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Britain Celebrates Birth of Baby Bongo Antelope–with Fewer Than 100 Left on Earth

By
Andy Corbley
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credit - Woburn Safari Park
credit – Woburn Safari Park

In an English safari park, keepers are celebrating the arrival of a calf from the world’s most endangered species of antelope, the eastern mountain bongo.

Born October 16th, first-time mom Othaya welcomed a male calf in the late afternoon marking the first bongo calf born at Woburn Safari Park in over 10 years.

The calf’s father, Sonny – credit, Woburn Safari Park

It’s both a major success for the park and global conservation efforts to save this species native to Kenya.

“Othaya the bongo has successfully given birth to her first calf on Wednesday afternoon. After a long labor, the large healthy male calf was born and was soon seen standing on wobbly legs, in the deep bed of straw prepared for his arrival,” stated Tom Robson, Head of Reserves at the park. “Both mom and calf are doing really well.”

Sonny, the calf’s father, joined the four-strong bongo herd at the park last November and successfully mixed with the females, wasting no time in doing his job and displaying breeding behaviors.

“The bongo is part of a crucial breeding program and we are hoping in the future our new calf will travel to another wildlife collection and start a breeding group of his own,” Robson added.

Once the mom and baby are ready, they will rejoin the rest of the bongo herd in the African Forest exhibit, where visitors will soon have the chance to see the calf in person.

ALSO CHECK OUT: Polish Zoo Celebrates ‘Globally unprecedented’ Birth of 4 Critically-Endangered Sumatran Tigers – (LOOK)

The eastern mountain bongo species has been hunted almost to extinction in the wild, and with less than 100 individuals remaining, this birth is hugely important for the future of the species.

Its near-cousin the lowland bongo is readily dispersed across the Congo region and southern West Africa, and is not endangered. The mountain bongo, with its much deeper red coat, is found only on Mount Kenya.

MORE ZOOS MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Endangered Baird’s Tapir Calf Born at San Diego Zoo Delights Visitors (LOOK)

It has been estimated that without appropriate protections, the eastern mountain bongo may go extinct within 2 decades. However, several Critically Endangered species, like the West African lion, have made recoveries on the continent in recent years.

WATCH the story below from Africa News… 

SHARE This Wonderful News For The Sake Of This Little-Known Species…

Life Savings of an Entire Small Town Recovered from the Depths of Crypto-Scam, Thanks to FBI

By
Andy Corbley
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FBI building, Washington - CC 2.0 Ajay Suresh
FBI building, Washington – CC 2.0 Ajay Suresh

A Wichita courtroom rang out with sobs and cheers when over two dozen people learned that their life savings had been recovered after being lost by a local bank.

Over $8 million in children’s university funds, retirement accounts, funds for eldercare, and bequeathments to children and grandchildren were returned after the FBI located and seized a cryptocurrency wallet linked to an account in the Cayman Islands.

The bank’s founder Shan Hanes, claims he had unintentionally lost it all by investing in a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam, though he ultimately lost his defense and received 24 years in prison for defrauding depositors and investors.

In August, Heartland Tri-State Bank was put into receivership by federal regulators after being drained of cash. The FDIC paid out $47 million to everyday depositors and other investors, but the rural, community-owned bank had 30 shareholders who had carefully planned long-term accounts that were not insured.

Last Monday, in Judge John W. Broome’s courtroom, the shareholders were told one by one that they were going to be made entirely whole again, after the FBI’s financial crimes division located the cryptocurrency account linked to Tether Ltd. where their savings had been moved.

The AP reported that shareholder Margaret Grice came to court that day figuring she’d get $1,000 back. Instead, she learned she’d recover almost $250,000, her entire 401(k).

“I’m just really thrilled,” she said. “I can breathe.”

The shareholders were almost all Hanes’ friends and neighbors, but that didn’t stop him from putting millions of debt on the books in a “pig butchering” scam.

Having gained his trust through WhatsApp communications, scammers convinced Hanes to buy $5,000 in cryptocurrency. The money appears on a fake website and proceeds to grow in value over time.

Either believing he had made the investment pick of a lifetime, or because he was in on the scam somehow, Hanes eventually spent $60,000 belonging to his local church, $10,000 from a local investment club, and $60,000 from his Daughter’s college fund, before making 11 separate wire transfers totaling $47 million—the entire deposit value of the bank—over a series of weeks.

SOPHISTICATED SCAMS DEFEATED: Attorney Warns His Voice was Cloned by AI in Phone Scam That Nearly Tricked His Dad Out of $35k

Hanes’ defense stated that the money was being put up in order to close the account and cash out on what appeared to be close to 400% returns, but instead, the money was “jettisoned into the ether.”

Ironically, Hanes has been a long-time advocate of community-owned and operated banks and the necessity of these local institutions in protecting Americans from the shark-infested waters of international investment markets. He even testified before Congressional banking and finance committees on the topic.

STOPPING THE SCAM BEFORE IT HAPPENS: Hero Bank Teller Saves Customer From Losing Millions on a Scam–by Asking a Few Simple Questions

However, an investigation from the Federal Reserve revealed that it was exactly this community aspect, and it was exactly his prominent role in the culture of local banks, that disarmed Heartland employees who might have otherwise detected the fraudulent activity.

“Heartland employees circumvented the bank’s internal controls and policies; following those internal controls and policies may have prevented or detected the alleged fraudulent activity,” the report read. “We believe that the CEO’s dominant role in the bank and prominent role in the community contributed to a reluctance on the part of Heartland employees to question or report the alleged fraudulent activities earlier.”

