• US: Biden marks Earth Day with $7bn 'solar for all' investment amid week of climate action
• New EPA rule says 218 US chemical plants must reduce toxic emissions that are likely to cause cancer
• 5 trailblazers will be featured on U.S. quarters to celebrate women throughout history

• International Group of Scientists Offers Proven Solution to Global Conflict
• US: 'Enlivening consciousness twice daily for inner mastery of life' - Webinar with Tony Nader, MD, PhD - Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, 19 January
• US: National TM Intro Webinars - January 15 and 18

• What to know about the latest bird flu outbreak in the US
• Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
• FBI chief says Chinese hackers have infiltrated critical US infrastructure

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Positive Trends
Short Summaries of Top Stories

US: Biden marks Earth Day with $7bn 'solar for all' investment amid week of climate action
22 April 2024 - US President Joe Biden marked Monday's Earth Day by announcing a $7bn investment in solar energy projects nationwide, focusing on disadvantaged communities. (more)

New EPA rule says 218 US chemical plants must reduce toxic emissions that are likely to cause cancer
21 April 2024 - More than 200 chemical plants nationwide will be required to reduce toxic emissions that are likely to cause cancer under a new rule issued Tuesday [9 April] by the Environmental Protection Agency. ...The action updates several regulations on chemical plant emissions that have not been tightened in nearly two decades. (more)

5 trailblazers will be featured on U.S. quarters to celebrate women throughout history
20 April 2024 - This year the United States Mint will continue to celebrate various female figures throughout history by placing them on one side of the U.S. quarter. From Civil War era surgeon Dr. Mary Edwards Walker to salsa sensation Celia Cruz, this year will highlight impactful representations of women who have played significant roles in enacting positive change. ...These coins are 'pocket portraits' that can inspire people to continue making a positive impact in their communities. (more)

New EPA rules for about 200 US chemical manufacturers take aim at 'cancer alleys'
20 April 2024 - The US Environmental Protection Agency issued new rules on Tuesday [9 April] to protect neighborhoods near more than 200 manufacturing facilities that release airborne toxins such as ethylene oxide, chloroprene, benzene, vinyl chloride, 1,3 butadiene and ethylene dichloride. (more)

''Solar-powered vacuum cleaners'': the native plants that could clean toxic soil
17 April 2024 - Indigenous groups see hope in the environmentally friendly process of bioremediation. A growing body of research suggests biology may offer a slower but more environmentally friendly and potentially cost-effective way of decontaminating soils and waterways. Called bioremediation, it involves utilizing plants, fungi, and bacteria to clean up contamination. (more)

Culture and conservation thrive as Great Lakes tribes bring back native wild rice
17 April 2024 - Wild rice or manoomin is an ecologically important and culturally revered wetland species native to the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada, which once covered thousands of acres and was a staple for Indigenous peoples. In recent years, native tribes and First Nations, working with federal and state agencies, scientists, and funding initiatives, have led wild rice restoration programs that have successfully revived the species in parts of the region and paved the way for education and outreach. (more)

Boom times for US green energy as federal cash flows in
15 April 2024 - The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) aim is to lower greenhouse gas emissions, and incentivise private investment, to encourage the growth of green industries and jobs: a new foundation for the US economy. Complementary is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which runs for five years and provides direct investment largely in the form of government grants for research and development and capital projects. (more)

US: EPA puts limits on 'forever chemicals' in drinking water
14 April 2024 - The Environmental Protection Agency announced new drinking water standards Wednesday [10 April] to limit exposure to a class of chemicals called PFAS [per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances]. This is the first time the agency has set enforceable limits on PFAS in drinking water. (more)

US: Zero- and low-waste businesses band together against plastic pollution
11 April 2024 - Low-waste businesses are strengthening their efforts to reduce plastic pollution via the National Business Coalition for the Oceans, a nationwide organization of businesses supported by nonprofit Oceana. The coalition focuses on advancing federal, state and local policies to improve ocean health, in part by curbing single-use plastics. Businesses involved in the coalition work for plastics policy change by sending letters, signing petitions, testifying at hearings and educating customers. (more)

