Home Blog Page 1139

Australian Grain Growers Dig Deep for Syrian Refugees

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 19, 2013

wheat kernal-Flickr-W9NED-CC

A group of retired farmers is calling on Western Australian’s grain growers to donate a small percentage of this year’s harvest to help feed the children and their families fleeing from Syria.

“If farmers have surplus, perhaps we can get them to donate and the kids don’t need to starve.”

Through their charity initiative, which targets a specific area of need every year, the farmers have helped to make a difference around the world.

– LISTEN to the interview

– READ the summary at ABC.net.au

Chase to Pay $13 Billion for Selling Bad Mortgages, $4B to Help Homeowners

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 19, 2013

Chase Cheat sign-LaserBurners-Flickr-cc

A settlement was reached in the civil suit brought by the Obama Administration’s Justice Department against JPMorgan Chase & Co. regarding wrongdoing that led to the housing collapse.

The largest bank in America will pay $4 billion to consumers who were hurt by faulty mortgage underwriting, part of a larger $13 billion fine to settle the bank’s liability in the collapse of toxic securities during the housing crisis.

“A source familiar with the settlement says that as much as $1.7 billion will go to homeowners who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth,” reports NPR’s Jim Zarroli. “Portions of the money will also go to restructure mortgages. And in an unusual agreement the bank will use part of the money to fight blight in distressed neighborhoods by doing things such as tearing down rundown buildings” that may have gone through foreclosure.

This settlement dwarfs the $4 billion BP was forced to pay for the Gulf oil spill.

(READ the story from NPR News)

Vancouver Launches World’s First Cigarette-butt Recycling Program

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 18, 2013

Butt bin-Vancouver Mayor office

The City of Vancouver, B.C. has launched the world’s first cigarette butt recycling program in its bid to become the greenest city.

The pilot project began last Tuesday with the installation of 110 receptacles in four downtown areas where discarded butts pile up.

Because the cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, they can be recycled into eco-friendly products.

Soccer Star Doesn’t Let Losing a Leg Deter Her From Goal

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 18, 2013

soccer athlete 1-leg-NBCvid

When Bree McMahon was a high school senior, her future was set: She had already earned a scholarship to play soccer in college.

But that future changed suddenly one day in 2009, when a close friend accidentally struck McMahon with a car. Doctors could not save her left leg.

Still, McMahon was undeterred. She forgave her friend, and immediately asked her doctor when it might be possible to run again.

“I knew what I wanted, and I was gonna chase after it with everything I had.”

(WATCH the video below or READ the story from TODAY)

City Comes Together to Cheer Bat Kid Whose Wish Came True

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 18, 2013

Batkid saves city

A conspiracy of kindness in an American city made a wish come true for a five-year-old battling cancer.

San Francisco turned into the comic book downtown of Gotham City, and thousands of its citizens and cops, came together to cheer the boy as he foiled bad guys like the Riddler and Joker.

It was one of the most popular stunts in the history of the Make A Wish Foundation. Fake crimes were set up across the city for the “Bat kid” and his partner Batman to solve.

Even President Obama gave Bat Kid a shout out through social media.

(WATCH the video below from ABC News or READ the story in the LA Times)

Incredible 12yo Inventor Peyton Robertson Will Blow Your Mind

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 17, 2013

Peyton Robertson inventor with Ellen

Peyton Robertson has always loved math and science. His parents taught him that whenever he saw a problem, he could invent a solution to fix it.

Recently, the twelve-year-old boy from Fort Lauderdale, Florida was named America’s Top Young Scientist for 2013.

Among his impressive inventions is an idea he dreamed up after Superstorm Sandy for redesigning the traditional sandbag. Thes new sandbags provide better flood protection and they don’t weigh anything near 40-pounds, like old-fashioned ones stuffed with sand, which makes for easier transporting.

Because they use polymers and salt instead of sand, after the flooding (when the water evaporates) the bags shrink back to their thin-as-air, light-weight size.

The innovative design earned him $25,000 along with the Top Young Scientist award.

WATCH the boy demonstrate three of his creations on the Ellen TV show…

Never Adopted, 19 Year-old Gets First ‘Real’ Thanksgiving With New Family

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 17, 2013

Hunt Family photo

A Texas TV station aired a story in September about Seth Miller, who aged out of the foster care system, after growing up without a family since he was seven.

After the report was broadcast, showing him living in his car, emails came pouring-in with offers of money for food and rent, and even a set of new tires for the young man.

But even better, Seth will be enjoying his first proper Thanksgiving after being offered the one thing he’s always wanted. A family.

Not only that, the parents offering adoption have an 11-year-old daughter who is actually Miller’s biological sister, though they had never met.

“Miller has moved into their home, with several other brothers and sisters,” according to WFAA. “He attends their sporting and school events, cheering from the sidelines.”

Recently, he played in an adult baseball game for the first time. In foster care as a child, Miller dreamed of playing a team sport, but never had the opportunity.

He now calls Ara Hunt “mom.”

