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In Historic Announcement, the World Health Organization (WHO) Proposes Removing Cannabis From Most Dangerous Drug Category

By
McKinley Corbley
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Following a lengthy review process, international opponents of the ‘war on drugs’ are applauding the World Health Organization (WHO) move toward removing cannabis from its placement in the drug category reserved for the most dangerous substances.

Currently, whole-plant marijuana and cannabis resin are considered a schedule IV substance, indicating that any medical uses for the substance are outweighed by their potential for abuse. The scheduling was originally created in 1961 by a United Nations treaty on ‘Narcotic Drugs,’ as a means of setting an international framework for medical research, trade, and legislation.

If removed from schedule IV, which is shared by substances such as heroin and cocaine, it would signify that world health experts are acknowledging cannabis’s medical applications, allowing United Nations member states to move forward more freely with cannabis reform and give health professionals much more free reign to conduct research on the medical benefits and applications of marijuana.

It would also clear up the confusion behind the international trade of cannabidiol and CBD products. If the WHO reclassification is approved, it would legalize the trade of CBD products containing less than 0.2% THC (the psychoactive compound found in marijuana).

MORE: Cannabis Oil ‘Significantly’ Improves the Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease in Small, First-of-its-Kind Study

“The placement of cannabis in the 1961 treaty, in the absence of scientific evidence, was a terrible injustice,” Michael Krawitz, a U.S. Air Force veteran and an advocate for marijuana reform, told Forbes. “Today the World Health Organization has gone a long way towards setting the record straight. It is time for us all to support the World Health Organization’s recommendations and ensure politics don’t trump science.”

Once the proposal is passed to the UN’s Commission on Narcotic Drugs, 53 countries will have the opportunity to vote on the reclassification as soon as March.

Go Green With Your Friends: Share The Good News To Social Media – Photo by Kat_geb, CC

New ‘Trojan Horse’ Cancer Drug Successfully Treats Patients With 6 Different Kinds of Lethal Tumors

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Good News Network
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National Cancer Institute, CC license

A brand new type of cancer drug that acts as a “Trojan horse” to get inside tumor cells has shown promise in patients with advanced, drug-resistant cancers.

Patients with six different cancer types, including those with cervical, bladder, ovarian and lung tumors, have responded positively to the new treatment.

Since these patients had already exhausted their other treatment options, the drug could be ready to extend their lifespans within the next five years.

The innovative new drug, called tisotumab vedotin (or TV for short), releases a toxic substance to kill cancer cells from within. The results have been so positive, the drug has now moved forward to phase II trials in cervical cancer and will be tested in a range of additional solid tumor cancers.

MORE: Boy is Cured of Aggressive Cancer Thanks to Stem Cell Treatment Using Donated Umbilical Cord

A team at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust led a phase I/II global clinical trial of nearly 150 European patients with a variety of cancer types who had stopped responding to standard treatments.

The study was published in The Lancet Oncology and funded by Genmab and Seattle Genetics.

Researchers saw responses in 27% of patients with bladder cancer, 26.5% of those with cervical cancer, 14% for ovarian cancer, 13% with esophageal, 13% with non-small cell lung, and 7% with endometrial cancer (although not in any men with prostate cancer).

RELATED: Metal Brought to Earth by Asteroid That Wiped Out Dinosaurs Could Be Harmless Cure for Cancer

Responses lasted an average of 5.7 months, and up to 9.5 months in some patients. The main side effects reported from the study were nose bleeds, fatigue, nausea and eye problems – but halfway through the trial the researchers adjusted the protocol to reduce these eye-related effects.

TV is made up of a toxic drug attached to the tail end of an antibody. The antibody is designed to seek out a receptor called “tissue factor” – present at high levels on the surface of many cancers cells and linked with worse survival rates. Binding to the tissue factor draws the drug inside cancer cells, where it can kill them from within.

The trial initially recruited 27 patients to assess safety and establish the right dose, before expanding to a further 120 patients primarily to look at whether the drug was hitting the right target but also to examine its effects on tumors.

CHECK OUT: UCLA Surgeons Develop Simple Spray Gel to Super-Charge Immunity and Prevent Cancer From Returning

The majority of patients in the early trial had advanced-stage cancer (spread locally or around the body) that had already been treated with, and became resistant to, an average of three different types of treatment.

“What is so exciting about this treatment is that its mechanism of action is completely novel – it acts like a Trojan horse to sneak into cancer cells and kill them from the inside,” said Professor Johann de Bono from The Institute of Cancer Research, London.

“Our early study shows that it has the potential to treat a large number of different types of cancer, and particularly some of those with very poor survival rates.

MORE: Researchers Develop Cheap, 10-Minute Test That Can Detect Cancer Anywhere in the Body

“TV has manageable side effects, and we saw some good responses in the patients in our trial, all of whom had late-stage cancer that had been heavily pre-treated with other drugs and who had run out of other options.

