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Watch Paul McCartney Bring Out Ringo Starr for Beatles Reunion in Dodger Stadium: ‘I love you, man…’

By
Jennifer Zolper
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It was just a day in the life of Paul McCartney, thrilling Beatles fans at the final show of his North American Freshen Up tour on Saturday—but during the encore, when McCartney announced “the one and only Ringo Starr” the crowd knew they were being gifted the rare opportunity of seeing two of the Fab Four get back together.

The concertgoers went wild, and Ringo beamed as he walked up to the microphone, where in a tender moment, Paul embraced him and kissed his forehead. Ringo shouted “Happy Birthday!” (like this was a belated gift for his July 7 birthday)

Then, he flashed his favorite peace sign and said “Peace and love” before taking a seat at a second drum platform that was quickly wheeled out for the surprise reunion.

They didn’t let the fans down, moving right into the opening drum beats of Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. (See the video below…)

Although Paul has performed at Dodger Stadium in recent years, it was almost 54 years ago they shared the stage here in L.A., when the Beatles performed during their penultimate tour gig in August 1966.

RELATED: Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour Auctions Off 126 Guitars and Raises $21 Million for Climate Change Battle

The duo has played together only a handful of times since 1970, and Paul was the one accepting a surprise appearance in 2013, when he joined Ringo and his All-Starr Band at their Radio City blowout on Starr’s 70th birthday. They also came together for the 50th anniversary Beatles Salute, which was filmed at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and they rocked the audience at the Grammy Awards in January 2014.

Ringo Starr has continued to be prolific with ongoing worldwide tours and a new album, released in 2017, called Give More Love. Paul quietly contributed on two of the songs on the album: We’re on the Road Again, and Show Me the Way, a love song Ringo wrote for his wife, Barbara Bach.

But musical connections aren’t the only way McCartney and Starr team up. The two are both activists for peace and love for all creatures. Last month was the 10-year anniversary of Meat Free Mondays, an effort spearheaded by Paul and his daughters to promote meatless meals once per week—and Ringo was there to endorse it.

POPULAR: Baggage Handlers at Airport Where Freddie Mercury Once Worked Honor Him With Special Birthday Performance

Ringo and his wife’s charity, The Lotus Foundation, supports charitable projects aimed at “advancing social welfare in diverse areas”, such as substance abuse, cerebral palsy, cancer, battered women, homelessness, and animals in need. In 2015, the couple decided to auction off 1,300 of Ringo’s personal memorabilia, including the first pressing of the White Album with his fingerprints on it, and raised $9.2 million for the foundation.

Saturday night at Dodger Stadium wasn’t just a reunion of two of the most iconic musicians of all time. It was another emotional milestone to witness McCartney and Starr together again performing Beatles classics and sharing their gifts of peace and love: two souls who just keep getting better all the time.

(WATCH the reunion, uploaded by Kathy Kielar on YouTube)

SHARE the Musical Magic With Beatles Fans on Social Media…

Watch the Heart-Melting Moment When a Toddler Hugs a Stranger After Recognizing They Both Have Limb Differences

By
Good News Network
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An adorable one-year-old toddler bonded with a stranger after the woman offered him a fist-bump using her amputated limb, which, to his delight, looked just like his.

The precious Joseph Tidd from Orlando, Florida, was born with a condition called Symbrachydactyly. It is an extremely rare congenital defect that is completely unpreventable.

When in the mother’s womb, a fetus with this condition will not get enough blood flow, and therefore, parts of the body do not develop normally. In Joseph’s case, he was born with no hand.

This video shows how loving the blonde-haired child is when he sees a woman whose hand looks like his.

LOOK: Dad Builds Wheelchair-Accessible Snow Fort So All of His Children Can Play Together

When she offers him the fist bump, his face lights up.

And, when she asks him if he wants to do it again, he is overcome with happiness and just wraps his arms around her and hugging her like a teddy bear.

She is nearly brought to tears from the unexpected affection.

(WATCH the video below…)

SHARE this Moment of Recognition With Your Friends on Social Media…

Pawn Shop Owner Gives Motorized Wheelchairs to 580 People –Some Who Haven’t Been Outside in Years

By
Michael Goonan
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Mobility is truly one of the wonders of life that so many of us take it for granted. This is a story about how an astonishing 580 people got their freedom back, thanks to a Connecticut businessman’s passion and determination.

It all started in Philip Pavone’s pawn shop in 2009, when he stumbled upon an opportunity to make a difference. There were some motorized wheelchairs hanging around the shop that still hadn’t sold and, in an attempt to clear space for new inventory, he placed an ad in his local paper, offering them for free.

