Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

The US Army’s Failed Anthropology Experiment

The U.S. Army's Failed Anthropology Experiment
In 2006, a program dubbed the Human Terrain System was introduced to the U.S. Army as an anthropological effort to learn more about the culture of the Iraqi and Afghan people. The program aimed to combine social science with military intelligence to gain more Intel on the cultural factors at play in the countries’ high level of extremism and terrorism. HTS faced substantial criticism from the start, from both experts in anthropology and war, as well as from both left and right-sided politics. The program cost taxpayers an estimated $700 million over a span of seven years before it was halted. The program ended in September of 2014, but the defeat of the program was widely unknown, at least from a public standpoint, until just recently.

Despite the criticism, a multi-sector approach to the conflict in the Middle East could have the potential for tremendous reward. The brisk implementation, lack of adequate organization and training and high level of criticism seemed to completely deplete any and all advantages that HTS could have brought to U.S. efforts. It is widely known and supported that investment in encouraging development in areas of underdevelopment is generally a long term investment in decreasing conflict and therefore strengthening homeland defense. In fact, 84 percent of military officers said that strengthening non-military tools, such as diplomacy and development efforts, should be at least equal to strengthening military efforts, and yet the U.S. spends a tiny fraction of foreign spending on alleviating poverty. Understanding the culture in which soldiers are living and interacting within would be of a tremendous value for U.S. troops. So, why, then, was the introduction of HTS faced with so little support?

For one, the program was developed and implemented rather quickly, and without adequate research and planning. There was little training for workers who would be immersed in an area of high combat, intense climate and a language barrier, which not only put the workers in danger, but also took away from their ability to adequately gather information and inform troops.

Additionally, posing the project as an anthropology initiative posed serious ethical concerns. Some viewed it as the U.S. army gaining knowledge of the culture and its people to more efficiently subjugate violence against them. The anthropological community strongly upheld that argument, which contributed to a lack of support and expertise in that area contributing to the program. Additionally, on the ground, this dilemma brought on varying degrees of suspicion among Iraqi and Afghan people, which could further put the HTS workers in danger.

Also, the lack of adequate leadership and development of the program left room for major problems in mismanagement, corruption, racism and sexual harassment. The program was cited for hiring unqualified workers at all levels. The impossible work environment and lack of general expertise and professional knowledge rendered the program nearly ineffective.

Overall, the program, at first glance, would seem potentially invaluable for both domestic military leaders and for the troops actively engaged on the ground. However, the mismanagement and lack of seriousness of the program made for an ineffective and potentially dangerous program. The quiet termination of the program was needed, but it also further complicated the issue of future efforts in combining social science with military activism. Instead of using the program as a one time effort that failed and from which we can move on, we should use the failure as a learning opportunity. Using experts from both fields to create a working program with credible leadership and intensive training could not only give the U.S. Army an advantage, but also decrease overall violence in the areas where implemented. We also need to remove some of the strict labels put on such projects due to the political associations they may have, which could influence the support of projects, something they really lack.

– Emma Dowd

Sources: Bloomberg, Foreign Policy
Photo: Newsweek

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What We Learned from Ebola: Preparing for the Next Epidemic

What We Learned from Ebola: Global Infection Preparedness
Ebola took the world by storm: global health and response systems were unprepared for it in numerous ways. As the world slowly recovers from the Ebola epidemic, what have we learned, and what can we do differently moving forward?

A recent World Bank survey showed that most people across France, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the US consider “global infectious diseases” the worldwide health issue they are most worried about. However, Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, points out that a sense of concern will lead to forward momentum. “This heightened concern also translates into strong support for investments to strengthen health systems in vulnerable countries.”

And so, with public support to back up the move towards preparedness, what steps need to be taken to be sure that next time, the public health sector is ready?

In an article for the New England Journal of Medicine, Bill Gates offers several suggestions, likening the preparedness for epidemics to the preparedness governments might have for war. “NATO countries,” he points out, “participate in joint exercises in which they work our logistics such as how fuel and food will be provided, what language they will speak, and what radio frequencies will be used. Few, if any, such measures are in place for response to an epidemic.”

