McDonald’s plant burger launch late to vegan party

Good News Notes: “The McPlant burger will be trialled in 10 Coventry restaurants from late September and go national next year. But the launch lags behind rival fast food chains, such as Greggs with its vegan sausage roll and Burger King with a soy-based Rebel Whopper. McDonald’s said it took its time to ensure it…

Plant-Based Diet Rich in Olive Oil, Tomatoes Lowers Heart Disease Risk

Good News Notes: “Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the US. To avoid it, a mostly plant-based diet is your best bet, according to a meta-analysis published July 6 in Cardiovascular Research.  Researchers from the University of Naples reviewed nearly 100 studies on the relationship between heart disease risk and dietary habits. They focused on…

Continental’s incredible GreenConcept retreadable tire is made from dandelions and rice

Good News Notes: “Eco-friendly tires are something of a holy grail in the car industry, as these essential wear items have long suffered from confoundingly problematic production, emissions and disposal issues. At this week’s IAA Munich Motor Show, German supplier Continental debuted its Conti GreenConcept, a retread-ready smart tire made from renewable, recycled and traceable materials designed…

People are turning to horse therapy to improve mental health during the pandemic

Good News Notes: “As the coronavirus pandemic continues to take a toll on people’s mental health and wellbeing, an equestrian center in California is offering programs for healing.  Sabine Niederberghaus started La Esperanza Ranch in Topanga Canyon, California, 27 years ago, but it wasn’t until COVID-19 hit when she decided to start the Equine Leadership Program.  “I had time during the…

Could oxygen therapy reverse Alzheimer’s disease?

Good News Notes: “For the first time, a non-pharmaceutical clinical trial has proven effective in reversing the main activators of  Alzheimer’s disease, according to Tel Aviv University’s Prof. Shai Efrati, whose study on the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to improve brain function was  published Thursday in the peer-reviewed medical journal Aging. The study, which…

A purrfect match! Animal shelter puts lonely pets on Tinder

Good News Notes: “A German animal shelter is trying a new approach to find homes for abandoned pets: it is posting their profiles on dating app Tinder in the hope that lonely humans looking for love might also settle for the company of a cat or a dog. The Munich Animal Welfare Association got an…

Clowns Without Borders takes laughter to conflict zones

Good News Notes: “Born in 1993 from the belief that laughter can ease pain, Clowns Without Borders International sends jokesters, mimes and circus specialists to refugee camps, conflict zones and sites of historical tragedies around the world. Performances have taken place at schools, town squares, ferry terminals, bus stops, beaches and underground shelters, said Naomi Shafer,…

In Tahiti, women are rocking the boat

Good News Notes: “Put your paddle in deeper and feel the water,” says Hinatea Bernadino, as our outrigger canoe glides effortlessly through the glassy Tahitian lagoon. I can clearly see the bottom six feet below me and the parrotfish darting by us. “You and the canoe are one person.” In an outrigger canoe, called va’a in Tahitian,…

8 rescued after boat sinks on York River

Good News Notes:  “Eight people aboard a sinking boat were rescued Tuesday afternoon on the York River. Abingdon Volunteer Fire and Rescue was notified just after 3 p.m. and responded with two rescue boats. A Virginia Marine Police boat was able to reach the sinking boat first and rescue the passengers with no injuries. AFVR’s…