Everyone knows crime happens. But there are angels and “Good Samaritans” who come to the rescue reviving our belief that most people care — and care enough to intervene at their own peril. Here is a news report from Kansas City, Missouri that demonstrates such a truth.
A Sea of Humanity Voted Today
3rd UPDATE, NOV 8 The number of votes counted after Nov. 4 has already shattered all records. But the turnout rate appears to be shy of a new record. We won’t know until January.
Some things we do know: 22 of 47 states studied showed increases in turnout this year and Southern states set the biggest records.
The greatest increase in overall turnout was in North Carolina, where 9.4 percent more voters turned out, a record high. Georgia also had a record high turnout, up 6.7 percent, as did South Carolina with a 6.0 percentage point gain. Others setting new records included Alabama, Virginia, Mississippi, and the District of Columbia.
The dramatic increases are attributed to a dramatic rise in Democratic — and especially African-American — voters. North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia recorded huge gains for Democratic voters.
_______________________
2nd UPDATE, NOV 5: The overall share of young people in the population voting ticked up a bit, but the youth turnout numbers is not yet available. This figure is the only one which will show if there was an increased percentage turnout of youth voters this year. The youth share as a portion of the total turnout has stayed about the same, 17%, since 1996 because more people of every age have voted. However, youth turnout has grown, from 37% in 1996, to 41% in 2000, to 47% in 2004.
UPDATE: Americans turned out at the polls in record numbers today — unprecedented since women were given the right to vote in 1920. Secretaries of state estimated turnouts may be up to 80 percent or more in big states like Ohio, California, Texas, Missouri, Virginia. Colorado and Maryland.
______________
Some thoughts from me on election day:
There is a decency that comes through on election day… and an indecency surrounding politics in general that must end. I hope all Americans will start treating others who are of an opposing political party with the respect and benefit of the doubt that is hopeful.
Congratulations to the grassroots of American politics who Got Out the Vote while campaigned decently for their candidate. May we come together in a spirit of improvement and solve our problems while being respectful of each other. Congratulations to John McCain for a gracious concession speech, a wonderful step toward this end.
Enthisiasm which is positive is a powerful force!
(photo by geri – Obama speaks to Manassas crowd of more than 80,000, November 3, 2008)
China Offers Pandas During Historic Talks With Taiwan
China’s top negotiator left for Taiwan early Monday for high-level talks in a further sign of warming ties between the traditional foes. The two plan to exchange rare animals, two pandas from China and two Formosan serows in return.
Fresco Painting School Offers Free Video How-To’s Online
Los Angeles based Fresco Painting School is proud to announce it’s new Video Channel on YouTube featuring video clips and tutorials on fresco painting techniques. The Fresco Video Channel debuts with the release of the detailed video tutorial on plastering tools.
(Right: fresco by Dionisius of St Nicholas)
Green Prisons Farm, Recycle to Save Energy, Money
Inmates of the minimum-security facility, 25 miles from Olympia, the state capital, raise bees, grow organic tomatoes and lettuce, compost 100 percent of food waste and even recycle shoe scraps that are made into playground turf. (Associated Press via Seattle Times)
Playing for Change Brings Peace Through Music
Mark Johnson is the co-director of a remarkable documentary about the simple but transformative power of music: Playing for Change: Peace Through Music.
“Music is the one thing that opens the door to bringing people to a place where they are all connected,” Johnson told Bill Moyers on the Moyers Journal this month. “Religion, politics, a lot of those things they seem to divide everybody, but it is easy to connect to the world through music.”
Johnson and his film crew traveled the world recording musicians from places as diverse as Israel, South Africa, Venezuela and New Orleans, all playing the same songs together, listening through headphones. The result is a beautiful montage of spirit and music that has led to the building of schools for music in some of the poorest villages on Earth.
Watch this inspiring global rendition of Stand By Me.
Visit the website, playingforchange.com – Thanks to Tosho Bailey for sending the link!
Playing for Change Brings Peace Through Music
Mark Johnson is the co-director of a remarkable documentary about the simple but transformative power of music: Playing for Change: Peace Through Music. “Music is the one thing that opens the door to bringing people to a place where they are all connected,” Johnson told Bill Moyers on the Moyers Journal this month. “Religion, politics, a lot of those things they seem to divide everybody, but it is easy to connect to the world through music.”
UN Puts Together $10M Relief Package for Haiti
Two United Nations food agencies are putting together a $10.2 million package to help Haitian farmers devastated by recent hurricanes.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) made the announcement in a statement Monday. The FAO says the aid, which includes a package for seeds and other supplies, should help small farmers whose harvests were wiped out earlier this year.
