Despite challenges in the US economy, American corporations have heard the call and responded to the May earthquake disaster in China with cash donations, needed services and relief supplies like medicines and respiratory masks. Donors range from the largest firms — Walmart, ExxonMobil and General Motors — to smaller firms such as Robert A. Kapp & Associates out of Kentucky, a manufacturer of school marching band uniforms and flags. 122 firms are on record as donating and their ongoing work will push the pledge total even higher in the weeks and months ahead.
US Firms Give $76 Million in Aid to China Quake Relief
UN Increases Food Aid by $1.2 Billion
The UN World Food Program said today it will provide $1.2 billion in additional food aid in the 62 countries hit hardest by the crisis caused by a surge in food and fuel prices.
“With soaring food and fuel prices, hunger is on the march and we must act now,” WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran said in written remarks delivered today to the food summit taking place in Rome.
Mother’s Resolve Leads to Medical Breakthrough for Son With Rare Fatal Disease
The slightest touch of his skin made it fall off, confining the two-year old in head-to-toe bandages. But, thanks to his mother’s resolve and a stem cell breakthrough at the University of Minnesota, the New Jersey boy is healing and society may have a new cure for a deadly disease. Fantastic video and story at KARE-11.com
Best Buy Tests Free Electronics Recycling Program in 117 Stores
Best Buy Co. has launched a new electronics recycling program in 117 U.S. stores to help consumers keep their old outdated TV’s, VCR’s, computers and other electronics out of overflowing landfills.
117 stores in Baltimore, San Francisco, and Minnesota began inviting customers to bring in no more than two (2) items per day, per household, for recycling at no charge. Customers can bring items such as televisions and monitors up to 32″, computers, phones, cameras, and other electronics devices and peripherals.
Museum Opens at Woodstock Concert Site (Video)
The Woodstock experience has been turned into a museum on the original property where kids of the 1960’s gathered for music, love and freedom. A museum was opened on Monday, part of a $100 million music and arts center featuring film footage from the original event and exhibits on all the themes and culture of the decade.
The Silver Lining of High Gas Prices in America
For decades in Europe, prices at the pumps have been double what they were in the US. Their cars are smaller, bikes a viable commuter choice. Today, as gas prices double from what they were last year, Americans are beginning to change their habits, look to smaller cars — and hybrids — and consider more public transportation options. Maybe there is a silver lining in higher oil prices… (I know I have checked my tire pressure, changed the air filter — which made a big difference — and drive with a gentler foot on the pedal, all to save gas.)
Burning Incense Eases Depression and Anxiety
“Researchers stated that most present day worshipers assume that incense burning has only a symbolic meaning. However, there is much more going on when frankincense wafts into your nostrils.” (Full story at Natural News)
Making Renewable Gasoline – From Algae
“A San Diego start-up says it is using algae to make oil that can be refined into gasoline and other fuels that are both renewable and carbon-neutral, and it plans to produce 10,000 barrels a day within five years… Making fuel from algae is nothing new, and a lot of organizations, from the smallest start-up to the biggest oil companies, are trying to find the best way to do it. But most of the effort has been on replacing diesel fuel or kerosene. Sapphire Energy wants to replace petroleum.” (Full story in Wired Blog)
Blind Iraqi Girl to See Mom for the First Time Thanks to US Troops
US troops are helping a blind iraqi girl who needs surgery. She will be able to see her mother for the first time thanks to a world-class surgeon and the American soldiers who wanted to help and found donations. (more here)
Sewing Portable Beds for Down and Out Families
A finalist in this year’s Australian of the Year awards, Jean Madden, a young mother, is helping her country’s 100,000 homeless brace for another winter by providing warm, comfortable waterproof roll-up beds. The Street Swags are sewn by prisoners, packaged by Catholic school boys and paid for with public donations.
She came up with the idea of the bags while watching a documentary on homelessness that highlighted the negative effects lack of sleep and sleeping on cement had on physical and mental health. (The Age has the full story ) Thanks to Andy S. for submitting the inspiring link! … Donate at the Web Address: www.streetswags.org
5 People Who’ll Make You Feel Good About the Earth’s Future
“When contemplating the world’s environmental problems, it’s sometimes hard not to feel like humanity is screwed. But then you attend an event like Future Cities, a panel of sustainability experts held last night at the World Science Festival, and it seems like we might just figure out how to thrive on this planet after all.” (Wired News has the report)
We’re Fixing the Site for IE 6 Users
After hearing from a number of people whose screens always freeze up when visiting the Good News Network, I have set my webmaster to work trying to clean up the code so that Internet Explorer 6 users will have a problem-free experience on the website. I have extended the Charter Membership through June so those with technical trouble will be assured BEFORE they sign-up and purchase.
Let us know if you are having improved performance, because we’ve already done a lot on this.
My Hero Calls Me Mama
Chance was named before his birth, not knowing how fitting it would be. Born after only 28 weeks of gestation, the baby — and his mother — faced the grim possibility of not surviving. When preeclampsia struck, their fate rested in the hands of God.