He suggests that health systems in general need to be reinforced. Having solid programs and infrastructure in place can increase measures of preventative care, and also allow for more effective combat of disease outbreaks when they do happen.

He also feels that more people need to be trained in how to respond to an epidemic quickly. Tools to detect, track, and treat disease should be developed ahead of time, and a global plan should be established so that more countries can be involved in the fight against future epidemics.

There are already plenty of organizations working towards toward these exact goals. The World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO) are working with other partners to increase preparedness for similar situations in the future.

In a talk given at Georgetown University as a part of the university’s Global Future Initiative, Jim Yong Kim (World Bank president) compares the approach to HIV treatment at the turn of the century to the treatment of future pandemics.

Although some looked at the cost of treatment for the disease and proclaimed the fight against HIV “impossible,” Kim emphasizes the link he has seen time and time again between global health and economic prosperity. He references a paper by Larry Summers (former president of Harvard and former Secretary of State) that showed from 2000-2011, 24 percent of growth in the income of developing countries was a result of improvements in health.

He also emphasizes the importance of communication between governments, NGOs, the private sector, and organizations across the board. “From the perspective of pandemics, we are all living on the same planet,” he says, “and we have got to make sure that all these conversations happen.”

Nicole Lurie, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health, voices similar considerations to both Gates and Kim. With Ebola, there were a lot of disagreements on how to organize clinical trials quickly and effectively. There were also problems with technology, which is needed both to transmit information and to communicate. Thus, there are improvements to be made in terms of making predetermined plans and use of technology.

She also voices her opinion on the importance of communication. In the age of social media, it is more important than ever to coordinate messages between the government, NGOs, and the media broadcasted to the public so that they are consistent. Although the instantaneous transmission of information that comes with social media can lead to the perpetuation of rumors, if utilized correctly, social media can be a helpful tool in the fight against pandemics.

If communication improves, the urgency of the situation can be conveyed to the public while still taking care not to cause panic and irrational actions.

A lot of lessons have been learned by prominent global leaders due to the Ebola epidemic, and hopefully, if we follow some of their suggestions about improving programs, training people, changing public mindset, and improving communication and technology, the next outbreak will be stomped out quickly.

– Em Dieckman

Sources: Georgetown University, Nejm 1, Nejm 2, World Bank
Photo: Wired

Nigeria Oil and Gas Trade and Investment Forum Speakers

oil_and_gas
It’s no secret that two major resources that the world depends heavily upon are oil and gas, but in limited supply, they must be managed as work is put in to find more eco-friendly solutions. In the two-day conference, the Nigeria Oil and Gas Trade and Investment Forum organized by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment will welcome thousands of representatives from different energy corporations to network and do business as well as listen to top-tier speakers from different firms based in Nigeria.

This forum will offer its delegates the opportunity to study new products and solutions that will further their companies, speak with global executives, hear from Nigerian dignitaries, and discuss the relevance of the Free Trade Zone to investment possibilities.

Here is this year’s speaker lineup:

Thomas Sule

Chief information officer and chief corporate services officer of Oando PLC. Prior to this position, Sule was the chief operating officer of the Helios Tower in Nigeria. His background on Bloomburg Business indicates that “Mr. Sule was focusing on strengthening HTN’s position as a leader in the industry and providing direction and leadership toward the achievement of the organizations, mission, strategy, and its annual goals and objectives.” Sule also has backgrounds in re-engineering initiatives as well as business processes and practice.

Adeolu Olufemi Adeyemi

As representative of GM Capital Projects and Shell Petroleum Development Company, Adeyemi’s main focus is on how technology can be used differently to improve efficiency. With the rise in mobile connectivity throughout the world, many successful companies are developing and using technology to raise their bottom-line profits.

Augustine Igwegbe

As CEO and MD for Ingwetin Glo Ltd and Former Regional IT Business, Igwegbe joined Shell Upstream International in 1988. “As the Shell regional Technology Manager for EP Africa, Mr. Igwegbe led IT department that managed one of the biggest private communication networks in Africa.” With his 28 years of experience and a B.Sc in Computer Science along with a background in banking, manufacturing and consulting, he hopes to introduce new business requirements regarding the delivery of IT services.

