Good News Tuesday for April 11, 2023: Iran and Saudi Arabia Re-establish Diplomacy, Rip Current Rescue in Australia, Teen Births and Abortions Declining in NZ, Protecting Nature in Ecuador, and Help Landing a Plane without a Front Wheel

Seeking Balance One Tuesday at a Time

Iran and Saudi Arabia Re-establish Diplomatic Relations

After seven years of tension, Iran and Saudi Arabia formally restored diplomatic ties on Thursday and affirmed interest in regional stability and economic cooperation. China helped this process along having brokered an initial reconciliation agreement a month ago. AP has details HERE.

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Two Women Save Girls from Drowning in Australia

Elyse Partridge and Bella Broadley, young women in Australia, saved two girls from drowning in a rough rip current. They’ll be getting metals for bravery. Here are the details.

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Teen Births and Abortions Continue to Decline in New Zealand

In New Zealand, abortions and teen births have continued to decline. “The decreasing number of teenage births coincides with improved education and access to contraception,” statistician Michael MacAskill said. Here’s more from RNZ.

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Ecuador Communities Stop Mining Project to Protect Nature

People of the Intag Valley of Ecuador won a major legal victory on behalf of one of the world’s most biodiverse forests. On March 29, the Imbabura Provincial Court ruled that a Chilean copper producer had violated communities’ constitutional right to consultation as well as the rights of nature, thus canceling their mining licenses. Here’s more from Mongabay.

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Veteran Pilot Helps Rookie Land Plane after Front Wheel Fell Off

After 21-year-old Taylor Hash’s single engine plane took off, the front wheel fell off and bounced along the runway. Veteran pilot Chris Yates saw it happen and talked her down to a safe landing. Watch, listen, and be thrilled:

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Good News Tuesday for September 6, 2022: Largest Offshore Windfarm, Babies in Japanese Nursing Home, Recycling 300 Tons of Paint, and Police Rescued a Father and Son Clinging to a Cooler in Boston Harbor

Seeking Balance One Tuesday at a Time

The World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm is Fully Operational

 Hornsea 2, “The world’s biggest offshore wind farm” is now fully operational 55 miles) off the coast of Yorkshire, England. Here’s more from CNBC.

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Babies Bring Smiles to a Nursing Home in Japan

A nursing home in Japan recruits babies and toddlers to cheer up elderly residents from the surrounding area. The home offers flexible hours, baby formula and diapers, as well as tea for the accompanying mothers. This article from CNN offers provides details and smiles.

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Rescuing Paint from the Landfill

Since opening in 2004, the staff and volunteers at Seagulls Paint Store have collected around 300 tons of paint each year from the landfill. They sort and mix the pain into colors requested by customers and sell it for about 75% less than regular paint stores. The Good News Network has more on this story.

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Boston Harbor Police Recue Father and Son Clinging to a Cooler

A father and son were out lobstering in the Boston Harbor when their boat hit rocks and sank. They hung on to their cooler until police were able to rescue them from the cold water. This article from the Good News Network includes a video of the rescue. The video below shows the follow up thank you meeting.

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Good News Tuesday for July 5, 2022: Sustainable Girls’ School, First Black Woman on US Supreme Court, Sequoias in the UK, and a Rescue from the Track

Seeking Balance One Tuesday at a Time

A Sustainable Eco-School for Girls in India Keeps Students Comfortable Despite Desert Heat

The Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School in the Thar desert of India is designed to be both beautiful and sustainable with solar power, geothermal energy, and lime plastered walls for insulation. See how the innovative oval design of the school creates a comfortable learning environment with plans for a larger learning community in this article from euronews.green.

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First Black Woman on the US Supreme Court

Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in Thursday as the first Black woman on the US Supreme Court. AP has details here, and here’s a video:

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Planting Sequoias in the UK

Henry Emson planted a giant sequoia sapling in the UK for each member of his family to reduce their carbon footprints. His company, One Tree One Life, buys land where these giants can grow in safety and has planted 700 resilient sequoia saplings across Britain. Read more about the sequoia project in the Good News Network.

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20-Year-Old Train Commuter Rescues Man from Electrified Track

Twenty-year-old Anthony Perry saved a man who fell on an electrified train track in Chicago. Watch the video with an extra surprise at the end.

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Good News Tuesday for June 21, 2022: Refugees and Dogs Safe in Poland, “Eco Mermaid” Sets Record, Teacher Teaches Father to Read, Teenager Saves Woman in Car, and “A Wild Hope”

Seeking Balance One Tuesday at a Time

Ukranian Refugees with Dogs Safe in Poland

Two women and 17 dogs are starting a new life in Poland after spending 40 days in a Ukranian bomb shelter. Read about their amazing story and the shelter that took them in this story from CNN.

