The Potomac River, once so polluted it was labeled a "national disgrace," is now the cleanest it has been in decades - its comeback signaled by the re-growth of large areas of underwater grasses.

A new scientific study, released Tuesday, paints an evocative picture of the Potomac's rebound from the 1960s, when its bottom was bare mud and its algae-choked water was AstroTurf green.

Today, the river is clearer and heavily carpeted with grass. Scientists found that the Potomac's critical grass beds had doubled in size since 1990.

(READ the story in the Washington Post)

"I'm heartened by the unique ability of Americans to help others in need, when they themselves are likely struggling financially," said Lewis, national chairman of MDA.

Through Lewis's telethons, more than 2.5 billion dollars has been raised to help fight neuro-muscular disease.

(READ the AP story via NPR)

Heat from trains moving along tracks in the Parisian metro combined with the warmth generated by human bodies will help heat a public housing project in the city center.

The project, which is based on geothermal technology, aims to draw heat from subterranean passages and move it to heat exchangers before supplying heating pipes.

Carbon dioxide emissions should be slashed by a third compared to using a boiler room connected to district heating.

(READ the story in Reuters)

Some mark that peaceful march to the courthouse by Adkin High School students in November 1951 as the start of the Civil Rights Movement.

Over the weekend, a reunion of original students reenacted the protest that eventually succeeded in getting many of their demands met by the school board, like the construction of a gymnasium.

Ed Bagale was honored with an Unsung Hero Award for his efforts to help transform the Rouge River from among the most polluted bodies of water in Michigan to one that is showing promise.

"We went, in the matter of 10 years, from a river that only one or two days a year had enough oxygen to support life ... to a river that has 27 species of fish swimming around," Bagale said.

Bagale's Rouge River Gateway Partnership convinced a Ford vice president that the company should join the group -- a partnership that influenced Ford's $2-billion renovation of its Rouge plant. It was turned into a model for green and sustainable industrial development.

(READ story in the Detroit Free Press)

The American family had made sure that life was just a bit more bearable for a German war widow and her young daughter, by sending 70 boxes of clothes, food and supplies --one every month, or so, for years.

Since the end of World War II 65 years ago, this is the first generation of (Western) Europeans in about 1,600 years to reach their 60's without being ravaged by war.

This is also the first generation of Russians to reach their 60's without being ravaged by war. The same is true for the Chinese and the Japanese.

]]> gw@goodnewsnetwork.org (geri) frontpage Mon, 06 Sep 2010 07:33:25 +0000 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/health/top-10-cancer-prevention-menu-items.html http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/health/top-10-cancer-prevention-menu-items.html In the book Cancer: 101 Solutions to a Preventable Epidemic, the authors consider the importance of eating specific foods and drinks for cancer protection.

They suggest a variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs and drinks. Here are the top ten items to include in your diet, if you don't already have them on your menu...

(READ the article at Care2.com)

]]> gw@goodnewsnetwork.org (geri) frontpage Sun, 05 Sep 2010 21:14:17 +0000 http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/civics/ghanas-path-from-hunger-gates.html http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/civics/ghanas-path-from-hunger-gates.html Ghana is on track to be the first country in Africa to achieve the Millennium Development Goals for halving poverty and hunger by 2015.