"Sixteen of the world’s biggest cities, five banks and one former president have pledged to invest billions of dollars to cut urban energy use" and ease global warming… "Participating banks would provide up to $1 billion each in loans that cities or private landlords would use to upgrade heating, cooling and lighting systems in older buildings." Savings accrued through reduced energy costs, typically 20–50 percent, could be used to pay the money back. (NY Times)
Success Coach Provides Inspiring Advice in Online Videos
Start succeeding now! Get a jumpstart on your motivation and attitude from Robin Sharma, a success coach who provides little bursts of inspiration via video. I’ve selected eight good ones to spark your next project or change…
He reminds us, in short pithy statements, what it takes to win and how to become the successful people we were meant to be. Learn how to Concentrate to Win, Beat Procrastination, and Be Stretched Daily. Sharma quotes the great masters, as well as current business successes, like an executive from Liz Claiborne who advises, “Let people see you sweat.”
Sharma is author of the new book, The Greatness Guide: Powerful Secrets for Getting to World Class. Watch his video below about how he beats procrastination.
Superman’s Kryptonite Found?
Dr. Chris Stanley was enlisted as an expert when workers in a Serbian mine found a mineral they could not identify as any previously known. The chemical formula, sodium lithium boron silicate hydroxide, was not referenced in the scientific literature, but it was referenced in literature — specifically that of science fiction. A Web search by Dr. Stanley revealed that the new mineral closely matches the chemical composition of kryptonite as described in the latest Superman film…
The chemical formula of the new mineral was written on a case containing kryptonite that Lex Luthor had stolen from a museum in the film Superman returns. The sole difference seems to be that Superman’s kryptonite also contains fluorine whereas the new mineral does not.
According to the comics and films, kryptonite is supposed to be green, glowing and radioactive, however the real mineral is white, powdery and non-radioactive, although Dr. Stanley, a mineralogist at London’s Natural History Museum, claims that it does fluoresce a pinkish-orange color when exposed to ultraviolet light. Even if the fluorine were present, as in the kryptonite of lore, the mineral would remain white and non-radioactive.
The new mineral was recently put on display at Belgrade’s Museum of Natural Sciences and visitors turned out in large numbers to catch a glimpse of it. Green lighting ensured the mineral took on the green hue of legend, a sight that conjured a world stranger than fiction.
The mineral, discovered by the mining group Rio Tinto, is to be formally named Jardarite after the name of the place where the mine was located in Serbia.
The commercial value of the mineral and its potential usage is not clear until further testing is done and the amount of the mineral deposit is assessed. Both boron and lithium are commercially viable elements used in industry to produce various products such as borosilicate glasses and lithium batteries.
Michael Little works in analytical chemistry and has almost 20 years experience in the research based pharmaceutical industry. Michael resides in Laval, Quebec, with his wife and three children. Michael has written occasional science articles for GNN since 2007.
Chevy Fuel Cell Car Goes 300 Miles Without Refueling — on Hydrogen
General Motors made history yesterday as its Chevy Sequel became the first electric fuel cell vehicle to achieve 300 miles on one tank of hydrogen, in and out of traffic on public roads, while producing zero emissions.
"With this drive, General Motors has reached an important milestone, said Larry Burns, GM vice president, research & development and strategic planning. "And we did it while producing zero emissions, as a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle only emits water."
100 Success Stories for Endangered Species
In honor of the second annual Endangered Species Day, May 18, a Web site celebrates the success stories and details conservation efforts that led to population booms for 100 endangered plants and animals since the landmark law giving federal protection was enacted in 1973. Species on the road to recovery from all 50 states and every territory are highlighted on the Web site, created by the Center for Biological Diversity.
EPA Giving $71M to Cities in 38 States To Clean Up Industrial Pollution, Blight
Abandoned gas stations and industrial sites may be cleaned up in your city with Environmental Protection Agency funds made available Monday. Seventy-one million dollars in federal funds were offered to 38 states and two territories for clean-up of polluted areas. (AP)
Skyscraper to Produce Its Own Energy
Introducing the ‘Energy Tower,’ a skyscraper to be built in Dubai that will produce 100 percent of its own power. The skyscraper will have a huge wind turbine on its roof and and array of solar cells stacked upon its sleek figure. (Meta Efficient)
DOE Offers $200 Million for Small-Scale Cellulosic Biorefineries
The U.S. Department of Energy announced on May 1st that it will provide up to $200 million over five years to support the development of small-scale cellulosic biorefineries in the U.S. The projects will involve designing, building, and operating biorefineries at one-tenth of commercial scale. The small-scale biorefineries will convert cellulosic biomass — trees, grasses and agricultural residues — into liquid transportation fuels such as ethanol, as well as biobased chemicals and products… (Thanks to Sophia, for the link!)
