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English Footballer Marcus Rashford Donates Millions For Child Poverty, Becomes Youngest-Ever to Top ‘Giving List’

Oleg Bkhambri, CC license
Oleg Bkhambri, CC license

At 23, Manchester United soccer star Marcus Rashford has already scored a lot of goals, but becoming the youngest person to top The Sunday Times Giving List—a metric of philanthropy among rich Brits—is an achievement that has the whole country cheering.

Donations he made, and those by people inspired in response to his efforts to combat food poverty, generated a total of $28 million (£20 million), giving him a “Giving Index” ranking of 125% of his personal net worth of $23m (£16m).

Over the past year, Rashford has become something of a hero to many Brits: Last year, as second waves of COVID-19 abounded, he faced down the UK government’s proposal to cut spending towards free school lunches.

Here’s how he managed it.

The striker, who has often been a shining light in difficult recent seasons at Manchester United, and a fixture on England’s national team, managed to shine some of the spotlight he receives on an issue close to his heart: having experienced hunger as a child himself, he knew that disadvantaged kids rely on school lunches for daily calorie requirements.

His insistent lobbying got Boris Johnson to U-turn on the Conservative government’s position—coaxing £170m ($240m) for the free food voucher program from last November through to the summer.

In response, Rashford won the Professional Footballers Merit Award, and was recommended by Johnson to receive an MBE (Member of the British Empire).

READ: #WallStreetBets Traders Donate $300,000 to Adopt Gorillas From Dian Fossey Fund

“As a young Black man from Wythenshawe, never did I think I would be accepting an MBE, never mind an MBE at the age of 22,” he said to Sky Sports in response.

A friendly rivalry

“What Marcus has done over the last 12 months is incredible,” said Liverpool team captain Jordan Henderson before a recent game between the two clubs. “He has battled against food poverty, given a voice to kids who otherwise wouldn’t have one, and used his own reputation for the benefit of others.”

MORE: India’s Richest Man Retools Factories to Provide FREE Oxygen to 1 in 10 COVID Patients Across Country

Henderson, who has captained the second-most decorated English club for 7 years, came in sixth place on the Times’ Giving List, by raising £4 million ($6 million) from his fellow footballers to join his own contributions towards the UK National Health Service to help support its response to the pandemic.

Again, we come to a point in the story where non-football fans will be at a loss for understanding the gravity of Henderson’s words, as Liverpool and Manchester United are the bitterest of rivals. As the two most successful clubs in English football, their matches are among the most watched of any on Earth.

Rashford has continued his giving work, establishing the Child Food Poverty Task Force, linking up with many of the nation’s biggest supermarkets to help end childhood hunger.

RELATED: Millionaire Turned Quadriplegic Jon Ayers is Giving it All to Save Wild Cats, After Finding a New Purpose

“His own experience of relying on free school meals to eat brings authenticity and compassion to his campaigning, and his status as a Premier League footballer means people and politicians sit up and take notice,” said Lindsay Boswell in a statement. CEO of FareShare, a non-profit dedicated to fighting hunger and food waste in the UK, Boswell named Rashford as an ambassador.

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60+ Major Companies Sign ‘Radical’ Deal to Dramatically Reduce Plastic Waste in Just 4 Years

Major affiliates supplying supermarkets in Australia and New Zealand have come together and pledged to tackle Oceania’s plastic waste crisis.

Of the more than 60 companies signing on, major names include Woolworths, Coca-Cola, and Nestle, as well as several government departments.

The ANZPAC Plastics Pact (ANZPAC) is a collaborative solution that brings together key players behind a shared vision of a circular economy for plastic, where plastic never becomes waste or pollution. But far from lofty UN goals of 2030, 2045, or 2050, ANZPAC wants to achieve all its goals in just four years.

Their four goals, to be rapidly pursued over a four-year period, involve eliminating unnecessary plastic waste, making all of what remains recyclable, reusable, or compostable, increasing self-policed plastic packaging by 25%, and increasing use of recycled plastic in manufacturing by 25%.

Only around 18% of plastics are recycled in the ANZPAC region, meaning that hundreds of thousands of tons either end up in landfills or in the ecosystem.

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The ANZPAC Plastics Pact joins the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s global Plastics Pact Network, a strategically aligned response to plastic waste and pollution that enables vital knowledge sharing and coordinated action—and unites 550+ organizations across 11 Plastics Pacts around the world.

“What I’m hoping for is that this will also be a way of Australia and New Zealand being able to support the Pacific region, which has different but just as challenging issues with plastic,” said Jenni Downes, a research fellow at Monash University’s Sustainable Development Institute while talking to ABC Australia.

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organization (APCO) will lead the on the ground efforts of the ANZPAC members by offering reporting, governance, and admin frameworks, and efficacy research.

“What we’re really trying to address here is a systemic problem that says the plastics system is actually broken,” said Brooke Donnelly of APCO. “Our take, make and dispose approach means too much plastics waste is actually ending up in landfill.”

RELATED: ‘The Manta’ Sailing Vessel is Designed to Feed on Plastic Waste for Power–While Cleaning Oceans

Treasured for their beaches and natural beauty, New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Island nations are some of the most unfortunate casualties of the plastic pollution problem, and hopefully through their combined efforts, they can turn back the plastic tide.

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“May you never be the reason someone gave up on a part of themselves because you were demotivating, non-appreciative, hypercritical, or even worse, sarcastic about it.” – Mostafa Ibrahim

Credit: Aaron Burden

Quote of the Day: “May you never be the reason someone gave up on a part of themselves because you were demotivating, non-appreciative, hypercritical, or even worse, sarcastic about it.” – Mostafa Ibrahim, Unschoolers Collective

Photo: by Aaron Burden

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

5 Alternatives to Toxic Herbicides to Get Rid of Your Summer Weeds Without Killing Bees

If your lawn is anything like the one tended by this author, it’s the time of year when weed killing on a wide-scale is warranted. Yet there are many common household items that are non-toxic and that work well for killing weeds and keeping them killed.

I don’t like to kill many weeds in the springtime, as they are often an early season food source for bees and other nectar feeders. Now though, most of the yellow, white, and purple flowers once dotting my lawn and garden are gone, leaving only unwanted leaves and the roots beneath them.

