As world leaders in Copenhagen try to thrash out a deal on tackling climate change, a small village in northern Italy is providing inspiration to other small communities in Europe with its own initiatives to protect the environment. In recent years, Varese Ligure has used solar and wind power to drastically cut its carbon emissions, and provide dozens of jobs to residents.

Watch the AFP video below, or at Clip Syndicate.

Troubled teens in the nation’s capital stay out of trouble as they learn how to build handcrafted boats along the Potomac River. The youth learn carpentry and job skills that will serve throughout their lives.

The program’s founder says it costs just $15,000 to subsidize a teen’s training for one year, compared to $100,000 for incarceration.

Watch the Making a Difference video below, or at MSNBC…

The Ugandan parliament unanimously passed a bill banning female genital mutilation, a traditional, but barbaric, rite performed on young girls that has sparked an international outcry.

Convicted offenders face 10 years in prison, but if the girl dies during the act, those involved will get a life sentence, according to officials in the east African country, one of several to still allow the practice in Africa and Asia.

(Continue reading at CNN.com)

Photo courtesy of Sun Star

In another victory for equal rights, Houston became the largest U.S. city to elect an openly gay mayor, with voters handing a solid victory to City Controller Annise Parker after a hotly contested runoff.

Parker defeated former city attorney Gene Locke with 53.6 percent of the vote Saturday in a race that had a turnout of only 16.5 percent.

(Continue reading the AP story at NPR)