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Posted December 26, 2009
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This iReport is part of an assignment:
Everyday Heroes |
The Man Who Saved Two Billion People
Breaking News: An attempted terrorist attack was stopped recently when Jasper Schuringa, a director from Amsterdam, tackled the would-be bomber to possibly save the lives of every person on the plane. I think it is save to assume that this was not on Jasper's daily schedule. This story goes hand in hand with a book that I just finished reading called [I]The Noticer [/I]by bestselling author Andy Andrews. The book features a wandering prophet named simply Jones, who possesses a gift to help lost people regain their prospectives. In one chapter he helps an elderly woman, who is just living out her days to realize that she still has much to offer society. Jones uses the accomplishment of Norman Bourlag, who is known as the father of the green revolution. Bourlag created a system for growing corn and wheat in arid climates. The Nobel committee, along with several other experts, concluded that this simple concept saved the lives of billions of people worldwide. Jones then expands the "credit" to Henry Wallace, the Vice-President under FDR, who appointed Bourlag to the position. Going back further Jones connects Wallace to the historic peanut innovator George Washington Carver. Carver was a student at Iowa St. while Henry Wallace's father was a professor there. The six year Henry got much of his inspiration about plants from the budding scientist Going back even further Jones continues that Carver was saved by a white farmer who bought back the infant Carver after his mother was killed by white extremists. Jones argues that without the series of small events that occured prior to Bourlag's discovery, billions may have perished needlessly. Jasper and Norman have their place in history, will you be ready if and when your day comes? There are many things we can do to improve our odds of making a difference. Giving to worthy charities, working with homeless shelters, or being a big brother or sister to a needy child. Go out and make a difference in someone's life, you'll be amazed at how that will improve your own life.
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