– READ the story at WFAA

Nevada Man Plans Peace Bike Ride Across Iran

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 17, 2013

cycler Gunn Wheels of Peace

Six years ago Rick Gunn, 49, left his job as a photo journalist to cycle across the world. He eventually met up with Iranian-born cyclist Mohammad Tajeran, who was also cycling the world, and together they crossed Malaysia as a team.

Ultimately Gunn and Tajeran were both transformed by scenes of war, poverty, and disease along the way. They each began dedicating their journey to the greater good.

“I expanded my definition of what it means to care, to give, and to love,” wrote Gunn, explaining that he volunteered in an AIDS Hospice in Thailand, helped with mine victim rehabilitation in Laos, and simply planted trees in Borneo.

Now, the two are planning to reunite next month to ride their bikes across Iran in a symbolic gesture of peace.

Their project, Wheels of Peace, will begin with each of them visiting schools in his respective country and sharing his experiences of finding friendship with someone who might otherwise be considered an enemy.

The children will be asked to write letters to students in the other country.

(WATCH the video below featuring Gunn’s photos, or READ the story in the Nevada Appeal)

Photo from www.soulcycler.com

Wow. American Bipartisan Cooperation (for a Change)

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 17, 2013

Senators Baucus Tester Sec Salazar-NationalParksConservationAssociation-photo

In marked contrast to the spectacular display of dysfunction that led to the recent government shutdown in D.C., groups on all sides of a controversial issue in Montana have learned that “all or nothing” tactics usually lead to “nothing”.

For decades, Montana’s wood products industry, environmentalists, hunters and anglers, off-road-vehicle enthusiasts and others fought bitterly over the future of our national forests.

That’s why Senator Jon Tester’s Forest Jobs and Recreation Act (FJRA), a bill now making its way through the U.S. Senate, has garnered such favorable praise.

Australian Principal Faces Down Gangs to Turn Around a School

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 16, 2013

principal Jihad Dib

When Jihad Dib was appointed principal of Punchbowl Boys High School in New South Wales at age 33, it was a hotbed of violence and trouble. His modern and successful approach to reforming the school has transformed the student body and staff into a family, and recently earned him a Pride of Australia medal.

The charismatic and inspirational headmaster has torn down the barbed wire that encircled the school and now finds teachers lining up to transfer there. Reading scores have risen, absenteeism has fallen, and the improvement in scores between year 7 and year 9 is among the highest in the country.

“Kids from families that have never had anyone finish high school, let alone get a degree, are graduating year 12 and bound for university,” reports the SM Herald.

– WATCH a video below, from Eyewitness News 10

– READ the story via a January Sydney Morning Herald)

[Editor’s note: If you are in the British Commonwealth, you may be able to view this Australian video from last week about Mr. Dib receiving the Pride of Australia Award. Also, thanks to Kimee Anderson for suggesting the story via our Facebook Page!

‘Invisible Bike Helmet’ Is Airbag for Your Head

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 16, 2013

helmet invisible

If you are like me, you won’t wear a bike helmets because you need the wind through your hair, like when you were a kid. (At least, I’m like that when riding in the countryside or through a park).

Now, two graduate students are getting global attention after creating an “invisible bike helmet” – actually a mini airbag designed to protect bicyclists’ heads from injuries.

Oregon City Pays it Forward by Giving Ambulance to African Clinic

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 16, 2013

Two years ago, the city of Oakridge was in financial crisis when it received a gift from a Texas doctor on the ABC television show “Secret Millionaire.” On the show, the doctor and his wife gave a number of donations to the city, including a new ambulance.

Now the town has reached out to another cash-strapped community — in central Africa — to help another doctor to realize his long envisioned dream of establishing a medical clinic in an old ambulance. This all happened after the doctor had a dream of buying an ambulance at a used-car lot.

(READ the wonderful story in the Spokesman)

90-Year-old Feels As Good As She’s Ever Felt

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 16, 2013

Phyllis Sues-90yo and feeling great

Phyllis Sues says she is not aware of being 90 years old. “I’m physically as good as I have ever felt and mentally even better.” People ask her all the time what’s her secret. She tells them to move — every day.

“There is no cheating!” says the dancer. “It’s daily! Minute-by-minute.”

She wrote in the Huffington Post, “Numbers and dwelling on age is a trap. There is no age, it’s living each moment to it’s fullest.”

– READ her article in the Huff Post

– WATCH the video below

– Visit her website, PhyllisSues.com

Stop Being Negative, Live at Least a Decade Longer

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 16, 2013

nuns smiling-Flickr-DeusXFlorida-CC

A 1986 study from which researchers analyzed the autobiographical essays of 678 nuns, written in their early 20s when they had entered an American convent in the 1930s, found that those in the top 25 percent on the optimism scale lived on average up to 10 years longer.

The implications of this astonishing finding in our increasingly health-conscious age should be enormous.