Prosecutors argued that even if Hanes was just the first of the scam’s many victims, he knowingly broke both customer agreements and federal banking regs when he began transferring depositors’ and investors’ funds into the scam account.

MORE SCAM VICTIMS MADE WHOLE: Bank Decides it Should have Prevented Dementia Depositor from Getting Scammed–So Restores Entire Life Savings

“I just can’t describe the weight lifted off of us,” said local shareholder Bart Camilli to the AP, who will be recovering a half-million dollar fund he lost in the scam. It’s life-changing.”

The story of Heartland Tri-State Bank is a great reminder to make certain you understand the risks before any investment.

SHARE This Fantastic News Of Justice For These Fraud Victims… 

“Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic.” – Jack Layton

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day:  “Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic.” – Jack Layton

Photo by: Jonny Gios for Unsplash+

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Pioneering Nonprofit Treats the Remnants of Grief with Somatic Healing Techniques

By
Andy Corbley
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- Jon Tyson
– Jon Tyson

What we English speakers refer to as grief is actually a complex web of not only emotional, but also physical states.

A newly established non-profit founded last fall is pursuing a mission to support individuals navigating grief and burnout through community support and somatic-based practices, instructing them how to grow through grief taking direct control over the nervous system.

Grief is a universal experience affecting both mind and body, with feelings in our brain directly affecting our physiology in ways that can leave us stressed and numb.

Recognizing its profound impact on overall well-being, the Denver-based LIGHT Movement utilizes scientific insights from the Polyvagal Theory developed by neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Porges, and organizes classes, retreats, and workshops to help overcome grief in a powerful, organic way.

Polyvagal Theory explains how grief can trigger physiological responses in the nervous system, leading to states of anxiety, disconnection, or numbness.

“Grief can significantly alter our physiological state, making it crucial to address both emotional and physical aspects,” said Amy Pickett-Williams founder and co-executive director of the LIGHT Movement. “By understanding these responses, we empower individuals with techniques to grow with their grief, leading to re-engagement with life.”

The word somatic refers to one-half of the division of the human nervous system, with the other half being the autonomic nervous system. Somatic refers to those aspects of the nervous system we can control and it plays a key role in how grief unfolds across our physiology.

LIGHT Movement promotes and uses somatic techniques like breath control. Inhaling slowly through the nose, but critically, extending the exhale activates the parasympathetic nervous system, (related to ‘rest and digest’ as opposed to the ‘fight or flight’ response of the sympathetic nervous system) promoting calm and present-moment awareness.

Mindful movements that mirror emotional states—practicing the oscillation between expanding outward into vulnerability and contracting inward when the pain is deep—this pendulation fosters growth from grief, according to Pickett-Williams.

MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH: Anxiety Can Be a Habit – Which Means We Can Stop it, If We Know How

She founded the LIGHT Movement after the loss of her father followed by a stomach cancer diagnosis and long recovery.

In today’s fast-paced world, the LIGHT Movement also addresses burnout, recognizing it often comes with its own form of grief—the loss of passion and motivation. Their programs provide tools to alleviate burnout symptoms and promote overall well-being.

Many of these focus on another somatic method called bilateral stimulation, which involves rhythmic stimulation of both sides of the body, such as alternating taps, walking, swimming, art, baking, cooking, or gardening. These activities help support integration between the brain’s hemispheres, aiding growth and resilience.

“We invite individuals and organizations to join us in bringing LIGHT to communities worldwide,” added Pickett-Williams. “Through virtual and in-person offerings, we strive to make growing with grief accessible to all.”

ALSO CHECK OUT: Dance Away Your Tears With This ‘Grief Disco Kiosk’

At 7 p.m. MST [think Denver] on the winter solstice, a date celebrated for millennia as a crossing-over point in the year, LIGHT Movement will host a worldwide/in-person event to help alleviate the burden of grief.

“This December 21st, we hope to quadruple the in-person and virtual attendance (nationally and globally) with the goals of reminding people they are not alone, to teach somatic based tools to support integration and finding meaning/purpose, and stand in solidarity of ALL people and ALL types of loss,” Pickett-Williams said. “Our world is grieving and we must support each other.”

SHARE This Opportunity With Anyone You Know Who May Be Grieving…

Black-Footed Ferret Cloned to Add Diversity Just Gave Birth to Two New Kits Helping Save Species

By
Andy Corbley
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Antonia, one of three cloned ferrets based on DNA of a female captured in 1980 - credit, US Fish and Wildlife Service
Antonia, one of three cloned ferrets based on DNA of a female captured in 1980 – credit, US Fish and Wildlife Service

In Front Royal, a black-footed ferret named Antonia has just given birth to two healthy kits.

Antonia was cloned from the DNA of a ferret taken into captivity in Wyoming. Her name was Willa and she died in the 1980s, but through her DNA, one of the most endangered North American mammals will have a new genetic lineage that may help it one day recover into the voracious, adorable hordes that once roamed the North American Prairie.

The black-footed ferret program, run by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, was the first time cloning was used as a conservation tool in North America. Antonia was one of three ferrets cloned in 2020. The others are named Noreen and Elizabeth Ann and live in a Colorado facility.

All black-footed ferrets are descended from seven individuals, resulting in unique genetic challenges to recovering this species. Cloning may help address the issues of genetic diversity and disease resilience in wild populations, as without an appropriate amount of genetic diversity, a species often becomes more susceptible to diseases and genetic abnormalities, as well as limited adaptability to conditions in the wild and a decreased fertility rate.

Once thought to be extinct and currently listed as an Endangered Species, black-footed ferrets were rediscovered by a Wyoming rancher whose dog dropped a recently deceased ferret on his doorstep. A small colony of 24 individuals was eventually located, which started the captive breeding program in which 7 reproduced.