Mom remained in intensive care for 10 anxiety-ridden days while her tiny son struggled to live. After three months in Neonatal Intensive Care the fragile infant went home, but each day was filled with uncertainty. The doctors had been straightforward about Chance’s future. He faced the probability of numerous health problems: mental retardation, cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness, and cystic fibrosis, to name only a few. Soon, two additional obstacles were thrown in his path-the need for kidney and heart surgery.
Inexplicably, Chance dodged all of these maladies.
At two years old, Chance keeps a hectic schedule with various physical therapy appointments — a total of seven each week. After being told he would never crawl, he does crawl, even though he lags behind others his age. His vocabulary is limited but continues to expand. He communicates joyously giving high-fives. With the little boy’s determination and progress to date, hopes are high for all he is yet to achieve. Despite the monumental challenges that have been encountered thus far, Chance fills his mom’s life with love, light and joy.
When playtime rolls around, Chance Armstrong prefers painting far and above any toys or other activities.The two year-old was featured in his first art exhibit at City Arts in Wichita, Kansas. With the proceeds, he and his single mother aim for a noteworthy goal — earning enough that Chance can enroll in Dolphin Therapy in Florida, an activity that has proven quite beneficial for children with special needs.
What makes finger painting (and sometimes toes) so stimulating to this youngster? Is it the slick feel of the paint or is he intrigued with color? Is it both?
Even though he has not yet learned his colors, Mom can now decipher which one he is asking for; he is quite finicky about which hues go into each design he produces. They’ve spent countless hours creating works of art and have developed a system that works seamlessly. Chance giggles and his bright eyes dance with every new masterpiece, and he only stops when Mom says it’s bath time. Each art session leaves him smeared and smudged-sporting a rainbow of colors from head to toe, a near duplicate of the canvas just completed. And, Mom doesn’t fare much better!
In an interview before the art exhibit, his mother pointed out, “Many people go their entire lifetime without ever meeting one of their heroes; I am truly blessed and honored that my hero calls me mama!”
Will Chance one day become a famous artist? Only time will tell.
City Arts deserves a huge thank you for their
efforts in assisting this young fellow with his dolphin therapy goal.
Neurologist, Choir Explore Music’s Healing Power
SCIENCE- Noted neurologist Oliver Sacks believes in the healing effect of music for people suffering from such diseases as Tourette’s syndrome, Parkinson’s, autism and Alzheimer’s. His recent book, Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain
Solid Signs of Progress for New Orleans Since Storm
As the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina nears, it is beneficial to search for signs of recovery and progress. What can be found is a city showing big improvements in many fields, from housing and education to business and entertainment, greening its urban neighborhoods and creating improved parks and recreation areas.
New Orleans, the city that was founded in 1718 and named for Philippe II d’Orléans, is back to 87% of its pre-storm population and, for those that stayed or returned, jobs are plentiful with an unemployment rate of only 3%. In addition to the tourist industry which has always thrived in the Big Easy, skilled jobs are available in healthcare, education and construction. Jobs in New Orleans are also paying more (e.g., post-Katrina Burger King started offering hiring bonuses of $5,000 if you work there for a year and Starbucks is paying as much as do child care centers). Urban planners predict that the need for skilled construction workers will remain strong for the next decade.
‘Guerdon’ Crowns 13-year-old Spelling Bee Champ
The new National Spelling Bee champion is 13-year-old Sameer Mishra who aced “guerdon,” a word that appropriately means “something that one has earned or gained.” Take a look at the many oddball words aced by this boy to earn his cup…(Video)
NJ Hospital Gives Palestinian Teen New Hope (Video)
A Palestinian teenager who lost an eye during fighting between Israelis and Palestinians several years ago is receiving the gift of reconstructive surgery at a hospital in New Jersey.
Who’s Happier — Older or Younger?
More eye-opening research finds that the happiest group in America are the seniors, with older adults more socially active than the typical stereotype of the shut-in senior suggests. (Associated Press via USA)
Hero is Saving Children from Cambodia’s Trash Heap
A woman saw children eating from trash cans and was overcome by an urge to help them become educated.
“Even though they don’t have money and live on the sidewalk, they deserve to go to school,” she thought.
Six years later Phymean Noun is helping Cambodian’s poorest kids do just that.
Within weeks, she quit her job and spent $30,000 of her own money to get her first school off the ground.
— READ and WATCH the video from CNN, here.
— Donate via Phymean Noun’s website: People Improvement Organization (PIO)
— Check out this YouTube video from the group — lovely and inspiring!
Fewer Felons Returning to Prison
“The number of felons walking back through Illinois prison doors for another stay dropped to an alltime low since 2004,” thanks to statewide reforms. Lower recidivism translated into $64 million in prison costs savings for taxpayers as convictions among parolees were reduced by 18 percent, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.
“To keep the numbers on a steady decline, the governor tapped faith-based leaders to execute recommendations from the governor’s four-pronged program to help keep recidivism low. In collaboration with the Illinois Dept. of Human Services and others, Rev. Bryon Brazier will work with community- based groups to help ex-felons get job training.” (The Chicago Defender has the story)