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Black Rhinos Return to Landscapes 50 Years After They Were Wiped Out

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Good News Network
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Yoky, CC license

For the first time in 50 years, black rhinos will be roaming across their native plains once more.

Thanks to an international collaboration between South Africa and Chad, 6 critically-endangered black rhinos – two male, four female – were sedated and flown from the South African city of Port Elizabeth to their new home in Chad’s Zakouma National Park.

The reintroduction of the black rhino to the wilds of Chad has been called a “historic” and “unprecedented” conservational victory.

Due to poaching, black rhinos have not been seen in the Chadian wilderness since the 1970s. However, conservational nonprofit African Parks says that Zakouma has become a “safe haven for some of the most important wildlife populations in Central Africa, driving its emergence as one of the continent’s most astonishing conservation success stories.”

RELATED: Rats Are Saving Elephants From Hidden Landmines on Their Migration Routes

Over the course of the last seven years alone, African Parks has practically eliminated poaching from Zakouma, and two of those years were spent specifically preparing for the reintroduction of the black rhino.

The organization said in a statement: “While the threat of poaching is ever-constant, security measures have been implemented specifically to ensure the ongoing safety and wellbeing of the rhinos in the park. A dedicated rhino ranger unit has been established. They received advanced training to ensure the rhinos are well protected.

“In addition to Zakouma’s well-equipped law enforcement team, aerial surveillance and numerous other security measures have been implemented specifically for the reintroduction of rhino.”

CHECK OUT: Farmer is Sweet on Bee Hives As Perfect Fence to Keep Elephants Safely Away

With a little bit of time, conservationists believe that the six rhinos will eventually breed to become the most northern black rhino herd in Africa.

“All too often, headlines on rhinos are about their demise as they teeter on the brink of extinction. However, today we are participating in an historic event and peering into a brighter future for this species which has persisted on this planet for millions of years,” said Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks.

“It is a story of hope for a species that has become the icon of a global conservation crisis. African Parks reintroduced rhinos to Rwanda growing their range in Africa in 2017, within a year extending it further with Chad becoming the twelfth country in which they occur,” African Parks said in their statement.

Click To Share The News With Your Friends – Photo by Yoky, CC

An Air Force Investigator Browsing the Internet Ended Up Saving an Airman’s Life

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McKinley Corbley
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An Air Force rookie is being credited for saving the life of another airman – but the rescue did not take place while on deployment; it took place on social media.

Senior Airman Charles Woomer from the Fairchild Office of Special Investigations in Washington was browsing the Air Force page on Reddit last Friday when he noticed something concerning.

Amidst the innocuous posts and discussions, there was a comment from another user who was asking how his life insurance policy would pay off for his family if “something” were to happen to him before he separated from the military.

Woomer, along with several other Reddit users, expressed their concern over the airman’s tone – except Woomer went one step further.

CHECK OUT: Coffee and a Muffin at Restaurant Drive-thru Saves a Stranger’s Life

As a means of ensuring the anonymous airman’s safety, Woomer contacted employees at Google and Reddit to secure the user’s identity. Then, upon explaining the situation to his own supervisor, they made 25 different phone calls to get in touch with the office at which the Reddit commenter was stationed in Georgia.

Leaders of the base approached the airman and confirmed that he had indeed been planning on committing suicide by the end of the week. According to a statement released by the Fairchild Air Force Base, the airman had been diagnosed with depression in the past and was prescribed medication for his symptoms. His suicidal ideations returned, however, when his medication recently ran out.

LOOK: 13 Truckers Use Their Vehicles to Prevent Suicide Attempt From Ending a Life

The airman was then taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment. Had he succeeded in his plans, he would have left behind a wife and two children, ages 4 and 9.

When news of the incident spread to the Air Force page on Reddit, Woomer was praised for his actions.

“Good job man,” wrote one user. “You did a great thing. I hope you get some recognition for this, and most importantly I hope the airman receives the help he needs. Thank you from everyone who has had suicide (affect) them.”

