Fourteen-time Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps today announced the establishment of the Michael Phelps Foundation and made his first donation by committing the well-publicized $1 million bonus he will receive from Speedo(R) for winning eight gold medals.
Bulgarian Economy Turns From Making Guns to Growing Roses
A valley in Bulgaria’s mountains, for decades known for making AK-47 rifles, now has blossomed into a supplier of organic rose oil for beauty products, reviving a centuries’ old industry. Every morning at dawn hundreds of villagers hustle through fields of rose bushes to pick fresh blooms still damp with morning dew. (Reuters News has the story)
Hopes Raised for Block on Cancer
Scientists say they have taken a big step towards blocking a chemical vital to the growth of many cancers, an enzyme which, when active, helps keep cells in an “immortal” state. The chemical is at work in more than nine out of ten types of tumour.
(Read details of the latest report from journal Nature at BBC)
– Photo of cell carcinoma by Ed Uthman via CC license, on Flickr
Jerry Lewis Telethon raises Record $65M for MDA
Entertainer Jerry Lewis helped raise a record $65 million in pledges and contributions through his 43rd annual MDA Labor Day Telethon in Las Vegas. Lewis performed his signature song, You’ll Never Walk Alone, during the 12-hour broadcast.
Katrina Hero Continues to Help Families 3 Years Later
From her home 1,000 miles away in Washington, Liz McCartney was haunted by images of Hurricane Katrina’s destruction. She and her boyfriend decided to move to New Orleans to help families rebuild their lives. She founded St. Bernard Project, which has rennovated homes that were devestated for more than 120 families, with help from 6,000 volunteers. (This CNN Heroes feature offers story and video)
Czech Firm Plans Giant Wind Farm
A Czech power firm is to build what it says will be Europe’s largest onshore wind farm, in a 1.1 billion-euro project. Construction of the wind farm will start in September and it is due to begin operating in 2009.
Colombian Guerilla Faction Gives Up Arms
The last remaining 45 guerilla fighters of the Guevarista Revolutionary Army have handed over their weapons on August 21st. Peace Commisioner Luis Carlos Restrepo said, “We believe it is possible to negotiate with individual blocs and fronts and offer them a dignified way out.” (BBC has the full story )
Wild New Kites at International Kite Festival (Video)
Kite fliers who gather for the Bristol International Kite Festival show off huge 3-D kites, fly in groups sychronized to music and exhibit handmade patchwork kites.
Plan Aims to Save Britain’s Red Phone Booths
Thousands of red phone booths endangered in Britain because of increased mobile phone usage, may get a new lease on life thanks to a scheme that will allow adoption by local governments for a small fee. (Daily Telegraph.co.uk)
Diaper Saves Baby’s Life in Fall
A disposable diaper halted the fall of an 18-month-old baby from a third-floor window Tuesday night and saved his life in Recife in northeastern Brazil, local media reported Wednesday. According to reports the diaper got hung up on a nail.
45 Years Ago, MLK Had A Dream, Tonight it is Fulfilled (UPDATED)
On August 28, 1963, hundreds of thousands of people marched on Washington for jobs and justice and witnessed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s inspirational I Have A Dream speech. Tonight, 45 years later, a man takes the stage in Mile-High Stadium in Denver to fulfill King’s Dream, becoming the first African-American candidate for the presidency of the United States. Millions of Americans will gather to watch on television this historic moment, when a new generation comes full-circle, carrying with it the expectation that people will be judged not by the color of their skin but on the content of their character. (UPDATE 8/29: Watch the speech at the bottom)
Watch the Denver speech from last night:
Shot in the Arm for Sumatran Elephants and Tigers
Encroachment by palm oil plantations into elephant habitat have greatly increased conflicts between humans and elephants. Now the Indonesian government is to double the size of a national park that is one of the last havens for endangered Sumatran elephants and tigers.
Tesso Nilo National Park was created in 2004 with 38,000 hectares of forest. Today’s declaration will increase that number to 86,000 by the end of this year.
Married 82 Years and Still Inseparable
They’ve been married a whopping 82 years. He just turned 100. She’s 98. They remain inseparable, and an inspiration to their family. ““I’ve never seen them get upset with each other. They are just good, wonderful people, with loving hearts,” said their daughter-in-law, who teared up when asked to describe the couple. (San Antonio Express-News)
Church Inspired By Anonymous Donation of $3Million Lottery Ticket (w/ Video)
A Long Island church has $3 million more dollars in its coffers after a donation from an anonymous parishioner. The secret donor dropped the lottery ticket in the collection basket, asking only that their identity be kept secret. (Read text below the video)
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Unilever Employees Fund Pakistan Food Program With Payroll Donations
A joint venture launched yesterday with the United Nations food agency will allow the employees of industrial giant Unilever to pledge a percentage of their pay to help combat child hunger in Pakistan. Some 600 Unilever staff have already committed to the initiative contributing around 2.5 million Pakistan rupees (about $33,000) a year, which will fund 3,000 WFP-assisted government girls’ primary schools in rural areas.