“We have already begun additional trials of this new drug in different tumor types and as a second-line treatment for cervical cancer, where response rates were particularly high. We are also developing a test to pick out the patients most likely to respond.”

TV is now being trialled in other cancer types including bowel, pancreatic, squamous cell lung and head and neck, as well as in a phase II trial as a second-line treatment for cervical cancer.

RELATED: A Woman Given Months to Live From Advanced Breast Cancer is ‘Cured’ in World First

Biopsy samples taken at the start of the trial are currently being analyzed for expression of tissue factor on tumor cells to see if it could be used as a marker to select patients most likely to respond to the drug.

Professor Paul Workman, Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “We’ve seen major advances against cancer in recent decades, but many tumor types remain very difficult to treat once the cancer has begun to spread. We desperately need innovative treatments like this one that can attack cancers in brand new ways, and remain effective even against tumors that have become resistant to standard therapies.

“It’s exciting to see the potential shown by TV across a range of hard-to-treat cancers. I look forward to seeing it progress in the clinic and hope it can benefit patients who currently have run out of treatment options.”

(Source: The Institute of Cancer Research, London)

Cure Your Friends’ Negativity By Sharing The Good News On Social Media – Photo by National Cancer Institute, CC

When Man With Autism Has Violent Reaction to Medication, Mom is Stunned by Officers’ Compassionate Response

By
McKinley Corbley
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When Ellen Hughes and her husband brought their autistic son to the hospital during a violent adverse behavioral reaction to his medication, they were prepared for a possible backlash; instead, they were heartened by the response of the hospital’s security officers.

Due to his autism, Ellen’s 34-year-old son Walker has spent his entire life in and out of hospitals. Though he is ordinarily a very gentle man, he began reacting violently in a “paradoxical” response to a new medication that was supposed to calm him down.

When Walker uncharacteristically began attacking his parents at home, they spoke to a doctor at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois and they were told to bring their son to the hospital immediately.

Despite their son’s aggression, they managed to get him into the back seat of the car and bring him to Loyola. As they were walking through the facility’s doors, however, Ellen let out a yell in response to Walker biting her hand. They were immediately surrounded by hospital security officers and Ellen feared they would mistreat her son.

LOOK: Police Officer Praised for Spending Hours Looking After Children While Mom Filed Domestic Violence Report

In the past, Walker’s aversion to hospital environments has led to him being handcuffed to gurneys and wrestled into submission by hospital staffers – and since the security guards were armed with stun guns and thick, bulletproof vests, she was afraid of how they would handle the situation.

On the contrary, the officers handled the entire situation with encouragement and patience.

Walker spent two and a half hours being treated and medicated on a hospital examination table. For the duration of his hospital stay, the officers comforted Walker by singing songs, dancing, playing games, and cheering him on through his discomfort.

MORE: Police Officer Vaults Over 30-Foot Overpass in Order to Save Suicidal Boy

“Walker loved it,” Ellen told The Chicago Tribune. “He was kind of mystified and charmed and started smiling. They were men his size who considered him a real person… It’s scary to be treated like a lion from the zoo. We’ve been to the doctor and the hospitals a million times, and I’ve never seen anything like these guys.”

The compassionate response is largely thanks to Sgt. Keith Miller, who also has a 14-year-old son with autism. His parenting experience compelled him to train his fellow security officers on how they should properly respond to autistic patients in a humane way—and that training was perfectly on displayed during Walker’s hospital visit.

Miller hopes that such training will be implemented in more hospitals around the world – although Ellen later praised the kind-hearted officers by saying that “you can’t train that kind of spirit.”

Be Sure And Share This Inspiring Story With Your Friends On Social Media – Photo by the Hughes family

Near-Death Experience Inspires Inventor to Create Wetsuit That Allows the Disabled to Swim Once More

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Good News Network
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The story of how a surfer-turned-inventor ended up helping people be safer and feel more confident in the water starts one day at a local surfing area near Ventura, California.

On that day, Santa Barbara resident Mark Okrusko was surfing Rincon, one of his favorite breaks, when he wiped out and was held beneath the water by the waves.

“While I was waiting for the white water to release me,” Okrusko said, “I came up with the idea of a suit designed with an extra breath of air.” His inspiration led to his first invention: the Breathvest, a wetsuit with an air bladder in the chest that would provide swimmers with a small air supply.

While the goal was to help surfers have an extra breath of air, Okrusko soon realized: “The air bladder made it easier for people to float and swim in water. People who wore the suit loved how they could swim so easily. So I came up with the idea for the Floater.”

Instead of an inflatable air bladder, Okrusko developed a patented foam pad so people could float, and founded a company Airtime Watertime.

RELATED: Minutes After Saying ‘I Do’, Hero Groom Jumps Into the Ocean to Save Drowning Teen

While the first suit was aimed at surfers and water sports enthusiasts, the second suit found an unexpected audience. “We started getting orders from people with disabilities, people who had suffered mobility injuries, and people who were afraid to swim but wanted to get back in the water,” said Okrusko. “They were searching on the Internet for some kind of suit that would keep them afloat.”

