http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/images/gnn_logo_rss.gif http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/ 249 31 News of a better world editor@greatnewsnetwork.org great news network en editor@greatnewsnetwork.org Copyright 2013 2013-06-13T00:51:52+00:00 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/UfNd-w_pxkU/ A man with a mind-controlled bionic leg climbed to the top of Chicago’s famous Sears Willis Tower Sunday, part of a charity stair-climbing event. Zac Vawter, 31, lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident and is the first person to climb that many floors wearing a bionic limb. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Science Top Stories, Special Interest Top Stories, Science, Technology, Breakthroughs in technology, Feel Good, Inspirational Stories, Regions, North America, United States, Illinois ]]> 2012-11-14T08:19:54+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/amputee_climbs_103_stories_using_mind-controlled_bionic_leg/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/Ps4g7ZQT9Uo/ Before last night, voters in more than 30 consecutive statewide elections across the United States approved bans on same-sex marriage. On Tuesday, three states broke the trend—with a fourth still counting its votes—in what some advocates and organizations are calling the most successful election for gay rights ever. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Special Interest Top Stories, USA Top Stories, World Top Stories, World, Human Rights, Politics, Feel Good, Inspirational Stories, Regions, North America, United States, Washington ]]> 2012-11-07T08:21:25+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/victories_for_marriage_equality_and_first_openly_gay_u.s._senator/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/-eVBiQCdAdM/ When are humans most happy? To gather data on this question, Matt Killingsworth built an app, Track Your Happiness, that let people report their feelings in real time. Among the surprising results: We're often happiest when we're lost in the moment. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Special Interest Top Stories, Feel Good, Inspirational Stories ]]> 2012-11-06T06:22:18+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/want_to_be_happier_stay_in_the_moment/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/wOKd3qWT51E/ As Star Wars fans digest the news that George Lucas' company Lucasfilm was sold to Disney for a little over $4 billion, it turns out that it wasn't for personal profit. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Special Interest Top Stories, USA Top Stories, Feel Good, Inspirational Stories, Regions, North America, United States ]]> 2012-11-04T16:06:00+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/lucas_giving_disneys_billions_to_fund_education/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/KW58F2at9aM/ Emily Small told her baby daughter Evie she loved her every day for 22 months, but the girl never heard her mother's words once. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Health Top Stories, Special Interest Top Stories, Health, Medical Discoveries, Feel Good, Inspirational Stories ]]> 2012-09-03T21:14:11+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/deaf_girl_fitted_with_bionic_ear_speaks_her_first_word/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/_M3eLstkho0/ A psychological experiment using a simple game revealed that, by the age of just three, children choose to reward their peers based on merit. The children gave the puppet more stickers if it had "worked harder" - gathering more coins. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Science Top Stories, Special Interest Top Stories, Science, Scientific Discoveries, Feel Good, Inspirational Stories ]]> 2012-09-03T02:49:17+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/puppet_experiment_suggests_humans_are_born_to_be_fair/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/d5tXsT0TdxY/ Jonny Imerman is a cancer survivor who wants to make sure no young adult battles the disease alone. In 2002, he started Imerman Angels, a nonprofit that pairs cancer patients with cancer survivors for one-on-one support. The group has made more than 8,000 matches worldwide. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Special Interest Top Stories, Feel Good, Heroic Stories, Inspirational Stories ]]> 2012-08-26T18:58:59+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/pairing_angels_with_cancer_patients/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/c3QD6Hw5JEs/ After beating his addiction to drugs and alcohol, Scott Strode found support through sports. Since 2007, his nonprofit, Phoenix Multisport, has provided free athletic activities and a sober support community to more than 4,700 participants in Colorado. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Special Interest Top Stories, Feel Good, Heroic Stories, Inspirational Stories ]]> 2012-07-11T03:37:00+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/ex_addicts_staying_sober_through_sport/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/Zom1MxJULg8/ Struck by inspiration when some college students pulled off a plot of their own, Ithaca's mayor has opened his own tiny park space, complete with salvaged benches and repurposed tree stumps. He hopes this mini oasis will send a big message. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Environment Top Stories, Special Interest Top Stories, Feel Good, Inspirational Stories, Regions, North America, United States, New York ]]> 2012-06-04T03:57:00+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/mayor_turns_parking_space_into_a_park/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/S_KqLTC9YbM/ Stan Brock started Remote Area Medical, a nonprofit that provides free health care to people in the United States and all over the world. Since 1985, the all-volunteer group has held more than 660 medical clinics and treated half a million people. