encouraging trends

all pics in this post taken from my cell phone

Several findings have encouraged me this last week, in a way that has me generally smiling.

• the rise of the world middle class - I read in a report in the Seattle Times that by the year 2030 - or something like that - a majority of the world will be considered middle class by standards of access to food, housing, education, etc. More people have water, electricity, homes, food. This made me so happy. Much of what we hear is negative - and true - but there IS a general trend towards more prosperity for more - by certain measures.
• less violence trend - Another study: our species is trending to less violent deaths per capita. Over millenia the average chance of death by blow to the head or similar is diminishing. It is now statistically safer for the average person, less violence towards eachother. We often romantically cite a more glorious past, but could it be that our species is evolving in social intelligence?
• non-violent communication - There is an increasing trend in societies, even religious pockets, and parenting and education, towards less emphasis on punishment, shunning, expelling, and more emphasis on love, acceptance, choice. Less ultimatums. We hear in the news notable exceptions, but the average world is embracing consciously new communication. This weekend I'm going to a workshop by the center for non-violent communication, which teaches 250,000 people per year.
• gay marriage - I would not have cared for this one, except for that my personal experience informs me in a very real way on this one. This weekend pictures of Washington couples marrying were in the headlines everywhere, voted in my popular vote. I've shed many tears of gratefulness for the compassion of Washington residents, and the feeling of acceptance of my love that I get on the streets, from my patients on their sick-beds commenting on the news, from a general decrease in homophobia and thus violence towards some people. It represents a taking off the lid of oppression for a minority which will flower in spirit, young and old rejoicing in their newfound place in the center of the human family.
• gifting just because - A society less concerned with rewards, and increasingly more concerned about making others happy. Google and its free gift of knowledge to the world, wikipedia, and the millions of youtube how-to videos. This is huge. How many millions are touched, and encouraged to do the same? Ellen's 12 days of Christmas give-aways, etc.
• democratization - through cell phones in the hands of the masses, internet access. I visited Jordan and was amazed to see covered school-girls - all with their cell-phone in hand. The Arab spring, and phones in the hands of the mainstream in China, South America, Africa, certainly make the voice of more people matter. Information flows, censorship becomes increasingly less.
• healthcare - I see a slow rise of healthcare coverage for all, nation by nation. It's a trend decades in coming. I like it. Every person matters.

cuteness at the cafe

girl fans of the Hobbit at the premiere

• animal treatement - Gandhi once said something to the effect that the advancement of a society can be discerned in the way they treat animals. Yesterday I watched the Katie Couric show while wrapping a couple gifts - and was amused and heartened to see the extent to which we pamper our animals. There is much to go, but we've made progress. Movies cite that no animals have been harmed, toothpastes, clothing outlets, etc. Eggs are from non-caged chickens, meat is free-range. Perhaps if we are treating our animals with less violence and more compassion, it says something about our inner journeys as a people. Definitely more to go, but progress.