Help Save A Life: Click To Share The Incredible News With Your Friends – Representational photo by Airman Manisha Vasquez / U.S. Air Force

“Nothing can take the place of persistence. Talent will not…nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not…the world is full of educated failure. Persistence and Determination alone are omnipotent.” – Calvin Coolidge

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Quote of the Day: “Nothing can take the place of persistence. Talent will not…nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not…unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not…the world is full of educated failure. Persistence and Determination alone are omnipotent.” – Calvin Coolidge, U.S. President

Photo: Cologne Cathedral by Daniel Mennerich, CC

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?

After Man Plays His Cello at Bomb Site, He Spurs Citywide Movement to Combat Violence With Music

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Peace News
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Reprinted with permission from Peace News Network
Written by Lea Suter

Some people may not believe that music can properly combat terror, but this maestro is proving them otherwise.

When 3 car bombs shook the foundations of Baghdad, famed Iraqi maestro Karim Wasfi played his cello at the site of the explosions the very next day as a means of showing resilience against terrorism.

“The focal point is to beat terror and intimidation through beauty and refinement in civilization,” Wasfi told PeacePrints.

“Those who can hate do not recognize beauty, they can’t hear beauty, they can’t see it, they can’t feel it,” he said.

“Maybe because they were never even exposed to it, so there is a responsibility on our shoulders also to share with everyone the solid, concrete, basic foundation of good-doing and beauty because it’s something that you can build upon.”

WATCH: 3,000 Jews and Muslims Sign Up to Learn a Song Together–the Result is Perfect Harmony

After Wasfi’s spontaneous performance earned him international fame, he created the Centre for Creativity-Peace through Arts: an organization that unites youth from different ethnic backgrounds so they can play music on the streets of Baghdad.

“So instead of just the National Symphony Orchestra performing every month or two months, we’ll have 5 or 7 groups performing around the city all at the time,” Wasfi said.

The conductor says that he created the center out of a desire to “flood the scene with culture and beauty, against intimidation and against fear.”

And his approach seems to be working.

“One positive experience was when I realized there were around 14 militiamen decided to give up their commitment to their weapons and to resolving disagreements through fierce fighting [so they could become] musicians,” he said.

If Music Be The Food Of Love, Click To Share With Your Friends – Photo by Peace News Network

Magnetic Brain Treatment Erases Suicidal Thoughts in Dramatic Portion of Depressed Patients, Study

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Good News Network
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brain electric CC Allan Ajifo

While there may not be any concrete treatments for blocking suicidal thoughts, there may be hope on the horizon for a new non-invasive treatment that can erase the impulses altogether.

A specific kind of magnetic brain stimulation has been found effective in reducing suicidal thinking in a significant portion of people with hard-to-treat depression, according to this new study.

The research, which was conducted by the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), found that 40% of people in the study no longer experienced suicidal thoughts after receiving bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).

“This is one of the first large studies showing rTMS is effective in treating suicidal ideation,” says Dr. Jeff Daskalakis, senior author of the study. “The effects on suicidal ideation were independent of effects on depressive symptoms.”

RELATED: World’s First ‘Mental Health Ambulance’ is Helping Hundreds of People in Sweden

The promising findings give hope that, with further evidence, rTMS may offer a new way to prevent suicide in people with hard-to-treat depression, as well as other mental illnesses.

Suicidal thinking can occur in several mental illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder. It’s estimated that about 90% of people who die by suicide have a mental illness. While medications and psychotherapy are effective treatments for many people with mental illnesses, there’s an urgent need for new treatments that quickly and specifically reverse suicidal thinking.

“One of the only effective treatments for suicidal ideation is electroconvulsive therapy or ECT,” says Dr. Daskalakis. “While ECT is the most effective treatment in psychiatric care, it’s rarely used, because of high stigma and adverse cognitive side effects associated with the treatment. Less than 1% of patients with hard-to-treat – or treatment-resistant – depression get ECT.”

