Some Things Are Better Than Before -- 2011

In the last dozen years more than 20 women have been elected heads of their national governments in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, Australia.

The Vets for Peace (at least some chapters) seek an end to all warfare.

International Laws are increasingly used to seek, have trials, decide penalties for genocidic leaders: Panama, Rwanda, Argentina, Somalia, Libya, & others.

Many younger families are creating home grown foods, keeping hens, bees, being "more Green" regarding energy use, transportation for "sustainable communities."

The current OCCUPY movement, strong among youth, challenges much of the current economic and political patterns in the USA, fostering pressure for changes.

More than 100 countries gathered at Copenhagen (earlier) and Durban this year (while 3rd world added Cochabamba). Discussions and agreements were important, but major polluters & USA failed to make any real commitments.

For the first time of records kept, USA women (%) more often than men, completed undergraduate college degrees and advanced graduate education degrees as well.

Women in the USA (middle class at least) are less reticent, even voluntarily, giving their age. (Of course, public figures include ages with other data).

American men in USA (middle class) are now reported in news to have cried, or volunteer that in private sharing or public situations that they cried.

Instant Run-Off Voting is increasingly being adopted for local and state-wide elections, widening the rangew of policies, reducing incivility in campaigns.

Since any treaties that the USA ratifies become "supreme law of the land," they can and do have relevance for application in some "domestic" law cases.

The USA is becoming much more diverse in population, adding to the descendants of Europeans, the indigenous Native Americans, and Blacks from Africa, with whites less than 50% of population.

Recent applications of the philosophy, tactics, strategies of non-violence, and results need to be widely used as in USA civil rights, North African massive population endeavors recently, Russia currently, OCCUPYING movement.

This past fall, three African women were recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize. As physical and biological scientists, women have recently been awarded Nobels.

The Native Americans in the USA have finally been "awarded" the largest sum ever voted by the US Congress for "reparations" for the lands, forests, resources taken from them. Credit due: Elouise Cobell, Montana, Blackfeet.

Oregon, Washington, and Montana have approved procedures for MDs to assist terminally ill patients to die, given strict regulations.

In the "energy realm," there is a shift in the USA to make use of bicycles (Oregon and Minnesota high); smaller cars are being sought; rail-lines are being built (great rapidity in Japan, China). Local buses are being equipped to also carry bikes, wheelchair patrons, and lower their step levels. Virtually all local streets have the "curbs" curved to accomodate walking.

In the Twin Cities, the painting of murals on building walls has spread, often with a Hispanic style/content as Mexican major art.

Death sentences in the USA (No European Union countries retain it) for "criminals" are being eliminated by more states, due to errors for innocents, moral considerations, costs. Life "without parole" is questionable. Oregon governor recently said he'd allow no more, adding to MN & others who ban it.

The current "blockage" to national political progress (two major parties jammed) is encouraging the formation or addition of alternatives.

The use of plastic bags and excessive packaging are being discouraged, penalized or not, put in use in California, etc. The collection of "garbage" improves with categorized sorting.

There have been remarkable developments in medicine, in organ transplants, specific drugs, treatments, etc. Abe Maslow, former president of the American Psychological Association, survived a serious heart attack. He called the rest his "postmortem life." I've had a "postmortem life" since 2003!