All News - Page 1218 of 1687 - Good News Network
Home Blog Page 1218

The 13-year-old Who Has the World Planting Trees

Boy initiates tree planting global campaign

Boy initiates tree planting global campaignFinding himself besieged by a gaggle of young female devotees, Felix Finkbeiner is an environmental superstar and author of the book Tree by Tree… at the helm of a global network of child activists whose aim is to mitigate climate change by reforesting the planet.

The boy’s initiative, Plant-for-the-Planet, is a campaign for kids created in 2007 when he was just nine.

According to Wikipedia:

It was when Felix’s teacher set the assignment to prepare a school report about the issue of climate change, that Felix was first inspired. While conducting his research he came across the story of Wangari Maathai, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate from Kenya who had worked to plant over 30 million trees across Africa as part of her ‘Green Belt Movement’. At the end of Felix’s presentation he shared the idea that the children of the world could plant 1 million trees in every country on Earth.

Planting the first tree at his school marked the official launch his campaign. Students in Bavaria and across Germany also got involved and continued to plant trees under the Plant-for-the-Planet name. After one year 150,000 trees had already been planted. During the following year the organization effectively developed into a worldwide movement  after Felix was elected to the United Nations Environment Programme children’s board during the group’s conference in Norway.

By the start of 2011 there were children participating in more than 93 countries.

(WATCH the video below and READ the story in the Telegraph)

The 13-year-old Who Has the World Planting Trees

Boy initiates tree planting global campaign

Boy initiates tree planting global campaignWhile some adolescent boys can induce hysterical adulation in young girls, Felix, 13, is no Justin Bieber. And yet, on a wet Sunday afternoon in southern Germany, he finds himself besieged by a gaggle of young female devotees.

Felix Finkbeiner is an environmental superstar and author of the book Tree by Tree who is at the helm of a global network of child activists whose aim is to mitigate climate change by reforesting the planet.

Favorite TV Reruns Have Restorative Powers, says New Research

Photo of TV screen by DuBoix via Morguefile.com

TV show - Photo credit: DuBoixMorguefileWe hear all the time that we need to get off the couch, stop watching TV and get moving.

But what if watching TV under specific conditions could actually provide the mental boost we need to recharge for a difficult task?

New research from the University at Buffalo found that watching a rerun of a favorite TV show or movie may help restore the drive to get things done in people who have used up their reserves of willpower or self-control.

Maine Girl Returns Lost Money, Gains Awesome Reward

a generic happy girl - photo by Sun Star

girl jumps for joy - Photo by Sun StarA young stay-at-home mom in Maine admits that she had to think about it a for a minute when her eight-year-old discovered $4000 on the sidewalk by a Sam’s Club.

As for her daughter Abbie? “It never crossed her mind to keep it.”

The Cambodian immigrant who lost it said, “I felt like there was no hope I would ever get it back.”

US Networks Clear Schedules for Star-Studded Cancer Telethon Friday

Gwyneth Paltrow-SU2C

Gwyneth Paltrow-SU2CGwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Michael Douglas, Jessica Biel, and Samuel L. Jackson…

When enough A-list Hollywood actors come together for a cause, ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox networks will cooperate — and even donate commercial-free air time. Tomorrow night, at 8:00pm Eastern/Pacific and 7:00 Central, even cable channels will clear their schedules to broadcast a continuous one-hour fundraiser produced by the entertainment-industry-favorite, Stand Up to Cancer, co-founded by Katie Couric.

The telethon is designed to build public support for groundbreaking research and accelerate the delivery of new therapies to patients, getting them from the “bench to the bedside” as quickly as possible. What makes Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C) unique is its primary mission to bring together scientists from different disciplines across various institutions to work together.

