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”.
New North American Rescue Plan for Endangered Porpoise
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!
Solar Fuels Nevada Economy
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)
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.