FROZEN ZOOS: How ‘Frozen Zoos’ Are Helping Save Vanishing Species

These 7 have led to thousands of captive-bred ferrets being dropped onto the grasslands of Wyoming, Colorado, and other states, but at great risk of poor genetic diversity. By contrast, Antonia’s kits, and those of Noreen, who is also liable to breed (Elizabeth Ann isn’t) hold three times the genetic diversity as the currently wild population members.

credit – Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

In September, Colorado wildlife officials were enthusiastic about reports of at least two healthy litters of wild-born black-footed ferrets at May Ranch in southeastern Colorado, and program members speaking with the Colorado Sun said that if an 8th genetic lineage could be added to this population, that would make a major difference over the generations. Antonia’s offspring will not be reintroduced, but may eventually lead to future offspring who will be.

OTHER STORIES LIKE THIS: 12 Critically Endangered Red Wolf Pups Are Born in North Carolina – A Conservation Baby Boom

Experts say proof that cloned animals can reproduce safely is key to the healthy restoration of the severely endangered ferrets, and increases the confidence conservation scientists may have when saving other species from extinction in the future, such as the northern white rhino, by attempting to clone them.

SHARE This Amazing News For The Return Of This Important Species… 

Sunken Class Ring Returned to Canadian Man Who Lost it in 1977 off Barbados Coast

By
Andy Corbley
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images credit - Morgan Perigo
images credit – Morgan Perigo

When a Canadian professor lost his class ring while splashing around in Barbados with his son, finding a needle in a haystack must have seemed like a breeze by comparison.

Yet miraculously, after 47 years of tumbling about in the surf, sand, and shells, the man celebrated his 83rd birthday by slipping on his MacMaster Alumni ring again after it was found by a freedriver.

As one might imagine, as soon as the ring wasn’t immediately found, Perigo was certain he’d never see it again.

“One day I took my younger son and waded into the ocean. He was knocked over by a wave, so I reached to grab hold of him. He pulled on my hand and my Mac Alumni ring came off,” recalled Perigo in an email to the university press. “We searched for it but were unsuccessful.”

He had received the gold and ruby ornament when he graduated in 1965 from the faculty of science. Fast forward to 2024, and something truly unbelievable happened.

Incredibly, there was another MacMaster University scholar visiting Barbados recently, and along with being a Mac alumni, was also a professional freediver; and along with being a professional freediver, also brought along an underwater metal detector.

The freediver, named Alex Davis, found Mr. Perigo’s ring, having decided to swim about on the same stretch of water, if it can be believed, and recognized it as belonging to one of his colleagues.

SIMILAR LUCKY STORIES: Man’s Wedding Ring Lost in Ocean is Found So He Drives 1,600 Miles to Thank Humble Metal Detectorist in Person

“I found a McMaster University signet ring with three initials on the inside,” he wrote to alumni officer Laura Escalante. “I found it metal detecting in Barbados this morning and suspect it’s been lost for some time.”  

Compared to Perigo and Davis, Escalante had a fairly straightforward treasure hunt in front of her, as the ring was not only engraved with the year 1965, but with the initials FMP. In little time, she determined it was Frederick Morgan Perigo.

OTHER LOST RINGS: Stranger’s Diligence Leads to Emotional Reunion With Lost Ring of Woman’s Mother

Organizing contact between the two men, there was plenty of joy for all parties, and a delightfully unexpected birthday present for Perigo, who received it in the mail on his day of celebration.

SHARE This Truly Unbelievable Story With Your Friends… 

Grove of 100 Giant Trees Discovered in 2019 Are Tallest in the Amazon–and Now Protected by State Park

By
Andy Corbley
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Foto: Fernando Sette ©
– Fernando Sette ©

From the depths of the Brazilian Amazon comes the incredible news that a massive new protected area, guarding the tallest and most valuable trees in the great rainforest, has been established in the state of Pará.

Established by Pará’s governor Helder Barbalho on September 28th during New York Climate Week, Giant Trees of the Amazon State Park spans 1.3 million acres, as big as Yosemite and Grand Tetons National Parks put together.

Located along the Yari and Ipitinga rivers, a portion of the new park’s borders overlaps with an existing state-owned forest block, that has now been reorganized for stricter protection.

It contains over 100 individual trees from the pea family called the “Angelim Vermelho” or  Dinizia excelsa. It’s considered the tallest tree in the tropical Americas at a height of 290 feet (88.5 meters). Many of those contained in the park are 400 to 600 years old, and may hold the total carbon of 500 average-sized trees.

According to the decree establishing the park, the indigenous people and their activities of gathering Brazil nuts and camu-camu shall not be interfered with, aided by a wide buffer zone around the park.

Funding for the establishment of the park was provided generously by the Amazon-Andes Fund, one of the largest conservation-focused trusts in South America, that, throughout its history, has helped establish 42 million acres of protected areas and secure 48 separate land titles for indigenous people.

“The Giant Trees State Park is very important for the protection of a unique Amazonian forest that is a marvel for the world due to the size of its trees,” said Enrique Ortiz, Andes Amazon Fund’s Senior Program Director. “It is also a critical area that provides ecosystem services which are particularly important during these times when we see extreme rains, droughts, and climatic events.”

The discovery of these tropical giants was an unlooked-for shock that came about during a randomized survey of the Amazon via satellite. Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) mapped 850 random 900-acre blocks of remote forest.

Foto: Fernando Sette ©

Eric Bastos Gorgens, a forest engineering researcher, was part of the team that parsed through the data, told Smithsonian what went on at the moment they began to find sets of numbers that indicated something out there was very, very tall.

