Presenting the
Top Ten Good News Stories of the Week -- published every weekend . . .
1) Historic Election of Kuwaiti Women Candidates and Women Voters
Kuwaitis voted in parliamentary elections which, for the first time, allowed women to cast ballots and stand as candidates. "It feels like a wedding day," said one Kuwaiti women on her way to the poll. Women made up 28 of the 252 candidates.
(read more)
2) Avocets, Whooping Cranes Hatch for First Time in 100 Years
Last week wildlife officials in Wisconsin celebrated the birth of two whooping crane chicks marking the first time in over 100 years that a whooping crane has hatched in the wild in the Midwest....
In the last 50 years the elegant avocets in England have multiplied from a handful to several hundred pairs. Now, four new chicks in preserved wetlands near downtown London are "drawing gasps of admiration from delighted onlookers"... The Manipur Bush-Quail of India is known to be shy -- and also extinct for nearly 80 years. But a prominent ornithologist made history when he sighted the quail in the bush once again. (
Whoopers... Avocets... Quail...)
3) Dell Offers Free PC Recycling
Dell Computer became the superstar of electronics recycling by announcing Wednesday it will provide everyone in the world with free recycling for old Dell PCs. It will even provide free collection service right to your doorstep.
(read more)
4) World's Second Richest Man to Give Away Fortune
Warren Buffett, the world's second richest man - who's now worth $44 billion - will start giving away 85% of his wealth in July - most of it to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is focused on world health -- eradicating diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis -- and on improving U.S. libraries and high schools.
(comment and link)
5) US Presbyterians Urge Medicinal Use of Marijuana
The Presbyterian Church has become the seventh major religious organization in the United States to support the use of medical marijuana, an issue expected to come before the US House of Representatives during the week. "It is unconscionable that seriously ill patients can be arrested for making an earnest attempt at healing by using medical marijuana with their doctors' approval," said the Rev. Lynn Bledsoe in a statement issued by the Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative. (read more)
6) HERO Youth Ambassadors Serve African Orphans and Schools Hit by AIDS
The HERO campaign strives to better the lives of children who have been orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. This week it launched its HERO Youth Ambassador Program by bringing 12 teens to Namibia and South Africa to spend a month building classrooms and installing kitchens for in-schools feeding programs. Cross-cultural sharing of art, music, and sports with their African peers will break down barriers, dispel stereotypes and develop understanding. (read more)
7) States Demand Clean Air, Adopt California's Greenhouse Gas Limits
More states are saying the EPA doesn't go far enough in forcing the car makers to raise emission standards in their new models. State politicians want cleaner air and are trying to force carmakers to provide it. Last week, Massachusetts joined Oregon, Connecticut and five other states in adopting California's tough greenhouse gas rules, which limit the amount of carbon dioxide and other gases that can be emitted from vehicle tailpipes. (read more)
8) Study Shows Laughter Reducing Heart Disease Risk
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore have shown that laughter is linked to healthy functioning of blood vessels. The magnitude of benefit observed in the study was similar to that produced by aerobic activity. Given the results, it is conceivable that laughing may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. (read more)
9) Afghan Rapper Wins Fans with Message of Peace
Modern music was banned in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Now one young man donning baseball cap and shades is introducing hip hop to the people and winning fans with a message of national pride and peace.
(read more)
10) NYC Courtesy Tops the World, Survey Says
Readers Digest conducted a survey in big cities to see if courtesy was dead. Are people really more rude than they were 20 years ago? The Digest sent reporters into retail establishments in 35 countries to see how many would hold the door, help them pick up papers dropped by accident, say 'thank you' to their customers. The results were shocking, but delightful.
(read more)
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