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Man Quits Dreary Job to Explore Australia With a Cat and a Campervan, After Bad Breakup

By
McKinley Corbley
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Rich East had already spent 10 years working a miserable corporate job when he underwent a heart-wrenching breakup and found himself wishing for a change in his life – which is why the 32-year-old sold his house and possessions, fixed up a campervan, and hit the road with his faithful sidekick: a little black cat named Willow.

When East first started planning his grand getaway, he had only one thought: he didn’t want to leave his cat behind. As a means of gauging how comfortable she would be with life in a van, he started taking Willow for small outings around their hometown in Hobart, on the island of Tasmania.

“I took Willow away for weekends, then whole weeks, and not only did she cope, she thrived,” says East. “I soon realized that what I thought was a house cat was, in fact, a van cat – an adventure cat!”

LOOK: Stolen Gnome Returned to Driveway After 8 Months–With Book Detailing Epic Trip

By the end of 2014, East was living in the van full-time with Willow. The two then took their van to to the Australia mainland – and they’ve been traveling ever since.

 

The dynamic duo usually travel about 37 miles (60 km) every day before setting up camp and hanging out for the rest of the day. The campervan has taken them all over the Land Down Under – from the Great Barrier Reef to the Dorrigo Plateau Mountain Range.

 

According to East, life in the van is pretty bare-bones: the interior of the vehicle, only about 275 cubic feet (7.8 cubic meters), was designed and constructed by East himself without any prior experience.

 

The space is more than enough for Willow.

The feline and her companion regularly post their travel updates on their “VanCatMeow” Instagram and Facebook pages. Since their journey began, the blogs have accumulated thousands of followers and fans.

 

“I started Willow’s Instagram and Facebook unsure of what their purpose might hold… I’m now very clear on what that purpose is,” says East. “It’s a place that leaves religion, political views, agendas, opinion, hate, and sickness at the door and only lets in curiosity, adventure, peace, and love.”

 

“It’s a place where you can forget your problems even for just 3 minutes and breathe the same air we breathe, look out over the same horizon that we see, and know that things are going to be alright,” he added.

Click To Share The Pawesome Story With Your Friends (Photos by VanCatMeow)

Fiona the Hippo and Her Chubby Neck Adorably Photobombs Man’s Wedding Proposal

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Good News Network
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A post shared by Hayley Roll (@hayley_roll) on

 

Because Fiona the hippo is clearly America’s favorite zoo animal, this couple was delighted when she decided to crash their wedding proposal earlier this month.

Nick Kelbe and Hayley Roll were visiting the baby hippopotamus at the Cincinnati Zoo when Kelbe popped the question.

Drawn to the romantic occasion, Fiona meandered up to the couple in order to preside over the proposal with her adorable neck chub pressed up against the glass.

LOOK: Storm Chaser Proposes to His Girlfriend in Front of Tornado

Of course, Ms. Roll said yes – and they were thrilled to have photo evidence of the sweet event.

Roll, who is a radiologist in pediatrics, later posted the photos to Instagram, with instant social media success.

“We’re so happy Fiona could be there on our special day,” she wrote.

In a shout-out to her new fiancé, she said: “Here’s to many more years of going to zoos with you.”

You Should Hippopatamately Share This Story With Your Friends (Photos by Hayley Roll)

New Zealand Government Announces Plan to Plant 1 Billion Trees, Get to Zero Emissions

By
McKinley Corbley
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The government of New Zealand has just unveiled an ambitious set of environmental policies that are destined to take an aggressive stance against climate change in the future.

The country’s next prime minister, 37-year-old Jacinda Ardern, signed a coalition agreement earlier this week with the New Zealand First party that addresses several initiatives to be employed by the coming administration.

CHECK OUT: Village in India Plants 111 Trees Whenever a Girl is Born

One of these initiatives is to plant at least 100 million trees in New Zealand every year of the Billion Tree Planting Program.

According to the Associated Press, Ardern says that the goal is “absolutely achievable”.

While the country currently gleans 85% of its electricity from renewable energy sources, the coming administration hopes to become 100% sustainably-powered by 2035 and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.