Looking onto the first chore of tomorrow morning, here are our options for a plan of attack, whether the weeds are poking up through the concrete, or peppering the garden.

Totally non-toxic weed killers

Matteo Badini

Chemical herbicides and fungicides can contaminate the soil and water for miles around through runoff, and that many commercial weed killers contain probable carcinogens.

Some compounds we’ll look at later come with side effects, that while being harmless for the water supply, can disrupt the garden ecology. First, we’ll take a look at some elements that are simply safe.

Boiling water

Especially good for sidewalks, driveways, or patios, dihydrogen monoxide heated to 220 degrees or more is a perfect way to kill every part of the unwanted plant. If you can use a kettle, all the better, as it makes it easier and safer to pour, as well as gives your weed-killing a bit more precision.

Fire

Using a kitchen blowtorch or flame-weeder tool to apply heat directly to the leaves and stem of the weed is a fine way for getting rid of them, taking precautions not to burn the entire neighborhood down. Anywhere there is dried material should be flame-weeded with extra caution.

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Cornmeal

If there are areas of the yard you know for a fact harbor weeds, in early spring try spreading cornmeal around the area to stop weed seed germination. Note that this method isn’t possible for de-weeding, only pre-weeding.

Mildly-toxic weed killers

Non-toxic in the sense they wont cause fish die-off or cancer, many household chemicals that are designed to clean things have to be made safe for human hands and skin. They are toxic in the sense that they can kill your favorite flowers, and thus demand a bit of respect. Nevertheless, these are much better than using popular herbicides using toxic chemicals like Glyphosate.

Vinegar

White vinegar of 5% acetic acid is perfectly fine for weed killing, especially when a pump or two of dish soap is added into the spray bottle. Some garden supply stores sell 20% acetic acid, or industrial strength vinegar, which is harmful to skin and eyes, but that’s likely overdoing it.

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Spray it directly on the leaves of the offending plant and be careful not to overspray. Consider waiting until any strong breeze has wound down, as a bit of wind can carry the chemicals onto other plants you’d like to keep. Also try to avoid soaking the soil, as it will make it harder for anything to grow there.

RELATED: How to Germinate Your Seeds Using an Instant Pot—WATCH

Salt

Salt is a great weed-killer and can be added to vinegar or hot water sprays, but when it goes into the earth nothing can grow.

Add a dash of dish soap to help the salt stick to the leaves, and be careful where you aim. Spraying the soil will pretty much condemn it to barrenness, while hitting other plants you like may kill them too.

Concrete sidewalks and patios can become discolored, making the salt mixture not ideal for them. One website suggests covering the plants around the weeds in question with plastic sheeting to protect them.

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Woman Reunites With Birth Mom After 50 Years and Learns She Starred In Her Favorite TV Show

YouTube/TODAY
YouTube/TODAY

Can you imagine as a kid tuning in to see your favorite TV show, never realizing that the actress playing one of the leading roles was your mother? It sounds like something from a sitcom script, but that’s what happened to Lisa Wright.

The show Wright was watching? That’s My Mama. (We doubt even Hollywood could make that one up!)

As with many adoptions at the time, Wright’s birth records were sealed. Having been well-loved by her adoptive parents, she didn’t have a burning desire to search out her biological mother.

All that changed when, at age 54, Wright’s son suggested she get a DNA test to learn more about her family’s genetics. The DNA results revealed Wright had a match—an uncle.

In their initial conversation, Wright’s uncle asked her to fill him in on any details she knew about her birth. She was able to tell him her date of birth and that her mom, who’d gotten pregnant when she was very young, wanted a career in Hollywood.

Her uncle knew a lot more—and he was thrilled to tell her.

Wright’s mom turned out to be Lynne Moody, whose impressive résumé includes stints on Chicago Hope, Beverly Hills 90210, Knots Landing, General Hospital, and a host of other TV and film credits.

Not only did her uncle reveal who Wright’s birth mother was, he also let her know her mom had never forgotten the daughter she’d given up. The family had actually been looking for her, hoping someday to reconnect.

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When Wright Googled her mom’s name, the realization was stunning. She was finally seeing a face that looked like her own. She knew she belonged.

Not long after that epiphany, Wright’s phone rang again. It was an ecstatic Moody.

“A voice on the other end says, ‘Is this my daughter?’ And then I just went, ‘Oh, my God, is this my mother?’” Wright told TODAY. “And then she goes, ‘Yes, sweetie, this is your mom.’ It was just the most indescribable feeling.”

The irony of growing up watching her mom on TV and not knowing it was nothing compared to the joy the two felt when they were reunited the very next day. Moody, likened finding her daughter to giving birth a second time, at least on an emotional level.

Of course, not everyone searching out their heritage is going turn up a TV star in the family tree, but this mother-daughter team hopes their story inspires other adoptive kids and their birth parents to welcome the connection if and when it does come their way.

RELATED: Nearly-Retired Couple Adopts 7 Siblings Who Just Lost Their Parents: ‘If not us, then who?’

“Life is full of surprises sometimes, so hang in there no matter what your circumstances are,” Moody told TODAY. “Be open to miracles, be open to surprises, and keep the faith.”

(WATCH the TODAY video about this story below.)

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World’s Largest Wind Turbine Manufacturer Says All Its Blades Will Soon be Fully Recycled

Vestas
Vestas

Good news was unveiled in the surging industry of wind power: The world’s largest turbine manufacturer is ensuring that wind power will create as little waste as possible, by pushing to create 100% recyclable wind turbine blades.

With 18% of the world’s wind power market share, Vestas is the first company of its kind to commit to producing fully recyclable products.

Giant wind turbine blades are made from a mixture of glass and carbon fiber heated together with sticky epoxy resin, and these materials can’t normally be separated once combined, which means they go into landfills when they become too battered to safely operate.

Conscious that the global market for wind energy is growing by about 3% per year, Vestas explains that they knew about the problem in the making—and they’re looking to get out in front of it. The company plans to tackle the recyclability problem for the next 20 years, until they’re operating at zero waste by 2040.

