Stockholm, Sweden – Nobel Peace Prize winners are increasingly chosen from among diverse nations, as more nominations for the honor are directed toward Africans, Asians, Eastern Europeans, and Latin Americans. Nominees as well as winners are spread more evenly across the globe as war-torn regions give host to those with the strength to work for peace. (below, Geographical distribution of Peace Prize laureates 1901-2000) 
Nobel Peace Prizes Spread Across Globe
Cat Survives House Fire by Wedging into Sofa
Much to the amazement of fire fighters, a family’s cat, which was thought to have perished in a fire, was discovered alive wedged inside the sofa. (AP)
Scientists Create Patch to Repair Hole in Heart
The body’s natural healing power is being employed to treat a common heart defect. One in four human hearts contains a valve-like hole that may cause migraines or stroke.
A team at a London hospital has successfully tested a “bioabsorbable” patch made of collagen which bridges the hole while spurring the body to generate normal tissue to replace it, all within 30 days.
(READ the story from BBC)
Rare Birth by Dialysis Patient
“A young woman who has been on dialysis treatment during her pregnancy, has given birth to a healthy baby girl.” A one-of-a-kind special technique was used on the 19-year-old UK mom, allowing for a kind of birth that is extremely rare.
(BBC) Thanks to Zenda for the link.
Ice Cream for Darfur
Who would have thought that by eating ice cream you could help change the world? But today you can.
Taggarts Ice Cream Parlor, a local institution in Canton, Ohio, is donating 10 percent of their gross receipts all day today, Tuesday, August 14th, to Relief International’s Zam Zam Clinic in Darfur.
A local teen, Sahiba Gill, organized the citywide event, called “Dining for Darfur,” which also includes five other area restaurants.
Coincidentally, Dr. Ashis Brahma, who’s been working in Darfur, actually stopped for ice cream at the Canton shop on 14th and Fulton two weeks ago (pictured at right with colleagues).
Relief International opened Zam Zam Clinic in response to a crisis: Critical medical facilities were closing that would leave 35,000 refugees in Darfur without any health services. RI mobilized to build a clinic with support from US grassroots advocates and collaboration with local tribal leaders. The August 2006 opening could not have been more timely: 6,000 people fleeing violence in the region arrived in the camp.
Today, the Zam Zam Clinic serves 800 patients per week. The facility is run by local Sudanese doctors, medical assistants, midwives, nurses, and pharmacists — all of whom receive professional development training from RI.
If you are in Canton, please bring family and friends to enjoy Taggarts great homemade ice cream and help bring positive change to our world.
Photo and original story by John Stone, eyeclectic.net
Barn Owls Unite Israelis, Jordanians
“Even when tensions run high, the environment is one of the few areas where Israelis and Arabs cooperate. During the Palestinian uprising against Israel, officials of the two countries maintained contacts on issues such as water quality and waste removal.” (Washington Post)
Congo Logging Company Goes “Green”
Timber companies are not always out to empty the rainforest of trees. In spite of all the hurdles, there are some companies working on ensuring that the industry is sustainable and can benefit the local community and contribute to the development of the national economy. One such timber company is CIB (Congolaise Industrielle des Bois).
Amazon Deforestation Reduced Dramatically
Deforestation rates in the Brazilian Amazon have dropped by 25 percent each of the past three years, according to Brazil’s environment ministry. From July 31, 2004, through 2007, an average of 4,000 more square kilometers of forest each year have been spared from clear-cutting over the previous period (1,544 sq. miles). — WWF
Dude, I’m Not Too Old to Skateboard
At 40, he is still as intense a skateboarding enthusiast as ever. "He started skating in the 1970s, when skateboarding was first popular, and he never let go. Not when he got married. Not when he had a daughter. Not when he started a job as a business-suit-wearing legal consultant."
UN Congratulates Sierra Leone on Peaceful Elections
The United Nations yesterday congratulated the people of Sierra Leone on the peaceful conduct of their presidential and parliamentary elections — the first held there since UN peacekeepers departed two years ago — and appealed for continued calm.
Chestnut Tree Poised for Comeback
A CS Monitor story hails the revival of the majestic American Chestnut tree, which was largely wiped out by a fungus in the early 20th century.
Learn more from these GNN-i reports: Chestnut Tree Discovered Growing and Virginia Group Grows Blight-Resistant Trees.
How to Say You’re Sorry: Apology as Art Form
For some, they are the two hardest words to say. But learning how to make a sincere apology is not only a necessary skill, it’s an art. Just look at the headlines. Recently, singer Kelly Clarkson lashed out at record mogul and star-maker Clive Davis after they clashed…
Global Bird Conservation Effort Lifts Off
Sixteen bird species were saved from extinction between 1994–2004. Now a major effort by BirdLife International gets underway to help the other 189.
How to Succeed in Business: Meditate
From Fortune Magazine last month, a feature article takes a look at the CEOs who are into meditation, like NBA coach Phil Jackson and Bob Shapiro, the former CEO of Monsanto. Employees at Google have even organized "twice-weekly open meditation hours, at which it has hosted Tibetan monks and a team of mind-science researchers." (CNN Money)
State Offering Drivers up to $3,500 to Ditch Old Cars
In an effort to clean up the air pollution in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, "the state will offer up to a $3,500 bounty of sorts on vehicles that are more than 10 years old — pre-1996 cars and trucks that emit up to 30 times as much pollution as late-model vehicles." (Dallas Morning News)
Homemade Robot Reacts to Bad News
"One student, for example, made a robot that sits on the side of the road and, when it sees a car going too fast, lowers a sign that says slow down! Another made a flower robot that wilts every time an act of violence is reported on the TV news." (MSNBC) Andrew submitted this one
Spread of Hospital Bugs Halted
Two recently qualified doctors in the UK have developed a new disposable tourniquet that can limit the the spread of cross infections in hospitals. Tourniquets are used to cause veins to expand enabling blood samples to be taken or drips inserted.
The problem is that tourniquets, used in 40 million procedures performed each year in the UK, are reused again and again. Their product, the ‘Tournistrip,’ — a long strip of plasticized paper — is already generating interest and is slated to be inexpensive.
(READ the story from the BBC)
Welcome to new GNN-i contributor, Zenda, from South Africa!
Jordan to Allow Iraqi Refugees into Schools
When Jordanian public schools start classes on 19 August, all children, including expatriate Iraqi students will be able to attend classes in the country’s public schools. The UN Children’s agency UNICEF hailed the decision by Jordan’s government, pointed out that Iraqi youngsters have faced numerous obstacles since fleeing their homeland.
Jordan’s Queen Rania Says Banking to Poor Yields Returns
Jordan’s Queen Rania believes that offering banking services to the world’s poor yields wide social benefits and launched a new microcredit campaign Wednesday, with insurance giant AIG pledging 1.5 million dollars to boost its operations. The new program seeks to offer small loans to 1 million of the world’s poorest families, including Jordanians and the needy Iraqi refugees who have flooded over the border. (The News Room is not loading properly at the moment; try back later for all the details on this story.)
New Patron Saint of New Orleans
New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees and his wife Brittany founded the Brees Dream Foundation to rebuild children’s facilities and programs throughout New Orleans. USA Today featured Brees, 28, at the unveiling of the Dream Foundation, calling him “the patron Saint of hope in a place where so much is still needed”…