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Good News on PBS: US Cities Improving

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philley A new PBS series shows us how to fix our cities… make them greener, cleaner, more livable, less wasteful. It will showcase extraordinary community activists as well as forward-thinking professionals and governmental officials who are transforming their urban environments.

The premiere episode profiles Chicago. Check listings, because it airs on different nights depending on where you live, during May 18-25, Philadelphia follows, with Seattle and Los Angeles featured later this year. . .

What strategies contribute to a sustainable ecosystem? How can we save open space and public parks, even urban forestry? What about public art, waste disposal, recycling, mass transit alternatives and green architecture? — Edens Lost & Found presents the integrated “best practices” that are making a significant difference in these four cities.

Thousands Cheer Nepal’s Deflating of King

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Nepal’s restored parliament voted unanimously in favor of reducing the king’s power to that of a ceremonial figurehead with no control of the army. Tens of thousands of Nepalese celebrated in the streets when they heard the news yesterday.

They’ve earned the right to celebrate. Earlier this month, people gave their lives in street demonstrations against the king and his army. Democracy is unfolding now for a thrilled citizenry, as this BBC photo captures. GNN-i covers the blooming of democracy in several news reports here.

Chicago, the Eco-Windy City

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flowers_over_metersmIn Time magazine this week, Mayor Daley describes his efforts to turn Chicago into America’s Eco-city. Since Dale took office in 1989, a half million trees have been planted, renewable, alternative power is being pushed, 2 million square feet of rooftop gardens have been transforming air pollution while city vehicles are forbidden to idle more than five minutes.

If it works — and Daley is betting a hefty sum it will, with promises to buy millions in solar panels, for example — the green movement here is expected to yield the city perhaps billions in saved energy costs and new business. 

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One in a Million Chestnut Tree Discovered

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Photo by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Nathan Klaus, a senior wildlife biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, stands beside a rare American chestnut tree he spotted in Georgia

Photo by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Nathan Klaus, a senior wildlife biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, stands beside a rare American chestnut tree he spotted in GeorgiaIn an amazing discovery in Georgia, a small patch of American Chestnut trees, which were largely wiped out due to a quick-spreading fungus in the early 1900s, has been found alive, healthy, and thriving.

This gives new hope to rebuilding the population of the American Chestnut tree which was, at its peak, used in houses, lightpoles, and other infrastructure.

Biologists believe that they will be able to study and use these trees to breed what they hope to be stronger American Chestnut trees capable of resisting the fungus which usually destroys them.

“In this photo provided by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Nathan Klaus, a senior wildlife biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, stands beside a rare American chestnut tree he spotted in the F.D. Roosevelt State Park near Warm Springs, Ga., Saturday, April 22, 2006.”

GNN featured a Chestnut Tree report in 1998 about a Virginia effort to breed blight-resistant Chestnuts, written by Nancy Arrington of the Prince William Wildflower Society.

Former Rivals Join in Common Cause to Save the Internet

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moby_event2Which issue aligns artists and musicians with Gun Owners of America? MoveOn.org with the Christian Coalition? The AARP with E-bay and Google? All these bipartisan groups along with 600 others have joined together in an effort to keep the internet free and equal for all websites, no matter how large or small.

Grammy-nominated musician Moby joined today with U.S. Representative Edward Markey (D-MA), ranking Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, to demand that Congress reject upcoming legislation that would allow AT&T, Verizon, and other telecommunications giants to give preferential treatment to websites on the Internet, altering the access consumers enjoy.

Save the Internet (savetheinternet.com) is an alliance of organizations from across the political spectrum, consumer groups, educators, small businesses, and bloggers that have joined together to fight the congressional proposal to gut Network Neutrality—the Internet’s First Amendment. . .

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Segways Replace Wheelchairs, Increase Mobility

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Segways, the two-wheeled transporters, are replacing wheelchairs for some who have trouble walking but still want to move around taking up as little space as possible. For example, this father of the bride who wanted to stand, not sit, during his daughter’s wedding ceremony used a Segway and looked all the more dignified …

 

UK Paper Donates Revenue from Bono/AIDS Edition to Africa Fight

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rededitionHalf of all revenues from yesterday’s issue of the UK paper, the Independent, will go towards the fight against AIDS in Africa.

The May 16 paper, guest edited by U2 rocker and activist Bono, sold out within hours. All the articles featured the AIDS issue, which Bono laments is missing in other mainstream media that apparently require rock stars to motivate their coverage of the facts: “6,500 people die in Africa every day from a preventable, treatable disease (AIDS/HIV).”