One of its new fans was a recovering quadriplegic and Santa Barbara resident, Gustavo Ritterstein. In 2013, Ritterstein suffered an ATV accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. With physical therapy and the use of the Floater wetsuit, Ritterstein said, “I was able to swim in the ocean again for the first time in years. With the suit on in the water, I was just like everyone else. You couldn’t tell I was disabled.”

“Feeling, at least for a moment, normal—it does make a big difference in your life.”

Gustavo Ritterstein with The Floater

People who fear the water also discovered the suit’s benefits. Sandra Brodeur from New Hampshire had been a non-swimmer because of her life-long fear of not being able to touch the bottom. But that changed with the suit. “I felt so safe and confident at all times from the buoyancy of the suit that I could relax in the water for the first time in my life and enjoy it. At times, I was in 30 to 40 feet of water without fear!”

LOOK: Dad Designs a Floating Drone That Could Prevent Dozens of Potential Drownings

Another surprise application was its use by water rescue personnel, Gabriel Swan, a 2016 lifeguard champion for Puerto Rico. He heard about the suit and brought one back with him to Condado Beach where he served as a volunteer lifeguard. Using the suit, Swan said, “I feel more confident grabbing someone. If I’m doing a rescue and I need to swim out to a victim, I can reach them twice as fast.”

In addition to water rescue teams, Airtime Watertime also formed relationships with swimming and safety groups, such as Waterman in Chile, whose mission is to provide safety, training, and security so everyone can enjoy the water.

“We didn’t start out to change lives,” said Okrusko. “We just wanted to make swimming a little safer and fun. But every week, someone writes us to say how we’ve helped get them back in the water. It’s amazing.”

Contact Airtime Watertime, Inc. at 805-280-8375 [email protected] –(Story by Kyle Crocco)

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“You are more, infinitely more, than you presently imagine.” – Harold W. Becker

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Quote of the Day: “You are more, infinitely more, than you presently imagine.” – Harold W. Becker

Photo: copyright 2019 GWC

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

Origami-Inspired Solar Panel Could Start Generating Renewable Electricity From Your Window

By
Ryan Morris
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Photo by Solgami

This unique origami-inspired solar panel has the potential to turn windows into a source of electricity for any apartment dweller.

For urban residences and buildings, implementing renewable sources of energy can be difficult. Researchers have tried building solar panels out of various materials so they can be placed in front of windows, but this generally leads to a large decrease in natural lighting in exchange for limited energy generation.

Soligami, on the other hand, is a solar panel system that works similarly to shutter blinds so that light can still be allowed to pass through a window.

Furthermore, the folded design of the system has an increased surface area, which results in greater energy production.

LOOK: Tiny Wind Turbine That Generates Power From Your Apartment Balcony Wins Dyson Award

“We’re looking at repositioning the city as a place of production, not just a place of consumption,” Ben Berwick, an architect for the Soligami panel, told Fast Company.

“It’s making your apartment a better place to be,” he added.

Although the cost of each Soligami system is yet to be determined, the simplicity of manufacturing the panels and their inexpensive materials is likely to be fairly cheap for consumers.

MORE: Book-Sized Solar Panels Could Power a Whole Home in New Breakthrough

The Soligami project, which was created by Australian architectural startup Prevalents, is one of the finalists for the 2019 Lexus Design Award. In addition to receiving mentorship and a $25,000 prize to develop their production, the design team currently has a patent pending for the Soligami system.

Courtesy of Prevalents

“It’s clear that the fusion of classical design and computational design is now happening especially in the minds of designers looking to solve our world’s biggest problems,” said 2019 LDA judge John Maeda. “I’m optimistic that as we continue to nurture and embrace this new generation of designers, we’ll see a better tomorrow.”

Shine A Light On Positivity By Sharing The Good News To Social Media – Photo by Soligami / Prevalent

New Chemical Process Converts Plastic Waste into Fuel, University Researchers Looking for Investors

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Good News Network
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Photo by Purdue Research Foundation/Vincent Walter
Photo by Purdue Research Foundation/Vincent Walter

The United Nations estimates that more than 8 million tons of plastics flow into the oceans each year – but researchers have now discovered a new chemical conversion process that could transform the world’s waste into a whole new source of useful products and clean fuels.

The technology, which was developed at Purdue University, can convert more than 90% of polypropylene waste – a type of plastic that is commonly used for packaging and toys – into high-quality gasoline and diesel fuels in a matter of hours.

The conversion process uses selective extraction and hydrothermal liquefaction to turn the plastic into naphtha, a kind of flammable oil that can then be used as a feedstock for other chemicals or further separated into specialty solvents or other products.

The clean fuels derived from the plastic waste generated each year could satisfy 4% of the annual demand for gasoline or diesel fuels.

