Good News Headlines 2/2/16
German Forest Ranger Finds That Trees Have Social Networks, Too
by Sally McGrane, The New York Times
They can count, learn and remember; nurse sick neighbors; warn each other of danger by sending electrical signals across a fungal network known as the “Wood Wide Web”; and, for reasons unknown, keep the ancient stumps of long-felled companions alive for centuries by feeding them a sugar solution through their roots… Read more
Watertown’s Power Café Seeks To Empower Disabled Community
by Reenat Sinay, Spare Change News
Power Café, as you may have guessed from the name, refers to empowerment: the coffee shop exclusively employs people with disabilities… Read more
Amherst College Drops Mascot Criticized As Offensive
by Merrit Kennedy, NPR
Amherst College says it will stop using the controversial "Lord Jeff" as an unofficial mascot following complaints that the character is racist… Read more
11-Year-Old Girl, ‘Sick of Reading About White Boys and Dogs,’ Starts Global Book Drive
by Mike Albo, Good Magazine
Realizing that she wasn’t reading any books in school that spoke to her, 11-year-old dynamo Marley Dias started a book drive, #1000BlackGirlBooks, to source stories where black girls are the protagonist… Read more
President Obama Issues New Action To Close The Gender Pay Gap
by Bo Suh, Good Magazine
On Friday, President Obama announced a new plan to require companies to include salary info based on gender, race, and ethnicity in a yearly report to the federal government… Read more
Aretha Franklin To Donate Hotel Rooms, Food To Flint Residents Amid Water Crisis
by Dominique Mosbergen, The Huffington Post
The Queen of Soul is one of many celebrities who has offered a helping hand to the troubled city… Read more
Kids In Wheelchairs Finally Have A Lego Figure That Looks Like Them
by Hilary Hanson, The Huffington Post
Disability activists are celebrating the announcement that Lego will release a new toy set featuring a young man in a wheelchair… Read more
In A Victory For Environmentalists, Officials Halt Offshore Fracking Permits In California
by Samantha Page, Think Progress
The federal government won’t be issuing any new permits to frack for oil or gas in the waters off California, after a settlement was reached Friday in a case brought by the Center for Biological Diversity… Read more
Send us your good news headlines at editor@spiritofchange.org. Thank you!
