"There are those who volunteer at food banks to nourish people in need. And there are those, such as Dr. Stanley Coe, a retired veterinarian, who nourish the souls of people by volunteering to keep their best friends — and sometimes only companions — healthy. The pets, he says, "probably give some people a reason to live.’" (photos and full story at Seattle P-I.com)
Dogs and Cats Comfort the Homeless, and the Vet Who Volunteers
Young Voter Turnout Surges in 2006
2006 showed with certainty that young voters ages 18-29 are a genuine force in American politics as participation climbed for the second straight major election. Many were surprised after the presidential race in ’04 to see the number of young voters surge 11 percent from the previous one of 2000. Now, this year, a total of 10 million young voters showed up, the most in 20 years of midterm elections. (Rock The Vote)
‘Get Your Arab On’: Comedians Chip Away at Ethnic Fears
‘Get Your Arab On’, a festival tonight in New York features Arab-American comedians chipping away at ethnic fears. These Americans, many raised Christian, but now profiled as in airports, are using humor to show the futility of vilifying others because of their culture, creed, or color. The fourth annual Arab-American Comedy Festival is featured today in Christian Science Monitor. (photo) Festival Co-founder, Maysoon Zayid, performing, by Johnny Farraj
Organic Farmer Elected to U.S. Senate
"An organic farmer and leader in the organic movement since 1987, has been elected to the U.S. Senate from the state of Montana. Jon Tester, a third generation farmer from Big Sandy, Montana, has been farming organically — and been a leader in organic certification — for nearly twenty years." (SustainableBusiness.com News)
An Attitude of Gratitude and the Mechanic who Saved My Day
From a young age, we are taught (forced) to say please, thank you and you’re welcome whenever the opportunity presents itself because it is considered the polite thing to do.
However, an attitude of gratitude, when enforced, misses the mark of true appreciation for blessings received.
One blessing you always have is the ever-present opportunity to help others — and then, to reap the feelings of euphoria that will tickle your heart afterwards. To remind us of the blessings that a grateful attitude bestows, Harry Tucker will present one weekly article for every letter in the word GRATITUDE. This week’s installment is, G Stands for Giving: How to reap the rewards in our busy lives — and includes an inspiring video…
College Rivalry Swells Red Cross Blood Inventory
An autumn/Thanksgiving annual blood drives pit students from Penn State University against students at their rival school, Michigan State University to see which school can win the "PSU-MSU Challenge" by "out-collecting" the other. Part of the recruitment effort behind the blood drives is for each college to try to collect more blood than their rival but ultimately the goal is to help ensure an adequate blood supply during the holidays…
Historic Peace Deal Signed in Nepal
A peace agreement reached in the early hours of November 8th marks the end of the Maoists’ decade-long insurgency in Nepal that cost 13,000 lives. Concessions have been made by both sides including the rebels agreeing to disarm and join the Democratic process. (ZeeNews.com)
Stem Cell Cure Hope for Diabetes
Scientists have used stem cells from human bone marrow to repair defective insulin-producing pancreatic cells responsible for diabetes in mice. The treatment also halted damage to the kidneys caused by the condition. Researchers from New Orleans’ Tulane University are hopeful it can be adapted to treat diabetes in humans. (BBC)
Stem Cell Cure for Heart Attacks
Emergency heart attack patients will be injected with their own stem cells in a dramatic new treatment. The procedure, being pioneered by British doctors, holds out hope of a ‘cure’ as the stem cells repair damaged heart muscles. The Daily Mail explains how it all works.
