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IKEA is Ditching All of Their Single-Use Plastics Throughout Stores

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IKEA, the beloved furniture supply chain, has just announced that they will no longer be using any single-use plastics in their stores or restaurants.

Starting in 2020, the company’s 363 outlets worldwide will be eliminating everything from single-use plastic plates, drink stirrers, cups, tableware and straws to freezer bags, garbage bags, and packaging.

The initiative is a welcomed followup to the company’s attempt to eliminate oil-based plastic from all of their products by August 2020. Not only that, the company has invested $1.7 billion in becoming 100% renewable energy dependent by the same deadline.

The list of IKEA’s philanthropic and eco-friendly endeavors could go on for a while; they have donated $450 million in aid to regions affected by climate change; they now sell solar panels in their stores; and they even donate doll beds to cats and shelter animals that are waiting to be adopted.

LOOK: IKEA Releases Free Design For Garden Sphere That Feeds a Neighborhood

All of these initiatives are part of their determination to be a company that is “good for both people and the planet.”

“Through our size and reach we have the opportunity to inspire and enable more than 1 billion people to live better lives, within the limits of the planet,” says Torbjörn Lööf, the chief executive of Inter IKEA group.

“Change will only be possible if we collaborate with others and nurture entrepreneurship. We are committed to taking the lead working together with everyone – from raw material suppliers all the way to our customers and partners.”

Pass On The Positive News To Your Friends – Photo by Senior Airman Franklin R. Ramos, CC

Lost John Coltrane Album Discovered 55 Years After Its Recording – Listen to the First Track

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McKinley Corbley
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There are few names that are as synonymous with jazz as John Coltrane – and even though he died in 1967, he still has a few surprises for us.

A long lost Coltrane record has recently resurfaced and been prepared for release by Indulge! Records. The album, which is called “Both Directions at Once” will be published on June 29th.

The first track of the album, which is only called “Untitled Original 11383,” has already been released online.

The material for the album was all recorded in a single day back in March 1963. Coltrane’s backing band is made up of the same three musicians (Jimmy Garrison on bass, Elvin Jones on drums, and pianist McCoy Tyner) who helped produce some of the saxophonist’s most prominent work – such as “A Love Supreme.”

WATCH: African Children Hear a Fiddle for the First Time and Their Reaction is Priceless

In addition to recording six original songs, the album also contains a never-before-heard version of Nat King Cole’s “Nature Boy,” according to The Guardian.

After Coltrane finished recording the 7-song album 55 years ago, he entrusted a reference copy of the album to his first wife, Juanita Naima, despite their failing marriage. The two divorced in 1966, one year before Coltrane died, and the record remained in the hands of her family until they recently found it buried in storage.

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

“In 1963, all these musicians are reaching some of the heights of their musical powers,” said John Coltrane’s son Ravi, a fellow saxophonist who also helped to prepare the album for release, according to The New York Times.

“On this record, you do get a sense of John with one foot in the past and one foot headed toward his future,” he added.

Sonny Rollins, another historically significant jazz saxophone, said that finding rediscovering the Coltrane record was “like finding a new room in the Great Pyramid”.

(LISTEN to the enchanting first track below)

Coltrane Still Reigns Supreme: Share The Exciting News With Your Friends – Photo by Gelderen, Hugo van / Anefo, CC

Special Ed Teacher Makes Good On Her Promise to Give $1 Million to Her Students

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McKinley Corbley
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Genevieve Via Cava dedicated her entire life to her students – and even though she passed away in 2011, she’s still managing to give back to them.

Shortly after the Dumont school teacher retired roughly 10 years ago, she told the district superintendent that she would one day give $1 million to her students. He laughed it off, thinking that it was a joke, until he received notice that she had bequeathed a small fortune to the school following her death.

A child of the Great Depression, Via Cava refused to indulge in small luxuries. According to NorthJersey.com, she even abstained from buying herself a hearing aid once she started to go deaf in her later years.

Instead, she skimped and saved whatever she could until she had eventually stashed away $1 million.

LOOK: NFL Player Makes Good on His Promise to Return Home and Take Special Needs Girl to Prom

In addition to being a frugal spender, the New Jersey educator was also a loving, outgoing, humorous woman who would go out of her way to help her students years even after they had graduated.