RELATED: India Plants Record-breaking 66 Million Trees in 12 Hours

“I don’t need to be influenced on climate change,” said Ardern. “It will sit at the heart of what this government does.”

Ardern, who is the youngest New Zealand prime minister to be elected in 150 years, also outlined plans to build up the rail lines and infrastructure of smaller towns.

(WATCH the video below)

Plant Some Positivity: Click To Share With Your Friends

Tesla Restores Power to Puerto Rican Children’s Hospital– And That’s Not All

By
McKinley Corbley
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Saying that you CAN do something is not the same as ACTUALLY doing something. Alternative energy company Tesla knows the difference—and they’re actively making good on a promise to restore power to Puerto Rico after it was slammed by Hurricane Maria.

Earlier this month, Tesla CEO Elon Musk reached out to Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rosselló on Twitter about rebuilding the island’s electrical grid using a solar-powered energy system.

“The Tesla team has done this for many smaller islands around the world, but there is no scalability limit, so it can be done for Puerto Rico too,” Musk said.

CHECK OUT: Clean Water Lands in Puerto Rico Thanks to Solar-Powered Filtration

The governor enthusiastically responded, and now, the energy company has published an example of their capability.

The Tesla company Twitter account posted photos of San Juan’s Hospital del Niño earlier this week – a children’s hospital that once again has power, thanks to a new array of Tesla solar panels in the parking lot.

MORE: Celebrity Chef Brings 45,000 Meals to Puerto Rico—and Won’t Stop There

“Hospital del Niño is first of many solar+storage projects going live,” wrote the company. “Grateful to support the recovery of Puerto Rico with Ricardo Rossello.”

According to El Nuevo Dia, the donated panels can provide the hospital and its 3,000 young patients with as much energy as they need.

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photos by Tesla)

This Service Dog Has Become the Most Popular Worker on College Campus

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HarrisburgU
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If you see a beautiful black dog walking around the campus of the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, curb your temptation to pet her. The K9 isn’t someone’s pet or the university mascot—she’s working.

Galaxy is a 2-year-old service dog who helps Harrisburg University freshman Collin Butler manage the stress induced by autism.

“Everyone loves her,” says one geospatial technology student who often feels the urge to pet her but knows to ask first.

MORE: Stray Dog Crashes A Wedding And Finds His Own Happily Ever After

Galaxy was trained by Susquehanna Service Dogs to detect when Butler is feeling stressed.

For example, when Galaxy senses that Butler is unknowingly rocking in his seat or swaying while standing, she will nudge him to make him aware of it. Galaxy also responds to the commands, “bump” and “touch.” And she even will lay across Butler’s legs on command. The pressure she applies to his legs helps Butler cope with stress.

“Galaxy is really helpful,” said Collin’s mother, Michele Butler. “And she is really helpful at home. But we can’t be super playful with her all the time. She is focused on him. At home, we need to have minimal contact with her.”

RELATED: Domestic Violence Shelters Will Soon Be Renovated to Accommodate Pets

Ruby Ile, the woman who trained Galaxy alongside her husband Keith, says that service dogs often are trained to help people bound to wheelchairs or assist those saddled with hearing, balance or seizure issues. Galaxy was the first dog the Iles trained for the Pennsylvania service dog organization. And since only a select few of the dogs placed with trainers become service dogs, the couple is thrilled that Galaxy made the cut.

The Iles are now training a second service dog using a 170-page manual and attending class one night a week. Galaxy stayed in the Ile’s East Pennsboro Township home full-time, from December, 2015 through March, 2017.

MORE: Lost Pet Found Years Later, Thanks to Hurricane Irma

Afterward she attended Advanced Training, and then was placed with the Butler’s in their Cumberland County home last month. In addition to residences, service dogs can be placed in schools, courthouses, prisons, nursing homes, oncology clinics, and other facilities.

“Galaxy has been trained to interrupt behaviors that may interfere with Collin’s ability to be successful,” Susquehanna Service dogs said. The pups learn how anxiety or stress may manifest physically in the partner, and respond on cue when the partner feels a need for soothing—like during homework time.