MORE: Dramatic Reduction in Teen Suicide Attempts After Same-sex Marriage Legalization

Treatment-resistant depression is defined as the condition when people do not experience a noticeable improvement in their symptoms after trying at least two different antidepressant medications. Up to 40% of people with depression are treatment resistant, representing about 600,000 Canadians a year.

For the new study, which was led by psychiatry resident Dr. Cory Weissman in the Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, the researchers analyzed data from two earlier CAMH studies on rTMS given to people with treatment-resistant depression. At the start of these studies, 156 people reported that they experienced suicidal thoughts.

A non-invasive form of brain stimulation, rTMS directs magnetic pulses at a targeted area of the brain. In these studies, rTMS was applied to an area in the frontal lobes five times a week for either three or six weeks. Participants were randomized to receive rTMS in one of three ways: to both the right and left frontal lobes (bilateral rTMS), the left frontal lobe only, or a kind of placebo.

CHECK OUT: Simple Checklist Leads to 82% Drop in Mental Health Patient Suicides

Bilateral rTMS showed the biggest effect, and outperformed both other types. 40% of people who received bilateral rTMS reported that they no longer experienced suicidal thoughts by the study’s end.

The findings suggest that targeting the right frontal lobe may be key to treating suicidal thinking, says Dr. Weissman, first author of the study. Earlier research in people with depression and suicidal ideation has shown that this brain region may be linked with impulsivity and difficulties with regulating emotions. In future studies, the researchers plan to zero in on the right frontal lobe.

Interestingly, the decreases in suicidal thinking were not strongly linked to reductions in the severity of depression symptoms. “This suggests that suicidality is not necessarily just a symptom of depression – it may be a related, but separate entity,” says Dr. Weissman. Given that suicidal thinking occurs across multiple mental illnesses, identifying an effective treatment may prevent suicide for a broad spectrum of people with mental illnesses.

The findings are published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

(Source: CAMH)

Click To Share The News With Your Friends – Photo by Allan Ajifo, CC

Devoted Dog Waits at Train Station Every Day For 12 Hours So He Can Excitedly Greet His Owner

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Good News Network
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There may not be another tale of friendship as heartwarming as the story of Xiongxiong and his owner.

Xiongxiong, which is the Chinese word for “bear”, is a dog who spends over 12 hours every day waiting at the train station for his owner to get back from work.

Xiongxiong’s owner, a man who is identified as Mr. Chen, takes the train from the Liziba metro station in Chongqing’s Yuzhong district of southwest China. Since Mr. Chen lives down the road, the 15-year-old dog will saunter down to the station every morning and plop down on the pavement for his 12-hour watch.

Because Xiongxiong is so well-behaved, he never has to wear a collar or leash.

WATCH: Hummingbird Refuses to Leave the Dog Who Saved Her Life 

While he does accept occasional head pets from strangers, he saves all of his energy for when Mr. Chen comes home.

In a video that is winning hearts all over the internet, Xiongxiong catches sight of Mr. Chen and transforms from a reserved senior canine into a jubilant puppy who is excited to see his owner. As the two of them walk home from the station, Xiongxiong can be seen wagging his tail, barking happily, and energetically trotting alongside his companion.

“I’ve had Xiongxiong for about seven or eight years,” Mr. Chen told a Chinese news outlet. “Ever since I have had him, he has waited for me every day.

“He is always happy when he sees me, which makes me very happy too,” he added. “Xiongxiong always manages to make me less tired from work.”

(WATCH the sweet video below)

Click To Share The Pawesome Story With Your Friends – Photo by Pear Video

These Street Performers Spend Hours Delighting the Public So Homeless Can Take What They Need

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McKinley Corbley
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Many city dwellers have become immune to noticing homeless people on the streets – but this 28-year-old man felt compelled to do something about it.

William Boyajian first moved to New York City one year ago and became upset by the amount of rough sleepers he saw on the streets.

“When I moved to NYC from little ol’ Upstate New York, the issue of homelessness really bothered me,” Boyajian recounts. “These people in need are our neighbors and fellow New Yorkers, and I didn’t wanna ignore them.”

So instead of ignoring the problem, Boyajian took his guitar into the subway tunnels and started busking for money. However, the cash he received was not for him to keep.