“It could have been a bird flying by, a tower, a sensor error,” says Gorgens, who authored a recent study about the trees in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. “So we started to look into what could have given us these numbers that were so far from standard. And as we started looking at the data more carefully, we realized they weren’t errors. They were, in fact, giant trees.”

BIG TREES FROM AROUND THE WORLD: He Found the Largest Old Growth Cedar in BC – The Tree of His Lifetime (LOOK)

Knowing they absolutely had to see these trees for themselves, a major expedition was planned up the Yari River near an area known as the Guiana Shield. It took five days to reach base camp, during which they were able to easily visit some of the trees that were growing conveniently by the riverside.

Towering above the surrounding canopy, professional photographer Fernando Sette captured stunning imagery of the trees and the lush riverine jungles surrounding them.

One of the trees measured 82 meters tall—but another would later be identified as 88.5 meters—almost 30 feet higher, and almost 300 feet in total.

MORE FOREST PROTECTIONS: Couple Plants 2 Million Trees in 20 Years to Turn Destroyed Forest Back Into a Wildlife Haven

Speaking with Smithsonian, researchers both involved and not involved with the study said the reason for the giant trees’ survival in that area isn’t totally understood. Angelim Vermelho trees can be easily pushed over in strong storms, but this eastern area of the rainforest near the Guiana Shield sees little wind and few storms compared to areas further west.

WATCH one of the researchers climb one of these giant trees… 

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“We are bound together by the most powerful of all ties — our fervent love for freedom and independence, which knows no homeland but the human heart.” – Gerald Ford

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “We are bound together by the most powerful of all ties — our fervent love for freedom and independence, which knows no homeland but the human heart.” – Gerald Ford

Photo by: Silas Baisch

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Couple Takes a Chance on ‘Mouthy’ Dog Overlooked in Shelter—Have Zero Regrets

By
Andy Corbley
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Jax and his new family - credit Central Pennsylvania Humane Society
Jax and his new family – credit Central Pennsylvania Humane Society

In central Pennsylvania, a couple are the happy new owners of a dog that was seriously in need of a loving, calm, disciplined home after spending a year at a shelter.

This pit bull/rottweiler mix named Jax is a cheery enough fellow, but such a long time in a shelter, coupled with poor training during his infancy left him “kennel stressed.”

Abandoned in the yard of the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society (CPHS), his hyperactivity, inability to play with other dogs, and poor training left him particularly “mouthy,” a phrase to describe a dog that interacts with the world through its mouth.

“He was constantly passed up. He had little to no interest at all,” said CPHS in a statement on Facebook announcing Jax’s adoption. “He was the definition of kennel stressed. He would jump 24/7. He was mouthy due to pent up energy.”

The ASPCA states that “adult dogs who mouth people probably never learned not to do so during puppyhood,” and that “mouthing is often more difficult to suppress in adult dogs because adults aren’t as sensitive to our reactions as puppies are.”

Despite this, the CPHS persevered, keeping him for a whole year and continually making efforts to find him a permanent home.

Last month they brought Jax out to an event called Paws in the Park, where dogs available for adoption can strut their stuff in front of families and individuals looking perhaps to add a four-legged family member to their household.

GOOD ADOPTION STORIES: 2 Unwanted Dogs Spending Months in Shelter Become Best Friends–Now They’re Family After Adoption of Both

Sure enough, a couple who saw Jax that day instantly felt drawn to his energy, and eventually showed up at the CPHS to adopt him.

“This is why we do what we do. Moments like this make it all worth it,” the CPHS wrote on Facebook. “Have a great life Jax. We are so happy you are finally home.”

FINDING HOMES FOR NEGLECTED DOGS: Snowy Husky Pups Get Adopted Together After Being Thrown Over Shelter Fence

“Such a beautiful little happy face. Thank you for adopting Jax and showing him the love and respect he deserves,” wrote one of over 100 commenters on the post, in which many community members recognized Jax’s new mom as a local named Tracy, who was lauded along with her husband for bringing an end to this disruptive period in the dog’s life.

SHARE This Great Story Of A Neglected Dog Finding A Loving Home… 

95-year-old Pickleball Player Dominates the Courts: ‘I Keep moving’

By
Andy Corbley
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Lois White with two of her four great-great grandkids - credit, family photo, released
Lois White with two of her four great-great grandkids – credit, family photo, released

From Kansas comes the story of a timeless American: a great-great-grandmother who sings, dances, and plays pickleball twice a week.

Lois White puts the elder in ‘elderly,’ and has lived a life of play, sport, love, and family to be celebrated from one corner of the country to the next.

Pickleball is an American sport similar to padel played on a hard court with a hollow ball to reduce ball speed, and has rapidly gained popularity as a way to stay active for players of any age—especially among seniors.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, White takes to the pickleball court at New Century Fieldhouse, Gardener, Kansas. She holds her own against whippersnappers in their 50s and 60s.

“On top of this, I play cards every week,” White told KCTV News 5. “I picked up square dancing. Then, I decided I want to play the Mandolin. So, I bought me some books and I do play and sing. I belong to the Pickers and Fiddlers.”

Indeed, pickleball is just the most recent example of the richness of White’s life.

Born before an airplane had ever flown over Kansas, she married a soldier at age 17 and had 6 kids.

“We always did what the kids wanted to do. I’ve played basketball, football, you name it,” White said. “My husband and I had a softball team with our daughters for years.”

THIS MIGHT BE HER SECRET: A New Study of Over 10,000 People Revealed Regular Physical Activity Is Linked to Larger Healthier Brains

After her husband passed away 30 years ago, the “stubborn” woman continued to stay busy—easy to do when you have 6 kids, 20 grandkids, 37 great-grandkids, and now four great-great grandkids.

