Production of pure cocaine in Colombia decreased by 25 percent in 2011 capping off a decade of decline during which the potential for production had dropped by 72 percent, according a U.S. government survey of drug production released yesterday. –AP
Ice Cream Company Delivers Joy Across Afghanistan
In a nation wrenched by decades of war, perhaps it is of no surprise that one of Afghanistan’s most successful brands manufactures what is sorely lacking from the conflict-scarred landscape: joy.
The Herat ice cream factory in western Afghanistan dips rectangular vanilla bars in chocolate, builds orange sorbets on sticks, and tops the frozen cones that are sold in all of the country’s 34 provinces — a rare success for a business benefitting from no foreign investment.
Massive 1100-Pound Sturgeon Reeled in by British Tourist in Canada
Michael and Margaret Snell of Salsbury, England came to British Columbia for a fishing adventure and, boy, did they find one. On their first day out, their first catch of the day, Michael hooked a Great White Sturgeon weighing 1,100 pounds (500 kilos).
Their Canadian guide, Dean Werk from Great River Fishing Adventures, says the 12 feet 4 inch long catch, is likely the largest freshwater fish ever landed in North America.
How One Swedish Woman’s Kindness Changed 350 Families …and Counting
The amazing story of Hilde Back proves how many ripples can change countless lives directly from a single act of generosity.
When she was a schoolteacher in Sweden, Hilde decided to sponsor one child’s education in Kenya. High school is tuition-based in many countries, and without that secondary education, poverty is often guaranteed for the child and his family for the rest of his life. The payment for Hilde’s sponsorship of Chris Mburu cost about $15 per month.
After Chris graduated from high school, he attended the University of Nairobi and then pursued a law degree from Harvard. He got a job as a U.N. Human Rights Advocate, and started a charity in order to repay the kindness originally shown him as a boy.
U.S. Olympic Swim Team Shows Off Dancing Skills in Spoof Video
It’s not all hard work and no play for the U.S. swimming team.
A light-hearted, spoof video filmed by the team during the run-up to the London Olympic games has gone viral on the internet with more than three million viewers clicking to watch top names such as Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Missy Franklin dancing and lip-syncing to hit “Call me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen.
US Swimmer Overcomes Heart Problems and Injuries to Break World Record, Win Gold
Four years ago, Dana Vollmer, devastated and dispirited by injuries, considered walking away from the sport she loved, but instead, with the help of her Berkeley coach, made a dramatic turnaround that led yesterday to a gold medal victory in London and breaking the world record in the 100-meter butterfly.
She became the first woman to break the 56-second barrier, winning her signature event at the Olympics Sunday in 55.98 seconds.
Vollmer, 24, from Granbury, Texas, has been a huge inspiration throughout her career. She overcame two heart defects as a teenager to qualify for the 2004 Olympic team and win her first gold medal in a relay.
US Swimmer Overcomes Heart Problems and Injuries to Break World Record, Win Gold
Four years ago, Dana Vollmer, devastated and dispirited by injuries, considered walking away from the sport she loved, but instead, with the help of her Berkeley coach, made a dramatic turnaround that led yesterday to a gold medal victory in London and breaking the world record in the 100-meter butterfly.
She became the first woman to break the 56-second barrier, winning her signature event at the Olympics Sunday in 55.98 seconds.
Vollmer, 24, from Granbury, Texas, has been a huge inspiration throughout her career. She overcame two heart defects as a teenager to qualify for the 2004 Olympic team and win her first gold medal in a relay.
Creative Humans Help Mama Bear with Dumpster Dilemma
A bear howled beside a dumpster throughout a long New Mexico night.
The next morning some creative humans came to help.
WATCH the wonderful video below…
(From Ruidoso, New Mexico)
New Breed of Ranchers Build Sustainable West While Making Money
A new breed of cowboy is changing how ranching is being done in the American West and might – just might – alter the dynamic in the “range wars” that have engulfed the region for more than a half century.
Make no mistake: These are not new arrivals carrying out green techniques for the feel-good sake of being green. They are ranchers managing the land in benevolent and environmentally sensitive ways because they think it will help them survive – and make money.
Seeing-eye Poodle Saves Owner From Toxic Gas Leak
A seeing-eye dog in Alabama has been hailed as a hero for saving her owner’s life during a gas leak.
“The house could have blew up. She saved my life,” Nancy Jones, the dog’s owner said.
