Yes, There Is Good News!

News headlines can sometimes make it seem like the world is a messand getting worse. More people are suffering than ever before, right? Actually, life is getting better for many of Earth’s 7.4 billion inhabitants.

We’re witnessing a period of historic decline in poverty, disease, and illiteracy. Compared with 50, 25, or even 15 years ago, many people worldwide are living longer, better, safer lives. The proof is on these pages.

The good news about all this, well, good news is that it means efforts to improve people’s lives are paying off. You can help accelerate the pace of change by contributing to aid organizations, such as Unicef (unicefusa.org) or Heifer International (heifer.org). Ready for some good news? Read on!

SOURCES: World Bank (infants, literacy), World Health Organization (polio)
SOURCE: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations

The Ozone Layer Is on the Mend

The hole in the ozone layer has shrunk by more than 2.5 million square miles since 1985. That’s when scientists reported that certain commercial chemical compounds harm the atmosphere. Their production ended in the 1990s, allowing the ozone layer to healand continue to protect Earth’s surface from the sun’s powerful rays.

SOURCE: National Geographic

SOURCES: Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) and Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP)
SOURCE: World Bank
United Nations Development Program
SOURCES: United Nations (drinking water), Internet Live Stats (internet), Freedom House (democracy)

QUESTIONS

1. How many more people were undernourished in 1990-92 than in 2014-16?

2. About how many people per 100,000 died in battle in 1950?

3. The extreme poverty figure for 2015 is half as many percentage points as for which year?

4. How might improving its literacy rate benefit a country economically and politically?

5. Which infographic on these pages did you find the most encouraging? Explain.

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