Within two weeks, he received more than sixty letters in response to the ad.

It was then that Mr. Pavone began to realize the scale of the problem. Many of those who wrote confided that their insurance would not cover the cost of a motorized wheelchair—$4,000-$40,000—and they could not afford the cost.

“At that moment, I realized how many people out there were suffering. It was unbelievable,” said Mr. Pavone. “Some of the people writing to me hadn’t left their homes for months, even years at a time. Many were elderly and had no one to help them.”

As a Vietnam veteran and cancer survivor who deeply empathized with the letters he received, Pavone decided to take action. First, he bought, repaired, and gave away four more used wheelchairs. It was during this process that he realized how many of them were sitting in basements and garages, unused or broken—and he began asking people to donate them, so he could repair them and give them away. AZ Pawn’s Gift of Mobility was born.

RELATED: Student Has Collected Hundreds of Wheelchairs and Crutches for the Needy

His process of pairing recipients with their chairs and scooters culminates each year with a major event during the holiday season, when 100 chairs and scooters are given away in a single day. Those who have benefited include an elderly Holocaust survivor, a World War II veteran, a woman in her 20s with a rare degenerative disease, and a number of patients at local nursing homes and rehabilitation centers.

All Photos Courtesy of GoFundMe Heroes

“Once we give these chairs to people and see how grateful they are —the tears and the hugging and kissing—I know we’re making a difference,” says Pavone. “These chairs offer a way for people to live an independent life.”

He accepts donations from March 1 to October 31; chairs and scooters can be dropped off at his AZ Pawn shop in Norwich, Connecticut—or volunteers can also pick up unwanted chairs within a 40-mile radius of the shop.

MORE: When 9-Year-old Sees a Kitten Who Can’t Walk, He Builds a Tiny Wheelchair to Change Its Life

This holiday season, Mr. Pavone aims to give at least 100 more chairs and scooters to those in need—without collecting a dime. He recently was honored as a GoFundMe Hero for his efforts so far, which will help promote his goal of raising $50,000 for the collecting and repairing of even more unwanted chairs.

If you would like to contribute, you can visit his GoFundMe campaign here.

Applications for the holiday giveaway will be accepted starting September 1, 2019, for anyone who can pick them up in the Norwich area: Send a letter to AZ Pawn Gift of Mobility, 442 East Main Street, Norwich, CT 06360.

If you want to donate a chair, you can email [email protected].

(WATCH What Happens When Someone is Give a Chair…)

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American Workplaces are Becoming More and More Casual, and Not Just on Friday

By
Good News Network
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81 percent of Americans believe workplace attire has become more casual across the board in the last decade—and only one in five US workplaces (20%) still enforce a dress code.

That’s according to a new poll that found that half of workers follow a casual or smart–casual dress code at work, allowing for jeans and other dress-down items in the office.

23 percent consider the rules at their offices to be ‘mostly smart’, but still make allowance for casual touches.

The findings were uncovered as part of a larger study into the prominence of denim across the globe, both at home and in the workplace.

The global fashion search platform Lyst, commissioned the poll as part of their comprehensive assessment of denim in 2019 – ‘The Denim Report’.

“As work hours have increased and the ‘always on’ culture has come to prominence thanks to developments in tech and connectivity, the lines between our work lives and our home lives have blurred,” said a spokesperson.

“Work is no longer siloed off from the rest of our lives, and therefore it is right that the rules around dress codes in the workplace have become more relaxed.

“Jeans are synonymous with style, practicality and comfort, and have successfully bridged this gap between casual wear and workwear.”

Eighty four percent of the 2,000 adults surveyed believe their jeans are a key component of their style, owning nine pairs on average – four of which they regularly wear.

And seven in 10 Americans have owned a pair of jeans which was ‘perfect’ for them with regards to fit, style and wash.

Photo by Russ Quinlan, CC license

RELATED: New Online Shop Gives Free Men’s Shoes to Homeless for Every $59 Pair You Buy For Yourself

The research, conducted by OnePoll.com, also found that a denim jacket hangs in half of all wardrobes across the country. Two in five Americans own a denim shirt, and one in four have a denim skirt in the drawer.

What Are the TOP Iconic Denim Moments In Culture? SURVEY SAYS…

Daisy Duke in her ‘Daisy Dukes’ from ‘The Dukes of Hazard’

James Dean in his Levis

Jennifer Lopez in Denim boots

Brooke Shields in the Calvin Klein ad

Princess Diana in Denim overalls

Britney & Justin on a denim date at 2001 American Music Awards

and Bruce Springsteen on the ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ album cover

Cover art rearranged by Lawren, CC license / Fair Use

“Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you’ve got to say, and say it hot.” – D.H. Lawrence

By
Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you’ve got to say, and say it hot.” – D.H. Lawrence

Photo: by Jana Harper, CC license

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

Airline to Stop Using 55 Million Plastic Items On Flights

By
Brian.Carlton
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For every mile a jet flies, it generates 53 pounds of carbon dioxide—but until we have a better supply of aviation biofuel made from waste, there are other ways that airlines are reducing their unsustainable footprint.

