Vladimir Putin has made headlines by championing the endangered Siberian tiger — posing with a cuddly cub and placing a tracking collar on a full-grown female in the wilds of his country’s Far East. Now Russia is helping plan an ambitious program it hopes can double the global tiger population by 2022. – AP
Russia Launches Program to Save Tigers Worldwide
Scientists Poised to Begin Surgery to Help Cancer Victims Regrow Breasts
Australian scientists are poised to begin a three-year trial on a revolutionary surgery to help cancer victims regrow their breasts.
The experimental stem cell breast-growing technique – called Neopec – could replace breast reconstructions and implants for cancer victims within years.
Scientists from the Bernard O’Brien Institute of Microsurgery in Melbourne will implant fat cells, which will multiple rapidly within a biodegradable shell and be shaped into the breast she lost during cancer surgery.
The new technique has already been proved in pigs, which grew new breasts in just six weeks.
(Continue reading in the Herald Sun)
Surgery Lets Mum See Baby Again
There can be few experiences more exciting than regaining one’s sight after being blind. Kiriana Thackeray knows the feeling.
A young mother who went blind suddenly when her baby was just seven months old has had her sight restored by a Wellington surgeon in an operation believed to be a New Zealand first.
She had not seen stars in the sky since she was 17. And being reunited with her daughter, Te Amorangi, was “like seeing her for the first time.”
(Continue reading Dominion Post story in Stuff.co.nz)
Scientists Develop Super-Bee to Fight the Mite
In an effort to stem a massive bee die-off, government scientists have developed honey bees with a genetic ability to fight back aggressively against Varroa mites which have decimated bee hives since 2004, killing one million colonies in North America in 2007 alone.
U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers have uncovered the genetic trait that allows honey bees to more easily find the parasitic mites and literally toss them out of the hive. Normally, the colony would eventually be killed off if the mite infestation were left alone.
Scientists Develop Super-Bee to Fight the Mite
In an effort to stem a massive bee die-off, government scientists have developed honey bees with a genetic ability to fight back aggressively against Varroa mites which have decimated bee hives since 2004, killing one million colonies in North America in 2007 alone.
U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers have uncovered the genetic trait that allows honey bees to more easily find the parasitic mites and literally toss them out of the hive. Normally, the colony would eventually be killed off if the mite infestation were left alone.
Japan Pledges $5 Billion to Rebuild Afghanistan
Japan pledged this week to provide $5 billion in aid to Afghanistan over the next five years to and to speed the delivery of $1 billion for economic assistance to Pakistan pledged in April.
The $5 billion will cover reconstruction programs such as support to Afghan police forces, vocational training for former Taliban soldiers, and agriculture and rural development.
Google Offering Free WiFi at 47 Airports This Holiday Season
When you’re traveling this holiday season, you can enjoy free WiFi at 47 participating airports and on every Virgin America flight now through January 15, 2010.
Thanks to Google and its wireless partners, loggin-in during holiday travel will be free at airports around the country including Las Vegas, Houston, Boston, Baltimore, Burbank, Houston, Indianapolis, Seattle, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, St. Louis and Charlotte. Additionally, as a result of this project, Burbank and Seattle airports will begin offering airport-wide free WiFi indefinitely.
Over 100 million people will pass through the participating airports between now and January 15, 2010. See the full list of airports at FreeHolidayWifi.com.
Mom Organizes to Save Trail from Development
A trail alongside Marsh Creek State Park enjoyed by Chester County neighbors for 30 years was closed off when a developer bought the ecologically-sensitive property, until a local mom organized 1,800 people to encourage a patchwork of state and local officials from both parties to unite and save it.
By the time the project was finished, $3.125 million had been raised, and politicians from both parties all the way up to the Pennsylvania governor had gotten involved to make it possible to purchase the land and preserve the 2.6 mile paved path. As Sharon O’Shaughnessy, founder of Friends of the Struble Trail, says, “Now wildlife and people will be able to enjoy this area for generations to come, because citizens organized and persuaded officials to work together.”
Mom Organizes to Save Trail from Development
A trail alongside Marsh Creek State Park enjoyed by Chester County neighbors for 30 years was closed off when a developer bought the ecologically-sensitive property, until a local mom organized 1,800 people to encourage a patchwork of state and local officials from both parties to unite and save it.