LOOK: Kid Therapist Raises Money by Offering Advice to Stressed New Yorkers

The musician set up a sign next to his guitar case reading: “If you’re homeless or need help, take as much as you need from the case (I just like to play)”.

Boyajian then used the performance model as inspiration to create the New York City-based charity Hopeful Cases.

The nonprofit, which Boyajian launched last year, recruits artists, musicians, and entertainers to use street performing as a means of raising money for the homeless. According to him, the performances are a fun way to play and practice music – especially because “people don’t boo as much”.

MORE: Recovering Addict Gives Free Gym Memberships to Those Who Want to Stay Sober

“Right now, we have probably 2-3 other consistent performers in the city,” Boyajian tells Good News Network. “The beautiful thing about this project, however, is that people can jump in or jump out when they have the availability.”

Boyajian’s own artistic career kicked off in 2012 when he graduated from Ithaca College with a BFA in musical theater. The musician currently makes enough money from entertainment gigs to get by, so whenever he is not out of town for a performance, he is playing for Hopeful Cases.

“When I am in the city, I busk 4-5 days a week, normally for around 5 hours a day, or until my voice gives out whichever comes first. Singing in the subway without amplification takes its toll.

WATCH: Guy Shows How You Can Now Use Amazon Prime to Instantly Help the Homeless

“Luckily,” he added, “I have no day job.”

Boyajian told GNN that one of the creeds of being a Hopeful Case performer is that they should avoid physically interacting with the money as much as possible – they should just try to keep performing until all of the money runs out.

“Sometimes though, it’s been 5 hours, and the money keeps trickling in and you never reach that zero balance,” he says. “In which case I will take the remaining money and walk the streets around Penn Station or Port Authority and hand it out to those sitting on the streets.

“This gives a really interesting opportunity to sit and talk with the people who are receiving the funds and hear their stories.”

WATCH: ‘Dancing Doctor’ in Boston Busks a Move to Raise Tips for Charity

In addition to sometimes saving money for specific projects, such as Metro Cards, socks, and school supplies, the charity is currently working on siphoning off some of the funds to make feminine hygiene products and toiletries available in the guitar cases during the performances.

“The point of this project was to change the way we think about giving, the homeless And poverty,” says Boyajian. “As anyone who lives in NYC or any major city knows, your options are either to ignore it, notice till it eats you up, or do something. This is what I thought I could do.”

If you would like to sign up to be a Hopeful Cases performer, you can check out the nonprofit’s website or look at their work on Instagram.

Play Up The Positivity: Click To Share The Story With Your Friends – Photos by Hopeful Cases

When a WWII Veteran Couldn’t Walk to His Wife’s Grave, Two Men Carried Him There

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McKinley Corbley
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When a 96-year-old veteran was too weak to walk to his wife’s grave, he was resigned to paying his respects from the car – until two onlookers insisted on going the distance for him instead.

George Boone had been a pilot who was a prisoner of war to the Nazis during WWII. As a means of paying tribute to his services, Boone was flown from North Carolina to Washington D.C. by the Honor Flight Network – an organization that pays for veterans to visit their respective memorials at the nation’s capital.

While they were in the city, Boone asked if they could visit the grave of his late wife Alma, who was laid to rest in 2008.

Though it was technically not a stop on the Honor tour, they were more than happy to oblige.

RELATED: Veterans Find Peace Protecting African Wildlife from Poachers

Unfortunately, they arrived at the cemetery on Saturday only for Boone’s son Jon to realize that he had forgotten his father’s wheelchair. When he asked if his father had the strength to walk, the veteran said no.

The two Honor Flight volunteers who had escorted the father and son then offered to carry George to the grave – and though he was initially reluctant, he eventually accepted. The men made a chair with their arms and carried the veteran all the way to the resting site. For ten minutes, they held George so he could pay his respects.

One of the men was so touched by the exchange, he offered to carry George back to the car on his back.