Doctors Join Together To Change Ethiopian’s Life
A new US citizen from Ethiopia, Marie Gebrewold, received life-changing surgery on her jaw at no cost thanks to Operation Smile and its volunteer doctors who performed reconstructive procedures that would heal a decades-old injury, its lingering pain and emotional distress.
Mariea was born in Ethiopia. When she was only six-months-old, she fell out of her bed and broke both of her hands. However, no one noticed that she had also broken her jaw. As she grew, it became increasingly misaligned, affecting her speech and ability to eat. At age six, her parents took her to a specialist, who instructed them to wait a few years and then pursue treatment. Meanwhile, Marie suffered not only discomfort in eating and headaches, but also endured teasing from other children. After two to three years, her parents revisited the specialist, but at that point they could not afford surgery.
When she was a few years older, a group of physicians from Europe and the United States came to Ethiopia and offered to perform surgery. Through the pre surgical process, they discovered Marie had diabetes. As the physicians could not remain for follow up care after the surgery, the medical team made the decision that due to her diabetic condition, the risk for surgery was too great.
When Marie came to the U.S. at age 21, she was referred by Catholic Charities to dentist Dr. Patrick Kildea. With the assistance of Operation Smile, for which Kildea volunteers, he was able to pull together a dedicated team of doctors and resources for her to have the long awaited surgery at no cost.
Now 28-years-old, Marie, who lives in Wheaton, Maryland, is a very personable, smart, clinic nursing leadership student. However, she feels uncomfortable in social situations because people always ask “what happened to your jaw?”
When asked how she felt when she found out she would be getting surgery, Marie said, “When Dr. Kildea called me and told me that they have everything on hand, I cried, I didn’t have any words to express because I knew how this affected me in my childhood.” She added, “At some point I just gave up, I said okay maybe this is not happening for some reason. Maybe it is not the will of God. And Dr. Kildea, all the time he’d follow-up on the process…and always give me updates. He would say ‘don’t be disappointed, there will be a time when we have everything together, and this will happen, so don’t give up.’ He gave me all the hope throughout the whole five or six years. He is such a nice person.”
On May 15, a team of medical professionals led by Dr. Stephen Baker performed reconstructive surgery on Marie. Dr. Baker repositioned the jaw, and then filled in with fat grafts and tissue on the side where the jaw bone was shorter. Then he repositioned her chin correctly.
In addition to Dr. Kildea’s dentistry component and Dr. Baker’s major orthognathic surgery component, there are many other doctors who also helped. In 2004, Dr. Richard Giulani, donated his time and performed four teeth extractions and gave her braces. Dr. Peter Coccaro, donated the pre and post hospital orthodontics. Also, Dr. Eda Elbirlik, Dr. Pirooz Zia, and Dr. Tom Ollerhead donated pre and post surgical endodontics.
Garments Without Guilt: Sri Lanka Cuts Sweatshops in Favor of Eco-Friendly Factories
Out of Sri Lanka, one of the major manufacturing centers for Western apparel, comes Garments Without Guilt, a campaign launched by the country’s clothing industry that focuses on ethically-made products free of child labor and sweatshop conditions. And now, expanding on the meaning of “ethical”, three of Sri Lanka’s largest apparel manufacturers have launched eco-factories that use sustainable, environmentally-friendly practices.
Pedaling of Bikes Powers Green Gym
A gym in Portland, Ore., will use exercise equipment to generate electricity. In Adam Boesel’s green gym, people will not only slim their waistlines, they will also shrink their carbon footprint: As they pedal an exercise bike, they send power to a generator that converts workout calories into electricity. (Story in the Los Angeles Times)
The owners of the new facility point to 15 reasons why the Green Microgym is green… Here are the top three:
- Our SportsArt EcoPowr Treadmills use 30% less electricity than others
- Our solar panels generate over 3 Kilowatts per hour
- The Team Dynamo and Spin Bikes generate up to 750 watts per hour (read 12 more green qualities below)…
Prizes, Free Gifts and Happy Anniversary!
Take a look at some of the gifts I have in store for everyone who signs up in the next 7 days — during the 11th anniversary of the founding of Good News Network! (photos below) I also have some free gifts for my loyal members!
Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe Program Turns Old Footwear into Basketball Courts
Every year, millions of pairs of athletic shoes are thrown away, clogging landfills and wasting a lot of good material. Now, you can turn your old kicks into new places to play your game.
Nike gives you a solution for recycling your old shoes! Worn-out athletic shoes of any brand are collected, processed and recycled into material used in sports surfaces like basketball courts, tennis courts, athletic fields, running tracks and playgrounds for young people around the world.