“She was an amazing woman who could light up a room just by walking in,”Richard Jablonski, who is Via Cava’s long-time friend and executor of her will, told NorthJersey.com.

“She had a smile that was unbelievable. She could talk to anybody just to start conversation with them, and by the time they walked away, they would be hugging.”

MORE: Family Has Adopted 88 Special Needs Kids in the Past Four Decades

Via Cava’s fortune is being used to create a scholarship fund for her special education students. Starting in the 2019 school year, any special education student seeking post-high school education can receive $25,000 in scholarship funding. Thanks to the interest that will be generated by the money, the fund is expected never to run out.

“She’s leaving behind a lasting legacy,” said Jablonski.

Share The Inspiring Story Of Compassion With Your Friends – Photo by Richard Jablonski

Jay-Z and Beyonce Are Offering Their Fans Free Tickets as a Reward for Volunteering

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Good News Network
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As a means of encouraging their young fans to volunteers, Beyoncé and Jay-Z are offering up free concert tickets as a reward for volunteering.

The #BeyGoodDoGood campaign means that any UK fan who volunteers for The Prince’s Trust or Global Citizen will have a chance to win two tickets to any of the European or UK shows on their On The Run Tour II, which kicked off earlier this week.

Any UK fans wishing to volunteer for a chance to win the tickets can either sign up on the #BeyGood webpage, or through one of the two charity websites.

Both organizations will have an online volunteer sign-up component to win a pair of general tickets, and an auction for a chance to win a pair of VIP tickets to the OTR ll stadium tour in the UK and Europe in select markets. The Prince’s Trust, additionally, will have an option for online donations, which will help UK youth facing tremendous life crisis, including homelessness, unemployment and mental well-being issues.

RELATED: ‘Stranger Things’ Stars Swoop In to Comfort Kid After Classmates Fail to Attend Birthday Party

The #BeyGoodDoGood campaign kicked off in Cardiff, Wales on Wednesday alongside The Prince’s Trust, the youth charity founded by The Prince of Wales in 1976, to help change young lives. Beyoncé also partnered with The Prince’s Trust in 2014 during her solo Mrs. Carter Show World Tour.

Global Citizen continues the campaign in Europe starting on June 19 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. First launched in 2012, Global Citizen is an international advocacy organization working to end extreme poverty by 2030.

Click To Share With All Of Your Single Lady Friends – Photo by BeyGood

“There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. Yet that will be the beginning.” – Louis L’Amour

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. Yet that will be the beginning.” – Louis L’Amour

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?

Student Who Overcame Abuse is Given a New Car From Stranger With a Brain Tumor

By
McKinley Corbley
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Last week, Sionna Brenn was working a normal shift at Starbucks, and everything was going as per usual – that is, until a stranger jumped out of a dumpster and surprised her with a new car.

The gift was courtesy of Charlie Jabaley, a former music executive who quit the industry after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Now, he wants to use his time helping other people; so last week, he helped Brenn.

It has been a decade since Brenn first came to the US from Ethiopia, but the years have not been easy. The 19-year-old spent years in an abusive foster home before she was finally removed. She was eventually able to move in with a distant cousin who was living in Houston, Texas – but since the relative was not a legal guardian, Brenn was declared homeless by the state.

Despite these struggles, she graduated from high school with honors and earned a scholarship to the University of Texas in San Antonio. Currently, she is working 35 hours per week at Starbucks so she can support herself, but she doesn’t have any transportation.

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

Jabaley, on the other hand, was a Grammy award winner and manager to the rap artist 2 Chainz. Once he was diagnosed with cancer last year, however, he resolved to change.

The prognosis spurred Jabaley to lose 120 pounds and launch his Dream Machine Tour of America. During the tour, Jabaley and his friend will be biking from Los Angeles to New York City so they can perform good deeds for people along the way.

Since they left in April, they have helped cancer patients and disadvantaged families – and last week, they helped Brenn in Houston.

RELATED: Student Wakes From Nap to Find That Stranger Had Overheard Her Financial Difficulties and Left a Gift

The teen was taking out the trash at Starbucks, unaware that Jabaley was waiting in the dumpster to surprise her. When he knew she was close by, he jumped out of the bin with a handful of balloons and told her that he was giving her a new Toyota Corolla.

