Four Germans made a music video based on their inspiring experiences with street people, playing instruments and singing meaningful songs while drawing attention to the overlooked humanity on a sidewalk.
The video, made by Be Japy e.v., has attracted 4.3 million views on YouTube since July 1.
What do you think? We found it touching. The music itself is melodic and worth listening to over and over.
(WATCH the video below)
A collection of 40 paintings by an 11-year-old boy has sold for more than a half million dollars (£390,000).
Kieron Williamson, from Norfolk, England saw his watercolors, oils and pastels sell on Friday in just a matter of minutes.
The child prodigy is worth about £2m after selling pieces at auction since the age of seven. His aspiration is to paint in Europe like his favorite French, Italian and Dutch masters.
(READ the story, with photos, at the BBC)
Story tip from Terry Peacock
The antibacterial properties of honey have long been known, both ancient Greek and Egyptian physicians are said to have valued it and it was used in the treatment of wounds right up to World War II.
Honey is now regularly being shown to kill superbugs in the laboratory, as scientists and doctors work together to once again prove honey’s effectiveness in battling life-threatening bacteria.
(READ the story from the BBC)
Photo credit: Flood G. via CC license on Flickr
In Thailand, a herd of elephants get innovative to protect a calf from strong currents in the river.
This YouTube video shows animals in the Elephant Nature Park working together, using their instinctive nature, standing in a tight circle around the calf to protect the baby.
(WATCH the video below)
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The US tourist whose phone and wallet were robbed while rescuing a man from the Liffey River in Dublin has said he is overwhelmed by the response he’s had from the Irish public since the incident.
Nebraska man Joe Sheehan said he would like to thank the Irish people, especially passers-by Hugh, Cathal and Katie who came to his aid after he was robbed, treating him to a night out and ensuring he had somewhere to stay.
“The kindness of everyone around me, especially the Dubliners has replaced anything that I could have lost,” the 20-year-old told the Independent.
(READ the story from the Irish Independent)
Photo credit: Liffey River at sunset in Dublin – by Philip Milne via CC license
St. Anthony used to dump 18 water towers’ worth of storm runoff and other water into the Mississippi River each year. Then it turned around and pumped 24 towers’ worth of groundwater to sprinkle the lawns of Central Park and City Hall.
This project, along with 1,600 others have been catalogued for a Minnesota program called GreenStep Cities which aims to provide step-by-step instructions for environmental and cost-effective projects to city and small-town leaders.
The water project in St. Anthony has also improved the quality of life with its three fountains that hide the water reuse tanks and provide a background for local wedding and anniversary photos.
(READ the story from the Star-Tribune)
Photo by Louis du Mont via CC license on Flicr
200 firms in Shanghai’s carbon emissions trading scheme cut their CO2 output by 5.3 million tons in 2013, according to state-owned media in China.
It took multiple hours and several trucks to bring home all of the cards and mountains of gifts sent to Danny Nickerson from all over the world.
The boy, who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor last fall, celebrated his sixth birthday on Friday climbing through bins of packages at the post office after visiting LegoLand with his cousins and riding in a fire truck.
“It’s taken a lot of stress off of us and thinking about him being sick,” Danny’s father Daniel Jameson told reporters
Photo credit: Danny’s Warriors on Facebook
34 years after retiring from the Army, a former British soldier has started up his own taxi business employing ex-servicemen hoping to help them adjust to civilian life.
In Tolworth, England, Paul Reynolds, 58, started Heroes Cars and currently employs five drivers.
The business also plans to pay back a percentage of its profits to charities that help to rehabilitate soldiers.
(READ the story from the Guardian)
Photo credit: Steve Lyon, via CC license on Flickr
Laundry is a time consuming chore for many people, but for the working poor, the cost of visiting a laundromat is a huge hurdle.
At a strip mall in Huntington Beach, Calif., people line up for hours waiting for a chance to do their wash for free. As they file in, volunteers direct them to the commercial laundry machines and free supplies.
“Laundry Love” is a ministry that raises money to pay for detergent and provide quarters for the machines. Started by an Episcopal congregation, the idea has spread to more than 70 churches, mosques and synagogues around the country
(READ the story from NPR News) – Story tip from Linda G Shepard Salzer
Photo credit: moonux via CC license on flickr
A Dallas grandmother has organized a grassroots effort to provide care packages for children caught at the border.
