2005 TSUNAMI'S UNEXPECTED EFFECTS: SOME HOSTILE COMMUNITIES RECONCILIATE AGAINST ALL ODDS!

Amid the wreckage, some sought glimmers of light. The tsunami, it was argued, offered some political hope of reconciliation between hostile communities: Muslims and Buddhists in southern Thailand, Acehnese and the Jakarta government, Tamils and Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. Both in Aceh, where the Indonesian government has been waging a vicious anti-secessionist war for 28 years, and in Sri Lanka, it was argued that the warring sides might find common cause in disaster relief. Both the Indonesian armed forces and the Free Aceh Movement have called ceasefires. But it is unclear how long the truce may last, or what access international relief agencies will be given to the area where conflict rages.
Similarly, in Sri Lanka, some of the most severe damage was done in areas controlled by the Tamil Tigers. In theory, co-operation with the government in administering disaster relief might help build confidence and strengthen the shaky ceasefire. In practice, such co-operation is likely to prove impossible, leaving Tamils in Tiger areas—like disaffected Acehnese—feeling even more disregarded by the central government.

Source: The Economist, January 1, 2005

This scientist has saved one BILLION lives!

This scientist Richard Lewisohn (July 12, 1875 - August 11, 1961)'s work led to the storage of blood in blood banks, a discovery that is credited with saving over 1 billion lives!

Richard Lewisohn
(July 12, 1875 - August 11, 1961)

Before him, physicians in the United States, during the 1880s, transfused the milk of cows and goats into humans - a treatment that would also be banned due to the negative outcomes. Real breakthroughs came in the early 1900s as physicians began to match blood by types, based on Karl Landsteiner's work, and to experiment with storing it. The discovery of a means to store blood outside the body without it clotting (coagulating), was the key. Prior to this discovery, blood transfusions used the "direct" method, requiring the donor and the recipient to be side by side for the transfusion. The ability to store blood for later use was revolutionary, and led to the establishment of a worldwide system of blood banks. 

Source: HERE 

This scientist has saved over one MILLION lives

Jonas Salk's vaccine has saved over one million lives (1,010,000).

"During the first half of the 20th century, no illness inspired more dread and panic than did polio. It came in epidemics and mainly infected children in the summer, creating great scares for parents. Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. The virus enters the body through the mouth and multiplies in the intestine. Initial symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck and pain in the limbs. Most infected patients recover, but in a minority of patients, the virus attacks the nervous system. One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis (usually in the legs). [...] For parents, the Salk vaccine was a godsend, with active polio cases plummeting by almost 90 percent in the first two years following its introduction. Polio has now been virtually eradicated in countries using Salk's vaccine. "

 Source: HERE

This scientist has saved one BILLION lives!

This scientist Karl Landsteiner discovered that different people's blood had different characteristics that made it "incompatible" with other people's blood that didn't carry those same traits. He discovered the A, B, and O blood types. His discovery of the differences and identification of the groups that were alike made it possible for blood transfusions to become a routine procedure. This paved the way for many other medical procedures that we don't even think twice about today, such as surgery, blood banks, and transplants.
Over 1 Billion Lives Saved So Far!
Source:  HERE

Karl Landsteiner
 (June 14, 1868 - June 26, 1943)

These scientists have saved three BILLION lives!

These scientists Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch, who invented the Synthetic Fertilizer, have saved over 2,720,000,000 lives! (yes that is over two billion lives!).
Source:  HERE

Carl Bosch (August 27, 1874 - April 26, 1940)

Fritz Haber (December 9, 1868 - January 30, 1935)

Holocaust, cancer, blindness cannot halt inspirational messages of East Brunswick's Michael Kesler

"There is a remarkable sense of strength that surges through those who listen to stories of survival and perseverance by East Brunswick resident Dr. Michael G. Kesler.

Almost 90, he has never allowed his experiences with the Holocaust, cancer, or his recent loss of vision to prevent him from teaching others to savor and seize every day and every opportunity it holds.

Kesler relates these stories at various local speaking engagements and in the books that he has written and self-published. ..."

Michael Kesler, a blind Holocaust survivor and author, at his home Thursday.

Source: HERE.

Till Death Do Us Part " inspiring valentine's day story "

this one is for Valentine's Day.