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A Hero to Iraqi Kids, American Soldier Inspired to Give Gifts

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From the Oregonian comes this Memorial Day tribute to an American soldier who gets a kick out of bringing gifts to the kids in Iraq. Anne Taylor of Lake Oswego writes this charming ode to her 25 year old grandson, Sgt. Joe Coon of the Oregon National Guard: iraqi_kids

Sometimes “Joe’s kids” get candy. Other times it may be toothbrushes and toothpaste, Beanie Babies, stuffed animals or hair ornaments. But Joe always has something for them from his stash of goodies, supplied by family and friends… Joe was so moved by the bare feet he saw in Iraq, he urged his friends to send shoes for the children. The result was 1,200 pairs of shoes and 300 pounds of clothing sent to Iraq in 54 large boxes, inundating the post office.

Chesapeake Bay’s Grasses are Renewing

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Grasses in the Chesapeake Bay are rebounding, covering double the acreage they did in 1984. In 2005, grasses, a key component of the bay’s health, inhabited 78,260 acres, 7 percent more coverage than in 2004. Efforts to control Nitrogen must be redoubled to reach scientists’ goals of 185,000 acres in 2010.

Enron Prosecutors Hail Verdicts Against Lay and Skilling

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While the Good News Network normally does not cheer someone’s guilt or punishment, this week’s verdict against two executives at Enron underscore two of the seven values upon which we’ve built our good new philosophy: integrity and responsibility.

The verdicts, while not reimbursing Enron empoyees the hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost pension plans, will renew their faith in the sense of fairness in our justice system. Business leaders should bear not only the privilege of office but also the responsibility. Read the hometown account from the Houston Chronicle.

Random House Ups Recycled Paper Usage

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Leading U.S. publisher Random House will use more recycled paper in its books — up to 30 percent from its current 3 percent — and preserve more than 550,000 trees a year. By 2010 nearly a third of the uncoated paper used will be recycled and at least 10 percent for glossy paper within two years.

Volkswagen UK’s New Green Policies

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Volkswagen Group UK, which includes Audi, launched a new environmental policy switching to renewable energy to power two of its plants; buying 100 percent recycled paper for the head office; implementing an Environmental Management System and encouraging staff to reduce and recycle.

Michigan’s Rouge River Back from Brink

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Michigan’s Rouge River has been returned to health thanks to the Clean Water Act, $1 billion and measures to filter runoff from surrounding factories, neighborhoods and golf courses. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agengy calls the collaborative efforts that contributed to the river’s clean-up a “Blueprint for success.” Much needs to be done before swimming there will be attractive to most people, but many of the million nearby residents have returned to the banks to launch canoes, fish or walk. A valuable lesson was learned. It’s cheaper to keep a river clean than to rehabilitate it later… AP details the efforts

Machine Offers Sight to Some Blind People

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A team of eye doctors, fellow researchers, and students at MIT have produced a “seeing machine ” that allows the visually challenged to view the face of a friend, access the Internet, and “previsit” unfamiliar buildings …

Ex-Lumber Lobbyist Turns Green Evangelist

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redwoodThe world’s richest companies, that once fought in court against environmental activists are finding today that sustainability makes great economic sense. Customers appreciate that Starbucks uses recycled cardboard and wish it would use more, but the new twist is that sustainable paper saves the corporation money.

David Ford was a top timber lobbyist until he saw there was a third way available to the fighting factions of business and environmentalists. . .

He started a non-profit called MetaFore that recently drew 400 representatives to a leadership forum on sustainable paper products. Bank of America, Starbucks, Nike, Staples and Time Inc. joined environmental organizations like the World Wildlife Fund and Forest Ethics to talk about greening the corporate paper trail. One eco-activist said, “I never thought our group would end up working with big companies to help them sell paper products. . . We are realizing that if good products don’t make money, then (the environment doesn’t) win.”
— Read the excellent AP story at MSNBC.

Boy, Six, Saves Kid Brother from Cougar

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cougar_rescueThe Canadian Press reports on a 6-year-old boy from British Columbia whose instincts for caring about a younger brother overcame his fear as he faced a crouching cougar in his back yard. His father tells the story like this:

“He just heard something. He looked around, and crouched down coming at him about five feet away was this cougar. Rather than take the three steps and run in the house, he turned and ran, I don’t know, another 40 to 50 feet past the cat to get his little brother.”

It is rare for cougars to attack humans, but it does happen in BC, and likely such an attack was in progress. The parents were in their workshop next door. Young Bryce Forbes alerted them by telephone after escaping into the house with his brother. (photo taken after the incident, by the family)

Mexican Artisans Turn Trash Into Fashion

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sweetiepurseIt began as a way to clean up the environment and make something useful — and perhaps profitable.

The products … women’s clutches, shoulder bags and hip belts created out of candy wrappers, potato chip bags and cookie packages, are now selling on Web sites and in upscale U.S. boutiques for up to $200 apiece.

The nonprofit Group for the Promotion of Education and Sustainable Development (Grupedsac) develops initiatives near Mexico City to help lift the residents in poor communities out of poverty and into better living standards. Eventually, people in Florida admired the purses and wanted to purchase them in bulk to help the women. Sweetiepurse.com was born! … Thanks to AP for reporting on this wonderful development and providing the photo of women and colorful bags, via the Washington Post.

Barbaro Showing Encouraging Signs

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The unbeaten horse that won the Kentucky Derby then shocked the crowd at Pimlico last weekend by fractured its leg in three places is gaining in the race that counts the most now. The chief surgeon reports that Barbaro is a good patient and showing consistent progress. Most horses with such severe injuries are euthanized, but the owners are betting he will win again — in the race to heal his fracture. The Star-Telegram includes a photo, quotes one of the horse’s owners and describes the compassion bestowed on the patient from caring fans:

"Owners and trainers and jockeys care. It’s not about money, and it’s not about limelight. It’s about the horse."