Suffice it to say that she could barely contain her emotions.

“I think I’m in a dream right now,” Brenn told Fox 26. “It’s more than a dream, it’s crazy.”

(WATCH the video below – OR our international viewers can watch the clip on the CBS News website)

Be A Part Of The Movement And Share This Sweet Surprise With Your Friends

Janitors Are Becoming Millionaires Thanks to This Stock’s 9,500% Rally

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When Wang Wenjian first started his company in 1984, he was a factory worker with a high school education and $10,000 in borrowed money. Now, the company’s rise to wealth has likely made millionaires out of janitors, cafeteria workers, and laborers.

The company, Sunny Optical Technology, makes lenses. During their humble beginnings, Wenjian offered stakes in the company to every single one of the employees – even the cleaning staff. He then organized the holdings into a trust with roughly 400 holders who currently own 35% of the company.

With the ever-growing demand for lenses in smart phones, tablets, and cameras, the company is now worth roughly $22 billion.

According to Bloomberg, the company shares have surged by 9,500% since June 2008 alone – which is even more than Netflix’s impressive 7,500%.

RELATED: $70K Minimum Wage is Paying Off for CEO Who Took Pay Cut to Lift Workers

Though it is unknown as to how many shares are owned by each employee, Bloomberg’s data suggests that the average share for each member in the employee trust amounts to about $16 million per person. Owning just 0.013% of the company would still equate to about $1 million.

Wenjian retired from his role as CEO in 2012, but the book that he published on Sunny Optical’s illustrious career sums it up quite nicely. Wenjian writes: “When money gathers, people will be apart; when money is scattered, people will gather.”

(WATCH the video below)

Be Sure And Share The Inspiring Story Of Unity With Your Friends

Instead of Families Having to Drive 2 Hours, This Mosque Inside a Church Brings People Together

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Good News Network
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When Alia Kamareddine first settled down in Oxford, the nearest mosque at which she could worship was in Halifax—which is a 2-hour drive from her home.

Kamareddine regretted only being able to go to mosque once a year, and as more Muslims moved into the Nova Scotia community, finding a place to worship became more and more of a relevant topic.

Thankfully, she and the other Muslims in her community now have a religious space closer to home, even though it is a little unconventional.

The Trinity United Church now rents out one of their community halls so that Kamareddine, along with the other members of the Muslim Community Group, have a place to worship.

LOOK: Muslims Take Out Full-Page Newspaper Ad to Denounce Anti-Semitism Against “Our Jewish Sisters and Brothers”

The rent, however, is really just a nominal fee to cover the utilities used by the group.

Since the “mosque within a church” first started sometime in the last few months, it has brought the two religious communities together and created a space for “growth and learning,” says CBC.

The church’s gesture is especially significant since the 10 Muslim families who attend the mosque have been meeting once a day for Ramadan, the holy month of fasting – and the church members, they say, have been “very open and accommodating.”

Share The Positive Community News With Your Friends – Photo by Alia Kamareddine

Bill Gates is Giving Away His Favorite Book on Positivity to College Grads For Free

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McKinley Corbley
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If you’re graduating from college this semester, then Bill Gates has a gift for you.

The Microsoft founder announced earlier this week that he would be giving away free versions of his favorite book (no, it’s not his biography) to any American college student who is earning their associate’s, bachelor’s, or post-graduate degree. Due to pesky publishing rights, international students are unable to download the book.

“Although I think everyone should read it, it has especially useful insights for anyone who’s making the leap out of college and into the next phase of life,” says Gates.

The book is Hans Rosling’s “Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think.”

RELATED: Once Mocked for Constantly Raising His Hand in Class, Former Homeless Kid Overcomes Odds to Live Harvard Dream

Rosling, who was an acclaimed Swedish statistician, global health expert, and sword swallower, passed away last year at the age of 68. The book, which he co-wrote with his children, soared to #5 on the New York Times Bestseller List for hardcover nonfiction when it was published in April.

Though a Kindle edition of the book currently retails on Amazon for $14.99, Gates is making the e-book free to download for grads on his website.

In order to download the book in .epub format (which is compatible with most web browsers), simply create an account on Gates’s blog and select the university from which you are graduating from.

