Australia’s government said Thursday it hoped to phase out the use of plastic bags from the nation’s shopping centres by the end of the year.
Australia to End Plastic Bags in Supermarkets
Dog’s Bite Saves Boy and Pals From House Fire
“A black Labrador that bit a 13-year-old boy’s foot repeatedly, waking him up, is being credited with saving the boy and two of his friends from a house fire.” (Associated Press via MSNBC)
Swedes to Use Body Heat to Warm Offices
“A Swedish company plans to harness the body heat generated by thousands of commuters in Stockholm’s railway station using it for heat in a nearby office building.” (Associated Press)
Harvard Professor Recommends Good News Daily
The Good News Network is an extremely important initiative. I recommend that each person makes it a habit to visit the website at least once a day. Positive information benefits us emotionally, physically, and mentally. It can contribute in a meaningful way to a happier and healthier life.– Tal Ben-Shahar, Harvard University psychology professor
With Diet, Exercise and Friendship, Man Loses 400 Pounds
In a courageous journey of personal transformation, fueled by friendship and the ability to trust after so many years, a man is able to lose 400 pounds. He is now best friends with his trainer, fitness correspondent for Good Morning Arizona, Chris Powell. (Video, photos and story at ABC News)
New Car Can Run on Air (Video)
The French and Indians have produced a new car that is powered by compressed air. Not only is it good for the environment, it’s good for your pocketbook, traveling 200 km on a tank of compressed air costing 1.5 Euro per fill-up.
Top Ten Good News Stories of 2007!
Looking back and choosing the top good news stories of the year was a happy exercise and I’ve concluded that 2007 was a good year! Here is my annual countdown of the Top Ten Good News:
10) U.S. Cancer Death Rates Continue to Fall for Men, Women and Children – Thanks to advances in treatment, fewer U.S. cancer patients are dying. Death rate are dropping,
nearly across the board, more than 2 percent per year from 2002 through 2004, for lung, prostate and colorectal cancers in men, as well as for breast and colon cancer in women. The declines recorded nearly doubled the rate of the preceding decade, according to the federal health agencies and the American Cancer Society. Cancer deaths among kids and teens in the U.S. have also become rarer, decreasing by 1.7% per year from 1990 to 2004.
For Iraqi Refugees, Art May Be Avenue to New Life
Many of the more than 2 million Iraqi refugees now in Jordan and Syria are hoping to build new lives elsewhere. For young artists forced to flee Iraq, talent is one way out. Invitations from Europe are the prize: an opportunity to perform and, hopefully, find a new life. (Story and audio at NPR)
Four Health Changes Can Prolong Life 14 Years
People who drink moderately, exercise, quit smoking and eat five servings of fruit and vegetables each day live on average 14 years longer than people who adopt none of these behaviors, researchers said on Tuesday. Thanks to Elen M. for the link!
US Farmers Show Grass Makes Better Ethanol than Corn
Farmers in Nebraska and the Dakotas have worked with the USDA to plant switchgrass and measure the native plant’s ability to deliver Ethanol more efficiently than corn. The results are dramatic. Switchgrass delivers 540 percent of the energy used to produce it, compared with just roughly 25 percent returned by traditional corn-based ethanol.
New National Park for Russian Tigers
Endangered northern Amur (Siberian) tigers have received a boost to their protection through the creation of a new national park in the Russian Far East. The Russian Government signed a decree declaring the new Aniyuiskii national park in December, making it the third established in the Khabarovsk province this year, lessening the extreme pressures on the tigers from uncontrolled logging, construction and wildfires.
Saudis More Pro-America Than Ever
In advance of President Bush’s anticipated visit to the country later this month, Kenneth Ballen, president of Terror Free Tomorrow, a public opinion organization, shares the results of a surprising new survey of Saudi public opinion. (Christian Science Monitor )
Ford Ecoboost Engine Technology To Yield 20% Better Fuel Economy This Year
Ford Motor Company is introducing a new engine technology called EcoBoost that will deliver up to 20 percent better fuel economy on half a million Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles annually in North America — for a range of vehicles from small cars to large trucks — during the next five years.
Maldives President Saved by Boy Scout
An attempt to stab the president of the Maldives was thwarted Tuesday when a 15-year-old boy scout grabbed a knife from the would-be attacker.
Heisman Trophy Winner Great Off the Field, Too
Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow is not only a college football hero who is strong in the classroom, he is humble and respectful and spends his summers in the Philippines helping the underprivileged. Fox Sports has the story of this homeschooled young man who is the only college player ever to run for 20 touchdowns and throw for 20 touchdowns in the same season. Thanks to Jim G. for sending the tip and helping to bring more sports stories to the GNN-i!
Florida Manatee Deaths Decreased in 2007
Endangered manatee deaths in Florida waters dropped by 24 percent in 2007, says the state’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (Reuters News)
100 Things We Didn’t Know Last Year
Fascinating facts and amazing lore are exposed in the weekly BBC Magazine column, “10 Things we didn’t know last week.” Here are my ten favorite of the year’s top 100:
3. Adding milk to tea negates the health-giving effects of a hot brew.
17. Two cups of spearmint tea a day is thought to control excessive hair growth for women.
19. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez hosts a daily radio phone-in show
27. Drinking, drug-taking teenagers are in the decline. (GNN story on that US trend here)
31. There is mobile phone reception from the summit of Mount Everest.
42. Nearly seven out of 10 (69%) of adults are still in touch with at least one childhood friend.
46. Peanuts can be made into diamonds.
53. Renowned atheist Professor Richard Dawkins likes singing Christmas carols.
66. Gun ownership per person in Finland is the third highest in the world.
86. There is a monastery in every village in Burma.
Kid-friendly Sweden Aims to Better Families With Parenting Classes
Already considered one of the best countries for raising children, Sweden aims to better its record by offering even more classes to help mums and dads improve their parenting skills.
Free Days Offered at French Museums
“Many national museums in France, including the venerable Louvre in Paris, will be offering free admission in the coming months. 18 museums will be participating in an experiment to get the public to experience high culture, the country’s Culture Ministry announced.”
(Canadian Broadcast Corp)
Homeless World Cup Film to Premiere at Sundance
KICKING IT is an intimate film that chronicles the lives of seven homeless athletes who achieve goals on the football field while overcoming poverty and addiction, and further representing their countries on the way to the Homeless World Cup in Cape Town.
The film portrays the seven on a once in a lifetime journey alongside homeless athletes from 48 nations. The players come from war torn Afghanistan, the slums of Kenya, the drug rehab clinics of Dublin, Ireland, the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina, the overflowing public shelters of Madrid, Spain, and the shadow culture of the illegal rural immigrants to the big city of St. Petersburg, Russia.
KICKING IT is directed by Susan Koch and produced by Ted Leonsis, AOL vice chairman emeritus.
“That the inspirational story of the 2006 Homeless World Cup will be shown first at Sundance is a fitting testimony to the courage, determination and spirit of the players, said Kat Byles, Media Director, Homeless World Cup. “It is milestone achievement for the Homeless World Cup and one we hope will demonstrate the power of football to change lives to an even bigger audience around the world.”
AOL Vice Chairman Emeritus Ted Leonsis, whose first documentary Nanking won one of the major awards at the 2007 Sundance Festival, said of Kicking It, “Films can bring people together, and amplify passion. We are thrilled to help spotlight these compelling individuals – and to show sports’ powerful ability to give hope, focus and balance to us all.”