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Home Weatherizing Program Creates Jobs, Saves Low-Income Families $400 a Year

By

Center for American Progress

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Oct 4, 2011

insulation-foam-soy-based

With all the focus on Solyndra and the attacks on green jobs from the Right, the mainstream media have completely overlooked the explosive success of the weatherization assistance program (WAP) funded almost exclusively by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, say Jorge Madrid and Adam James, from the Center for American Progress.

“By the end of ARRA’s three-year lifespan next March, the WAP will almost double the number of homes upgraded in the first year of the program — bringing the total number of energy efficiency projects to 720,000.

“Not only has the WAP created jobs desperately needed in the construction industry, it also provides a boost for American manufacturing and small businesses.

Home Weatherizing Program Creates Jobs, Saves Low-Income Families $400 a Year

Most Popular

By

Center for American Progress

-

Oct 4, 2011

insulation-foam-soy-based

With all the focus on Solyndra and the attacks on green jobs from the Right, the mainstream media have completely overlooked the explosive success of the weatherization assistance program (WAP) funded almost exclusively by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, say Jorge Madrid and Adam James, from the Center for American Progress.

“By the end of ARRA’s three-year lifespan next March, the WAP will almost double the number of homes upgraded in the first year of the program — bringing the total number of energy efficiency projects to 720,000.

“Not only has the WAP created jobs desperately needed in the construction industry, it also provides a boost for American manufacturing and small businesses.

Mother of Amish Shooter Cares for Son’s Victims

By

Religion News Service

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Oct 3, 2011

Amish buggy in Lancaster PA, by Utente-TheCadExpert GNU

Five years ago, her 32-year-old son Charlie Roberts shot 10 Amish schoolgirls before turning the gun on himself.

“Not only was my son not alive, he was the perpetrator of the worst crime anyone could ever imagine,” Terri Roberts said.

After the shooting, press reports made public the remarkable compassion of the Amish community as it embraced the gunman’s family with forgiveness.

Solar Home Industry Shining in Maryland and Other States

By

Good News Network

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Oct 3, 2011

photo of home off the grid - EarthShip.com

With government help in the form of tax credits and grants, with companies making equipment available through long-term leases, and with prices coming down, the solar industry is seeing steady and continued growth.

Nationwide, installations drawing power from the sun have grown by 69 percent in the last year.

Operation Smile Video: Girl Sees New Smile for First Time

By

Good News Network

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Oct 3, 2011

Operation Smile patient in Brazil -video screenshot

A little Brazilian girl born with a cleft palate often hid her face behind a doll.

But 24 hours after Operation Smile’s life-changing surgery, a cameraman turned around the viewfinder, to let her see her new smile for the first time.

Her lip is still swollen and painful but the amazement in her eyes when she sees her new face is unmistakable.

WATCH the video below. Donate to help more kids get new smiles: www.operationsmile.org/donate

Stanford Operates a Design School for World-Changers

By

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Oct 3, 2011

Stanford School of Design pushes collaboration - d. school photo

In the quest to develop practical solutions to the world’s problems, this school doesn’t really have classrooms. Instead, there are clusters of discussion and activity. Its walls are covered in massive sheets of white paper, design sketches, and countless Post-it notes.

At the Stanford Institute of Design, public-policy wonks mix with computer scientists, engineers, and med students all pushing each other to innovate. The program measures success by how its students improve lives in the developing world.

(READ the article in CS Monitor)

Ironworkers Paint Names on Beams for Children in Hospital Windows

By

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Oct 2, 2011

beams with names painted by ironworkers

Looking out of the windows of Seattle Children’s hospital, patients eagerly search for new names painted on steel beams by union workers constructing a 7-story building across the street.

It all started a few weeks ago when one of the ironworkers painted a beam in tribute to a teenager who had died at the hospital, and whose father was a friend of the construction worker.

After that, other workers who knew of children being treated at the hospital painted those names on the beams: “Hi, Dede.” “Hi, Zac.” “Hey, Kyle.”

And then, “it went viral.”

Young patients who wanted their names on the beams put signs in their windows for the workmen to see, and checked back daily to see which names went up next, with the count now at some 50 names.

(WATCH the video below, or READ the story in the Seattle Times)

Ironworkers Paint Names on Beams for Children in Hospital Windows

Most Popular

By

-

Oct 2, 2011

beams with names painted by ironworkers

Looking out of the windows of Seattle Children’s hospital, patients eagerly search for new names painted on steel beams by union workers constructing a 7-story building across the street.

It all started a few weeks ago when one of the ironworkers painted a beam in tribute to a teenager who had died at the hospital, and whose father was a friend of the construction worker.

After that, other workers who knew of children being treated at the hospital painted those names on the beams: “Hi, Dede.” “Hi, Zac.” “Hey, Kyle.”

And then, “it went viral.”

Women Small Businesses Owners are Optimistic, in a Mood to Hire

By

Good News Network

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Oct 2, 2011

Margery Kraus, CEO of Apco, from World Economic Forum

Despite the very real challenges that keep many small-business owners cautious, a recent survey of the Women Presidents’ Organization showed that these women-owned businesses (with annual revenues of at least $50 million) are optimistic.

Indeed, 50% of those surveyed indicated they are not only more optimistic about the economy than they were a year ago but that they plan on hiring and making capital investments between now and the end of the year. And 60% of respondents plan on expanding into new markets.

Tunisia Kicks off First Election Campaign Since Uprising‎

By

Good News Network

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Oct 2, 2011

libyan-flags-rebels-BRQ-photo-Flickr-cc

Today marks the start of a landmark election campaign, the first in Tunisia since the revolt in January that toppled a dictator and inspired similar movements in Egypt and Libya.