OTHER TIMELESS SENIORS: He Raced Against Great-Grandson During his 85th Birthday Event for Viral Community Running Club

Many of these offspring tell her she needs to take it easy, but she interjects: “I know one thing, you need to keep moving.”

WATCH the timeless treasure in action on the court… 

SHARE This Inspiring Woman With Your Senior Friends Who Need A Bit Of A Push…

Kids Leave Halloween Candy on Doorstep, Seeing Signs of Son’s Hospitalization–Family ‘Overwhelmed’ by Kindness

By
Andy Corbley
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credit - Amy Schmitt, released.
credit – Amy Schmitt, released.

Amy Schmitt and her son love to dress up for Halloween. The house is always festooned with decorations, and locals know it’s a must-visit stop along any trick-or-treating route.

However, after her son was hospitalized two days before, Schmitt had no time to join in the festivities, and left a simple note on her door apologizing that her son Jacob was in the hospital and there’d be no candy this year.

You can picture Schmitt’s disappointment, but as the night began to fade, her phone began to buzz.

It was the Ring doorbell camera app, alerting her to movement—a group of children who were dumping some of their own candy into a bucket on Schmitt’s porch for her and for Jacob.

“It’s overwhelming, all the love we’ve got… and I don’t know half these people,” Schmitt told ABC 7 News Detroit, adding that the parents deserve major credit for raising such considerate young neighbors. “It’s just amazing… what these parents have raised these kids to be.”

ANOTHER STORY JUST LIKE THIS: Ring Camera Video Catches Teenage Trick-or-Treaters Refilling Empty Candy Bowl: ‘It feels really good’ – WATCH

Several groups of children made the ad-hoc donations, including 6-year-old Mia, who WXYZ Detroit notes had finished trick-or-treating, only to ask her father to go out again to collect candy specifically to leave at Schmitt’s door for Jacob.

“She felt bad and didn’t want anybody not to have candy on Halloween,” said Mia’s father James Sayen.

WATCH the video below from WXYZ… 

SHARE This Beautiful Spontaneous Camaraderie Between Children… 

Jordan Recognized as First in the World to Eradicate Leprosy

By
Andy Corbley
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Dr. Jamela Al-Raiby, WHO Representative to Jordan (left) and H.E Prof. Feras Ibrahim Hawari, Minister of Health, Jordan (right) - credit WHO, released.
Dr. Jamela Al-Raiby, WHO Representative to Jordan (left) and H.E Prof. Feras Ibrahim Hawari, Minister of Health, Jordan (right) – credit WHO, released.

It is a disease that has been plaguing commoners and kings alike for millennia (as well as armadillos), but for the first time in history, a country has completely eliminated leprosy.

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has completed this amazing achievement, and is the first country ever to be recognized as doing so by the WHO, whose Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, congratulated the nation for their diligent work on behalf of their citizenry.

Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract, and eyes. Left untreated, leprosy can cause permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs, and eyes. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent disability.

Leprosy is considered a neglected tropical disease (NTD) that still occurs in more than 120 countries. More than 200,000 new cases are reported every year.

It famously affected King Baldwin IV, the crusader monarch of Jerusalem from the 11th century, who is said to have worn a mask and veil to hide his disfiguration from his subjects.

“Leprosy has afflicted humanity for millennia, but country by country we are stopping transmission and freeing individuals, families, and communities from its suffering and stigma,” said Dr. Ghebreyesus.

Jordan’s success in targeting transmission saw the country go without any reported autochthonous cases of leprosy for over two decades, and after a thorough review by the WHO investigation team, it was awarded the distinction of being the first to eliminate the disease entirely.

MORE VICTORIES OVER DISEASE: Cape Verde Becomes the First African Country in 50 Years to Eradicate Malaria

“Jordan’s elimination of leprosy is an achievement that will transform the discourse around this age-old, stigmatizing disease,” said WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy. “As the first country to achieve this target globally, Jordan stands as an inspiration to other countries, encouraging them to enhance their efforts and overcome barriers to achieve this remarkable feat.”

The announcement follows on the heels of Egypt’s recognition as being a malaria-free country.

SHARE The March Of Medical Progress With Your Friends… 

“There was always just enough virtue in this republic to save it; sometimes none to spare, but still enough to meet the emergency.” – William Seward, U.S. Sec. of State during the Civil War

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “There was always just enough virtue in this republic to save it; sometimes none to spare, but still enough to meet the emergency.” – William Seward, U.S. Sec. of State during the Civil War

Photo by: Getty Images / Unsplash+

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Experts Demonstrate How Solar Farms Can Become Hubs for ‘Biodiversity Enhancement’ at Every Level

By
Andy Corbley
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credit - Aldward Castillo For Unsplash+
credit – Aldward Castillo For Unsplash+

In the same way that artificial coral reefs can jumpstart marine ecosystems, solar farms, if they’re constructed properly, can create more biodiversity than agricultural fields.

That’s the key point a coalition of Australian planners and researchers are trying to get across to land developers in the state of New South Wales (NSW), where a flat, grassy, sometimes riparian ecoregion called the Tablelands is seen as an optimal place for solar power stations.

In a planning guide entitled: Better Biodiversity on Solar Farms, innovative strategies and evidence are compiled that show how solar farms, often criticized as land-hogging eyesores, can be set up in a way that not only makes room for native biodiversity, but contributes actively to its flourishing.

The strategies are referred to as agrivoltaics and conservoltaics.