"Hundreds of people have sent Barbaro messages of sympathy and hope, often in the form of carrots or apples or flowers…and there is no shortage of volunteers to go out and hand-pick grass so the injured horse can graze ‘at a distance.’"

Brazil Creates Buffer Zone Around Precious Coral Reefs

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reefsBrazil enacted protections for the coral reefs, which are the biologically richest in the South Atlantic. A buffer zone was created around the Abrolhos National Marine Park involving nearly 95,000 square kilometers — an area larger than Portugal.

Strong protection under Brazilian law would require special permits for any economic use while ensuring local communities can continue carrying out their means of livelihood through traditional fishing and eco-tourism activities. (Terra Daily, News About Planet Earth)

U.S. House Votes to Save Wild Horses

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The Interior Department has been directed by the U.S. House to stop the use of agency funds for the sale or slaughter of wild, free-roaming horses and burros.

Happy Taxpayers Group Focuses on the Good

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A new group in Helsinki, Finland encourages taxpayers to focus on the good provided by public services, rather than dwelling on negative thoughts about income tax. The Happy Taxpayers’ Association, with 250 members, should help ease anxiety and frustration in citizens who pay some of the highest taxes in Europe, by pointing out the merit of the system.

I don’t think this should be laughed away as absurd — or included in the “Oddly Enough” section. The revenue generated from taxes makes our every day lives a lot more pleasant, productive, and, especially, safe. (And we’ve seen that most people are hyper-sensitive to safety concerns these days)… If we do as this association models, and add up the good received, we quickly realize that our collective payments make big projects happen and fund worthwhile services. It’s called cooperation. Hurrah for the Happy Taxpayers!

Underwater Windmills Supply Environmentally Friendly Power to NYC

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turbineExperimental underwater windmills will be installed in New York City’s East River during the next weeks to begin generating power utilizing the non-stop action of the tides. Enthusiasts of the new environmentally friendly hydropower say the machines generate electricity without the problems associated with wind power. The scenery is not dotted with turbines and engineers say the low-rpm movement from the blades does not harm marine life. Unlike hydro-electric dams, which dramatically alter spawning populations of fish, this instream technology allows fish and mammals to "easily swim around" the turbines. . .

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Mr. Rogers on Living With Punks in Your Neighborhood

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mrrogers_at_whI heard an amazing segment with Mr. Rogers on NPR’s This American Life the other week.

Davy Rothbart is a radio documentarian who visited Mr. Rogers in his studio. Davy brought stories from his own neighborhood in West Chicago, stories of un-neighborly conflict and distrust — to see what kind of advice Mr. Rogers could give him. The conversation was a jewel in Davy’s life — just like it is now in my own. Mr. Rogers died in February of 2003 … Can you say, Hero?

Search on their Web site for Mr. Rogers. It originally aired on 5/11/01. I recommend you cue your media player to begin around 10:45 minutes. It’s a 15-minute segment of the show. The conversation with Mr. Rogers and Davy begins with: "When I told my neighbors I was going to see Mr. Rogers …" Enjoy, and let me know if it touches you like it did me …

Sony Anti-Piracy Debacle Ends with Free Downloads for PC Owners

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cd_diskBBC reports on the settlement of lawsuits brought against Sony after their copy protection “root kits” installed on music cd’s turned out to be terribly invasive — as well as sneakily evasive — when played on people’s PC’s. Worst of all, it left listeners’ computers vulnerable to hackers.

“Millions of music fans will be given free music downloads or money to compensate for flawed anti-piracy software on CDs from label Sony BMG. The final approval to the settlement for lawsuits against the music giant was granted by a US judge on Monday.

The EFF Electronic Frontier Foundation is a group of lawyers and technologists defending the public’s digital freedoms in court.

Parking Meters Provide Area for Mini-Parks

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parking_spaceSome folks in San Francisco decided there was not enough green space downtown so they “leased” the area provided by a parking meter, usually reserved for cars, to created a mini-park for a day. Pedestrians lounged on the park bench under a temporary tree. The grass invited shoes to come off. No authority interfered at all. Calling themselves the Rebar group, John Bela and Matthew Passmore write on their website that creating the Park(ing) space was just their way of “temporarily improving the quality of urban human habitat — at least until the meter ran out.” By their calculations, they provided an additional 24,000 square-foot-minutes of public open space that Wednesday afternoon. Check out the Park(ing) Space photos showing the project from installation to expiration.

Corporate Board Rooms Open the Doors to Green Advisors

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Environmentalists Cooperate With Business, Praise Every Good Step


A special collection in the New York Times Business section looks at what’s green, and getting greener, in the business sector. 15 different stories cover everything from green architecture to animal care in the food industry. My favorite article, the one that best confirms the values espoused here at the Good News Network, highlights the daily cooperation these days between environmentalists and corporations. It used to be a common tactic for environmentalists to remain on the attack against their opponent with lawsuits, protests and boycotts. . .

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Iowa Company Making Gasoline Obsolete

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jetcellA former director of engineering at Ford Motor Company says there is no need to wait for clean power. His Hydrogen Engine Center introduced the first hydrogen-fueled combustion engine for industrial uses in 2004. The company’s niche right now includes airport ground vehicles, forklifts and the like. (American Airlines alone has 9,500 vehicles likely to be converted to alternative fuels over the next decade.) His engines can "run on a number of fuels including hydrogen, ethanol, natural gas, propane or digester gas from landfills," the AP reports. We will be breathing cleaner air in the future thanks to the enthusiasm of Ted Hollinger and his team.

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