Air New Zealand, for instance, is slashing their use of plastic on flights—cutting out 55 million items, which will actually make the planes lighter and save a wee bit of fuel.

The list of plastic on the chopping block, announced in a press release July 8, is pretty long. It includes everything from plastic cups to water bottles, sauce packets to cheese trays. Every one of those pieces has a carbon footprint equal to around 3 ounces of carbon dioxide, so by eliminating them from the flights, Air New Zealand cuts out 10.3 million pounds of CO2 this year alone.

And passengers need not fret. You won’t have to go without water once you board. In fact, you’ll still be able to get all the items. They’ll just look a bit different. For example, plastic sauce packets aren’t just being removed. They’re being replaced. By this fall, passengers will get mustard and mayo in reusable dishes instead of the regular throwaway packets. That alone, the airline estimates, will eliminate around 200,000 pieces of plastic each year.

RELATED: As Only US Airline to Use Biofuel on Regular Basis, All United Flights From LA Are Now Powered By Biofuel

The majority of the 55 million items, however, come in the form of 29 million cups. Passengers on international flights will still be able to get a cup of coffee when they want, but as of this fall, those cups will be made from plants. It’s a change the airline started earlier this year on domestic flights, swapping out 14.7 million for the plant-based version. The same goes for plastic water cups, which will be exchanged for a recyclable alternative.

So why is this important? The idea, according to Air New Zealand’s Acting Head of Sustainability Anna Palairet, is to help the environment by cutting down on the airline’s carbon footprint. As of 2018, the company generated 3.5 million tons of carbon dioxide each year, making it one of New Zealand’s largest polluters.

MORE: JetBlue Offsets Over 2 Billion Pounds of CO2 Emissions

“Single-use plastic is a highly topical and visible issue for us and our customers, so we’re really pleased to be able to share this progress,” Palairet said in the release.

Most of the trash we put in landfills is biodegradable, meaning it breaks down over time and gets recycled naturally in the soil. While most items take days or months to decompose, plastics can take hundreds of years, if not thousands. And in New Zealand, there’s not much of an infrastructure to support alternative methods of disposing plastics, so the waste piles up in landfills.

Now, with this idea, the plastic stays out of landfills and the carbon stays out of the skies, helping us take a step toward a cleaner future.

ALSO: Women Encircle a Crying Mom Whose Toddler Was Having a Meltdown at the Airport

Fly This Progress Toward a Plastic-free World to Your Friends on Social Media… (Photo by Bruno Geiger Airplane Pictures, CC license)

Local Church Pays Off $7.2 Million of Crippling Medical Debt for 6,500 Families

By
Jennifer Zolper
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It’s uncertain whether the struggling residents of Central Florida have ever prayed for their medical bills to be wiped out, but that’s exactly what just happened: 6,500 families are going to get letters in the mail saying their debt has been paid off by people they’ve never met.

“It’s one thing for us to say, ‘God loves you,” Senior Pastor Dan Glenn told his congregation. “It’s another for us to show it.”

When Stetson Baptist Church found itself with an ‘extra Sunday’ at the end of its fiscal year calendar, its leaders decided that on June 30th, the money collected during the service would be donated to charity. Their plan was to split the proceeds to support a group foster home that provides services for underserved youngsters and also help the residents of their home county of Volusia to pay their medical bills.

Although the initial goal of the church in DeLand was $48,000, the congregation of about 350 responded to the call and raised a staggering $153,867, more than three times the original goal.

The generous donations were able to fund not one, not two, but three foster homes for an entire year—plus wipe out the medical debt of struggling families in four additional Central Florida counties.

They used a New York charity, RIP Medical Debt, which buys the debt for just pennies on the dollar, to leverage the money’s impact—and ended up wiping out $7.2 million of unpaid medical bills.

RELATED: Church Raises $100K Through Month-Long Fast So They Can Pay Off Student Debt for 34 Grads

Church leaders got the idea after hearing about a Kansas church that had done the same thing. Earlier this month, a church in Michigan said it had also purchased medical debts, helping almost 2,000 families and providing over $1.8 million in medical debt relief.