Regarding the former, GNN has already reported that it can benefit biodiversity, and can include obvious strategies like allowing native grasses, herbs, and forbs to grow underneath the solar panels which can remain pasture for animals like sheep and cows.

In both strategies, nature can complement technology. Rich groundcover vegetation growing underneath a solar panel has been shown in multiple studies to keep the panel cooler, thereby allowing it to generate electricity more efficiently. Surrounding a solar farm with a high hedge of native shrubs blocks the accumulation of dust and dirt blown off country roads, while also offering a haven of shelter and security to many native species.

“Planning a renewable energy development offers a chance to consider shared land use,” NSW regional coordinator for the Community Power Agency Heidi McElnea explains. “We know from projects being developed in Europe, the US and now emerging in Australia, that conservation and agriculture don’t need to come off second best to renewable energy.”

OTHER WAYS TO DO AG: This Wonder Tree is a Game-Changer for Rainforest Agriculture in Honduras And Deforested Sites Worldwide

The guide suggests that degraded agricultural land makes for a perfect site for solar projects as the landscape needs to be regenerated eventually anyway, while existing infrastructure like roads and grid connections can save developers money.

In other cases, where new developments are taking place, byproducts of leveling the ground such as rocks and logs can be set aside for later use reconstructing habitats for reptiles and insects in and around the solar farm.

Oregon State University

“Similar to artificial reefs in aquatic ecosystems, solar farms can serve as hubs for biodiversity enhancement, introducing structural complexity into the environment and providing crucial shelter and habitat for various species,” University of New England (Australia) researcher Dr. Eric Nordberg explained to ESD News.

OTHER WAYS TO DO SOLAR: California Begins Covering Canals with Solar Panels to Fight Drought

Using tracking systems that turn the solar panels to follow the path of the Sun throughout the sky helps ensure adequate sunlight to vegetation underneath the panels, while higher mounting racks can allow mammals to move underneath and use them for shade.

Any developer looking to build in the NSW countryside has to assess the biodiversity score of the property pre and post-development via a points total, and pay for credits to make up for each point lost under a certain requirement.

Part of that total will be the Vegetation Integrity Score, and it’s usually assumed until proven otherwise that this VIS will be zero, amounting to a significant addition in terms of cost and time for any project that could, by contrast, potentially be completely avoided by following the methods for cultivating native grasslands and habitat outlined in the guide, the authors conclude.

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New Study of 10,000+ People Revealed Regular Physical Activity Is Linked to Larger Healthier Brains

By
Andy Corbley
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- credit, Getty Images for Unsplash +
– credit, Getty Images for Unsplash +

In a new study, scientists seeking to better understand how physical activity protects against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s found it’s because exercise makes the brain larger.

2 to 3 days of moderate to vigorous physical activity was correlated to a significant increase in total brain matter and in specific regions like the temporal lobe and hippocampus.

To ensure the record is understood absolutely clearly—there’s no doubt that physical activity protects the brain from neurodegenerative diseases, including mild and severe cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s, Parkinsons, and other forms of dementia.

The Canadian/American research team sought to better understand the mechanisms behind this effect.

Light physical activity, number of steps taken per day, and number of city blocks traversed per day, are all modalities that have been used to measure connections between physical activity and preventing these diseases, showing that even pedestrian, non-athletic, non-sportive activity can be neuroprotective in some cases.

One of the main culprits, in a positive sense, for this effect is brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF is released into the brain during periods of exercise where it lowers neuro-inflammation, improves synaptic connection, and performs other functions too numerous to list here.

The study benefitted from the use of a deep-learning neural network that allowed for multiple MRI scans of the same brain to be analyzed rapidly.

10,000 participants (and their brains) with an average age of 54, but ranging from 18 to 97, who were about half men and half women made up the study cohorts.

Exercise was self-reported—an inevitable flaw when conducting large population studies like this one. Participants were asked how many days of the week they engaged in 10 minutes or more of moderate or vigorous intensity exercise.

While previous studies quantified moderate and vigorous intensity through heartbeats per minute, this and other more modern studies simply define moderate as being engaged in physical activity and still being able to talk, but not being able to sing. Vigorous was defined as being in a state where only a few words could be spoken before pausing to breathe.

10,125 brain MRI scans were examined, and it was determined that a higher number of days of moderate to vigorous physical activity “predicted larger normalized brain volumes in multiple regions, including total gray matter volume, total white matter volume, hippocampus, frontal cortex, parietal lobes, and occipital lobe,” the authors wrote.

OTHER BRAIN-BENEFITS OF EXERCISE: Visiting the Gym Today Could Trigger a Bright Idea Next Week, New Study Shows

This was particularly true for the occipital lobe, parietal lobe, hippocampus, posterior cingulate, and temporal lobe, which all had correlative significance (also known as the p-value) of 6 or higher. A result of 6 or higher is typically when scientists begin to take notice of correlations—trained as they are to take them always with a grain of salt.

Brain matter and size are all predictors of better cognitive and neurological health as we age, while neurodegenerative diseases are often found in less-dense brains.

ON THE TOPIC: The Mechanism Behind Memory Loss in Aging Was Identified By Scientists at Johns Hopkins

“The study included adults aged 18-97, showing it’s never too early or late to start,” wrote Chris Kresser, founder of the California Center for Functional Medicine, who was not involved in the study.

“While 75% of participants reported doing some regular physical activity, many didn’t meet standard exercise guidelines—yet still showed brain benefits. This adds to growing evidence that even modest physical activity can protect brain health.”

DEFENSE AGAINST DEMENTIA: Vitamin D Supplements May be Fending Off People’s Dementia, New Large Study Shows–Especially in Females

“Notably, moderate exercise appeared more beneficial than vigorous activity, suggesting you don’t need to be a super-athlete to reap the brain benefits,” he added.

