John Jerome White says Dec. 25 was just another day inside Macon State prison. But this holiday promises to be special. Earlier this month, the 48-year-old was released from prison after serving almost 30 years for rape he didn’t commit. (Video Interview)
Muslims Encouraging Christmas Celebrations in UK Schools
"Muslim leaders join the U.K. Commission for Equality and Human Rights in urging Britons to enjoy Christmas, and not worry about offending non-Christians. The urging comes amid reports of schools cancelling nativity plays in order not to offend Muslims and students of other religions." (Audio at NPR)
Update: Poodle and Pit Bull Live Happily Ever After
"There’s a happy ending to the tale of Vincent, the poodle who fell madly in love with Angel, the abused pit bull, at their foster home (linked from GNN-i). After the story appeared in the newspaper homeowners stepped up willing to take both dogs." (A-J Constitution) Thanks for the follow-up, Steve G.!
Children Send Holiday Wishes to 1,000 Kenyan Peacekeepers
Kenyan children have sent more than 2,000 homemade Christmas and New Years messages to their country’s nearly 1,100 peacekeepers serving under United Nations’ blue helmets in eight missions around the world.
Once Volatile, the German-Polish Crossing Is Dismantled
One of the world’s most tense borders, the gates between Poland and Germany, will be opened for good as Poland today joins the passport-free zone of Western Europe. Thanks to William F. for the tip!
India Starts Putting Street Children in Schools
"Thanks to India’s biggest effort yet to educate every last child, 30 homeless children in a pilot project are given housing and "bridging" classes to help them catch up on lost years of schooling." (Reuters)
2007: A Very Green Year
"There’s a clear trend here. Despite setbacks and delays, the world is now giving serious attention and political support to energy use, pollution limits and the 800-pound gorilla of climate change. Just a year ago, none of this was foreseeable." (A short hopeful analysis in the San Francisco Chronicle)
Saving Plants that Save Lives
Unsustainable collection practices are threatening the survival of many of the plant species used in traditional and modern medicines. After three years of collaboration between conservation groups, the first set of principles and criteria for the sustainable wild collection of medicinal plants was introduced.
Concern over the decline in medicinal and aromatic plant populations and supplies, has been growing for some years and the new standard addresses requests from industry, governments, organic certifiers, resource managers and collectors for a means of assessing the sustainability of wild collection.
A Merry Christmas in Muslim Senegal
“Religious harmony in Senegal is on full display this year as Christmas and the Muslim holiday of Tabaski fall within days of each other” — and the Senegalese enjoy celebrating everything.
READ More in the CS Monitor…
US Accelerates Nuclear Stockpile Cuts
"The United States has accelerated the scrapping of its nuclear weapons, approving a "significant reduction" in the stockpile by the end of the year, the White House said Tuesday. As a result, the US nuclear stockpile will be less than one-quarter its size at the end of the Cold War." (Thanks to William F. for the tip!)
Woman on a Mission to Turn County Around
The executive director of Swaziland for Positive Living is on a mission to alter an impending catastrophe. "In a country with a shocking rate of HIV/AIDS, the women of Swaziland live a life with no rights, no say and no hope – until now. “Give me $3 million and two years, and I’ll mobilize every woman in Swaziland. We’ll turn this country around.” Thanks to Gisèle Guénard for sending this!
New Tree For Every Child in Wales
“A schoolgirl’s idea for a scheme to plant a tree for every child born or adopted in Wales was launched. Parents will receive a certificate and notice of where the tree has been planted.” (BBC) Thanks to William F. for the tip!
Police Reward Good Drivers with Coffee
"Police in a California suburb are stopping law-abiding motorists and rewarding their good driving with $5 Starbucks gift cards." (AP WIre)
“Last Hope” Donor Conference Raises $7.4 Billion for Palestinians
"A donors’ conference in Paris, which US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called ‘the last hope’ to avert bankruptcy, has raised 7.4 billion dollars in aid for the cash-starved Palestinian from the US, Europe and Arab countries." (Deutsche Press) Click read more to see a list of countries and contributions.
Documentary Spotlights West African ‘Sisters In Law’
Two women in the West African nation of Cameroon are delivering justice and breaking gender barriers in the courtroom. Their work is the subject of the documentary Sisters-in-Law. (audio at NPR)
Cat Alerts Homeowner of Roof Fire
Here’s another great pet story (including video), sent by Jim K., about a cat who notified his owner of a fire. (ABC.com)
A London Program Teaches Inner-City Kids Reading, Writing, and Reformation
“The From Boyhood to Manhood Foundation takes in dropouts and delinquents that other schools can’t reach.” (CS Monitor) Thanks to Steve G. for the link!
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Muslim Helps Jews Attacked on New York Subway
"A Muslim man jumped to the aid of three Jewish subway riders after they were attacked by a group of young people who objected to one of the Jews saying ‘Happy Hanukkah’". (CNN)
Encouraging Iowa Students to Caucus
"Some Iowa colleges are trying to make it easy for their students to head back to campus early to help nominate the next president on January 3." (NYTimes)