It’s interesting to note that buying the debt of strangers and subsequently paying it off was an idea that sprung out of the political movement of ‘Occupy Wall Street.’ After protests ended and the encampments taken down in New York and cities around the world, some of the participants set up an amazing effort in 2012 to help “the 99%” and called the Rolling Jubilee.

MORE: Former ‘Terrible Racist’ Gives Big Donation, Apology to Black Church

They raised over $700,000 to abolish more than $35 million in crushing college and medical debt, liberating tens of thousands of people from the burden.

Even more amazing, the two founders of RIP were actual debt collectors, wearing suits and ties, with offices near the protest encampments. They were inspired by the movement and now are freeing strangers from debt in a full-time capacity.

(WATCH Pastor Glenn announce the results to his congregation…)

Be Sure And Spread The Love By Sharing This Incredible Act Of Generosity On Social Media…

When Woman’s Car Fails and She Can’t Afford a Tow, Canadian Teens Push it 4 Miles to Get Her Home

By
Good News Network
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Billy Tabett, Bailey Campbell, and Aeron McQuillin –by Dan Morrison

Three teenage boys pushed the term ‘Good Samaritan’ into a whole new stratosphere with an amazing act of kindness last week.

A little after midnight, Aeron McQuillin, Bailey Campbell, and Billy Tarbett were on their way to Tim Horton’s coffee shop after a swim when they noticed steam billowing from under the hood of a car stopped along Highway 20 in Fonthill, Ontario.

The boys, all car enthusiasts, pulled over to lend a hand. After looking under the hood, they told the driver that it probably needed a new engine and advised against starting the motor. The woman was visibly upset and said she couldn’t afford a tow.

That’s when Billy suggested they push the car to the woman’s home in Welland.

“We had nothing better to do—but even if we did I would like to think we would have helped her anyway,” the 15-year-old said.

The teens grabbed their water bottles and pushed the Chevy Cobalt up a hill, and continued for more than two hours along the dark Merritville Highway, laughing, joking, and appreciating the great ‘workout’.

RELATED: Youth Charges Straight Into Fire To Save his 8-year-old Niece: ‘I’d do it again… even if I died’

“We were helping her, but also she was helping us,” the optimistic Tarbett was quoted as saying by news reports.

Another stranger, Niagara Falls resident Dan Morrison, decided to drive along behind the trio to keep them safe—he turned on his flashers and totally went into “Dad mode”.

The cooperative rescue mission, which covered over 4 miles (7 km) finally ended at four in the morning.

“We were at the right place at the right time, and this is one of those stories that we can look back on in 10 years and say it was one of those crazy things we did, but it was all worth it,” said 18-year-old Aeron McQuillin told The Niagra Falls Review.

MORE HEROES: 4 Teenage Boys Rushed to Burning Home to Save 90-Year-old Neighbor Trapped Inside

Dan posted about it on social media with a photo of the superheros, and their phones began “blowing up” with messages from people they’d never met. Some offered a free meal or Tim Horton’s gift card.

Billy Tabett, Bailey Campbell, and Aeron McQuillin –by Dan Morrison

But the boys were taking none of it.

“We really appreciate it, but we didn’t do this to get free handouts,” said McQuillin, 18, who grew up in the same neighborhood with his two buddies. “If I was broken down on the side of the road, I would love for someone to stop and help out.”

Morrison, a father of two, said this was a great reminder that in a seemingly-negative world, “There’s good kids out there.”

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“If a problem is fixable—if a situation is such that you can do something about it—then there is no need to worry. If it’s not fixable, then there is no help in worrying.” – Dalai Lama

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “If a problem is fixable—if a situation is such that you can do something about it—then there is no need to worry. If it’s not fixable, then there is no help in worrying.” – Dalai Lama

Photo: by Matas Petrikas, CC license

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

Man Walks the Famed Camino de Santiago Trail With Driver Who Almost Killed Him in a Wreck (Video)

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Good News Network
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Front to back: Luke Hutchins and Mark Joseph Peredo

In 2015, Mark Joseph Peredo was riding high on his way home from landing an important client for his fledgling marketing business, but he never made it back to celebrate with his family. Instead, a car traveling on the opposite side of the interstate highway crossed the median, and smashed into Mark’s car.

Doctors would later tell Mark that his foot had been shattered and he had broken several bones in his face. The injuries and subsequent surgeries rendered him unable to walk normally for a year, and Mark was forced to abandon his plans to be a successful business owner.

Little did Mark know, but the driver was suffering, too — perhaps even more than Mark was.

The reason Luke Hutchins had lost control of his vehicle was because he had suffered a seizure—his first, but not his last. After being airlifted to the hospital and undergoing diagnostic tests, Luke was told that veins in his brain had formed two deadly knots, which saddled him with chronic epilepsy. Eventually, they said, the malformation, called a cavernous angioma, could kill him.