Chickadees create barcode-like memories to locate stored food, scientists find
29 March 2024 - While adults might be spending the weekend trying to remember where they have hidden a hoard of Easter eggs, the black-capped chickadee has no trouble recalling where its treats are stashed. Now researchers have discovered why: the diminutive birds create a barcode-like memory each time they stash food. (more)

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Success of Maharishi's Programmes
Short Summaries of Top Stories

International Group of Scientists Offers Proven Solution to Global Conflict
18 November 2023 - An Open Letter to the President of the United States and All World Leaders appeared on Friday, 3 November, as a full-page advertisement on page A9 of The Wall Street Journal. The Global Union of Scientists for Peace offered 'a proven technology for peace, security, and a swift resolution of conflict' in Ukraine, the Middle East, and elsewhere in the world. Dr. Tony Nader, Chairman, said this innovative solution would 'cost less than one day of war'. '[It] is based in the most fundamental value of life: consciousness. Research has found that small groups practicing the Transcendental Meditation and advanced TM-Sidhi program together create a coherence effect that significantly reduces violence, crime, and war. This technology of consciousness has been confirmed in 56 empirical studies, 28 of which have been published in peer-reviewed scholarly journals. From research over 40 years, we can say definitively: this solution works. ... It can be tried even while the fighting is still going on. Our world cannot afford to wait.' Dr. Nader invited 'well-wishers [to] now step forward to permanently establish these groups. I invite all angel philanthropists to immediately create permanent world peace.' (more)

US: 'Enlivening consciousness twice daily for inner mastery of life' - Webinar with Tony Nader, MD, PhD - Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, 19 January
18 January 2023 - Do you bargain with yourself about whether to meditate once or twice a day? In this webinar for health professionals, students and physicians at Loyola University in Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine will share their discovery that Transcendental Meditation practice twice a day provides exponential rewards for learning and life. Tony Nader, M.D., Ph.D., will reflect with them about their experiences. Dr Nader is an MIT- and Harvard-trained medical doctor, neuroscientist, and leading authority in the field of consciousness. He directs the nonprofit organizations that teach TM in over 100 countries. (more)

US: National TM Intro Webinars - January 15 and 18
12 January 2023 - In the coming week, the Transcendental Meditation programme in the USA is hosting two nationwide, live intro talk webinars on the TM technique. Whether you're interested in the TM technique for deep inner calm, personal growth, improved health, greater happiness, or anything else, a TM Intro Webinar is the best way to learn more about it. If you and your friends and colleagues have been been meaning to look into TM, join certified TM teachers Bob Roth and Raisa Martinez - a great opportunity for everyone. Admission is free, the main presentation will be followed by a Q and A. (more)

A 17-year landmark study finds that group meditation decreases US national stress
29 December 2022 - A study published this month in the World Journal of Social Science found that group practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi techniques by the square root of 1% of a population decreased multiple stress indicators in the U.S. The study is the longest and most comprehensive of 50 studies to demonstrate the Maharishi Effect, named in honour of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, founder of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) programme and Maharishi International University (MIU). The paper concludes with a call to create a permanent 'square root of 1%' group for the whole world - 8,000 participants practising the TM and TM-Sidhi programme together in one place. The world is interconnected, no one is safe until everyone is safe, living in harmony. This is easily within reach of any government or the world's wealthiest citizens. The person who does it will be remembered as the greatest leader in history. (more)

Paul McCartney's unusual secret: Former Beatle's fitness routine, including Transcendental Meditation, plays a big role in health, vitality
1 August 2022 - There aren't too many octogenarians headlining high profile rock concerts but Sir Paul McCartney isn't your average 80-year-old. The rock legend recently took to the stage at Glastonbury (UK) Festival, one of the world's biggest contemporary music festivals, becoming the oldest solo act to headline the festival ... appearing energetic, full of stamina, and with the posture of much younger rockers. What's the secret to his vitality? While Sir Paul attributes much of his good health to his vegetarian diet, he also believes his workout routine, including cross-training and yoga, plays a big role - and Transcendental Meditation. (more)

