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Airline Attendants Use Overseas Flights to Aid Half Million Orphans

An American Airlines flight attendant wondered how she could help others less fortunate than herself. Then, she noticed all the empty seats and spare cargo spaces on many overseas flights. She began taking bags of soaps and shampoos to orphanages in places like El Salvador, and promised to take one such trip per month. She was so inspired by her feelings for the children that she created Airline Ambassadors International and today is inspiring 590 other flight attendants and hundreds of citizens to make a difference in the world…

Twelve airlines have joined the cause, paying the added fuel costs that the surplus weight requires. Since 1996, this dynamic group has bettered the lives of more than a half million children in more than 50 countries around the globe… Congratulations to Nancy Rivard. Read more at NBC’s Making a Difference. Donate to her organization or read about its current projects at www.airlineamb.org

Europe to Slow Climate Change with Bulbs and Emission Reductions

All European homes, offices and streets must be using energy-efficient lighting, like this dimmable CF Warm Glow bulb, by the end of the decade, EU leaders decided on Friday. (Reuters) The previous day, the 27-nation group agreed to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent from the 1990 level before 2020, setting stricter standards than their earlier Kyoto commitment. “If other non-EU states are prepared to collaborate, a target of 30 percent will be considered,” Chancellor Merkel said. (ENN)

Instead of Hauling Water Up Mountain, New Faucets for Tajiks

For decades, residents of Kuldara, a village nestled in the remote mountainous region of Khovaling, Tajikistan, hauled water on their shoulders from the bottom of a gorge, up 800 meters of steep slope, to their homes. Now, thanks in part to a new water project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this arduous task is no longer necessary. Water flows effortlessly into the center of the village…

Tax Facts For Freelancers (Part 1)

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tax formGNN will begin a weekly series to help you with your taxes — especially beneficial to folks like me who haven’t done them yet! Today, Julian Block, an expert on tax issues related to freelance artists, writers and photographers, will answer some common questions about how many deductions we can legally claim on our income taxes in the U.S. this year…

Congress Takes Up Complaints on Credit Cards

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"Executives from major U.S. banks were on the hot seat in Congress Wednesday over credit-card fees and penalties. One bank executive apologized to an aggrieved customer at the hearing." And, "as a result of recent hearings, several banks, including Chase and Citigroup, are announcing changes." Chase, regarding extended over-limit fees, and Citigroup, ending penalties for being late on another credit card and the practice of raising rates at any time. (NPR News)

Senior Collects Cans for 30 Years to Build Community Pool

An 83-year-old Kansas woman spent 30 years driving open roads, picking up aluminum cans, in a single-handed effort to raise enough money to build a community swimming pool for the children in her home town of Eskridge. For more than three decades, Maisie DeVore gathered and delivered cans, scrap metal and car parts to a recycling facility. Can by can, year after year, she earned $73,000 and received a matching grant to raise the rest. Says Maisie, “If you really want something and pursue it with all your mind, you’ll get it done one way or another.” Here’s a video featuring her and the pick-up truck, and that Kansas can-do attitude… (1:51)

Gaiam.com, Inc

The pool shimmers across the street from Maisie’s home, having been completed on July 14, 2001. You may have seen the event on CBS’s Sunday Morning featuring a parade that attracted more than 1,000 people. As her dream project was consecrated with a ceremony, Maisie took the first step into the completed pool. Since that day, the summer attendance has averaged about 100 people a day.

 

 

Ga. Trucker Claims Half of $390 Million Lottery

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moneyA Georgia trucker who lives with his mother is $80 million richer (after taxes) now that he has won the lottery. Ed Nabors, 52, says he will work at least two more days, but then, "Do a lot of fishing." He will also buy a new house for his daughter. (Full story plus video of Ed answering questions – MSNBC)

Bank of America Launches $20 Billion Environmental Initiative

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America’s largest retail bank announced this week they will start to spend billions on projects that help sustain the earth, like offering commercial loans to green businesses, trimming its own environmental footprint, donating to green causes and offering incentives to customers and employees to buy energy-efficient homes and cars. (AP)

Ivory Coast: New Peace Agreement

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peacekeepers(IRIN) – President Laurent Gbagbo and New Forces rebel leader Guillaume Soro have signed a peace agreement for Côte d’Ivoire aimed at ending a four-year political impasse that has divided the country and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. "It is a peace deal that could succeed where previous foreign-backed ones failed because all parties in the enduring conflict have backed it."…

Turkmenistan Teens Can Now Attend College

Turkmenistan’s new president has scrapped a rule that required high school graduates to work for two years before they enter university. President Gubanguli Berdymukhamedov signed an order dropping work requirements and reinstating university entrance exams.