LOOK: Scientists Are Replacing Plastic With Algae, a Revolutionary Idea That Can Suck Carbon Out of the Air

“Our strategy is to create a driving force for recycling by converting polyolefin waste into a wide range of valuable products, including polymers, naphtha, or clean fuels,” said Linda Wang, a professor for chemical engineering at Purdue University and leader of the research team developing the technology. “Our conversion technology has the potential to boost the profits of the recycling industry and shrink the world’s plastic waste stock.”

Some results of Wang’s study were published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering last month.

Wang became inspired to create this technology after reading about the plastic waste pollution of the oceans, ground water, and the environment. Of all the plastics produced over the past 65 years (8.3 billion tons), about 12% have been incinerated and only 9% have been recycled. The remaining 79% have gone into landfills or the oceans. The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2050, the oceans will hold more plastic waste than fish if the waste continues to be dumped into bodies of water.

MORE: LEGO Bricks on Sale Now Are Plant-based Instead of Plastic

“Plastic waste disposal, whether recycled or thrown away, does not mean the end of the story,” Wang said. “These plastics degrade slowly and release toxic microplastics and chemicals into the land and the water. This is a catastrophe, because once these pollutants are in the oceans, they are impossible to retrieve completely.”

Wang hopes that the financial benefits of using her patented technology will stimulate the recycling industry to reduce the rapidly rising amount of plastic waste. She and her team are now looking for investors or partners to assist with demonstrating this technology at a commercial scale.

Reprinted from Pursue University

(WATCH the explanatory video below)

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Church Raises $100K Through Month-Long Fast So They Can Pay Off Student Debt for 34 Grads

By
McKinley Corbley
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Thanks to the efforts of a Virginia church, dozens of graduating students are finishing their  college education with zero debt or outstanding tuition.

For the last few years, the Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria has asked their congregation to participate in a fast for the duration of January by giving up certain luxuries, such as social media, junk food, or alcohol.

They also asked the church-goers to abstain from spending money on any non-essential items so they could donate the money instead to an important cause.

The financial fasting ended up raising over $100,000 – and the church used the money to pay off the outstanding debt of graduating college students at Howard University in Washington D.C.

RELATED: Instead of Paying for Advertising, Church Abolishes $10M in Medical Debt For Local Families

“This year, as our fasting ended, we asked members to make a sacrificial offering that we promised would go out the door of our church,” said church pastor Dr. Howard-John Wesley. “We decided to come to Howard University to find some students who are about to change the world but have some financial concerns, and let them know we’re going to take care of it for them.”

34 graduating students, each with varying amounts of debt ranging from hundreds to thousands, benefited from the donation.

“The gift of $100,000 from Alfred Street Baptist Church to help our students pay off their financial obligations and make ends meet just before they graduate is truly a blessing,” said university president Wayne A. I. Frederick. “Their generosity is a reminder of how one person’s selfless act of kindness can be multiplied and have a profound impact on the lives of others.”

(WATCH the announcement video below)

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“Share your smile with the world. It’s a symbol of friendship and peace.” – Christie Brinkley

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Good News Network
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Women in Nepal.

Quote of the Day: “Share your smile with the world. It’s a symbol of friendship and peace.” – Christie Brinkley

Photo: by World Bank Photo Collection, CC license

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First Scientifically Confirmed Images in 100 Years: The Awe-Inspiring, Elusive Black Leopard

By
McKinley Corbley
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Photographed with a Camtraptions camera trap. Laikipia Wilderness Camp, Kenya.
Photographed with a Camtraptions camera trap. Laikipia Wilderness Camp, Kenya.

It has been a little over 100 years since there was scientific documentation of black leopards in Africa – but now, a stunning set of photos has confirmed their existence in Kenya.

Black leopards, also known as super-rare melanistic leopards, experience a genetic condition that is considered to be the opposite of albinism. Upon close inspection, their coats still feature the iconic spotted leopard pattern, but the rest of their fur is a dark inky black.

Since their coats help them to blend into denser forested surroundings, black leopards have primarily been sighted in Southeast Asia, and they are rarely seen in Africa. Though there have been a few reported sightings across the continent, the last photo of a black leopard was taken in 1909.

Wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas had always dreamt of capturing a photo of the legendary big cats, but their scarcity made his fantasy seem like a pipe dream.

MORE: ‘Never seen anything like it’ – Watch Ferry Passenger’s Stunning Footage of 200 Frolicking Dolphins

“Since childhood I have been fascinated by stories of black panthers,” Burrard-Lucas wrote in a blog post. “For me, no animal is shrouded in more mystery, no animal more elusive, and no animal more beautiful. For many years, they remained the stuff of dreams and of farfetched stories told around the campfire at night. Nobody I knew had ever seen one in the wild and I never thought that I would either.”

Then, he caught wind of some black leopard sightings in Kenya – and he knew he had to try and snap a photo of the elusive wildcat.