Splashed with the RED branding (see red AmEx card on the page) that Bono is using to raise awareness of the AIDS issue, copies become instant collectors’ items. One of the RED editions sold on ebay for for £9.90. . .

Bono pal and rocker, Bob Geldof editorialized in the paper that, “Trade, not aid, is the answer.” (And, he knows the issue of hunger in Africa as well as anyone.) Elvis Costello delivered a stinging criticism of American media and political figures, though he didn’t comment on whether the government delivered on its pledge to Africa. (He insinuated they HAVEN’T in New Orleans.)

UK’s director for the charity ActionAid referred to the Live 8 concerts last year, and the corresponding campaign (One.org) that pushed governments to pledge to help Africa, when he said that the decision of the guest editor, Bono, to echo the demands of the Make Poverty History campaign throughout The Independent’s pages “keeps our politicians on notice that they must deliver.“

Israel Opens Crossing to Gaza Eases Crisis

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Israel made a decision to open the main cargo crossing to the Gaza strip for the first time in several months out of humanitarian concerns. The Karni crossing has been closed on and off for security reasons but Palestinians normally import much of their food and export goods and produce through the opening. It’s closing has had a significant economic impact on Gaza residents. Israel’s newspaper, Haaretz quoted Israel’s new defense minister as saying during a meeting with his army commanders, “Our war is against terror, not against the residents of the Strip.” It also reported that just three weeks ago the Palestinian Authority thwarted a planned attack at the crossing.

(One small hurrah uttered for Minister Peretz!
Faith that is positive can be powerful.)

Grassroots Internet Campaign Pressures Indonesia to Save Orangutan Rainforest

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626px-Female_Orangutan_&_Baby_PerthZoo_SMC_Sept_2005Under intense international pressure, the Indonesian government has virtually abandoned plans to convert large areas of ancient rainforest in the “Heart of Borneo” that are a prime habitat for the endangered Orangutan. The original plan called for a massive oil palm plantation to be built on 1.8 million hectares (nearly 7,000 square miles or 18,000 sq. km) of mainly native forests along the Indonesia-Malaysia border.

In an abrupt about-face, the Agriculture Minister (formerly an advocate for development) last week announced only 180,000 hectares are deemed suitable for developing, effectively reducing the project’s expanse by 90 percent. International protest via e-mail bombarded the Indonesian government and may have been responsible for the turnaround. . .

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Newly Approved Bird Repellant Saves Corn and Cranes

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Sandhill CraneA ten-year cooperative effort has finally yielded a clever solution to solve the conflict between corn farmers and the endangered sandhill cranes that eat their newly planted seed. The EPA has approved a non-lethal bird repellant for the 2006 planting season. Avitec is a substance naturally occurring in plants that nature uses to repel birds. Corn kernels are treated with Avitec, which the cranes detect in very small doses and avoid. . .

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Teen Inventors Win $50,000 Turning Bacteria into Power Supply, Herbal Extract to Kill Infections

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science_fair_winnersGreat kids abound. They can tackle any problem in the world today. Last Friday the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for high school students showcased the world’s best young scientists and inventors competing for (US) $4 million in awards and scholarships.

One of the three winners, 16-year-old Madhavi Gavini, from Mississippi, tried to find a way to kill the pathogen that causes secondary infections often leading to death in patients with compromised immune systems, such as cancer patients, AIDS and burn victims. Ultimately she found the answer. . .

She studied a myriad of herbal compounds and extracts known for their antiseptic qualities in both traditional and alternative medicine. She found a molecule in one compound that is safe and effective and suitable for use in an inhaler or antiseptic spray.

One of the kids who didn’t win was featured in Wired last week. A 16-year-old high school student in Montreal developed a science project that produced a new way to create electricity using “the brawny power of bacteria.” He generated half the voltage of a normal AA battery and it kept cranking for more than two days. The bacteria contains a tiny magnet and is quite common and found in fresh water and saltwater around the world. “Madiraju envisions clean-running underwater power plants in the developing world.” A Montreal University professor said the application is not too far-fetched.

The other two winners of the science fair competition studied the ability to predict earthquakes and the phenomenon of the bigger things always flowing to the top in a container.

Innovation! New Cement Absorbs Air Pollution

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How great is this?? It’s what I call, News to Enthuse…

An Italian company has begun marketing a cement that is capable of absorbing pollution from vehicles.   Italcementi spent 10 years developing a product that is capable of reducing urban pollution by more than 40 percent. (Monsters and Critics)

Donated Kidney Forever Bonds Former Neighbors

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InsideBayArea.com and its affiliated newspapers featured these opening lines yesterday that ‘said it all’ with elegant prose:

It’s tough to get a cup of sugar out of a neighbor these days, much less a kidney.