LOOK: Veteran With PTSD is Creating Free Tiny House Community for Others Like Him

“He said, ‘This is my honor and privilege. I’m going to carry you. Wrap your arms around my neck, I’ve got you,’” Jon recounted to CNN. “And off they went.”

“Without a doubt, it gives you so much pride to be an American,” Jon Boone said. “It’s not all what we see on the news. There are incredible people out there waiting to do good things and show acts of kindness.”

Click To Share The Emotional Story With Your Friends – Photos by Jon Boone

“Compassion directed toward oneself is true humility.” – Simone Weil, French philosopher, activist

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Compassion directed toward oneself is true humility.” – Simone Weil, French philosopher, mystic, and social activist

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?

These Are Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 5 Rules For Success

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Good News Network
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The Lesson: Arnold Schwarzenegger did not become a world-famous bodybuilder, Hollywood actor, best-selling author and politician overnight – he had to work hard and overcome hundreds of obstacles so he could be where he is today. All of these factors have taught him many things about happiness and fulfillment, but he has five key rules for anyone who wants to find success, no matter what they do.

Notable Excerpt: “If you don’t have a goal, if you don’t have a vision, you’re just going to drift around – you’re not going to be happy. I grew up after the second World War and in Austria … there was, of course, depression, there was a terrible economic situation, and I wanted to get out of there. I wanted to escape. And luckily, one day in school, I watched a documentary about America. I knew that that was exactly where I wanted to end up. The question was just ‘how do I get there?’ … No one had the money to travel or anything, but one day I was fortunate enough to see a bodybuilding magazine. And on the cover was this very muscular guy, Mr. Universe … I read the article as fast as I could. I learned about how the guy grew up [poor] in Leeds, England and how he trained five hours a day every single day and then he became Mr. Great Britain. And then he became Mr. Universe … and as I read, I became more and more certain – I had that vision very clearly laid out: to be a champion and stand on the same stage where he won the Mr. Universe title. And then move to America and get into movies. From that moment on, everything that I did, no matter how hard I had to work or how much I had to struggle, it didn’t matter, because I knew what the purpose was and I found my passion. Always discover your vision and the rest will follow.”

(LISTEN to the inspiring talk below)

Good Advice? SHARE It – And, CHECK Out More on our Good Talks Page…

Instead of Money for Themselves, Black Men Unjustly Arrested at Starbucks Arrange Grant for City’s Youth

By
McKinley Corbley
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After two black men were arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks earlier this month, the discriminatory nature of the event sparked a national backlash.

Now, the men are being praised for their symbolically progressive settlement with the city.

In exchange for expunging the city and company of all claims, Donte Robinson and Rashon Nelson are settling for $1 each and a pledge from the city to create a $200,000 grant program for high school entrepreneurs.

“We thought long and hard about it and we feel like this is the best way to see that change that we want to see,” said Robinson, according to the Associated Press. “It’s not a right-now thing that’s good for right now, but I feel like we will see the true change over time.”

RELATED: When Truck is Vandalized With Racist Graffiti Auto Shop Will Not Just Stand By

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement, “I am pleased to have resolved the potential claims against the city in this productive manner,” adding that the men first proposed the idea to Philly officials “in an attempt to make something positive come of this.”

The 23-year-old men will both serve on a committee to create and award the grant, and the program’s curriculum is expected to help educate Philadelphia public school students on the challenges and benefits of being business owners. Neither Robinson, Nelson, or their attorneys will be receiving any money from the grant program.

Nelson and Robinson were launched into the judicial fiasco after they were arrested for sitting in a Starbucks restaurant in mid-April. They had been waiting to embark on a real estate business deal with a third party when the manager called the police and accused the young men of trespassing because they had not bought anything from the store.

WATCH: Black Man Befriending KKK Members Has Led to 200 People Quitting the Organization

A video of the men being led away in handcuffs then went viral. Robinson and Nelson spent eight hours in jail before they were released without any charges filed or changes to their criminal records.

Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson personally flew to Philadelphia to apologize to the men and thank them for their “willingness to reconcile”. Additionally, the company will be closing all American stores on May 29th so they can give unconscious racial bias training to their 175,000 employees.

