Good news! by Gema Mazon

India Plants 50 Million Trees in One Day/ Gema Mazón

gema_mazon — 2017-01-11 11:33:14 UTC

The world record for most trees planted in one day used to be 850,000 saplings planted by Pakistan in 2013 – now, thanks to 800,000 Indian volunteers, that record is 49.3 million.
The volunteers from Uttar Pradesh spent 24 hours planting 80 different sapling species on public lands as a means of meeting the country’s environmental promises made during the 2015 Paris Climate Conference.

I very much like this news because it gives some hope on the ability of our species to tackle the problem of over exploitation, pollution and climate change that we are causing. Although it is estimated that almost half of those sapling won't survive and it's not the ultimate solution to India's problems, it might help to reach awareness on enviromental conservation both in the country and elsewhere

New ´100% effective' Ebola vaccine /Paco LLuna

2017-01-13 06:39:31 UTC

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a report in which informs that the experimental Ebola vaccine tested on humans in different countries of Africa is completely effective.
For the developement of the vaccine has been used the same strategy that was uses to eradicate smallpox in the 1970´s : the ring vaccination. This method consists in the vaccination of all individuals around an outbreak of an infectious disease to avoid its spread.
Ebola is a lethal disease. The virus was identified for the first time in Zaire( Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1976 ) and has caused periodic outbreaks, mainly in Central Africa. However, between 2014 and 2016 West Africa suffered the largest outbreak of the disease known in the history. In addition, the epidemic spread to different countries of Europe ( in Spain we had the case of the nurse Teresa Romero) and United States.

I think that it is an excellent news since it supposes the hypothetical end of a disease that causes a horrible symptoms and death in the majority of the cases. On the other hand, this news demonstrates the utility of the mathematical techniques applied to medicine once again.
In fact, the responsible of the vaccine is a biostatistics teacher of the University of Florida.
Nevertheless, what it is sad is that it is likely that if the disease hadn´t spread worldwide we would continue without vaccine due to the lack of investment in science by governments.

UN Passes Declaration to Finally Address Refugee Human Rights / Juan Brun

brungja — 2017-01-14 10:33:23 UTC

On September 19th 2016, a declaration was passed at the United Nations Summit for Refugees and Migrants granting displaced persons their basic human rights.

Member States proudly committed themselves towards reform addressing the present disregard for basic human rights of relocated persons. By accepting this manifesto, states have taken the first steps necessary for integrating a system of humanistic values.

The new policies will encourage treating asylum-seekers as the people they are, not the stereotypes of where they came from.

Preventive measures will be established to protect women from gender-based violence and discrimination. They will also unify their efforts in disbanding human-trafficking operations and smuggling services.

There is a specific scope involving children; investing in their futures, and creating progress towards integration. Proposed plans guarantee access to education within a few months of arrival.

Maybe as a European citizen I can not ask for anything more, just stop the war. Not because I do not want my governments not to care for the refugees who come, on the contrary, I think they should help them just as our countries are treading, because no one flee in these conditions of his house if he does not live in an extreme situation. But stop the war so that they, if they want, can live in the place that gave birth to them.
I hope that our politicians will put aside their permanent electoral campaign for human action, thinking of these people, not the votes they will reap if they help a refugee. Sometimes the actions that help most are those that are not seen or that do not necessarily come out on the big screen, but those who govern us do not seem to know it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5WjYzNWfIE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIWAo9tedLY

https://www.hrw.org/topic/refugee-rights

Zero-emission boat prepares for round-the-world odyssey / Javier Medina

2017-01-15 12:44:30 UTC

On 13 January 2017 The Associated Press reported: The first self-sufficient boat powered only by emission-free energy will start a six-year trip around the world in the spring. Energy Observer, a former multi-hull race boat converted into a green vessel equipped with solar panels, wind turbines, and a hydrogen fuel cell system, will be powered by wind, the sun, and self-generated hydrogen. The boat, which is currently in a shipyard in Saint-Malo (western France), will set sail from the Brittany port. Global Good News service views this news as a sign of rising positivity in the field of science, documenting the growth of life-supporting, evolutionary trends.

I belive that it's fantastic that a boat powered by hydrogen and electricity will travel the world. I like so much this news because we can think that in the half run, every one of our vehicles are going to be self-sufficient. In addition our oceans and seas are incredibly contaminated with what these measures will help to recover the marine world. The global warming is a fact and I am hopeful that in 20 years we will be able to travel with renewable energy. It is an important step and if we do not want to see our amazing world like a toxic waste container we will have to introduce this mesures little by little as soon as we can.

Social Bite/ Gemma Pereña

2017-01-15 20:36:16 UTC

These coffe shops have only one purpose: to help others. Social network Social Bite was born in Edingurgh ( United Kingdom).
It assigns its benefits to social causes and employs the homeless.
In addition, in Social Bite you can pay for products that someone with no resources can enjoy them later.
The Nobel Muhammad Yunus prize inspired the idea of this "social business", companies that do not want to make money but solve problems.
A way to change the system using the rules of the game itself.
I think it is a good initiative because it involves the solution to many problems of today's society. The economic crisis has change the lives of many people who have been seen without the roof of a home and without a plate at a table to eat.

