebrities)

8) Basketball Star Sparks Footwear Revolution with NBA-quality Sneakers for Under $15 - Stephon Marbury knows first-hand the pressure kids, parents and playground basketball players feel to spend top-dollar on the latest sneakers. Today, as a high- profile NBA player, he's now embarking on a "change-the-world" mission to eliminate the culture of hundred dollar shoes. (Sports)

9) Homeless Man to the Rescue - A Neat story about the loss of a treasured ring in Vancouver and the circle of people who find -- then lose -- and then, go hunting in dumpsters to recover the item (even though it belongs to a stranger) until a homeless man saves the day. (Inspired!)

10) Inspiration Point: Teen Years are some of the Best to Parents - When asked how she raised a child to be such a lovely teenager, she replied, "We did everything we were told by society not to do... He was never punished, threatened, bullied, or teased, and was allowed to express anger as well as happiness." (Inspiration Point)

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For a Daily Dose of News to Enthuse -- good news and inspiring stories since 1997 -- Visit the Good News Network front page, Geri Weis-Corbley, Editor/Publisher (c)2006