Inspirational and good news.
Bolivia’s first indigenous president, Evo Morales, has announced that he aims to reform the way that the government deals with the indigenous population.
“From 500 years of resistance we pass to another 500 years in power. We’re going to put an end to injustice, to inequality.” Morales said.
According to CBC.ca “Tens of thousands of Bolivians – led by Indians in traditional garb – gathered in a square outside the legislature, cheering and chanting “Evo, Evo.””
Thanks, Justin!
A new technology is being tested that may one day allow patients who have suffered heart attack or heart disease to ‘patch’ their broken hearts with new, lab-grown tissue.
The team led by professor Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City are using a bioreactor to grow new tissues to spec. There are problems yet to be worked out, but animal trials are underway, with the hope of starting human trials perhaps in a decade.
California’s Public Utilities Commission has voted 3 to-1 to create the largest solar program of its kind in any state in the U.S. The ten-year California Solar Initiative will provide US$2.9 billion to accelerate the transition to clean energy and to reduce the consumer costs of solar electricity. The goal is to increase the capacity of installed rooftop PV panels by 3,000 MW by 2017.
The California program is the second largest in the world, after Germany, and the Vote Solar group estimates the initiative will result in a net positive benefit for California of $1.2 to $18.2 billion, depending on the cost of avoided power and timeframe, and would create 39,948 to 61,458 job-years by 2026.
Scientists have used stem cells to grow lung cells, which means that we may soon have lung transplants from lungs grown in a lab.
“Following further laboratory tests, the researchers plan to use their findings to treat problems such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a condition which causes the lining of the cells to fall off, and which currently kills many intensive care patients. By injecting stem cells that will become lung cells, they hope to be able to repopulate the lung lining.”
Jim Shultz, from The Democracy Center brought good news today.
“This morning, the Bechtel Corporation will sign an agreement dropping its $50 million legal case against the people of Cochabamba (Bolivia) for kicking Bechtel out in the 2000 water revolt†said Shultz. “Instead of the fortune it demanded, Bechtel will fly home with a token settlement of two shiny Bolivian coins worth a total of thirty cents. One of the biggest, most powerful corporations on Earth has been defeated by an army of concerned citizens all over the world.â€
Good for the people of Bolivia!!
For more information on this, check out democracyctr.org and boliviasoberana.org (in Spanish). For more information on privatization of water around the world, go to waternotforsale.org