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“Eco Mermaid” Sets New World Record and Picks Up Trash

Merle Liivand, also known as “Eco Mermaid,” broke a Guinness World Record in May by completing a 26.22-mile swim using a mermaid monofin. She could not use her hands or arms for swimming, but she did use them to pick up trash along the way. Read more from CNN.

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Pre-School Teacher Teaches her Father to Read and Write

Luciana Flores had a rough childhood and never learned to read or write. He eventually moved to the US and has been working in the construction industry for most of his life. His daughter Lucy, a preschool teacher, has been teaching him how to read and write. Lucy is the first person in her family to graduate from college. Enjoy the full story from Good Morning America.

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Teenager Saves Woman Who Drove Car into the Water

High school senior Anthony Zhongor dove into a New York bay to save a woman who drove her car into the water. (I guess it’s not just old ladies like me who’ve accidentally confused the gas and brake pedals, especially in parking lots where I now drive very s l o w l y.) Learn more about Anthony in this video:

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Spix’s Macaws Released Back into the Wild

Spix’s Macaws are being returned to their natural forest home in Brazil after two decades of being extinct in the wild. You can read all about these rare and beautiful birds in “A Wild Hope,” from Science Magazine. The following video shows their release earlier this month.

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Good News Twosday for 2-22-22: Iceland to Stop Whaling, 80-Year-Old Rescues People from Blizzard, Seal Nudges Man to Keep Swimming, and Marcus Gets a Kidney

Seeking Balance One Tuesday at a Time

Iceland to Stop Whaling for Good

Iceland has announced that there will be no new commercial whaling permits after the current permits expire in 2023. Contributing to the decision were decreasing economic demand and The World Wildlife Fund’s “Meet Us, Don’t Eat Us,” campaign. Here’s more from The Good News Network.

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80-Year-Old Man on Foot Rescues People in Three Cars from Blizzard

Andre Bouvier Sr., a retired rescue worker in Canada, walked through a “Saskatchewan Screamer” to rescue people in three cars. He then led the people to his home. Read this remarkable story from The Good News Network including a video from CBC.

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Seal Nudge Inspires Man to Keep Swimming

Scott Thompson thought he was going to die after falling from his boat into frigid water wearing only a T shirt and shorts. Then a seal nudged him from below inspiring Scott to swim five more miles to reach help. Read more in this article including a video of Scott telling his story

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Marcus Gets a Kidney

In 2019, Marcus Edwards held up a sign at Chicago Bears football game. The sign said, “I need a kidney, O Positive, with his phone number. Jennifer Michel saw the story and couldn’t help but shake the feeling that she was the one who could help. In October of 2021, Mr. Edwards got Jennifer’s kidney. Sometimes things take longer than we hope, but they can still work out for the best.

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Good News Tuesday for Nov. 23, 2021: Protecting Marine Life in the South Pacific, Kitten Therapy at the Retirment Home, Hand Gesture Leads to Rescue, and Overcoming HIV

Seeking Balance One Tuesday at a Time

15 Million Acres of Protection Added for Marine Life

At the recent climate summit, Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso announced the addition of 15 million acers to protect marine life around the Galápagos Islands along with an underwater superhighway refuge from the Galapagos Islands to Coasta Rica. The additions will help protect endangered migratory animals like scalloped hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, rays, sea turtles, and tuna. Here are details from the Good News Network.

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Kitten Therapy at the Retirement Home

An SPCA foster caregiver who works at a retirement home in California brought a box of tiny foster kittens to to her office one day. Take a look at what happened when the word got out, in this article from the Washington Post.

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Kidnapped Teen Rescued After Showing the Hand Gesture for Help

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Overcoming HIV

A 30-year-old woman in Argentia has become the second known person in the world whose immune system has overcome HIV. You can learn more from the Good News Network article which includes this video:

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Good News Tuesday for August 31, 2021: Teachers Make a Difference, Airbnb Helping Refugees, Rescued from the Bayou, and an Edible Coffee Cup

Seeking Balance One Tuesday at a Time

Teachers Make a Difference

I’ve been thinking a lot about teachers as in person school starts back in the US. Teachers have a lot to deal with. Today, I’m highlighting two examples (there are many) of teachers doing good work.

Erin Castillo became famous two years ago with her mental health check in chart for students. This year, she’s added an Affirmation Station where students can recognized other students strengths and good works. Erin also encouarages teachers to set a good example by taking care of themselves and showing kids that it’s okay to take a breath and ask for help. You can read more about Erin Castillo in this article from Good Morning America.

Kristen Driemeier and Heather Steighorst, two fourth grade teachers from Missouri, have implemented a simple but great idea for students who might be struggling. They sent a note home encouraging parents to text them, “Handle with Care.” This story also comes from Good Morning America. Thanks GMA for recongizing teachers.

Thank you to all teachers everywhere.

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Airbnb to Provide Temporary Housing to Afghan Refugees

Airbnb says it will provide housing to 20,000 Afghan refugees for free.  The housing will be funded through contributions to Airbnb.org and CEO Brian Chesky. Here’s more from NPR.

