Atlantic Hurricane Season Quietest in 45 years
So far, the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season has been one of the weakest since modern record-keeping began about half a century ago, marking the first time in 45 years that the strongest storm to form was just a minor Category 1 hurricane. -Global Post
Aid From Rich Nations Doubled in 4 Years
Industrialized nations are giving more economic assistance to the world's impoverished states, revealed the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development in statistics released on Jan. 29, 2007. Aid rose by 8.8 percent in 2005, the fifth consecutive annual increase, and had more than doubled since 2001.
Brazil’s Carbon Emissions Dropped by 39 percent
Greenhouse gas emissions in Brazil fell by nearly 39 percent in the five years before 2010, largely because of reductions in the amount of forest loss, according to a new government report.
Extinct Plants Rediscovered in Flora-Rich Queensland
50 plant species new to science are discovered and documented in Queensland, Australia every year. In fact, two plant species thought to be extinct since 1873 were rediscovered this year in the area of Cape York. (Queensland government's State of the Environment report, 2008)
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.
Germany Elects First Jewish Mayor Since Holocaust
For the first time since the Second World War, a Jew has been elected as mayor of a major German city. The voters of Frankfurt (a city with a 1% Jewish population) this week elected Peter Feldmann its second Jewish mayor -- the first since Ludwig Landmann was pushed out of office when Hitler rose to power in 1933.
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%).
Stunning Millenium Goal Progress on Educating Children
Over the past 12 years, the world has made stunning progress toward the goal of increasing the number of children attending primary school -- adding 37 million kids to school rolls, an increase of 35 percent. - NY Times
Bird Rediscovered After 80 Years
Beck's petrel, a small seabird relative of albatrosses and shearwaters, was rediscovered in 2007 by Israeli ornithologist Hadoram Shirihai in a group of Pacific islands near Papua New Guinea. There hadn't been a confirmed sighting of the bird since 1929. Read more in Wikipedia. - June 11, 2009
Abortion Rate at 30-Year Low
The U.S. abortion rate has reached a 30-year-low. In 2005 a survey of abortion providers showed the rate was lower than the number of abortions in 1975, which was just two years after Roe v. Wade became the law of the land. The results revealed an eight percent drop in totals from 2000 to 2005. -Alan Guttmacher Institute
Record Number of Women Sworn into New U.S. Congress
On January 3, 2013, a record number of women were sworn in as members of the 113th U.S. Congress. 80 new congresswomen joined a total of 20 female senators to produce a record number serving in both chambers.
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.
Europe’s Air Getting Cleaner
European emissions of acid rain-causing sulphur dioxide have declined by 65 percent since 1990, achieving a 2010 target to cut pollution from coal-burning power plants and heavy industry years ahead of schedule.
Crimes Down by 50,000 in Scotland
Nearly 50,000 fewer crimes were committed in Scotland last year compared with the previous 12 months, down 6 percent. Violent crime fell 7 percent and crimes of indecency 10 percent, while housebreaking and other dishonesty offences dropped for the seventh year in a row.
Random House Ups Recycled Paper Usage
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.
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)
Worldwide Air Crashes in 2006 Lowest in 53 Years
Air travel is getting safer as the number of plane crashes worldwide fell to its lowest level in 53 years during 2006. Even while air travel increased by 4 percent over the previous year, 22 fewer commercial flights ended in disaster.
Trucker Drives Million Miles, No Accidents
Michael Crone was honored by his Indianapolis trucking company for his consistantly safe driving -- over one million miles with no accidents in his 20-year career. The 43-year-old truck driver was the 13th in the company’s history to achieve the mark. (Read More Good Bites)
Rainforest destruction cut by 25%
Destruction of the world's rain forests has declined by 25 percent in the three most important regions -- the Amazon, the Congo and the Borneo Mekong -- during the last decade, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.
US Vehicles Hit Record Gas Mileage in 2012
New cars and trucks sold in the US in 2012 hit a record for average of miles per gallon - 23.6 - in combined city and highway driving through improvements to engines and transmissions. Carbon dioxide emissions also hit a record low.