This news meant that Luke could no longer drive, work, or take care of his daughters.

Mark knew none of this. Instead, he was still angry with the anonymous driver who had cost him his career. This anger was compounded by grief following the death of Mark’s father.

After Mark’s foot had mostly healed, he decided to walk the famed 500-mile Camino de Santiago, a trail that begins in France, continues through the Pyrenees Mountains, and ends in Spain. Like thousands of pilgrimages launched on this sacred trail, he hoped to find healing for his soul.

Along the Camino de Santiago trail, from the video by Mark Joseph Peredo

After returning from Spain in November of 2016, he was no longer angry at the driver who caused his accident, but he realized that he needed to do one more thing to complete his journey of healing: Meet Luke.

The two were nervous to speak to each other, but once Mark learned that Luke was not at fault for the incident and that he had been similarly struggling to heal, Mark knew that Luke needed to walk the Camino too—and they needed to do it together.

WATCH: Father’s Day Miracle: Random Meeting With a Child Reunites Woman With Dad Who Abandoned Her

In 2017, Mark and Luke embarked on their trip. The journey was hard on Luke at first, according to an article in The Criterion. He was on medications that would keep him from eating. On the first day, a steep climb up the mountains, Mark had to shoulder Luke’s backpack to help him endure.

Luke, refusing to quit where thousands had done so in the past, committed to continue the ‘brutal’ trek. As time progressed, Luke became stronger, and he took himself off of a few of the medications.

During the 40 day quest, Luke and Mark had many heart-to-heart talks about their lives and what happened the day of the accident.

Front to back: Luke Hutchins and Mark Joseph Peredo

CONTINUE READING and WATCH a Video on PAGE 2…

How to Protect a Dozen Little Kids From a Grizzly Bear? Sing a Hilarious Moose Song, of Course (MOTH Monday)

By
Good News Network
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Ian McGregor weaves an incredible yarn in this week’s edition of MOTH Monday, a partnership with Good News Network, that features videos from the nonprofit group, The MOTH, showcasing the art of storytelling.

As a tour guide for 10-year-olds hiking the National Parks, Ian McGregor has become a master of storytelling—from whispering scary stories around the campfire to inventing a ‘moose song’ that became a lifesaver when things became ‘real-life scary’.

The one thing he never told the kids in Yellowstone National Park, was one of the scariest stories of his life—he was slowly going blind from a disorder that had no cure.

But, the kids taught him an amazing lesson because when the natural world got frightening, they had his back.

Funny, charming, and witty, this story—which was originally recorded on the #MothMainstage in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in 2016—catapults the scary ending for something much more inspirational and refreshing.

(WATCH the story below…)

The Moth gives people an opportunity to tell a true story in front of a live audience, and sometimes their stories are chosen to air on the radio show, now celebrating its tenth year, and broadcasting on 485+ public radio stations—and on The Moth podcast, which is downloaded over 52 million times a year. The Moth’s third book, Occasional Magic: True Stories About Defying the Impossible is now available for purchase through your favorite booksellers.

MORE MOTH MONDAY: Teacher’s Hilarious Story of How He Saved His Job By Joking About the Principal in School Talent Show

Don’t Run From This Bear Story — SHARE it On Social Media…

Diver is Awestruck By Huge Jellyfish Encounter Off the British Coast – LOOK

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Good News Network
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This incredible picture shows a diver swimming with a huge barrel jellyfish that was 'as big as a HUMAN' off the British coast. See SWNS story SWPLjelly. Dan Abbott was filming marine life around the coast with biologist Lizzie Daly, host of BBC earth, and spent a week seeing underwater sights. On the last leg of their tour of the British Isles, the duo went for a dip off the coast of Falmouth, Cornwall, and spotted the massive jellyfish. Dan said he was completely awestruck by the mammoth animal, and took a picture of Lizzie alongside it to demonstate just how big the jellyfish was.

A UK diver who wanted to demonstrate that you don’t need to go to the other side of the world to see amazing marine wildlife, experienced an incredible encounter with a huge barrel jellyfish.

Dan Abbott was filming marine life off the British coast near Falmouth, Cornwall on Saturday when he spotted the massive jellyfish.

Dan said he was completely awestruck by the mammoth stinger and snapped a picture of biologist Lizzie Daly, who is the host of BBC Earth, swimming alongside it to demonstrate just how big the specimen was.

The 32-year-old underwater cinematographer from Colchester, Essex, said, “It’s the biggest jellyfish I’ve ever seen, in some ways I was shocked—but not in a negative way, more awestruck.”

