Passing gas isn’t just a social passé – it’s also a leading contributor of climate change; but thankfully, this Swiss company believes that they have a solution.
A single cow produces the equivalent of 3 tons of carbon dioxide every year. According to United Nations research, cow flatulence produces 4% of all greenhouse gases that are warming the planet.
That’s why Agolin, a firm based out of Biere, Switzerland, has started producing specialist livestock feed that can reduce a cow’s methane production by up to 10%.
“We sell our mixture for around 1 million cows per year… There are 25-28 million cows in the European Union, so it is a big percentage,” company co-founder Kurt Schaller told Reuters. “That represents 300,000 tonnes of CO2 reduction today.”
According to the firm’s website, all of their recipes are “effective, easy to use and safe”, according to European Union regulations.
The feeds are made using herbs, spices, and botanical compounds that reduce harmful bovine flatulence and also improve livestock’s milk production and gut health.
The firm hopes that – with increasingly strict international regulation of agricultural methane production – more farmers will adopt the specialized feed.
Be Sure And Share The Good News With Your Farming Friends – Photo by Martin Abegglen, CC
Looking at your reflection in the mirror, you might be bewildered to find an eyelash on your cheek or a piece of spinach stuck in your teeth – but this feline was surprised by something much more amusing.
Mimo the cat from Brooklyn, New York was stunned to look in the mirror and discover that she had ears.
While meandering past her human’s mirror, the curious kitten froze on the spot, confused by the small triangular tufts of fur that were peeking out from her head.
Wanting to get a better look, Mimo can be seen standing up on her hind legs so she can confirm that her ears are in fact ears and not an elaborate prank set up by her human as revenge for clawing up the furniture.
If you want to have a laugh over more of Mimo’s shenanigans, you can follow her antics on Instagram.
(WATCH the video below)
Be Sure And Share The Pawesome Video With Your Friends – Photo by Mimothecat via Storyful
Quote of the Day: “Unrest of spirit is a mark of life; one problem after another presents itself and in the solving of them we can find our greatest pleasure.” – Kal Menninger
Photo: by Rick McCharles, Peru
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?
Throughout history, women have broken societal gender norms in all fields of life; and now, this woman from Japan has become the first ever female to hold a world championship title in competitive breakdancing – and she is only 20 years old.
Most commonly known as breakdancing, the art form which originated from the Bronx in the 1970s has now become a worldwide phenomenon with competitions all over the world.
The Red Bull BC One breakdancing tournament first started in Biel, Switzerland 14 years ago. Since then, it has become the biggest competition for breaking in the world with many “B-boys” and “B-girls” seeking to be the champion. Breaking being a mostly male dominant art form, very few women have competed in the coveted BC One.
It wasn’t until 2017 when B-girl Ayumi representing the Japanese dance crew “Body Carnival” was the first female to ever join the ranks among the men. Following her success at the event, Red Bull announced their very first B-girl battle for 2018.
This year’s Red Bull BC One was held in Zurich, Switzerland with a week-long camp of battles. Two days before the main event on the big stage, they held a bracket of 16 female dancers to determine the top 4 B-girls who would be able to showcase their style on the big stage. After a long night of battles, it came down to San Andrea from France, the two sisters from Body Carnival –Ayumi and Narumi – and Ami: the youngest one in the bracket at 20 years old.
Once she had danced her way into the final bracket, Ami faced off in a battle of three rounds against San Andrea with no sign of slowing down – and her performance was nothing short of amazing.
After winning the battle by majority, the judges crowned Ami as the first B-girl world champion. As she was handed the belt, Ami wiped away her tears and thanked her dance crew and family for their support.
At the end of the ceremony, she holds up the belt in front of everyone on the stage and screams “Yata!” meaning “I did it” in her native language – making history and setting the standard for future B-girls everywhere.
(WATCH the jaw-dropping video below)
Be Sure And Share The Breaking News With Your Friends On Social Media – Photo by Red Bull BC One
It was the early 90s and I was in a dark, dark place.
