Google’s philanthropic arm on Thursday said it is taking aim at global warming, poverty, and pandemics with millions in cash and the Internet giant’s global resources.
They chose five of the world’s ills and crafted core initiatives to best match Google’s strengths.
(READ the AFP story from Google News)
Greenpeace applauded Apple for the release of its new greener MacBook Air laptop, particularly its mercury and arsenic-free design, reports the iPod news blog. It is also the world’s thinnest computer, unveiled, at this week’s Mac Expo in dramatic fashion, by Steve Jobs as he slid it from an envelope. (Video and Story) Thanks to Jim G. for the Greenpeace tip.
Osama bin Laden’s 26-year-old son Omar wears dreadlocks and a biker jacket and tells the AP “there is a better way to defend Islam than militancy: Omar wants to be an “ambassador for peace” between Muslims and the West.” (Today)
“When Anna Kozlov caught sight of the elderly man clambering out of a car in her home village of Borovlyanka in Siberia, she stopped dead in her tracks, convinced her eyes were playing tricks.
“Let other folks retire to warm climates,” said a Wisconsin resident whose poodle was rescued, after it had fallen through the ice, by a firefighter rescue unit with self-inflating wetsuits and ropes. “I’m spending the rest of my days where the weather may be cold, but the hearts are warm.” (Associated Press has the story of the rescue of Buddy)
Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, is awash in profitable oil reserves yet pouring billions into renewable- and sustainable-energy technologies to build the world’s first zero-emission city, “a metropolis that emits not a single extra molecule of carbon dioxide — the cause of global warming”. Abu Dhabi’s green ambitions extend well beyond the construction of a city for 50,000 residents using no cars and lots of solar energy…
The World Wildlife Fund and Masdar, The Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, this week launched a “Sustainability Action Plan” to deliver the world’s greenest city – Masdar City. Located near Abu Dhabi International Airport, Masdar City will be the world’s first zero-carbon, zero-waste, car-free city, aiming to exceed the 10 sustainability principles of “One Planet Living™”– a global initiative launched by the Worldwide Fund for Nature and environmental consultancy BioRegional.
A waitress was overheard by a customer while talking with her co-worker about the struggle to pay for college textbooks. After the customer left, Hayes found a note that said, “Good luck with school,” which included $400 for books. “Now I know I need to work on my indoor voice,” Hayes told KMBC’s Jere Gish.
Two hotels in Saint John are offering school groups free accommodations if the roads are too dangerous to travel.
The management of the Fort Howe Hotel and Courtenay Bay Hotel made the decision on Monday following a weekend accident that killed seven Bathurst High School basketball players and a teacher.
(READ the story from the CBC)
Every week in Israel, thousands of Jewish families open up their homes to an Arab family. The latter are only fictional characters — from the hit Israeli sitcom Arab Work — but still, many say this is a critical marker in (pop culture) history. (Photos, story and audio at NPR)
“An 88-year-old Cambridgeshire man has starred in his first ballet after taking up dance at the age of 79.” (BBC) Thanks to Mary and Chris for the submission!
General Motors Corp. is planning on making biofuel with garbage at a cost of less than a dollar a gallon, the company’s chief has said.
The US automaker has entered into a partnership with Illinois-based Coskata Inc. which has developed a way to make ethanol from practically any renewable source, including old tires and plant waste.
Hundreds of San Diegans spent their day saving the environment by dusting off those old computers, printers, and VCRs and bringing them to a special event, hosted by TV’s 10News. (I Love A Clean San Diego sponsored this event.)
For youth “aging out” of the foster care system at age 18, thrust out on their own, homelessness or crime can be a consequence of efforts to support themselves. Now, a service in Milwaukee gives young adults the guidance, financial assistance, and occasional “kick in the butt” needed to move their lives forward in a positive direction.
Tired of gas prices? A prototype for an “extreme hybrid” car that runs for 40 miles at 60 m.p.h. on electric battery power alone is on exhibit at Detroit’s International Auto Show.
A corporate billionaire and a working class mechanic have nothing in common until they’re forced to share a hospital room. Once there they discover a common spark of eagerness for devoting the rest of their lives to accomplishing all their unfulfilled desires. As many as possible before they “kick the bucket.”
Together they embark on the road trip of a lifetime, becoming friends along the way and learning to live life to the fullest. Each goal checked-off gives them the joy that had hitherto been elusive.
The film, The Bucket List opened on Christmas Day with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman in the title roles inspiring the public to make their own life lists and start tackling some of their own goals now, instead of waiting for “the right time.”
“Scientists are making strides in the fight against Alzheimer’s, improving their understanding of the devastating brain disease and searching for new drug treatments, including 10 different approaches to dealing with Alzheimer’s that are close to or in clinical testing.” (Louisville Courier-Journal)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to include happiness in measurements of French economic growth, to help explain “the growing gap between statistics that show continuing progress and the increasing difficulties (French people) are having in their daily lives.”
India’s Tata Motors has unveiled what is being called the world’s cheapest car — the $2,500 Nano.
The four-person sedan, also called the People’s Car meets all safety and environmental requirements, said the company’s founder, even getting 50 mpg with lower emission levels than modern scooters of India.
“Singapore opened a new “green” airport terminal on Wednesday, boasting 919 energy-saving skylights, a butterfly garden and over 200 species of foliage spread over enough floor space to cover 50 soccer fields.” (Reuters)
The trend towards total abolition of the death penalty has continued with Uzbekistan becoming the latest country to put an end to executions. From 1 January 2008, it becomes the 135th country in the world to abolish the death penalty in law or practice. Capital punishment has now been replaced with life or long-term imprisonment.
(READ the news from Amnesty Internationl)
