❀ The Good News ❀

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Stop watching the News on T.V. filled with lies, propaganda, and made to make you feel helpless and afraid.

With all the negative news in the world, it's time to give you hope and inspiration. It's time to the weekly Good News! 

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Lots to catch up on! I'll be filling in all the awesome news we've missed over the next couple of weeks! ;) 

Victory! Canada’s Iconic Prairie Bird Receives Emergency Protection 

Nature Canada joined several conservation groups in applauding the federal government’s issuing of an emergency order to protect the Greater Sage-Grouse, a prairie-dwelling bird that is on the brink of extinction in Canada. This marks the first time an emergency order has ever been issued by the federal government to protect an endangered species.

Nature Canada conservation and legal experts were pleased to note that the emergency order may stop harmful new oil and gas developments in sensitive areas of Sage-Grouse habitat. All told, the order applies to approximately 1,700 square kilometers of land in Alberta and Saskatchewan, protecting the affected areas from many kinds of harmful construction.

(Read more)

International Leaders Make Commitments to Help Polar Bears

Thanks to the over 42,000 WWF supporters who spoke up for polar bears, arctic nations heard that polar bears are worth protecting. These messages of support for conservation were delivered at a high-level meeting on polar bears this month where impressive commitments for tackling threats to bears were made--including a commitment toward identifying important habitats and protected areas for polar bears. WWF welcomes these new promises and will continue our efforts to hold the arctic nations accountable and ensure progress is made.

(Read more) 

Huge Victory! Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger Halt Angora Products ‏

We are pleased to announce that after discussions with PETA, Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger—and all other retailers owned by PVH Corp.—are banning and pulling from their shelves any products made with angora!

These companies join H&M, New Look, Esprit and ACNE that have stopped manufacturing angora products because of animal welfare concerns. The combined impact of people's voices are collecting and gaining huge momentum, let's keep it up! 

More Good News for Rabbits: Gap Update

Gap--which also owns Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta--has announced that it is suspending placement of orders using angora and investigating further. PETA welcomes this step, with the stipulation that it should lead to a ban so that rabbits and consumers can breathe easy again. 

Please help make sure that Gap goes all the way by writing—and also encouraging everyone you know to write—to urge the company to BAN angora NOW!

(Take Action Here!)

Victory! NYC Airports Stop Killing Snowy Owls

An unusually large influx of snowy owls in the Northeast this winter has attracted them to airports, leading to safety concerns among aviation officials and the quick addition of snowy owls to the list of birds that airports can legally kill, complete with orders to shoot them on sight.

Media reports about snowy owls being added to the kill list, which was followed by the news of three being shot at JFK led to outcry from the public and organizations, including Friends of Animals (FoA), Goose Watch NYC, Audubon New York and New York City Audubon, among others. A Care2 petition urging the Port Authority to cease fire gathered more than 63,000 signatures.

Fortunately for the owls, public pressure seems to have paid off. Following media reports and objections to its plans, the Port Authority quickly backtracked and issued a statement saying that it will stop killing owls and adopt non-lethal alternatives.

(Read more) 

Blind man who fell on New York subway tracks: 'guide dog saved my life

This heart-warming story is one to read in full, so I'll share the link below and tell you to go read this miraculous and heroic story of guide dog Orlando, a black Labrador retriever, who bravely leapt on to the tracks at a Manhattan subway platform on Tuesday after his blind owner lost consciousness and tumbled in front of an oncoming train.   

(Read the Story Here)

Northern Ireland Gives Gay Couples an Early Christmas Present

Northern Ireland has lifted its ban on gay couples adopting, a massive step toward equality that could also help in Northern Ireland’s marriage equality fight.

The ban was officially lifted on December 11. It prevented same-sex and opposite sex unmarried couples from adopting. As same-sex couples cannot yet marry in Northern Ireland, this was a de facto ban on same-sex couples adopting even if they were in a legally recognized civil partnership.

In June, the Court of Appeal upheld a decision by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission finding that the ban breaches European human rights laws.

(Read more)

HUGE Victory! PA Supreme Court Says State Can't Force Fracking on Local Communities

Pennsylvania Supreme Court made a 4-2 decision yesterday declaring the zoning provisions of Act 13 unconstitutional.

The court has ruled on the side of communities’ rights to stand up to big oil and gas companies who want to frack in their backyards against their will. A state law called Act 13 had stripped these rights—no doubt at the behest of industry itself. But seven communities in Pennsylvania took them to court to reclaim the right to use their traditional zoning powers to determine how fracking moves forward within their own borders. And now, against David and Goliath odds, Pennsylvania’s communities have won. 