Photographed with a Camtraptions camera trap. Laikipia Wilderness Camp, Kenya.

Burrard-Lucas traveled to Laikipia Wilderness Camp and – with the help of researchers from the San Diego Zoo – he set up several high-definition Camtraption motion sensor camera traps.

For several nights, he left the camera traps erected on a nearby leopard path. When he finally checked his cameras, he was stunned by what they had captured.

MORE: Watch the Badass Footage of Africa’s First All-Female Anti-Poaching Team in Action

“As I scrolled through the images on the back of the camera, I paused and peered at the photograph below in incomprehension… a pair of eyes surrounded by inky darkness… a black leopard!” wrote Burrard-Lucas. “I couldn’t believe it and it took a few days before it sank in that I had achieved my dream.”

Photographed with a Camtraptions camera trap. Laikipia Wilderness Camp, Kenya.

“Over the days that followed I moved the camera traps around as I gained a deeper understanding of the leopard’s movements. The next hit I got was further down on the same game trail as the first capture. I love the way this cat melts out of the darkness!”

 

Photographed with a Camtraptions camera trap. Laikipia Wilderness Camp, Kenya.

“Thereafter the black leopard disappeared and I started capturing images of a big spotty male instead – apparently he had chased away the younger black leopard. I have never been annoyed at capturing a spotty leopard on camera trap before! I suppose at least he was rather handsome…”

 

Photographed with a Camtraptions camera trap. Laikipia Wilderness Camp, Kenya.

“Then, on the night of the full moon, the black leopard reappeared and I captured the shot below as the moon was setting behind a ridge,” added Burrard-Lucas in his blog post. “Needless to say, I was thrilled that he was back and that I had captured such an atmospheric image.”

 

Photographed with a Camtraptions camera trap. Laikipia Wilderness Camp, Kenya.

Though Burrard-Lucas says that these are not the first photos taken of a black leopard in the last century, he says that his images, along with footage that was captured by the San Diego Zoo, is the first confirmed scientific documentation of the leopard in over 100 years.

The San Diego Zoo findings were published in the African Journal of Ecology last month.

LOOK: Iguanas Successfully Reintroduced to Galapagos Island After They Were Last Seen By Darwin 184 Years Ago

The photograph says that some readers have voiced their concern for the black leopard over the risk of poaching, but he has emphasized that poaching is illegal in Kenya and its wildlife is well-protected. Additionally, he hopes that disclosing his location will encourage tourism in the area, thereby supporting local communities and economies.

In the mean time, Burrard-Lucas is already planning a return trip to Kenya in order to capture more photos of the awe-inspiring big cat.

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For Some Women Enduring Repeated Miscarriages, Simple Surgical Solution Has 90% Success

By
Ryan Morris
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This simple procedure has had a dramatic impact on women who have had to repeatedly suffer the heartbreak of miscarriage.

Many miscarriages and premature births are caused by weakened cervixes. The surgical solution is a simple but effective operation called a cervical cerclage procedure – or a cervical stitch.

The procedure works by sewing a number of stitches – also known as a “suture” – into and around the cervix in order to strengthen it against the physical stresses of early pregnancy. The suture is then removed prior to birth, once the risk of a miscarriage has passed; and the surgery doesn’t even leave a scar.

For the women who elect to have the surgery, about 90% of them are finally able to carry their baby full term.

RELATED: Boy is Cured of Aggressive Cancer Thanks to Stem Cell Treatment Using Donated Umbilical Cord

“The procedure itself works really, really good,” Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, a specialist of Gynecologic Oncology, told WMC News. “It provides a lot of hope for these women as they have a really good shot at achieving pregnancy that will last.”

The medical procedure was recently made available through the Baptist Medical Group in Memphis, Tennessee, and it has already become a saving grace for women facing possible miscarriage.

MORE: Woman Makes Drug-free Patches That Treat Nausea, Cramps, Vertigo, Hangovers – And Even Car Sick Pets

Mother-to-be Andranika Arnett, says she is finally hopeful about her pregnancy after she opted to have the procedure in October. After enduring four miscarriages due to a weakened cervix, Arnett had reached a low point, wondering if she’d ever be able to successfully bear a child – but now, she is confident that everything will go to plan.

“Since I have had this surgery, nothing can keep me down,” Arnett told the news outlet. “Nothing is stressing me out. I am happy about this.”

Be Sure And Share The Good News With Possible Mothers-To-Be On Social Media…

U.S. Ski Industry is Uniting Behind a List of Climate Change Actions to Save the Slopes

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- credit, Robinseed, CC via Wikimedia

Some of the biggest outdoor recreational groups have recently announced that they are forming a new coalition that will take action against climate change in order to save ski slopes from rising temperatures.

Climate change is a threat to the outdoor recreation industry and the $887 billion it contributes annually to the U.S. economy. The industry’s businesses, customers and the nearly 150 million Americans who participate in outdoor activities each year are dependent on a stable climate and have a vested interest in being part of climate solutions.

