U.S. food-maker General Mills is the latest multinational firm to announce it will stop buying palm oil from companies accused of destroying rain forests. Other U.S. companies — Unilever, Nestle, Kraft and Burger King — have announced similar shifts in policy.
The maker of popular brands like Cheerios, Betty Crocker and Hamburger Helper said this week it would try to procure all of its palm oil from ‘responsible and sustainable sources’ by 2015, according to a report in USA Today.
U.S. food-maker General Mills is the latest multinational firm to announce it will stop buying palm oil from companies accused of destroying rain forests. Other U.S. companies — Unilever, Nestle, Kraft and Burger King — have announced similar shifts in policy.
The maker of popular brands like Cheerios, Betty Crocker and Hamburger Helper said this week it would try to procure all of its palm oil from ‘responsible and sustainable sources’ by 2015, according to a report in USA Today.
The 2010 MacArthur Foundation ‘Genius Award’ recipients were announced yesterday and include a stone carver, a quantum astrophysicist, a jazz pianist, a high school physics teacher, a theater director, a marble sculptor, and a scientist working to save the world’s honey bees. All were selected for their creativity, originality, and potential to make important contributions in the future.
The recipients learned through a surprise phone call from the Foundation, that they would each receive a $500,000 “no strings attached” grant for their work over the next five years. MacArthur Fellowships come without stipulations and reporting requirements and offer Fellows unprecedented freedom and opportunity to reflect, create, and explore.
“This group of Fellows, along with the more than 800 who have come before, reflects the tremendous breadth of creativity among us,” said Robert Gallucci, president of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. “They are explorers and risk takers, contributing to their fields and to society in innovative, impactful ways. They provide us all with inspiration and hope for the future.”
According to the Foundation’s website, “the fellowship is not a reward for past accomplishment, but rather an investment in a person’s originality, insight, and potential.”
Among the 2010 recipients are:
* a type designer crafting letterforms of unequaled elegance and precision that span the migration of text from the printed page to computer screens (Matthew Carter);
* a biomedical animator illuminating cellular and molecular processes for a wide range of audiences through scientifically accurate and aesthetically rich animations (Drew Berry);
* a sign language linguist focusing on the unique structure and evolution of sign languages and how they differ from spoken languages and each other (Carol Padden);
* a population geneticist mining DNA sequence data for insights into the mechanisms of evolution, origins of genetic diversity, and population migration (Carlos D. Bustamante);
* a sculptor transforming her signature medium of marble into intricate, seemingly weightless works of art (Elizabeth Turk);
* a public high school physics teacher instilling passion for the physical sciences in young students through an innovative curriculum that integrates robotics (Amir Abo-Shaeer);
* an American historian disentangling the interracial bloodlines of Thomas Jefferson to shed fresh light on our colonial past (Annette Gordon-Reed);
* a fiction writer drawing readers, through spare and understated storytelling, into compelling explorations of her characters’ struggles in both China and the United States (Yiyun Li);
* a computer security scientist peeling back the interactions among software, hardware, and networks to decrease the vulnerability of computer systems to remote attack (Dawn Song); and
* an entomologist protecting one of the world’s most important pollinators — honey bees — from decimation by disease (Marla Spivak).
Including this year’s crop, 828 people have been named MacArthur Fellows, ranging in age from 18 to 82 at the time of their selection, since the program began thirty years ago in 1981.
The selection process begins with formal nominations. Hundreds of anonymous nominators assist the Foundation in identifying people to be considered for a MacArthur Fellowship. Nominations are accepted only from invited nominators, a list that is constantly renewed throughout the year. They are chosen from many fields and challenged to identify people who demonstrate exceptional creativity and promise. A Selection Committee of roughly a dozen members, who also serve anonymously, meets regularly to review files, narrow the list, and make final recommendations to the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The number of Fellows selected each year is not fixed; typically, it varies between 20 and 25. (More about program at MacFound.org)
The 2010 MacArthur Foundation ‘Genius Award’ recipients were announced yesterday and include a stone carver, a quantum astrophysicist, a jazz pianist, a high school physics teacher, a theater director, a marble sculptor, and a scientist working to save the world’s honey bees. All were selected for their creativity, originality, and potential to make important contributions in the future.