“It was an incredible animal, we both came out the water completely mind blown from that experience.”

WATCH: Beluga Whale (Accused of Being a Russian Spy) Assists Woman Who Dropped Her Phone in the Sea

This incredible picture shows a diver swimming with a huge barrel jellyfish that was ‘as big as a HUMAN’ off the British coast. – by Dan Abbott, SWNS

Dan and Lizzie had spent a week travellng to hot spots for marine life around the British isles on a trip called Wild Ocean Week.

They swam with grey seals off the Farne Islands, off the coast of Northumberland, minke whales off the north west coast of Scotland, and seabirds off Wales. During the weeklong excursion, Dan and Lizzie also raised money for the Marine Conservation Society.

WATCH: Breathtaking Moment When Dolphins and Australian Surfers Catch a Wave Together

Dan continued: “The thing that this whole week has been about is there’s plenty on our doorstep.”

“Cornwall was nice and warm for diving—and because of the jellyfish, that was my favorite part (of the trip).”

Thanks to Dan and Lizzie, the world got to view this magnificent creature—without the risk of being stung.

Don’t Forget to SHARE This Amazing Photo on Social Media…

“If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.” – Émile Zola

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.” – Émile Zola

Photo: by GWC, Copyright 2019

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

Family Farms Use ‘Crop Mobsters’ to Prevent More Than 1 Million Servings Of Food From Going To Waste

By
Michael Goonan
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Although 96% of the 2 million farms in the United States are family-owned, the top 5% of farms, mostly run by large corporations, make 75% of the sales. Worst of all, one-third of the food produced by local families never makes it from farm to table.

With its innovative online platform, CropMobster is solving that problem by helping family farms to find buyers for this excess food—while supplementing their income, it also funnels food to those in need. To date, CropMobster has prevented more than a million servings of local food from going to waste.

“I don’t believe in competition in this sector,” Papadopoulos told TechRepublic. “In almost every case, these businesses are totally complementary of each other.”

The website, founded in 2013, allows farmers to list surplus food and other farm products for sale, giving buyers the opportunity to purchase these useful supplies at an affordable rate.

It also allows farmers to list their surplus items for donation if they so choose. CropMobster also uses Facebook and other social media to get the word out about unused goods, as well as a free email list for subscribers.

RELATED: Atlanta is Transforming an Abandoned Plot of Land into the Largest Public Food Forest in the US

Among the many success stories in California, CropMobster has helped an elementary school to start a vegetable garden, has provided an easy vehicle for a grocery delivery company to donate its leftovers, and has helped the Ceres Community Project to acquire food for its healthy meal programs for the seriously ill.

“We had a professional chef posting the contents of her fridge and it was gone within the hour,” said Papadopoulos.

In addition to its philanthropic and family-farm-sustaining impacts, CropMobster is also doing addressing the climate crisis. If food waste were a country, it would be be the third-largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the world, after China and the United States. By helping producers to find those who need their surplus food, these emissions are being reduced every day.

ALSO: Student Proves We Can Grow Millions of Pounds of Food By Planting it on Top of Trash

CropMobster’s online platform is free to use for both farmers and buyers. To learn more or get involved, watch the video below, and visit cropmobster.com. (Featured Photo courtesy of GaryCedar/Cropmobster)

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Turkey Will Declare a Holiday Dedicated to Planting Trees After Young Man’s Tweet Goes Viral

By
Jennifer Zolper
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Enes Şahin has only 212 posts on his Twitter account, but a recent tweet starting with, “I have an idea” went viral with over 55,000 responses—and it attracted the attention of a member of the Turkish government, who vowed to establish his ‘National Tree Planting Day.’

“Let’s set an example to the world,” tweeted Şahin, “and hand down a green country to the upcoming generations.”

Many countries already have a national day dedicated to planting trees. For example, 34 nations are listed on The Arbor Day Foundation’s website, each celebrating an Arbor Day that corresponds with their best planting season. Other countries have developed their own versions of a national tree-planting day, including Australia, Kenya, North Korea, and Iran. But until now, Turkey hasn’t had any official push to grow trees for a greener landscape.

The Turkish official who noticed Şahin’s Tweet is Rumeysa Kadak, the youngest elected deputy. She replied that she would present Enes’s idea—and within hours, the president himself responded to Şahin via Twitter.

“This is a great idea, Enes. We‘ve always worked for a greener Turkey and continue to do so. My friends and I will undertake all responsibility to make sure that we have a national tree planting day,” said President Erdoğan, according to the Daily Sabah News.

In response, Şahin tweeted, “Mr. President, we are very happy that you responded to our call. We are grateful that you are the voice of young people and hundreds of thousands.”