Electronic receipt to save paper / Sergio Enjuto

sergioenjuto — 2017-01-15 23:11:17 UTC

A well-known supermarket chain has announced that will offer their customers the possibility of receiving their purchase receipt elctronically instead of paper. Initally they will implement this option in their online sales.
The supermarket will send an email which the date of all your products acquired and tht will also serve for the guarantee.
This saving measure will allow the company not to waste tons or paper every year.
"The most difficul thing is to change the habits of people, but over time, just as happened when the pastic bag were removed, we will all get used to it", the manager explained.

From my point of view, that developed countries begin to take these small gestures in order to protect the environment and take care of nature is a great news, especially for the future. It means we are beginning to realize that natural resources are limited and global warming a dangerous issue.
First world countries usually buy wood at low cost to the underdeveloped countries, which leads to rapid decline of the jungle areas and desertification.
Paper saving would help slow down the massive logging.
I strongly wish many other large companies soon copy the iniciative and the buyers cooperate.

A new video game to become a better athlete. Irene Fuerte

irenefuerte — 2017-01-16 14:01:09 UTC

New researchers shows that a new video game develops the cognitive skills as a gymnastic of the brain. This video game, which it is based on keep your eyes on the balls moving around a 3D screen, looks useful for athletes.
Scientist thinks that this video game is useful to another kind of persons: for example, it can help a children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, effect with ageing, as rehabilitation exercise for stroke patients or including to the doctors performing laparoscopic surgery.

However, other scientist are critics with this research because they compare with the program digital snake oil, and they considered that this game is very simple and this isn't allow users perceive result or in this case, make placebo effects.

In my opinion, it's difficult verify these results. What do you think? Does it really works?

WHAT IS A FREEGAN? CARMEN REMIGIO

2017-01-16 15:20:03 UTC

Freegans are people who employ alternative strategies for living based on no capitalism economy and minimal consumption of resources. Freegans embrace freedom, cooperation, generosity, social concern, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, competition, and greed.

After years of trying to boycott products from unethical corporations, environmental destruction and animal abuse, freegans found that no matter what they bought because we always ended up supporting something deplorable.
"We came to realize that the problem isn’t just a few bad corporations but the entire system itself"

What do you think about this new initiative as an alternative way of life?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZoUleklIx4

Lizzy, a dancer without insecurity has become a symbol / Macarena Quesada

macarenaquesada — 2017-01-16 17:15:15 UTC

Lizzy Howell, is a girl of Milford, Delawere (EEUU) who loves dancing. She is 15 years old and she has been dancing since she was 5 years old. But she isn´t a normal dancer, her obesity make her a exception dancer, she is able to do “fouettes” typical turn of ballet. This girl shared on internet her abilities and now she has a lot of fan. Lizzy accept that she is trying lose weight, she think that it will be better for her dance. She is glading because she is an example of overcoming for many girl that are overweight.

I have chosen this notice because nowadays the appearance is very important for young people. When you see Lizzy, it makes you feel better with your body and with yourself. It is an example to get all that you want if you are perseverance and be4lieve in yourself because teenages can be so cruel.

A refugee who becomes a Minister of Canada / Klaudia Janosz

2017-01-16 17:15:22 UTC

Ahmed Hussen was only 16 when he arrived as a refugee from Somalia to Canadian territory.
He was poor but he always wanted to improve in his life. He finished his studies as a lawyer and last Tuesday , at his 40s, he was sworn in as Canada's Minister of Inmigration, Refugees and Citizenship at a Rideau Hall ceremony.
"I’ll bring my experience as an immigrant to Canada, but also an immigration lawyer, someone who worked many, many years before running for office as a community activist, a community organizer and a community advocate.” Mr. Hussen told reporters on Parliament Hill Tuesday.

What a contrast with other countries! In these times, I think we can all assert that our World is nothing more than a mixture of cultures. What better than giving opportunities to more people!

Man Turns Plastic Waste into a Way to Save Trees/ Emilia Mira

2017-01-21 18:31:12 UTC

This Kenyan man was tired of seeing trash continuously piling up on the beaches of his city – so he came up with an ingenious way to recycle plastic waste and save trees at the same time.
Aghan Oscar is the founder of Continental Renewable Energy (COREC), a small recycling company based in Nairobi that collects garbage and turns it into road signage and poles.
Timber used for fences and signage is often vandalized in the lower-income neighborhoods and used for firewood. It also deteriorates faster and contributes to receding forest land. Aghan’s recipe for polythene products, made out of of post-consumer materials and sand, are not only far more durable – they’re much cheaper.
The Kenya National Highways Authority has reportedly bought over 28,000 poles from Aghan’s company, saving the government millions.
As the company grows, so do their need for able-bodied hands. COREC currently employs over 250 local Kenyan youth to gather plastic waste and work the assembly line. Aghan is a firm believer that supporting recycling companies can provide more young people with jobs, as well as save the planet.

In my opinion, all the news related to the environmental protection are uplifting. This piece of news, not only it is good because this man is recycling, but also he is cleaning his country from plastic waste and saving trees as well as employing young people. The more initiatives to protect The Earth, the better living conditions for the future generations.