I was the mother of four children—from teenager to toddler. My husband and I were busy building a life together. In a lot of ways, we looked like a happy family. But I hated myself for all sorts of reasons. I wrestled with deep depression. I yelled at my children and I argued with my husband. I had grown up in a contentious family and I was continuing that pattern. It was a daily struggle to see myself in a positive light. I hated my looks. I hated myself. Really, I was tormented by being with myself all the time.
Here’s the thing – you never would have known how depressed I was.
On the outside, I was busy and ambitious. I always had entrepreneurial projects going. I was the PTA president and volunteered at my children’s schools. Busy, competent, go-go-go mom: that was me. “Busy” or “Ambitious” can get confused for self-esteem, but they’re not the same thing. I was actually very fragile at that time.
Here was my first step to recovery: I was in my room, sitting on the bed. The self-criticism and the pain felt like too much. I didn’t know if I had it in me to go on. And on top of that, I felt guilty that I actually had a decent life but I still felt this terrible! I was totally paralyzed from moving forward.
And then, I heard a voice in my head that wasn’t even my own:
“You’re always going to be with you, Carol. There’s no getting away from you. You might as well be your own best friend.”
This sounds like such simple advice. Almost too simple… but it woke me up – I had spent so much time and energy despising myself. In an effort to get away from everything I hated about myself, I had treated me horribly. I had said critical words to myself that I would never say to anyone else. I had pointed out every flaw I could see. I had actively caused harm to myself out of hate.
Some deep part of me had believed that I could somehow get away from who I was. So, the realization that I would always be with me was huge. If I would always be with me, I might as well be my own best friend.
So I asked myself: What do friends do for each other?
Friends speak to each other with kindness and humor. I started speaking kindly to myself. Friends take each other’s concerns seriously. I listened to the reasons for my pain. Friends encourage each other. I cheered myself on.
I didn’t do all of that perfectly every single day. But over time, and with practice, I trained myself to speak positively about myself and my experience. When things weren’t going well, I treated myself more kindly, as a friend would.
Here is YOUR next step to truly loving yourself. This moment is a crossroads. And here’s the decision that will change your life: Will you be your friend or not? That’s the choice you have right now. It’s the choice you’ll keep having in every moment, long after you’ve read this post. If you do make the choice to be your own friend, you take steps on the road to recovering your sense of self.
The next time you’re stuck, ask yourself: What would a friend do for me? Then do that—for you.
Carol Tuttle is a teacher, speaker, energy healer, online influencer and pioneer in the field of personal development. She’s the best-selling author of 5 books: “Remembering Wholeness”, “It’s Just My Nature”, “Discover Your Type of Beauty”, “The Child Whisperer”, and her latest book, “Mastering Affluence”, was released nationwide in September 2018. In the last few years, she went on a personal speaking tour and was met with sold-out audiences across the United States.
Be Sure And Share This Inspirational Advice With Your Friends On Social Media – Representative photo by Quinn Dombrowski, CC
We are now one step closer to being able to travel from cross-country in the blink of an eye.
A new hyperloop passenger pod has just been unveiled by a tech company based out of Toulouse, France.
The pod, which was designed by Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT), would have the capability of traveling at speeds of 760 miles per hour, which is the equivalent of traveling from Los Angeles to San Francisco in less than half an hour.
HTT is one of several companies that are competing for domination in the up-and-coming hyperloop industry, saying that they hope to have a full hyperloop transportation system made available to the public within three years.
Virgin Hyperloop One was the first tech company to build a full-scale hyperloop capsule which has hit speeds of 240 miles per hour on their test track. HTT, on the other hand, has become the first company to offer an insured commercial system, which creates a new framework for future government regulation and implementation of the transit.
“In three years, you and me, we can take a hyperloop,” HTT CEO Dirk Ahlborn told CNBC. “It’s definitely much sooner than anybody would expect.”
The hyperloop was first proposed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk back in 2013 as a means of bypassing bustling east coast traffic jams from Washington D.C. to New York City.
Though it may have seemed like a pipe dream, Musk got permission from Maryland lawmakers to begin construction of the first leg of the hyperloop track connecting DC to Baltimore back in October 2017.