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She Was Going to Take Her Own Life, Then Married the Train Driver Who Spotted Her on Tracks

By
Andy Corbley
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Charlotte Lay and her husband Dave on their wedding day - credit, SWNS ©
Charlotte Lay and her husband Dave on their wedding day – credit, SWNS ©

Charlotte stood on the train tracks ready for a train to come sweeping down the rails and end it all.

However the driver of that train, 47-year-old Dave Lay, had other plans.

Slamming the brakes after receiving notice of a pedestrian on the tracks, Lay brought the train to a halt and got down to talk with the suicidal woman for nearly half an hour before eventually getting her safely to the next platform.

Local police met the pair, and helped Charlotte get in contact with local mental health support workers then and there. Shaken but feeling good about what he was able to do, Dave departed, imagining the episode had finished.

But Charlotte had other plans.

Looking him up on Facebook the following day, she sent a message thanking him for the kindness he showed her on the rails at Crossflatts Station in West Yorkshire, England.

“I walked down the tracks and sat down, waiting,” Charlotte told the British media service SWNS. “I’m unsure who raised the alarm about my presence but when the next train came, it slowed and stopped far from me. I’m so grateful to Dave for stopping that day and being so patient and understanding.”

After Dave returned Charlotte’s text telling her he was available whenever she needed to speak to someone, they began exchanging messages on a daily basis. They met for a coffee after chatting for two months.

– credit, SWNS ©

Fast forward three years, and they tied the knot when Charlotte was 22 weeks pregnant with their first child.

MORE TALES LIKE THIS: She Was About to End it All, Until a Stranger She’d Never Meet Told Her ‘Don’t Jump’

Charlotte, a nurse at the British National Health Service, was previously diagnosed with major depressive disorder, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and emotionally unstable personality disorder.

Recalling her decision-making process from that fateful day in 2019, she said that she was on the train to work in her scrubs, but nothing felt right. Dave’s arrival had all the hallmarks, she remembered, of a person trained to de-escalate mental health crises.

“I once asked him if he’d ever had any de-escalation training, because he was brilliant that day,” she said. “The conversation from what I can remember was just about mundane things and about both our lives, but it was enough to break the crisis.”

“Life didn’t feel as heavy anymore. The next day I made it my mission to find the man who had been so kind to me.”

DE-ESCALATING DANGER: Surveillance Shows Jon Bon Jovi Stopping Woman From Jumping Off Bridge in Nashville

Dave told the BBC he simply “said all the things he wished he could’ve said” to other people who have committed suicide, and for his part was desperately happy to hear from Charlotte, as he had no way of knowing if she ever approached mental health services, or if she made another attempt to enter the House of Hades.

“I needed to know she was all right. I’d contacted police to try to find out what happened to her and just wanted to make sure she was safe,” he told the BBC. “I felt like I had a duty to make sure she was all right. We’d had that rapport built by the side of the track.”

HEROES LIKE DAVE: China ‘Angel’ Stops 469 Suicidal People Jumping off Bridge Over 21 years

Charlotte says she hopes that by sharing her story, people will realize that, although it would be ideal if we all had specialist training to deal with a mental health crisis, we are all nevertheless capable of helping by being empathic and present.

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“May none but the honest and wise ever rule under this roof.” – President John Adams (on his second day in the White House)

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “May none but the honest and wise ever rule under this roof.” – President John Adams (on his second day in the White House)

Photo by: Srikanta H. U

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Lyft Ride-Hailing Service to ‘Lyft Up’ Voters, Offering Discounted or Free Rides to the Polls

By
Andy Corbley
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Photo by Marilyn Tran on Unsplash
Photo by Marilyn Tran on Unsplash

With tomorrow being the day of decision, it’s worthwhile to take a second and applaud an American business ensuring that citizens can exercise their right to vote.

The ride-hailing firm Lyft is operating its ‘Lyft Up Voting Access’ program for the tenth year in a row, offering discounted or free rides to polling stations.

One of the major impediments to voting in America is very often distance to a polling place and or access to decent transportation to get there.

To that end, organizations like the NAACP have partnered with Lyft to help ensure members without reliable transportation had the ability to get to the polls.

The Lyft Up program’s partners also include the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), and the Hispanic Federation, who have, along with the NAACP, all been given codes to distribute to their members which can be redeemed for free or discounted rides with Lyft.

“For many Americans, especially Black Americans, accessible and affordable transportation continues to impede access to the ballot box,” Johnson said. “The NAACP is proud to continue working with our partners at Lyft to create pathways to the polls through free and low-cost rideshare services. Together, we will make sure every vote is counted and every voice is heard.”

A 2021 study from Boston/Harvard universities found that only 36% of registered voters without a car voted that year, compared to 66% who owned a car.

MORE GOOD NEWS THIS ELECTION SEASON: Vet the Vote Recruits Over 163,000 Poll Workers for US Elections Dedicated to Rules and Fair Play

“Every American citizen should be able to exercise their right to vote without worrying about the cost or difficulty of getting to the polls,” Lyft CEO David Risher said. “Everyone — from a driver who’s given a thousand rides to a rider who hasn’t taken her first one yet — deserves to have their voice heard at the polls. Our Voting Access Program is a great way Lyft can be a force for good.”

In its 10 years of operation, Lyft Up has helped more than 3 million people exercise their right to vote, and the goal this season is to increase that volume by 25%.

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Parents Are Preparing ‘Gen Alpha’ Kids for the Future by Prioritizing Creative Thinking

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Good News Network
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By Diana Light For Unsplash+
By Diana Light For Unsplash+

Parents are prioritizing creative activities with their young children to prepare them for the future, according to a new poll.

