China Spends $1Billion on River Clean Up
China will invest around 1.2 billion USD over the next five years to curb the pollution of the Songhua River, funding more than 200 projects, half of which will address industrial pollution, 70 will focus on sewage processing. (Read All Good Bites)
Rate of Deforestation in Amazon Slowing
Deforestation rates in the Amazon are declining, according to data released by the Brazilian government. Rates of deforestation from 1 August 2005 to 1 August 2006 dropped an estimated 11 percent.
Canadian Smoking Rate is Lowest Ever
A national survey has found that the smoking rate among Canadians is at an all-time low, at 15 percent of the population. (The Star)
Amazon Deforestation Reduced Dramatically
Deforestation rates in the Brazilian Amazon have dropped by 25 percent each of the past three years, according to Brazil’s environment ministry. From July 31, 2004, through 2007, an average of 4,000 more square kilometers of forest each year have been spared from clear-cutting over the previous period (1,544 sq. miles). — WWF (Read All Good Bites)
Violence Against US Children Drops
A comparison of 50 types of violence against American children revealed significant declines of up to 50-63% in 27 of the categories, including assault, bullying, and sexual victimization -- and no increases -- between 2003 and 2011. - Study by Crimes Against Children Research Center. (CNN)
Fewest Americans Killed in 2013 Lightning Strikes Than Any Year Before
Thanks to public safety awareness, lightning strikes killed fewer people in the U.S. last year than in any other year on record, according to federal officials at NOAA. Compared to 70 years ago when 432 people were struck and killed, the 2013 total reached just 23. (NBC)
Volkswagen UK’s New Green Policies
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. (Read All Good Bites)
Whale Numbers Booming for Great Barrier Reef
The number of whales migrating off Australia's Queensland coast is predicted to hit a 50-year high this season, said the species conservation manager for the reef.
NYC Murder Rate Declined 74% in 18 Years
The New York City murder rate for the first half of 2011 declined 8.8 percent compared to the same period last year. The 2011 murder rate is also 22.5 percent lower than in 2001 and 74.9 percent lower than in 1993. - Reuters News
World Manufacturing Ends 2013 on Strong Note
Global manufacturing ended 2013 on a strong note as major exporters like Japan, Germany, and Italy posted their fastest growth in years, and China saw no major slowdown in manufacturing output. (Reuters)
Mayors Combat Greenhouse Gases in US
More than 160 mayors have pledged to curb greenhouse gases in their cities according to the guidelines of the Kyoto Protocol. (2005)
UK Breaks its Renewable Energy Record
The UK has generated a record amount of energy from renewable sources in the second quarter of 2013, a full 15.5% of its total production – a jump of 5.8% compared to the same period last year. -Department of Energy And Climate Change
Half of Scotland’s Power Comes From Renewables
Almost half of Scotland's electricity consumption now comes from renewable source. Green energy output rose by almost a third in one year. (The Herald)
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.
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
Fewer Australians Reliant on Welfare Since 2001
A report shows working-age Australians are less reliant on welfare than they were a decade ago, with 5% fewer 18 to 64-year-olds receiving payments. (ABC)
U.S. Forests Expanding
Since 2000, U.S. forests have expanded by an area larger than Delaware. — Jan. 2006, Smithsonian magazine
(Read All Good Bites)
Encouraging Rise in UK Paper Collections
A new study revealed that the UK collected over 8.6 million tons of recovered paper last year, a big jump over the previous year and an increase of 7.5%. The rise mirrors the growth reported in both 2005 (8.7%) and 2004 (12.8%).
Colombian Cocaine Production Plummets (Link fixed)
Production of pure cocaine in Colombia decreased by 25 percent in 2011 capping off a decade of decline during which the potential for production had dropped by 72 percent, according a U.S. government survey of drug production released yesterday. -AP
Salmon Rebound on Columbia River Results in Record Fall Run
The 2013 chinook salmon run on the Columbia River is the largest ever, and could hit 1 million fish, following years of court-ordered actions to make the 14 dams in the Columbia Basin less lethal to fish. -AP