Reuters reports that Vestas has unveiled a new chemical technology which breaks the epoxy resin away from the glass and carbon fiber, allowing the hard material to be removed, and the epoxy to be turned into its constituent elements as well. All of these components, the company says, will be able to be re-used to make new turbine blades.

MORE: The Empire State Building is Now 100% Powered By Wind, Along With 13 Other Related Buildings

Typically a wind turbine lasts about 20 to 25 years, at which point the owner can either order it decommissioned or get it refitted with new parts. Typically 75% of all waste generated through decommissioning comes from the blades. Vestas wants to be able to recycle 50% of the blade material in just a few years through investing in new recycling technology and in new blade materials that are easier to recycle—and to do more and more in terms of recycling each year.

RELATED: Greening Our Shipping: Wind-Powered Cargo Ships Can Change Future of Freight Cutting Emissions By 90%

“We have spent quite some time on the approach to create zero-waste turbines because we know that this new strategic approach could potentially be the new standard for future turbines,” says Peter Garrett at Vestas.

That investment in the future is good news for all of us.

[CORRECTION: A previous version of our headline read, “…Can Now br Fully Recycled”.]

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The Best Selling Truck in the US, the Ford F-150, Has Gone Electric

FORD
FORD

Fresh off their success of the Mustang Mach-E, Ford has revealed that their most popular car, and for that matter, America’s most popular car, is going electric.

The F-150 Lighting is Ford’s contribution to the extremely limited electric truck market, and they’ve managed to include a truckload of features for a price tag of $36,650, that—when reduced by the $7,500 federal EV tax credit—puts its price point right in line with most other electric trucks.

FORD

The base model has 230 miles of range, 3.5 tons of towing capacity, an enormous front trunk, a 14-inch command touchscreen console, highway self-drive and automatic trailer hitching, and 11 power outlets for everything from your iPad to power tools all encased within the four-door “SuperCrew” cabin that F-150 buyers normally have to pay extra for.

The double-electric motor means all versions are all-wheel drive, and the technological integration is seriously impressive. This includes detailed onboard scales that measure load and towing weight, and that calculate that extra tonnage into the battery life to ensure you’re never left on the side of the road.

Public EV fast-charging stations can add 54 miles of range in 10 minutes, charging the battery from 15% to 80% in 41 minutes. This is pretty standard for modern EVs.

It’s an interesting attempt to pair a workman’s vehicle with a market share that tends to be dominated by young, affluent buyers that live in cities. One auto writer at the Verge suggested that if you’re going to take a gamble on whether an EV version of a well-known internal combustion car was going to work, you might as well try it with the most popular car in America, which at its most popular recent period put an American behind an F-150 wheel every 30 seconds.

MORE: Long-lasting Solid-state Lithium Battery From Harvard May Solve a 40-year Problem

But they aren’t throwing darts in the dark, they have some data to base their strategy off of: the recent EV conversion of the Mustang. 70% of the buyers of the Mach-E had never owned a Ford before.

FORD

One of the mantras of the F-150 Lighting design was self-reliance. As well as acting like a sort of mobile power station for light to medium work intensity sustained by the battery, owners of the extended range battery model, costing about $40,000 and capable of going 130 miles more on a full charge, will get an 80amp home-charging station that as well as filling up the battery in eight hours, will act as a backup generator for your home in the event of a power outage for about three days.

RELATED: Daimler Trucks is Now Accepting Orders for All-Electric Freight Trucks, Having Tested Them on America’s Highways

Having created the first mass produced automobile, if the F-150 Lighting is even a quarter as popular as the F-150, Ford will go a long way towards creating the next vehicular revolution.

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The Sky Spectacle of the Year With Full Lunar Eclipse and Super Moon Coming This Week

Science@NASA and NASA's Goddard Space

May 26, a Wednesday—or ‘Woden’s Day’ for you two or three pagans in the audience—will feature both a total lunar eclipse and a full super moon.

This year, in many parts of the world, the eclipsing of the sun’s light by Earth will shadow our lunar neighbor, turning it an impressive red—hence the name Blood Moon.

Science@NASA and NASA’s Goddard Space

This total lunar eclipse is the first in over two years. It will be visible in the western U.S. and Canada, all of Mexico, eastern Asia, Oceania, the Pacific Islands, and western South America before dawn on May 26.

For those on the east coast of the States, the sun will be too low on the horizon when the eclipse occurs—though if you can find a tall enough point (not easy to do in, say, Appalachia), and have a clear view of the horizon—given clear weather you may be able to see the phenomenon.

Check out TimeandDate.com’s excellent viewing guide to find out when the eclipse will hit your location.

MORE: Mind-Bending Pictures of the Moon With Inverted Colors Show Where Magma Once Flowed

Unlike with solar eclipses, you’ll need no special glasses for viewing this event.

A full Super Flower Moon

According to The Old Farmer’s Almanacthe peak full moon illumination will occur at around 7:14am EST on Wednesday morning—but by this point it will be very close or even below the horizon, so you’ll want to head out the night before—or, to be honest, all week is fine: NASA reports that the Moon will appear full from Tuesday night all the way through Friday morning.

May’s Flower Moon—which is also known as the Milk Moon and Corn Planting Moon—will be the biggest and brightest full super moon of 2021.

CHECK OUT: Scientist Thinks He Finally Knows Why People Hear Sounds Coming From the Northern Lights

Farmer’s Almanac reports that this time held a special place in some Native American calendars—as increasing warmth made it safe to bear young, an ideal period for planting crops, and a time that marked the end of late season frosts.

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“Beauty walks a razor’s edge, someday I’ll make it mine.” – Bob Dylan, Shelter From the Storm (turns 80 today)

Quote of the Day: “Beauty walks a razor’s edge, someday I’ll make it mine.” – Bob Dylan, (turns 80 today) lyrics from Shelter From the Storm

Photo: by Weston MacKinnon, mural in Minneapolis, Minnesota

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Google Flies in To Help Girl Scouts With Cookie Sales Shortfall – Delivering Thousands of Boxes Via Drone (WATCH)

Wing

In early April, Girl Scouts were experiencing a 50% shortfall in cookie sales, with reduced foot traffic and the pandemic limiting their ability to sell their iconic cookies in person—and eating into their annual activity budgets.

