All People Making a Difference
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Stockpiling seeds today saves plants for the future
A quarter of the world's plant species may be headed toward extinction. Seed banks aim to prevent that.
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John Kufuor helps transform Ghana into a model for African agriculture
Former President John Kufuor cut the number of hungry people in half through by using innovative ways to help farmers.
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Debra Ruh makes high-tech available to the disabled
Her company, TechAccess, works with businesses large and small to ensure the disabled can use their products.
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Green solutions for New York City's overflowing sewers
Techniques such as more trees and porous pavement can reduce runoff that fouls the city's waterways.
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Difference Maker David Carroll tracks turtles to reveal what nature has to say to humans
Scientist David Carroll doesn't publish academic papers but tells turtles' stories through his art and writings.
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Difference Maker Walter Lewin is 'hands on' helping students grasp physics
Whether it's swinging on a pendulum or riding a rocket tricycle, the former MIT professor, now on YouTube, finds different ways to assist students as they study the laws of physics.
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Leave It Better organization gets kids excited about veggies through gardening
Leave It Better has found a way to get kids excited about eating fresh vegetables by teaching them to grow the produce they eat themselves.
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Zambian banana plantation teaches at-risk youth useful life skills
At-risk teens and young adults in the Chongwe and Luagwa districts of Zambia work with ChildFund International to build a business in bananas. The banana plantation, built and cared for by the young people, will see its first harvest in November.
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Pan-Mass Challenge: How cyclists raise the most money for charity
The 32nd Pan-Mass Challenge begins Aug. 6. Some 5,000 cyclists will ride this year in an event that has raised $302 million to date. How do they do it?
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Rwanda documentary film premieres online to raise money for genocide memorial (video)
"Raindrops Over Rwanda," a nonprofit's documentary film about the Rwanda genocide, premieres online today July 18. "Like" it on Facebook, raise up to $50,000 in donations.
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Maternova brings new solutions to old problems of midwifery, maternal mortality
The mission-driven, for-profit venture, Maternova, aims to use the data-dissemination powers of technology to reach maternity care workers most in need of resources in order to combat one of the leading causes of death for women globally, maternal mortality.
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Difference Maker Naomi Oreskes: fierce defender of climate change science – and scientists
Naomi Oreskes has become a leading voice in defense of the science underlying global warming and the scientists who are researching it.
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Helping companies stand up to worker exploitation
'Help Wanted' gives companies, unions, NGOs, and governments tools for ending exploitation of workers.
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Five little-known vegetables that could help end hunger
Native vegetables such as guar, Dogon shallot, and celosia could play an important role in feeding Africa.
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Difference Maker Muoy You, who escaped Cambodia's killing fields, now teaches self-respect and integrity
Muoy You has opened Seametrey Children's Village in Phnom Penh to help restore Cambodia's culture.
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'Arlington Ladies' support families of fallen heroes
'Arlington Ladies' at Arlington National Cemetery offer help to families and express gratitude for the lives of veterans.
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Borneo project restores orangutan habitat and generates income for locals
The Borneo Orangutan Survival project in Indonesia could be a blueprint for saving habitat, cutting greenhouse gases.
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Another role for the Obamas: social entrepreneurs
Barack backs StartupAmerica, which reduce barriers to smale-scale business innovation. Michelle's ChooseMyPlate promotes healthier eating habits.
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Cell phone banking could lift Africa's farmers
Borrowing and paying via cell phone – no cash involved – opens new possibilities.
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Difference Maker Cle Ross is bringing youth baseball back to an inner city
Cle Ross is turning an eyesore in Kansas City, Kan., back into a baseball park to get urban kids off the streets and teach life lessons.
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