By the time the project was finished, $3.125 million had been raised, and politicians from both parties all the way up to the Pennsylvania governor had gotten involved to make it possible to purchase the land and preserve the 2.6 mile paved path. As Sharon O’Shaughnessy, founder of Friends of the Struble Trail, says, “Now wildlife and people will be able to enjoy this area for generations to come, because citizens organized and persuaded officials to work together.”
Stopping the Holiday Drama In Your Family
The holidays often elicit so many mixed emotions. Along with the joy, comes dread, anxiety and drama bubbling to the surface.
Why do relationship issues always surface during the holidays?
There’s the ex-spouses and blended families. There’s learning to manage the overbearing mother-in-law. There’s conflict going on between parents and their kids. There’s the relative who drinks too much.
And what should you do if you decide you aren’t going to buy presents this year? Will your announcement cause a big disappointment? What if you want to let someone else cook, or you decide you can’t make the long trip that has become a tradition? Is that going to make someone blow up? What should you do? Be true to yourself or just keep the peace?
If you need help with any of these challenges, pull up a seat, grab a cup of cocoa, and join my friend Marlene Chism for a free tele-seminar next week that will help you cope.
Facebook Alibi Gets Teen Out of Jail
At the time the armed robbery in Brooklyn happened, Rodney Bradford was 13 miles away at his father’s apartment in Harlem. Lucky for Rodney, he was also on Facebook. Little did he know that updating his status would help get him out of jail.
If he hadn’t, Bradford, 19, might probably still be locked in a cell at Rikers Island.
That critical piece of evidence, time and date-stamped on Rodney’s page, proved crucial to establishing his alibi and getting the charges dropped.
Thanks to Bobbi in Wisc. for the link!
Brown Pelican Soars off US Endangered List
After 40 years on the brink of extinction, the brown pelican has fully recovered and is being removed from the list of threatened and endangered species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service yesterday announced.
“At a time when so many species of wildlife are threatened, we have an opportunity to celebrate an amazing success story,” said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. “Today is such a day. The brown pelican is back!”
Their population decimated by the pesticide DDT, the pelican species was first declared endangered in 1970. Since then, thanks to a ban on chemical and efforts by states, conservation organizations, private citizens and many other partners, the bird is no longer in free fall. There are now more than 650,000 brown pelicans found across Florida and the Gulf and Pacific Coasts, as well as in the Caribbean and Latin America.
US Scientists Visit Cuba for `Science Diplomacy’
Eight American scientists, including Nobel laureate in chemistry Peter Agre, are in Havana to engage in ‘science diplomacy,’ reported the AP.
The group, as members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, are exploring ways to rekindle cooperation between scientists as US-Cuba relations slowly improve under the Obama administration.
Agre calls their welcome on the island “warm-hearted” and believes cooperation will benefit both nations.
World’s First LEED Platinum Hospital Thriving in Austin
Unique among its peers, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas is the first healthcare facility in the world to achieve a LEED Platinum Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification standards are difficult to meet for any building, but are especially tough for hospitals. Because they operate around the clock, hospitals are tremendous energy users. According to the Seton Family of Hospitals, the healthcare provider that opened the facility two years ago, hospitals comprise some 4% of the world’s building stock, but consume 8% of the energy. Many LEED certified buildings — typically commercial office structures — are designed for specific occupancy hours and will not face fines or other regulatory sanctions, like hospitals do, if the indoor air quality slips below specified levels.
Google Search Reunites Father, Daughter After 30 Years
The internet has made the world a smaller place once again as a father located his daughter after a search of nearly three decades. The daughter decided one day to type in her name to see what a Google search would turn up. The website, www.aprilbecker.com, created by the father using the girl’s name, appeared and led to a hearfelt reunion.
More Good News on Body Image: Fashion Magazine Dumps Skinny Models
The German women’s magazine “Brigitte” announced a “no model campaign” last month, saying they will no longer be using professional models for their magazine photos. And, Brigitte is not the first to undertake such a campaign.
Whether it be front cover, features, or articles on fitness and make-up, beginning January 2nd, 2010, the editors of “Brigitte” have decided to use “normal” and “real” women, instead of the anorexic-like models currently featured in the media and found on catwalks and magazines around the globe.