The recipients learned through a surprise phone call from the Foundation, that they would each receive a $500,000 “no strings attached” grant for their work over the next five years. MacArthur Fellowships come without stipulations and reporting requirements and offer Fellows unprecedented freedom and opportunity to reflect, create, and explore.
Linda Fondren is leading a one-woman crusade against fat in her hometown of Vicksburg, Mississippi, a state with the dubious distinction of being the fattest in the nation.
So far, her plan, which includes free passes to her gym on Saturdays, has worked. In the past year, the city of Vicksburg has lost a combined 15,000 pounds with many residents dedicating their efforts to obese loved ones who have died prematurely.
WATCH the video below, or read the story at CBS News…
Linda Fondren is leading a one-woman crusade against fat in her hometown of Vicksburg, Mississippi, a state with the dubious distinction of being the fattest in the nation.
So far, her plan, which includes free passes to her gym on Saturdays, has worked. In the past year, the city of Vicksburg has lost a combined 15,000 pounds with many residents dedicating their efforts to obese loved ones who have died prematurely.
WATCH the video below, or read the story at CBS News…
A decade ago, Brockton High School was a case study in failure. Among the 4,100 mostly low-income students, one in three dropped out.
Then a handful of teachers decided to take action. They persuaded administrators to let them organize a schoolwide campaign to improve instruction with a focus on reading and writing.
Their efforts paid off quickly. This year and last, Brockton outperformed 90 percent of Massachusetts high schools.
A new movie, Waiting for Superman, portrays five small charter schools — most with only a few hundred students — as the way forward for American schooling.
But, the success of Brockton and other large schools, is featured in a new Harvard study, “How High Schools Become Exemplary,” which essentially busts the myth that small class size is a requirement for solving the educational crisis.
(READ the article in the NY Times)
Louise and Frank Fargo started an unusual ministry outside churches in Everett, Washington two years ago. The effort is summed up by a large sign that reads, “Shower to the People.”
With classical music playing in the background, the couple provides homeless people the opportunity to indulge in a comfort most of us take for granted: A shower, towels and toiletries; toothbrushes, soap and deodorant; new underwear, socks and clean, used T-shirts.
(READ the story w/ photos at the Daily Herald)
History shows that less than one-quarter of low-income students at community colleges overcome the challenges of earning a degree.
Yesterday, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced that New York City, San Francisco, Mesa, Ariz., and Riverside, Calif., will each receive $3 million over the next three years to fund programs designed to boost college graduation rates.
(READ the AP story in WTOP)
On Thursday, California mandated state utilities to increase by 33 percent their use of wind, solar, and other renewables by 2020.
And although most of that wattage could come from new power sources planned within the state, experts and industry representatives say it could be a boon to wind developers in Montana and Wyoming; solar entrepreneurs in New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada; and other companies planning major transmission lines that would criss-cross the region.
(READ the AP story in the LA Times)
In a historic effort to rescue the 24 survivors of a pod of 80 pilot whales that beacame stranded on a stormy beach in New Zealand, officials are utilizing trucks and cranes to transport them 30 km away to calmer waters.
Officials have already successfully transported six of the animals.
(WATCH the video from BBC News)
Carl Drews, a software engineer studying a weather phenomenon known as “wind set-down” has used a computer model to simulate how Moses may have witnessed the “parting of the sea” on his exodus out of Egypt.
Moses is an important religious figure in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, too. Now science has provided a convincing theory for the rest of us, as to how Moses was able to lead the Hebrew people out of Egypt and across the Red Sea.