WATCH: In Viral Video Puerto Rican Pup Lends a Paw to Help Clean Up

Often, when service dogs like Galaxy are placed with people with a diagnosis of autism, it gives them the confidence to explore things like college and employment. Their service dog often acts as an avenue for them to be more comfortable socializing or starting conversation – and their service dog provides a starting point for conversation.

This is especially true at HU, where Galaxy seems to have a similarly soothing effect on everyone she meets.

Click To Share The Pawesome Story With Your Friends

Guy Makes Himself A ‘Cone Of Shame’ So His Cat Isn’t Embarrassed

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Good News Network
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Most pet owners are familiar with the torment that comes from their animals donning the infamous “cone of shame” – but not many of them are usually willing to go the distance like this guy did.

In a series of photos submitted to The Dodo by a woman named Sarah Proctor, an unidentified cat owner can be seen hanging out with his 6-month-old cat Rengar.

Rengar and his dad apparently do everything together – from playing video games on the computer to snuggling for afternoon naps.

CHECK OUT: Deadly Flames Threaten Wildlife Site But One Man Stays Behind With Hose To Keep Animals Safe

But then when Rengar was finally old enough to be neutered, the young feline was devastated to find himself wearing the dreaded white collar. Despite his dad doing everything to cheer him up, Rengar was still miserable and moping around the house.

The feline’s dad, however, was determined to cheer him up – which is why he grabbed his craft supplies and got to work on his own human-sized “cone of shame”.

WATCH:This Couple May Not Have Children But They Do Have a Bear

30 seconds later, Rengar’s dad was sporting the same white circlet around his head – and Rengar seemed surprisingly happier.

“Rengar was confused at first, then when he realized his dad was also wearing the ‘cone of shame,’ [and he became] more comfortable,” Proctor told The Dodo.

Now THAT is what we call a pawesome father-son relationship.

Click To Share This Purrrrfect Story With Your Friends – Photos by Sarah Proctor

The World Has Spent $14B on Conservation – and it Worked

By
McKinley Corbley
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By Jeff Krause Photography on Flickr – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Yosemite Valley – Jeff Krause Photography on Flickr – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

If it ever feels like the world is beyond saving, think again – this new study is one of the first of its kind to measure just how much of a difference our conservation efforts are making based on the money we have spent.

The paper, which was published in Nature earlier this week, explains how 109 countries collectively spent roughly $14.4 billion over the course of a decade on initiatives that specifically promoted conservation. These initiatives include providing support for the management of protected areas like national parks and, reserves; supporting conservation infrastructure; training conservation officers; and educating the public.

And based on the researchers’ data, the financing of these initiatives helped slow biodiversity loss in all 109 countries by a median average of 29%.

CHECK OUT: World’s First “Negative Emission” Plant Will Turn CO2 to Stone

This is especially exciting news for encouraging conservation in the future, says University of Illinois assistant professor Daniel Miller.

“Effective conservation requires financial resources but donors and governments have been reluctant to provide the needed financing. Part of the reason is that there hasn’t been good evidence that previous funds have been effective,” says Miller.

“Investing in conservation pushes back on the weights that bring biodiversity down by 29 percent. We were surprised at how positive the finding was. We had a hunch that the funding would be effective, but didn’t realize it would be this effective,” he added.

RELATED: India Saves Its Tigers Instead of Mining For $330M in Diamonds

Based on financial data from 1992 to 2003 – which was the decade following the groundbreaking 1990 Earth Summit – the financing promoted healthier ecosystems worldwide between 1996 and 2008. Countries that spent more money on their national conservation efforts, like Brazil, saw an even greater reduction in danger towards their habitats and native species, as opposed to the countries that didn’t.

“The main message is that conservation is working, but that we need to boost investment to meet international policy targets,” said co-author Joseph Tobias in a statement. “In addition, the results show how conservation funding may need to change over time.”