Click To Share The News With Your Friends – Representational Photo by Nick_Humphries, CC

Japanese Bus Drivers Strike by Continuing to Run and Refusing to Take Anyone’s Money

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Good News Network
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Japanese bus drivers are using an unusual community-based strike tactic to demand better job security from their employers.

The drivers working for the Ryobi Group in Okayama declared a labor strike after a rival bus company opened up overlapping bus routes that charge cheaper fare.

When Ryobi would not comply with their demands for better job security, the drivers decided to take an experimental angle with their strike: they would continue to drive their usual routes, except they would not be accepting anyone’s fare money.

RELATED: The Homeless in San Diego Are Getting Jobs Thanks to a 16-Year-old Boy

Ideally, the free-fare tactic will prevent management from claiming that the workers are putting their own needs before the community’s.

Additionally, online news outlet Japan Today says that the free bus rides will help preserve the company’s relationship with their passengers in the face of a rival company giving cheaper rides.

Time will tell whether the tactic succeeds, but many social media readers are praising the drivers for their unconventional approach to demanding worker safety while simultaneously serving their community.

Drive This News To Your Friends: Click To Share – Representational Photo by JKT, CC

Hawaii Lawmakers Have Just Passed First Ever Ban on Sale of Toxic Sunscreen

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Good News Network
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Hawaii lawmakers have just passed a ban on the sale and distribution of sunscreen containing chemicals that are toxic to coral reefs.

The ban specifically targets oxybenzone and octinoxate, two chemicals that are found in common sunscreens. According to a 2015 study, the ingredients cause coral DNA to mutate while its still in its larval stage, which prevents it from growing properly and makes it more susceptible to bleaching.

If Gov. David Ige (D) approves the legislation as expected, it would make Hawaii the first American state – and the first region in the world – to ban the ingredients.

“Amazingly, this is a first-in-the-world law,” said Sen. Mike Gabbard (D) told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in an e-mail. “So, Hawaii is definitely on the cutting edge by banning these dangerous chemicals in sunscreens.

LOOK: Now You Can Turn Cremated Remains of Loved Ones into Blossoming Coral Reefs

“When you think about it, our island paradise, surrounded by coral reefs, is the perfect place to set the gold standard for the world to follow. This will make a huge difference in protecting our coral reefs, marine life, and human health.”

Some experts oppose the ban because they believe it will lead to more people neglecting sunscreen altogether, which could lead to skin cancer. The ban, however, does not affect sunscreen that is brought into the state by tourists, nor does it apply to prescription sunscreens.

Additionally, non-toxic sunscreens are currently readily available for purchase in the state.

Click To Share The Groundbreaking News With Your Friends – Photo by Tim McClanahan / WCS

68-Year-old With Alzheimer’s Staves Off the Disease by Climbing the Same Mountain Every Day

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Good News Network
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A 68-year-old man with Alzheimer’s disease has defied all conventional medical wisdom by climbing the same mountain every day for the last fifty years.

According to his interview with The Guardian, Sion Jair estimates that he has climbed the Old Man of Coniston in Cumbria, England at least 5,000 times. Sometimes he climbs to the summit twice in one day, no matter the season.

Though he has kept up his fitness routine for the sake of familiarity and habit, he also says that he has kept up the routine as a matter of health and discipline. In addition to living with chronic fatigue syndrome since he moved to the area in 1968, he was also diagnosed with pernicious anaemia in the 2000s. His body rejected the B12 injection treatment necessary to moderate the disease and doctors gave him three years to live.

“My body had adjusted to the small amount of B12 I could accept,” Jair tells The Guardian. “The doctors did tests and put it down to – although it’s not scientifically proven – my exercise routine. I just kept going and my body had two choices: I could either sit down and die, or the body had to get up and use what it had.”

RELATED: When Grandma With Alzheimer’s Can’t Do Her Puzzles, Teen Comes Up With Perfect Solution

Though he was able to adjust to the anaemia, the condition had hidden the Alzheimer’s that was developing in his brain until a brain scan finally revealed the disease four years ago.