Five Ways the United Nations is Saving People and the Planet

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feeding Bolivia's kidsIn 1997, the owner of Cable News Network, Ted Turner, shocked the world when he handed over a billion dollars to the United Nations. At the time, the United States had been delinquent in paying its UN dues and Turner was making up for it. He was passionate about the UN’s humanitarianism, especially their women and children’s health programs and environmental work. If you haven’t heard lately about the good deeds of the United Nations, these are five ways the UN is saving people and our planet, every day — including links so you can make donations to their lifesaving efforts…

30 Minutes After Baby Dies, He Comes Back

"Two-week-old Woody Lander was turning white and struggling to breathe. He was rushed to the hospital and doctors say he died a few minutes later. Then, 30 minutes after being declared dead, he started breathing again." (ABC)

Child’s Birth Inspires King to Pardon 9,000 Prisoners

"King Mohammed VI pardoned nearly 9,000 prisoners to celebrate the birth of his baby girl, the Justice Ministry said." (AP reports) …fascinating!

Jennifer Hudson Grateful for Loss on American Idol

On the Barbara Walters Oscar special last Sunday, Jennifer Hudson said she was grateful for her loss on American Idol. Without that loss, she would not have been available to do Dream Girls, would not have won best supporting actress in the Golden Globes and Academy Awards.

Are you still resentful about old losses and hurts? Want to find a way to be grateful for everything that has happened in your life? Join “gratitude-expert” Harry Tucker and me on a tele-conference call tonight to discuss Gratitude: How to Celebrate the Silver Lining in any Situation.

Click here for all the details. We’re giving away two free books to participants.

Photo: David Torcivia (Flickr)

Good News for Engine No. 7 in New Orleans

Thanks go to The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Frito-Lay and other contributors who watched a moving segment on NBC-TV’s Nightly News about the New Orleans fire fighters of Engine No. 7, who lost their firehouse in the flooding (and many of them, their homes, while they were out assisting others). Almost $200,000 came flooding in to help construct a new building. (NBC)

New AIDS Drug ‘Incredibly Encouraging’

"Very exciting. A road to hope. An important milestone in HIV treatment history... That’s what AIDS researchers are saying about Isentress, the first of a new class of HIV drugs." (WebMD)

Memphis Church Miracle Changes Single Mom’s Life

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Can a single action by one person change a life or perhaps touch others who don’t even know you? It did for a Memphis single mom with a sick child, who was out of a job and a home. Yet she still made a small church offering that resonated with others in a way no one could have expected. (News Channel 3)

$33 Million Donation for Stem Cell Institute

Lorry I. Lokey, the founder of Business Wire and a regular supporter of education and science, will give $33 million to help build a laboratory for Stanford’s Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. "The important thing to me is that stem cells might not only extend life, but also improve the quality of life, as so many people suffer in their later years," said Lokey, who will turn 80 in March.

Ex-Teammate Donates Kidney to Dallas Cowboy

Two NFL football players became the first U.S. professional athletes involved in an organ donation between teammates. Ron Springs calls it "brotherly love" when he thinks of his friend, Everson Walls giving him a kidney. Today they are recovering from the transplant and hoping to have finally tackled Springs’ diabetes, allowing him to walk once again. (AP via MSNBC)

GNN UPDATE: Sunday Call and New Commenting System

EDITOR’S UPDATE:
We installed a new component on the Web site for accepting comments. It was able to import all the old comments, but we may have lost one or two. If you find any missing that you wrote, please re-write them if you’d like… The little icon/photos that go with your comments are all there, yet we might have lost yours (Columbine?). Please upload it again, if needed. ALSO, remember to join Harry, me and GNN readers this Sunday night if you’d like to discuss the subject of GRATITUDE and how to appreciate EVEN the ‘bad’ things in life. Talk to you later!