| Despite wars and violence in the Middle Ease, | | | | Hugs to Millionso Utilizing YouTube and MySpace, |
| when you add up all the good news headlines in | | | | citizens are uploading inspiring videos bringing tears |
| 2006 the world emerges looking a lot brighter. | | | | to the eyes of millions whom they've never met |
| Steady progress to reverse global warming, | | | | -- and hugs.o A video documenting the real life |
| species decline, oil dependence and disease in | | | | story of Juan Mann whose sole mission was giving |
| 2006 alongside trends toward peace and | | | | free hugs to strangers on a crowded pedestrian |
| sustainability make it a year worthy of | | | | street in Sydney became so popular on You |
| congratulations. Presenting the 8th Annual Top | | | | Tube, that it has been viewed almost 8 million |
| Ten Good News Stories of the Year... | | | | times since September. It sparked others to go |
| 1) Bold Steps in 2006 Reduce Global Warmingo A | | | | out with hand-painted signs offering Free Hugs, |
| Giant step was taken to win the hearts and | | | | and also landed him on Oprah.o Another example |
| minds of world citizens in the cause of reducing | | | | of a video that spread virally though e-mail and |
| global warming when Al Gore premiered the film, | | | | blogs was an autistic kid shooting a miracle round |
| An Inconvenient Truth. With it's theatrical release | | | | of basketball for his high school team, the first |
| came an expansion of our understanding of | | | | time he was ever on the court.o The You in |
| climate change.o Stars like Brad Pitt cast a | | | | YouTube was honored this year as Time's Person |
| spotlight on Green building practices that help | | | | of the Year, not just for videos, but for all the |
| reduce warming. He helped create a Sustainable | | | | citizen journalists who blogged and uploaded their |
| Design Competition for New Orleans this year and | | | | point of view for all to see. |
| when the winner was announced, a 'green' housing | | | | 8) Wars On the Wane Worldwide as Reconciliation |
| plan was unveiled for the city's Lower Ninth Ward | | | | Unites Divisionso The world has become |
| incorporating the newest sustainable technologies | | | | dramatically more peaceful since 1992, according |
| to cut pollution, as well as energy costs by 50 to | | | | to the Human Security Report. The number of |
| 60 percent.o British billionaire, Richard Branson, | | | | wars, coup d'etats, and acts of genocide has |
| founder of the Virgin Conglomerate (and Virgin | | | | declined by 40 percent. Weapons sales between |
| records and airline) announced in September he | | | | countries have dropped 33 percent during the |
| will personally invest $3 billion in alternative energy | | | | same time, and the number of refugees has |
| initiatives. He committed all personal profits from | | | | diminished by 45 percent.o The best story of |
| his airlines and rail company for the next ten | | | | reconciliation and forgiveness in 2006 arose not |
| years toward developing energy sources that do | | | | between two rival countries or militias, but in a |
| not contribute to global warming.o As of October, | | | | small Amish town where a gunman shot five girls |
| 2006, 320 mayors of US cities had boldly gone | | | | to death in a schoolhouse. The community of |
| where the U.S. president would not -- into the | | | | Amish Christians, whose girls were lost, had |
| forefront with 164 nations to embrace the Kyoto | | | | forgiven the man by that evening. In fact, they |
| Accord setting targets that will lead to reduced | | | | were discussing ways they could help the family |
| greenhouse gas emissions by 2012. Big cities like | | | | of the killer, a non-Amish man who lived nearby. |
| New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas have | | | | "They were planning to send a contingent over, |
| signed on to Seattle mayor Greg Nickels' Climate | | | | perhaps bringing some food..." Marie Roberts, the |
| Protection Initiative pooling their best ideas to | | | | shooter's wife, sent a letter saying she was |
| share with smaller cities.o In one of the biggest | | | | "overwhelmed by the forgiveness, grace and |
| environmental victories this year, the Bush | | | | mercy" shown to her family.o Two of the most |
| Administration issued new rules in June requiring oil | | | | dangerous street gangs in Boston embraced a |
| refineries to begin making ultra-low-sulfur diesel | | | | quiet negotiated truce which has dramatically |