Cindy Cole said she was tired of seeing the protests and politicians arguing about the influx of unaccompanied minors at the border.
Cole, who is a nurse, created a Facebook post asking for volunteers to help. She thought she might be able to fill 50 boxes, but donations and offers to volunteer exploded.
600 boxes and backpacks were delivered this week to Catholic Charities for distribution to the children, who Cindy says “have nothing.”
She continues to organize for these refugee children at the Facebook Page called Operation Matthew 25. She is using donations for dozens of children’s books and wants to send 200 backpacks to the San Antonio location.
(READ the story from CBS-Dallas) – Story tip from Ann Grannan
A man who rose from humble beginnings in Nigeria to become a U.S. Army-trained combat medic and the recipient of 13 military awards earned during two deployments in Afghanistan was shocked this week when he learned his New Jersey town was honoring him in a huge way.
George Alakpa — a Ph.D. microbiologist who today is 80 percent disabled as a result of his war injuries — has not had an easy time of it since returning home to Sussex County 21/2 years ago.
But the outpouring of support he has received since the New Jersey Herald first reported on his difficulties last month has been unlike anything he ever thought possible.
(READ story from the New Jersey Herald)
Seabirds and reefs with feather stars and a large clam that can live for centuries are among the species that will benefit from 30 new marine protected areas, the Environment Secretary has announced.
Approximately 20% of Scotland’s seas are now in marine protected areas with the North East Faroe Shetland Channel estimated to be the largest such area in the European Union.
Scotland’s seas are the fourth largest in the EU and support many habitats and species including cold water coral reefs, 22 individual species of whales and dolphins and almost half of the EU’s breeding seabirds.
(READ the story from the Evening Telegraph)
Photo credit: dachalan on Flickr with CC license
Orders for jetliners, machinery and other long-lasting durable goods rebounded last month in a positive sign for the important U.S. manufacturing sector, the Commerce Department said Friday.
The June increase of 0.7% was the fourth in five months and a signal of stronger overall economic growth this year, reports the Los Angeles Times.
(READ the story from the LA Times)
Police-reported crime statistics for 2013 show overall declines for most types of crime, including the national homicide rate which fell to its lowest rate since 1966. (Report)
The carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere in Scotland by renewable energy projects since 2012 was the equivalent of halting every motor vehicle journey for an entire year, according to Scottish Renewables.
Scotland produces the equivalent of almost half its electricity demand from renewables, more than doubling output since 2007, Scottish Renewables said.
(READ the story from The Scotsman)
Image credit: The Climate Group – CC license
After a shootout and high-speed chase (both initiated by the suspects), Costa Rican police found a giant endangered leatherback turtle in the trunk of the car — still alive.
It was destined to be sold and eaten as a delicacy, but the officers were able to take the turtle back to the ocean and release it.
(READ the full story from the Tico Times)
Photo credit: Public Security Ministry
Jeff Balek was born blind, but that hasn’t stopped him from pursuing one of his favorite past-times – teaching children who can see how to read.
With no transportation of his own, getting to the program is a labor of love, but Balek says volunteering through the YMCA in Charlotte, NC to help children overcome their reading barriers has enriched his life in ways he never imagined.
Each week, Jeff follows the readers along in braille. For the kids, he’s living proof that any obstacle can be overcome.
He’s one of 500,000 YMCA volunteers across the country – of all ages and backgrounds – who are working with Ys in their communities to help people learn, grow and thrive.
(WATCH this special reading buddy below)
A tiny Chihuahua born with a genetic defect is now back in action, thanks to some ingenuity — and a little faith — from an Indianapolis veterinarian.
Other clinics suggested euthanizing the baby, but Amy Birk of The Downtown Veterinarian wanted to help the couple whose Chihuahua gave birth to pup without front legs.
She went beyond what most would do, becoming innovative and nurturing for the little guy named Turbo.
(READ the story, with precious photos, from TODAY.com)
All it took was the right song for this oldster to take possession of the dance floor and become the life of the party.
Watch what happens when “Rock Around the Clock” starts playing at this wedding.
The man, who uses two canes to walk, literally throws them away, as he feels the music begin to take over his body.
