The new government of Nepal has presented its first national budget, which includes the cancellation of debts and a series of monthly allowances for the poorest people. (BBC News has the story) Thanks to Bill F. for the tip!
Farm Aid to Help Farmers Hurt by Ike, Gustav
Farm Aid today announced that initial grants would be made to southern farm and faith-based organizations to support family farmers hardest hit by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav.
“We might not know the full extent of the damage yet, but we do know that family farmers will need our help to rebuild and to get back on the land quickly, growing good food for all of us,” said Farm Aid President Willie Nelson. (Right: Farm Aid board members John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews and Neil Young)
Southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana have been declared federal disaster areas, and initial reports indicate that the damage to agricultural communities is devastating. “Because we’ve been working with folks for 23 years in these rural and agricultural towns, we’re able to deliver immediate support to farmers who have been devastated by Ike and Gustav.”
“In the face of the destruction these hurricanes have caused in Texas and Louisiana, Farm Aid is proud to work with the individuals and organizations that have already stepped up and shown their support for family farmers. Together, we will help these farmers rebuild and protect our source of good food,” said Farm Aid Executive Director Carolyn Mugar.
Farm Aid will grant $7,500 each to Lutheran Social Services of the South, Southern Mutual Help Association, Louisiana Interchurch Conference and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives.
Contributions can be made to Farm Aid’s Family Farm Disaster Fund online at: www.farmaid.org/
Farm Aid’s mission is to build a vibrant family farm-centered system of agriculture in America. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host an annual concert to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family-farmed food. Since 1985, Farm Aid has raised more than $30 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.
India’s Iconic Electric Car gets Volt of Energy
Long before “green” cars became trendy in other parts of the world, a boxy electric two-seater began rolling out of a small factory in Bangalore. Today, scores of Reva electric cars can be seen tootling down Bangalore’s crowded streets with bright colors and their minimalist design. (Reuters News from India)
Swedish Lutheran Church Celebrates 50 Years of Women Priests
The (Lutheran) Church of Sweden is about to mark the 50th anniversary of its decision in 1958 to ordain women as priests, and cathedrals in all of the church’s 13 dioceses are to hold services to celebrate the anniversary. “With our jubilee, we wish to celebrate that the Church of Sweden is a church of equality, and that we can deepen this conviction together in the future,” said the commemoration manager. Source: Ecumenical News International
Cubans Line up for Chance to Use Idle State Land
Thousands of Cubans have lined up to apply for the opportunity to farm idle government plots of land, in a new program devised by the Communist leaders to boost food production. 5,515 Cubans requested farm plots on Wednesday after the program’s start date was move up after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike destroyed much of Cuba’s food production. (AP via MSNBC )
Toyota Joins Climate Group to Cut Corporate Greenhouse Gases
The European branch of the world’s largest car maker, Toyota, became one of six companies to join the Climate Neutral Network (CN Net), a United Nations Environment Program initiative bringing together organizations which pledge to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“The participation of a major company like Toyota is a sign that private companies are increasingly playing their part on the road to a low-carbon society,” said Angela Cropper, the Deputy Executive Director of UNEP. Toyota has sold more than 1.5 million hybrid cars worldwide.
Greener, Cleaner Crude Oil From Algae
A New Zealand company says it has produced the first samples of green crude oil at a commercially competitive price, made from wild algae grown on human sewage.
The biodiesel is extracted from the algae’s natural oils and produces 90 percent less emissions than regular diesel.
(READ the story in the New Zealand Herald)
Norway Pledges Billion Dollars to Save Amazon Rain Forest
Norway’s Prime Minister announced Tuesday that Oslo will donate up to a billion dollars to a Brazilian fund devoted to rescuing the Amazon rain forest. Norway, the first country to pledge money to the fund, will donate as much as $130 million next year.
Medical Breakthroughs Give New Hope Across the Board
Major medical advancements in research this century are transforming diseases and common health problems bringing hope to millions. From alzheimers to glaucoma, MS to migraines, and diabetes to dental crowns, breakthroughs are rapid and real. Here are nine developments set to change the medical landscape this decade.
Opium Cultivation in Afghanistan Drops by a Fifth
Opium cultivation in Afghanistan has gone down by a fifth as compared to last year, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported last month. Thanks in part to good local leadership coupled with a drought, the Afghanistan Opium Survey 2008 showed a 19 percent decrease in opium cultivation to 157,000 hectares, down from a record harvest of 193,000 in 2007.
