When most people think of farms, they think flat, endless fields of corn or wheat in the heartland of America. Former professional basketball player Will Allen thinks of community centers that opt to grow their own food to cut costs and, maybe later, farming skyscrapers. . . Such vision has earned Allen a $500,000 “genius grant” from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to continue and expand his efforts.
Urban Farmer Sells Affordable Fruits and Veggies, Envisions Skyscraper Farms
Endangered Miss. Frogs Get a Break in the Weather
Five zoos have been able to stave off likely extinction since 1998, but for a change, nature gave a bit of a break to one of the nation’s most endangered species — the Mississippi gopher frog.
The small number left in the wild — fewer than 100 adults — has swelled this year after 181 tadpoles survived, parasite and pond level, to join the others in the forest. (Associate Press story on Physorg.com)
Dogs Greet Soldier Returning Home After 14 Months (Video)
How could you not cry watching this joyous reunion between a soldier and his dogs.
How To Relax About Money, by SARK
Instead of a recession, the artist and poet SARK wishes we would see ourselves as being on a “money recess!” Here is an essay she wrote in 1990 called, How To Relax About Money. Try calling her 24-hour inspirational phone-line if you need more wise words to create “succulent living”… (415) 546-3742.
Her new book, Juicy Pens Thirsty Paper, is for sale
Lighter Colored Homes and Rooftops Could Slow Global Warming
Painting homes a lighter shade does more than save money on A.C. If all urban rooftops in warm climates were white, they could slow global warming by up to 11 years, a new study finds. (Christian Science Monitor)
Credit Crisis Driving Global Cooperation
Government leaders are learning in the face of danger from the global credit crisis that they can pull together with constructive initiatives, and that there is more strength in standing together than in struggling alone. And, if they can save banks, why not the environment? If they can stop the spread of shareholder panic, why can’t they stop the spread of nuclear weapons? (Christian Science Monitor)
– Image courtesy of Sun Star
N. Korea Off Terror Blacklist, Grants Return of UN Inspectors
The US has removed North Korea from its terrorism blacklist after the Asian nation agreed to comply with full inspections of its nuclear facilities. As a result, North Korea has granted the UN atomic watchdog access to its nuclear facilities at Yongbyon, the IAEA said Monday.
‘Electric Oysters’ May Restore New York’s Waters
Solar panels perched atop poles provide a low voltage current that causes a chemical reaction in seawater, building up limestone on the electrified metal. The ready supply of shell-building minerals will help the oysters, decimated here and elsewhere by overharvesting, pollution, and disease, says James Cervino, a professor of marine biology at Pace University in New York City. Oysters need hard surfaces to attach to and access to minerals to form their shells. (Christian Science Monitor )
Bicycle Recyclers Empower NYC Youth, Lighten Landfills
Recycle-a-Bike was founded in 1999 with a straightforward mandate: Repair abused, remaindered, broken, or worn bikes and funnel them back to consumers. But the organization’s youth programs have also become a big draw for students who want the mechanical training. Locations include Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. (Christian Science Monitor)
CNN to Give $100,000 to ‘Hero’ on Holiday Special
This year’s Top 10 CNN Heroes were announced last week. Each will receive $25,000 and be honored during a televised All-Star Tribute airing on Thanksgiving night, culminating in the crowning of Hero of the Year. The top hero will be selected by the public in an online poll, continuing through November 19 at the website, CNN.com/Heroes. The person receiving the most votes will win an additional $100,000.
The Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2008 are:
Tad Agoglia, Houston, Texas —
Ted provides his own volunteer First Response Team to areas hit by natural disasters. In the last year, he and his crew have aided thousands of victims at more than 15 sites across the United States.
Yohannes Gebregeorgis, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia —
Yohannes established Ethiopia Reads to bring free public libraries and literacy programs to thousands of his native country’s children.
Carolyn LeCroy, Norfolk, Virginia —
After serving time in prison, Ms. LeCroy started The Messages Project to help inmates stay in touch with their children. She and volunteer camera crews have taped roughly 3,000 messages from parents to their children.
Anne Mahlum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania —
Anne remembers jogging past homeless men and now she is transforming their lives by running with them as part of her “Back On My Feet” program.