Ademola Agboola

Agboola is head of IT at one of Nigeria’s leading exploration and product companies, Pan Ocean Oil Corporation. Established in 1973, this is a joint venture with the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC). “Pan Ocean is a trailblazer in the bid to achieve the gas flare out objective of the Federal Government. Since 1984, Pan Ocean went ahead with its initiative on gas utilization despite the challenges of an under developed Nigeria Gas Market.” The core values of Pan Ocean are Integrity, Resilience, Safety and Security, Fairness, Excellence, Team Spirit, and Appreciation.

Rufus Ehikioya

Ehikioya is applications Analyst from Chevron Nigeria. Chevron is an established corporation worldwide that’s working toward sustainable economic progress and worldwide human development. “In the months that followed the creation of ChevronTexaco, the new company found itself looking for resources in ever-more-difficult environments.” Chevron is currently working with several different academic institutions in pursuit of renewable energy technology which is becoming increasingly accepted in the developing world.

Adepeju Adekunle

Adekunle is head of IT Projects at limited liability company Nigeria NLG Limited, producers and exporters of Liquefied Natural Gas. One of the current objectives of Nigeria NLG as of late has been to eliminate gas flaring, and thus far has brought down the amount of flares from over 65 percent to less than 25 percent. This company is owned by Shell, the NNPC representing the Federal Government of Nigeria, total NLG and Eni.

Adesina Odukoya

Odukoya is the director of IT Operations for sub-Saharan Africa GE Oil and Gas. GE Oil and Gas has approximately 45,000 employees worldwide and seven global research centers. “Total global natural gas demand may have risen by approximately 2.7 percent since the year 2000 but global LNG demand has grown by 7.6 percent per year over the same period, indicating an almost threefold increase in demand for LNG.” And since around 85 percent of offshore rigs use GE’s drilling system, the rise in demand works for the benefit of bases around the globe. With so many employees dependent on this kind of demand, GE Oil and Gas seeks to continue to expand, and will even be providing new technologies for a Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project in the near future.

– Anna Brailow

Sources: Bloomberg, Chevron, GE Oil and Gas, IT News Africa, Nigeria Oil and Gas Invest, Nigeria LNG Limited, Enterprise Mobility, Panocean Oil Nigeria, SMI
Photo: Global Village Extra

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Divided Healthcare in South Africa


For years South Africa had the reputation as a country of disparity. During most of the 20th century it remained divided along racial lines, until its 1994 election and the abolition of apartheid. With noticeable growth in its Black African middle class, the country has undoubtedly made progress in reducing its previous inequalities.

However, disparity still defines much of South African life. It has a highly disproportionate number of people living with HIV/AIDS. While South Africa contains only 0.7 percent of the global population, it is responsible for 17 percent of the world’s infections. In fact, it bears the highest HIV/AIDS rate of any country in the world, with close to 20 percent of its population infected.

Disparity also marks healthcare in South Africa, in which there is a massive gulf between private and public care. This stratified imbalance often reflects racial divisions and hinders an effective response to the national AIDS epidemic. For most South Africans, the quality of healthcare is woefully inadequate.

The data tells it all. Though 84 percent of South Africans, or 50 million people, rely on public healthcare, only 30 percent of the nation’s doctors work at public hospitals. By contrast, private coverage applies to only 8 million South Africans, yet this small minority receives 70 percent of the physicians. A majority of those reliant on public healthcare are black, while whites comprise most of those on private plans.

Per capita, expenditures on healthcare reveal the extent of this inequality. According to The New England Journal of Medicine, “Annual per capita expenditure on health ranges from $1,400 in the private sector to approximately $140 in the public sector, and disparities in the provision of health care continue to widen.”

The lack of funding has left public hospitals in decay all across the country. What funds these hospitals do receive are often mismanaged and squandered due to corruption and incompetency. It is not uncommon for these public facilities to endure medicine shortages, broken equipment and deteriorating buildings.

