- Huh?
It's like we're the same person.
Everyday when we turn on the news or social media,
it seems like the world is falling apart.
And not only can that feel overwhelming,
but it can shape our perception of the world.
But the truth is actually much brighter than that.
So today in collaboration with Bill and Melinda Gates,
and in the spirit of the Gates Annual Letter,
I want to give you ten things,
that are improving in our world,
that's making it a great place to be.
And why it's a great time to be alive.
Get ready for some smiles.
Here are ten facts that will make you happy.
(mandolin playing softly)
Number 10 is safer workplaces.
While many countries are celebrating a decrease
in unemployment numbers,
others are proudly revealing just how safe
their employees are staying.
Incredibly, the annual number of work place injuries
has never been lower than it was in 2017.
To give you some context.
Back in the 1970s,
nearly 14 thousand workers lost their lives,
in the United States every year.
But these days that number is less than 5 thousand.
Nearly two thirds less.
Of course we'd all love that number to be zero,
but this is progress.
And it shows that things are getting better
in the workplace.
Accidents have decreased,
not just in the United States but globally,
thanks to improvements in safety equipment,
regulations and employers,
making sure that their employees receive,
the proper training.
So that means you and your family are way safer
these days in the workplace.
That's something to smile about.
Number nine is energy consumption.
Research done between 2016 and 2017
revealed that the amount of energy being used by the worlds
population is actually on the decline.
This is thanks in part to the many programs
that a number of countries are using
that reward energy efficiency.
With savings on utility bills
and overall awareness.
Tim, you turn off the light.
It's good for the world.
Not only is energy being used less,
but it's also coming from greener sources.
The amount of coal being used as a fuel source
to create power is falling at surprising rate.
And never before has humanity received more power,
from solar and wind sources.
Now granted we wouldn't be able to survive on just
that alone, but the fact that today
over 22% of that electricity
comes from cleaner renewable resources,
including hydro sourced power,
is a really good sign.
At this rate Santa's gonna start leaving
energy efficient light bulbs in bad kids stockings,
instead of coal.
Ho, Ho, Ho, be energy efficient.
Number eight is education.
It's going to make you happy to know
that the whole world is actually getting
more and more intelligent.
Youth literacy has reached an all time high.
See back in the 1960s,
nearly 25% of youth between the ages of 15 and 24,
were actually illiterate.
Unable to read or write.
However, a study conducted in 2016 revealed
that today that number is less than 10%.
Look at all of ya'll reading just making me proud.
Internet access being more available in schools
than ever before has helped shape that fact.
As of 2017 students are on average,
spending more years learning in school
than previous years.
In fact over the last century,
average IQs have risen more than 24 points.
So on average every generation of children
is smarter than all of those that came before.
Oh, that's why I have such a big head.
Fit the big brain.
I'm becoming mega mind.
Ha Ha.
Number seven is climate change.
Climate change has been a hot topic for sometime now.
And with the amount of news stories
and awareness campaigns going on out there,
it seems like a fight the Earth is losing.
However, fortunately that's not the case.
There is mounting evidence
that the changes that governments, corporations
and individual people like you and I are making
to protect the planet are actually making a difference.
Never before have world leaders taken on such
an issue as global warming with a more united front.
From promises to cut emissions country wide,
to simply going paperless with bills,
everyone is making a difference,
and it's staring to show.
A study by NASA published on January 4, 2018,
showed that for the first time,
chlorine levels are declining.
Meaning that there's less ozone depletion.
Yes, yes, well done everybody!
Everybody gets more ozone.
You get more ozone.
Everybody gets more ozone!
Number six is poverty declining.
The number of people surviving on less than a dollar
has never been lower.
In the year 2000,
the first millennium development goal was set
by 189 United Nations members states,
targeting the amount of people
living in extreme poverty and hunger.
At the time nearly 43% of the Earths population
fit into that statistic which was terrifying.
Seriously imagine living on less than a dollar.
You can't even buy a coffee in LA for that.
The objective was to cut the number in half,
by the year 2015.
But incredibly the task succeeded
an impressive five years early.
Officially reaching the completion in 2010.
What that means is that there are now
around 700 million people who are saved
from going hungry.
And that mission continues today.
With new goals being set to end extreme poverty,
by the year 2030 and eventually the eradication
of poverty and hunger in all of their forms,
as soon as possible.
We are on our way.
And talking about coffee,
made me want a coffee,
excuse me, I'll be right back.
Number five is life expectancy.
Everyone hopefully wants to live long healthy lives.