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Rescued from the Bayou

Bryson Byrd of New Orleans was out on a food run when he saw a crowd of people looking at the water. It turns out an elderly man had driven his truck into the bayou. Bryson jumped in and pulled the man out of the water. Here’s more of the story from nola.com/news.

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Edible Coffee Cup

A Scottish company called BioBite, makes an edible coffee cupt. It’s a 100-calorie vegan biscuit made with wafer and will stay leak-proof for 12 hours and crunchy for a full 45 minutes. I think they’d be great for smoothies, too. Here’s more from the Good News Network and a short video.

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Good News Tuesday for July 27, 2021: Madrid’s Green Ring, Woman Rescued from Sinking Car, Recycled Barbie, and a Special Proposal

Seeking Balance One Tuesday at a Time

Madrid is Building a Green Forest Ring Around the City

In Madrid, they’re starting work on a green ring of indigenous trees around the perimeter of the city as part of a bigger plan to absorb and reduce C02 emissions and to address climate change. You can read more about it from the Good News Network or watch this video:

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Police Officers and Good Samaritan Rescue Woman from Sinking Car

Police officers and a good Samaritan rescued a woman from a half submerged car that had flipped over and landed in a Florida River. Here’s the story and a video from the Good News Network.

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Recycled Barbie

A new line of Barbies is made from 90% recycled plastic. Mattel’s goal is to create “a sustainable, 100% recycled material for Barbie and its packaging” by 2030. That shouldn’t be too hard. Here’s more about recycled Barbie.

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Exoskeleton Helps Paralyzed Man Propose

Josh was paralyzed from the chest down seven years ago in an accident. With the help of an exoskeleton, he was able to get down on one knee to propose to his girlfriend, Grace.

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Good News Tuesday for July 28, 2020: COVID-19 Treatment, Girls Invent, Planting Trees in India, A Rescue in France, and Turning Graffiti into a Mural

Seeking Balance One Tuesday at a Time

A Promising Treatment for COVID 19

Interferon beta, a protein inhalant, has been shown to reduce the risk of death from COVID 19 and to reduce the chance of developing serious symptoms by 79%. compared to patients given a placebo in trials. The Good News Network has details.

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All-Girl High School Team in Afghanistan Invents Mobile Ventilators

An all-girl high school robotics team in Afghanistan invented an inexpensive mobile ventilator model that will help thousands of Covid-19 patients in their country where ventilators are scarce. The new, lightweight ventilator costs as little as $700—compared to the $20,000 needed to purchase a traditional model and can be powered by batteries. You can read more from the Good News Network.

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Planting Trees in India

“More than two million people gathered in northern India last week while practicing social distancing, and planted 250 million trees as part of a government plan to tackle climate change.”

“India has pledged to increase its forest cover to 235 million acres by 2030, and it starts now,” Yogi Adityanath

Read more from Associated Press

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Two Boys Rescued from Apartment Fire

Two brothers, aged ten and three, were safe after falling 10 meters (33 feet) into the arms of the crowd below when their apartment was on fire in Grenoble, France. Here’s the story and a video from The Guardian.

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Church Turns Graffiti into a Mural

Photo by Justin Zoradi on Facebook

When a church in Portland, Oregon found Black Lives Matter graffiti on their property, they decided to turn it into a mural. I think it turned out great! Here’s their Instagram story I discovered at Good Good Good

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Good News Tuesday: Hostage Release, Orangutan Sanctuary, Altruistic Service, and a Rescue

Seeking Balance One Tuesday at a Time

Hostage Release

The Taliban released two hostages who were kidnapped in 2016. American Kevin King and Australian Timothy Weeks who were both professors at the American University of Afghanistan were released in a prisoner exchange.

I appreciate finding this story in my email homepage headlines which rarely include good news.  For details, you can check out this NBC article.

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Sanctuary for Sandra

An orangutan named Sandra was born in a Germany zoo in 1986. In 1994, she was moved to a zoo in Buenos Ares, Argentina where “she lived alone in a small and barren enclosure.” In 2015, Argentina’s high court Judge, Elena Liberatori, ruled that a zoo orangutan was a “non-human person” who had a right to a life with dignity. This ruling led to the zoo’s decision to close and find sanctuaries for all remaining animals. After   research and a period of quarantine in a Kansas zoo, Sandra finally arrived at the Center for Great Apes in Florida last month. Here’s the story from The Good News Network.

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Altruistic Service

This article from The Guardian tells about a hairdresser, a plumber, and a beautician in the UK who provide free services to people in need.

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Salem is Home Safe

Finally, here’s a story about the rescue of an 8 year old girl from a kidnapper. I watched a few different videos of this incident and picked the least scary video I could find, one that did not show the  perpetrator who was tearful and in custody.

The good news: Thanks to tips from regular citizens that helped police find her, Salem is home safe. 

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