The Grand Canyon will get a bath Wednesday — literally. The federal government hopes a 60-hour, controlled flood will help revitalize the Colorado River and replenish backwaters for several of the river’s endangered species.” (Photos, audio and story at National Public Radio)
Ugandan Government, Rebels Sign Cease-Fire in Latest Step Toward Peace Deal
Ugandan rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army signed a formal cease-fire with the government on Feb. 24 and are moving toward a March deadline for the final peace deal that would disarm the group, ending an insurgency that has lasted more than two decades and killed thousands. (Original story from the Associated Press, Feb 24) photo-Child Soldiers go back to civilian life in Uganda. More about the March agreements below…
Doctor Takes on Plight of Women Around the Globe
Today is International Women’s Day, which recognizes the contributions of women around the world, like Dr. Helene Gayle, president of CARE, an aid group fighting global poverty in Africa by helping women change their financial circumstances one dollar at a time. (Listen to the radio segment on National Public Radio)
Chinese Worker Survives Death by Meditating
A Chinese man was buried alive in an accident and survived with only little air by calming his mind and slowing his breathing through Buddhist meditation techniques. (UK’s The Daily Telegraph) Thanks to Jessica for the link!
Call for ‘1-year Political Cease Fire’
In the Philippines a call went out from upper levels of government two weeks ago urging politicians to “abandon the politics of hate and go for the politics of hope and progress, where we practice human decency and respect for the dignity of our fellowmen.” It may be just a speech but it sounds encouraging — like that which we are hearing from some US politicians. (GMA news in Manila)
Then I found you
I was just at one of the big news websites and thought “these people make it seem like the end of the world is coming.” Then I found you. – John
Thanks for the good news medicine
Thanks for the good “medicine”! I love the Good News Network: It is helping me become “me”. -Jackie B.
I just needed some good news for a change. Thank you. You’ve taken a bit of the edge off a blue day. -Trevor in Canada
Health Concerns Have Improved
I am just getting into the swing of things after some health concerns. Reading your site daily in the past few months was important for me and a great resource. I am back in fine form, and your site really helps me stay positive and focused on my business. It’s exactly the type of effective positive strategy I teach in my seminars.
– Gisèle Guénard RN BScN MEd, CEO of VisionarEase Inc., visionarease.com
Church Minister uses stories as centerpieces for sermons
I’ve begun using your Good News stories as centerpieces to my Sunday sermons at church. A Christian message is one of “good news’ and our congregants thrive hearing these news items from the real world. It takes our Christian message to a new height.
-Herb Pierson, Crystal Coast Unity Church, Morehead City, NC
Hero Miner to be Godfather of Baby He Saved
“The hero miner who risked his life to save a mother and her baby from raging floodwaters near Rockhampton last week has been asked to be the child’s godfather.” The hero, Mark Pacey, 41, insisted he was not special: “There’s no heroism here, I’m just an average guy.” (Read the inspiring story at Australia’s Courier Mail)
Man Collects Used Medical Equipment to Give to Those in Need
Mack Staley, 74 , was inspired at the dump when he saw a perfectly good wheelchair being discarded by its owners. He got the idea of collecting used medical equipment and giving it to people in need. Now 81, his distribution center in San Rafael, California is called Home Cares Equipment Recyclers.
“Staley, who has been picking up and delivering items in his 1985 Chevy truck for more than six years, said Home Cares received 1,953 items from 281 donors last year alone, and gave out 2,015 items to 393 recipients.”
“People think we’re great,” McConnell said. (See the full story online at Marin Independent Journal)
Thanks to Sapphi S. for sending the link to the Good News Network!
Sailor to Embark on World’s Longest Wave-Powered Voyage
Japanese master sailor and environmentalist Kenichi Horie, who has already sailed the Pacific in a boat he pedalled across, will launch this month a first-of-a-kind trans-Pacific voyage powered only by waves (in a boat made from recycled materials).
Mauritania Fights to End Racism
“Since it gained its independence from France in 1960 Mauritania has struggled with ethnic tension between Arab and Afro-Mauritanians, but a new democratically-elected government is trying to heal the pattern of ethnic division.”
Vatican, Muslim Clerics Lay Groundwork For Landmark Talks
For a second day, Muslim and Catholic leaders sat down at the Vatican in Rome yesterday for talks to pave the way for what some are billing a historic meeting of the faiths later this year. The preparatory talks by five Muslim leaders and five Vatican officials are the result of a Muslim call for dialogue.
Pope Benedict XVI, a German theologian, is known for not being a big fan of airy gatherings that tend to offer little more than empty symbolism. Which is why the meeting in Rome — likely to take place in late spring or summer — is expected to delve into substantial issues, including the use of religion to incite violence. (Thanks to Aroldo Cardoso Jr. in Brazil for submitting the story idea.)
Australian is Saving Whales, Seals and Turtles With Incredible Passion
Rupert Imhoff, a young financier, is an animal rights hero in Australia. Through his online networking against cruelty toward marine animals, he has attracted 135,000 people to the cause.
R.G. reports to the Good News Network that because of Imhoff’s thorough research and keen debating points — along with his utter passion, “He has raised an insane amount of awareness.”
“His database of FAQ’s effectively is rebutting every single pro-whaling argument offered. The man had a vision — a world without whale slaughter — and he has taken action.”
2013 UPDATE: Watch a video of some of his successes…
Dogs to Sniff Out DVD Piracy in Malaysia
In response to pressure from the US movie industry which loses 6 billion dollars per year from pirated sales of DVDs, Malaysia has launched a squad of DVD-sniffing dogs to help root out large caches of illegal disks. (Associated Press has the story )
Unstoppable Nurse Uplifts Africa, One Orphan at a Time
Do you want to travel the world and apply your skills? Consider what Simin Marefat does in Africa. She plans nothing in advance (and has visited 62 countries). Upon her arrival she’d say, ‘I’m a nurse practicing in the United States. I’m here to offer my services.’ And they would put me to work.” (San Francisco Chronicle)
Drew Barrymore Donates $1 Million To UN Anti-Hunger Plans
American actress Drew Barrymore announced that she would donate $1 million to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) to help the agency feed thousands of Kenyan schoolchildren. The personal donation kicks off WFP’s ‘Fill the Cup’ challenge in the US to raise enough funds to help feed 59 million children around the world for a year.
(While in Kenya, Drew met children with HIV to whom the WFP provides medicine and food. Copyright: 2007 WFP/Guillaume Bonn)
175,125 Coats for Those In Need
One Warm Coat, a non-profit organization supporting local coat drives announced that the first ever Warm Coats & Warm Hearts Coat Drive collected 175,125 coats this winter. The partnership between One Warm Coat, ABC’s “Good Morning America” and Burlington Coat Factory has made great strides in achieving the goal of ensuring anyone who needs a coat has one.
Researchers Discover Gene That Blocks HIV
“A team of researchers at the University of Alberta has discovered a gene that is able to block HIV, and in turn prevent the onset of AIDS.” Stephen Barr, a molecular virologist said, “The results are very exciting because they show that our bodies have a gene that is capable of stopping the spread of HIV.” (University of Alberta News) Thanks to Ellen for submitting the link.