Liz McCartney, St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana —
Liz has dedicated herself to giving back their homes to Hurricane Katrina survivors — more than 120 families, so far — with her nonprofit St. Bernard Project.
Phymean Noun, Toronto, Ontario —
Ms. Noun offers hundreds of Cambodian children who work in Phnom Penh’s trash dump a way out — through free schooling and job training.
David Puckett, Savannah, Georgia —
David provides artificial limbs and braces free of charge to people in Mexico. In the last eight years his mission has helped more than 420 people.
Maria Ruiz, El Paso, Texas —
Several times a week, Maria crosses the border into Juarez, Mexico, to bring food, clothing and toys to hundreds of impoverished children and their families.
Marie Da Silva, Los Angeles, California —
Having lost 14 family members to AIDS, the Los Angeles nanny funds a school in her native Malawi for AIDS orphans.
Viola Vaughn, Kaolack, Senegal —
The Detroit, Michigan, native moved to Senegal to retire, but instead, started a school for hundreds of girls who were falling through society’s cracks. Today, her “10,000 Girls” program helps girls succeed in school and run their own businesses.
Rivers, Plants and Animals Now Have Constitutional Rights
Ecuador has become the first nation in the world to grant constitutional rights to the natural environment. On Sept. 28, the country voted for a new constitution that, among other changes, gives many of the same rights to rivers, forests, plants and animals as it does to people. (From the Green Report, Toronto Globe and Mail)
Clean Energy Act Sets Philippines Up for $3 Billion Savings
Landmark legislation to accelerate use of the vast renewable energy potential in the Philippines through incentives for investors could save the country over $2.9 billion dollars, a study has found. The newly passed Renewable Energy Act assures investors in wind, solar, ocean, hydropower and biomass premium rates in electricity generated from these clean sources.
US Gas Prices Down Nationwide
The average price of regular gas has dropped 35 cents over the past two weeks to $3.31 a gallon. The cheapest gas is in Wichita, Kansas, at $2.79 for a gallon of regular. Analysts say the prices could drop even lower with crude oil prices falling below $80.00 a barrel. (Video below)
50 Years of NASA Innovations Gave Us Easier Life
In celebration of 50 years of NASA, take a look at 50 innovations that, thanks to space exploration, have made our lives better — everything from safer food and the light emitting diode (LED) to cleaner oceans and faster rescues of hikers and mountaineers. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Cancer Sniffing Dog Saves Woman
Scientific evidence has confirmed the ability of dogs to smell cancer. Now, a foster puppy returned the favor to a North Texas woman who rescued the dog from an animal shelter. Peanut sniffed out her cancer and alerted the woman to its location.
World’s First Double-Arm Transplant Recipient Calls ‘Being Whole Again’ Indescribable
Doctors spent 15 hours in July grafting human arms onto the body of 54-year-old farmer Karl Merk, who lost his own just below the shoulder in a farm accident involving a combine six years ago. (Fox News has story/photos — or watch the Video below)
Brad Pitt’s First “Make It Right” Homes Completed in New Orleans
The first homes in Brad Pitt’s Make It Right rebuilding project are complete, some three years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. A 68-year-old grandmother Gloria Guy was on hand to give the actor a big hug. Guy is moving into one of the first of some 150 Make It Right homes planned for a district where levees crumbled after Katrina, unleashing floodwaters that knocked previous homes off their foundations. (Yahoo News has the AP story)
Stem Cell Generation From Ordinary Cells Now Safe
Japanese researchers who invented a way to make powerful stem cells out of ordinary cells say they have now found a safer way to do it. Kyoto University researchers invented a new way to transform ordinary cells into embryonic-like stem cells called iPS cells, using mice and a method they believe can work in people, too.
Puppy Rescued from Well After 3 Hours
A Texas puppy fell into a 75-foot deep well and it took firefighters more than 3 hours to get it out using a pulley system they devised. (Read the story at KLTV or watch video below)
13-year-old Tennis Ace Who ‘Died’ for 15 Minutes… and Survived
An elite 13-year-old athlete who dreamed of becoming the next Andy Murray died for 15 minutes but has miraculously survived. The healthy teenager is one of the youngest people in the UK to have suffered a heart attack and made a complete recovery. (Daily Mail online )