U.S. Ski Resorts Using More Green Power
Hoping to clean the air for better views from mountains, 16 ski resorts have transformed 100 percent of their power to green energy sources including wind, hydroelectric, solar, bio-mass and geothermal. (AP via CNN)
Pride of Britain Awards Salute Heroes
The Pride of Britain award winners for 2006 were honored Tuesday in a gala event featuring the Beckhams, Rod Stewart, Jude Law, Prince Charles and Tony Blair. The inspiring examples of courage, compassion and bravery included Daniel and Jason Rodd: “The brothers were 14 and 12 when they spotted a group of three adults being swept out to sea… Against their mother Carol’s wishes, and as other adults simply looked on, the boys jumped into the sea with their body boards.” … (Link submitted by GNN member, lottery_dreams)
Another pair of honorees were inspired to try to raise the number of black donors of bone marrow when their son was diagnosed with leukaemia and found that only 550 of 285,000 potential UK bone marrow donors were non-white and fit as a potential match. This year is the 10th anniversary of their charity and they have raised the number of black donors in the UK to nearly 20,000. (Daily Mail)
Read about past winners at Pride of Britain Website
(Thanks to GNN supporter Lottery Dreams for submitting the story idea)
Saved by… the Bible
Two Gideon Bibles in the shirt pocket of a man in Jacksonville saved him from a bullet as he exited a Christian outreach organization he runs. (AP) … Thanks to GNN supporter Denice Ramirez for submitting the story.
Activist for World Peace, Nassiri, records children all over the world singing, “Love Sees No Color”
“In an effort to promote worldwide peace and healing through music, Nassiri is currently preparing to film a music video in several countries around the world. The music video will feature Nassiri with children singing the chorus of his “Love Sees No Color” song in their native languages. A unique performer with a positive message, Nassiri is dedicated to spreading love, peace, understanding and unity through music. The focus of Nassiri’s mission is peace.”
See his website for more info: www.nassiri.com
Congress Gets First Muslim Lawmaker
Minnesota voters elected the nation’s first Muslim member of Congress. The winner, Keith Ellison, said, "We tried to pull people together on things we all share, things that are important to everyone." He said his campaign united labor, minority communities and peace activists. "We were able to bring in Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists," he said. "We brought in everybody." (AP reports)
Daniel Ortega Campaigning With John Lennon
The Nicaraguan leader, who is campaigning for president for the fourth time, is preaching harmony, love and reconciliation while John Lennon’s “Give Peace a Chance” plays in the background…
Ortega, the one-time president who lost in 1990, “lowered illiteracy rates from 60 percent to 12 percent and built a free health care system,” says the Associated Press.
Now 60 and balding, he has toned down his revolutionary rhetoric, invoking both John Lennon and God and promising to favor free trade policies and improve health care and education. (AP full story)
Rare Medicinal Plant Turns Up After 115 Years
A scientific journal reported that Indian scientists working in a tropical forest in the country’s remote northeast have found a rare medicinal plant last seen 115 years ago. (AP)
G is for Good Governance
EDITOR’S BLOG
For the first time in a long while, a majority of American voters agree with me! And, it’s worth celebrating. . . In nationwide polls on Tuesday they seemed to say, "Enough." They are tired of the incompetence; tired of the hypocrisy; tired of corruption; tired of the poisonous atmosphere of politics. They are longing for good governance based on the values celebrated here at the Good News Network: responsibility, integrity, and cooperation…
Pelosi Seeks to Heal Rifts as First Female House Speaker
Democrats, fielding many moderate candidates, gained more than 25 seats in yesterday’s elections for the US House of Representatives, placing Rep. Nancy Pelosi, 66, on track to become the first female House leader and the highest-ranking woman in U.S. political history — second in line behind the president. Voters weary of corruption heard in last night’s victory speech, Pelosi’s intentions to lead the most honest and open House in history…
Teen Hailed as a Hero for Teddy Bear Project
People magazine named 16-year-old Taylor Crabtree one of its top five heroes of 2006 for creating a nonprofit that has raised more than $100,000 to purchase teddy bears for 23,000 young cancer patients at 300 hospitals throughout the nation. Taylor has been doing this since age seven, when she was inspired during her grandmother’s bout with colon cancer. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
There’s Just ONE Story Today
I’ll be electioneering at the polls all day, watching returns all night!