US Networks Clear Schedules for Star-Studded Cancer Telethon Friday

Gwyneth Paltrow-SU2C

Gwyneth Paltrow-SU2CGwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Michael Douglas, Jessica Biel, and Samuel L. Jackson…

When enough A-list Hollywood actors come together for a cause, ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox networks will cooperate — and even donate commercial-free air time. Tomorrow night, at 8:00pm Eastern/Pacific and 7:00 Central, even cable channels will clear their schedules to broadcast a continuous one-hour fundraiser produced by the entertainment-industry-favorite, Stand Up to Cancer, co-founded by Katie Couric.

The telethon is designed to build public support for groundbreaking research and accelerate the delivery of new therapies to patients, getting them from the “bench to the bedside” as quickly as possible. What makes Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C) unique is its primary mission to bring together scientists from different disciplines across various institutions to work together.

Tracking Subtle Scent, a Dog Helps Save the Orca Whales

Dog on ocean with whale -Conservation Canines photo

Dog on ocean with whale -Conservation Canines photoA dog named Tucker with a mysterious past as a stray on the streets of Seattle has become an unexpected star in the realm of canine-assisted scientific research.

He is the world’s only working dog, marine biologists say, able to find and track the scent of orca scat, or feces, in open ocean water — up to a mile away, in the smallest of specks.

None of the orca monitoring could happen without Tucker and his wet, black nose — or the new tricks that he taught the scientists.

(READ the story and watch “A Nose for Research” from NY Times)

Also, click to learn more about Conservation Canines at their website.

Thanks to Julia Frerichs for sending the link! – Photo by Conservation Canines

Good News on US Jobs Front: Private Sector Job Creation Continues, Unemployment Falls

government worker

government workerTwo pieces of information released today paint a pretty strong picture for the US economy.

A new report by private payroll company ADP shows a significant number of jobs created, 210,000 – well ahead of the expected number.

Monthly unemployment claims also dropped by 12,000 last month.

Babies’ Bribe: Parents Hand out Goodie Bags in Advance to Fellow Airline Passengers

Goodie bag is parents' bribe for airline passengers -AndrewMerritt

Goodie bag is parents' bribe for airline passengers -AndrewMerrittAn overly considerate couple is being praised for going above and beyond to placate their fellow air travelers.

The parents, accompanied by their 14-week-old twin boys, distributed sweets to passengers as a pre-emptive strike in anticipation of the infants wreaking havoc in the skies.

Solar Kiosk Debuts in Ethiopia, Brings First Electricity to Remote Villages

SolarKiosk at night in Ethiopia

SolarKiosk at night in EthiopiaA German company has installed its first clean energy kiosk in rural Ethiopia powered by rooftop solar panels. The self-contained “SolarKiosk” functions as a small-scale power company for surrounding villages that have no electricity.

The large metal roadside booth, which can hold 6-8 people inside, is expected to provide enough power for villagers to charge their mobile phones and car batteries, run a computer, and power its own solar fridge. The refrigeration may be the region’s only way to keep medication and dairy products chilled.

Rhode Island Waitress Lands $458 Tip on $42 Pizza (WATCH)

cafe table diner-ABC6video

cafe table diner-ABC6videoThe single mother of three has worked at Uncle Tony’s Pizza in Cranston, Rhode Island for the last 15 years. She has regular customers that leave her good tips, but never like the cash she got from a couple last month to whom she served pizza.

The strangers left her five crisp hundred dollar bills.

She was shocked but also thought it was all a mistake. “She held on to the money thinking they would come back for it.”

WATCH the video below

READ the story from ABC-6

Security Cameras Catch the World Doing Good

Car breakdown Samaritans security camera

Car breakdown Samaritans security cameraSecurity Video Surveillance is always looking for wrongdoers. Rarely do we see clips highlighting the actions of good Samaritans or friends.

This is a great example of people doing good things when no one is looking.

(The song, “Give a Little Bit”, was recorded decades ago by Supertramp.)

Miraculous Recovery for Veteran After Getting a Dog

dog with man HeroPets4HeroVets

dog with man HeroPets4HeroVetsAfter living through military combat duty, adjusting to civilian life is one of the huge challenges facing veterans returning home. Disabled veterans themselves, Michael and Brenda Carlson understand the trauma. But today they feel the serenity of knowing they are helping others overcome that stress.