The new models will be women from various backgrounds, ages and sizes. They might be students, career women or stay at home mums. What matters is that they possess a unique personality and are not afraid to show it.
In this way, the readers will be able to identify with them, rather than be encouraged to strive for an unrealistic body size. On their website, “Brigitte” promises that these new models will nonetheless be paid a similar amount to that which the magazine would otherwise pay for professional models.
The Guardian featured the trend in Why big models are big fashion news, citing Hayley Morley, 21, a five foot nine, size 14 model, who has become big in fashion circles. Until now, her participation in the international fashion weeks of London, Paris and Milan was rare. But it doesn’t bother her. She says, “I’m very happy the way I am. I have never felt any pressure to change my size or lose weight for my job.”
Last month Morley was one of three “plus size models” – sizes 12 and 14 – at the show by knitwear designer Mark Fast for London Fashion Week. It caused a storm. The pictures of Morley in Mark Fast’s sexy cobweb dresses (above photo) made front-page news around the world.
She has become part of a sea change that has swept across the fashion industry in the past month. This is what they call in the trade “a moment”. For some of us, it feels like a cultural turning point, long overdue
“Glamour” has also started using “plus size” models (sizes that are more average for women) in some of their photo shoots. although the magazine continues to work with skinny models. After receiving an enormous amount of positive feedback from their readers, they have decided to continue this practice.
Dove launched their Campaign for real beauty back in 2004. Its focus is to launch a debate about what real beauty entails, to allow more women — especially young girls — to feel beautiful and to increase self-esteem levels.
The “no model” campaign is yet another step in the right direction, because too many girls and women are suffering from low self-esteem and unrealistic body image expectations mainly due to the way women are portrayed in the media. Perhaps other magazines and fashion designers will soon join in this positive movement.
More Good News on Body Image: Fashion Magazine Dumps Skinny Models
The German women’s magazine “Brigitte” announced a “no model campaign” last month, saying they will no longer be using professional models for their magazine photos. And, Brigitte is not the first to undertake such a campaign.
Whether it be front cover, features, or articles on fitness and make-up, beginning January 2nd, 2010, the editors of “Brigitte” have decided to use “normal” and “real” women, instead of the anorexic-like models currently featured in the media and found on catwalks and magazines around the globe.
The new models will be women from various backgrounds, ages and sizes. They might be students, career women or stay at home mums. What matters is that they possess a unique personality and are not afraid to show it.
In this way, the readers will be able to identify with them, rather than be encouraged to strive for an unrealistic body size. On their website, “Brigitte” promises that these new models will nonetheless be paid a similar amount to that which the magazine would otherwise pay for professional models.
GlaxoSmithKline Donates 50 Million H1N1 Vaccines to UN for Developing Countries
Giant pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline, is slated to donate 50 million doses of the pandemic H1N1 vaccine to the United Nations public health arm, the World Health Organization it was announced yesterday.
Under a new agreement signed with with the company, WHO expects to receive the first shipments of the vaccine by the end of November.
WHO has a list of 95 developing countries that are eligible to receive donated vaccines, and aims to secure enough vaccines to cover 10 percent of the population of these countries.
Wounded Vets Shoot Hoops at the White House (Inspiring Video)
The President hosted a remarkable group of wounded veterans a few weeks ago on the White House basketball court. These “Wounded Warriors” from Walter Reed Army Medical Center showed President Obama a thing or two about wheelchair basketball.
Check out the impressive moves that can be performed on four wheels as well as the camaraderie and confidence fostered on the court: (from the White house blog)
Bill Clinton Gives Senators Health Care Pep talk
Bill Clinton visited US senators yesterday talking up health care legislation, with his signature message, ‘It’s the economics, stupid.’
“The point I tried to make is this is an economic imperative,” he said.
Passing health care reform would start delivering benefits quicker than people think, he said, pointing to guarantees of coverage and other items that would kick in soon, and arguing that it would give U.S. companies a much more level playing field quicker than congressional numbers crunchers will allow.
“It is the right thing for America,” he added. “The worst thing to do is to keep dragging around a 16-and-a-half percent of GDP health system.”
New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg called the talk “a lesson in economics 105, and a soul-charger for all of us.”
(Continue reading in the NY Daily News)