Google’s delivery service Wing began talking to a local Girl Scout troop in Christiansburg, Virginia, where they run America’s first and only residential drone delivery service. Now, enthusiasm and sales are soaring, with the local scouts selling cookies in an entirely new way: via drone.

Wing

Residents in Christiansburg can now get Samoas, Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Patties, and more favorites flown through the sky and dropped directly at their front door.

And, through it all, Wing has also been working with the local scouts showing them the technology of how drones work, and hopefully inspiring the girls to pursue STEM careers.

“In return, they’re teaching us a lot about how to sell cookies,” one spokesperson told GNN.

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During 2020, Wing was able to support a number of local Christiansburg businesses with their contactless delivery capabilities. For example, the owner of Mockingbird Cafe bakery, reported that drone delivery accounted for about 25% of sales during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

GNN reported last June on a local library that began using Wing to deliver books to kids stuck at home—brilliant!

Shoppers with a sweet tooth can order through the Wing app in Christiansburg until the end of May, but the company has committed to help the girls sell 3,000 boxes, regardless. So far, the most popular cookie order is—not surprising—Thin Mints.

A recent Virginia Tech survey of consumers in the nearby southern Virginia town found 87% of residents liked the idea of drone delivery following the first year of service in the community.

FUNNY: Girl Scout’s Hilariously Honest Cookie Reviews Lead to Record-breaking Sales

Drones can deliver goods to a consumer in minutes, without adding to traffic congestion and, energy-wise, they about 10x as efficient as electric vehicles, and more than 50x more efficient than gasoline-powered vehicles.

“It makes a lot more sense to deliver a 1lb box of cookies with a 10lb drone than it does to do it with a 3,000lb car,” says Wing.

If it means getting our Thin Mints dropped into our front yard, it’s a badge that’s worthy of a Girl Scout sash.

WATCH the Scouts’ spirits soar with Wing…

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94-Year-old Gets Medal of Honor 70 Years After Heroism, Making Him One of the Most Decorated Soldiers in US History

Seventy years ago, on a frozen hilltop deep in what is now North Korea, a young First Lieutenant acted with bravery that earned him the Distinguished Service Cross, the military’s second-highest honor.

On Friday, Ralph Puckett, Jr. was hosted at the White House where he received the Medal of Honor, the U.S. government’s highest and most prestigious military decoration.

Ralph’s first response was to ask, “Why all the fuss? Can’t they just mail it to me?”

But, after his lifetime of service to the nation, President Joe Biden said at the medal ceremony, “Rather than mail it to you, I would’ve walked it to you.”

Ralph’s wife of 68 years, Jeannie Puckett, was in the audience, too, as Biden described how the couple met—while the brave Army Ranger was recovering from his wounds.

They were married two years to the day after the battle in November, 1950, for which he was honored this week with the following citation: “For acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as the commander 8th U.S. Army Ranger Company…”

Army photo

51 of Puckett’s Rangers and 9 Korean enlisted soldiers set out in a daylight attack to take Hill 205, just 60 miles from the border with China, which drew mortar, machine gun, and small-arms fire against them. First Lieutenant Puckett mounted the closest tank, exposing himself to the deadly enemy fire. Leaping from the tank, he shouted words of encouragement to his men and began to lead the Rangers in their offensive.

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To make their charge, they had to cross about half mile of frozen rice paddies under fire.

“Almost immediately, enemy fire threatened the success of the attack by pinning down one platoon. Leaving the safety of his position, with full knowledge of the danger, First Lieutenant Puckett intentionally ran across an open area three times to draw enemy fire, thereby allowing the Rangers to locate and destroy the enemy positions and to seize Hill 205,” continued the citation.

When the Rangers finally reached the top of the hill, they found it abandoned, but Puckett knew the fight wasn’t nearly over.

“During the night, the enemy launched a counterattack that lasted four hours. Over the course of the counterattack, the Rangers were inspired and motivated by the extraordinary leadership and courageous example exhibited by First Lieutenant Puckett.”

Even though Puckett’s Rangers were outnumbered almost ten to one, five attacks by a battalion-strength enemy were repulsed.

During the first wave, First Lieutenant Puckett was wounded by grenade fragments, but refused evacuation and continually directed artillery support. Over the course of the next several hours, four more waves of assaults came.

“He repeatedly abandoned positions of relative safety to make his way from foxhole to foxhole, to check the company’s perimeter and to distribute ammunition amongst the Rangers.”

LOOK: Bride and Groom Betrothed to History After She Wore a Wedding Dress Made From the Parachute That Saved Him

Extraordinary selflessness above and beyond the call

When the enemy launched a sixth attack, two mortar rounds landed in his foxhole, inflicting “grievous wounds” in both his feet, his backside, his left arm and shoulder.

“Knowing his men were in a precarious situation, First Lieutenant Puckett commanded the Rangers to leave him behind and evacuate the area. Feeling a sense of duty to aid him, the Rangers refused the order and staged an effort to retrieve him from the foxhole while still under fire from the enemy.

Ultimately, the Rangers succeeded in retrieving First Lieutenant Puckett and they moved to the bottom of the hill, where First Lieutenant Puckett called for devastating artillery fire on the top of the enemy-controlled hill.

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First Lieutenant Puckett’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.”

First Time a Foreign Leader Attended This Ceremony

Biden said in his remarks, “Korea is sometimes called the “Forgotten War.” But those men who were there under Lieutenant Puckett’s command — they’ll never forget his bravery. They never forget that he was right by their side throughout every minute of it.”

Puckett at the White House

“And the people of the Republic of Korea haven’t forgotten, as evidenced by the fact that the President of Korea is here for this ceremony. I doubt this has ever happened before.”

President Moon said, “I learned that I’m the first foreign leader to ever attend a ceremony of such kind. As President of the Republic of Korea, it is a great honor and pleasure.

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“Colonel Puckett is a true hero of the Korean War… Without the sacrifice of veterans, including Colonel Puckett and the Eighth Army Ranger Company, freedom and democracy we enjoy today couldn’t have blossomed in Korea.”