The inadequacy of public healthcare became widely apparent during the presidency of Thabo Mbeki, when the government systematically denied the threat of AIDS. Over 330,000 people died needlessly after the government failed to initiate an antiretroviral treatment program.

However, if one were to visit one of South Africa’s 200 private hospitals, conditions would appear satisfactory or even superior. The private health sector spends 13 times as much as the public sector on medicine and features the country’s best doctors.

It is this elite standard of care that is actually suffocating the countries healthcare system, as private spending on state of the art medicine increases drug manufacturers and hospitals are only raising prices. Some estimate the annual medical inflation rate is at 25 percent.

Yet even the top notch private sector cannot hold onto its best doctors; reports have estimated that 30 percent of South African doctors have left to countries like Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. What’s more, another 58 percent admitted that they would consider immigrating to Western countries for work.

This trajectory is common amongst doctors from sub-Saharan countries. In total, their exits represent 2 billion in lost investments. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, “South Africa incurs the highest costs for medical education and the greatest lost returns on investment for all doctors currently working in such destination countries.”

To remedy its national health crisis, South Africa has proposed a National Health Insurance program. It aims first and foremost to provide universal coverage and level healthcare disparity. It would also attempt to contain prices by negotiating with medicine and healthcare providers.

However, due to the overwhelming demand for healthcare as a result of the AIDS epidemic, a universal health care plan would be burdensome on the nation’s budget. Some have estimated that the cost for such a program would essentially equal the amount of money collected from personal income tax nationwide.

In the meantime, South Africa can aim on producing more physicians to deal with the AIDS crisis. The current demand for AIDS treatment exceeds the county’s entire healthcare workforce by three times. To better train this workforce, South Africa needs to invest more in its teaching facilities so that doctors can learn to treat patients more effectively.

As one of the world’s up and coming economies, South Africa should seek to fix its healthcare crisis. It is hard to have gravitas on the international stage when extensive issues in equity and quality of care get piled on top of an already staggering AIDS epidemic.

– Andrew Logan

Sources: Al Jazeera, New England Journal of Medicine, The Telegraph, The World Health Organization
Photo: Flickr

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The Power of a Smile: Hope in the Midst of Poverty

power_of_a_smile
When children are photographed, smiles come beaming through; this is generally true regardless of a person’s wealth or lack thereof. Smiles are indicators of happiness and hope that people in poverty can exhibit. While it is very true that many in poverty do not smile as their hope and joy are syphoned away by the cares of harsh everyday living, smiling is still exhibited by many throughout the globe.

Ron Gutman spoke at a TedTalk conference about the power of a smile. He cited studies done by UC Berkeley and Wayne State University who measured the width of alumni yearbook pictures and pre-1950 MLB player baseball cards respectively. They found that the wider the measure of a person’s smile, the longer that person lived and had a more fulfilling life.

This is not just a Western phenomenon. A separate study done by Paul Ekman in Papua New Guinea found that the aboriginal people perceived another person’s smile in the same way the rest of the world does, “to express joy and satisfaction.”

Smiling can be used as an emotional superpower. Gutman says that on average a person will smile around 20 times per day, yet “those with the most amazing superpowers are actually children, who smile as much as 400 times per day.”

Recently, a German study took fMRI images of people smiling and found “that facial feedback modifies the neural processing of emotional content in the brain, in a way that helps us feel better when we smile.”

This research is evidenced, in part, by photographs of people who live in poverty. When photo journalists are on assignment in areas of extreme poverty—in conditions that would strip most people of hope—smiles are spread across the faces of children.

Sebastian Cuvelier witnessed this when he traveled to the slums of Manila for a two month stay. He took pictures of children playing in the filthy streets, children taking baths in a blow-up swimming pool due to the lack of a proper bathroom, a mother smiling as she watched her children play and people living in make-shift houses.

The people of Manila are living in conditions that are heart breaking, but their smile is infectious, lights up their eyes, and draws the viewer in. Their hope shines through, a life that is grounded in family and not letting poverty steal their joy even when they have every reason to lose faith.

Part of the Manila street children’s hope, and the smiles, is through a Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) called The Virlanie Foundation. Their goal says that they are “giving back the smile to street children.” The organization was founded in 1992 and they work to help and protect the street children who are most vulnerable, such as the abused, neglected and orphaned, in order for those children to grow into productive, responsible adults.