(Read more) 

Win! New York City bans Styrofoam

New York's City Council voted unanimously to ban the use of polystyrene (Styrofoam) containers yesterday. New York is now the largest U.S. city to implement such a ban on single-use foam containers.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to sign the bill into law before leaving office at the end of the year.

(Read More) 

Terminator Seeds Approval Delayed in Brazil

On behalf of the seed saving farmers that USC Canada works with around the world, I would like to express our sincere thanks to all those who raised their voices against Terminator seeds. Faced with an overwhelming international response, Brazil has once again delayed its move to approve the risky Terminator technology.

Wondering what Terminator Seeds are? Terminator seeds (known scientifically as Genetic Use Restriction Technologies, or GURTs) are seeds that are genetically engineered to produce plants that are sterile. These plants produce seed that is unusable for replanting after the first harvest, meaning farmers have to buy new seeds from a central supplier every year. The technology has always been controversial and a United Nations international ban was agreed upon in 2000. But as we've seen, Brazil seemed willing to break this moratorium. Thankfully, people from around the world spoke out!

5 Communities Who Are Reclaiming Control Over Their Food Systems

Check out these 5 Communities that are reclaiming control over their Food Systems!

Read more Here: http://www.care2.com/causes/5-communities-who-are-reclaiming-control-over-their-food-systems.html

15 WWF Success Stories of 2013

Check out all the goodness coming from World Wildlife Fund this year with these 15 success stories to brighten your day!

Read them Here: http://worldwildlife.org/stories/15-wwf-success-stories-of-2013

Top 10 Feel Good Moments From 2013

Check out Care2's Top 10 Feel Good Moments From 2013 for even more smiles this week! :)

Read them Here: http://www.care2.com/causes/top-10-feel-good-moments-from-2013.html

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Thanks for reading this week's "Good News!" Join us every week and feel inspired! 

Be sure to sign up for Care2's newsletter for some real news around the globe, to make a change, and to open up your mind to the Real World!

See that your actions count and get out there and do good! Be the Change!  

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

☆ International Polar Bear Day! (and how you can help) ☆

That's right, February 27th is International Polar Bear Day! Why is this so important? Well because there are fewer than Polar Bears left in the wild and their numbers are dwindling thanks to global climate change, and pollution. 

Take Part in the Thermostat Challenge! 

This Challenge is thanks to Polar Bears Internatonal! Take part by simply adjusting your thermostat up or down a few degrees (depending on where in the world you live) to lower carbon emissions and help save polar bears. Share a photo and inspire others with their "My Planet. My Part" actions to help save polar bears and improve the health of the planet. Even better: make every day a polar bear day by installing a programmable thermostat, insulating your home, or taking other steps to save energy. It's all part of PBI's SOS campaign!

Tips from Scientists to Help Polar Bears:

The polar bear's survival is linked to the arctic sea ice, a habitat greatly affected by climate change. Research shows, however, that it's not too late to take action to save sea ice and polar bears by greatly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"PBI scientists have put together a list of which individual actions have the most impact. We suggest you look through these tips, find out what you're already doing—and then challenge yourself to add two or three more to help the bears. These simple steps will soon become habits and, eventually, part of a stewardship ethic that guides your daily choices and informs your everyday decisions."

Social Interactions

• Vote for political representatives who recognize that our carbon-based society isn't sustainable and who will work to establish an appropriate price for carbon
• Interpret the facts about global warming to your friends and relatives
• Encourage members of your social circles to adopt sustainable lifestyles—and lead by example
• To help create a stewardship ethic in your community and raise awareness of how lifestyle changes can make a difference, take part in local green initiatives like planting trees, recycling drives, or ride-your-bike to work days—or start your own.

Transportation

• Walk or ride a bike
• Use public transportation
• Drive the most fuel-efficient vehicle for your needed task and drive at the most efficient speed for your vehicle
• Avoid drive-through businesses; don't idle for more than 30 seconds
• Keep your car tuned up and maintain proper tire inflation

Home & Work

• Insulate buildings and heat/cool with efficient systems (e.g., rated by Energy Star)
• Generate your own power with wind and solar
• Let your utility company know that you want to subscribe to green power
• Use energy-efficient (e.g. Energy Star) appliances and equipment. Turn appliances off when not in use. Use low-tech methods when possible (e.g., line-dry clothes)
• Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent or other energy-efficient bulbs (see Energy Star)
• Use no more water than needed 

Dining Table

• Buy and cook only what you'll eat. Don't waste food.
• Consume foods that are minimally processed and packaged (e.g., potatoes vs. potato chips)
• Purchase fruits and vegetables grown locally on small-scale farms
• Avoid products that result from tropical deforestation (e.g., palm oil, coffee that isn't shade-grown, South American beef)
• Consume less meat and animal products. Eat three meatless meals per week. (or even better go vegetarian and/or vegan)
• (And if you are going to consume meat then choose products like pasture-fed beef, free-range poultry, and wild salmon rather than CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operations) meats.) 