And in the last few years,
They're getting to experience more and more of that dream.
Life expectancy might have tiny dips now and then,
but for the most part,
over the last few decades,
it's been on the rise.
People born today are expected to live
on average nearly ten years longer,
than those born in the 1960s.
And that wasn't even that long ago.
Life expectancy in 2017 is 79 years for males
and 81 years for females.
And additionally in the last 25 years,
the rate of babies losing their lives before their
fifth birthday has dropped nearly 50%.
This incredible fact can be attributed
to the amazing advancements I preventative medicines,
sanitation, the fight against poverty,
and even the decrease in how many mothers
smoke while pregnant.
So let's give it up for all the wonderful
mothers out there.
Ladies you're looking strong.
Number four is sanitation.
Okay, toilet humor aside,
everyone deserves to have access
to sustainable waste treatment or disposal,
and clean drinking water.
In fact,
For almost everyone their lives depend on it.
Thankfully the number of individuals who can access
improved sanitation facilities across the planet,
has been skyrocketing.
Never before have so many people been able to drink water
without being infected with various diseases.
Or go to the bathroom without spreading them.
You might not know this,
but human waste being mismanaged
has been linked to the transmission
of polio, dysentery, cholera, diarrhea
and many other conditions.
And it's connected to over 280 thousand deaths every year.
And these improvements have the additional affect
of allowing the washing of hands.
Which anyone requiring a doctor or surgeon will be
very, very grateful for.
So remember wash your hands folks!
Especially the people coming out of the bathroom.
We're watching you.
We're judging you.
Number three are diseases being fought.
For too long a disease called the polio virus,
has taken the lives of people who are unable
to acquire the vaccination required to prevent it.
But by the end of 2017,
the virus was only found in the countries of Afghanistan,
Pakistan and Nigeria.
In case you didn't know,
this is incredible news.
This means that the fight against polio,
is on the verge of victory,
which will bring about the end of it.
Known as infantile paralysis.
It's a contagious disease,
that can spread to the spinal cord
and cause paralysis and even death.
In the early 80s hundreds of thousands
of cases were diagnosed each year.
But in 2016 only 37 new cases were reported.
Thanks to the World Health Organization,
and various charities,
a virus that has caused so much death and pain
in Earths past is close to being eradicated.
So go get your vaccinations folks.
Because a little prick now is gonna prevent
you from getting polio.
Kinda worth it.
Number two are women's rights.
Though we haven't quite achieved the equality
everyone on the planet deserves,
we've never been closer to it.
The number of women who are working
in the labor industry,
has never been larger than it is today.
Some great examples are that Egypt declared
in 2017 that women have equal rights
in reformed inheritance laws.
And Saudi Arabia lifted the ban on females driving.
In the last 20 years the percentage of women
in parliament more than doubled.
Hitting 23.5 percent in October of 2017.
And additionally the fight against sexual harassment
and assault has never been stronger.
With thousands of people coming forward
in a movement that is drawn more attention to it
than ever before.
Lebanon and Jordan, both repealed laws
which said rapists were exonerated
if they married their victims.
So in other words the progress is really good.
And it leaves us with hope for more.
And number one are cancer rates are falling.
Between 1960 and 1988 the rate of cancer related deaths,
was at a steep incline with about 335 people
out of every 500 thousand on the planet,
losing the fight in their later years.
Then in the 90s it hung around at a high point.
But I'm happy to inform you
that over the last 20 years,
that number has plummeted.
According to research,
cancer related deaths have fallen a whopping 25%.
This means that around 2.1 million lives have been spared
over that time.
This is due largely in part to the advancements in not only
treatment, but detection as well.
Awareness has never been higher.
Which means that people are getting checked more often.
And funding is given more every year to research.
We don't have a cure yet,
But we are definitely making a difference,
and that will only continue from here.
So those were 10 facts to make you happy.
And I really hope they put a smile on your face.
This video was made possible by partnering
with Bill and Melinda Gates.
Yes, that Bill Gates.
I'm feeling very lucky right now.
Hash tag blessed.
Every single year they release their annual letter,
outlining the great accomplishments
that humankind has made over the year.
So if you want another big reason to smile,
with additional positive facts about our world,
go to Gates Letter dot come,
to read more about why Bill and Melinda,
are so optimistic about the future in their annual letters.
Seriously, go check it out if you want some more smiles.
Cause there's some incredible stuff in that letter,
And one final thank you to Bill and Melinda Gates.
They were really fun to work with.
And that's it.
I will see you guys in the next video, bye.