Even before an official Turkish tree-planting holiday is established, the ‘idea’ has spurred a sweeping commitment nationwide, with citizens saying they’ve already begun planting saplings.

The planting of massive numbers of trees around the world has become more and more commonplace as people have realized the benefits both to the stability of the land and the air we breathe. India previously held the world record for planting the most trees in one day with 49.3 million saplings in Uttar Pradesh in 2016, and that one-day record was smashed in July 2017 with 66 million trees planted—by India again, in Madhyar Pradesh.

If you would like to get involved with a community tree-planting effort, the Arbor Day Foundation’s Time For Trees campaign was recently launched, and it seeks to plant 100 million trees around the world by 2022.

Additionally, you can check out nonprofits like One Tree Planted and The Nature Conservancy, (which has pledged to plant 1 billion trees worldwide)—or get involved with TreeSisters, a UK charity led by women who intend to plant 2 million trees in the tropics each year.

PLANT Some Good Feelings… Share This on Social Media! (Photo by S Kaya, CC license)

Native Bumble Bees Are Poised to Be First Pollinators Protected Under California Endangered Species Act

By
Michael Goonan
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Creating new buzz following National Pollinators Week in June, the California Fish and Game Commission has voted to begin the process of classifying 4 species of bumble bee native to the state as endangered.

With wild bees being responsible for the pollination of 80% of crops on Earth, the listing would be a crucial step in protecting many plant species from extinction. It would also be a major step in ensuring sustainable food supplies for generations to come, as one out of every three bites of food we eat owe their existence to pollinators.

“This vote is crucial for the continued survival of these pollinators,” said Kim Delfino, California program director for Defenders of Wildlife. “The Commission’s vote sets a precedent not only for California but for the country to express the important role pollinators play in preserving our biodiversity.”

The process began last year when a coalition of conservation and food safety groups filed a legal petition to classify the western bumble bee, Franklin’s bumble bee, Crotch’s bumble bee and the Suckley cuckoo bumble bee as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act. The vote will begin a 12-month scientific review process leading to official protection.

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“This vote by the Fish and Game Commission is very timely,” said Sarina Jepsen, director of the Xerces Society’s endangered species program and an author of the petition.

The Crotch’s bumble bee and the western bumble bee have declined by 98% and 84% in relative abundance. The Suckley Cuckoo bumble bee has been classified as critically endangered by the International Union of the Conservation of Nature, while Franklin’s Bumble Bee hasn’t been seen in the wild since 2006.

According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), “worldwide, approximately 1,000 plants grown for food, beverages, fibers, spices, and medicines need to be pollinated by animals in order to produce the goods on which we depend.” While birds, bats, butterflies and moths are also pollinators, bees are generally considered by experts to be the most important.

SEE ALSO: The Grateful Dead Helps to Save Bees and Butterflies Through Jerry Garcia’s Legacy (The Jerry Garcia Foundation)

Meanwhile, we can all do our part by avoiding pesticides harmful to bees and planting landscaping flowers that bees love—like bee balm, cosmos, echinacea, snapdragons foxglove, and hosta (and Minnesota will pay you to do this). You can even now use these pocket-sized ‘Bee Savior’ cards to rescue hungry honeybees you find on the ground.

Be Sure And Share The Buzz With Your Friends By Sharing This To Social Media – Photo by Jim Smart, CC

Canadian Supermarket Proves a Little Humor Can Go a Long Way to Help Save Ourselves From Plastic Bags 

By
Marta Peterson
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Even though plastic bags are bad news for the planet, we may accept them at stores when we’re in a hurry or forget our reusable ones. But, if you happen to be in the East West Market in Vancouver, British Columbia, you might think twice…

The Canadian supermarket came up with an amusing (and some might say devious) strategy to encourage their customers to avoid using the store’s “single-use” bags.

Rather than featuring their store logo on the front of their disposable bags, they have imprinted 1,000 of them with embarrassing slogans.

Some of them were emblazoned with “Colon Care Co-op”; others featured a fake logo for an “Adult Video Emporium”; and some were labeled “Wart Ointment”.

RELATED: Another Victory Against Plastic: These Water Brands Will Soon Be Packaged in Aluminum Cans

The supermarket’s owner, David Lee Kwen wanted to use reverse psychology because it’s only human nature for people not to like being being told what to do. (Maybe a little playful jab will help them make up their own mind.)

He said he hoped the gag bags would, at the very least, be a conversation starter. “We wanted to give them something humorous, but also something that made them think at the same time,” Kwen told The Guardian..

For most of Kwen’s customers, the bags had their intended effect.

“I’d probably carry [my groceries] in my arms before I took one of those bags,” one customer told Global News reporters.