Inspired by the sudden bonding between their father, who is a veteran suffering with Vietnam-era Agent Orange poisoning, and a little rescue dog in their home, Brenda had an idea.

Miraculous Recovery for Veteran After Getting a Dog

dog with man HeroPets4HeroVets

dog with man HeroPets4HeroVetsAfter living through military combat duty, adjusting to civilian life is one of the huge challenges facing veterans returning home. Disabled veterans themselves, Michael and Brenda Carlson understand the trauma. But today they feel the serenity of knowing they are helping others overcome that stress.

Inspired by the sudden bonding between their father, who is a veteran suffering with Vietnam-era Agent Orange poisoning, and a little rescue dog in their home, Brenda had an idea.

Hollywood Producer Leaves $125 Million to Indiana Town

David Gundlach -WNDU video snapshot

David Gundlach -WNDU video snapshotElkhart, Indiana was hit pretty hard by the recession of 2008. But now, things will run a lot smoother, after Hollywood producer David Gundlach bequeathed his entire personal fortune to the Elkhart community foundation, which supports the county.

Museums, parks and senior care facilities will all benefit from the $125 million dollar gift.

Gundlach made his fortune by starting an insurance company overseas. After his financial success, he started a movie production company in Los Angeles before dying from a sudden heart attack at age 56 last year. His first production was the award-winning film, ‘Get Low,’ featuring Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek and Bill Murray.

(READ the story at the NY Daily News)

Hollywood Producer Leaves $125 Million to Indiana Town

David Gundlach -WNDU video snapshot

David Gundlach -WNDU video snapshotElkhart, Indiana was hit pretty hard by the recession of 2008. But now, things will run a lot smoother, after Hollywood producer David Gundlach bequeathed his entire personal fortune to the Elkhart community foundation, which supports the county.

Museums, parks and senior care facilities will all benefit from the $125 million dollar gift.

Muslim Mayor Repairs, and Wins, Texans’ Hearts

Muslim Mayor Arjumand Hashmi, Paris TX - govt photo

Muslim Mayor Arjumand Hashmi, Paris TX - govt photoAmerica seems to be an ever more divided, bitter country. Lost amid those divisions is the story of how a down-on-its-luck town in Texas struck its own little blow for unity. A little more than a year ago, this city of 25,000 — overwhelmingly white and Christian — made a Muslim outsider their mayor.

DC Commuters Have Happy Mondays Thanks to Man Waving Uplifting Signs

Sign "Honk if you love someone" - Photo by IvanPriceDesign

Sign "Honk if you love someone" - Photo by IvanPriceDesignBleary-eyed drivers entering Washington, DC on Monday mornings, are jolted into happiness by people waving with signs with optimistic slogans from the side of the road.

29-year-old Massoud Adibpour, who started the project called “Make DC Smile”, aims to get hundreds of honks from workers who might otherwise be blue because it’s Monday.

Held by Massoud and 4 other volunteers, the signs were scrawled with uplifting messages: “Honk if you love someone!”; “Be happy”; “Don’t be so hard on yourself”; and, “Smile!”

On the morning this photo was taken, the cheerful pedestrians were greeted by “a cacophony of honks.”

(READ the interview with Massoud or read the story w/ photos in the Washington Post)

Photo by IvanPriceDesign.com, Rocky Mount, NC

DC Commuters Have Happy Mondays Thanks to Man Waving Uplifting Signs

Sign "Honk if you love someone" - Photo by IvanPriceDesign

Sign "Honk if you love someone" - Photo by IvanPriceDesignBleary-eyed drivers entering Washington, DC on Monday mornings, are jolted into happiness by people waving with signs with optimistic slogans from the side of the road.

29-year-old Massoud Adibpour, who started the project called “Make DC Smile”, aims to get hundreds of honks from workers who might otherwise be blue because it’s Monday.

