The World Today
Posted: Saturday, October 08, 2011
by Jessie I Snyder
TRUE INSPIRATIONS
The world today is like being on a wild rollercoaster ride that never ends. In all the news and all around the world, you only hear about bad things happening like:
Economic Collapse:Today, the world economy is facing two looming crises; The U.S., by far the world’s largest and most powerful economy is completely in debt at the individual, institutional, and governmental levels. The Dollar is at its lowest rate in years, and the fundamental driver of the US economy – the housing market – appears to be coming undone. Throughout the developed world, demographic trends that began centuries ago are coming to a point; people are living longer than ever before, while having fewer children than at any other point in human history. As the Baby Boomer generation retires, governments with already strained budgets are scrambling to fund the retirement programs they have promised. Most nations find themselves having to choose between raising taxes or cutting benefits, with both options seriously threatening the stability of the modern world.
Global Water Crisis: Water - the essential ingredient for life on this planet – is becoming an increasingly scarce resource. According to the World Bank and World Health Organization, 2 billion people lack access to clean water and 1 billion people do not have enough to even meet their daily needs. Every day an increasing amount of pollution seeps into rivers and lakes making them toxic to humans, and underground aquifers – our most significant sources of water – are being depleted at an alarming rate. By 2050 the number of people on the planet is projected to exceed 9 billion, and if current trends continue more and more useable water will be lost. Making an adequate supply of water available to everyone alive today is a monumental task, and ensuring that there is enough water for all future generations will require an unprecedented level of international cooperation and compassion.
Species Extinction: Modern science has shown that nature is not always “red in tooth and claw”, but rather that cooperation is often the norm. Human beings often act as if we are in direct competition with every other form of life, when in truth our very survival depends on a myriad of species from simple bacteria to complex mammals. Today, human activities are causing a massive extinction of species, the full implications of which are barely understood. Rising ocean temperatures reduce the ability of plankton to reproduce, thereby undermining the entire oceanic ecosystem. Commercial fishing’s increasing size and scope threaten to empty of the ocean of fish within several decades. Modern agricultural practices strip the Earth of its thin layer of topsoil through water and wind erosion, destroying this precious micro ecosystem that takes centuries to form and supports all life on land. Furthermore, bee populations are plummeting as a result of mite infestations and a mysterious problem called Colony Collapse Disorder. Over 70% of our food is pollinated by bees; if bee populations fall too far, our food supplies will be seriously threatened.
Rapid Climate Change:The global warming debate, despite having vociferous proponents on each side, appears to have been decided. Global warming is very real, and it is the preeminent danger to human civilization today. The rising global temperature threatens to create catastrophic weather systems, crop failures, disease outbreaks, and water shortages worldwide. Emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane are trapping heat within the Earths’ atmosphere, slowly increasing the overall temperature. These emissions are the byproduct of our modern way of life, and to halt them would require a voluntary shift in the very structure of our society, a move unprecedented in human history. To not take action, however, would be to alter the very chemical composition of our planet. Life on Earth evolved over hundreds of millions of years to survive within very specific conditions, and those conditions are changing. (All this is according to the Arlington Institute.)
This is just to name the worst problems that the world is facing today; BUT, what about the GOOD things that are happening in our world today.
If you Google good things that are happening in the world today you will come up with nothing; but, there has to be some good things like:
The Advantages of Modern Technologies:
Social Networking: It's possible in today's world to reconnect with high school and college friends in a matter of minutes. Before the Internet came to be, it was nearly impossible to stay in touch. Unless you ran into them at your 10-year reunion, you had no idea where they were. Nowadays, in this growing culture of social networking, it's nearly impossible not to know what they've had for dinner, not to mention where life has taken them. No matter how many miles stand between you, social networking has allowed both old and new friends to keep in touch from moment to moment.
Opportunities to Work from Home: The flexibility of working from home in your pajamas or from the beach in your bathing suit may be one of the most attractive advantages modern technology offers for some. Not only does it save you a long commute to the office, a ton of gas money and the inevitable stress of hitting rush hour traffic, but it buys you more time in the day to spend on more important matters like family and friends.
Convenience in Education: Getting an education is as simple these days as turning on your laptop and taking classes online. Although it's not your traditional classroom, the kind housed with a roomful of students seated in wooden desks and a professor lecturing in the front of the room, it is nonetheless an effective alternative to a good education. Even though you may be curled up on your couch in the middle of the night with a hot mug of tea and your cat on your lap, you are, in fact, in the modern learning environment, earning your degree from home. Even high school classes are being offered online for students seeking summer school and degree programs.
Since the 9/11 attack on America people have come together to help one another.
A soldier of sorts is diligently fighting the fight so you don’t have to.
Somewhere on Earth a double rainbow is stretched from one end of the horizon to the other.
A piece of literature is being written that will eventually change your perspective on life.
A friend is helping a friend rise above thoughts of suicide.
Two people in your hometown are falling in love.
Somewhere someone is admiring a breathtaking sunrise, and somewhere else a surreal sunset.
People of various religious backgrounds are in temples, churches, mosques and other places of worship praying, wholeheartedly, for world peace.
Someone who has struggled with their weight for the last several years is standing on a scale and smiling.
Hundreds of cute elderly couples are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
A baby girl just took her first few steps without falling.
Someone is in the process of sincerely forgiving a seemingly unforgivable act.
There’s a kid studying hard somewhere who aspires to get to where you are in life.
A firefighter is running into a burning building to rescue a perfect stranger.
A young mom is lying in a hospital bed and holding her newborn baby twins for the very first time.
An alcoholic just celebrated one full year of sobriety.
Volunteers in major cities all over the world are working at homeless shelters caring for those who are less fortunate than themselves.
A young man is pulled over on the side of the road helping a young woman change a flat tire.
A husband and wife who were drowning in debt five years ago proudly hold a balance of zero on their credit cards.
Someone is hugging a friend who desperately needs it.
A new small business owner just wrapped up his first profitable year working for himself.
A grandfather is holding his granddaughter’s hand and they’re both smiling from ear to ear.
Someone just placed their spare change in the charity collection cup at the grocery store.
A breast cancer patient just found out her cancer is in complete remission
Honest people are working for various government entities to help protect your basic human rights and civil liberties.
An emergency room surgeon is in the middle of saving his patient’s life.
And the list goes on and on all you have to do is look for the good in every situation. There are many, many good things happening in our world today.
This Article has been viewed 174 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)D*** straight, Jessie, you surprised me once again! I loved it!Thanks HyunSoung Kim, for the uplifting comment.
For one so young, you have an old spirit! You writing is inspirational and your words are stright to the point!
Yes, we live in a complicated world and it is up to all of us to try our best to make a difference even on a small scale!
I have always believed that taking one day at a time and teaching our children or in my case, my grandchildren to appreciate the simple pleasures of life and to embrace nature and preserve it, is a way of hopefully renewing and awakening our responsibility to work with nature and not against it!
Thanks Iris, I agree that we live in a complicated world and I also agree that we should work with nature and not against it.
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