MORE: Orange is the New Green For Thriving Costa Rican Forests, Thanks to Orange Peels

The evidence-based model that the researchers used to compare the data can now help world leaders plan conservation goals and efforts for the future.

“Decision-makers can use this model to forecast the improvement that any proposed biodiversity budget would achieve under various scenarios of human development pressure, and then compare these forecasts to any chosen policy target,” said the researchers.

Click To Share The Groundbreaking Good News With Your Friends (Photo by SpreadTheMagic, CC)

Stranded Women and Dogs Rescued After 5 Months Drifting on Pacific Ocean

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Good News Network
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When Girl With Winning Score is Denied Title, Runner-up Offers Trophy: ‘I didn’t win, you did’

By
McKinley Corbley
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It may be the 21st century, but this archaic golf tournament rule said that Emily Nash could not be given a trophy or award for her score – even though she played better than all the boys.

The 16-year-old was allowed to compete on the Lunenburg High School boy’s team in the Central Mass Division 3 Boys’ Golf Tournament in Lunenburg, Massachusetts earlier this week. But in spite of being able to contribute to the team’s score, she could not be recognized as an individual player.

Emily only realized this after she achieved the best score – 3-over-par – but was denied the title. The trophy was instead awarded to Nico Ciolino of AMSA Charter School, who finished four strokes behind Emily.

CHECK OUT: Player’s Honesty Costs Him the Match, But Wins Hearts w/ Sportsmanship

Ciolino, however, didn’t want the trophy – instead, he offered it to Emily.

“He came over and said he didn’t win the tournament, that I did,” she told WPBF. “It was really nice of him and respectful.”

“He felt so bad about it that he actually tried to give the trophy to Nash,” Pro Shop Manager Dave Kocur told PGA.com. “That showed a lot of class.”

While Emily was touched by the gesture, she politely declined.

RELATED: Thousands of Indian Doctors Fight Sexism by Delivering Baby Girls For Free

Since news of Emily’s score has been publicized, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association has received backlash for their enforcement of the dated rule. The code has been called especially “unfair” due to how Lunenburg High School does not have a girl’s team for Emily to play on. Additionally, Emily played on all the same tees as the boys.

Golf tournament director Kevin Riordan, who was also taken aback by the controversial event, said that he doesn’t make the rules – he only has to enforce them. But that reportedly won’t stop him from using his own money to buy Emily a first place trophy of her own to keep until the rules are changed.

(WATCH the video below)

Score Big With Your Friends: Click To Share (Photo by Massachusetts Golf Association)

For 95-Year-old Who Loves to Walk, Neighbors Along the Mile Set Out Chairs Just For Him

By
McKinley Corbley
-

Neighbors help each other out in a number of ways – but this entire community has come together for their 95-year-old neighbor Harvey Djerf.

Djerf, who is a retired biology teacher and WWII veteran, loves to walk. He loves walking so much, in fact, he has walked the same 1 mile route twice a day for the last 65 years.

RELATED: Terminal Cancer Survivor Spends Days Smiling and Waving at Drivers

Djerf says that he is addicted to his routine because he has always felt like an antsy person. Plus, since his wife is confined to a nursing home after she suffered a stroke last year, hanging out with the neighbors is a good way to pass the time.

His neighbors in the Plymouth, Minnesota are no strangers to his habit – but as Djerf got older, however, they started setting out chairs along his route so he could sit and take a rest.

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

Since Djerf is popular amongst the locals, they will often come out and say hi to the veteran whenever he sits down.

He isn’t just fun to talk to, either – he is great inspiration for everyone to get out and exercise.

“They say when they see Harvey go by twice a day, they figured they should get out and walk themselves. So maybe I’m having a good effect on some people,” Djerf told CBS News.

(WATCH the video below)

Help Your Friends Take A Break From Negativity: Click To Share – Photo by CBS News

Drug to Reverse a Loved One’s Heroin Overdose Now Readily Available on Walgreens Shelves

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Good News Network
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In an effort to fight America’s opioid epidemic, over 8,000 Walgreens stores are now stocking a nasal spray that reverses the effects of an overdose.