As the writer and broadcaster Dr Michael Mosley told a BBC radio program this week: “There is almost nothing you can do which will do that [increase your life by 10 years]. If you took up fiendish levels of exercise, you could probably raise your life expectancy by four years, so 10 years is huge.” So why isn’t health policy being redirected towards eradicating pessimism by placing the emphasis on positive minds not fitter bodies?

Mosley, a self-described “proud pessimist”, set about to change his outlook.

(READ the article in the National)

Photo credit: DeusXFlorida, via Flickr-CC

New Billboard Proclaims ‘You Are So Freaking Awesome’

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 15, 2013

Awesome billboard - The Joy Team

Another randomly positive billboard has popped up in Portland this week. The yellow sign towering above Sandy Blvd., at 35th street, declares, “You are so freaking awesome”.

It is the second of eight positive advertisements, paid for by a grant from Awesome Portland, erected and designed by The Joy Team of Vancouver, Washington whose mission is to encourage positive thinking.

The first billboard in the eight month campaign was up in October, with a message for drivers on Interstate Ave: “Be Happy”.

Upcoming messages are:

“You are enough” in December, to combat holiday depression
“Be-YOU-tiful” in January, for Self-love month
“Hug someone today” in February, for Random Acts of Kindness Week
“Something wonderful is about to happen” in March, for National Optimism month
“We believe in you” in April
“Smile” in May, for National Smile month

“The November billboard is one of my favorites,” said Michele McKeag Larsen, founder of the local positive thought organization, The Joy Team. “It’s a little irreverent, so people look twice.

“This is exactly the kind of quirky and random (yet warm and fuzzy) idea that makes Portland an awesome place to live and this project is a great example of how our 1000 bucks can be spent to do something truly inspirational,” said Leslie Rogers of Awesome Portland. “We like that this project has the capacity to reach so many people and will make them smile.”

Billboard locations and photos can be found as available at TheJoyTeam.org.

Founded in February 2010, The Joy Team is a non-profit 501c3 corporation based in Vancouver, Washington, with the mission of building community by spreading joy, optimism and inspiration. Projects of the positive thought organization include billboard campaigns, delivering Happy Packets to the staff of organizations serving the community, Chalk the Walks, the PB & JOY Project and The Junior Joy Team.

Moscow Gives Free Subway Ride to Anyone Who Can Do 30 Squats (WATCH!)

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 15, 2013

squats for subway ticket

To promote the February Sochi Olympics, the Russian Olympic Committee has added a machine in the Moscow subway that gives a free ticket if you can complete at least 30 squats within two minutes.

The machine, in the Vystavochaya Station, has a special squat sensor and counts down the number left to go.

Occupy Wall Street Activists Pay Off $15 Million of Americans’ Personal Debt

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 15, 2013

debt eraser-Alan Cleaver-flickr-CC

In one year, a group of Occupy Wall Street activists has managed to buy almost $15 million of Americans’ personal debt to help them pay off their outstanding credit.

Under the name, Rolling Jubilee, and launched one year ago today, the Occupy activists purchase anonymous debt cheaply from banks and then “abolish” it, freeing individuals from their bills.

By purchasing the debt on the “secondary debt market” at bargain basement prices, the group has managed to erase more than $14.7 million of personal debt — mainly medical bills — by spending only $400,000 raised through donations.

Basically, the secondary debt market is a way for banks and lenders to cut their losses after customers have proven themselves unable to pay by getting five cents on a dollar.

(READ the full story from The Guardian)

Photo credit: Alan Cleaver via Flickr-CC

Man Shares Exact Replica of Batmobile and Bat-cave With Sick Children

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 14, 2013

joker and tiny Batman-Make Wish Come True-todayvid

Charles Keller of Phoenix, Ariz., is such a massive fan of the 1960s Batman TV show, that he has an exact working replica of the Batmobile and the Bat-cave — complete with the red telephone Commissioner Gordon uses to call the superhero.

Best of all, he turned his hobby into an opportunity to help kids with cancer, including 4-year-old Ezra Spector who got his wish to be Batman for a day.

Not only does Charles play make believe with 4-year-old Ezra, who really feels like a superhero. An entire community plays along.

(WATCH the video from TODAY)

WWII Letters Reveal Parents’ Untold Love Story

By

Good News Network

-

Nov 14, 2013

letter of love-WWII-KVOAvid

As Darrow Beaton was dying from lung cancer in 2008, the World War II veteran mailed his eldest daughter four boxes of family photos.

Hidden away under those photos were hundreds of love letters, some nine pages long, single spaced on a typewriter. They were on onionskin and fancy hotel stationery. There were postcards and telegrams — all written between December 1941 and November 1945.

Beaton, a private man, had never revealed any details about his past.

The tender letters tell the story of a young Beaton and the love of his life, Elinor Landgrebe Beaton.

(READ the story, w/ photos, from the Arizona Star or WATCH the video at the Daily Mail — It starts by itself at the bottom of page)

1...1,1381,1391,140...1,702 Page 1,139 of 1,702