Jair’s solution? Just keep on hiking up the 2,634-foot (803 meters) mountain. And judging by his disposition – along with this recent study that supports exercise as a means of staving off dementia – his fitness routine is definitely helping.

“I got over this business of going up a mountain for a challenge years ago. I just do it because I enjoy it. I do it because it’s familiar, and particularly when you’ve got Alzheimer’s, you need something that’s familiar,” Jair tells the news outlet.

“All I know is that I’m not getting any better, but I don’t think I’m getting that much worse that quickly,” he adds.

Click To Share The Big Story With Your Friends – Photo by jirikruta, CC

‘Vicious’ Dog Call Turns into Friendship Between ‘Pit Bull’ and Police Officer

By
McKinley Corbley
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Even the “meanest” dogs have the capability to be man’s best friend.

A Texas police officer came to realize this after he answered a dispatch call about a vicious dog on the loose.

Earlier this week, Officer Travis Frost spotted the big gold dog on the front porch of someone’s house. Frost left the door of his cruiser open – just in case he was attacked and needed to jump to safety – and cautiously approached the dog.

According to a Facebook post that was published by the Texarkana Texas Police Department, “this didn’t go quite like we thought it would.”

LOOK: Pit Bulls Save Children From Venomous Snake Lurking in Their Yard

“He whistled at the dog, who then came trotting over to him with his tail wagging,” says the department post. “After Travis pet the dog for a minute, [the canine] went right up to the patrol unit, jumped in the front seat, and just made himself at home.”

In the time it took for an animal control officer to arrive, Frost and the dog became best buddies. They hung out in the squad car, snapped some selfies, and got some well-deserved belly rubs before the pup was taken to the shelter.

The dog’s microchip later identified him as an American Bully named Gold. Thanks to the microchip, the owners were able to pick him up from the facility shortly after his rescue.

RELATED: Pit Bull Elected as Town Mayor in Landslide Election

The police department seized this opportunity to remind pet owners to microchip their animals – and to not judge a book by its cover. Officers believe that they received the call about a vicious dog because pit bulls and similarly bulky canines are often negatively stereotyped. Frost and the police department, however, think otherwise.

“If you are judging the dog based on the breed then you are probably doing yourself a disservice,” police spokesman Shawn Vaughn told TODAY, adding that the only time he was ever bitten on the job was by a little Chihuahua.

The police department finished the Facebook post by saying: “[These dogs] have a bit of a bad reputation. Travis said that, while you should always be careful around any dog that you don’t know, you shouldn’t automatically assume that all pit bulls are bad dogs. They might be really loving – like this guy was this morning.”

Click To Share The Pawesome Story With Your Friends

“The garden is growth and change, and that means loss as well as constant new treasures to make up for the few disasters.” – May Sarton

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “The garden is growth and change, and that means loss as well as constant new treasures to make up for the few disasters.” – May Sarton

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?

Remember the Teen With a Plan to Rid Oceans of Plastic? His Massive Project Launches in July (Podcast)

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Good News Network
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At just 18 years old, this Dutch teenager claimed he could tackle the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – and starting this summer, he is going to do just that. Hear the inspiring update from The Good News Guru (from the April 27, 2018 Ellen K. Morning Show on KOST-103.5 radio in L.A.).

READ more and see the video on GNN…

Watch Bone Marrow Donor Give Special Birthday Surprise to the Man He Saved

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Good News Network
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Bruce Becke was at a restaurant celebrating his birthday weekend with his family when they surprised him with the ultimate gift: a chance to meet the man who saved his life.

It had been two years since Becke received a life-saving bone marrow transplant from a 26-year-old named Mike Drisgill.

Becke, who had been battling leukemia, had never come face-to-face with Drisgill. All he knew was that the Maryland man’s donation had saved his life.

WATCH: Single Mom Pizza Delivery Driver Moved to Tears After Church Surprises Her With Massive Tip

So as a means of surprising Becke for his birthday, the compassionate donor and his family flew from Baltimore, Maryland to New Buffalo, Michigan.