The FDA-approved Narcan nasal spray is a form of naloxone that can now be purchased over the counter and used to stop an overdose from prescription painkillers or heroin.

Additionally, Walgreens plans on taking steps to educate any patient who is dispensed a controlled substance greater than 50 morphine milligram equivalents on how to properly use Narcan and the dangers of opioids.

CHECK OUT: Pill Bottle Timers Could Put a Lid on Opioid Abuse

“By stocking Narcan in all our pharmacies, we are making it easier for families and caregivers to help their loved ones by having it on hand in case it is needed,” said Rick Gates, Walgreens group vice president of pharmacy. “As a pharmacy, we are committed to making Narcan more accessible in the communities we serve.”

While Narcan was formerly available without a prescription in only 10 states, it can now be purchased in 45. Walgreens representatives say that they plan on working with officials in the remaining five states to allow Narcan’s over-the-counter sale.

MORE: 14 Years After Decriminalizing Heroin, Here’s What Portugal Looks Like

“This action is an important milestone and we applaud Walgreens initiatives to improve access to Narcan Nasal Spray in communities across the U.S.,” said Seamus Mulligan, Chief Executive Officer of Adapt Pharma, the manufacturer of Narcan Nasal Spray. “This effort, combined with the opportunity for patients and caregivers to obtain Narcan Nasal Spray without an individual prescription in 45 states, is critical in combating this crisis.”

This is not the first step that Walgreens has taken to fight opioid addiction, either – the pharmacy chain has also collected more than 155 tons of unwanted medications through its safe medication disposal kiosks in 600 stories across 45 states and Washington D.C. The kiosks allow individuals to safely and conveniently dispose of unwanted prescriptions, including controlled substances and over-the-counter medications, year-round at no cost.

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by Mike Mozart, CC)

Woman Called ‘Angel’ After Her Sweet Gesture Was Recorded at Walmart

By
McKinley Corbley
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There may not be literal angels with wings hiding around us, but there are compassionate people who are ready to give and inspire whenever possible.

Anna Melissa Olivarez witnessed one such angel in action earlier this month at a Walmart in San Antonio, Texas.

Olivarez was waiting in line behind a man who was trying to pay for his cart full of groceries with a gift card.

CHECK OUT:Teen Boys Filmed Giving Duvet to Homeless Man and Tucking Him In

After swiping the card several times, however, it was rejected.

But when the man said that he had no other means of paying for the groceries, a woman in the middle of the line jumped forward, offered to pick up the tab, and swiped her own card.

The cashier and the other customers waiting in line praised the woman for her kindness even though she was fairly nonchalant over the gesture – but she did accept a hug from the man she helped.

RELATED: Watch Deaf Boy’s Sweet Reaction to Seeing Minnie Mouse Sign ‘I Love You’

“I told her how sweet that was to witness and she said ‘we gotta help each other out’,” wrote Olivarez. “She wouldn’t tell me her name so I said ‘I’ll call ya the sweet San Antonio Angel then!’”

After the video was posted to social media, a woman named Marysol Imler wrote: “That’s MY SURGICAL DIRECTOR, ANNETTE MORRISON!!!! she is truly an angel…”

“Thank you Marysol!!!” said Olivarez. “She has a made a huge impact and is just the best representative of all those that give so graciously!!”

(WATCH the video below)

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Watch Domestic Abuse Survivor React to Dentist Surprising Her With New Smile For Free

By
Good News Network
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After a Texan dentist gave one of his patients a beautiful new smile, she gave him a reaction that he “will cherish forever”.

28-year-old Kyleigha Scott had originally gone into Kenny Wilstead’s dental office earlier this month for a wisdom tooth extraction – but upon inspecting her smile, Wilstead asked her why her front tooth was so damaged.

The tooth was chipped and yellowed from when her abusive ex-boyfriend had headbutted her during their relationship two years ago. Ms. Scott said that she planned on getting it fixed once she got money from her next tax return.

CHECK OUT: Domestic Violence Shelters Will Soon Be Renovated to Accommodate Pets

Wilstead, however, was having none of it.