Work by organizations like the Virlanie Foundation is important because while a smile is an indicator of hope, poverty tries to steal a person’s smile away. There are just as many pictures of smiling children in slums as there are children who have no smile because they have no future in their current condition. Giving a child hope through practical life-changing resources restores the smile and gives that child a chance to see their hope turn into something tangible. Then that child can use their smile to spread hope to others who need their own superpower smiles restored.

– Megan Ivy

Sources: Daily Mail, TedTalk, Virlanie Foundation
Photo: Flickr

Kenya Reaps the Benefits of Agri-Tech

agri-tech
Farmers across the globe have begun to use new agri-tech to aid them in relaying agricultural information, and with climate change becoming an ever-increasing issue, smallholder farms can use all the advice and support they can get.

This is why GSMA’s m’Agri program is currently funding a program called Airtel Kilimo or Airtel Agriculture. The purpose of this project is to improve smallholder farms’ productivity and income. It makes use of mobile technologies to pass along relevant and timely information that is so relied upon.

“A farmer helpline provides high quality and supporting information to farmers, enabling them to make more informed decisions when preparing the ground, planting, pest management, harvesting, post-harvest and marketing of the produce.”

This practice has taken hold in Kenya and is often referred to as ‘telephone farming’. Other projects that follow the same initiatives such as IBM’s EZ-farm project have gone so far as to produce sensors to be placed around farms that monitor water levels. Also, agri-tech can measure rates of photosynthesis, which determine whether crops have too much or not enough water, and send the data through a cloud to any smartphone.

BBC’s Tom Jackson reports “More than 80% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population is engaged in farming, but there are just 70 agricultural researchers for every million people, according to the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.” With all of these technological advances, those statistics can change dramatically. More people could be inspired to become agricultural researchers, which could result in more advanced agri-tech and improved data readings.

According to Stephen Kigaru, a Kenyan farmer, this project definitely has a lot of untapped potential. Soon, agri-tech will be advanced enough that a mobile phone won’t be necessary. Most importantly, these technologies will be more accessible to those in need of them.

– Anna Brailow

Sources: BBC, CABI
Photo: BBC

Bright to Provide Solar Energy in the Developing World

energy_in_the_developing_world
The cost of energy is on the rise, especially in the hot summer weather. Solar panels are the equipment of the future for providing energy. Bright, a solar panel installation and distribution startup, has raised $4 million to provide free installation for solar energy in the developing world.

Last year, Bright began installing solar panels in Mexico. Specifically in Mexico, energy is expensive and involves a complicated process. According to the Mexican Federal Electric Commission, energy can cost upwards of $4,000 MXD ($240 USD) in the hot summer months.

This is a cost that most individuals cannot afford. There is a program in Mexico that subsidizes the energy costs for the poorest citizens, but it does not cover everyone.

This is where Jonah Greenberger, former Chevron executive and founder of Bright, saw the potential for solar panels.

Greenberger explains: “Solar is the path forward. Specifically, it’s a solution that doesn’t need to be centrally controlled and distributed (i.e. it can sit on roofs instead of in one large location in the desert), which means we can be independent from a totally government controlled situation.”

Bright will install solar panels for free and then provide a subscription service, a system which is similar to cable television in the United States.

Bright is able to have private investors cover the initial cost, and, over time, the private investors are paid back by the individuals paying for the subscription. The funding comes from a number of firms and investors including First Round Capital, Felicis Ventures, Max Levchin, Patrick Collison and several YC partners.

With the funding, Greenberger plans to hire and grow the team “so that we can tackle one of the largest and most significant challenges of out lifetime–delivering clean energy to a planet of over 7 billion people.”

To avoid higher costs, Bright does not build its own solar panels. Instead, Bright hires Mexican contractors to install ready made solar panels. This tactic decreases the cost to private investors, which eventually decreases the cost to individuals in the program. It also creates jobs to local contractors.

Although Bright is only active in Mexico now, they hope to take the same model to other countries where is believes it can do better than the government energy programs.

