Nevada, with abundant land and sunshine is becoming a hot bed for the solar industry. The result is green jobs and billions of investment dollars that are boosting this desert economy. (Environmental News Network)
Solar Fuels Nevada Economy
Internet Companies Adopt Human Rights Code
An Internet industry code of ethics intended to safeguard online freedom of speech around the world is to be adopted this week by technology titans including Google, Yahoo and Microsoft, companies long criticized by human rights groups for their business dealings in China.
The Economic Sky is Falling: Can Positive Psychology Help?
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Perhaps because New York City is the financial capital of the world, anxiety about the economy is everywhere. In Starbucks people sit grimly reading the Wall Street Journal and every lurching move of the Dow causes a collective panic or sigh of relief. . . In this environment how can positive psychology help?
Vaccine Slashes Diarrheal Illness in Kids
An oral vaccine for diarrhea reduced hospitalizations of children with rotavirus by more than 70 percent in some parts of the United States, saved money and protected even unvaccinated children by by cutting the number of infections in the community that kids can pick up and spread, researchers reported on Saturday.
Colombian Guard Helps Hostage Escape After 6 Years
A former Colombian lawmaker kidnapped in 2000 by FARC leftist rebels has escaped with help from one of his captors. The former guerilla will be rewarded by the government and sent with his family to settle in France. The hostage had not been allowed to talk for years.
Foreclosure Angel Buys Back Home for Stranger
While the misfortune of others lured hundreds of bargain hunters to the foreclosure auction, a Dallas woman bought a stranger’s foreclosed home… and gave it back to her. She had seen a woman in the hallway sobbing… (Read the story at Fox) Watch the video below.
Hero Dog Nearly Dies Saving Kittens From House Fire
In Australia a terrier has surprised and delighted fire-fighters by refusing to leave a litter of newborn kittens caught in a raging house fire. Smoke in the Melbourne house was so thick that, at first, firefighters thought they had spotted a soft toy. On closer inspection it was revealed that they had found Leo the dog, who had refused to leave the house choosing instead to guard a cardboard box containing 4 new-born kittens.
Doctors May Have Found a Way to Destroy HIV
There is real hope that what’s happening in a Houston lab might lead to a cure for HIV. “We have found an innovative way to kill the virus by discovering the weak spot of HIV,” Dr. Sudhir Paul of the University of Texas Medical School at Houston said.
(READ the story at TruthOut.org)
Signs of Hope for Ethiopia’s Children
Amid the hardship facing Ethiopia’s children, there are signs that conditions may be improving and that children’s lives are changing for the better. According to results released earlier this month by an international research project ‘Young Lives’ examining key indicators of childhood poverty, Ethiopia has seen improvements over the past six years in the areas of nutrition, school enrollment and the incidence of child labor. (Details from Inter Press Service – IPS)
Pakistan Afghanistan Leaders Hold Peace Jirga
Pakistani and Afghan political and ethnic tribal leaders meet in Islamabad on Monday to try to agree on ways to tackle rising militant violence including the possibility of opening talks with the Taliban.
Bloggers Create Fundraising Tool For Runners to Help Rebuild School In Darfur
Bloggers are combining physical fitness with the desire to help others in a new internet tool called Train for Humanity. Their initial pilot project focuses on raising $50,000 to help rebuild the Shegegkaro school in Northern Darfur, which was recently bombed and subsequently destroyed.
Co-founders and fellow runners, Mark Hayward, Dan Clements and Leo Babauta, hope to raise money using blogs and social networks, to promote sponsorship of athletes in endurance events. Clements, an author and blogger, kicks off the fundraising effort today as he runs in the Niagara Falls International Half Marathon.
“There are so many people out there who don’t feel they can create change in their own lives, never mind in the lives of other people,” Clements said. “The fact that you can do both with Train for Humanity is what makes this so great.”
“There are thousands of blogs being created every hour of every day,” said Clements. “The potential to do good is astounding.”
