topic Re: Good News in Community Chat

Good News

Oznell — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 19:02:37 GMT

Thought this was compelling, even though the New York Times is not exactly my first recourse for news, ha. Their columnist Nicholas Kristof sometimes has interesting things to say, and he published a January 6 column asserting that the year 2017 was the best year in human history for the world.

Of course, you can argue that it wasn't a good year, on a number of fronts. But in terms of improvements in world literacy, poverty, and some very vital contributors to survival, there WAS improvement. Here's a little sliver of what he says:

"Every day, the number of people around the world living in extreme poverty (less than about $2 a day) goes down by 217,000, according to calculations by Max Roser, an Oxford University economist who runs a website called Our World in Data. Every day, 325,000 more people gain access to electricity. And 300,000 more gain access to clean drinking water."

Can't run the whole column b/c of potential partisan or questionable sidebars, etc. But it's nice to hear some good news, and especially thrilling that clean drinking water is available to more people around the globe. May the increased access be amplified and multiplied in 2018!

Re: Good News

qualitygal — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 19:15:17 GMT

Anything like that that helps people get back on their feet, and maybe on the way to a better life and better health is important. I just hope maybe this year, we could take a breather on the weather disasters that have hit sections of the world and our country so bad and done so much damage, and in the end, changed so many lives. We could sure use a breather.

Re: Good News

NicksmomESQ — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 19:24:17 GMT

@Oznell Point taken. However, IMO 2017 was an awful year,period.

Re: Good News

QVCkitty1 — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 19:19:18 GMT

@NicksmomESQ wrote:
@Oznell Point taken. However, IMO 2017 was an awful year,period.

I totally agree, and I have little hope for 2018.

Re: Good News

JaneMarple — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 19:22:20 GMT

When the U S takes care of their citizens and shows that they care then it will be something to cheer about, until then...........

Re: Good News

NicksmomESQ — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 19:22:51 GMT

@QVCkitty1

@QVCkitty1 wrote:
@NicksmomESQ wrote:
@Oznell Point taken. However, IMO 2017 was an awful year,period.
I totally agree, and I have little hope for 2018.

And I totally agree with you!!

Re: Good News

RainCityWoman — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 19:23:09 GMT

@QVCkitty1 wrote:
@NicksmomESQ wrote:
@Oznell Point taken. However, IMO 2017 was an awful year,period.
I totally agree, and I have little hope for 2018.

Just the number of natural disasters and acts of violence alone would support the notion that 2017 was NOT a good year. And I'm not even touching politics.

Re: Good News

proudlyfromNJ — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 19:23:23 GMT

@QVCkitty1 wrote:
@NicksmomESQ wrote:
@Oznell Point taken. However, IMO 2017 was an awful year,period.
I totally agree, and I have little hope for 2018.

@QVCkitty1. At least you have a little. I have none.

Re: Good News

RoughDraft — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 19:28:24 GMT

Sorry, not feeling it. Mr. Kristof either needs new glasses and/or to travel around the world a bit more.

Re: Good News

Barbara-QVC — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 19:30:16 GMT

This post has been removed by QVC because it is political.

Re: Good News

Ruby Laine — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 19:31:42 GMT

Thanks, @Oznell. I love hearing news like this. So interesting!

Re: Good News

JaneMarple — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 19:46:17 GMT

When the people of Puerto Rico get their basic needs met not to mention the rest of the poor in this country then and only then will I have hope!

Re: Good News

Jordan2 — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 19:47:47 GMT

@NicksmomESQ wrote:
@Oznell Point taken. However, IMO 2017 was an awful year,period.

@NicksmomESQ, I agree for reasons I won't get into, I said good riddance to 2017!

Re: Good News

SilleeMee — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 19:54:44 GMT

Now if only Mother Nature would settle down and let us keep things on the right track without knocking us off again.

Re: Good News

Carmie — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 20:17:36 GMT

I think that is wonderful news. If human conditions improve a little each year, it’s defiantly a good thing.

For the people who think 2017 was not good, you have that to realize that the world is huge. We, in the US have it so much better than many people throughout the world. The poorest of the poor in the US are better off than the richest in some areas.

My heart broke when I saw children with discarded food buckets on the sides of the road in Cambodia scooping up the water that ran off from the roads. It was muddy and full of insects and who knows what else, but it was all they could find.

The homes they lived in were made of cardboard or wood that were scraps. There were no blankets or clothing in there...they only had what they had on and some kids were naked. No one had shoes.

Just clean water would improve their lives greatly, but these people were happy to find dirty water.

So, yes, I have traveled and I have witnessed first hand how bad things are for many people. Anything that improves the life of even one person is a reason to celebrate.

Re: Good News

cherry — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 20:23:23 GMT

For my money ,any good news is better than a poke in the eye, with a sharp stick. If there is one thing the world needs, it's hope

Re: Good News

Oznell — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 20:28:22 GMT

That is so well said, @Carmie. As I commented in the original post, good news can always be met with often valid examples of quite bad news; that is the way the world has rolled. Unfortunately, we don't have utopia yet-- far, far from it!

But, I'm not going to let it stop me from rejoicing when there are good things to celebrate. 300,000 more people per day getting access to clean drinking water-- that is FANTASTIC! (I'd underline "per day", but not sure how to, ha) There are huge swaths of people in the faith community and the various other groups who have struggled and worked to bring potable water to populations that haven't had any. It has been a giant concern for everyone, and I'm so thankful that such progress is being made.

Re: Good News

RoughDraft — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 20:29:46 GMT

Speaking of drinking water, how's Flint Michigan doing these days?

Re: Good News

Oznell — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 20:32:33 GMT

That's a good question, @RoughDraft-- it's been years now, hasn't it? Where are we now in addressing it?

Re: Good News

ROMARY — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 20:33:03 GMT

I'm wishing and hoping for no more natural disasters, fires. And wishing for good health and safety. Feeling safe is very important.