Uplifting News Thursday
- Editor OGN Daily
- Aug 24, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 8, 2023
An eclectic bundle of uplifting news nuggets to ensure it's a sunny day.
Reverse The Bad
After 268 days in his kayak, a 65-year-old Canadian has completed his epic ‘Reverse the Bad’ expedition, becoming the first person to solo kayak the Greater Loop across Canada and the United States. The journey is almost 6,800 miles (11,000km). A smiling, but exhausted Mark Fuhrmann, stepped out of his kayak on August 2nd for the last time, greeting well-wishers with the memorable line: “Can I get a beer please?” (He got more than one!) He’s raised almost $7,000 on his GoFundMe page. You can help ‘Reverse the Bad’ and learn more on his website.
Social Safety Net
School feeding programs have become some of the largest and most widespread social safety nets in the world, and more children now have access than ever before, reports the World Food Programme. The number of children benefitting from school meals worldwide is now 418 million, 30 million more than the 388 million reached before the pandemic in early 2020.
Home For a Hero
In a heartwarming display of gratitude and support for America's military heroes, a disabled veteran who lost his legs and suffered a traumatic brain injury during his service has been gifted a mortgage-free home by the Gary Sinise Foundation. Last week, Shane Parsons got the keys to his new "smart home" with his wife Jennifer and their two boys, Owen and Emmett. "Not only does this home help restore Shane's independence, but it also empowers him in all the great things that lie ahead. His home is mortgage-free, contains specially adapted technology, and is custom-made to fit Shane's needs," said the Gary Sinise Foundation.
Did You Know?
The global price of wheat, says the New York Times, is now lower than it was before Russia invaded Ukraine? The European Commission reports that it has reached its target of filling 90 percent of gas storage facilities 70 days ahead of schedule.
Spotless Giraffe
A zoo in Tennessee says it has welcomed a rare giraffe that does not have any spots. The spotless giraffe was born at Brights Zoo in Limestone, Tennessee, on 31 July and the zoo says experts believe she is the only solid-colored reticulated giraffe on the planet. The zoo has announced a naming contest for the baby giraffe, which visitors can now see at the zoo. Reticulated giraffes are a species of giraffes with brown and orange spots. They are native to Africa and in 2018 were listed as endangered, according to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. The zoo is hoping the headline-making giraffe will bring attention to the challenges the species faces in the wild, the zoo said in a press release. "The international coverage of our patternless baby giraffe has created a much-needed spotlight on giraffe conservation," said Tony Bright, founder of Brights Zoo.
GiRaft Saves Stranded Animals: Rescuers build 'GiRaft' to save giraffes from sinking island. Relief effort...
Ecuador's Amazon
Ecuadorians just voted against drilling for oil in a protected area of the Amazon. The decision will require the state oil company to end its operations in a region that’s home to two uncontacted tribes and is a hotspot of biodiversity.
US Can Hit Target
According to a new study, the U.S. has the potential to drastically reduce building emissions in order to meet its goals to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. These emissions-cutting scenarios, such as making changes to energy use in buildings, could reduce building emissions by 91 percent compared to the 2005 peak and even save over $100 billion per year. Researchers published their findings in the journal One Earth and used computational modeling to determine how different scenarios could impact building emissions. They found that scenarios such as switching to cleaner energy sources, like renewables, improving building efficiency with features like high-performance windows or smart thermostats, and switching to low-carbon equipment like heat pumps could all help contribute to reduced emissions.
“Learning to give empathy to myself and others as often as I can each day has rendered astounding benefits… Empathy leads to compassion and compassion to forgiveness and connection.” Judith Hanson Lasater
On this Day
24 August 1932: American aviator Amelia Earhart took off from Los Angeles, and, when she landed in Newark, New Jersey, the following day, she became the first woman to complete a solo nonstop flight across the United States.
How big is Earth compared to the Sun? If you woke up today pondering this question, you will be pleased to know that we have several answers for you. The lowdown...
Mood Booster
Astronaut demonstrates the strange behaviour of honey in space.