Good Bites

US Teen Birth Rate Lowest Since 1940

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The falling US teenage birth rate sunk to its lowest level since record-keeping began in 1940, according to a new government report. From 2007 to 2010 the rate fell another 9 percent and was seen among all racial and ethnic groups. (Since 1991, the overall teen rate has dropped by 44 percent.)

Germany Elects First Jewish Mayor Since Holocaust

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

For the first time since the Second World War, a Jew has been elected as mayor of a major German city. The voters of Frankfurt (a city with a 1% Jewish population) this week elected Peter Feldmann its second Jewish mayor -- the first since Ludwig Landmann was pushed out of office when Hitler rose to power in 1933.

Half of German Renewable Energy Owned By Citizens, Not Utility Companies

Monday, March 12, 2012

In Germany, where 20% of electricity comes from renewable sources, 51% of all wind and solar energy is owned by individual citizens or farms, totaling $100 billion worth of private investment in clean energy. - WindWorks.org

US Helps to Relieve Afghan Hunger Caused by 2011 Draught

Friday, February 24, 2012

The U.S. is helping to alleviate hunger in Afghanistan through its Food for Peace program, a program originally started during the Eisenhower administration. A $40 million donation was used to purchase wheat from Kazakhstan for distribution in 14 affected Afghan provinces. (Food For Peace)

Fewer Pirate Attacks on World Seas in 2011

Saturday, January 21, 2012

With more international boats patrolling the high seas, piracy in 2011 dropped for the first time in five years. Pirate attacks in the South China Sea were cut by almost two thirds and Bangladesh incidents plunged by more than half. -Associated Press

Stunning Millenium Goal Progress on Educating Children

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Over the past 12 years, the world has made stunning progress toward the goal of increasing the number of children attending primary school -- adding 37 million kids to school rolls, an increase of 35 percent. - NY Times

NYC Murder Rate Declined 74% in 18 Years

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The New York City murder rate for the first half of 2011 declined 8.8 percent compared to the same period last year. The 2011 murder rate is also 22.5 percent lower than in 2001 and 74.9 percent lower than in 1993. - Reuters News

Rainforest destruction cut by 25%

Saturday, June 04, 2011

Destruction of the world's rain forests has declined by 25 percent in the three most important regions -- the Amazon, the Congo and the Borneo Mekong -- during the last decade, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

Identity Thefts Plummet

Monday, February 14, 2011

Last year the number of people victimized by identity theft decreased 28 percent, to 8.1 million, according to a report by Javelin Strategy & Research -- 3 million fewer victims than in 2009.

UN Finds Global Hunger Easing in 2010

Sunday, September 19, 2010

The number of people in the world suffering chronic malnutrition fell for the first time in 15 years  -- down 9.3 percent in 2010, according to the United Nations' food agency. - FAO