“From the ashes of the Korean War, we rose, we came back. And that was thanks to the Korean War veterans who fought for Korea’s peace and freedom. And now, thanks to their support and efforts, we are enjoying prosperity. On behalf of the Korean people, I express deep gratitude and respect to them. Through the war veterans, the Korean people saw a great soul of America that marches toward freedom and peace. Their acts of gallantry, sacrifice, and friendship will forever be remembered.”

Puckett’s military service did not end in the Korean War. He also served in the Vietnam War, where he earned a second Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, and two Bronze Stars, adding to his five Purple Hearts for injuries suffered in combat.

You can read about his life story in his published book, Ranger: A Soldier’s Life (from the American Warrior Series).

MORE: 70-Year-Old Veteran Battling Cancer Hailed as an ‘Angel’ After He Charged into Burning Home to Save Neighbors

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Man Inspires Town During Lockdown—Spelling Out Messages with Rubber Duckies in Front Yard (PHOTOS)

People are traveling across town to see the rubber duckies being arranged into inspiring messages that are quacking up the neighborhood.

Jim Preston came up with the unique way to make people smile during lockdown from his 14th Ave. home in Menlo Park, California.

He gets up at the quack of dawn (presumably) and uses the yellow toy ducks to spell out words of hope, encouragement, and wisdom, and has been doing it for months.

Chandrama Anderson told GNN that photos were being posted on the app, NextDoor, but that she began seeing the creations on her daily walks.

“For my husband’s 60th birthday under Covid lockdown, when there weren’t many ways to make a birthday special, I asked Jim to use his ducks to spell out ‘Happy Birthday Locke,’ and he did!”

She said he was “thrilled”.

WATCH: The Serendipitous Moment a Dog Runs Into Her Puppy Brother in a Park—Even Though He Lives 500 Miles Away

A message from Lion King

Even if the message is not created specifically for you, it’s easy to believe the uplifting sidewalk art comes straight from the heart—the heart of a town ‘wise quacker’.

LOOK: Family’s Dachshund and Speedy Tortoise Play Football Together

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Special Delivery from Tampa to Puerto Rico May Save Toad Species from Extinction

Tampa Zoo

Tadpoles have been airlifted this week by plane from Florida to the island home of their ancestors, helping to save a species.

Tampa Zoo

The only toad species native to Puerto Rico is now critically endangered, but ZooTampa contributed to the survival of this important species by sending thousands of recently hatched tadpoles to help restore the population on their native island.

The Puerto Rican crested toad once flourished on the island but before 1967 the amphibian was thought to have become extinct, due to habitat loss from urban development, natural disasters, and competition from invasive species who prey on their young.

An essential part of the island ecosystem, eating insects that are pests to humans, scientists estimate that fewer than 3,000 adult toads remain in the wild.

Today, ZooTampa is one of only a few zoos across the world who participate in the Association of Zoos and Aquarium’s Species Survival Plan with the goal of re-populating this species by breeding and sending tadpoles back to Puerto Rico.

RELATED: Folks in New Jersey Are Caring For More Than 800 Baby Turtles Rescued From Storm Drains

The Zoo’s herpetology and veterinary teams oversaw the delicate reproduction process for the pairs of crested toads: From careful habitat temperature control that stimulates the island’s rainy season, to playing the “Barry White version” of toad mating calls, several important steps were taken to ensure that the toads produced fertilized eggs.

ZooTampa

“These tadpoles represent hope for this critically endangered species,” said Dan Costell, associate curator of herps and aquatics. “Bolstering the population of these toads in their natural environment is a real win for conservation and at the core of our mission at ZooTampa.”

The tadpoles were quickly counted and packed into protected shipping boxes filled with oxygen to keep the tadpoles healthy and safe on their journey to their homeland, where biologists will release them into protected managed ponds.

WATCH: World’s Oldest-Known Wild Bird—Named Wisdom—Hatches Another Chick at 70

It was a race against the clock, as there’s only an 8-day window between when the fertilized eggs begin hatching into tadpoles and when they must be released by biologists on the island.

ZooTampa

The efforts of all involved are now resulting in chirps of joy—from both toads and humans—on the Island of Enchantment.

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“Nothing in the universe can stop you from letting go and starting over.” – Guy Finley

Quote of the Day: “Nothing in the universe can stop you from letting go and starting over.” – Guy Finley

Photo: by Marcus Dall Col

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Long-lasting Solid-state Lithium Battery From Harvard May Solve a 40-year Problem

lithium battery experiment - courtesy of Second Bay Studios:Harvard SEAS

Long-lasting, quick-charging batteries are essential to the expansion of the electric vehicle market, but today’s lithium-ion batteries fall short of what’s needed — they’re too heavy, too expensive and take too long to charge.

lithium battery experiment – courtesy of Second Bay Studios:Harvard SEAS

For decades, researchers have tried to harness the potential of solid-state, lithium-metal batteries, which hold substantially more energy in the same volume and charge in a fraction of the time compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries.

“A lithium-metal battery is considered the holy grail for battery chemistry because of its high capacity and energy density,” said Xin Li, Associate Professor of Materials Science at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS). “But the stability of these batteries has always been poor.”

Now, Li and his team have designed a stable, lithium-metal solid state battery that can be charged and discharged at least 10,000 times — far more cycles than have been previously demonstrated — at a high current density. The researchers paired the new design with a commercial high energy density cathode material.

This battery technology could increase the lifetime of electric vehicles to that of the gasoline cars — 10 to 15 years — without the need to replace the battery. With its high current density, the battery could pave the way for electric vehicles that can fully charge within 10 to 20 minutes.

POPULAR: With EV Battery Prices Dropping 87% in a Decade, Tesla is Now Making a Car That Will Cost $25,000

“Our research shows that the solid-state battery could be fundamentally different from the commercial liquid electrolyte lithium-ion battery,” said Li. “By studying their fundamental thermodynamics, we can unlock superior performance and harness their abundant opportunities.”

