Short News
Millions of children saved
Since 2000, 48 million children have been saved from dying before their fifth birthday. Better care would prevent many of the remaining 16.000 daily deaths.
India ahead of the USA online
For the first time, there are now more internet users and more smartphones in India than in the USA. However, two thirds of Indians are still offline.
Better pay for the ’working poor’
Worldwide, one in four workers lived in extreme poverty in 2000, despite having a job. Today, it’s one in ten.
Four times more protected sea
Since 2000, the world’s protected marine reserves have quadrupled in size. The region of Oceania used to have only 0.1 pct. protected sea, today it’s 7.4 pct.
Vaccine now in use against leprosy
India now rolls out the world’s first vaccination programme against leprosy. The disease has been nearly eradicated globally, but still lingers in some places.
100 countries now ban cluster bombs
Last year, an additional seven countries have joined the international treaty to ban cluster munitions. In total, 100 countries now ban the crippling weapons.
More protected ocean near Hawaii
The USA has quadrupled the size of a marine reserve near Hawaii, making it the world’s largest. Lots of rare fish species live in the culturally important area.
Sri Lanka replanting mangroves
About half of Sri Lanka’s mangroves are now doing better. 18,000 hectares of destroyed forest have been re-planted to help nature and protect against tsunamis.
Massive AIDS medicine price drop
In the year 2000, the yearly cost of life-saving medicine against HIV/AIDS was about 10,000 USD per person. Today, the medicine costs less than 100 dollars.
More rice with less chemicals
A group of rice farmers in Vietnam have increased production by 5-10 percent while using less fertiliser and pesticides, and cutting losses after the harvest.
Dangerous city now more peaceful
Medellín used to be known as an extremely dangerous place, but the number of homicides in Colombia’s second city has now decreased by 95 percent since 1991.
Afghanistan clears mines
Nearly 80 percent of land contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance in Afghanistan have now been cleared. The country aims to be mine-free by 2023.