“This thing is real. It’s exciting to see,” Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn said, according to the Baltimore Sun. “The word ‘transformational’ may be overused, but this is a technology that leapfrogs any technology that is out there today. And it’s going to be here.”
(WATCH the video below)
Drive The Exciting News To Your Friends By Sharing It To Social Media – Photo by Hyperloop Transportation Technologies
“Friendship” may not technically be in the security guard job description, but that hasn’t stopped Officer Ronald Saladin from becoming besties with one of the kids he protects and serves.
6-year-old Braylon Henson first became best friends with School Resource Officer Ronald Saladin because of his genetic disorder.
The first grader suffers from ectodermal dysplasia – a condition that means he was born without sweat glands. Braylon cannot go outside if the temperature is above 74 degrees Fahrenheit (23 degrees Celsius) because he may overheat.
So while all of his classmates were outside enjoying recess at the Bay Minette Elementary School in Alabama, Braylon had to stay inside.
When Saladin saw Braylon sitting by himself, however, he asked the youngster if he would like to patrol the school with him – and they have been best buds ever since.
The friendship has ensured a new level of popularity for Braylon amongst his fellow students. Saladin even bought Braylon a little police officer’s uniform so he could look the part for their walks through the school together.
“He felt left out, and I didn’t want him to feel left out. His mom was afraid he was going to get picked on and bullied when he came to school,” Saladin told WKRG. “It’s definitely a blessing, like it was meant to be.”
(WATCH the interview below)
You Should Absolutely Share This Sweet Story With Your Friends On Social Media – Photo by WKRG
Quote of the Day: “Over every mountain there is a path, although it may not be seen from the valley.” – James Rogers
Photo: Big Bend National Park in Texas, by 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?
This bus doesn’t just take you to where you need to go – it also cleans the air you breathe.
The Go-Ahead Group, which is one of the largest bus and rail operators in England, has just launched a bus that sucks up pollution as it travels.
The Bluestar prototype is the first bus in the UK that can clean city air. It is fitted with an air filter that collects ultra-fine pollution particles and spews out purified air at the front of the vehicle. The filter works with 99.5% efficiency.
According to studies conducted by the filter’s manufacturer, the bus will clean the air on its route in Southampton at a rate of 16 times per year, to a height of 10 meters.
“We want this pilot to show that buses should be looked at as not just the solution to congestion in cities, but also as a solution to the air quality problem,” said Go-Ahead’s Chief Executive, David Brown.
“As the bus removes the ultra-fine particles from the air as it travels along the route, it is helping solve the air quality problems of the city,” he added.
Clean Up Negativity By Sharing The Good News With Your Friends – Photo by Bluestar
In another progressive step towards ending their decades-long conflict, North and South Korea began removing landmines from the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
The DMZ is the 155-mile-long (248-kilometer) stretch of land that separates the two nations. On Monday, South Korean army engineers began demining the southern regions of Panmunjom village and “Arrow Head Hill” while North Korean technicians reportedly began the demining process on their own respective territory, says South Korean defense officials.
The Koreans will be clearing the mines over the course of the next three weeks. Once completed, they will continue with the agreements made during their recent peace talks by removing a dozen guard posts from the border before December.
This is the first time that the Koreas have committed to removing their landmines since the 2000s.
In addition to being littered with over 2 million landmines, the DMZ is suspected to contain the remains of over 300 UN and North Korean soldiers from the 1950-1953 Korean War. There are also an unspecified amount of South Korean and Chinese soldiers buried along the border.
The two nations plan on launching the first joint excavation of the DMZ in order to retrieve the remains.
These advances in diplomacy and cooperation offer cautious optimism for the promises made by the Korean leaders in the Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification on the Korean Peninsula.
Pass On This Historic Piece Of News To Your Friends By Sharing To Social Media – Representative photo by Isafmedia, CC
Judging by the way that the community treats Todd Kirnan, one might think that he was a beloved politician or celebrity.
Kirnan, however, is adored by this Oregon town because he has dedicated his life to making people happy.