Proposal to create peace in the world through ancient Vedic sciences: Yoga & Yagya: Live webcast 27 July
25 July 2022 - On 27 July, the Embassy of India in Zagreb, Croatia, and the Zagreb-based Ministry of Ayush of the Government of India will host a free live webcast by world experts in the field of consciousness, Yoga, Ayurveda, and Yagya. Presenting will be: Dr. Girish Momaya, Director of the International Maharishi AyurVeda Foundation, Netherlands and Director at Maharishi Ayurveda Europe BV; Dr. Lothar Pirc, Director and owner of Maharishi Ayurveda Health Centre Bad Ems and Director of the International Maharishi AyurVeda Foundation; and Dr. Jose Luis Alvarez Roset, Vice Chancellor UMLAC: Maharishi University of Latin America and the Caribbean. 'Ayush' is an acronym for traditional systems of heath care: Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. (more)

US: High-risk Black adults benefit from Transcendental Meditation practice: Study published in American Journal of Cardiology
19 July 2022 - The latest NIH-sponsored study led by Robert Schneider, MD, FACC, and collaborators at the Medical College of Wisconsin was published recently in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology. The study found that the Transcendental Meditation technique reduces risk for cardiovascular disease and potentially related co-morbidities, such as COVID, in Black adults with high normal blood pressure. Dr Schneider is Dean of the College of Integrative Medicine at Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa. (more)

Introducing Transcendental Meditation: Evidence-based holistic effects from an effortless process
13 July 2022 - The Transcendental Meditation technique is a simple, natural, effortless, scientifically verified practice with a broad body of holistic benefits to all diverse aspects of life, writes Janet Hoffman, Executive Director of TM for Women Professionals in the USA. TM 'allows the mind to settle down and transcend thinking while remaining restfully alert,' she explains. 'This restful alertness is a major fourth state of consciousness, unlike waking, dreaming, and sleeping.' Over 450 published peer-reviewed studies have shown the benefits - psychological, physiological, emotional, behavioural, and societal - of experiencing this state of Transcendental Consciousness. (more)

Save the date: David Lynch Foundation's Annual Gala and Enlightened Visionary Awards, 12 September, New York
25 June 2022 - An invitation to join the David Lynch Foundation for the historic announcement of 'MEDITATE NEW YORK', a broad new initiative featuring the stress-reducing Transcendental Meditation technique. The launch will take place at the Annual Gala honouring the DLF's 2022 Enlightened Visionary Award Recipients: Sutton Foster, two-time Tony Award winner; Angelique Kidjo, five-time Grammy Award winner; and Jane Lynch, five-time Emmy Award winner. Save the Date: 12 September 2022, at Jazz at Lincoln Center. (more)

US: Maharishi International University graduates 699 students from 55 countries, honours Protect Our Planet global youth mentor
18 June 2022 - On Saturday, 18 June at Maharishi International University (MIU) in Fairfield Iowa, 699 students from 55 countries graduated with undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees. Dr. Ash Pachauri gave the Commencement address, and received an honorary doctoral degree. Dr. Pachauri is the co-founder and senior mentor of the POP (Protect Our Planet) Movement, a global organization whose mission is to support 1.8 billion young people (ages 10-24) around the world to tackle climate change. He was also inducted as Climate Advisor to the Global Union of Scientists for Peace (GUSP), of which his father, the late Dr. R.K. Pachauri, was a distinguished member. (more)

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Flops
Short Summaries of Top Stories

What to know about the latest bird flu outbreak in the US
24 April 2024 - A poultry facility in Michigan and egg producer in Texas both reported outbreaks of avian flu this week. The latest developments on the virus also include infected dairy cows and the first known instance of a human catching bird flu from a mammal. ...Here are some key things to know about the disease. (more)

Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
22 April 2024 - Ninety percent of animal and vegetable protein samples tested positive for microplastics, teeny polymer fragments that can range from less than 0.2 inch (5 millimeters) down to 1/25,000th of an inch (1 micrometer), according to a February 2024 study. ...Even vegetarians can't escape, according to a 2021 study. If the plastic is small enough, fruits and vegetables can absorb microplastics through their root systems and transfer those chemical bits to the plant's stems, leaves, seeds, and fruit. Salt can be packed with plastic. (more)

FBI chief says Chinese hackers have infiltrated critical US infrastructure
21 April 2024 - Chinese government-linked hackers have burrowed into US critical infrastructure and are waiting 'for just the right moment to deal a devastating blow', the director of the FBI, Christopher Wray, has warned. An ongoing Chinese hacking campaign known as Volt Typhoon has successfully gained access to numerous American companies in telecommunications, energy, water, and other critical sectors, with 23 pipeline operators targeted, Wray said in a speech at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday [18 April]. (more)

'They hit the jackpot': How so-called 'burglary tourists' use visa waivers to target luxury US homes
5 April 2024 - Prosecutors say the break-in [at a home in Orange County, California] is part of a larger issue in which so-called 'burglary tourists' enter the United States from countries that qualify for visa waivers, allowing a visit of up to 90 days without a traditional tourist visa. When the suspects arrive -- most often from South America, prosecutors say -- they join sophisticated burglary rings that prey on luxury homes. (more)

Sinking US cities increase risk of flooding from rising sea levels
28 March 2024 - A number of cities on the US east coast are sinking, increasing the risk of flooding from rising sea levels. ...Some of this subsidence resulted from pumping out groundwater for water supplies or for natural gas, but New York and other cities are sinking under the sheer weight of their buildings pressing into soft ground. (more)

8-hour time-restricted eating linked to a 91% higher risk of cardiovascular death
19 March 2024 - A study of over 20,000 adults found that those who followed an 8-hour time-restricted eating schedule, a type of intermittent fasting, had a 91 percent higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Compared with a standard schedule of eating across 12-16 hours per day, limiting food intake to less than 8 hours per day was not associated with living longer. (more)

Trillions of gallons leak from aging drinking water systems, further stressing shrinking US cities
18 March 2024 - Across the U.S., trillions of gallons of drinking water are lost every year, especially from decrepit systems in communities struggling with significant population loss and industrial decline that leave behind poorer residents, vacant neighborhoods, and too-large water systems that are difficult to maintain. (more)

Athletes likely to have higher levels of PFAS after play on artificial turf - study
17 March 2024 - Athletes who play on artificial turf are likely to be coated with higher levels of toxic PFAS 'forever chemicals' than before playing on the field, new research suggests, raising more questions about the controversial material's safety. ...PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of about 15,000 chemicals often used to make products resist water, stain, and heat. The compounds are linked to cancer, liver problems, thyroid issues, birth defects, kidney disease, decreased immunity, and other serious health problems. (more)

US: Southern California mall shut down due to massive brawl involving juveniles
17 March 2024 - The Long Beach Police Department coordinated with stores in The Pike Outlets to close early following a large disturbance and multiple altercations on Saturday [16 March]. There were reports that roughly 200 people gathered at the Long Beach shopping center after a post on social media about a meetup went viral. ...Video obtained by stringer service OC Hawk shows two females in a fistfight. There was a large group of teens surrounding the two females as the fight continued, with many seen recording the confrontation on their phones. (more)

'Alarming' rise in Americans with long COVID symptoms
15 March 2024 - Some 6.8% of American adults are currently experiencing long COVID symptoms, according to a new survey from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), revealing an 'alarming' increase in recent months even as the health agency relaxes COVID isolation recommendations, experts say. That means an estimated 17.6 million Americans could now be living with long COVID. (more)