Erika Vohman is improving the lives of women in poverty in Central America by teaching them about their native Maya nut, a nutrient-rich seed that grows abundantly in rain forests.
Many are still unaware of the nut, which can be ground into a hearty meal for porridge or flatbread, or prepared to taste like mashed potatoes, chocolate or coffee.
Watch the video below, or read the story at CNN.
Thanks to Alison R. for the story tip!
The Obama administration opened the way to regulating U.S. greenhouse gas emissions on Friday by declaring climate-warming pollution a danger to human health and welfare, in a sharp policy shift from the Bush administration. (AP)
“This pollution problem has a solution — one that will create millions of green jobs and end our country’s dependence on foreign oil,” said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.
Fulfilling a personal goal, former science minister and supermarket tycoon Lord Sainsbury has become the first Briton to give more than £1 billion to charity.
His charitable foundation has given away £660m to support scientific research, children’s charities, the arts and mental health. Sainsbury has allocated a further £465m for good causes, which is in the foundation awaiting distribution, taking the overall total to more than £1 billion.
(Read more in the Times Online)
Last year, hedge fund manager Chris Hohn, 41, became Britain’s largest-ever donor with a gift of one-half billion.
For many, losing their jobs has turned out to be a good thing.
Many have sought to retool their skills in colleges and trade schools. Others are tightening their belts and wondering if their families might actually be better off with one income — and a stay-at-home parent. Still others have started new business ventures.
These Utah residents prove there always is opportunity in any economic climate.
(Read story in Salt Lake Tribune)
Photo courtesy of Sun Star
Florida wildlife officials have tentatively approved a new rule that will impose the nation’s strongest measures to protect freshwater turtles in the state. It would ban the sale and harvesting of native turtles and eggs.
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The makers of Slumdog Millionaire have announced they are to donate £500,000 to a charity which will help children living in the slums of Mumbai. Director Danny Boyle said: “It is only right that some of the success of the movie be ploughed back into the city (where it was shot).”
This summer, vegetables, flowers and herbs will take the place of some of the cars and trucks atop a MIT garage becoming the Institute’s first-ever community garden.
Not only is it a way to reduce their carbon footprint. The project also aims to foster community and give back to those in need: At least 2 percent of all harvested produce will be given to Food for Free, a local charity that finds and distributes fresh food to pantries, meal programs and shelters.
A mystery is unfolding in the world of college fundraising: During the past few weeks, at least eight universities have received gifts totaling nearly $45 million, and the schools had to promise not to try to find out the giver’s identity.
Photo courtesy of Sun Star
A revolutionary satellite navigation system that directs guide dogs for blind people has been invented by a British University student. The device clips on to the dog’s harness and vibrates on the left or right side to tell the handler which direction to go in.
“I wanted to create something that would have a life-changing effect but would also draw on the unique skills of the guide dog.”
A Kalamazoo-area man who won $10,000 in the Michigan Lottery’s Club Keno game has donated his winnings to a charity.
“I know the needs in the community are great right now, so for me it was the right thing to do,” said Jim Dancy, who gave all the proceeds to the Greater Kalamazoo United Way.
Another random act of music in a public place — this time in Belgium, Antwerp’s Central Station.
It began when passengers walking through the lobby heard a recording of “Do Re Mi,” the familiar opening lines of the Julie Andrews classic from Sound of Music. As the song builds so does the participation, as it seems like everyone in the train station that day knew the choreography and provided a big group hug.
It was a promotion stunt for a Belgian television program that is looking for someone to play the leading role, in the musical of “The Sound of Music”.
The seemingly spontaneous dance within a train station was a copy of a wonderful recent commercial filmed in London for T-Mobile (watch the video here).
Another random act of music in a public place — this time in Belgium, Antwerp’s Central Station.
It began when passengers walking through the lobby heard a recording of “Do Re Mi,” the familiar opening lines of the Julie Andrews classic from Sound of Music. As the song builds so does the participation, as it seems like everyone in the train station that day knew the choreography and provided a big group hug.
It was a promotion stunt for a Belgian television program that is looking for someone to play the leading role, in the musical of “The Sound of Music”.
The seemingly spontaneous dance within a train station was a copy of a wonderful recent commercial filmed in London for T-Mobile (watch the video here).
For the first time, scientists have identified the parasite that causes honey bee colonies to collapse in professional apiaries. They then went on to treat the infection with complete success using an antibiotic drug, which led to recovery of all infected colonies.
Thanks to Pam Guthrie for submitting the fabulous news
Jaguar has announced its intentions to produce an extended-range electric next-generation XJ luxury sedan.
Autocar says a $407.8 million loan from the European Investment Bank will help the venerable British automaker develop the car, which will be based on the next-generation XJ. The e-Jag will be a range-extended electric vehicle akin to the Chevrolet Volt or Fisker Karma.
My mom’s neighbor had shoulder surgery so she agreed to babysit Buddy, her neighbor’s heavy set and short legged terrier. I offered to take Buddy outside, and started toward the deck.
“Buddy is afraid to go down the stairs” my mom said, “You’ll have to take him out the front.”
“I’ll get him to go out the back,” I said, up for the challenge.
“He will absolutely not go down stairs,” my mom warned.
“Watch me” I said.
“Here Buddy. What a sweet doggie. Yes you are! Come-on Buddy, that’s a good boy,” I said in my most excited and sweetest baby-talk voice.
Here came buddy waddling like a little pig down the steps to take a leak on the grass. My mom stood there with her mouth gaped open in a state of disbelief.
China unveiled a sweeping health care plan that will extend basic health care to 90 percent of its population by 2011, with a promise to improve health care services to all residents by 2020.
In the first three years, China plans to spend $124 billion toward providing universal health care and improving public health care facilities.
The ‘Civic generation’ is rolling up its sleeves to lend a hand at home and abroad
Young adults who grew up in the shadow of the 9/11 attacks and saw the wreckage of Hurricane Katrina are volunteering at home and abroad in record numbers. The Millennials, the generation that learned in school to serve as well as to read and write, became the first global Internet explorers as they pioneered social networking for favorite causes at home.
“Community service is part of their DNA.”
A handful of people with type 1 diabetes have been able to survive without insulin shots for more than two-and-a-half years, on average, after having their own blood stem cells removed and reimplanted through intravenous injection, U.S. and Brazilian researchers reported Tuesday.
A neighborhood woman adopted a special needs dog and spends time caring for it every day. The dog displays unending love toward her, despite being terribly abused as a puppy by his prior owner.
A Good News Network member, Peggy Ijams, made this video about her neighbor, “an angel who walks among us”, and calls it a tale of forgiveness.
(Read also this Pawtucket Times story about another GNN member, Herb Weiss, who adopted a special needs dog with a host of problems. Weiss and a partner say they couldn’t be happier with the new addition to the family, even though they sometimes feel as though they run an animal hospital themselves.)
Last month’s appointment of a Saudi woman as Deputy Minister of Women’s Education – the first female appointment of its kind – is an encouraging development, one that may influence change and accelerate reform in Saudi Arabia.
Women are making strides in other sectors too. For example, the government has appointed a female dean at a university in Riyadh and one can find women who head departments in some Saudi hospitals.