The poodle would not stop bothering Jones until she finally left the house.
The League Of Extraordinary Women: 60 Influencers Are Changing The World for Girls
The previously untold story of how an unprecedented network of high-achieving women from the world’s largest companies, innovative startups, philanthropic organizations, government, and the arts combined forces to change the lives of girls and women everywhere.
Eight years ago Maria Eitel, CEO of the Nike Foundation, began connecting a group of executives, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, artists, government officials, and academics to formulate groundbreaking initiatives investing in girls and women and creating economic benefits for all.
(READ the story from Fast Company)
Simultaneous Acts Of Kindness In Five Cities
A guerrilla kindness event held simultaneously in five cities provided a scavenger hunt of sweetness for volunteers on a mission to put a smile on a stranger’s face.
Some picked flowers and gave them to strangers, some passed out popsicles to sweltering pedestrians, some wrote happy notes and slid them under unknown doors.
Entitled, “Kindness Captured: A Day of Bravery and Kindness,” the events on June 30 were held in Syracuse, New York City, Denver, Seattle and Richmond, Virginia.
“We want to share the idea you can really brighten someone’s day,” said a co-founder of American Bear Films who partnered with Guerrilla Goodness to coordinate the event.
(WATCH the video below and see the kindness effect)
Simultaneous Acts Of Kindness In 6 Cities
A guerrilla kindness event held simultaneously in six cities provided a scavenger hunt of sweetness for volunteers on a mission to put a smile on a stranger’s face.
Some picked flowers and gave them to strangers, some passed out popsicles to sweltering pedestrians, some wrote happy notes and slid them under unknown doors.
British Celebrate Their Health Care System in Olympics Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics included a visual narrative, highlighting the many accomplishments of the British people over many centuries. The story included a segment celebrating the National Health Service (NHS).
The British, along with almost every other industrialized country in the world, have a universal health care system, in which care is provided for all, regardless of income.
Legally Blind South Korean Sets Archery World Record at Olympics
South Korean archer Im Dong-hyun sees only blurred colors and lines when he peers toward the target about 76 yards away. It doesn’t stop the legally blind Olympian from hitting the grapefruit-sized yellow center – again and again and again.
He has 20/200 vision in his left eye and 20/100 vision in his right eye, meaning he is legally blind in his left eye and needs to be 10 times closer to see objects clearly compared to someone with perfect vision.
Haiti Planning Solar Energy Rollout
Haiti is planning the rollout of more than 7,000 new solar street lamps for the country, according to Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe.
It’s part of an infrastructure push Lamothe’s office said included an emphasis on the construction of new schools.
The Solar Electric Light Fund has been installing solar electric systems at healthcare facilities across Haiti, a project that could bring power to 170,000 Haitians.
Olympic Stadium Lighting is Made in Iowa
The US Olympic uniforms may have been made in China, but the stadium lighting was made in America. A company called Musco, in Muscatine, Iowa has lit every Olympic game since 1984 — as well as center court at Wimbledon, the World Trade Center site and probably your kid’s sporting field. (Musco.com)
The Power of Selflessness: 6 Asians Who Lift the Lives of Millions
An Indonesian mountaineer who faced death threats while battling illegal loggers and a Bangladeshi lawyer who fought to keep old rusty ships from being dumped in her homeland are among this year’s winners of the Ramon Magsaysay Awards.
The six winners, announced Thursday, battled great odds to improve the plight of the poor in forest communities, Asian farmlands and exploitative industries. Working selflessly to create sustainable solutions to poverty, they are showing how committed leaders can truly transform millions of individual lives and galvanize progressive community action.
UK Teenagers Shunning Drugs for Healthier Lifestyle
A survey of 6,500 children aged between 11 and 15 showed the numbers taking drugs, smoking and drinking alcohol had all fallen over the past decade.
29% had tried drugs at least once in 2001, compared with just 17% last year. Among 15-year-olds, the number fell from 39% in 2001 to 23% in 2011.
5 Friends Pose for Same Photo Through 30 Years of Aging
When five teenagers sat down and posed for a picture at Copco Lake in 1982, they didn’t plan on making it a tradition. But that’s what it became.
Every five years for the past three decades, John Wardlaw, John Dickson, Mark Rumer, Dallas Burney and John Molony have been meeting at the California lake and taking the same photo.