A simple and affordable test for cervical cancer, designed for countries that don’t have the money for expensive labs, could strike a massive blow against the disease called the “silent killer” of women, doctors said on Sunday. In rural China the test was 90% effective.
Tyler Perry Donates Food for More Than 1,000 Families
Tyler Perry, the writer-director-actor of popular films aimed at black audiences, volunteered at a homeless shelter and food pantry, unloading and packaging food he donated to feed more than 1,000 Atlanta area families. (Read the full story at USA Today)
A ‘Miracle Tree’ That Could Feed Sub-Saharan Africa
The moringa’s leaves and seedpods deliver extraordinary nutrition: Ounce for ounce, a Red Cross official said, moringa leaves contain more beta carotene than carrots, more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach, more Vitamin C than oranges, and more potassium than bananas. Its protein content is comparable to that of milk and eggs, and its leaves are still available for harvest at the end of the dry season, when other food may be scarce. (Read the full story in the Christian Science Monitor)
Global Warming Law Will Boost California Economy, Study Finds
Two years ago California passed a landmark law requiring a 25 percent cut in industrial greenhouse gases by 2020, and some critics said the move would hurt the economy. Now, two studies released this week by the California Air Resources Board, claim that implementing the emission-cutting measures under the pioneering law would actually benefit California’s economy as well as the public health. (Full story at Christian Science Monitor)
Mexico Combats Police Corruption with Mortgages
What are the benefits of sub-prime mortgages on the culture of bribery south of the border? Give the Mexican police force access to home mortgages to help fight widespread corruption in its ranks. So goes the thinking of a new pilot program designed to “keep them out of the pockets of organized crime”. Officers and prison guards in Michoacan state can now benefit from special deals to finance new home ownership. (Associated Press via Yahoo News)
Mexico Combats Police Corruption with Mortgages
What are the benefits of sub-prime mortgages on the culture of bribery south of the border? Give the Mexican police force access to home mortgages to help fight widespread corruption in its ranks. So goes the thinking of a new pilot program designed to “keep them out of the pockets of organized crime”. Officers and prison guards in Michoacan state can now benefit from special deals to finance new home ownership. (Associated Press via Yahoo News)
Watch Good News TV Show Featuring ME!
The Good News Network was featured in a recent episode of a TV show that aired in 14 markets last weekend. The show is called American Crossroads. They focused the entire 60 minutes this week on GOOD news, and it began with a nice long profile of me, the TV crew having come to my home a few weeks back. Watch the excellent the show on this link!
Chicago Outlines Climate Plan to Cut Greenhouse Gases
Chicago became another in a long list of U.S. cities taking the lead in the fight against climate change.
On Thursday, Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley unveiled a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 — and continue to cut even faster beyond that.
“I believe that when you do such things as planting trees and creating open space, when you invest resources to remove pollution from the air and encourage the construction of buildings that are smart for the environment, then you enhance quality of life for all the residents of the city.”
But, this is about more than cleaning up our environment, the Mayor said. “At the same time, when we make these improvements we’re greening our economy for the future and creating the jobs of tomorrow,” Daley said.
Treasure Trove of New Marine Species Found Near Great Barrier Reef (Video)
Australian scientists have discovered hundreds of new types of coral and marine species during an expedition off the Great Barrier reef. Three expeditions to the barrier reefs over four years have discovered 300 soft corals of which 130 are new species, the discoveries will help scientists understand more about global warming and overfishing.
Navy Ship Arrives in Texas for Hurricane Cleanup
Navy sailors on the Norfolk-based amphibious assault ship Nassau answered the call of aid for Galveston shorelines, devastated by Hurricane Ike, arriving on the beach Friday. “Much of the ship’s work will involve supplying and manning disaster relief centers on shore and using heavy machinery to clear debris along the beach and in the port.” (Full story at the Virginia-Pilot)
Don’t Panic: 20 Reasons for Brits to be Cheerful
After months of relentless gloom in the economy and one of the worst summers on record, the stock markets are recovering and the sun has come out. So says Jonathan Brown on the British news site, The Independent. Some of his reasons: We are living longer; youth testing grades are higher; and skinny jeans are back!
(Mostly for Brits, but also hopeful for the rest of us.) Thanks to Bill F. for sending the tip!
Put the Doom Merchants on Notice: There is Good News!
For the past seven days, there has been no getting away from the incessant drum beat of bad news… “Everything is collapsing around our ears,” so says the television reporter. But the journalists’ world is not the only world. There are also rescues, innovations, breakthroughs and happy endings. These stories — many of which were featured on the Good News Network — were listed and promoted on Sunday in the British newspaper The Independent. . . Check out the barrage of good news.
Thanks to Bill F. for submitting the news tip!
