Here are the
Top Ten Good News Stories of the Week -- published every weekend...
1) Schools Replace Gangs in Haiti's Worst Slum -Books are replacing bullets as the primary focus for children in some of Haiti’s worst slums, where, for years, gunmen have ruled the streets allowing no aid workers inside. Scores of thousands of youngsters have finally returned to school and more than 68,000 children are being provided with basic learning materials like these backpacks. (pictured at right) (
Civics)
2) Free Yale Courses Offered on Web in Video - "Yale University said last week it will offer digital videos of some courses on the Internet for free, along with transcripts in several languages, in an effort to make the elite private school more accessible." (
Civics)
3) Bus Filters Remove Tons of Soot from San Francisco Air - Residents can breathe easier as the city nears completion of a historic and cost-effective program to clean up the exhaust from some 1,700 diesel buses. High tech filters are removing 50 tons of harmful particulate matter every year. (
Earth )
4) Marriott Hotel Composting 1 Million Pounds Annually in SF - Turning food waste into fertilizer for vineyards in California, the 1,498-room Marriott hotel in San Francisco is diverting as much food waste from landfills as possible. (
Business)
5) NY Subway Crime Dips to Lowest Rate in 37 Years - New York subway crime has plummeted more than 37% this year. That's on top of the decrease in 2005 of about 5 and a half percent.Robberies are down 21% this year. Grand larcenies have declined 46% and assaults have fallen 55%, NYPD data show.
6) New Orleans is Back - When the New Orleans Saints kicked the football to open a game before a nationwide audience Monday night, the moment signaled more than just the re-opening of the Superdome and the largest audience in ESPN history. It was a jumpstart for the city's critical tourism industry, in which the 2006 fall conventions, sporting events and return of cruise ships are long-awaited highlights. (
Civics)
7) Organic Towels, Sheets and Clothes Made from Bamboo - "Bamboo is the hottest new ingredient in everything from flooring to furniture and dishware." Even fashion designers are now using the quick growing plant's fibers to create luxurious new fabrics. Best of all, bamboo is easily grown and renewable without using pesticides. (
Home Life)
8) Teacher Keeps Wealth Secret, Donates $4.3M on Death to Conservancy - An unassuming school teacher in Toronto hid her riches -- gained through shrewd savings and investments in stocks and bonds -- but she always gave large donations to those in need. Now, after her death last year at age 89, she's donated $4.3 million to the Nature Conservancy in Canada, their biggest ever individual gift. (
Inspired! Individuals)
9) Boy Pawns Prized Gun for Grandma, 50 years Later Gets it Back - "As an eight year-old boy, Jackson felt bad that his grandmother was too poor to have a washing machine. So he took the rifle he had earned money for, by mowing lawns and doing other chores, to a pawn shop."... 50 years later the generous grandson got his prized rifle back through a chance encounter. (
Inspired! Individuals)
10) 'Free Hugs' Campaign Video Sweeps Web - This inspiring music video posted on
You Tube last week documents a man giving out "Free Hugs" to strangers on a busy pedestrian street of a big city. The campaign catches people's hearts and amazing things happen - 3:39 (
Inspired!)
Ease your daily anxiety by getting a Daily Dose of positive news at the Good News Network, published by Geri Weis-Corbley (copyright 2006)