HOPE FOR US ALL!

Like everyone today I sometimes get caught up into the web of negativity regarding the situation- crises- in our world today, but some interesting facts have recently come to light from Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times.  It seems that 2018 was “actually the best year in human history.”

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Nicholas is a winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, a regular CNN contributor,  and writer of an op-ed column for The New York Times since November 2001. According to The Washington Post,  he "rewrote opinion journalism" with his emphasis on human rights abuses and social injustices, such as human trafficking and the Darfur conflict.  Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa has described him as an "honorary African" for shining a spotlight on neglected conflicts.

While most of us  think global poverty is getting worse, in reality it is better. In the early 1980s, 44% of the world lived in extreme poverty, which was then defined as making less than $2 a day.  Today less than 10% live in that same poverty.

Every day some amazing things happened last year: over 300,000 people got clean drinking water-  which must mean less disease, almost 300,000 gained electricity,  and over 600,00 hooked up to internet-  this is per day!

All of this means people in third world countries will live longer, have better education and generally have a better life.

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So when you are tempted to fall back into a hopeless feeling of “why try?”  just remember that there is hope for us all.  And remember these advances do not just happen on their own, it is caring individuals who make them happen.