The Outdoor Business Climate Partnership is the first-ever broad collaboration among these trade groups. The coalition will join forces to support the passage of comprehensive, bipartisan climate legislation in Congress, the adoption of market-based policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and decarbonization of the grid through state and utility level initiatives.

The alliance was formed by the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), Snowsports Industries America (SIA) and the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) at the start of February as a means of providing leadership on advocacy and inspire meaningful action on climate change across the outdoor business sector.

RELATED: World’s Largest Shipping Company is Ditching Fossil Fuels and Challenging Their Competitors to Do the Same

“Over the last decade, we’ve led the way in developing tool sets to reduce the environmental impacts of the products we sell,” said Amy Roberts, OIA Executive Director. “These efforts have been adopted by major retailers and brands in the outdoor industry. In tandem, we use our industry’s unified voice to support impactful policies at the state and federal level.

“Our efforts can be magnified by coming together with these other associations to collaborate and bring a stronger voice to the table in hopes of amplifying our impact in addressing this global issue.”

Some of the group’s key goals include raising awareness among policy-makers on the potential impacts of climate change on the outdoor recreation industry and stress the urgency and need for passage of comprehensive and bipartisan climate legislation; providing their members with education, tools and programs to reduce carbon emissions in their operations and green their supply chains; and supporting research and funding for adaptation and restoration measures that will protect outdoor recreation.

MORE: Massive Company That Sells Your Favorite Cookies and Crackers Cuts Ties With Palm Oil Firms That Destroy Forests

SIA’s President, Nick Sargent said: “As three associations representing outdoor retailers, brands, suppliers, and resorts across the country, we share a common desire to see progress on climate and are joining hands to amplify our impact. This kind of bold collaboration and commitment is what’s needed now if we’re going to effectively tackle this urgent issue.”

Kelly Pawlak, NSAA President and CEO, added: “An ‘all hands on deck’ approach is essential in meeting a challenge as significant as climate change, and together we‘ll have a stronger voice to drive change inside and outside of the outdoor recreation industry.”

Be Sure And Share The Good News With Your Friends On Social Media – Photo by Robinseed, CC

Working Mom of Two Kids Has Won 11 World Boxing Titles – and She’s Still Not Finished at 42 Years Old

By
John Large
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You might not expect an IHOP waitress to be a championship fighter, but that is exactly the case for Tori Nelson.

42-year-old Nelson from Sterling, Virginia is a women’s 11-time world champion of boxing. Her impressive record includes seventeen wins, two losses, and three draws – and her fighting career is only made more impressive by the fact that she fights and trains in between mothering her two kids, taking care of her own mother, and working as an IHOP waitress to boot.

Nelson’s introduction to the boxing world occurred almost by happenstance. She joined LA Boxing in 2007 as a means of losing weight after her two pregnancies, and it was then that Nelson suddenly discovered she was a fighter.

“You get into it by accident, you just end up there, and then all of a sudden, this is what you’re made to do. You find out your purpose,” she told The Washington Post.

RELATED: Champion Boxer Donated Entire $9 Million Purse From His Big Fight to House the Homeless

It was at LA Boxing she met one of her coaches, Craig Fladagar. Fladagar admittedly didn’t think much of Nelson at first, due to her sedentary lifestyle –but after seeing her fight, however, his eyes were opened. “[Nelson] came at her with a force and a fury and just beat [her opponent] around the ring.”

Soon after beginning her career, Fladagar lost the gym, so he and Nelson trained in his best friend’s garage, even though they had to make room in the space every day. Nelson’s kids were there with her too as they got homework help from her new boxing family.

MORE: From the Brink of Depression, Heavyweight Champ Demonstrates the Power of Positive Thinking and Self-belief

Despite this rough start, Nelson’s career came to fruition on the heels of a newfound respect for women’s boxing’s. In the 1990s women’s boxing was still considered a sideshow with the fighters being forced to wear scanty costumes. Now, however, it is considered much more of a serious sport.

Just as women’s boxing moves forward, so does Nelson – there is no end in sight for her either. She continues to fight women who are 20 years her junior or three weight classes above her and holds her own with a solid win or a hard-fought defeat. Whenever she is asked about when she will retire, she shrugs it off with vague statements of “next fight” or “next year.”

(WATCH the Tori “Sho-Nuff” Nelson documentary below)

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This Egg Dethroned Kylie Jenner as Record-Holder for Most-Liked Photo; Is Now Using Its Powers for Good

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Good News Network
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The internet once again displayed its bizarre sense of humor in January when more than 52 million people joined forces to like a photo of an egg on Instagram – and it has now turned into an endearing initiative to raise awareness for mental health.

The “World Record Egg” Instagram account sought to break the world record for the most-liked photo on the social media platform by dethroning Kylie Jenner’s birth announcement post as the title holder with over 18 million likes.