Citizens around the world are urged to sign on as “everyday athletes” and compete in their own events, like triathlons or cycling races, improving their health while collecting pledges online through the website, trainforhumanity.org
“You don’t need to be an athlete,” Clements said. “You just have to want to make a difference.”
“We want to show that you don’t need to be a large humanitarian organization or spend a lot of money to make a difference,” said Hayward. “All
of the tools exist to help and with a little creativity and initiative anyone can have an impact.”
As a fundraising too, the best part is that the entire arrangement has almost zero overhead cost. One hundred percent of the proceeds raised will go directly to the Darfur Peace and Development Organization, headquartered in Washington, DC, to help orphans and displaced persons in Sudan.
“Over the past five years, more than 200,000 men, women, and children have died due to violence, malnutrition, and disease in Darfur and an additional 2.2 million people have been displaced,” said Train for Humanity creator Mark Hayward. “We want to do something about it. “
“Racing to Make a Difference,” Hayward, an ex-Peace Corps volunteer, will run in the Miami Man Triathlon on November 9th, and Babauta, the Honolulu Marathon on December 14th.
High School Rallies Around Student Cancer Patient
As Milton Hershey School Senior Chloe Mellott wages a courageous battle against cancer, her school family is coming together in a show of support.
Students, employees, and alumni will gather for a 24-hour event to honor Chloe and kick off a year-long fundraising effort to raise money in Chloe’s name for the American Cancer Society. The School community is hoping to raise $100,000.
Free Beer For Those Who Vote in Pensacola
The HandleBar in Pensacola, Florida is offering a free beer to anyone who votes. Customers must trade their “I Voted” stickers for the free drinks. This is the third year the HandleBar has offered a beer for a vote. (Pensacola News Journal)
Fishing Boat Catches Dog in North Sea
Cairn terrier Freddie blundered into the water after getting lost in fog while out for a walk with his owner.
But instead of swimming to shore he headed out into the North Sea. (The UK Sun has story and photo)
Hamas Cease Fire Reaches its Fourth Successful Month
Four months of calm may not seem significant to those of us living in the West. But in a town where residents are accustomed to 30-second warnings of incoming rockets, it is a long time indeed.
It is now four months since the Egyptian-brokered Israeli-Hamas ceasefire went into effect. According to Alex Fishman, the security-minded Yediot Achronot military correspondent, the “agreement has resulted in an almost complete cessation of Qassam rocket fire” on Sderot and other Israeli towns.
Australia Plans Electric Vehicle Network
A US firm Thursday unveiled plans to build a massive one billion dollar charging network to power electric cars in Australia as it seeks cleaner and cheaper options to gasoline.
Better Place, which has built plug-in stations for electric vehicles in Israel and Denmark, has joined forces with Australian power company AGL and finance group Macquarie Capital to create an Australian network.
Indian Tribes See Profit in Harnessing the Wind
Native American tribes like the Rosebud Sioux of South Dakota are trying to catch the wind and create economic prosperity for the 29,000 tribal members whose per capita annual income is about $7,700, less than a third the national average. Wind turbines may provide that answer. (New York Times)
Surprise Bounce in Existing Home Sales to 13-Month High
US existing home sales rose by an unexpected 5.5 percent in September to the highest level in 13 months, as buyers were attracted by falling prices, an industry survey showed Friday.
Palestinians to Play First Match in Home Stadium
After 10 years of playing home games across the border in Jordan, Palestinians will be gathering on Sunday to watch their national football team play their first game ever in Palestinian territory. The world governing body of the sport, FIFA, paid to have it upgraded to international standards.
Military Hospital Opens for Dogs Wounded in War
A $15 million veterinary hospital for four-legged military personnel opened Tuesday at Lackland Air Force Base, offering a long overdue facility that gives advanced medical treatment for combat-wounded dogs. (AP story at CNN.com)