“I said… He** no! We’re gonna fix that tooth right now, no charge,” wrote Wilstead. “She didn’t ask or expect anything of the sort.”

The procedure only took about ten minutes, but by the time the Marshall Family Dental worker was finished, Scott’s smile was barely recognizable.

When the 28-year-old finally got to look in a mirror, she burst into tears of gratitude.

MORE: This Moving Company Helps Women Leave Abusive Homes At No Cost

“It looks amazing!” Scott says tearfully.

Wilstead says that it was a moment he will never forget.

“To all those who have struggled, she is an awesome example of someone determined to rise above her past and use it to reinvent her future,” wrote the Marshall, Texas dentist.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The Sweet Story With Your Friends

Boy Forwards Money He Found to Soccer Player Because ‘We Can’t Keep What’s Not Ours’

By
McKinley Corbley
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While some might be excited to pocket a $5 bill found on the street, this young man was more excited to pass on his good fortune to someone else: his favorite soccer player.

9-year-old Adam Bhana was leaving a football game between Huddersfield Town and Manchester United at the John Smith’s Stadium this weekend when he saw a £5 note on the ground.

Instead of keeping the money, however, Adam said that “we can not keep what is not ours”.

RELATED: Messi Sends Signed Shirt to Afghan ‘Plastic Bag Shirt Boy’

He and his father then asked a few nearby pedestrians if they had dropped any money. When they all said no, Adam’s dad told him to give it to someone else.

A few days later, Huddersfield director Sean Jarvis received a letter from Adam containing the £5 note. The letter asked Jarvis if he could pass the cash along to the Huddersfield midfielder Adam Mooy “because he played very well and scored” during Saturday’s game.

Mooy was so touched by the gesture, he took to social media earlier this week and said he would “love to meet Adam”.

MORE: UK Football Stars Buy Hotel, Invite Homeless to Stay For Winter

The 9-year-old and the midfielder are set to meet up with each other on Friday.

As for Adam’s father, he says he is proud of his son’s generosity.

“To begin with, he was undecided. He wanted to maybe give it to the club for a transfer of Ronaldo from Real Madrid to Huddersfield but then he decided to give it to Mooy instead,” he told BBC 5 Radio. “They’ve been great.”

Score Big With Your Friends: Click To Share (Photos by Adam Mooy)

Amazing Turnaround as Saudi Leader Denounces Conservative Clerics in Push for Progressive Future

By
McKinley Corbley
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Saudi Arabia has made leaps in recent months to catch up with the modern world – and now, the kingdom’s representatives are pushing away from their conservative roots in a dramatic fashion.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced yesterday that he would be taking a direct stance against the kingdom’s puritanical religious clerics and pushing for a more “moderate Islam”.

“We want to live a normal life. A life in which our religion translates to tolerance, to our traditions of kindness,” said the prince at an economic forum in Riyadh.

RELATED: Saudi Arabia’s Next Revolution: Female Taxi Drivers

“Seventy percent of the Saudi population is under 30, and honestly we will not spend the next 30 years of our lives dealing with destructive ideas. We will destroy them today and at once,” he added.

The 32-year-old Crown Prince, who is next in line to be Saudi Arabia‘s king, is one of the first major political figures to directly denounce the country’s regressive religious nature. In an interview with the Guardian, the prince explained how the nation’s harmful conservatism is mostly a result of the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

MORE: Saudi Woman Defies Driving Ban to Save Man’s Life

“What happened in the last 30 years is not Saudi Arabia. What happened in the region in the last 30 years is not the Middle East,” bin Salman told the Guardian. “After the Iranian revolution in 1979, people wanted to copy this model in different countries, one of them is Saudi Arabia. We didn’t know how to deal with it. And the problem spread all over the world. Now is the time to get rid of it.”

During this year alone, bin Salman has been lauded for passing legislation that will allow women to drive, as well as seek healthcare and education without a man’s permission.

In addition to the denouncement of extremism and female oppression, bin Salman has pushed for more development in the tourism and entertainment industries as a means of steering away from oil dependency.

