In the end i am optimistic about the human race itself and that is because this generation will collapse two thousand years of progress into one generation in every community.
I say this because everyone already has access to a smart phone and all our collective knowledge. everyone can spend 100 hours in order to be come literate. it is that easy.
The only thing now that can try to slow all this down is government and that is also failing quickly where it did not exist in the first place.
Reasons I’m Optimistic About Africa
A recent opinion poll
found that the majority of Americans are optimistic about 2017. And
they should be. The world, of course, faces many challenges. But year
after year, life is getting better for more people on our planet.
For my first blog of the new year, I want to share evidence of this
trend from a place where many people wouldn’t expect to find it—Africa.
It’s one of my favorite places to go for a fresh perspective on how the
world is improving. I saw this in-person last year during my trips to South Africa and Ethiopia.
Although 2016 was a tough year for many African economies, almost
every trend on the continent has been moving in the right direction over
the last decade. Per capita income, foreign investment, agricultural
productivity, mobile banking, entrepreneurship, immunization rates, and
school enrollment are all heading upwards. Poverty, armed conflicts,
HIV, malaria, and child mortality are all on the decline—steeply so in
many places.
If you want to get a better picture of what African countries look
like today and why I see the glass as more than half full, here are five
things that make me more optimistic than ever about the continent:
1.
These Images Are Worth Way More than a Thousand Words
Everyday Africa
is one of Melinda and my favorite Instagram profiles. It shows what the
vast, culturally diverse continent of Africa is like beyond the lazy
stereotypes. I’m not much of a photographer myself, but I’m a big
admirer of people who can make one image tell a compelling story. These
images, most of which are posted by African photographers, do so in
beautiful, creative, and sometimes funny ways. “Everyday” and “normal”
are usually something we associate with “boring.” Not here! Please see
for yourself.
2.
These Hybrids Will Improve the Lives of Half a Billion People
In the developed world, most people eat the root vegetable
cassava only in tapioca pudding or bubble tea. But in Africa, it’s the
primary staple for half a billion people and the continent’s most
popular crop. That’s why I’m super excited that scientists are using the
most advanced hybridization techniques
for the benefit of cassava farmers and those who depend on the crop.
With the support of UK Department for International Development and our
foundation, scientists are making great progress developing hybrids that
are resistant to the major virus that cuts down on cassava yields
(cassava mosaic virus). At the same time, these scientists are breeding
strains that have more nutrients than the strains under cultivation
today.
3.
Grandmothers … We Get the Job Done!
You know the old saying “success has many fathers?” It turns
out success has many grandmothers as well, especially when it comes to
reducing maternal and child deaths. Across many different African
cultures, grandmothers are powerful authority figures when it comes to a
wide variety of health, pregnancy, and child-rearing issues. As a
result, NGOs are now enlisting grandmothers
as key agents of change for women and girls, especially in rural areas
where there are not nearly enough midwives and other health
professionals. Grandmothers are helping to guide pregnant women to
health facilities and educating them about proper prenatal care. They’re
helping to change attitudes about female genital mutilation (FGM).
They’re helping to increase newborn vaccination rates. They’re helping
women space their pregnancies for health and safety. As Dr. Bouna Sall
related to the Thomson Reuters Foundation, “Everyone obeys the
grandmothers. Through them we can change many things.”
4.
Families Leapfrog the Grid
In sub-Saharan Africa, the majority of people in rural areas
live in the dark, without access to the electrical grid. But new
technologies are changing that picture much more quickly than even we
optimists expected. Small entrepreneurs, backed by the U.S. government and private companies, are selling affordable solar kits
that help rural families leapfrog their way to clean, reliable energy.
These solar kits are lighting homes for the first time, allowing
children to continue learning after dark. They are powering mobile
phones and radios, connecting households to the wider world. They are
allowing small businesses to operate longer, producing more family
income. They also improve health, because they’re much safer than
kerosene and other traditional fuels.
5.
My Favorite Soap Opera
When I was in South Africa last year for the International
AIDS Conference, I caught a fascinating TV show one night. The show is
called “Rhythm City,”
and it’s the most popular soap opera in South Africa. The show, which
has characters speaking in the four main languages of South Africa
(Xhosa, Zulu, English, and Afrikaans), revolves around people trying to
break into the music industry. Some of the storylines are a bit out
there (it is a soap opera, after all), but when you see the show it
really brings home how far South Africa has come since the end of
apartheid. You take a step into the lives of everyday South Africans who
are dealing with the relationship and business issues you’d see
anywhere in the world. As the continent continues to develop and thrive,
I predict we’ll see many other shows like this in other countries.
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