In Iowa City, Iowa, a cop told a drunken man to get lost. The 21-year-old said the officer looked like he needed a hug. The cop warned him off. But even though it caused his arrest, Luke Schreder bravely gave that hug. (Thanks to NPR’s Morning Edition for this news tidbit!)
Final Day of UN Event Sparks Endorsement of 11 Treaties
Against the backdrop of this year’s 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a UN gathering last week promoted universal participation in treaties and international pacts. On the final day of the event, six Member States undertook nine treaty actions by signing or ratifying separate conventions, agreements, treaties and optional protocols.
Donors Pledge $6.1 Billion to Climate Change Funds
Industrialized countries pledged more than $6.1 billion on Friday to international investment funds aimed at helping developing countries adopt cleaner technologies and mitigate growth in greenhouse gas emissions, the World Bank said. These included 10 countries — Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland Britain and the United States. (Full story in Reuters News)
Renewable Energy Tops 10% of Domestic U.S. Energy Production
According to the latest “Monthly Energy Review” issued by the U.S. Energy Information Administration this week, renewable energy accounted for more than 10% of the domestically-produced energy used in the United States in the first half of 2008. (Full story in SustainableBusiness.com)
Honda to Sell Hybrid Motorcyles In Two Years
Honda Motor Co. will start selling hybrid motorcycles as early as the mid-2010s, and with smaller electric motorcycles coming out as early as 2011, the automaker has announced. The move is part of Honda’s efforts to cope with rising gasoline prices and global warming by applying its 4-wheeled hybrid and battery technology to motorcycles. (The Mainichi Daily News)
Hamas Releases Prisoners as Goodwill Gesture
Hamas security forces in Gaza released 35 members of the rival Fatah movement from prison on Sunday as a goodwill gesture to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Diving Into a New Smithsonian Era
The new Ocean Hall at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History opened Saturday, the largest renovation in the museum’s century-long history and a transformation of its largest exhibition space.
This latest Smithsonian offering in Washington, D.C. is dedicated to 71 percent of the Earth’s surface, it’s history and its importance in contemporary society. In addition to marine-life specimens and models, the new hall features eight high-definition video screens towering along the ceiling to submerge the visitors in an underwater panorama.
Wine Industry Intent on Truly Going Green
The wine industry is making a concerted effort to adopt environmentally responsible practices, according to two UC Davis surveys of wine industry professionals and executives.
At the annual Wine Industry Financial Symposium in Napa, Calif. this week, Robert Smiley, professor and director of wine studies in the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, said that growers and vintners both were actively engaged in environmentally friendly business activities, such as package redesign, use of biodiesel fuel, wastewater reclamation and developing “green” building plans.
Reach Your Peak: 5 Tips to Pump Up Your Happiness (w/ Video)
Marci Shimoff, author of Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out, gives Donnie Deutch five tips for achieving success: Start with happiness first; Don’t believe every thought in your head; Follow a power formula that ends with, “Make it a habit to relax”; Let your passion lead; and, Stay away from naysayers and people with negative emotions — spending more time with people who are courageous and support you in your dreams.
Remembering Paul Newman: Actor, Racer, Philanthropist 1925-2008 (w/ Video)
Hollywood screen legend Paul Newman died Friday of cancer at the age of 83.
Newman, known for his piercing blue eyes, boyish good looks and stellar performances in scores of hit Hollywood movies, also gave away more than $250 million to charity, proceeds from the sale of his Newman’s Own salad dressings, popcorn and cookies.
Founded on a lark by Paul Newman and his buddy A.E. Hotchner in 1982, Newman’s Own, Inc., has grown into a powerful company that donates to thousands of charities worldwide. Most predominately it provides the funding for the Hole in the Wall Camps, summer getaways for children with life-threatening illnesses, which Paul started over 20 years ago.
Wal-Mart to Cut Global Plastic Shopping Bag Waste
Wal-Mart Stores committed to reduce its global plastic shopping bag waste by an average of 33 percent per store by 2013. This is expected to eliminate more than 135 million pounds of plastic waste globally. To help reach this goal, Wal-Mart will reduce the number of bags given out by its stores, encourage the use of reusable bags and give customers the ability to continue recycling plastic shopping bags. The announcement was made at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting.
On Texas Prairie, Wind Power is Resurgent, Boosting Economy
Today, West Texans love the wind!
Wind farms are transforming the rural area’s economy as well as its treeless horizon, while delivering electricity to nearby cities. (Full story in Reuters news)
$4.5 Billion Pledged to Send Kids to School
A coalition of governments, charities and U.N. agencies pledged $4.5 billion on Thursday in an effort to get all the world’s children in school by 2015. (Associated Press via MSNBC )
Sahara Solar Scheme Could Power Poor West Africa
West African legislators worried by climate change and soaring energy costs want regional leaders to back plans to harness sun and wind energy that experts say could bring electricity to some of the poorest people on earth. ‘We have the natural resource—enough sunshine that can supply our total power requirements,’ an energy expert on the Ghana parliament told Reuters. (Full story on Reuters)
Anti-Poverty Summit Raises $16 Billion- $3 Billion for Malaria (with Video)
Despite current financial woes, a UN summit called to rev up the war on global poverty raised a total of roughly 16 billion dollars, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said. “We have full commitment from many countries in pledges to help the world’s poor.”
On the malaria front, participants committed around three billions dollars for a program to save more than 4.2 million lives between 2008 and 2015. (Thanks to Bill F. for the news tip)
Fast Food Operator Kicks In $80 Million to Help Feed Schoolchildren
Lunches for over 200 million hungry schoolchildren in the developing world will be delivered, thanks to a commitment of $80 million by leading restaurant company YUM! Brands.
The pledge to the UN World Food Program was made during the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in New York, which coincides with the UN high-level event on the Millennium Development Goals– the eight targets for slashing poverty, hunger, illiteracy and other socio-economic ills by 2015.
Josette Sheeran, the chief of YUM! Brands, the parent firm of TACO Bell, Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken, said, “This incredible expression of generosity shows what can be done when the private sector joins with a major humanitarian agency to help meet the needs of some of the world’s most vulnerable children.”
Tiny Remote Controlled Planes Move Blood Samples From Remote Villages (Video)
Tiny remote spy planes used during wartime have now been modified to transport medical samples to and from remote areas. Watch this from New Scientist
Chrysler Joins Electric Car Race – What are the Standings?
Automakers in the US led by General Motors and Toyota are racing to bring rechargeable electric cars to the mass market in response to increasing customer and regulatory demands for improved fuel economy and low emissions, reported Reuters. “On Tuesday, Chrysler unveiled three electric car prototypes and said it would bring one to market by 2010.” Reuters provides in this article a neat rundown on electric vehicle progress at each of the six major automakers in the U.S.
McCartney Lights Candle for Peace in West Bank (w/ Video)
Beatles star, Sir Sir Paul McCartney makes a surprise visit to the West Bank and lights a candle for peace “for all the people in the world, but especially for Israel and Palestine.” McCartney will play his first ever concert in Israel today, on the occasion of the Jewish state’s 60th birthday.
(Below the video, read the story about preparations for the concert)
Thanks to Bill F. for the news tip!
Colombia Making Citizens Safer, Reintegrating Former Terrorists
Colombia’s citizens have shed their fear and have more confidence in the State, thanks to the consolidation of democracy and security following years of fear imposed by terrorists, the South American nation’s President said yesterday at the UN General Assembly.
Over two-thirds of the 60,000 terrorists who had “ravaged the country at the start of the new administration” have turned their back on criminal activity and are taking part in a reintegration program, said Colombia’s president Álvaro Uribe Vélez.