The survey of 2,000 parents of Gen Alpha children—born after 2010—examined early childhood parenting and playtime.

Conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by Littlest Pet Shop, the survey found that creativity is a top consideration for parents. Indeed, fully 85% agreed that it is a skill that will help their children stand out in the future job market.

When asked which skills they believe are most essential in childhood development, creativity topped parents’ lists for nearly 7 in ten respondents, with problem-solving tied for second with social skills (63%).

Additionally, it asked how parents believe artificial intelligence (AI) might impact the future careers of this generation and ways they’re planning ahead for it.

Nearly half (47%) are worried about AI impacting job availability for their kids and 45% are concerned AI will harm their children’s ability to generate new ideas and original thoughts.

Taking a step back to see the whole picture, 68% of parents reported that today’s children are more creative than they were at their age—but more than one-third (36%) of parents believed that their child’s creativity and imagination will likely decline as they get older.

Four in five parents (81%) also agreed that storytelling should be a part of their child’s daily schedule. To foster the skill of creative storytelling, parents are reading to their kids and telling them stories. 35% are even acting out stories with their children and 30% are joining kids to play dress up.

“The importance of cultivating creativity in early childhood development can’t be emphasized enough,” said Maureen Dilger, a vice president at Basic Fun!, makers of Littlest Pet Shop. “And under the umbrella of creativity, there’s creative storytelling—an essential skill that kids will carry and use throughout their entire lives and in their careers.”

TEACHING TIPS: Handwriting Strengthens Brain Connections and Boosts Learning More Than Tapping on a Keyboard

Nearly all parents (91%) said toys are important for imagination development in children and almost half (46%) will prioritize buying toys that help with creativity building and imagination. 36% also prioritize purchasing hands-on toys for their kids.

Parents are cultivating creativity during playtime by encouraging drawing (62%), listening to music (55%), completing puzzles (48%) and dancing (40%).

However, three-quarters of parents surveyed (76%) wish they had more ideas for engaging in imaginative play with their child.

ALLOW ARTISTS TO BLOOM: Mom Lets Her Baby Scribble on the Walls–Now He’s A Talented Young Artist

“The study found that although parents do want to cultivate creativity and imagination in their kids, they wish they had more tools to encourage these skills even more,” said Dilger.

PARENTS, KEEP IN MIND: Top Skills American Teens Want to Learn and Do After School

Buried 3,000-Year-old Spade is One of the Oldest Wooden Tools Ever Found in UK

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Good News Network
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Archaeologists carefully lift the fragile 3,000-year-old spade from the ground onto a board – Wessex Archaeology for the Moors at Arne project at Poole Harbour
Archaeologists carefully lift the fragile 3,000-year-old spade from the ground onto a board – Wessex Archaeology for the Moors at Arne project at Poole Harbour

Archaeologists have unearthed a 3,000-year-old spade, one of the oldest and most complete wooden tools ever discovered in the UK.

The spade was discovered during archaeological excavations in Dorset, England, by Wessex Archaeology working on the Moors-at-Arne project at Poole Harbour along the south-east coast.

The oak spade dates back to the Bronze Age and would likely have been an important tool for its owner due to the challenging and waterlogged landscape—which was key in preserving the object.

“The moment the spade started to be uncovered, the team on site knew it was a very special object,” said Ed Treasure from Wessex Archaeology, who led the environmental analysis of the spade.

“Now we’re able to analyze it here in the laboratory, and we’re starting to reveal its story.

Radiocarbon dating of the wood itself confirms it is c. 3500-3400 years old, placing it firmly in the Middle Bronze Age.

“This is an incredibly exciting moment, and we’re looking forward to finding out more as the process unfolds.”

Crafted from one solid piece of oak, it would likely have taken many hours of work to craft, making it a precious tool to a Bronze Age worker.

ALSO FOUND IN UK: Hoard of 1,000-yo Coins Unearthed in Farmer’s Field Nets Millions for Metal Detecting Friends–and Treasure for UK

3D model of prehistoric wooden spade discovered at The Moors at Arne – Wessex Archaeology via SWNS

By that time, people were settled into rural agricultural lifestyles, but little evidence was found to suggest there was a permanent settlement where the spade was uncovered. Instead, archaeologists are currently exploring the idea that the site was visited seasonally.

“We’re working across a vast landscape that is dominated by nature with very little to suggest to the naked eye that much human activity has taken place here,” said Greg Chuter, the Environment Agency Archaeologist leading the program.

“However, just beneath the surface we’ve uncovered evidence of the ways humans have cleverly adapted to the challenges presented by this particular environment for over 3,000 years.

“The spade is a fascinating part of the story and as research continues we’re looking forward to exploring the relationship between the spade and the ditch, and what else they can tell us about life here 3,000 years ago.”

LOOK: How a Chatty Motorist Led to One of the Biggest Finds in Greek Archaeology–the Lost 2,800-year-old Temple of Artemis

Only one other Bronze Age wooden tool like this has been recovered in Britain—discovered in a Cheshire mine in 1875 and eventually radiocarbon dated to reveal its age of nearly 4,000 years old.

Peter Robertson, Site Manager of the Dorset nature reserves says, “It’s been amazing to learn about the history of the RSPB land at Arne Moors.

Wessex Archaeology have created a detailed, interactive 3D model of the spade which can be viewed online.

GORGEOUS: 2,000-Year-old Roman Mosaic Floor Decorated with Sea Creatures Discovered in England

“The discovery of this incredible wooden spade really brings that history to life as you imagine someone fashioning and using it 3,400 years ago.”

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