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Another quoted Kwen’s new slogan, “Avoid the shame. Bring a reusable bag!” (continue reading below...)

Kwen said, “The message behind this is that we all need to make a conscious effort to save the planet, one step at a time. No matter how small, everybody should start somewhere.”

Although Kwen’s creative approach to decreasing the use of plastic bags, instead of legislating behavior, has led to an increase in people wanting the cheeky bags, he has quickly transitioned to printing the slogans on reusable bags.

So, yes, Mr. Kwen, your bags have started many a conversation.

(WATCH the news coverage below) – Photos by East West Market

Amuse Your Friends By Sharing the Creativity On Social Media…

“Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don’t.” – Steve Maraboli

By
Good News Network
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Egret in flight by Jason Jacobs, CC license

Quote of the Day: “Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don’t.” – Steve Maraboli

Photo: by Jason Jacobs, CC license on Flickr

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

Conservationists Purchase Rare Temperate Rainforest, Protecting the Habitats of 40 At-Risk Species in Canada

By
Michael Goonan
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Photo by Darren Kirby, CC license

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has achieved one of its highest conservation priorities: protecting a British Columbia watershed containing a rare temperate rainforest from development. This type of “snow forest,” which receives most of its moisture from snow, is found almost nowhere else on Earth.

The national land trust hailed its purchase of the Next Creek Watershed as “filling the hole that has been in the center” of the Darkwoods Conservation Area, the largest private land conservation project ever achieved in Canada. Darkwoods protects the habitats of nearly 40 confirmed species at-risk, including the grizzly bear, wolverine, peregrine falcon, and the only remaining herd of mountain caribou in the region.

Darkwoods’ forest ecosystem is home to the highest tree diversity in BC. Its forests store more than 2 million tons of carbon, roughly equal to the annual carbon footprint of over 500,000 Canadians.

The purchase of the Next Creek property expands the size of Darkwoods by 14%—adding 79-square kilometers (30 sq-mi).  NCC raised close to CAD$20 million in order to purchase the land from its private owners. In addition to support from private donors, businesses and foundations, the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia made foundational investments.

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The Minister of Environment in Canada, Catherine McKenna, congratulated the group for their dedication to expanding and managing the Darkwoods forest tract, saying, “With efforts made by partners like the Nature Conservancy of Canada to preserve our natural heritage, our government is making progress towards doubling the amount of protected nature across Canada’s lands and oceans.”

Photo by Darren Kirby, CC license

Located between Nelson and Creston, the watershed extends from Kootenay Lake, a popular tourist destination, to the center of Darkwoods. NCC now intends to undertake a restoration project on parts of the property which had been subject to logging.

LOOK: Dozens of Creatures Thought to Be Extinct Found Alive in ‘Lost City’ in the Jungle

“The threat of intensified or unsustainable industrial or recreational activity made the acquisition of the Next Creek property NCC’s highest conservation priority in BC,” according to a NCC press release. “With the addition of Next Creek, the network of conservation lands in the South Selkirk Mountains now spans more than 1,100 square kilometers.”

If You Love Our Forests, SHARE the Good News on Social Media… 

Grandma Missing 5 Days is Found Alive After Her Grandson and Friends Decide to Search One Last Time

By
James Michael
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A North Carolina grandmother’s typical daily walk turned into a 5-day missing-persons search after her frightening disappearance last week—and thanks to her grandson and his friends who decided to search “one last time,” tragedy was averted.

Sandra Adams’ family went to spend time with their grandmother on a Friday morning, only to discover her missing. They had last seen her two days before, but were worried, so they reported her disappearance to the police.

The Charlotte police department and family members searched for days, but had no luck finding the 69-year old woman, so the team gave up their search.

Nate Cassel, Sandra’s grandson, and his friend decided to give one last search effort. They figured that she had to be somewhere around her apartment building.

On the morning of Monday, July 8th, Cassel, Shawn Willis, and two other friends set out into the woods behind his grandmother’s building. “He wanted to go look in the woods—I woke up this morning with the same idea: Let’s go search the woods in the neighborhood,” Willis told WSOC-TV.

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After hiking about a quarter mile through the woods behind her apartment, Cassel and his friends discovered his grandmother lying facedown in a creek. He feared the worst, and called the police and his family to share the news. As he approached her though, she raised her arm; she was alive.

She later told officers that she had fallen while going for a walk.

Thanks to the her grandson’s love and dedication, Sandra Adams will make a full recovery and live to enjoy more walks through the park.

(WATCH the WSOC interviews below…)

Be Sure And Share The Inspiring Rescue Story With Your Friends On Social Media…

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