"I couldn’t believe it when Diane offered to give me one of hers," said 74-year-old Del Jackson of Alameda, currently thriving a year after kidney transplant surgery. "How many people would do that for their neighbor? She is my angel."

Double Amputee Conquers Mt. Everest

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Mark Inglis, 47, a New Zealand mountain climber who lost both his legs to frostbite on Mount Cook in 1982 has become the first double amputee to conquer Mount Everest.  “He’s dreamed of this all his life, probably. He’s over the moon,” said his wife according to the New Zealand Herald. (MSNBC)

Carter Center Eradicates Guinea Worm in Africa

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When former US President Jimmy Carter saw the suffering in the developing world caused by a little known disease called Guinea worm, he updated the human rights mission of the Carter Center to include public health. Today, nearly 25 years later, the Carter Center has been successful in fighting the parasite "almost to the brink of extinction," winning him this year’s $1 million prize for global health from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  (USA Today photo and full story)

Reuniting Panda Populations Long Separated by Highway

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pandaeatingXi’an, China — Two isolated giant panda sub-populations that were fragmented by a national highway 23 years ago will be reunited by a new effort to create an ecological corridor of bamboo forest.

The World Wildlife Fund’s China office is stepping in with the Chinese Forestry Department of Shaanxi Province to reconnect the fragmented habitats of approximately 20 giant pandas in Mount Tianhuashan, and about 110 in Mount Xinglongling. The National Road 108 that, when constructed, separated the two panda sub-populations has recently been abandoned along a 13km section of the highway following the completion of a new tunnel. . .

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Dramatic Downward Trend in Rapes

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The Justice Department’s latest annual National Crime Victimization Survey of the United States estimates that rapes and attempted rapes fell more than 80 percent in the last three decades from 1973 through 2004. . .

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US Upgrades Libya to Non-terror State

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Colonel Gaddafi’s desire to bring Libya back into the international fold has paid off.

The US has followed the lead of the UN by renewing "full diplomatic relations with Libya and deciding to remove it from its list of countries that support terrorism." (BBC News) The United Nations lifted sanctions against Libya in September.

Some of the actions taken by Gaddafi that have earned him esteem in the rest of the world include renouncing weapons of mass destruction in 2004, and agreeing to pay compensation to families of victims in the Lockerbie bombing in 2003.

G is for Goodbye, West Wing

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EDITOR’S BLOG

The West Wing was often called the smartest show on television and in my mind it was. I watched ritualistically in the early years when its brilliant creator, Adam Sorkin was the writer. Then I drifted away as the scripts were placed in the hands of a different team. West Wing featured a White House run by a Liberal president in possession of the admirable traits we liked about Clinton. It was a fantasy world to which I enjoyed escaping, where my president was someone I admired, the policy decisions were decided by values I could identify with. It was the only must-see tv on my list.

Tonight I will watch the final episode of West Wing as President Bartlett clears out his desk in the oval office ending his successful, but difficult and sometimes tragic, two terms. All the early regulars, like Rob Lowe, will return for the finale and will attend "Leo’s" funeral. The handsome and solid actor John Spencer, who played chief of staff Leo McGarry, died last December after a heart attack, and likewise, his character Leo died in a recent episode.

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We will miss you Martin Sheen… For many years you and the West Wing cast inspired us to believe that we might again be served by a president who exudes integrity, vision, intelligence, caring, and thoughtfulness. Goodbye and Godspeed, Mr. President!

Major League Goes Pink for Mom’s Day, Breast Cancer

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pink_batsOn Mother’s Day, Major League Baseball players will be using pink bats to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer. As part of a weeklong campaign the pink breast cancer ribbon behind the logo of MLB will be noticeable on commemorative home plates, pink wrist bands, dugout lineup cards, and uniforms of players and staff.

Derek Jeter, David Eckstein and Marcus Giles are among hundreds of players will be hoisting the pink bats on Sunday. The AP reported that “Kevin Mench was among several Texas players who wanted their mother’s names burned on the bats, and he also planned to use a bat for his grandmother, who died from breast cancer.” (use the AP link to see a cool photo of the bats and their inscriptions)

The best part is the bats, home plates and lineup cards used in each ball park Sunday will be autographed and auctioned online at MLB Auctions to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. . .

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