| (ULSD), a fuel with 97 percent less sulfur than | | | | reduced bloodshed. The Boston Globe reported |
| ordinary diesel, which will cut smog-forming | | | | that "violence stopped abruptly in July, when a |
| emissions by 10 percent. A spokesman for the | | | | temporary cease-fire took effect and in the |
| Natural Resources Defense Council called the new | | | | nearly four months since, there has not been a |
| EPA rule "the biggest step toward cutting vehicle | | | | single shooting, while overall violent crime where |
| pollution since lead was taken out of gasoline two | | | | the gang members live has plummeted by as |
| decades ago." | | | | much as 80 percent."o The Basque separatist |
| 2) Billionaire Warren Buffett Leads New Wave of | | | | group in Spain, announced a permanent ceasefire |
| Generosity w/ Largest Donation Evero Warren | | | | after four decades of armed military resistance |
| Buffett, the world's second richest man - worth | | | | with the aim of "promoting a democratic process." |
| $44 billion - said in June he will begin to give away | | | | Religious leaders in the country urged forgiveness. |
| 85% of his wealth to foundations focused on | | | | "The news prompted jubilation across the |
| world health -- eradicating diseases like malaria, | | | | country, where ordinary citizens said they can |
| HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis -- and on improving | | | | hardly believe the end has come for a group |
| U.S. libraries and high schools. The value of his | | | | blamed for more than 850 deaths," reported The |
| donation today is $37 billion, the largest | | | | Scotsman in March.o In Africa and Asia peace |
| philanthropic gift in history.o The percentage of | | | | was breaking out far and wide. Cease fire |
| Americans volunteering has reached a 30-year | | | | agreements were signed between rebel groups |
| high says a new study. It is fueled in part by the | | | | and governments in Sudan, Burundi, Mali, and |
| boom in teens pitching in for their communities. | | | | between feuding countries Nigeria and Cameroon |
| "We may be on the cusp of a new civic | | | | with the help of the United Nations. In India and |
| generation," said the director of the Corporation | | | | Uganda, unilateral cease fires were announced and |
| for National and Community Service, which has | | | | peaceful talks sought by resistance groups |
| tracked volunteer rates since 1974.o In the same | | | | responsible for tens of thousands of deaths.o And |
| year it stopped receiving global food aid, China | | | | if that weren't enough peace for you, an ancient |
| emerged as the world's third largest food donor, | | | | Silk Road reopened high in the Himalayas this |
| according to a report by the World Food | | | | summer marking the beginning of a new era in |
| Programme released in August. Another success | | | | trade and diplomatic relations between massive |
| story is India's transformation as a recipient of | | | | neighbors China and India after more than 40 |
| food aid in 2000 to becoming the 15th largest | | | | years of war, mistrust and suspicion. |
| donor to WFP last year.o The number of family | | | | 9) Corporations Lead Green Movement in Autos, |
| foundations and nonprofits doubled in the past five | | | | Recycling and Sustainability |
| years. For the wealthy, giving money or creating | | | | Automobileso "Electric vehicles, gasoline-electric |
| charities to make a difference in the world is | | | | hybrids, diesels, flex-fuel and hydrogen-powered |
| becoming 'the cool thing to do'. | | | | cars are inching up the consumer on-ramp at a |
| 3) Environmentalists Heartened by Recovery of | | | | faster pace, judging from world debuts of 21 |
| Many Endangered Specieso Called the Earth's | | | | alternative-fuel vehicles," reported the Christian |
| richest seascape, scientists have discovered | | | | Science Monitor from December's international Los |
| hugely diverse fish and coral populations thriving | | | | Angeles Auto Show.o Richard Branson and his |
| off Indonesia's Papua coastlines including more | | | | Virgin Group went green in September, launching |
| than 50 species of fish, coral and mantis shrimp | | | | an investment fund for developing environmentally |
| previously unknown to science, like the "walking" | | | | friendly fuels investing up to $400m (EUR315.6m) |
| shark that travels on its fins. It included 600 | | | | in renewable energy initiatives with the new Virgin |
