I cannot lie. I was eager to put 2015 behind me. The news threatened to overwhelm me to a point of paralysis. I was only able to break through once I made a decision to focus on the positive. In almost all cases, the positive was everywhere. The negative was just louder.
I hope in 2016 the positive voices will rise to drown out the noise from those who promote hate, violence, and discrimination in any forms. Here are my seven favorite news stories that help me remember the good in people outweighs the bad.
1.Syrian orphan meets his hero
Despite the negative rhetoric that overwhelmed the political debates towards refugees, there was a strong wave of support across the globe for Syrians. Including a special visit from Cristiano Ronaldo who made a special visit to meet with a young boy orphaned by a suicide bombing.
2.Strong Advancements in Public Health
Top of my list is President Carter's speedy recovery. Not only for the great humanitarian that he is, but the indication of breakthroughs in the health sector. From taking on cancer to strong advancements in the fight on Alzheimer's to the world's response to the Ebola crisis, there is a lot to celebrate in the public health sector
3.Shifting an Instrument of Destruction to Nourishment
An environmental engineer who worked for NASA for two decades is proposing a start-up that will contribute to address the world's climate problems with drones. The plan is to use drone technology to plant up to one billion trees a year. Drones will fly two or three meters above the ground and fire out pods containing pre-germinated seeds that are covered in a nutritious hydrogel.
4.Nuclear Iran Deal Moving Forward
Not only was a deal struck, but progress has been made towards its implementation. There was a strong assumption that Iran would never give up its partially enriched uranium, yet this is exactly what they have begun to do. This opens the door to address the international sanctions which has crippled the country. This deal also opens for further cooperation between the US and Iraq on crucial issues like Iraq, Syria, and defeating Daesh.
5.Saudi Women Step Forward - this is not your Grandmothers Gulf
From the fight on breast cancer in Saudi Arabia to women's participation in the elections, women across Saudi Arabia are stepping forward for change. On December 12, 2015, 10 KSA will host an event that will bring together 10,000 women in Riyadh to form a human pink ribbon and thus raise funds for the Zahra Breast Cancer Awareness Association. In addition, Women showed up in overwhelming numbers (almost 81% of female registered voters cast ballots, by comparison of about 44% of registered Saudi male voters) turned out. Women not only voted, but 20 female representatives were elected for the first time as well.
6. Making Progress on Global Poverty
The World Bank announced that this year, for the first time on record, the percentage of the earth's population that is living in extreme poverty is likely to fall below ten per cent. As recently as 1990, the proportion was more than a third. "This is the best story in the world today--these projections show us that we are the first generation in human history that can end extreme poverty,'' Jim Yong Kim, the head of the World Bank, said in a statement accompanying the release of the new figures.
7.Kenya Leads the World on mobile money market
Kenya is leading the way on mobile money. Kenya is being described as "the most exciting, innovative mobile money market on earth. Below is an overview of some of the major and upcoming players. I like that- making the integration of microfinance and mobile money as affordable as possible. This has been long overdue and will definitely change the mobile money landscape.
Good news is out there. It shouldn't be so hard to find! I regularly seek out the good news for my area of focus - Middle East and Africa. So whenever you are in need for good news from Africa - visit Good News About Africa and for the Middle East visit BarakaBits.
Together, let's make a commitment in 2016 to share as much of the positive news stories around the world as possible in a pledge to dominate the social media with the good over the bad.