Bright is also working on improving their financial and solar software that would allow startup partners to sell, approve, install and verify installations. This would make Bright solar equipment available to more parts of the world.

Bright is paving the way for a more affordable and cleaner way to provide energy to the world. With this program, not only will people have access to affordable energy, but pollution will also decrease in the developing world.

– Kerri Szulak

Sources: Founder World, TechCrunch
Photo: TechCrunch

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Keeping Africa Polio Free: Looking Toward the Future

polio
Polio can have devastating effects on victims. Usually with little or no symptoms, the disease cripples and eventually paralyzes its victims. In a 2013-14 Polio outbreak in the Horn of Africa, 223 children were paralyzed due to Polio.

The disease is transmitted through human feces, which often gets mixed with drinking sources. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 2.4 billion people worldwide do not have access to improved sanitation facilities.

Due to this, polio has been one of the most persistent diseases to plague the developing world. Vaccines have existed for some time now and have become more and more accessible to developing nations due to aggressive world health initiatives. Since there is no cure, strategies to immunize children have been utilized to eradicate the disease.

There is hope now that complete elimination is right around the corner. On August 11, 2015, the continent of Africa celebrated being polio free for one year, with the last reported case in Somalia last year on August 11. Polio virus surveillance has improved significantly over the years and Nigeria, a hotspot for the virus, reported its last case of polio over a year ago in July of 2014.

With Africa becoming polio free for the last year, the last two remaining nations to report infections are now Afghanistan and Pakistan. With more resources now able to target those nations, protocols in Africa must continue to be implemented on a consistent basis to prevent a relapse.

For that to happen, four tasks must be implemented.

First, surveillance methods must continue to be built upon and improved. Dr Hamid Jafari, Director of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative at WHO, warns that there is no guarantee that zero reported infections means the fight is won. He is quoted saying, “in the past we have had year-long periods when we thought the polio virus had gone from the Horn of Africa and central Africa, only to find out that we were simply missing transmission because our surveillance systems were not strong enough to spot cases.”

The second task requires creating programs to reach missing children. There are still pockets of children not vaccinated in rural areas in Africa. Security issues have kept health officials from reaching them. Any child without the vaccine is vulnerable to the virus. Increasing vaccination must remain a top priority.

Thirdly, routine immunization efforts must continue to ensure no relapse. It is not enough to just immunize the current generation. Children of the future must be continuously immunized to prevent the virus from reemerging.

According to WHO this can be done “in Africa: Angola, Chad, DRC, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia and South Sudan, by partnering notably with such organizations as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Strengthening routine immunization in these countries will help to reach the significant numbers of children who remain unvaccinated there, giving the poliovirus less opportunity than ever to circulate.”

Lastly, strong leadership is needed to ensure that initiatives stay in place and countries stay steadfast to the cause. Key contributors such as the UK, Saudi Arabia and the United States must continue to provide aid and support local efforts in Africa. Much is still needed to completely eradicate polio in Africa, but the night is always darkest before the dawn.

– Adnan Khalid

Sources: Business Day Live, Global Polio Eradication Initiative, World Health Organization
Photo: Seattle Times

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Specialized Healthcare for Transgender Troops

transgender_troops
A new study published earlier this month in the New England Journal of Medicine should dispel financial worries about allowing transgenders in military troops.

As the Pentagon moves to allow transgender people to serve in the U.S. military, debate has risen concerning the potential specialized healthcare they might require. This new study shows that the total cost of providing transition-related healthcare to transgender troops would be $5.6 million per year.

While that’s a high number, taken in the context of the entire U.S. military budget, it’s almost microscopic. The Defense Department’s annual healthcare budget currently sits at around $48 billion. When placed against this number, the potential $5.6 million required for transgender troops amounts to less than one-hundredth of a percent.

“Under any plausible estimation method, the costs are minimal,” Aaron Belkin, the study’s author, said in a statement. “Having analyzed the cost that the military will incur by providing transition-related care, I am convinced that it is too low to warrant consideration in the current policy debate.”