MORE: Yale is Letting Anyone Take Its Most Popular Class Ever for Free

Gates hopes that the book’s positive perspective on current events and global trends will be enough to inspire, uplift, and motivate young minds who are ready to pursue their dreams.

Because as Rosling writes in the book, “when we have a fact-based worldview, we can see that the world is not as bad as it seems—and we can see what we have to do to keep making it better.”

Be Sure And Share The News With Your Fellow Grads – Photo by Gates Notes

“The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little.” – Thomas Merton

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Quote of the Day: “The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little.” – Thomas Merton (Christian monk and mystic)

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 Childless Couple Rescued an Orphaned Bear – and Now He’s a 7-Foot Snugglebug (WATCH)

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McKinley Corbley
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Svetlana and Yuriy Panteleenko are a typical Russian couple living in Moscow; they eat dinner together, water their plants, watch TV in the evening – but instead of having children, they’ve raised Stepan, a 300-pound bear.

Stepan may look intimidating, but he is a bigger softie than Winnie the Pooh. Svetlana and Yuriy rescued him from the woods when he was only 3-months-old after hunters killed his mother. Though he was apparently in bad shape at the time, Stepan is now a 23-year-old sweetheart who likes nothing better than cuddling up on the sofa to watch television.

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

The couple has been criticized online for ‘stealing’ the cub from the wild, but Stepan is quite happy to be extremely domesticated. He has never bitten his adopted human parents and he is described as an affectionate people person. He’s even learned how to help nurture the garden plants by holding a watering can between his paws.

The 7-foot-tall gentle giant goes through 52 pounds of fish, vegetables and eggs every day, but his favorite treat is a bowl of sweetened condensed milk. He stays in shape by playing football, wrestling with his parents, and giving bear hugs –and high-fives– to his two best friends.

(WATCH the video below)

Can’t Bear This Much Affection? Share This Sweet Story With Your Friends

Suicide Rates at Japanese Train Stations Have Plummeted by 84% Thanks to Simple Solution

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Good News Network
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There are a few ways that nature and lighting can be beneficial for your mental health. If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, this study suggests going camping for the weekend as a means of resetting your body’s natural rhythm. This other study says that bird watching is good for your general attitude and emotional wellbeing

But this study from Japan has a stunning solution for curbing suicide attempts: blue-colored lights.

According to CityLab, Japanese railways have been attempting to stop train station suicides throughout their metropolitan areas for some years now, but the implementation is tricky. Tokyo is currently working towards their goal of installing preventative barricades in all 243 of their stations by 2023 – but the barriers are expensive to construct, and many train stations lack the infrastructure to support the barricades.

So until a more efficient solution is used, stations are relying on the calming effects of blue light as a means of dissuading potential suicide victims.

RELATED: Your Cosmetics Contain Unsafe Ingredients, But Congress May Finally Take Action–Here’s What You Need to Know

The research, which was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, studied the effects of installing blue light-emitting-diode (LED) lamps on railway platforms and at railway crossings as a way of deterring suicides in 71 different stations.

Over the course of 10 years, the suicide rate at the stations plummeted by 84%.

LOOK: First Ever 3D-Printed Cornea Could Restore Vision for Millions of People

“As blue lights are easier and less expensive to install than platform screen doors, they can be a cost-effective method for suicide prevention,” says the study’s authors.

Since the study was published, several UK train stations have implemented similar fixtures in their own facilities. In addition to suicide rates falling, the station works have also provided anecdotal evidence that there have been less incidents of vandalism and crime as well.

Share The Impressive News With Your Friends

Police Officer Stands in the Pouring Rain With a Smile as She Protects Critter From Traffic

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McKinley Corbley
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One police officer is being hailed for her diligence in protecting and serving the members of her community – even the non-human ones.

The compassionate cop was spotted by Carolyn B. R. Hammett earlier this week when she was driving through the pouring rain near her home in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Hammett and her husband were surprised to see the officer standing in the middle of the road – but they were even more confused as to why the policewoman was smiling, even though she looked drenched to the bone.

As they got closer, they realized that the officer – who was later identified as Sharnise Hawkins-Graham – was protecting a snapping turtle who was stubbornly sitting on the pavement.