The big challenge with lithium-metal batteries has always been chemistry. Lithium batteries move lithium ions from the cathode to the anode during charging. When the anode is made of lithium metal, needle-like structures called dendrites form on the surface. These structures grow like roots into the electrolyte and pierce the barrier separating the anode and cathode, causing the battery to short or even catch fire.

To overcome this challenge, Li and his team designed a multilayer battery that sandwiches different materials of varying stabilities between the anode and cathode. This multilayer, multimaterial battery prevents the penetration of lithium dendrites not by stopping them altogether but rather by controlling and containing them.

RELATEDDaimler Trucks is Now Accepting Orders for All-Electric Freight Trucks, Having Tested Them on America’s Highways

Like a BLT sandwich

Think of the battery like a BLT sandwich. First comes the bread — the lithium metal anode — followed by lettuce — a coating of graphite. Next, a layer of tomatoes — the first electrolyte — and a layer of bacon — the second electrolyte. Finish it off with another layer of tomatoes and the last piece of bread — the cathode.

Courtesy of Second Bay Studios : Harvard SEAS

The first electrolyte (chemical name Li5.5PS4.5Cl1.5 or LPSCI) is more stable with lithium but prone to dendrite penetration. The second electrolyte, (Li10Ge1P2S12 or LGPS) is less stable with lithium but appears immune to dendrites. In this design, dendrites are allowed to grow through the graphite and first electrolyte but are stopped when they reach the second. In other words, the dendrites grow through the lettuce and tomato but stop at the bacon. The bacon barrier stops the dendrites from pushing through and shorting the battery.

“Our strategy of incorporating instability in order to stabilize the battery feels counterintuitive but just like an anchor can guide and control a screw going into a wall, so too can our multilayer design guide and control the growth of dendrites,” said Luhan Ye, co-author of the paper and graduate student at SEAS.

“The difference is that our anchor quickly becomes too tight for the dendrite to drill through, so the dendrite growth is stopped,” Li added.

The battery is also self-healing; its chemistry allows it to backfill holes created by the dendrites.

CHECK OUT: Scientists Develop New Material to Make Lithium Ion Batteries Self-Healing and Easily Recyclable

“This proof-of-concept design shows that lithium-metal solid-state batteries could be competitive with commercial lithium-ion batteries,” said Li. “And the flexibility and versatility of our multilayer design makes it potentially compatible with mass production procedures in the battery industry. Scaling it up to the commercial battery wont’ be easy and there are still some practical challenges, but we believe they will be overcome.”

The research was published in Nature, and supported by Dean’s Competitive Fund for Promising Scholarship at Harvard University and Harvard Data Science Initiative Competitive Research Fund.

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This Week’s Inspiring Horoscopes From Rob Brezsny’s ‘Free Will Astrology’

Our partner Rob Brezsny provides his weekly wisdom to enlighten our thinking and motivate our mood. Rob’s Free Will Astrology, is a syndicated weekly column appearing in over a hundred publications. He is also the author of Pronoia Is the Antidote for Paranoia: How All of Creation Is Conspiring To Shower You with Blessings. (A free preview of the book is available here.)

Here is your weekly horoscope…

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY – Week beginning May 20, 2021
Copyright by Rob Brezsny, FreeWillAstrology.com

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
Here’s a public service announcement for you Geminis from the planet and god Mercury: You’re under no obligation to be the same person you were three years ago, or six months ago, or last week—or even five minutes ago, for that matter. Mercury furthermore wants you to know that you have been authorized to begin a period of improvisation and experimentation, hopefully guided by a single overriding directive: what feels most fun and interesting to you. In the coming weeks it will be more important to create yourself anew than to know precisely who you are.

CANCER (June 21-July 22):
As a Zen Buddhist priest for 47 years, Kōshō Uchiyama was knowledgeable about the power that illusions can wield over our imaginations. “If we’re not careful,” he said, “we are apt to grant ultimate value to something we’ve just made up in our heads.” I won’t tell you the examples from my own life that prove his point, because they’re too embarrassing. And I’m happy to report that I don’t think you’re anywhere near granting *ultimate* value to something you’ve just made up in your head. But I do advise you to be on the lookout for milder versions of that phenomenon.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
Leo-born professor Sibelan Forrester is an expert on charms, spells, and incantations in Russian folklore. She wrote, “An empty place where no one can see or hear what one says is the proper locus for working magic.” Spells often start with these words, she added: “I rise up, saying a blessing. I go out, crossing myself, and I go to an open field.” Whether or not you have Russian heritage, Leo, I see the immediate future as being a good time for you to perform magic in an open field with no one else around. What might be the intention of your magic? How about something like this: “I ask my guides and ancestors to help me offer my most inspired largesse so as to serve the health and inspiration and liberation of the people whose lives I touch.”

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
Spiritual author Stephen Russell wrote, “Don’t mask or deny your vulnerability: It is your greatest asset.” That’s an exaggeration, in my opinion. Vulnerability is a greater asset than your intelligence, compassion, and creativity? Not in my view. But I do recognize the high value of vulnerability, especially for you Virgos during the next three weeks. “Be vulnerable,” Russell continues. “Quake and shake in your boots with it. The new bounty and beauty that are coming to you, in the form of people, situations, and things, can only come to you when you are vulnerable—open.”

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
My friend Jenny’s Swedish grandmother used to say to her on a semi-regular basis, “åh tänk om vi vore korkade, vi skulle vara så lyckliga,” meaning, “If only we were stupid, we would be so happy.” In the coming weeks, I am asking you to disprove that folk wisdom. According to my analysis of the astrological potentials, now is a favorable time for you to explore ways in which your intelligence might enhance and deepen your enjoyment of life. Your motto should be: “The smarter we are, the happier we will be.”