Held by Massoud and 4 other volunteers, the signs were scrawled with uplifting messages: “Honk if you love someone!”; “Be happy”; “Don’t be so hard on yourself”; and, “Smile!”

CONTEST: What Good News Means to Me, Prizes for 4 Best Entries

15 Year logo

15 Year logoFifteen years ago on Labor Day weekend I clicked the button for the first time that uploaded the Good News Network website, allowing anyone in the world to see it on the internet. I’ll never forget the thrill I felt as a simple click opened my voice to the world.

At that time, Google had not been invented. There was no YouTube, no social media networks. There was not a single blog.

“Good News” soon came to mean much more to me than aggregating stories from around the world, or publishing my own metaphysical essays, like “The Mist on the Lake is Like our own Consciousness.”

Focusing on good news became a philosophy for my life, a way to ‘temper’ my temperament. I came to realize how important it was to focus on the good in my children, rather than pointing out their mistakes.

To mark the website’s 15th anniversary, I am launching a contest called, “What ‘Good News’ Means to Me”.

I’ve got some SUPER life-enhancing prizes to award for my favorite entries. Two of the celebrities donating items (Carol and Francis) are professionals I have worked with who initiated wonderful breakthroughs during their personal sessions with me. Their talents, as well as Darin’s coaching, could help anyone to find their purpose in life, or find clarity and meaning in the more troubled areas of their lives. (Like the mist on the lake finds sunlight.)

To win, just write a few paragraphs or a short story about how the Good News Network contributes to your own philosophy of life or, more generally, what “good news” means to you. It ends SOON — on Friday, September 7 at midnight — so get your entries in right away!

Winners Can Choose From Among These Gifts:

• Personalized Astrological Natal Chart by Francis Dunnery

I Believe I can change my world-teeNo ordinary Astrologer, Francis Dunnery is a renown singer/songwriter/guitarist and a true intuitive who supports people to reach for their deepest potential. His 12-15 page Astrological reports are often dotted with the myths of Jungian psychology, but full of common sense insights that can alter the course of anyone’s life for the better. (You can order your own report, or schedule a personal telephone consultation at francisdunnery.com.) Hear his anthem, I Believe I Can Change My World, on YouTube.

• (7) One-Hour Coaching Sessions with R. Darin Hollingsworth

Darin  Hollingsworth under waterfallUse these 7 one-hour sessions to launch a transformational journey that explores your goals, passions, possibilities, and intentions. Darin Hollingsworth, of Odonata Coaching & Consulting, is passionate about helping individuals to exceed their potential through work based on gratitude, accountability & encouragement. Clients transform their lives to attract to themselves the things they want most as Darin shares “a new language” of gratitude, intention, presence, possibility and change. (OdonataCoaching.com)

• Numerology Life Chart by author Carol Adrienne, Ph.D.

carol-adrienneCarol Adrienne offers this 25-page numerology Primary Life Chart, a personal profile based on analyzing your birth name and birthdate. This detailed chart describes your over-all life purpose—including your most important personality strengths, career path and destiny, life lessons, and major life turning points— and includes a month- by-month forecast for 2013. Adrienne is an internationally-known author, numerologist, and life coach. Her books, including the Oprah-hailed “Purpose of Your Life: Finding Your Place in the World Using Synchronicity, Intuition, and Uncommon Sense” is a must-read best-seller. (Get free numerology weekly messages at CarolAdrienne.com.

• Handmade Artisan’s Ceramic Pottery Piececeramics Lola Arts

Lola Arts offers this classic round ceramic butter dish. Lola Arts, a small one woman business in Portland, Maine, specializes in functional pottery that is simple in design, light in weight, and a colorful addition to your home. (www.LolaArts.com)

__________________________

Email your stories to Geri (or post in comments section below). These entries must NOT be more than 500 words. Your stories may be reprinted on the Good News Network and your name and email address is required to receive your gift. I look forward to hearing your interpretation of good news!