WATCH: Migrant Pulls Off Incredible ‘Spider-Man’ Rescue That Earned Him Citizenship and a Job

“I couldn’t believe that she was standing there guarding that turtle in all that rain,” Hammett told The Dodo. “Not many people would do that, regardless of their occupation. She was serving and protecting in every sense of the word.”

According to Hammett, a local resident had called animal control about the turtle because they were concerned for its safety on the busy street. With all the bad weather, the person was worried it would be hit by a car.

Additionally, snapping turtles are dangerous to handle without proper equipment – so when Hawkins-Graham got to the scene before animal control, she resolutely took her place on the road to watch over the reptile until help arrived.

RELATED: Watch Dramatic Moment When Woman Decides to March into Frozen Lake to Rescue Stranger’s Dog

Instead of leaving the officer to her job, however, Hammett’s husband held an umbrella over her head while his wife went home to get some shovels. The couple then used the shovels to escort the turtle to safety on the other side of the road.

“The officer thanked us and we thanked her and we all went on our way,” Hammett added. “She was smiling a big broad smile the entire time and she never seemed to care that she was drenched completely through. She was delightful, inspirational, kind, all the things that you think a police officer should be.”

Slow And Steady May Win The Race, But We Can’t Wait To Share This Sweet Story With Your Friends – Photos by Carolyn B R Hammett

Girl Takes Cardboard Cutout of Danny DeVito to Prom – and Then He Returns the Favor

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McKinley Corbley
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When Allison Closs couldn’t find a date for her prom, she decided to do what any modern woman would do – buy a cardboard cutout of Danny DeVito.

The 17-year-old had considered looking into other cardboard celebrity dates, such as Bill Nye the Science Guy, but they were all too expensive. She was pleasantly surprised, however, when she found that there was a plethora of DeVito cutouts on Amazon for under $100.

When the day of the dance arrived, Allison dressed her date in a tie and dress jacket. Then, to ensure that he could properly escort her across the dance floor, she duct taped the cutout to a little scooter, which she pulled along beside her using a leash.

LOOK: Ryan Reynolds Schemes With Dumped Teen After She Posts Hilarious Prom Photos

Allison wasn’t the only one who enjoyed the celebrity appearance, either – according to the Carlisle, Pennsylvania teen, DeVito’s cutout was the hit of the party.

“Making things work with a human date can be so exhausting,” she jokingly told The New York Post. “Danny’s not like that. He just goes with the flow . . . We never argue, never fight. Plus, he treats me the way a woman should be treated.”

But Allison’s date night doesn’t just end there – as news outlets shared her amusing prom photos on social media, they eventually reached the cast of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the hit television show on which DeVito stars.

Rob McElhenney, who is DeVito’s comedic co-star, then posted a photo of Allison’s 72-year-old date with a cardboard cutout of herself standing on the set of the show: Paddy’s Pub.

CHECK OUT: How to Fix Group Photos With Ex-Boyfriends: Replace Him With the Family Cat

In the Instagram caption, McElhenney wrote: “Hey Allison – I heard you took cardboard Danny to Prom. What a coincidence. He took cardboard Allison to Paddy’s…”

As an inspiring filmmaker, Allison says she was flabbergasted by the gesture.

“It feels so incredible to be acknowledged by these big name Hollywood actors. I feel more honored and lucky now than ever,” wrote Allison. “I am extremely flattered and can’t thank the cast of ‘Always Sunny’ enough!”

Share The Amusing Tale Of Antics With Your Friends On Social Media – Feature photo by Allison Closs

Starting With Silver-Infused Underwear, You Can Save the Earth By Never Doing Laundry

By
McKinley Corbley
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There have been some weird ideas on what we can do to save the planet. In the past, we’ve talked about companies that are recycling used gum into shoes, and scientists replacing streetlights with plants that glow.

But saying that you can help the environment by abstaining from doing laundry might take the cake.

However, this Danish clothing company has an even weirder explanation: it’s because they have started making their clothing with silver.

Mads Fibiger, the CEO and co-founder of Organic Basics, says that this is because the garment and footwear industry contributes to roughly 8% of greenhouse gas emissions and billions of tons of landfill waste worldwide. 27-year-old Fibiger says that this is because a lot of our clothing requires tons of washing, which only means that it will wear out faster and inevitably be thrown out.

LOOK: Adidas Sold 1 Million Shoes Made Out of Ocean Plastic Last Year

And which articles of clothing do we wash and wear the most? Underwear.