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
Sometime soon I invite you to speak a message similar to what poet Kenneth Rexroth once delivered to a special person in his life. He wrote, “Your tongue thrums and moves / Into me, and I become / Hollow and blaze with / Whirling light, like the inside / Of a vast expanding pearl.” Do you know anyone who might be receptive to hearing such lyrical praise? If not, create a fantasy character in your imagination to whom you can say it. On the other hand, maybe you do know a real person who would appreciate an earthier, less poetical tribute. If so, please convey it; something akin to this: “Your influence on me amplifies my ability to be my best self.” Now is a perfect time to honor and extol and reward those who move you and excite you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
Author Aldous Huxley said, “I can sympathize with people’s pains, but not with their pleasures. There is something curiously boring about somebody else’s happiness.” To that I reply, “Other people’s pleasure and happiness bored you? Maybe you were suffering from raging narcissism and an addiction to cynicism.” In any case, Sagittarius, I hope you won’t be like Huxley in the next few weeks. I believe you could glean useful insights and derive personal benefits from knowing about and appreciating the joys of others.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
Capricorn businessman Howard Hughes (1905–1976) had great success early in his life. Working as a film director and aviation pioneer, he became a wealthy philanthropist. But as he aged, he became increasingly eccentric and reclusive. For the last 10 years of his life, he lived in expensive hotels, where he placed strict and often absurd demands on the hotel staff. For example, if he called on room service to bring him a meal that included peas, he would measure the peas with a ruler, and send back any he deemed too big. I do hope that you Capricorns will also have an intense focus on mastering the details in the coming weeks—but not as intense or misguided as that nonsensical obsession.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
Aquarian author Charles Dickens (1812–1870) was famous and popular. Audiences packed the halls where he did public lectures and readings. His favorite way to prepare for these evening events was to spend the day drinking a pint of champagne, as well as generous servings of rum, cream, and sherry with eggs beaten into the mix. I don’t have a problem with that—whatever works, right?—but I suggest a different approach for your upcoming appointments with greater visibility and prominence. Like what? How about sexy meditations on the gratitude you feel for your expanding possibilities? How about fun fantasies focusing on how you’ll use your increased clout?

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
In his upcoming book The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, John Koenig proposes that we begin using “monachopsis,” a word he coined. He defines it as follows: “the feeling of being out of place, as maladapted to your surroundings as a seal on a beach—lumbering, clumsy, easily distracted, huddled in the company of other misfits, unable to recognize the ambient roar of your intended habitat, in which you’d be fluidly, brilliantly, effortlessly at home.” Even if you have spent too much time lately experiencing monachopsis, my dear, I predict this malaise will soon dissipate and give way to an extended phase of being fluidly, brilliantly, effortlessly at home.

ARIES (March 21-April 19):
Aries playwright Samuel Beckett wrote the play Waiting for Godot. At one point in the tale, the character named Estragon suggests it might be possible, even desirable, to “dance first and think afterwards.” In response, the character named Pozzo says, “By all means, nothing simpler. It’s the natural order.” With that in mind, and in accordance with astrological omens, I am going to encourage you to dance first and think afterwards as much as possible in the coming weeks. In my opinion, your ability to analyze and reason will thrive to the degree that you encourage your body to engage in enjoyable free-form play. Your power to make good decisions will grow as you take really good care of your physical organism and give it an abundance of pleasure and release.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20):
As you enter a phase when gradual, incremental progress is the best progress possible, I offer you the concluding lines of Taurus poet Adrienne Rich’s poem “From a Survivor”: “not as a leap, but a succession of brief, amazing movements, each one making possible the next.” I especially want to call your attention to the fact that the small steps can be “brief, amazing movements.” Don’t underestimate the power of minor, subtle, regular breakthroughs.

WANT MORE? Listen to Rob’s EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES, 4-5 minute meditations on the current state of your destiny — or subscribe to his unique daily text message service at: RealAstrology.com

(Zodiac images by Numerologysign.com, CC license)

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Penguin in Antarctica Leaps into Passing Tourist Boat – Enjoys the Respite (WATCH)

An eager penguin leaped into a tourist boat and stayed onboard for 10 minutes to enjoy the above-water view with the other passengers.

Polar guide John Bozinov was leading a tour through Antarctica’s Ross Sea when a sole chinstrap penguin made a couple of attempts to jump onboard his Zodiac vessel.

The 30-year-old cut off the engine to make it easier for the animal to make the leap, and it finally landing successfully on the side of the boat next to one of the passengers.

RELATED: Watch Zoo Penguins Delight in Their New Bubble Maker—A Gift From Staff During Quarantine

The speculation is that the penguin was possibly trying to avoid predators in the water, like leopard seals and killer whales—especially because after he jumped ship, he hopped over to another vessel piloted by John’s colleague Steve Reynolds.

WATCH the moment these travelers will surely never forget…

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Leonardo DiCaprio Announces a $43 Million Pledge to Save the Galápagos Islands

Galapagos Islands Floreana Marine Iguana sitting on rocks by Andrew S. Wright

A coalition of groups, including a newly formed organization backed by actor Leonardo DiCaprio, have mobilized $43 million for efforts to restore degraded habitats in the Galápagos Islands, an archipelago renowned for its endemic species and central role in scientists’ understanding of ecology and evolution.

Galapagos Islands Floreana Marine Iguana sitting on rocks by Andrew S. Wright

The Galápagos initiative has three immediate priorities: Helping restore Floreana Island, one of the islands most degraded by human activities in the Galápagos; increasing the population size of the critically endangered pink iguana on Isabela Island; and strengthening protection of the archipelago’s marine reserves, which are critical to the local economy yet have been besieged by foreign fishing fleets in recent years. The initiative involves more than 40 partners, ranging from local NGOs to governments to international organizations, leveraging decades of collective experience working across the archipelago.

To mark the start of the new initiative, DiCaprio is turning control of his social media accounts over Paula A. Castaño, a veterinarian and biologist with Island Conservation who lives in the Galápagos Islands, for the day. DiCaprio has more than 86 million followers across his official Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook accounts.

“When I travelled to the Galápagos Islands, I met with Paula Castaño and other environmental heroes in Ecuador working day in and day out to save one of the most irreplaceable places on the planet. I’m excited to share her team’s work and to support the longstanding effort to protect and restore these iconic islands, alongside the team at Re:wild,” said Leonardo DiCaprio.

One of the groups leading the effort is Re:wild, an organization that was just formed between Global Wildlife Conservation and Leonardo DiCaprio, who is a founding board member of the new entity. The Galápagos initiative is Re:wild’s first project under its new brand, but the group plans to scale up its existing global work, putting renewed emphasis on the concept of rewilding, or restoring species and ecosystems to previous levels of abundance and health.