Koala Conservation Goes Global
"Australian and U.S. researchers hope to lift koala populations by chilling the marsupials’ semen and sending it to zoos around the world." (The Border Mail) Thanks to Kay for the link…
Work Begins on Brad Pitt’s Green Project in 9th Ward
"Construction is to begin on an environmentally friendly new home, based on the winning design in a competition launched by movie star Brad Pitt. Folks in the 9th Ward, a Hurricane Katrina-devastated area, celebrated near bundles of hay that were used to outline the site of the first house, which will serve as a model home and visitor center while construction of other houses are under way. Expected to be complete around the second anniversary of the storm, the home will be made with energy-saving materials such as metal roofing and recycled textiles." (WWLTV.com) Read GNN-i stories on the launch of the project in April, 2006, and the unveiling of the winning design in September.
Gates Foundation Gives $7.1M to Support Gulf Coast Housing
"The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said Thursday it would give $7.1 million to Gulf Coast organizations to help the people whose homes were destroyed by hurricanes Katrina and Rita and those who have been employed to work on the cleanup." (AP) Thanks to Jessica for link
An American Rebuilds Paradise Lost to War in Africa (Video)
Fifteen years after a brutal civil war, Greg Carr, an American philanthropist believes the key to revitalization in Mozambique, one of the poorest spots in Africa, is a long-forgotten park called Gorongosa. It was once the most popular tourist destination and boasted the densest wildlife on the continent, but the park and its animals were ravaged by war. Carr personally has pledged $40 million to restore the park and bring the tourist dollars back — at the same time bringing the nation back from poverty… (Video 6:29)
(Video produced by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and Azimuth Media; Visit their website for photos and blogs about the project.)
Jolie-Pitt Foundation Donates $1M in Darfur
Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt have donated $1 million towards the humanitarian effort assisting millions of people affected by the crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced.
“The donation from the Jolie-Pitt Foundation will go to three agencies playing key roles in Darfur and neighboring Chad: the UN refugee agency; the International Rescue Committee and the international non-governmental organization, SOS Children’s Villages,” UNHCR said in a press release issued on Thursday.
All three agencies are active in providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to the more than 2 million people displaced within Darfur and the 240,000 refugees from Darfur living in camps in eastern Chad.
“This generous donation comes just months after Angelina Jolie made a personal visit to a refugee camp in Chad and it shows, once again, her and Brad Pitts’ commitment to helping refugees and the displaced,” said Michel Gabaudan, UNHCR’s regional representative for the United States and the Caribbean.
“As Goodwill Ambassador, Jolie’s continued support of UNHCR and those we seek to help is a powerful force in ensuring they are not forgotten.”
Ms. Jolie has visited the region three times. During her recent visit to the Oure-Cassoni camp she said she was struck by the sense of hope she encountered and by the widespread desire for peacekeepers to be deployed in eastern Chad.
It was in Oure-Cassoni where the actress met staff working for SOS Children’s Villages, who are providing psychological assistance to traumatized children.
“The children benefit enormously from the therapy,” said Yolan Broek, project leader of the Emergency Relief Programme of SOS Children’s Villages in Chad. “Children who at first did not speak, did not eat and who were isolated in their own worlds, are now playing happily and are able to interact with others.”
Photo: UNHCR
Iraqi Baby Admitted to Israel for Lifesaving Surgery
Israeli officials approved entry to Israel for a three-week-old Iraqi baby in need of lifesaving heart surgery, a complex procedure not available in neighboring countries. "Sam Muhammad and his mother had been waiting in Jordan for the permission to be treated in Haifa. Entry for four other Iraqi children in need of heart surgery, along with four escorts, were also approved. Muhammad was born with transposition of the great arteries and must be operated on within the next several days." (Jerusalem Post ) Link submitted by Daniel Keebler
Boy Gets Heart Transplant Thanks to Cell Phone
Hospital officials in Pennsylvania tried to contact a family awaiting a heart transplant. Their son’s organ had arrived and he needed to get to surgery immediately. The mom’s cell phone was turned off due to attendance at a jazz concert, so the sheriff’s department called Sprint Mobile to track the family’s phone using global positioning. When the concert was stopped, and the family’s name announced, the boy was whisked away in the nick of time, while the crowd offered a standing ovation. (CNN)
Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Global Warming Pact with Victoria, Australia
The premier of the state of Victoria, Australia, has signed an agreement with Arnold Swarzenegger to tackle global warming. The memorandum signed Friday establishes a partnership to cut emissions and encourage the development of clean energy. The pact may mark the first cooperative effort to lessen climate change that links jurisdictions from two hemispheres.