| species of reef-building coral alone.o Researchers | | | | Fuels over three years.o Leaders of the big three |
| studying coral reefs in the Arabian Gulf have | | | | US automakers pledged in a letter to the US |
| found encouraging signs that corals are | | | | Congress in June to double production of |
| regenerating and the entire range may be | | | | flexible-fuel vehicles by 2010 adding incentive to |
| re-established within a decade. At least 18 out of | | | | fuel providers to produce ethanol and other |
| an original 36 species of coral found in the region | | | | biofuels and install pumps. They've produced 5 |
| have recovered from damage suffered due to | | | | million flexible-fuel vehicles so far, which can run |
| past climatic events.o A new study says the | | | | on gasoline or fuel blends of up to 85 percent |
| world's forests appear to be making a comeback, | | | | ethanol and project an additional 1 million vehicles |
| with countries like China and the US more thickly | | | | this year and 2 million annually by 2010.o GM |
| wooded than they were over 100 years ago. | | | | unveiled a new green auto plant in Michigan touted |
| Larger trees have grown in number within 22 of | | | | as the "most environmentally friendly auto plant in |
| the 50 most forested countries.o Four Javan | | | | the world" using innovative energy and water |
| rhinos born in August in Indonesia constituted a | | | | saving techniques.o Toyota North America |
| surprising baby boom for a species that may be | | | | president, Jim Press, announced his company's |
| reduced to fewer than 60 individuals worldwide. | | | | plans to develop a hybrid vehicle that will run on |
| These are the first known births for the Javan | | | | batteries charged by a common electrical outlet. |
| rhinos in three years.o Black rhino numbers are up | | | | For long drives it will be able to use gasoline, or |
| 20 percent in Kenya, after years of decline from | | | | even alternative fuels like ethanol or bio-diesel |
| poaching and habitat loss, a healthy increase that | | | | (made from vegetable scraps or discarded |
| surpassed even conservationists targets.o After | | | | cooking oils). He holds a vision for the future in |
| nearly four decades on the endangered species | | | | which we drive cars that actually "clean the air" |
| list, bald eagles are soaring once again, their | | | | going coast to coast on a single tank of fuel.o |
| population climbing from a dismal count of just | | | | Tesla Motors' goal is to design a sports car that |
| 417 nesting pairs in the continental United States | | | | would go as fast as a Ferrari or Porsche -- but |
| in 1963 to more than 7,000 today. It was decided | | | | run on electricity. Their first model is "a sleek |
| in February the eagles of the US no longer | | | | two-seater called the Roadster" looking something |
| needed protection under the Endangered Species | | | | like "a Lotus Elise." ... Their main competition might |
| Act.o To protect species in the future, the Bush | | | | be the Tango, another sporty two-seater. At 195 |
| Administration, in a historic move, encircled Hawaii | | | | miles per gallon, zero to 60 in four seconds... the |
| with the world's largest marine preserve, home to | | | | electric supercar is here. Made by Commuter |
| 7000 marine species, at least a quarter of which | | | | Cars, Inc. George Clooney himself was one of the |
| are found nowhere else. The huge sanctuary is | | | | first buyers. |
| larger than all US National Parks combined, | | | | Recyclingo Dell computers, hailed as one of the |
| stretching the distance from Chicago to Florida. | | | | most environmentally conscious computer |
| 4) Nepal Celebrates Renewed Peace as More | | | | makers, launched a free recycling program in the |
| Countries, Women Vote Worldwideo Nepal was | | | | U.S. They are the first to offer free computer |
| transformed in 2006 by a series of dramatic | | | | recycling -- to anyone owning a Dell, whether or |
| events that propelled the country to the brink of | | | | not you are purchasing a new one. Owners can |
| peace after ten years of insurgent fighting and | | | | even schedule a home pick-up of their Dell device |
| 13,000 dead. In April, thousands took to the | | | | at no charge.o More environmentally friendly |
| streets to protest the shutting down of | | | | computer equipment is available thanks to |
| parliament, defying the shoot-on-sight curfews. | | | | manufacturers like Dell, HP, and others that now |
| The Maoist insurgents eager to establish a | | | | have products containing reduced levels of |