“Rewilding, a positive reframing for nature conservation, involves holistic solutions to remove barriers and reestablish vibrant wildlife populations and intact, functional, and resilient ecosystems that effectively integrate people,” said Re:wild in a press release. “Re:wild is a movement to build a world in balance with the wild.”

RELATED: 15 Giant Tortoises Finally Returned to Their Galapagos Island Home After Saving Their Species With 1,900 Babies

DiCaprio adds, “Re:wild offers a bold vision to amplify and scale the local solutions being led by Indigenous peoples and local communities, nongovernmental organizations, companies, and government agencies, to help increase their impact around the world. The environmental heroes that the planet needs are already here. Now we all must rise to the challenge and join them.”

Galapagos giant tortoise by Andrew Wright

In the case of the Galápagos, the new initiative has focused initially on targeted opportunities. For example, Floreana Island has great potential for restoration after loss of native vegetation and species from land clearing, intentional fire-setting, and the introduction of invasive species in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Galápagos initiative aims to reintroduce 13 species that have gone extinct and help increase the population of the island’s 54 threatened species.

CHECK OUT: 100-Year-old Galápagos Tortoise Might Be a Survivor of Species Thought to be Extinct

The efforts in Floreana Island would be expanded to other parts of the Galápagos under the initiative, which over the next decade, hopes to restore another two dozen islands, “halt and reverse” the decline of 250 threatened species, and vastly increase the extent of areas under effective protection and management. At the same time, the initiative plans to help bolster the capacity of local and regional conservation and restoration experts as well as support the development of more sustainable and resilient economies for communities in the Galápagos.

Castaño said that lessons from the efforts in the Galápagos could eventually be applied in other geographies to scale impact and reverse biodiversity decline.

“Time is running out for so many species, especially on islands where their small populations are vulnerable and threatened,” Castaño said in a statement. “We know how to prevent these extinctions and restore functional and thriving ecosystems—we have done it—but we need to replicate these successes, innovate and go to scale,”

“We need catalytic investments like the one announced today to replicate our successes in the Galápagos and elsewhere.”

RELATED: Leonardo DiCaprio Launches $5 Million Emergency Fund to Help Combat Amazon Rainforest Fires

Wes Sechrest, Re:wild chief scientist and CEO, who was formerly in the same roles at Global Wildlife Conservation, echoed Castaño’s sentiments.

“In order to reverse the climate crisis and ecosystem collapse, we need to focus on a ‘technology’ that took billions of years to refine, that is free, and that sustains us every single day: nature, in its most wild form,” said Sechrest in a statement. “Where better to begin than the Galápagos, which, as the first-declared World Heritage Site, is among the most extraordinary wild places on the planet. Re:wild’s work with partners is hope in action–from Darwin’s laboratory to Australia’s wildlands to the Congo forests of Central Africa.”

Source: Mongabay.com / written by Rhett A. Butler / (CC BY-ND 4.0)

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“If you’re awake to the poignant beauty of the world, your heart breaks regularly. Its purpose is to burst open again and again so that it can hold ever more wonders.” – Andrew Harvey

Quote of the Day: “If you’re awake to the poignant beauty of the world, your heart breaks regularly. Its purpose is to burst open again and again so that it can hold ever more wonders.” – Andrew Harvey

Photo: by Marian Kroell

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quote of the Day page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Island Paradise Created for Digital Nomads is a Village With Free Wifi and Workspace

Arthur Krijgsman
Arthur Krijgsman

Reprinted with permission from World At Large, a news website of nature, politics, science, health, and travel.

Winner of Europe’s Leading Island Destination award for five years running, the Portuguese island of Madeira is looking to capitalize on the rise in numbers of a unique kind of traveler—digital nomads—by building a town entirely specialized for their residency.

While COVID-19 has forced millions of workers into the telecommuting space, when they got there, they found the sphere was already inhabited by Anthony Bourdain-type people who travel year-round and work from their computers.

Realizing this market was goosed by the rise in telecommuting, and that the staggering beauty of the island would be deeply appealing to digital nomads, Madeira has created Digital Nomad Village, a place with fast internet, exclusive hotel property, community events, and a free office space.

It’s situated in tranquil Ponta do Sol on the south coast, with views out to the Atlantic and a short drive from the capital of Funchal. Launched in February, the pilot program for the village will run until the end of June.

“Madeira Islands have the perfect conditions to attract digital nomads with its natural beauty, activities in nature, culture, and fantastic weather conditions throughout the year,” reads the village’s website. “There was an urgent need to create an integrated strategy to attract this market, in order to make Madeira also known as one of the best places in the world to work remotely.”

MORE: These Beautiful Italian Towns Will Pay You to Move There if You Work Remotely

This concept is being launched in partnership with the Government of Madeira, StartUp Madeira, and acclaimed digital nomad Gonçalo Hall. Hosting up to 100 nomads at any one time, residents must commit to staying for at least a month.

A leading island

Europe’s island travel market is fiercely competitive, with locations such as the Azores and their volcanoes, Sicily with its food and culture, the Greek islands with their long history, and Cyprus all battling for market share every holiday season. Madeira has nevertheless been considered as the best island destination in Europe for years.

RELATED: These 6 Cities and This State Will Pay You to Move There

On the same latitude as Casablanca, the Portuguese outpost is home to scenery that’s both rugged and gentle—and more like the Caribbean than anywhere else on the continent, with warm seas always close by. The rich volcanic soil, mountainous terrain, and forests covering 20% of the main island serve to cloak much of Madeira in natural beauty.

The forests in Madeira are unlike anything else on Earth. Laurissilva, or Laurel forest, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an outstanding relict of a previously widespread type of forest that covered much of Southern Europe 15-40 million years ago.

Now ,however, this type of forest, with 79unique species of vascular plant, is found only on the Canary Islands, the Azores, and Madeira.

Madeira was referred to as the “most enviable island on Earth” by author H.N. Coleridge in the 19th century.” Well now, if you’re a digital nomad, you can live and work there today.

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