In a video uploaded to Facebook earlier this week, Becke can be heard proclaiming his gratitude for the 26-year-old donor. Little does he know, the donor is sitting right next to him.

And the result is extremely heartwarming.

(WATCH the emotional video below)

Surprise Your Friends With This Sweet Story: Click To Share

Now You Can Get Paid to Travel Across America and Take Photos of the Sun

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Good News Network
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Do you enjoy traveling? Do you also enjoy having fun in the sun? Well, the Days Inn has the perfect job for you.

The hotel chain has just posted a job listing for amateur photographers who are willing to travel to America’s brightest cities – “from sunrise yoga in San Diego to a sunset sail in Miami” – so they can take pictures of the sun.

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In addition to the “sun-terns” receiving a glowing recommendation for their resumé and all-expenses paid travel for a month, Days Inn will also be paying them a $10,000 monthly stipend for the gig.

Applicants need to be 21 years older to apply and they must submit their best outdoor photo from their portfolio along with a 100-word description of why they are the best person for the job.

Power Up With Positivity: Click To Share The Sunny News With Your Friends – Photo by Mayur Gala

Scientists May Have Just Overcome the Biggest Obstacle to Mass-Producing Hydrogen Fuel

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Good News Network
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The quest to develop the ‘Holy Grail’ of affordable, viable, and environmentally-friendly fuels using sunlight has taken an exciting new twist.

A team of renewable energy experts from the University of Exeter has pioneered a new technique to produce hydrogen from sunlight to create a clean, cheap, and widely-available fuel.

The team developed an innovative method to split water into its constituent parts – hydrogen and oxygen – using sunlight. The hydrogen can then be used as a fuel, with the potential to power everyday items such as homes and vehicles.

Crucially, hydrogen fuel that can be created through this synthetic photosynthesis method would not only create zero carbon emissions, but it would also be a virtually limitless energy source.

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At present, around 85% of the global energy provisions come from the burning of fossil fuels. Therefore the need and desire to find a sustainable, cost-effective renewable fuel source is growing in urgency.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the sun is earth’s most abundant renewable energy source, with the potential to provide 100,000 terawatts of power each year – meaning one hour’s worth of solar energy is equal to an entire year of total energy consumption worldwide.

However, one of the most significant hindrances to the development of viable solar energy has been an inability to produce a semiconducting material that can effectively convert sunlight to a storable energy source.

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But in this new research, the team utilized lanthanum iron oxide to create a semiconducting material that gave the ideal results for using sunlight to produce hydrogen from water, making it the strongest candidate yet for renewable hydrogen generation.

The ground-breaking new research centers on the use of a revolutionary photo-electrode – an electrode that absorbs light before initializing electrochemical transformations to extract the hydrogen from water – made from nanoparticles of the elements lanthanum, iron, and oxygen.

The researchers believe this new type of photo-electrode is not only cheap to produce, but can also be recreated on a larger scale for mass and worldwide use.

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The research is published in leading journal, Scientific Reports.

Govinder Pawar, lead author on the paper and based at the University of Exeter’s Environment and Sustainability in Cornwall said: “With growing economies and population, fossil fuels will not be able to sustain the global energy demand in a ‘clean’ manner as they are being exhausted at an alarming rate.

“Alternative renewable fuels sources must be found which can sustain the global energy demand. Hydrogen is a promising alternative fuel source capable of replacing fossil fuels as it has a higher energy density than fossil fuels (more than double), zero-carbon emissions and the only by-product is water.”

Govinder Pawar added: “We have shown that our photo-electrode has ideal band alignments needed to split water into its constituents (H2 and O2) spontaneously, without the need of an external bias. Moreover, our material has excellent stability where after 21 hours of testing it does not degrade, ideal for water splitting purpose. We are currently working on further improving our material to make it more efficient to produce more hydrogen.”

(Source: Exeter University)

Power Up With Positivity: Click To Share With Your Friends – Photo by jkrebs, CC

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