Every day for the last 20 years, Kirnan has worked as a deliveryman for the people and businesses of Gresham, Oregon. If someone needs coffee or a piece of mail to be delivered, Kirnan gets the job done. While he does accept tips for his services, he simply enjoys using his 12-hour work days to brighten peoples’ days.
“I like helping people, you know, making people happy, making people smile,” he told CBS News.
Kirnan’s smile and winning personality has become such an integral part of Gresham, the residents recently decided that they wanted to honor their local hero properly.
So the townsfolk went all out and organized a parade in Kirnan’s honor. Since he adores old television shows, they even borrowed a Batmobile to escort the deliveryman downtown.
Then at the end of the parade, the residents unveiled a $54,000 statue of Kirnan that was paid for in cash and in-kind donations.
(WATCH the video below or our international viewers can watch the footage on the CBS News website)
Honor Kindness By Sharing The Good News To Social Media – Photo by CBS News
Earlier this year, I was honored to deliver the closing talk at Italy’s largest TEDx event. My goal was to show that when used purposefully, technology can speed up our creativity, innovation and impact in the world.
But rather than just talking about it on stage, I wanted to show the audience how it can be done.
So, for 4 months leading up to the talk, I secretly worked with more than 80 people from 40 countries around the world—from Jordan to Macedonia, Venezuela to Japan.
We worked together, using technology to bridge the geographical chasms, and created a music video to a song I wrote last year called ‘There Is Still Time’, inspired by my experiences living in the South American rainforest, after I had sold everything I owned to embark on a global quest to inspire the world.
The video was a remarkable project to watch unfold—with musicians and artists filming themselves in front of mountains, castles, rivers and ruins.
We even transported a grand piano at sunrise to the Garden of the Gods in Colorado for my part in the video, showcasing the remarkable rock formations with snow capped mountains off in the distance.
Once we had all the footage, we pulled it together and used a split screen to show all the contributors.
During my talk, we projected that on the big screen while I performed the song live on stage with a grand piano. (Watch the music video below…)
The beautiful thing about all of this is that every person who participated in the video was a stranger I met through digital technology. We had never met in person and before this project, we didn’t know each other even existed.
That’s the power of technology to bring people together, and to magnify our creativity and the impact we can make in the world.
Here are 3 things I learned that can help you use technology to make a greater impact in the world:
1. Know why you’re using the technology: Often, when new technologies like social media enter our lives, we forget why we are using them, and they can often end up making us feel more connected— yet more disconnected — than ever before. Understanding the purpose behind why you are using different technologies and social platforms allows you to be more deliberate in your actions and ensure they are adding to your life instead of simply filling a void that would be better healed personally.
2. Be curious about how you could make a greater impact: Technology is a magnifier. I often wonder how long a video such as this would have taken to put together without the use of technology… My conclusion each time is that it probably would have taken years if not decades. We were able to pull it off in just 4 months.
Once you know why you’re using a specific type of technology, be curious about how you could use it to make an impact in the world. The type of language you use here will determine whether you are opening yourself up to new possibilities or closing down with doubt. Start with ‘I wonder…’ and asking empowering questions like ‘how can I use this to make an even greater impact?’ Asking ‘how’ questions presupposes it can be done, and gets your mind looking for positive solutions rather than seeking out negative barriers.
3. Deepen your connection by taking it from text to talk: Using social media, texting, and email to communicate can allow you to build new connections, while saving time both personally and professionally, but it can also reduce the depth of conversation that is vital for turning shallow connections into real relationships. Face to face is critical. I’m all for building connections online, but take it offline and have a longer conversation; that could be a phone call, a video call, an in-person meeting, anything that allows you to deepen your relationships… it’s in the deepening of your relationships that genuine trust is formed.
Putting these three principles into action have really helped me personally in being more deliberate about the technology (including social media) that I’m using. They help to magnify the positive difference I’m making and deepen the friendships and professional relationships that I have in the world… Implement them into your own life and I’d love to hear how they help you as well.
Cameron Brown is an international speaker, storyteller, and founder of The Thriving Collective. He speaks to audiences across the globe on how to thrive in an ever changing world, delivering multi-sensory experiences on stage that include a blend of education, live music, video and new technology.