States and Cities Move to Curb Toxins the EPA Hasn’t
"From California to Maine, state and local officials are taking steps to ban toxic substances found in consumer goods ranging from TVs to baby bottles, rather than waiting for the Environmental Protection Agency or other federal agencies to yank them off the market." (USA Today)
Tortured Congolese Mom Wins America’s Hometown Hero Award and New Car
In 1998, Rose Mapendo was sitting on the concrete floor of a Congolese prison cell summoning up every ounce of courage, strength and intellect to protect her children. Almost ten years later, she has used that same determination and drive to help protect and rescue countless thousands of fellow refugees of genocide, and this April was honored for her humanitarian outreach at the 5th Annual Volvo for life Awards ceremony in New York City. Volvo named Mapendo “America’s Greatest Hometown Hero” and awarded her a $50,000 charitable contribution and a new Volvo every three years for the rest of her life…
Mapendo, a Tutsi, was imprisoned and tortured by Congolese soldiers in the wake of the Rwandan genocide. Following 16 months of daily confrontations with death, witnessing the torture and execution of her husband and giving birth to premature twins on the floor of her cell, Mapendo and her nine children ended up in a refugee camp in Cameroon, from where she resettled to Phoenix, Ariz. Once safely established in the U.S., Mapendo helped found Mapendo International with the man responsible for her rescue. Mapendo International works with the U.S. Department of State and the United Nations to identify and assist Africa’s forgotten, those who are at risk of falling through the cracks of humanitarian aid efforts. The organization helps these people through its medical clinic in Kenya and through a rescue operations initiative, identifying at-risk individuals, families and groups of refugees and working to get them out of danger.
Held at the world famous 42nd St. Cipriani on April 5, the Volvo for life Awards ceremony was the climax of the largest-ever national search for and celebration of everyday heroes, with Volvo Cars of North America providing $1 million annually in awards and contributions. This year, in honor of the Awards’ 5th Anniversary, Volvo selected the top five heroes from every state in America and asked the public to visit www.volvoforlifeawards.com and vote for their favorite unsung hometown hero. Volvo received hundreds of thousands of votes from across the country.
A panel of distinguished judges — including Hank Aaron, Sen. Bill Bradley, Caroline Kennedy, Maya Lin, Val Kilmer, Paul Newman, Dr. Sally Ride, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and previous Volvo for life Awards grand winners — selected the program’s top three winners in the categories of Safety, Quality of Life and Environment. Mapendo was the Quality of Life category winner.
“The heroes selected as this year’s honorees have incredibly moving and powerful stories that symbolize Volvo’s core values of conscience, care and character and we are exceedingly proud to have the chance to honor them,” said Anne Belec, president and chief executive officer for Volvo Cars of North America. “It’s hard for anyone to imagine living through what Rose and her family had to endure, but to then go on to help other victims like herself is truly inspirational. She gives Africa’s forgotten refugees a voice and we hope this recent recognition will help America listen.”
Volvo’s 2006 Greatest Hometown Hero Award went to Dr. Ingida Asfaw of Pontiac, Michigan, a doctor who has galvanized over 550 medical and non-health professionals in the U.S. and Canada to give their time and talents to the cause of serving orphans and mothers in Ethiopia. Read his story featured on the GNN, here.
Read more hero stories, gathered over the past five years at the Volvo for life Awards Youtube page.
Geena Davis Honored With Hollywood Hero Award (Video)
Geena Davis received the USA Today Hollywood Hero Award for her project called See Jane, which seeks to improve the number and quality of portrayals of women and their characters in children’s films and in the film and television industry overall.
(WATCH the video below and Learn more at Geena’s website See Jane.org)
Photo: YouTube
Building a Better Bike Lane
"Flat, compact and temperate, the Netherlands and Denmark have long been havens for bikers. In Amsterdam, 40 percent of commuters get to work by bike… New measures designed to shift bike commuting into higher gear include the construction of new parking facilities that can hold up to 10,000 bikes… The rest of Europe and some cities in the U.S. are paying close attention, seeking advice from Amsterdam on developing bicycle-friendly infrastructure and policies." (Wall Street Journal) Google is doing its part, offering free bikes, their own unique model of Google bike, to all empolyees of the company overseas.