Grateful News November 2016

This month’s Grateful News focuses on a Super moon; a student helping Cambodian children; a man there for kids no matter what; women making history; refugees expressing gratitude; new hopes for wind energy; and an ingenious new agriculture technology for the poor…

In Pictures: The ‘Supermoon’

We are all one under the stars and the moon. On November 15, 2016, people all over the world took photos of the moon as it made its closest approach since 1948. To observers, it appeared about 7% larger than normal and about 15% brighter. It won’t be this close again until 25 November 2034. >> See photos

The American Student Who Gave Cambodian Children a Chance to Get Clean

When an American student saw a Cambodian woman washing her child with detergent, he was horrified. But then he thought of a place he could get large quantities of soap free of charge. Two years later, he’s already supplying villagers with a safe way to keep clean, and also with jobs. >> Full Article

How a ‘Computer Guy’ Came to be a Promise Fellow for Kids Who Have it Tough

The poverty experienced by students and their families is often exacerbated by mental health issues, plus drug and alcohol abuse. William Lah pledged that these students will have a caring adult in their life, no matter what. >> Full Story

Something to Celebrate: 6 Women Who Won Historic Firsts

A woman was not elected to the highest office. But across the United States, women of various backgrounds shattered the status quo. They ran on platforms of equality and progressive reform against long-time incumbents in historically conservative states. And they won. >> Full Story

He Smuggled 2 Young Boys Out of Laos in 1977, Now They’ve Reunited

40 years ago two young boys were smuggled across the Mekong River to Thailand from Laos, the threat of trigger-happy soldiers on either bank a constant. One of those boys, now a father himself, seeks out the missionary who brought him and his brother to his parents in Canada. >> Full Story

World’s Cheapest Offshore Wind Farm to Power 600,000 Homes

Denmark’s largest offshore wind farm is set for operations by 2022 and will be able to supply 23 percent of all Danish households. This puts the country on track to meet its 2020 goal of getting 50 percent of its power from renewables.
>> Full Story

MSNBC Host Left TV Battles Behind to Fight Poverty Instead

Dylan Ratigan, decided that rather than complain about the state of the world, he would at least try to be part of the solution. After resigning as host of a talk show on MSNBC in 2012, he co-founded Helical Holdings, which uses agriculture technology to help people in inner cities, refugee camps or war zones, and after natural disasters. >> Full Story