The account published a photo of an egg with the caption: “Let’s set a world record together and get the most liked post on Instagram. Beating the current world record held by Kylie Jenner (18 million)! We got this.” says Buzzoid.

Just nine days after it was published, it cracked the record – and for a time, no one knew who was the mastermind behind the eggstremely popular post until a 29-year-old creative advertising agent named Chris Godfrey finally came forward as the account’s creator.

RELATED: Patton Oswalt Responds to Online Troll by Rallying Followers to Pay For the Guy’s Medical Bills

When asked by The New York Times about why he chose an egg as the record-breaking Instagram subject, he simply said: “An egg has no gender, race or religion. An egg is an egg, it’s universal.”

Though the entire campaign could seem like another example of the internet’s absurdity, Godfrey is now using “Eugene the World Record Egg” to spread messages of positivity. The egg was recently featured in a mental health commercial that was produced by Hulu and aired during the Super Bowl. In the ad, Eugene can be seen cracking and breaking into pieces. After reassembling itself, Eugene tells its fans: “The pressure of social media is getting to me. If you’re struggling, too, talk to someone.”

The commercial then directed viewers to a website that was created in partnership with the nonprofit Mental Health America, featuring dozens of mental health websites and resources for various countries around the world.

LOOK: US Embassy Apologizes for Accidental Mass-Mailing of Invitation for ‘Cat Pajama-Jam Party’

Despite how he accidentally became the creator of a bizarre international icon, Godfrey says that he hopes the egg’s newfound fame will continue to serve its devoted fans.

“It’s not really about me,” he told The Times. “It’s just about the egg and sort of where we can take it and what we can do with it. It’s a fluke that [it] caught the world’s attention, [but] it’s what you do with that attention that counts.”

(WATCH the endearing mental health awareness promo below)

Be Sure And Share This Eggsellent Story With Your Friends On Social Media

“When you’re down on your luck and you’ve lost all your dreams there’s nothing like a campfire …” – Tom Waits

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “When you’re down on your luck and you’ve lost all your dreams there’s nothing like a campfire …” – Tom Waits

Photo: by Joe Jacob

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

The Impressive Medicinal Value of the OTHER Bee Products – and the Honey, Too

By
Andy Corbley
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Several bee hive products offer their own value as a medicinal treatment, though many people know only about the value of honey—with a sizable portion of Americans just familiar with the commercial plastic bear on the grocery store shelf. These other materials produced by bees can be used as bastions to improve all manner of ailments, from auto-immune disfunction to microbial infections.

In this podcast, guest Carly Stein shares her experience as founder of Beekeeper’s Naturals, moving between the economic hives of Wall Street to the quiet hives in her backyard—spilling the beans about all things bee. In detailing the therapeutics behind multiple hive products, such as honey and propolis, Carly provides a scientifically-oriented guide for those looking for holistic medicines. She explains why it’s important to buy local, and how we need to keep bees thriving in our ecosystem.

The Host: At the forefront of functional medicine, Chris Kresser, M.S., L.Ac is a globally recognized leader in the fields of ancestral health, Paleo nutrition, and integrative medicine. He is the co-director of California Center for Functional Medicine, and author of the New York Times best-selling author of The Paleo Cure.

The Podcast: Revolution Health Radio features Kresser interrogating all manner of guests on a variety of topics. His favorite pastime is debunking common medical myths, but frequently invites guests, like Carly Stein, whose work interests him.

LISTEN to the podcast below… (Photo by Allagash Brewing, CC License)

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Dad Confronts Bully by Treating Him Like a Son – Now the Homeless Boy Has Money and Friendship (GNN Podcast)

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Good News Network
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Instead of being angry at his son’s bully, this man approached the boy with compassion – and now, they are all enjoying the wonderful results. Hear our Good News Guru tell the inspiring story on the radio in Los Angeles—during the February 8, 2019 Ellen K. Morning Show on KOST-103.5.

READ more or WATCH the video on GNN.

Subscribe to our Good News podcast on iTunes, or for Android devices on Podbean.

Also, Check Out Our Little Paperback Book of Good News—Buy on Amazon or White Cloud Press! 

Viral Photo Shows Two Kids Stopped in the Road to Pay Respects to Fire Department Flag Being Raised

By
Joao Freitas
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Even though it may seem like people will try and find a reason for disagreement, these two kids in North Carolina agreed that showing respect for the American flag was an important thing to do – and they were not the only ones who thought so.

Last week, the Roseboro Fire Department of North Carolina posted a picture to their Facebook page depicting the two kids putting their hands over their hearts as firefighters raised the flag.

According to the post, the kids had been riding a scooter and a hoverboard down the road when they paused, put their hands to their chests, and made the pledge of allegiance as the U.S flag was being raised to full staff.

An officer quickly took a picture of the heartwarming gesture and asked for permission to post it to social media, which was promptly given by the two kids.