One of the criticisms being leveraged against this move is that the military will become a “magnet employer” for those seeking free health care. Belkin, however, denies this as a possibility, noting that the military has grown smaller over the years and that the Australian military has seen no negative impact from implementing the same reform.

According to the study, over roughly the past four years, 13 out of 58,000 total Australian troops underwent gender transition surgery. This averages out to around 1 soldier per 11,154 a year. In the United States, that ratio would be around 192 soldiers undergoing gender transition surgery annually out of a total 2,136,779 troops.

“What the research shows is that if you’re going to lift the ban, it doesn’t make sense to do so unless you also provide medically-necessary care,” Belkin said.

– Alexander Jones

Sources: Nejm, USA Today, Wall Street Journal
Photo: Russia Insider

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7 Resources Focus on Good News Stories

good-news-stories
Sometimes, when one is trying to make a difference in the world, it is all too easy to get caught up in how grim things can seem. We are constantly being bombarded with evidence that the world is in a desolate decline, and it is hard to even know where to start.

When these sort of feelings start to catch up with you, here are several resources to turn to that focus on good news stories and how, in many ways, the world is improving.

1. Don’t Panic
This Hans Rosling documentary challenges some of the biggest misconceptions people have about the direction the world is going in. For example, birthrates are declining as access to family planning increases and people become more educated. This engaging video features specific case studies, polls of a live audience and the continual presentation of surprising data.

2. TED.com
Well-known, this website has several uplifting playlists that exemplify how the world is getting better. For example, the “Freedom Rising” playlists are made up of talks about groups who have overcome oppressive governments. “Social Good, Inc.” is a set of talks about companies that are making progress towards a greater social good. “The Road to Peace” includes 10 talks that talk about the ways in which peace has prevailed in the past and can in the future.

3. 26 “Charts and Maps That Show the World is Getting Much, Much Better”
This article on Vox.com, with a self explanatory title, shows a variety of items, like economic prosperity, rising life expectancy and homicide rates in the U.S. and Europe.

4. “The world looks like it’s getting worse. Here’s why it’s not.”
This article by John Stackhouse includes this calming line: “If the world seems more volatile, it is. If it seems more dangerous, not so much. Welcome to the war of perceptions, in which an ever-improving planet seems ever more at risk largely because of the noise.” It includes information on topics like human rights, poverty and American hegemony.

5. Positive News
A U.K. website, it reports on some of the good that is occurring in the world. On the official “about” page of the website, it says, “we take a solution-focused perspective on the challenges facing society.” This is not a place of wallowing in pity and sorrow, but in seizing opportunities for change.

6. The Good News Network
Attempting to counterbalance the barrage of bad news reported in the mainstream media, this website contributes positive stories that are occurring and aims to help create a balanced, realistic worldview for consumers. It features this reflective quote from editor Norman Cousins: “If news is not really news unless it’s bad news, it may be difficult to claim we are an informed nation.”

7. Flickr
This might seem like a general resource and saying “photography” makes it even more vague, but, as the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Sometimes all it takes to feel inspired or be reminded of all of the beauty in the world is to see a moment of it frozen in time.

Flickr comes up just because it tends to be a more trusted resource for high-quality photos, but even something like Google Images would work. Type in the name of a place you hear about in the news. One ravaged by poverty, war or oppression.

What you see are images of the place at its most beautiful. Its unique landscapes, its strong people, its magnificent architecture. From Africa to Syria to Mexico, there is beauty in the uniqueness of each place, even the ones wracked by turmoil. Rarely is there a news story covering the sheer beauty of a Middle Eastern desert, or a tree silhouetted against the sky in the Congo or the beaming face of a child in Mali.

With the mainstream media so hyper-focused on all that is wrong with the world, it is easy to forget about all that is right. But the wonderful thing is that taking the time to seek out goodness usually leads to finding it, especially in today’s world, where the Internet makes so much available right at our fingertips. These resources should act as a reminder that the world is filled with beautiful people and places and stories, and that we should continually strive to make it a better and better place because such efforts have been proven to pay off.

– Emily Dieckman

Sources: Reuters, Gapminder, Good News Network, Positive News, TED, VOX, Flickr
Photo: Flickr