With 24 hours news channels and an unlimited supply of news online, news junkies are bound to get a little overwhelmed, a little discouraged. The world can seem so violent, so corrupt. Is it really getting worse?
“Most people believe that the number of armed conflicts has risen over the past decade, not that it has declined radically. They are wrong.” – Human Security Report
The recently released Human Security Report “documents a dramatic, but largely unknown, decline in the number of wars, genocides and human rights abuse over the past decade.”
“Since the end of the Cold War, the number of armed conflicts has declined by more than 40 per cent, while the number of the deadliest conflicts — those involving more than 1,000 battle-related deaths — has dropped by 80 per cent…”
“As is often the case with criminal violence, there is a huge disjuncture between what people believe is the case and what is actually the case,” Prof. Mack said.” – Globe and Mail article about the report.“
Seth Godin cites this article and other good news and asks, “So, what’s going on? Why is everyone so tense?”
He gives three reasons.
Good news isn’t newsworthy. Bad news offers much more compelling photo opportunites. The phrase, “Deadly conflicts drop 80 per cent.” does not impact me like video of civilians being shot or beheaded.
Godin closes his post by saying, “Optimism is hard. But it’s usually worth it.”
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.”
-Psalm 42:11