CHECK OUT: 20 Women Elected in Saudi Arabia as Females Vote for the First Time

Saudi Arabia, which is ranked as one of the world’s top crude oil exporters, also recently launched a $50 billion initiative to phase out fossil fuels in favor of renewable energy.

The country plans on harnessing 10 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2023 by constructing several wind and solar plants throughout the nation. The initiative will not only be economically beneficial for the nation’s residents, but will also help curb Saudi Arabia’s main federal income away from crude oil, as well as help the country meet worldwide sustainable energy goals.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by U.S. Department of State)

Best Canine Costumes of the Year in Halloween Dog Parade

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Good News Network
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A post shared by Sprout (@brussels.sprout) on

If you’re in need of some ghoulish inspiration for a Halloween costume, we have just the ticket.

New York City played host to its 27th annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade this weekend – and the costumes were pawsitively adorable.

 

A post shared by Rick Van Benschoten (@oxdad) on

CNN has called the East Village event “the largest dog costume parade in the world”.

 

Over 25,000 humans and 500 puppers gathered together at the park all dressed to the nines in their spooky getups.

 

A post shared by Matthew Guss (@matthewguss) on

Since canine contestants in the costume contest had the chance to win tickets to see “Hamilton” on Broadway, the competition was stiff.

 

A post shared by 3doodler (@3doodler) on

The pooches did not disappoint. And the grand prize winner went to a pup who was strutting his stuff in a New York City double decker site-seeing bus.

 

Well done, doggos! You all looked boooooo-tiful.

 

(WATCH the video below)

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Child Labor Rates Cut By Almost Half, Millions More Children Get a Childhood

By
McKinley Corbley
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Yet another positive trend has emerged from around the world: since child labor rates have plummeted by almost half since the turn of the millennium, more and more kids are getting an education and enjoying their childhood instead.

According to new data from the International Labor Organization, child slavery has dropped from 250 million in 2000 to 152 million in 2016 – roughly a 40% decline. The number of children working in hazardous sections dropped by half, and rates also declined seen across all child labor sectors, including agriculture, industry, factory, and trafficking.

Additionally, children who are freed from modern slavery are more likely to get an education and enjoy their childhoods.

MORE: South African Child ‘Virtually Cured’ of HIV After 1 Year of Treatment

The report was created in collaboration with Alliance 8.7, a global partnership dedicated to taking “immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms”.

The U.S. Department of Labor stated that out of 135 countries that were surveyed on their child labor rates, 61% showed “moderate” to “significant” advancement. The regions that showed the most improvement was Northern Africa with 75% showing improvement, and Brazil, which showed 69% improvement.

CHECK OUT: Obama Quietly Signs Ban on Products Made by Children and Slaves

The organization says that the decline in child slavery and trafficking is largely credited to countries adopting firmer legislation against child labor, providing adequate funding for enforcement, and encouraging more efficient labor inspections.

While certain events – such as the Syrian War – have slowed the crackdown on child labor in more recent years, the shift in global attitude and enthusiasm is cause for optimism.

RELATED: J.K. Rowling Uses Her Fame For Good, Launching Lumos Nonprofit in US

“The dynamic picture indicates that we are moving in the right direction. Child labor declined during the period from 2012 to 2016, continuing a trend seen since the publication of the ILO’s first global estimates of child labor in 2000,” says the organization.

“Real advances have been made in the fight against child labor, providing an important foundation for efforts moving forward.”

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by UNICEF)

Watch What Happens When 13-Year-old Forgets Words to National Anthem While Nervous at the Mic

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Good News Network
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What happened to Lauralie Mufute on Friday night is some people’s worst nightmare – but thankfully, she had an enthusiastic audience to help her out.

The 13-year-old was singing the national anthem before an NHL game between the New Jersey Devils and the San Jose Sharks when she forgot the words to one of the verses.

RELATED: Canadian Crowd Belts Out U.S. National Anthem When Mic Fails

The New Jersey youngster had just sung “whose bright stripes and bright stars” when she stopped – evidently struggling to remember the stanza.