Hatched Turtles Set off on Sea Journey (Video)
Crowds came to a sea turtle sanctuary in the Mexican state of Chiapas to help set some 7,000 hatchlings off on their journey into the sea.
We are sorry. The content item you requested needs to be replaced since the sydicator has abruptly ended this news service. The Good News Network is committed to finding another version of this news story elsewhere and adding the replacement link by mid-January, 2009. Please check back!
Bangkok Hospital Receives Best Global Hospital Award
Bangkok Hospital Medical Centre has received an award naming it the Best Global Hospital, at a ceremony in Chicago. The hospital is the only facility outside the US to receive an award at this prestigious event.
HealthLeaders Media announced Bangkok Hospital the award winner in July. Jim Molpus, the Editor-in-Chief, says that the aims of the awards are to make leaders mutually accountable for their hospital’s results. The areas of excellence span from patient satisfaction, to financial performance.
AT&T Offering Free Wifi for iPhone Users
AT&T has announced that they are now offering free Wi-Fi access to iPhone subscribers across the U.S.
FREE AT&T Wi-Fi access is now available for Apple iPhone at thousands of hotspots nationwide, including hotels, bookstores, universities, and all Starbucks.
Customers can locate Wi-Fi spots with AT&T online or can locate a Starbucks spot with this tool.
Toronto Zoo to be Powered by Poo
The Toronto Zoo wants to build a $13 million facility that would turn “zoo poo” into electricity. The staff believes that animal dung can power the facility.
The call for an on site anaerobic digester – using methane gas from animal waste to produce power – is part of the zoo’s new push to become “carbon-neutral.” (The Toronto Star)
New North American Rescue Plan for Endangered Porpoise
Officials from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico have pledged to support a plan to save an endangered porpoise found in one area of Mexico but considered of concern to the entire continent. The vaquita marina species found in the upper Gulf of California is considered to be “critically endangered”.
Coca-Cola Continues to Make Strides on Water and Recycling
Since 2002, when the company first shared its water usage data with the public, Coca-Cola has improved its water-efficiency by 20 percent. In the past year, the number has continued to drop, with a 2 percent improvement. That is among the top green highlights in this year’s Coca-Cola Sustainability Review, which the company released this week. (Environmental News Network)
Giant Lego Man Appears on Beach
Mystery surrounds the appearance of a giant Lego man which was found on a beach in Brighton and Hove, England. Officials said a mysterious 6-foot-tall statue made from Lego blocks and covered in Dutch writing washed up on a beach. (Full story at BBC w/ photos)
Rival Lebanese Factions Meet to Defuse Tensions
In another effort to defuse sectarian tensions in Lebanon and to build working relationships, the country’s top rival Sunni and Shiite Muslim leaders met in a landmark session on Sunday.
The Great Sockathon: Change Your Socks, Change the World
A social entrepreneur and creative maverick has set a huge goal for his company: raising one million dollars for the Sierra Club, and one million pairs of socks for the homeless with an online sockathon on Saturday.
Diogenes Ruiz’s Sock-athon will launch a quality line of organic and recycled fiber Sierra Club logo socks with a “Buy one, GIVE one Free” policy; for every pair of socks sold, a pair will go to the National Coalition for the Homeless; and 10% of all proceeds will go to the Sierra Club.
Signs That, Amid Tough Times, Americans Will Keep Giving
Even while Americans are reeling from bad economic news, most donors plan to give to charity in coming months, an online survey finds. History bears that out.
51 percent plan to donate to nonprofit groups via the Internet during November or December. Sixty-seven percent of those will donate the same amount or more than last year. Thirty-three percent say they’ll be giving less. (Read the full story in Christian Science Monitor)
Nike Unveils Eco-Friendly Sustainable Products
Nike unveiled a line of more eco-friendly products on Tuesday which aim to use more sustainable, recyclable materials that should also translate into better profit margins for the future.
The goal of Nike Considered Design is to create performance innovation products that minimize environmental impact by reducing waste throughout the design and development process, use environmentally preferred materials, and eliminate toxics.
Niger Ex-Slave Wins Landmark Case Against Government
A woman who was held as a slave in Niger — where slavey is illegal, but still persists — won a lawsuit against the government over its failure to protect her. The landmark settlement, which awarded the woman $12,000 (the equivalent of a fortune in Niger), also paves the way for others in West Africa to similarly use the courts to force governments into enforcement of their own laws. (Read full story at BBC News) Thanks to Bill F. for submitting this good news!