Growth Spurt for US, India Economies
The U.S. economy grew at a brisk annual rate of 4.2 percent in the April-June quarter and India's economy expanded by 5.7%, according to official figures released this week.
Toyota Surpasses 5 Million Mark in Hybrid Electric Car Sales
Toyota's electric hybrid car sales passed the 5 million mark in March, 2013, a milestone for the industry. The company started selling the Prius, the world's first mass produced gasoline-electric passenger car in 1997.
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.
Gamestop Raises $2.8Mil for St. Jude’s Hospital Charity Drive
During Gamestop's 3rd annual fundraiser for children suffering from extreme illnesses at St. Jude's hospital, customers donated $2.8 million dollars in December, exceeding the gaming store’s original goal of $1 million. (Gamestop)
First Asian-American Judge Ever in Virginia
Prosecutor John M. Tran, elected to the Fairfax County Circuit Court on April 4 by the state's General Assembly, became the first Asian-American to serve as a judge in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
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
Suicide Rate Drops in Young Men
"The suicide rate among young men in England and Wales is at the lowest level for 30 years," reports the BBC. For males aged 15 to 24, the overall suicide rate dropped from 16.6 per 100,000 people in 1990 to 8.5 per 100,000 in 2005. Amongst men aged 25 to 34, overall suicide rates declined almost seven percent. (Read All Good Bites)
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)
Chicago Gun Violence is Down for 8th Month in a Row
Chicago Gun Violence is Down for 8th Month in a Row, according to city crime report. (ABC News)
16 Million More Americans Insured
More than 16 million Americans now have health insurance since Obamacare (the ACA) was enacted in 2010 and hospitals saved $7.4 billion in uninsured costs in 2014, alone, according to the HHS.
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)
Albuquerque Residents Recycle Big in 2014
Albuquerque residents smashed their recycling record in 2014, collecting 70 percent more than they did in 2013. (KOAT)
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)
Connecticut to Use Only Safe Cleaning Products
All state agencies in Connecticut will now use only environmentally safe cleaning products in their facilities. Green products maintain sanitary conditions while minimizing harmful side effects and improving indoor air quality.
(Read All Good Bites)
Americans Haven’t Been This Optimistic Since Jan 2007
The number of Americans who say things are going well in the country has reached 50% for the first time in more than six years, according to a new national poll from CNN.
Percentage of Californians Walking, Biking, or Using Transit Doubles Since 2000
The percentage of California residents walking, biking, or using public transportation has more than doubled since 2000 -- from 11 percent to 23 percent for the typical daily household trips. (CA DOT survey)
U.K. Renewable Electricity Generation Rose 28 Percent in 2013
According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, renewable power generation in the U.K. rose 28 percent in 2013 as more wind farms and solar plants came online. (Bloomberg)
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.
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.
South Africa Lifts GDP With World Cup Investments
South Africa's economy is one percent higher than it would have been without the spending and infrastructure development that went into hosting the soccer World Cup, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Thursday. (Reuters, July 2010)