Marketplace

• Minimize consumption: reduce, reuse, and recycle
• Research vendors and buy from those with sustainable business models
• Avoid products with excess packaging
• Buy products created closer to home: for example, if you live in the U.S. or Canada, purchase goods made in North America instead of those shipped from far away.

Support Conservation

Another tip I will suggest today is to donate to organizations working to help Polar Bears and climate change, such as Polar Bears International, WWF. 

You can also "adopt" a Polar Bear from either of these organizations:

https://www.polarbearsinternational.org/adopt

http://www.wwf.ca/conservation/species/polarbears/

Lastly...

ReLove Plan.et is having a sale on the Polar Bear Necklaces (ending Friday). I already donate every month to WWF, but all proceeds of the Polar Bear Necklace will be going towards a Polar Bear adoption! :)  

Also, remember that no action is too small. Every step, every action accounts to the bigger picture. Your actions also inspire others, so always do what you can no matter how small it may seem! 

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.

☆ 5 (Cute!) Reasons to Stop Global Warming! ☆

If our own survival on Earth isn't important enough for you to want to make more earth-conscious lifestyle choices, here are 5 more reasons…

Polar Bears:

Estimated 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears in the wild. Polar Bears International says two-thirds of these numbers could disappear by the middle of this century if carbon dioxide emissions are not cut. Polar Bears depend on sea ice to survive, and the rapid loss of sea ice is their major threat; meaning they are losing land habitat, drowning, and even resulting to cannibalism and eating their young as they can no longer make the swim to reach prey. Other threats include pollution, poaching, and industrial impact. Hunting will become a threat if not well regulated.

Pandas:

Less than 1,600 left in the wild (2004 statistic)! Threats: China's growing economy. Forest habitat fragmented by roads and railroads. Habitat loss, poaching. Access to the giant panda’s primary source of food, bamboo, may become restricted as the basin of China’s Yangtze River is increasingly affected by climate change. 

Tigers:

As few as 3,200 left in the wild, and one of the most threatened species on Earth. Threatened by growing human populations, loss of habitat, illegal hunting, and expanding trade in tiger parts. A huge threat is the loss of their habitat due to deforestation; for products like palm oil, pulpwood for paper products, and coffee. Which is why buying recycled paper products (including toilet paper!), and knowing where your coffee and palm oil products are sourced, is so important. Be careful of the products you buy and the corporations you support that may be contributing to their habitat loss. 

Cheetahs:

Approx. 12, 000 left in the wild. Global Warming has been affecting the Cheetah's ability to reproduce, resulting in defects in their sperm and low testosterone. Another concern is the decline in population of the Thomson's gazelle, their main prey. Cheetah's are also being killed by poachers (yet another reason to never purchase fur!).

Orangutans:

Estimated 40, 000 left in the wild with rapidly decreasing numbers; they could be gone within a few decades. Threatened by the growing Palm Oil plantations taking over their habitat. Because orangutans live in only a few places, and because they are so dependent upon trees, they are particularly susceptible to logging. Aside from deforestation, logging roads also make them more vulnerable to hunting and poaching for illegal pet trade in Asia, placing the orangutan in danger of extinction.

What you can do: 

Buy sustainable forest products (choose recycled first!), sustainable palm oil, and other sustainable products. 

Reduce your carbon footprint in any way possible to reduce the effects of climate change. 

Get involved and sign petitions! There are lots you can find at change.org and thepetitionsite.com (I post them all the time on my twitter).

Support efforts by organizations making a difference (my favourite? World Wildlife Fund).

A little conscious thinking goes a long way. Making lifestyle changes and decisions that support a greener planet are not only good for the planet, but they are vital to the diminishing habitats and welfare of animals. Their climates are changing at alarming rates and we can all play a part in making it a brighter future, for Earth, for ourselves, and for the amazing (and cute!) animals of the world. 

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.