The biblical account describes high winds gusting through the night prior to the escape route being uncovered. Drews matches the descriptions of the local geography to come up with a computer model that resulted in the “miracle” being readily duplicated.
The number of animals in Uganda’s national parks and game reserves has surged over the past decade.
The latest figures show that the population of some species has doubled since 1999, benefiting from improved monitoring and the expulsion of rebels from the country.
Species on the rise include buffalos, giraffes and elephants.
(READ more in the BBC)
What’s the best way to survive inside a falling elevator?
As for jumping up in the air just before the elevator hits bottom, it only delays the inevitable.
The best way to survive in a falling elevator is to lie down on your back (using your buttocks as a cushion).
(READ the Sciencey Blog by Robert Krulwich via NPR)
White descendants of the nation’s first professionally trained African-American doctor gathered in a cemetery on Sunday to dedicate a tombstone at the unmarked grave where he was buried in 1865.
Antoinette Martignoni, the 91-year-old great-granddaughter of James McCune Smith, learned recently of the family connection.
(READ the AP story via Google)
A Scotsman providing free daily meals to 400,000 children, a former child soldier clearing land mines in Cambodia and a Texas builder giving injured vets mortgage-free homes are among the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2010.
This year marks CNN’s fourth annual global search for everyday individuals changing the world. Since January, the network has aired weekly profiles of the Heroes, chosen from more than 10,000 nominations submitted by viewers in 100 countries. The top 10 — remarkable individuals chosen for their sacrifices and accomplishments — were revealed by CNN on Thursday.
A panel comprised of luminaries recognized for their own dedication to public service selected this year’s top 10 CNN Heroes. The blue ribbon panel includes humanitarians, activists and philanthropists such as Muhammad Ali, Sir Richard Branson and Yo-Yo Ma.
In addition to the $25,000, each of this year’s finalists will be honored at a televised gala, the CNN Heroes All-Star Tribute, airing on Thanksgiving night, November 25.
The global broadcast, with Anderson Cooper as the host, will culminate with the announcement of the CNN Hero of the Year, selected by the public in an online poll that began Thursday. The individual receiving the most votes will receive an additional $100,000.
Here are the top 10 Heroes of 2010:
– Guadalupe Arizpe De La Vega founded a hospital in Juarez, Mexico, that cares for about 900 people daily — regardless of their ability to pay. Despite the escalating violence in the city, the 74-year-old travels there several times a week to make sure residents get the care they need. Watch the video or read about Guadalupe.
– Susan Burton was once caught in a cycle of addiction and incarceration. Today, her nonprofit A New Way of Life Reentry Project provides sober housing and other support services to formerly incarcerated women in California. Watch video or read about Susan.
– With her weight-loss challenge, Shape Up Vicksburg, Linda Fondren is helping her Mississippi hometown battle the bulge. Through free fitness activities and nutrition classes, residents have lost nearly 15,000 pounds to date. Watch video or read about Linda.
– Anuradha Koirala is fighting to prevent the trafficking and sexual exploitation of Nepal’s women and girls. Since 1993, she and her group, Maiti Nepal, have helped rescue and rehabilitate more than 12,000 victims. Watch video or read about Anuradha.
– Narayanan Krishnan brings hot meals and dignity to India’s homeless and destitute — 365 days per year — through his nonprofit Akshaya Trust. Since 2002, he has served more than 1.2 million meals. Learn more about Narayanan here, on Good News Network.
– Since 1992, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow has dedicated his life to helping people in need. Today, his program, Mary’s Meals — run from a tin shed in the Scottish highlands — provides free daily meals to more than 400,000 children around the world. Learn more about Magnus here, on Good News Network.
– Harmon Parker is using his masonry skills to save lives. Since 1997 he has helped build 45 footbridges over perilous rivers in Kenya, protecting people from flash floods and predatory animals. The bridges also connect isolated villagers to valuable resources. Learn more about Harmon here, on Good News Network.