81 political parties will be campaigning in a country where more than 90 percent of the vote used to be awarded to just one.

Biker Thug Becomes Unlikely Hero to Many

By

Good News Network

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Oct 1, 2011

Machine Gun Preacher movie clip

When the former drug addict and biker thug, Sam Childers, (along with his former stripper wife) got a hold of some old-time religion, he became an unlikely hero to over a thousand children in war-torn Sudan.

The gun-toting, motorcycle-riding preacher, is now the subject of the new movie “Machine Gun Preacher” starring Gerard Butler.

As told in the film, Childers travels to Sudan with a church group in the late 1990s. When he meets children whose homes have been razed, parents killed and siblings abducted, Childers decides to help in any way he can.

(READ the story from the Daily Caller)

Six Days After Driver Plunges Off Cliff, Kids Find Dad

By

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Oct 1, 2011

Ravine fallen dad - MSNBC video clip

A 67-year-old man found alive six days after his car plunged 200 feet off a mountain road built a makeshift camp, ate leaves and drank water from a nearby creek to survive, when he couldn’t climb the ravine with his injuries.

His kids tried to retrace his route this week.

‘We stopped at every ravine, and looked over every hill…the next thing we heard Dad saying ‘help, help,’ and there he was,’ his daughter said.

The severity of the situation must have been felt by their dad because another wrecked vehicle from an unrelated accident was smashed at the bottom of the same ravine with a decomposing body inside.

New Scorsese Film on George Harrison Looks Like a Must-see

By

Good News Network

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Oct 1, 2011

George Harrison - Scorsese movie poster

A new three-hour film on the Beatle George Harrison (to be aired in two parts by HBO on Oct. 5 and 6) is one of Martin Scorsese’s most personal documentaries.

What is remarkable in Scorsese’s documentary, something that has become apparent in the decade since George’s death, is the uncanny symmetry of his life—a life lived to the fullest. His saturation in the material world drove him to seek the spirit in things.

“Hero Dog” Awards Honor Top Dogs at Gala Tonight

By

Good News Network

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Oct 1, 2011

service dog, Spirit

After more than 300,000 votes cast by American dog lovers, the top pooches have been elected for the first Hero Dog Awards show tonight in Los Angeles.

Eight top dogs selected after weeks of voting will vie to become the grand prize-winning American Hero Dog.

One dog was chosen in each of these categories:

Multiple Sclerosis Patient Finishes 50th Marathon in 50th State

By

Good News Network

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Sep 30, 2011

Photo by Sun Star

Since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 13 years ago, Patrick Finney of Dallas, Texas has remained unwilling to endure a life of infirmity. With therapy, medication and strong will power, he has followed his dream to run marathons in every state, finishing his 50th on Sunday.

“I am the first person with multiple sclerosis to complete a marathon in all 50 states,” he said triumphantly, in a phone interview with Reuters moments after finishing. “It’s been an amazing journey, and I’m on top of the world.”

Blind Adventurer Regains Some Sight With Experimental Drug

By

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Sep 30, 2011

Arctic adventurer Mike Scholes, adventurer

Within days and without warning, adventure Mike Scholes lost most of the sight in his left eye, due to the onset of an inherited optic condition.

“This meant an abrupt change in my life,” Scholes says. “I had a very successful hot air balloon business, and I had to stop flying. I had to sell my cars as I could no longer drive.”

Germany Hits Impressive Green-power Milestone

By

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Sep 30, 2011

wind turbines (NREL) — American Public Power Association

Green energy sources now account for 20 percent of Germany’s electricity production – a new high. The country aims to be 35 percent green by 2020, with a phase-out of nuclear power completed by 2022.

New figures show the share of renewable electricity sources rising by more than 2 percent in a single year.

Ford Adding 7,000 U.S. Jobs, Says Recovery is Encouraging

By

Good News Network

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Sep 30, 2011

factory-workers-retraining-plant

Ford Motor Co on Thursday stuck to its target of adding 7,000 jobs in the United States over the next two years, saying it sees an economic expansion here and not a double-dip recession.

“In the U.S., we’re still seeing economic expansion,” Alan Mulally, chief executive of the second-largest U.S. automaker, told reporters. “We’re very encouraged by the recovery even though it is slower than in the past.”

In other good news from the economic sector yesterday: Fewer Americans filed new claims for jobless benefits last week than at any time since April, in what could be an encouraging sign for the labor market.

Ford Adding 7,000 U.S. Jobs, Says Recovery is Encouraging

Most Popular

By

Good News Network

-

Sep 30, 2011

factory-workers-retraining-plant

Ford Motor Co on Thursday stuck to its target of adding 7,000 jobs in the United States over the next two years, saying it sees an economic expansion here and not a double-dip recession.

“In the U.S., we’re still seeing economic expansion,” Alan Mulally, chief executive of the second-largest U.S. automaker, told reporters. “We’re very encouraged by the recovery even though it is slower than in the past.”

In other good news from the economic sector yesterday: Fewer Americans filed new claims for jobless benefits last week than at any time since April, in what could be an encouraging sign for the labor market.

Florida Couple Finds Homes for 7,000 Greyhounds Retired From Racing

By

Good News Network

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Sep 29, 2011

greyhound rescuer with adopted dog - CNN video clilp

A retired Florida couple has helped thousands of greyhounds find new homes after the dogs’ racing careers have ended.

In the past 15 years, Dennis and Claire Tyler have driven more than seven thousand dogs across the country bringing them to new homes as adopted pets.

Their Greyhound Pets of America Central Florida goes the extra mile for the breed because there are so many greyhounds retiring in Florida each year.

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