The blog.


Volunteering is Healthy for You

There is a vast literature on the health benefits associated with volunteering for volunteers. Such health advantages are likely to vary across groups of volunteers with different characteristics.

Source: The health advantage of volunteering is larger for older and less healthy volunteers in Europe: a mega-analysis

The Top 1% of Americans Have Taken $50 Trillion From the Bottom 90%

A new report shows that a $50 trillion redistribution of income to benefit the richest has made America less healthy, resilient, and secure. The $50 trillion transfer of wealth documents has occurred entirely within the American economy, not between it and its trading partners…It was a choice—a direct result of the trickle-down policies we chose to implement since 1975.

Source: The Top 1% of Americans Have Taken $50 Trillion From the Bottom 90%—And That’s Made the U.S. Less Secure

Respect

“Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. The answer to difference is to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace: respect for diversity.”
— John Hume

3 Billion Birds

A study published on Sept. 19, 2019 in the journal Science reveals that since 1970, bird populations in the United States and Canada have declined by 29 percent, or almost 3 billion birds, signaling a widespread ecological crisis.

The first-ever comprehensive assessment of net population changes in the U.S. and Canada reveals across-the-board declines that scientists call “staggering.” All told, the North American bird population is down by 2.9 billion breeding adults, with devastating losses among birds in every biome. Forests alone have lost 1 billion birds. Grassland bird populations collectively have declined by 53%, or another 720 million birds.

Source: 3 Billion Birds Lost – The Cornell Labs