Here are the Top Ten Good News Stories of the Week -- published every weekend ...

1)       UK Creates its Largest Wetland to Benefit Birds and Flood-Control
The UK is breaking down a sea wall in Essex to give a wide swath of wetlands back to the birds. The government-funded project costing £7.5m aims to replace bird habitats lost to development by creating the nation's largest area of wetland.
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/content/view/790/124/

2)    Cheap Allergy Drug Found to Cure Malaria in Mice
 "The breakthrough has excited researchers" because the allergy drug found to kill the malaria parasite is "already licensed for use in people", and because it is "no longer under patent, it will be possible to manufacture it at rock-bottom prices.... The drug could save 1 million children in sub-Saharan Africa every year. (link to story-comment on story) http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/content/view/797/32/

3)    Maine Extends Program Giving Laptops to Seventh Graders
 Maine extended its successful laptop program in schools last week announcing a contract for Apple Computers to supply new laptops to more than 30,000 middle school kids and their teachers, and provide wireless internet and service throughout the next four years. Former Gov. King tells what it was like for Maine to start the program, how great are the rewards, and how other states can do the same.
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/content/view/798/34/

4)     Chinese Exercises Benefit Older Adults
In two studies, researchers at the University of Illinois found that healthy seniors who practiced a combination of Qigong and Tai Chi three times a week for six months experienced significant physical benefits after only two months.
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/content/view/786/32/

5)   Congo Militiamen Disarm Ahead of Deadline  
 A "massive disarmament" took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo last week, days before a deadline. Hundreds of militiamen who were fighting in the bush, including at least 18 children surrendered, one explaining it was for the good of his country.
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/content/view/784/34/

6)  Affordable Housing Built by Inmates Teaches Construction Skills
 Community groups in Minnesota concerned with affordable housing are teaming up with groups of prison inmates who want to learn constuction skills while behind bars. They learn roofing skills while supervised on site or build modular homes while inside the prisons. This is the kind of win-win rehabilitation program for convicts (and society) that needs to be replicated across the country. (link to NPR story-comment on story) http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/content/view/781/34/

7)  Chicago Unveils Most Ambitious Bike Plan in US
Chicago has unveiled its new Bike 2015 Plan, designed to make the Windy City the most bicycle-friendly city in the United States. Work has already begun on 75 of the plan’s 150 strategies, including Constructing 10 miles of new bikeways in 2006, to help reach the plan’s goal of a 500-mile bikeway network by 2015. http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/content/view/777/34/

8)     Silicon Valley Scrambles to be First to Produce Sporty Electric Cars
Tesla Motors' goal is to design a sports car that would go as fast as a Ferrari or Porsche — but run on electricity. Their first model, "a sleek two-seater called the Roadster"  will be unveiled next month for prospective buyers in Santa Monica. http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/content/view/788/31/

9)      Buddhists Coexist with Tigers at Sanctuary
A remarkable monastery in Thailand cares for wild animals which are being squeezed off their land by too much development.  A video shows tigers walking next to monks and allowing visitors to pet them, even wrestle with their cubs. The animal senses that the only thing in the minds of the monks is peace.
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/content/view/780/35/

10)     Street Piano Saved by Citizens Fighting Council Ordinance
Their piano was too heavy to haul up the stairs of their new flat so they decided to leave it on the sidewalk for the entertainment of all. They put a sign on it which simply read: "STREET PIANO: feel free to play any time between 9am and 9pm". The neighborhood loved the piano, the Council said it had to go...
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/content/view/809/118/

For a Daily Dose of News to Enthuse -- good news and inspiring stories since 1997 -- Visit the Good News Network, Geri Weis-Corbley, Editor/Publisher (c)2006

Here are the Top Ten Good News Stories of the Week -- published every weekend . . . from Geri

1)     Bush Creates World's Largest Marine Reserve in Hawaii

The Bush Administration announced the creation of a vast nature preserve to protect a chain of remote islands in Hawaii. The new national monument would encompass 140,000 square miles of adjacent seas and be larger than all national parks combined -- an area that would stretch from Chicago to Florida.
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/earth/earth/hawaii_preserve_announced.html


2)    Congress Proposes Farm Animals Receive Humane Treatment

Reps. Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR) made history for farm animals by introducing landmark legislation, The Farm Animal Stewardship Purchasing Act, that would greatly improve the welfare of millions of animals being raised in the meat, egg and dairy industries.
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=684&Itemid=0

3)    EPA Plans to Phase Out Use of Pesticide

AZM, a pesticide commonly used on apples, pears, nuts and other crops will be phased out in the United States after lawsuits and complaints by farm workers and environmental groups forced the EPA to act.
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/home_life/home_life/azm_phaseout.html


4)    Nigeria Signs Accord with Cameroon Ending Border Dispute

The presidents of Nigeria and Cameroon signed an agreement settling a decades-old, sometimes violent, border dispute over the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula following intensive mediation over the weekend by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/civics/civics/bakassi_accord.html

5)   Hope I Die Before I Get Old: Study Finds Older People Happier Than Anticipated

A new study suggests that the rock anthem, My Generation, portrayed a common, yet mistaken, belief: That the happiest days of people’s lives occur when they’re young. Both young and old think that young people are happier than older people — when in fact research has shown the opposite to be true in their lives.
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/home_life/home_life/aging_happiness_study.html

6)  Building With Sewage - Introducing Ecobrique

A French company is winning awards for innovation with its building materials that are made from sewage.  Due to launch in 2007, the process mixes partially dried sewage sludge with clay to create bricks or aggregates such as lightweight concrete.
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/earth/earth/ecobrique_introduced.html

 7)   One Thing You Can do About Global Warming: Sign Up for Wind Power

If you are in Colorado, New Mexico or Minnesota, you can purchase wind energy for your home or office. Visit Xcel Energy's website and sign up. Xcel's Windsource® program is the largest voluntary wind power program in the country. Check your local power company for similar opportunities.
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/earth/earth/inconvenient_truth.html

8)    Wedding Registries for Charity

A growing number of couples who get married later in life find they don't need wedding gifts to furnish their home nor want gifts that provide a more lavish lifestyle. Instead, they are setting up gift registries for charities. http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/home_life/home_life/registries_for_charities.html

9)     Christianity Today Magazine Stands Behind Wiccan Widow

A war widow has asked the US Veterans Administration to engrave a Wiccan religious symbol on her husband's grave. Of 30 symbols approved by the VA -- including one for atheists and humanists -- none is allowed for Wicca. She now fights for inclusion./
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/inspired/religions/whitehead_on_wicca.html

10)   It's A Wonderful Life Tops 100 Most Inspiring Films List

The American Film Institute presented the list of Top 100 Most Inspiring American Films this week. A jury of 1,500 film artists, critics and historians awarded the classic, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, starring James Stewart, with the honor of most inspirational movie of all time. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, SCHINDLER'S LIST, ROCKY and MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON completed the top five.
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/recreation/reviews/afi_100_cheers.html


For a Daily Dose of News to Enthuse -- good news and inspiring stories since 1997 -- Visit the Good News Network, Geri Weis-Corbley, Editor/Publisher (c)2006

Geri here...

I'm usually publishing the newest uplifting news at my "good news network" web site.

You can check it out here:

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org

 

I will post the Top Ten Good News Stories of the week right here on Zaadz -- for those of you who may need some help pulling back from the brink of hopelessness once in a while . . .