| republic, seized the moment, declared a unilateral | | | | cadmium, lead, and mercury to better protect |
| ceasefire and joined a seven-party alliance that | | | | human health. They are easier to recycle and |
| forced the king to relinquish power. Nepal's new | | | | meet the government's Energy Star guidelines for |
| cabinet dropped terrorist charges against the | | | | efficiency.o The Australian Food and Grocery |
| Maoists and called for redrawing, together, a new | | | | Council revealed that about 90% of waste and |
| constitution. A peace agreement was later signed | | | | by-products from the food and grocery |
| disarming the rebels in return for their joining the | | | | manufacturers surveyed in 2006 was being |
| Democratic process.o In other democratic | | | | reused or recycled, with less than 10% going to |
| developments, Kuwaitis voted in historic | | | | landfill. Industry participants in the survey have |
| parliamentary elections which, for the first time, | | | | also reduced energy use by 14%, water use by |
| allowed women to cast ballots and stand as | | | | 21% and greenhouse emissions by 29% since |
| candidates. "It feels like a wedding day," said one | | | | 2003.o Companies who once fought against |
| Kuwaiti women on her way to the poll. Women | | | | environmentalists in court are finding today that |
| made up 28 of the 252 candidates in the June | | | | recycling makes good economic sense. Customers |
| election.o The Democratic Republic of Congo | | | | appreciate that Starbucks uses recycled |
| voted in its first multi-party election in 40 years | | | | cardboard and wish it would use more, but the |
| this October. "Many people walked miles to get to | | | | new twist is that sustainable paper saves the |
| the polling stations, and some queued overnight, | | | | corporation money. |
| waiting for them to open."o The United Arab | | | | Sustainabilityo Enterprise Rent-A-Car will |
| Emirates, a Persian Gulf state that was created in | | | | commemorate its 50th anniversary by pledging |
| 1971, took one baby step on the path to general | | | | the unprecedented gift of 50 million trees to The |
| election polling for all, holding its first election this | | | | National Arbor Day Foundation. Enterprise has |
| month. | | | | formed a partnership with the Foundation to plant |
| 5) Bono Joins Kenya Providing Free AIDS Drugs, | | | | 50 million trees over the next 50 years - a gift of |
| Saving Thousandso Hollywood and corporate | | | | more than $50 million.o Big companies like DuPont |
| stars added their heft to efforts funneling money | | | | are putting serious money into developing "bio |
| into AIDS programs. Academy Award-winning | | | | fuel" -- motor fuel that is processed from the |
| actor Denzel Washington donated $1 million to a | | | | waste of corn stalks. DuPont wants to replace |
| Los Angeles charity helping to find homes for the | | | | many of their current factories that use oil, with |
| 17 million children made orphans by the HIV/AIDS | | | | biorefineries like the one they opened this year, in |
| pandemic.o Bono created the Product Red | | | | Loudon, Tenn., that uses corn to manufacter |
| campaign to raise funds for the Global Fund to | | | | many products like its Sorona carpet fiber, |
| fight AIDS. He was joined by Oprah, Armani, | | | | cosmetics, soaps and detergents. The factory |
| Apple, The Gap and Motorola in rolling out the | | | | consumes 40 percent less energy and reduces |
| RED campaign that allows Americans to help fight | | | | greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent versus |
| AIDS in Africa by doing what they do best: | | | | its petroleum-based ancestors.o With the new |
| shopping! Special edition products, like RED iPods | | | | reality of $70 crude oil in the US, the plastics |
| will donate a portion of sales to the cause (Apple | | | | industries are turning to corn and fast-growing |
| contributing $10 from each RED nano sold).o | | | | switchgrass to manufacture everything from |
| Kenya's president announced in June that | | | | carpet to car parts. Bio-degradable and reusable |
| anti-retroviral drugs will now be free to all people | | | | shopping bags made of corn, called BioBags, will |
| with AIDS within all of the nation's clinics and | | | | break down in a landfill -- or home composter -- |
| hospitals. Kenya is one of the few countries that | | | | within four to 12 weeks.o Belu Natural Mineral |