That’s why Fibiger and his three friends launched Organic Basics; they wanted to create sustainable fashion by infusing all of their clothing with silver so that consumers would never have to wash or wear out their clothing.

“The technology we use to kill bacteria is the same NASA uses for purifying water in the International Space Station,” Fibiger said in a recent interview with Forbes. “We treat all our products with a sustainable, low-concentration recycled silver chloride, which kills 99.9% of bacteria.”

RELATED: Man Creates ‘Shoes That Grow’ So Poor Kids Don’t Outgrow Them

According to Fibiger, wearing clothing for a long period of time inevitably garners bacteria, and as the bacteria collects, the bacteria starts to smell. Silver, on the other hand, prevents bacteria from forming in the first place, which means your clothing will never start to stink. Not only that, natural materials – such as silver and gold – will stay in an article of clothing for its entire lifespan.

Organic Basics just launched their line of silver-infused clothing last month. In addition to using the silver treatment, all of their cotton is sustainably sourced and their nylon is mechanically recycled. They even use LED lights in all of their factories.

CHECK OUT: These Ordinary Hats Are Actually Bicycle Helmets That Could Save Thousands of Lives

While their prices aren’t on par with anything at Walmart, the company believes that buying durable clothing that is designed to last will pay off in the future – for the consumer and for the planet.

“We think that buying poor quality, fast fashion is a lot like peeing your pants when you’re cold,” says the company’s website. “It feels nice at first, but it’s not so good later on. Nothing is less sustainable and more frustrating than something that falls apart after a wear and a wash, right? Buying better-made [clothing] means investing in quality that lasts.”

Share The Innovative News With Your Friends – Photo by Organic Basics

Fireman in Viral Photo Cradles Baby After Car Accident: ‘This is why I do the job’

By
McKinley Corbley
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Firefighter Chris Blazek could barely catch a break on Saturday afternoon – that is, until he found some peace with an infant who appreciated his kindness.

After battling a house fire for three hours in the Tennessee heat, Blazek went back to the Chattanooga Fire Department hall and hopped in the shower. As he was cleaning up, however, he heard that his engine was being dispatched on another emergency call.

“I was literally in the shower [when] Engine 6 was dispatched to a car incident on Highway 58. The incident included the driver – a pregnant mother – and her three small children who were in the back seat,” says Blazek.

He later told the Washington Post that it was the kind of dispatch that made his “heart rate jump up a little bit.”

After throwing on his dirty clothes, he and his crew arrived on the scene of the crash and found that the mother was “hysterical” because she was suffering from extreme back and abdominal pain.

WATCH: Bambi On Ice – Watch Firefighter Nudge Trapped Deer to Safety

As she was loaded into the ambulance, Blazek got permission to help the children out of the car. Two of the kids were older girls who were calm in the midst of the situation, but the third was a baby who would not stop wailing in distress.

Now, just to elaborate, Blazek is no stranger to dealing with children. In addition to being a 39-year-old father to four daughters of his own, he graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in child and family studies.

After checking over the baby to make sure she was okay, she immediately took to the firefighter and laid her head on his shoulder.

LOOK: Couple Gets Engaged Just Hours Before They Become Heroes At a Liquor Store

“Shortly after that I decided that my guys had the scene under control, so I decided to sit and take a break with my new friend. She immediately fell asleep in my arms. Mom was transported and Engine 6 personnel stayed on scene with the children until they were turned over to family members.

“It’s moments like this, that I am reminded, this is why I do the job,” said Blazek.

WATCH: Migrant Pulls Off Incredible ‘Spider-Man’ Rescue That Earned Him Citizenship and a Job

Fellow firefighter Kyle Vradenburgh snapped a photo of the heartwarming moment and posted it to Facebook where it was shared thousands of times. The children’s mother, Whittley Hightower, was later released from the hospital without any injuries and thanked Blazek for going above and beyond the call of duty.

“I really want to say thank you for being there for my three girls,” wrote Hightower. “It was such a scary moment for all of us. God bless you.”

Blazek responded by saying: “Mrs. Hightower it was an honor and privilege. Glad to know you and the girls are doing well.”