– Aki Ra is helping to make his native Cambodia safer by clearing land mines — many of which he planted years ago as a child soldier. Since 1993, he and his Cambodian Self Help Demining organization have cleared about 50,000 mines and unexploded weapons. Watch video or read about Aki Ra.
– Wadongo, 23, invented a way for rural families in Kenya to replace smoky kerosene and firelight with solar power. Through his Use Solar, Save Lives program, he’s distributed an estimated 10,000 solar lanterns for free. Watch the video or read about Evans.
– Since 2005, Texas home builder Dan Wallrath has given injured Iraq and Afghanistan veterans homes of their own — mortgage-free. He and his Operation Finally Home team have five new custom homes under construction. Learn more about Dan here, on the Good News Network.
Viewers can go to CNNHeroes.com to participate in the poll, which continues through November 18.
A Scotsman providing free daily meals to 400,000 children, a former child soldier clearing land mines in Cambodia and a Texas builder giving injured vets mortgage-free homes are among the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2010.
This year marks CNN’s fourth annual global search for everyday individuals changing the world. Since January, the network has aired weekly profiles of the Heroes, chosen from more than 10,000 nominations submitted by viewers in 100 countries. The top 10 — remarkable individuals chosen for their sacrifices and accomplishments — were revealed by CNN on Thursday.
Here’s one benefit of the new federal health care reform law: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is refunding nearly $156 million to ratepayers.
The state’s largest health insurance company, BCBS said it was refunding the money, held in a reserve account designed to pay future claims and help keep down big increases in future health policy rates, because it was no longer needed.
The company is also lowering its proposed rate hike to 5.4 percent next year, down from seven.
(READ the full story at Charlotte Observer)
Now, the super-thick yogurt, with its high-quality protein benefit, has become a highly popular product.
Greek yogurt has all the benefits of a high-quality protein without the fat and without the calories — about 18 grams of protein per container.
To compete with smaller companies, large yogurt manufacturers like Stoneyfield and Dannon now offer their versions of the tasty product on grocer shelves.
(READ more at the L.A. Times)
Google yesterday announced the five winners of Project 10^100, a contest of ideas for changing the world by helping as many people as possible.
150,000 big ideas were submitted from more than 170 countries. Online voting pared down Google’s 16 favorites to five winners. These inspiring projects, which includes The Khan Academy, twice featured in the Good News Network, received the most votes and were awarded a total of $10 million to work on their solutions to each of these global challenges: (From Google’s Blog)
Idea: Make educational content available online for free
Project funded: The Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization that provides high-quality, free education to anyone, anywhere via an online library of more than 1,600 teaching videos. We are providing $2 million to support the creation of more courses and to enable the Khan Academy to translate their core library into the world’s most widely spoken languages.
Idea: Enhance science and engineering education
Project funded: FIRST is a non-profit organization that promotes science and math education around the world through team competition. Its mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by giving them real world experience working with professional engineers and scientists. We are providing $3 million to develop and jump start new student-driven robotics team fundraising programs that will empower more student teams to participate in FIRST.
Idea: Make government more transparent
Project funded: Public.Resource.Org is a non-profit organization focused on enabling online access to public government documents in the United States. We are providing $2 million to Public.Resource.Org to support the Law.Gov initiative, which aims to make all primary legal materials in the United States available to all.
Idea: Green innovation in public transport
Project funded: Shweeb is a concept for short to medium distance, urban personal transport, using pod-like human-powered vehicles on a monorail. We are providing $1 million to fund research and development to test Shweeb’s technology for an urban setting.
Idea: Provide quality education to African students
Project funded: The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) is a center for math and science education and research in Cape Town, South Africa. AIMS’ primary focus is a one-year bridge program for recent university graduates that helps build skills and knowledge prior to master’s and Ph.D. study. We are providing $2 million to fund the opening of additional AIMS centers to promote graduate level math and science study in Africa.
