China Sees Big Drop in Carbon Emissions
China cut its carbon emissions by 5 percent in the first half of 2014 - the largest drop in years, said the country's premier, Li Keqiang. (Xinhua)
NBA Player Comes Out as First Openly Gay US Pro Athlete
NBA player Jason Collins, 34 came out as the first openly gay professional athlete in America, drawing surprise and praise from fans and teammates. (2013, US News)
First Year With No Deaths in Alaska Fishing Industry
Thanks to more stringent safety procedures governing the dangerous commercial fishing industry, zero commercial fishing deaths were recorded for the 2015 season. (Alaska Dispatch News)
Charitable Giving Grew in 2012 – Both Corporate and Personal
Individual charitable giving in the United States grew almost 4 percent last year, while corporate donations rose at triple that rate, according to the annual Giving USA report. - Reuters
Brazil Fueling 1 Million Cars on Sugarcane
Latin America’s largest country, Brazil, is the world’s biggest producer of bio-ethanol and 1 million Brazilian cars already run on the fuel made from sugarcane. The cars, introduced three years ago, can use either gasoline or bioethanol.
(Read All Good Bites)
US Teen Birth Rate Lowest Since 1940
The falling US teenage birth rate sunk to its lowest level since record-keeping began in 1940, according to a new government report. From 2007 to 2010 the rate fell another 9 percent and was seen among all racial and ethnic groups. (Since 1991, the overall teen rate has dropped by 44 percent.)
Family Violence Down 14% in Canada
Rates of family-related physical assaults in Canada declined 14% from 2009 and 2013. (Statistics Canada)
Major Democratic Achievement for Afghanistan
Last week's presidential election in Afghanistan marked the first-ever democratic transfer of power from one elected leader to another in Afghan history.
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.
NY Subway Crime Dips to Lowest Rate in 37 Years
New York subway crime has plummeted more than 37 percent in 2006. That's on top of the decrease in 2005 of about 5.5 percent. Robberies were down 21 percent in 2006. Grand larcenies declined 46 percent and assaults fell 55 percent, NYPD data showed.
50 New Species Discovered Each Day in 2006
16,969 species new to science were discovered and described in 2006 -- an average of nearly 50 species per day -- reports the International Institute for Species Exploration in partnership with the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. (Read All Good Bites)
No U.S. Forces Die in Afghanistan, First Month in Years
No U.S. military forces died in Afghanistan during the month of March, marking the first such month in more than seven years and the third time since the war began more than 12 years ago, according to the CNN Library, which tallies the casualties.
HIV Drops in India
The prevalence of new H.I.V. infections has fallen significantly in southern India, the region most heavily infected. The decline by more than a third from 2000 through 2004 was attributed to increasing use of condoms. — Lancet, 06/3/31
UN Finds Global Hunger Easing in 2010
The number of people in the world suffering chronic malnutrition fell for the first time in 15 years -- down 9.3 percent in 2010, according to the United Nations' food agency. - FAO
Underage and Binge Drinking in US is Drying Up
Today’s youth are smarter about alcohol, says a 2017 study of 30,000 American high school students annually. The number who reported drinking in the last 30 days declined by 18%; while binge drinking dropped by 14% over a 15-year period.
Sudan Lifts Ban on Opposition Newspaper
A Sudanese official said in late January the government has lifted a ban on an opposition newspaper, a week after Khartoum announced that it would hold a national dialogue to address freedom of expression. -AP
Tanzania Bans Plastic Bags
The manufacturing, importing, buying and using of thin plastic bags is now banned in Tanzania. Bags are blamed for harming livestock, blocking drains and reducing soil fertility. (Read All Good Bites)
Domestic Violence Plummets in U.S.
Domestic violence against spouses and intimate partners in the U.S. fell by nearly two-thirds in recent years, reaching a 30-year low. Government figures show the marked declines began in 1994.
Wind Energy Surges in Ohio Over Five Years
Wind power generation has exploded in Ohio with the capacity increasing from 7.4 megawatts in 2008 to 428 megawatts in 2012. With utility companies erecting 423 turbines, the output grew from enough to power 1,300 homes to more than 100,000 homes.
Number of Gray Whales Seen Migrating South Doubles From Year Ago
The number of gray whales spotted migrating south off the Southern California coast in December was double what it was compared with the same period last year, reflecting a possible population boom for the once endangered species. (LA Times)