Under a new green initiative, Ethiopia plants more than 350 million trees in just 12 hours
Setting a new world record, Ethiopia planted over 350 million trees in a mere 12-hour period on Monday. The mass tree planting in the country is part of a bigger ‘green legacy’ initiative undertaken by the government under which it aims to plant 4 billion trees between May and October 2019. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed created the initiative to help restore Ethiopia’s landscape, which experts say...
Read More
This Indian officer tackled malnutrition with a brilliant initiative – ‘My School, My Farm’
When Shashanka Ala, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, got posted in the Lawngtlai district of Mizoram – a small, hilly northeastern state – she was stunned by the time it took to reach the area from Aizwal, the state capital. The journey took almost 10 hours on a bad road that during the monsoons is struck by landslides, resulting in delays that could take up to an entire day....
Read More
California replacing hundreds of diesel-powered school buses with electric ones to protect children from air pollution
The California Energy Commission recently approved funds worth $70 million to replace old school buses running on diesel with an all-electric fleet in order to protect children from the ill effects of air pollution and to improve air quality. The new electric buses will eliminate nearly 57,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides and nearly 550 pounds of fine particulate matter emissions annually. “School buses are by far...
Read More
Good Samaritan anonymously donates $25 million to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Now this a bit of news that restores our faith in humanity! Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles, recently received an anonymous donation worth $25 million which will go towards the expansion of the hospital’s Neurological Institute and an overhaul of its Interventional Radiology diagnostic and treatment space. The hospital is ranked the top children’s hospital in California and fifth in the nation...
Read More
This man’s brilliant idea of converting straw into fuel and other eco-products could end the problem of stubble burning in India
With the onset of winter season, Delhi, India’s capital city, comes into news for all the wrong reasons. There is a massive spike in the city’s pollution levels as October kicks in and the major reason behind it is the stubble burning practiced by farmers in the neighboring states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. It is estimated that India produces more than 550 million tonnes of crop residue...
Read More
Generous donations by Miranda Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation allow animal shelters to waive off adoption fees
American country singer Miranda Lambert is popular for her love for animals. Lambert’s “MuttNation Foundation” donated $150,000 to 50 animal shelters across 50 states in the US in honor of the charity’s ten-year anniversary. This has allowed the shelters to waive off adoption fees for some time, which means more dogs are likely to find loving homes. The MuttNation Foundation’s most...
Read More
Conservationists buy an extremely rare ‘snow forest’ in Canada to protect it from development
The Next Creek Watershed located in the center of the Darkwoods Conservation Area in British Columbia, Canada, contains a rare ‘snow forest’ – a temperate rainforest that derives most of its moisture from snow. This kind of forest is not found anywhere else on the planet, so it is excellent news that the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has purchased it with the intent of protecting it from...
Read More
Inexpensive artificial skin trial gives hope to acid attack victims
Every year, there are hundreds of cases of acid attacks around the world. More so in countries like Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. Unfortunately, most victims of acid attacks are females who come from lower socio-economic backgrounds and are therefore, unable to bear the high costs of imported skin used for treatment. In Pakistan, the cost of imported skin comes to at least $900 per square inch – an...
Read More
Wyoming church pays off medical debt of 1,899 families
A church in Wyoming, Michigan, recently partnered with RIP Medical Debt to pay off the medical debts of 1,899 families worth almost $1.8 million. RIP Medical Debt is a nonprofit that purchases medical debt for pennies on the dollar, leaving the debtor with no bills or tax burdens. It took a $15,000 donation to help eliminate $1.8 million worth of medical debt that will never be able to be paid by these...
Read More
This real-life Batman is on a mission to save shelter animals from euthanasia
While it is true that not all heroes wear capes, there is one who is actually saving the lives of dozens of animals in need – that too wearing a cape, dressed as none other than Batman! 27-year-old Chris Van Dorn has always been a fan of the beloved Caped Crusader; so when he began volunteering for various animal rescue organizations around Orlando, Florida, he decided to combine his two passions and use a...
Read More