Both NATO And Taliban Halt Fighting Today On Peace Day
Military operations by both NATO and the Taliban have been halted today in honor of International Peace Day. In Afghanistan, NATO’s top general has called a ceasefire in all offensive operations by international troops and the Taliban militants have pledged to lay down their weapons for the remainder of a three-day polio vaccination campaign.
Today is the 26th anniversary of the International Day of Peace, a United Nations-backed day of nonviolence and global cease-fire.
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UPDATE- (Monday, Sept. 22) “The UN said tens of thousands of international and Afghan soldiers as well as Taliban militants ‘all stood down from offensive military operations in support of International Peace Day,” reported Reuters News. “Government officials around the country reported no violence.”
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(Image courtesy of Sun Star)
Help Animals Suffering in the Wake of Hurricane Ike
As Gulf Coast residents face the aftermath of the massive Hurricane Ike, animals face just as much bewilderment and peril as the humans they love, if not more. Animal rescue teams are performing land and water rescues, recovering companion animals who had to be left behind during evacuations, treating injured animals, running emergency shelters, and reuniting animals and their families.
As of September 15, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has been on the scene working to assist people and animals in need. In some cases, staff members are working 12-hour shifts, and sleeping in cots on the floor.
Two IFAW teams are facilitating emergency pet shelters in Austin and Beaumont, Texas, helping care for hundreds of animals. A third team has been working in the Lake Charles/Calcasieu Parish area to ensure the safety of stranded herds of horses and cattle, and to help save injured deer, opossums, and rabbits that were trapped at a wildlife rehabilitation station.
You can help. Donate $25 towards IFAW’s relief efforts and help provide a happy ending for some of the voiceless survivors of this natural disaster. Your purchase is tax-deductible in the U.S.A., and you will receive a receipt from GreaterGood.org for your taxes. 100% of this gift goes to IFAW as a grant from GreaterGood.org
(Thanks to Leslie Sanchez for the story tip via Twitter)
Italy Bans Pesticides Linked to Bee Devastation
The Italian government banned the use of several pesticides that are blamed for the deaths of millions of honeybees. They issued an immediate suspension of the seed treatment products that have somehow contributed to recent bee death and are launching further investigations. (Environmental News Network)
Stressed Plants Create Aspirin to Lessen Damage
Plants are known to emit chemicals that signal one another of attacks by insects. Now, researchers have discovered an aspirin-like compound emitted by trees under stress that actually reduce their damage and possibly warn nearby plants, a study released Friday found.
Bible Now One of Many Holy Books in Hotel Drawers
A new trend for smaller hotels: Offering a spiritual menu of holy texts for guests — instead of only the Bible — caters to different cultures and religious backgrounds. Provenance Hotels, which owns Nashville’s Hotel Preston among others, and the Kimpton Hotels based in San Francisco are all offering such choices. (Associated Press via NewsVine.com)
New Nepal Leaders Offer Budget With Help for Poor
The new government of Nepal has presented its first national budget, which includes the cancellation of debts and a series of monthly allowances for the poorest people. (BBC News has the story) Thanks to Bill F. for the tip!
Farm Aid to Help Farmers Hurt by Ike, Gustav
Farm Aid today announced that initial grants would be made to southern farm and faith-based organizations to support family farmers hardest hit by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav.
“We might not know the full extent of the damage yet, but we do know that family farmers will need our help to rebuild and to get back on the land quickly, growing good food for all of us,” said Farm Aid President Willie Nelson. (Right: Farm Aid board members John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews and Neil Young)
Southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana have been declared federal disaster areas, and initial reports indicate that the damage to agricultural communities is devastating. “Because we’ve been working with folks for 23 years in these rural and agricultural towns, we’re able to deliver immediate support to farmers who have been devastated by Ike and Gustav.”
“In the face of the destruction these hurricanes have caused in Texas and Louisiana, Farm Aid is proud to work with the individuals and organizations that have already stepped up and shown their support for family farmers. Together, we will help these farmers rebuild and protect our source of good food,” said Farm Aid Executive Director Carolyn Mugar.
Farm Aid will grant $7,500 each to Lutheran Social Services of the South, Southern Mutual Help Association, Louisiana Interchurch Conference and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives.
Contributions can be made to Farm Aid’s Family Farm Disaster Fund online at: www.farmaid.org/
Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual concert to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family-farmed food. Since 1985, Farm Aid has raised more than $30 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.
India’s Iconic Electric Car gets Volt of Energy
Long before “green” cars became trendy in other parts of the world, a boxy electric two-seater began rolling out of a small factory in Bangalore. Today, scores of Reva electric cars can be seen tootling down Bangalore’s crowded streets with bright colors and their minimalist design. (Reuters News from India)