"The Charlottesville City Council has approved a $30,515 grant to continue a Bullying Prevention Program." (DailyProgress.com) Thanks to Andrew for the link.
China Efforts to End Pollution Brings Huge Business Chances
"China has pulled down 253 outdated coal-fired power generator units across the country during the first nine months of this year." This and other actions to improve the environment and energy efficiency in China may yield a whopping $300 billion in business opportunities in the next five years. (People’s Daily) Thanks, Andrew!
Vacuum Cleaner Salesman Donates Kidney to Would-Be Customer
A traveling salesman who tried to sell a Kirby vacuum to a family in Twin Falls, Idaho, ended up, instead, donating his kidney. He calls it “a miracle” that he feels so good. (The Olympian) Thanks to Andrew for the link!
$6 Million to Stray Dog Relief in Taiwan
A Taiwanese businessman will donate $6 million over the next three years to a relief program that cares for stray animals. The fund will be used to ramp up neutering campaigns to reduce the number of stray animals, while providing better medical treatment for the homeless animals. (China Post ) Thanks, Andrew!
David Koch Donates $100M for Cancer Research
Koch Industries executive, David Koch, is giving the MIT a $100 million gift to fund a new cancer research facility to open in 2010. (Wichita Eagle ) Thanks to Andrew for the link.
New Prototype Wellness Phone Gives Fitness Check
A new Japanese mobile phone will tell you when you’re not getting enough exercise, eating too many calories, even measuring bad breath, advising you with a pep talk to take care. (Video)
MS Patient Finds Therapy and Purpose Carving Canes
Mike Hunter, 56, was diagnosed with MS and had to quit working due to weakened legs. He’s found a new purpose, however, after carving himself a cane — he didn’t like the store-bought ones — and deciding to donate hundreds of them, each one different, to other patients like himself. (Seattle P-I) Thanks to Andrew for the link!
Couples Trade in Historic Kidney Swap
"Two married couples give EACH OTHER a kidney in Britain’s first transplant between strangers" (BBC) Thanks, Andrew!
Super Foam Inventor Gets Whacked by a Shovel to Prove a Point (Video)
"A new super foam promises to protect athletes from impact and its inventor proved the point by taking a full force shovel hit to the head." Great Video from SkyNews…
Ease Bullying at School with Computer Role-Play Game
“Researchers have developed an interactive role-play game which helps children to cope with bullying at schools. Currently over 1,000 children all over Europe are part of pilot studies to explore the impact that the software may have in the reduction of bullying among pupils.” (ScienceDaily) Thanks, Andrew!
Need an Emergency Number? Apply ICE
When Dale Cupp accidentally shot himself recently, emergency personnel were able to locate his wife and mother because Cupp had put their names in his cell phone address book as "mother" and "wife". ICE stands for In Case of Emergency, and rescue workers want everyone to program ICE numbers into their mobile phones.
Cell Phone Revolution Eases Burdens in Haiti, Caribbean
In a country where most people live without paved roads, running water or even electricity, there’s one modern convenience that more than a quarter of the people are enjoying: a cell phone. Cell phones are connecting Haitians in unheard-of ways, touching their lives and bringing convenience to those used to hard living.
Art Students Inventing Device to Save Lives
"The London bombings of 2005, which left 56 dead and 800 injured, shocked a group of graduates so much that they decided to invent a device to save lives — the tongue sucker." (BBC) Thanks, Andrew!
Wetlands Restored After Centuries of Coastal Farming
England is again turning the clock back hundreds of years by dismantling a second sea wall to restore saltwater marshes that once was home to wading birds like the spoonbill, stilt and plover. (BBC) Thanks, Andrew!
Clean-Air Rule Targets Existing Diesel Truck Fleet in CA
A new air cleanup rule approved Sept. 27 forces faster replacement of the dirtiest trucks on the road: the thousands of diesel-powered big rigs that together make Los Angeles the most polluted city in the US. (CS Monitor) Thanks to S. Ghent for the link.
Find Your Life’s Purpose With Our Great Mentors Tele-Seminar Today!
Join me for a live Great Mentors tele-seminar with best-selling author, Debbie Macomber. The subject will be her new book, "Knit together: Discover God’s Pattern For Your Life". Debbie is full of advice and tips for helping you to achieve your dreams, following in her footsteps to success. The call is free (long distance charges may apply) and we’ll be taking your questions during the 60 minute seminar, which begins at 4PM EST. Playback of the recorded seminar is also available for free over the next weeks allowing you to be mentored at your leisure. Dial-in information is available to all subscribers of my free newsletter. Details here!
Organic Cotton Sales Double
According to the Organic Farm and Fiber Report 2007, organic cotton sales rose 53 per cent in a two-year period, driven by demand from the clothing and home product industries.
Saving the World One Handbag at a Time
Celebrities are at the forefront of the green living movement endorsing hybrid cars, making films that create environmental awareness, and, lately, embracing eco-fashion. New York’s recent Fashion Week featured “green” fabrics as well as vintage and recycled clothing, and it’s no surprised that Hollywood celebrities are now toting environmentally-friendly handbags. Eva Longoria, Heidi Klum, America Ferrara, Kate Walsh and Serena Williams have purchased “Rebagz”, colorful bags in a variety of shapes and sizes made from recycled juice pouches and nylon rice bags.
Rebagz is the brainchild of Marty Stevens-Heebner, a human-rights worker from Buffalo, N.Y. and graduate of Cornell University. Her idea for an eco-friendly fashion company was inspired by her meeting with a group of women creating woven products with recycled juice packs. She knew she could provide fair trade prices for the women and ensure that the workers who made her bags would be operating under good working conditions.
The bright Rebagz™ products currently come in two different lines. The woven line is made from recycled juice packs that are cut into strips and woven together to create vivid visual patterns. These feature tote, shoulder or shopping bags and mini-bags, that can be used for cosmetics, phones or worn on the wrist.
The nylon rice bag line includes bags that can fit a laptop, or smaller pouches that are lightweight and good for traveling. The eye-catching designs bear logos from rice bags used in the Philippines, which are made to capture attention within the competitive marketplace.
Stevens-Heebner sells Rebagz™ through Poshmark and Amazon. Prices range from $24 to $90.
Photo: Poshmark
Macy’s Back-to-School Promotion Raises Record $2.5M for Reading Program
Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), the nation’s oldest and largest children’s and family literacy organization, announced that a six-week promotion held at all Macy’s stores has raised a record $2.5 million, which will be used to fund new books for underserved children in a multicultural literacy campaign.
Iron Man Completes 13-Year Human-Powered World Trip
British adventurer Jason Lewis on Saturday arrived in Greenwich, south-east London, ending a 13-year round-the-world trip using only the power of the human body. Thanks to Danelle for the tip. (Video and text)