“Last year the world got hit by a heroin tsunami, almost 700 tons,” noted UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa. “This year the opium flood waters have started to recede.”
3 Billion Africans to Get Broadband
Google is helping develop a system to bring high-speed internet connections to three billion people developing countries in Africa and elsewhere. The service will utilize satellites and is due to begin in 2010. (Read more on BBC News)
Solar Costs to Plummet, Says Executive
GT Solar, which makes equipment used to produce polysilicon and solar products, expects polysilicon prices to fall to nearly one-tenth their current level in 2010 as production capacity comes on line, Chief Executive and President Thomas Zarrella said on Monday. (Reuters News has the story)
Asia Stocks Rebound (with Video) US Stocks, too
Shares largely higher as U.S. stages $85 billion dollar rescue of major insurance company, AIG. Markets cheer the U.S. government effort to avert a worsening financial crisis. (US Stocks Rally, story below video)
An Orphaned Moose Followed Me Home
This sounds like something out of Readers’ Digest, but recently a neighbor went for a walk up Falls Creek (near our home), found a baby moose in some distress in the creek, got him out of the creek, tried to send him on his way, tried to find the mother, but eventually the moose stumbled back into the creek, was rescued again, and followed Jonathon home.
Lottery Windfall for Education in Virgina
The lottery has been funding education in Virginia for 8 years — this year, $455 million in profits going to the public schools. Now, your losing lottery tickets could end up funding your own college education. In a new innovative twist on the popular Match 3 game, you can enter your non-winning ticket numbers by mail, internet or text message in a sweepstakes drawing for one of 20 $50,000 college scholarships established with the Virginia College Savings Plan.
Jolie and Pitt Give Two Million Dollars to Fight Disease in Ethiopia
Superstar couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have donated two million dollars to help children affected by AIDS and tuberculosis in Ethiopia, announced the nonprofit group Global Health Committee (GHC) announced Monday.
Buyers of Low-Fuel Cars Get a Sales Tax Exemption
A new sales tax exemption that encourages Washington car shoppers to choose hybrids and alternative-fuel vehicles will save them an estimated $18.6 million over the next two years. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
Ruling Inspires New Hope For Transgender People
With the decision by Maryland’s highest court last week to block a referendum petition, Montgomery County’s law banning discrimination against transgender people takes effect immediately. The measure, passed by the County Council last year, prohibits discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations to transgender people. (Washington Post)
Quickly Attract Things You Want NOW: New Tool
I am starting to use an incredible new tool for attracting into my life everything I desire for the future — and, quicker than ever.
http://mindmovies.com
It’s like VISUALIZING on STEROIDS!
It feels like any dream can come true now and so easily…. Visualization is a great way to consciously change your mind. Sports stars like Tiger Woods know the power of visualizing in creating the reality you want.
–a successful business
–a happy family
–a deeper spiritual connection
–financial security
–a healthy body
–rewarding friendships
Do you want to change your programming — those LINKS or GROOVES in your brain — so that you
can actually see and ACCEPT new opportunities? This is a wonderful way to do that.
Mind Movie is the name of this cutting edge visualization tool that will help you create the life you want.
Please check out this video for details:
http://mindmovies.com/vid1/?11031
I can’t wait to hear from you once you have made your movie. I might post mine on the Good News Network forums, although they are quite personal (what I want, and what I dream of creating).
With a big good news hug, (and thanks to Sun Star who supplied the photograph)
~ Geri
Cartoonists for Peace
It might not look like it on CNN, but the majority of people who live in the Middle East – Jewish and Arab Israeli citizens along with Palestinians – are rooting for peace. There are dozens of projects bringing Arabs and Jews together to show the positive face of the Middle East: Interns for Peace, Chefs for Peace, Belly Dancers for Peace, bloggers, musicians and even dentists in the name of peace.
One of the latest projects to land in Israel is Cartooning for Peace, founded by famous French political satirist, Jean Plantureux (Plantu). This past June, cartoonists from around the world gathered in Israel and the Palestinian Authority at four simultaneous exhibitions in Ramallah, Bethlehem, East Jerusalem and Holon.