She restarted the lyric again in hopes that it would come to her, only to falter once more.

Then, the crowd of 14,000 hockey fans packed inside the Newark Prudential Center came to her rescue and joined in for a rousing rendition of the last verse.

WATCH: Overjoyed 11-Year-Old Jumps Into Woman’s Arms After Learning She’ll Be Adopted

After she and the audience belted out the last few bars, Lauralie can be seen giving everyone an appreciative smile for the assistance.

“I was thrown off,” she told Inside Edition. “I’m glad the people in the stadium joined in and helped me sing and we continued to the end.”

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share With Your Fellow Friends In The Land Of The Free

Clean Water Lands in Puerto Rico Thanks to Solar-Powered Filtration

By
McKinley Corbley
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Since Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico back in September, the island nation has been struggling to recover – but though the process is slow and arduous, businesses and celebrities alike are offering up their own resources to help in the territory’s healing.

More importantly, this organization is ensuring that the territory’s residents have the most vital resource of all: clean water.

The Pure Foundation, a nonprofit charity that helps give communities access to clean drinking water, is distributing emergency Waterbox filtration systems across Puerto Rico.

CHECK OUT: Google Company to Restore Cell Coverage to Puerto Rico With 30 Flying Balloons

The Waterbox is a solar-powered, military-grade water filtration that can clean thousands of gallons of water. Pure Foundation volunteers spent a week on the island earlier this month and distributed Waterbox systems to several of the Boys and Girls Club facilities on the island.

The 12 Boys and Girls Clubs of Puerto Rico locations have served as community distribution points for food, water, and resources since the hurricane hit.

MORE: Elon Musk Says He Can Fix Puerto Rico’s Energy Crisis

This is not the first major outreach effort conducted by the Pure Foundation, either – back in 2016, the organization traveled to Flint, Michigan and installed dozens of Multipure drinking water systems throughout the Boys and Girls Club locations in the region. They also repaired and replaced much of the damaged plumbing that had been corroded by contaminants in the water supply.

Jennifer Rice, the executive vice president of the Pure Foundation, says that she and her team of volunteers are already planning a second outreach trip to Puerto Rico with the hopes of distributing even more Waterbox systems to the rest of the island.

RELATED: Celebrity Chef Brings 45,000 Meals to Puerto Rico—and Won’t Stop There

“We are currently in the process of scheduling our relief team’s next trip to Puerto Rico,” Rice told Good News Network. “We are hoping to be back on the island in 2-3 weeks or as quickly as logistics permit.”

“Getting flights booked, figuring out how to move lots of cargo with only 3 individuals, finding hotels willing to accept new guests and arrange funding with limited ground communication all bring their unique sets of challenges… but we conquered them once and we are just as committed, if not more so, to conquering them a second time.”

(CHECK OUT footage of the group’s trip to Flint, Michigan in the video below)

Power Up With Positivity: Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by The Pure Foundation)

Guy Photoshops Himself as an Adult into His Childhood Photos– and the Results are Adorable

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Good News Network
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Conor Nickerson knows that he had a great childhood – but when he tries to remember details about birthday parties and family gatherings, his memory gets a little fuzzy. The 20-year-old college student would look at old photos of himself and wish that he could revisit all those fond childhood events.

 

While Nickerson could not actually go back in time, he used a little Photoshop to take another kind of trip down memory lane.

 

The Massachusetts photographer used the editing software to place pictures of himself as an adult into photos of himself as a child.

 

The older and younger counterparts can be seen playing music together, dressing up for Halloween, hanging out in the garden, and enjoying the weather at their New England home.

 

“Looking at these times makes me feel fortunate that I had a good childhood,” Nickerson told TODAY Parents. “I know it’s a privilege that not everybody gets growing up.”

Additionally, Nickerson says that his parents were incredibly moved by the sweet series.

 

“They thought it was pretty wild,” said Nickerson. “It was emotional for them, too, because, as they put it, I grew up really fast.”

Click To Share This Sweet Series With Your Friends (Photos by Conor Nickerson)

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