| have reduced their citizens' HIV rate -- from 14% | | | | Water introduced the UK's first biodegradable and |
| in 1997 to 4% today.o India also announced this | | | | compostable plastic bottle. The revolutionary |
| year they will provide free anti-retroviral drugs for | | | | bottle is made from corn instead of oil and can be |
| 100,000 Indians by early 2007 as part of a | | | | commercially composted back into soil in 80 days. |
| program which has already treated 35,000 people. | | | | "This can dramatically reduce the amount of |
| 6) Natural Cures Effective Against Cancer, | | | | rubbish going into landfills and gives everyone an |
| Parkinson's and ADHDo Omega-3 Fish Oil has | | | | easy way to help protect the environment," said |
| proven to be a better ADHD Treatment than | | | | the company's founder.o To top off this year's |
| stimulant drugs like Ritalin commonly prescribed | | | | active pursuit of the "green" dollar by |
| for children with attention deficit hyperactivity | | | | corporations, further green investment is on the |
| disorder (ADHD), according to new research.o A | | | | horizon from venture capital firms. They are |
| striking correlation was revealed this year | | | | poised to invest hundreds of millions into the |
| between violence and nutrients in the diet. A | | | | emerging "green technologies" believing them to |
| clinical trial at the US government's National | | | | be as lucrative as anything that preceded them in |
| Institutes for Health and earlier studies involving | | | | Silicon Valley. That means we'll soon see more |
| people with violent records found that those given | | | | solutions to environmental problems that could |
| supplements have been able for the first time to | | | | shrink landfills, clean up the air and water, and help |
| control their anger and aggression.o While | | | | ween us from our addiction to oil. |
| suffering from a loss of speech and inability to | | | | 10) Pelosi Seeks to Heal Rifts as First Female US |
| walk, an Australian man was severely dissatisfied | | | | House Speaker |
| with western medical treatment and prognosis for | | | | Nancy Pelosi, 66, will become the first female |
| Parkinson's Disease. He decided to pursue other | | | | House leader and the highest-ranking woman in |
| methods and with the aid of homeopathy, | | | | U.S. political history -- second in line behind the |
| alternative therapies, counseling, meditation and | | | | president. Voters weary of corruption cheered |
| spiritual development, he was completely | | | | her election night victory speech when Ms. Pelosi |
| symptom-free within three and a half years. His | | | | stated intentions to lead the most honest and |
| book called, Stop Parkin' and Start Livin,' is a | | | | open House in history. She stressed her plans to |
| do-it-yourself menu for reversing the symptoms | | | | proceed in a bipartisan fashion to find solutions to |
| of Parkinson's disease.o A new treatment for skin | | | | the Iraq crisis. Civility is something this |
| cancer made from the sap of a common garden | | | | grandmother wants to return to the halls of |
| weed has proven effective on 71 percent of | | | | Congress |
| basal cell carcinomas in Australia. In phase II test | | | | In November elections nationwide, Americans |
| results released in May, the PEP005 Topical gel | | | | seemed not to be as hypnotized by fear -- and |
| cleared up the most common type of skin cancer | | | | the suggestion that a vote for Democrats would |
| in just two applications on two consecutive days. | | | | be a "win for the terrorists". It seemed like some |
| The plant, petty spurge has been used for years | | | | of the poison had been drawn out of the body |
| in Australia to treat cancerous spots on the skin.o | | | | politic. The system of checks and balances -- the |
| Topping off this year in health was the release of | | | | genius of the US Constitution -- won big, with |
| new analysis of breast cancer rates in American | | | | civility and competence the winning platform. By |
| women that revealed a startling decline in the | | | | voting against the arrogance of power, common |
| disease. Researchers believe that millions of older | | | | sense Americans affirmed solution-oriented good |
| women refraining from taking hormone pills led to | | | | governance. The vital center of American politics |
| 14,000 fewer cases of tumors in 2003. | | | | has realigned and it is a recipe for moderation. |
| 7) Boom in Internet Video Spreads Inspiration and | | | | Here's wishing for a better year in 2007! |