(WATCH the inspiring video below…)
SHARE with the World, and Start Your Own Technology Project…
Quote of the Day: “A man is but a product of his thoughts; what he thinks, he becomes.” – Mohandas K. Gandhi (Born on this day in 1869)
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?
On Sunday, more than 120,000 distinguished gentlemen across the world donned their finest suits, bowties, and tweed, to sit astride their classic and vintage motorcycles to raise money—and awareness—for men’s health.
Organized by volunteers in 650 cities, the annual Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride has raised over $12 million dollars since it first aligned itself with a worthy cause in 2013.
Riders paraded their dapper style yesterday in neighborhoods, on city streets, and along country lanes from Moscow to Mumbai, from Manhattan to Manila.
And it was all inspired when founder Mark Hawwa saw a photo of Jon Hamm portraying Don Draper, from TV’s Mad Men, sitting on a classic motorcycle while wearing his finest suit.
The Sydney, Australia man conceived of the annual themed ride as a great way to combat the often-negative stereotype of men on motorcycles, whilst connecting niche motorcycle communities together.
For the second event, in 2013, he added the charity component, and the ride has ‘taken off’ ever since.
Last year, 56,000 owners of custom style motorcycles and scooters raised $4.85 million in 581 cities. They likely have raised over $6 million from gatherings this weekend.
A tragic loss of one of the event’s hosts to suicide caused by depression led Mark to include a new focus in 2016 for their annual prostate cancer fundraiser. Now, the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride will also fund mental health programs. All monies raised are distributed through their charity partner, The Movember Foundation.
“Our focus is on gentlemen who have been dealt a tough hand in life,” says the website.
(WATCH the fashion forward fun in London this year, in video below)
Give a Shout Out to This Great Group of Men… SHARE it to Lighten Someone’s Day…
This community is setting a new standard for what it means to “love thy neighbor”.
Every night for the last 10 years, the men of Sandy, Utah have taken turns making sure that Kathy Felt gets to bed safely and comfortably.
Since Felt has multiple sclerosis, she slowly lost control of her motor functions. As her disease progressed, she lost the ability to get out of bed in the morning and it seemed as if she would have to be checked into a nursing home.
But Keith Pugmire was not willing to let his neighbor be forced out of her home due to her disease – so he recruited the help of 60 men in the neighborhood to volunteer their assistance.
Pugmire orchestrated a rotating schedule in which two men show up at Felt’s house in the evening so they can lift her out of her wheelchair and into bed. They remove her socks, cover her with the blankets, and turn off the light before leaving the house.
In the morning, Felt’s son arrives to take care of her throughout the day – but in the evening, the neighborhood men pick up the slack.
Ten years later, the men are still volunteering and Felt still gets emotional over the “miracle” of her compassionate neighborhood.
(WATCH the emotional video below or our international viewers can watch the footage at the CBS News website)
Be Sure And Share This Incredible Story Of Compassion With Your Friends – Photo by CBS News
California has just passed legislation that will make it illegal for cosmetic manufacturers to sell products or ingredients that have been tested on animals.
The law, which was approved by Governor Jerry Brown last week, will go into full effect in January 2020.
Senate Bill 1249, the California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act, was endorsed by over 100 cosmetic companies, a dozen celebrities, and thousands of voters. Its approval means that California will now join the European Union, Switzerland, India, Israel, and Guatemala in banning animal testing.
The bill was co-sponsored by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and Social Compassion in Legislation, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting preventative medicine and ethical medical research.
“This is a dream come true,” stated Judie Mancuso, founder and president of Social Compassion in Legislation.
“I had hoped in my lifetime we would say goodbye to animal-tested products … Leading this effort is the biggest accomplishment of my lifetime, and we are so grateful to Governor Brown for signing this lifesaving and landmark bill into law. It is a legacy both he and Senator Galgiani can be proud of, and one for the history books as a huge step forward for humanity.”