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Special Interest Top Stories, Feel Good, Heroic Stories, Inspirational Stories ]]> 2012-05-20T22:59:00+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/former_cowboy_flying_free_health_care_to_those_in_need/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/ygbbXRjDTWI/ When Arthur Boorman was injured in the Gulf War, a botched surgery left him immobile and depressed. Having been told he would never walk unassisted again, the 47-year-old ballooned to 297lbs and gave up hope of ever being happy again. But thanks to a revolutionary form of yoga, Mr Boorman managed to lose a staggering 140lbs in just ten months and now can not only walk without his canes and leg braces, he can run. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Special Interest Top Stories, Feel Good, Inspirational Stories ]]> 2012-05-10T23:59:00+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/watch_disabled_veteran_does_the_impossible/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/HqeSDdvJrvo/ Malya Villard-Appolon is a rape survivor dedicated to supporting victims of sexual violence in Haiti. In 2004, she co-founded KOFAVIV, an organization that has helped more than 4,000 rape survivors find safety, psychological support and/or legal aid. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Special Interest Top Stories, Feel Good, Heroic Stories, Inspirational Stories, Regions, Caribbean, Haiti ]]> 2012-05-07T05:25:00+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/seeking_justice_for_haitis_rape_victims/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/wRYXlyY3g-g/ It took more than a village to help bring the last wish of a fallen soldier to come true, but ten months and the help of strangers led to its completion. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Special Interest Top Stories, Feel Good, Heroic Stories, Inspirational Stories ]]> 2012-05-07T04:25:00+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/community_comes_together_to_fulfill_fallen_soldiers_final_wish/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/LBLdO_aOtrA/ Facebook on Tuesday unveiled an initiative to use the vast social network to connect organ donors with people who need life-saving transplants. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Environment Top Stories, Health Top Stories, Science Top Stories, UK Top Stories, USA Top Stories, Science, Technology, Health, Feel Good, Inspirational Stories, Regions, Europe, United Kingdom, North America, United States ]]> 2012-05-03T03:15:01+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/share_your_status_and_your_lungs_facebook_tool_promotes_organ_donation/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/as9MWwUgQuo/ An Oakland, Calif., program called Urban Releaf is planting trees in neighborhoods that lack foliage, restoring community pride. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Environment Top Stories, Special Interest Top Stories, Environment, Forests, Feel Good, Heroic Stories, Inspirational Stories, Regions, North America, United States, California ]]> 2012-05-01T03:47:01+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/from_concrete_jungle_to_urban_oasis/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/tNYOIhIT4x4/ Battling cancer is a monumental struggle that takes shape in the smallest actions. Everyday activities take on new meaning in the face of cancer's debilitating symptoms. Even making it to a cancer treatment center can be a challenge. That's where the non-profit group Your Ride Is Here comes in. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Special Interest Top Stories, Feel Good, Heroic Stories, Inspirational Stories, Regions, North America, United States, Texas ]]> 2012-04-20T00:28:01+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/non_profit_chauffeurs_cancer_patients_to_treatments_in_exotic_cars/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/3yTmzeLY4Fs/ Iraq war veteran Jake Wood started Team Rubicon, a nonprofit that brings military veterans together to help communities hit by natural disasters. Since 2010, the group has grown to 1,400 volunteers and carried out 14 missions around the world. Top Headlines, Top Stories, USA Top Stories, Feel Good, Heroic Stories, Inspirational Stories ]]> 2012-04-15T13:01:00+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/in_the_worst_calamities_these_veterans_rush_to_the_rescue/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/wlBujrvVb_w/ An Indian man has single-handedly grown a sprawling forest on a 1,360 acre (550-hectare) sandbar in the middle of the Brahmaputra. It now has many endangered animals, including at least five tigers, one of which bore two cubs recently. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Environment Top Stories, Special Interest Top Stories, World Top Stories, Environment, Forests, Wildlife, Feel Good, Heroic Stories, Inspirational Stories, Regions, Indian Sub-Continent, India ]]> 2012-04-04T19:03:00+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/indian_man_jadav_payeng_single_handedly_plants_a_1360_acre_forest_in_assam/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/LBxEkuLRoAc/ The 39-foot (12-meter) long, shipping container is living a second life as a classroom for 5-6-year old pupils at the Vissershok School, Cape Town, South Africa. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Special Interest Top Stories, Environment, Land, Feel Good, Inspirational Stories, Regions, Africa, South Africa ]]> 2012-03-18T07:24:00+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/used_shipping_containers_find_new_use_as_classrooms/?source=rss http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/greatnewsnetwork/Ujlz/~3/WsH_KNv1NTs/ Can government be run like the Internet, permissionless and open? Coder and activist Jennifer Pahlka believes it can -- and that apps, built quickly and cheaply, are a powerful new way to connect citizens to their governments -- and their neighbors. Top Headlines, Top Stories, Special Interest Top Stories, Feel Good, Inspirational Stories ]]> 2012-03-11T01:06:00+00:00 http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/jennifer_pahlka_coding_a_better_government/?source=rss