Share This Sweet Story Of Kindness With Your Friends – Photo by Kyle Vradenburgh

“Goodness is uneventful. It does not flash, it glows.” – David Grayson

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Goodness is uneventful. It does not flash, it glows.” – David Grayson

Photo: by Thomas James Caldwell, 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?

Watch ‘Lunch Lady’s’ Ecstatic Reaction to Being Given a New Car by Adoring Students

By
McKinley Corbley
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For years, Debra Davis has been a loving role model for her local high school students.

That’s because in addition to serving as a lunch lady at Hoover High School in San Diego, California, Davis has paid special attention to the youngsters.

“I feed the kids, I prepare the food, I talk to them, I stop them from fighting,” Davis told KFMB. “They don’t cuss. They have to respect, and they call me ‘Aunt Debbie.’”

Not only that, she has used her free time to volunteer at a soup kitchen on the other side of the county so she can serve up free meals for the homeless.

WATCH: Teacher’s Reaction to Students Surprising Him With ‘Dream Shoes’ is the Sweetest Thing You’ll See Today

So as a means of repaying Davis for her years of kindness, the students rallied together to give her a shiny new Mazda.

Davis’s previous mode of transportation was a dilapidated 1976 Chevy Malibu. Despite the vehicle’s unreliability, however, she consistently used it to drive all over San Diego for her job and volunteer work.

RELATED: Every Single Public School Teacher Got What They Requested Online, Thanks to Cryptocurrency Company

In light of her generosity, State Farm teamed up with the Recycled Rides charity to donate the beat up Mazda to the high school students. The teens in the automotive repair program then spent three weeks working on the car until it was restored to its former glory.

When Davis was finally surprised with the new car earlier this week, her reaction was priceless.

(WATCH the video below)

Be Sure And Share This Sweet Story With Your Friends – Photo by KFMB

‘Coolest Bus Driver Ever’ Halts Pedestrian Accident in London

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Good News Network
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A chilled out bus driver is being called the “coolest” transit worker in London after he casually stopped a pedestrian collision.

The biker was driving an electric bike through the busy lanes of Oxford Circus in Westminster.

Electric bikes are notorious for being hazardous in the city because their quiet little engines often go unnoticed by pedestrians and other vehicles.

RELATED: Why This Policeman Skateboards With Teens While On Patrol

This particular biker was winding their way between the idling cars when (at about 1:30) a hand can be seen reaching out and waving at the biker from the window of a bus. The biker notices the hand and stops right when a pedestrian was about to wander across the road and into the bike’s path.

The biker and the bus driver then share a silent, but totally cool exchange of gratitude and acknowledgement.

(WATCH the video below)

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‘Bee Saving Paper’ is an Ingenious Way to Save Hungry Pollinators Around the World

By
McKinley Corbley
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As a means of saving dwindling bee populations, this Polish startup has come up with an ingenious way of turning one of our most commonly used substances into an energy drink for pollinators.

Bee Saving Paper is a biodegradable paper that is packed full of energy-rich glucose that is nutritious and delicious for bees – and it doesn’t even make the paper sticky.

The material is made by dissolving a special kind of sugar into water, making a paste that beekeepers use to nourish their hives during the winter. According to the paper startup’s website, only 0.5 kilograms of the substance is enough to feed several thousand bees.

The paper is also made with honey plant seeds, which means that once the bee eats up all the glucose, the paper’s biodegradation will grow another “rest stop” for bees in its place.

RELATED: Girl’s Lemonade Recipe to Saves Bees Turned Into Million Dollar Whole Foods Deal

Now you may be wondering how the bees can see the paper as a source of food, but the material’s designers have come up with an answer for that too. Since bees see fields of flowers as circles of colored light on the ultraviolet spectrum, the engineers used water-based UV paint to cover the paper with colored circles that are only visible – and attractive – to bees.

Started in 2017, the startup has already launched its first successful field test with a Polish farmer whose bee populations were suffering. Now, the company is looking for other businesses to adopt the bee-friendly materials for their paper-based products.

This means that any business or manufacturing company using paper can start making their products out of materials that are environmentally friendly and nourishing to pollinators – from paper bags to parking tickets and picnic plates… the sky is the limit.

(WATCH the video below)

Bee Sure And Share The Buzz-Worthy Story With Your Friends – Photo by Bee Saving Paper

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