Be Sure And Share The Exciting News With Your Friends – Representative photo by Pat Ferro, CC
Reality show television star Simon Cowell may be a tough guy on the big screen, but he apparently has a soft spot for man’s best friend.
The American Idol host recently donated £25,000 ($32,640) to the Humane Society so they could close down a dog meat farm in South Korea.
Thanks to the donation, animal rescuers will be saving over 200 dogs from the farm and transporting them to shelters in the US, Canada, the UK, and the Netherlands where they will go on to find loving forever homes.
Furthermore, Cowell’s donation has inspired fans to match his gift by donating another £25,000 ($32,640).
This is the 13th dog meat farm that has been closed by the Humane Society, resulting in over 1,400 dog rescues. In addition to saving the animals, the charity also helps dog meat farmers launch their careers in more humane fields, such as mushroom and chili farming.
“Simon’s generous donation means the world to us, and provides a huge boost to our appeal to close this horrendous dog meat farm,” HSI UK Executive Director Claire Bass said in a statement. “More than 200 dogs are languishing in the most appalling conditions, but we have a real chance to save them.
”These poor dogs have had the worst lives so far, so we’re desperate to get them out of those dreadful cages and show them love, soft beds and loving arms for the first time in their lives.”
Though dog meat consumption in South Korea has been a controversial topic of cultural discussion, the practice has been on the decline. 70% of South Koreans already refuse to eat dog meat thanks to pressure from animal rights activists and Western influences.
Though the nation has not banned dog meat consumption altogether, they have passed smaller laws that force vendors to conform to high standards of hygiene, facility conditions, and animal treatment.
Be Sure And Share The Pawesome News With Your Friends – Photo by The Humane Society International
Quote of the Day: “Wherever life takes us, there are always moments of wonder.” – Jimmy Carter (on his 94th birthday)
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?
Seattle judges have unanimously voted to vacate 15 years worth of marijuana-related convictions.
The ruling, which was proposed in February, will deliver a clean slate to city residents who were convicted of possession charges between 1996 and 2012 (the year recreational marijuana was legalized).
“We’ve come a long way, and I hope this action inspires other jurisdictions to follow suit,” said Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes. “542 people have criminal records for holding something we can buy in retail storefronts today. In two short months, thanks to our Seattle Municipal Court judges, those convictions will be history.”
“We’ve taken another important step to right the wrongs of the failed war on drugs, and to build true economic opportunity for all,” said Mayor Jenny A. Durkan.
“For too many who call Seattle a home, a misdemeanor marijuana conviction or charge has created barriers to opportunity – to good jobs, housing, loans, and education. It created a permanent criminal record that traveled with people their whole life. And we know now that it disproportionately targeted communities of color.
“While we cannot reverse all the harm that was done, we will continue to act to give Seattle residents – including immigrants and refugees – a clean slate,” she added.
Plant Some Positivity With Your Friends And Share The Good News
A minister in Monticello, Georgia was losing his faith—and forgetting his purpose—until a balloon attached to a desperate plea floated down from the heavens.
Mykehia Curry is the first member of her family to ever go to college, but it has not been easy. When she was due to start nursing classes at Albany State University in Georgia last month, she was nervous and worried about finances.
Mykehia’s mom is single and disabled, and money is tight. The freshman was due to move into the college dorm without even having a blanket.
So she wrote a simple plea for help and sent it to the sky with a helium balloon. “Dear God, please help me get EVERYTHING I need before Wednesday.”
Meanwhile, Jerome Jones, the minister at the Springfield Baptist Church was losing his faith—so much so, that he didn’t even want to go to church any more.
He was working his day job at a power company when he spotted the three helium balloons floating through the sky. “Lo and Behold,” they gently dropped right into his lap.
When he read the 18-year-old’s note—he immediately knew it was “Divine intervention.” Despite being “just about the poorest preacher in Georgia,” with only a $125 in the bank, he spent ALL OF IT on a modest mini-fridge and a comforter to help Mykehia.
Not only has the compassionate gesture inspired Mykehia to forge ahead with her destiny, the fateful incident renewed Jones’s enthusiasm for his life’s purpose.