RELATED: 7-Year-old Boy Has Helped Thousands of Veterans After Watching a Video About Homelessness

Much to the surprise of Fire Chief Kenneth Coleman, the post ended up being shared thousands of times.

“I would’ve never thought that it would’ve gone this far,” he told CNN. “It has definitely exploded a lot more than I thought it would.”

He also said that he believes the two kids could one day grow up to serve as firefighters or police officers.

“Both jobs require workers to be respectful and professional and they are being taught that now, so there is hope for the future,” Coleman wrote.

Be Sure And Share This Sweet Story Of Respect With Your Friends On Social Media…

Scientists Are ‘Giddy’ Over Their Historic Visit to One of the ‘World’s Youngest Islands’

By
Ryan Morris
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Dan Slayback / NASA
Sea Education Association / SEA Semester

Though this little piece of land was only expected to survive for a few months, scientists are “giddy” over what they are discovering on one of the “world’s youngest island.”

Known by locals as Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH), the island formed in the South Pacific kingdom of Tonga following a volcanic eruption in 2014.

Although many islands are formed as a result of submarine volcanic eruptions, only 3 of them have lasted more than a few months over the course of the last 150 years.

“In this case, the ash seemed to have a chemical reaction with the seawater that allowed it to solidify more than it usually would,” volcanologist Jess Phoenix told BBC.

MORE: NASA Happily Reports the Earth is Greener, With More Trees Than 20 Years Ago–and It’s Thanks to China, India

Having only observed the small island via satellite, a team of researchers from NASA and the Sea Education Association set out in October to study the rock formations, erosion patterns, and wildlife.

Phoenix called the island’s durability a “big deal”, saying: “We’ve only had one chance to see an island like this since we had modern satellite imagery. It’s a fascinating volcano.”

Dan Slayback / NASA

Not only is the island enduring longer than expected, the 3-year-old stretch of ashy terrain is now nurturing pink-flowered plants, barn owls, and a breeding ground for tern birds.

“We were all like giddy school children,” Slayback said in a NASA blog post. “There’s no map of the new land.”

The stability of the new island is simultaneously what drew scientists to study it and allowed them to visit. Typically, increased rates of erosion leave only remnants of these volcanic ash islands behind – but researchers say that the HTHH could exist for another 30 years.

CHECK OUT: Park Rangers Delighted to Find Elephant Seals Reclaimed Beach During Government Shutdown

This gives scientists like Dan Slayback and his team a rare chance to better understand how these islands form and what leads to their dissolution. Furthermore, the island reportedly provides a kind of template for studying island formations and conditions on Mars.

“Everything we learn about what we see on Mars is based on the experience of interpreting Earth phenomena,” said Jim Garvin, chief scientist of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. “We think there were eruptions on Mars at a time when there were areas of persistent surface water. We may be able to use this new island and its evolution as a way of testing whether any of those represented an oceanic environment or ephemeral lake environment.”

Dan Slayback / NASA

One of their more notable discoveries was a light-colored, sticky clay mud that left Slayback’s team bewildered as to how it got there.

“We didn’t really know what it was and I’m still a little baffled of where it’s coming from,” said Slayback.

LOOK: Newly-Discovered Cave Big Enough to Fit the Statue of Liberty Proves the World is Still a Wondrous Place

Upon leaving the HTHH, much had been left unexplored, such as the topography of the surrounding ocean floor, and the role of hydrothermal vents in volcanic ash solidification – but Slayback is already planning a return visit to the island next year.

“It really surprised me how valuable it was to be there in person for some of this,” said Slayback. “It just really makes it obvious to you what is going on with the landscape.”

(WATCH the fascinating 2017 NASA video below)

Plant Some Positivity By Sharing The Fascinating News With Your Friends On Social Media…

Man Cleans Up Brazilian Streets By Turning Discarded Tires into Cute Recycled Animal Beds

By
McKinley Corbley
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One man’s trash is another man’s treasure – but Amarildo Silva is turning other people’s trash into cute little beds for animals on and off the streets.

 

The 23-year-old Brazilian artist has been collecting discarded tires from the street and turning them into animal beds.

 

Silva, who lives in Campina Grande, Brazil, first got the idea for the recycled animal beds when he noticed how many stray dogs used tires as shelter on the street.

 

Silva starts the transformation process by cleaning off each tire, giving it a fresh coat of paint, and installing a tiny mattress into the center.

 

He started selling the tire beds two years ago as a means of keeping his city streets clean and making a little extra money for his family.

 

This led him to start his own business: Cãominhas Pets.

 

Since he started marketing his creations on Instagram, he has sold over 500 beds.

 

He even started turning the tires into flower pots and gardening containers.

 

When he is not tidying up the streets for his eco-friendly business, he volunteers by helping abandoned animals and mentoring young students at local public schools.

If you would like to learn more about Silva’s business, you can either visit the Cãominhas Pets Instagram or Facebook page for more information.

Be Sure And Share This Pawesome Idea With Your Friends On Social Media…

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