​Nine Asian nations have cut child mortality by more than half since 2000​

​Nine Asian nations have cut child mortality by more than half since 2000​

Child mortality in Asia has fallen sharply, especially in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, and Nepal, which have all seen a decline of at least 50% since 2000. This progress amounts to millions more children surviving through the crucial early years of life. Particularly noteworthy, India's child mortality fell from 9% to 3% and China's from 4% to just 1%. These huge strides have been made possible by improved nutrition, clean water, sanitation, vaccinations, and poverty reduction.

​France runs fusion reactor for record 22 minutes​

Achieving the dream of commercial fusion power is the Holy Grail of engineering and has been for 80 years. With a single gram of hydrogen isotopes yielding the energy equivalent of 11 tonnes of coal, a practical fusion reactor would hold the promise of unlimited, clean energy for humanity until the end of time. France has upped the ante in the quest for fusion power by maintaining a plasma reaction for over 22 minutes – 25% longer than the previous record set by China in January 2025.

​Michigan expands hate crime law to protect LGBTQ+ identities​

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed a bill adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s hate crime law, along with a companion bill amending sentencing guidelines for hate crimes. The 1988 ethnic intimidation law initially applied only to religion, ethnicity, and race. The new law adds LGBTQ+ identities, as well as sex, age, disability, national origin, and affiliation with these groups. A first offense for committing a hate crime against one of the protected classes is punishable with a fine of $5,000 and/or up to two years behind bars.

​Canada to build massive, fully electric, 185-mph inter-city rail network​

Canada is set to begin work on a high-speed inter-city rail network – the largest infrastructure project in the country's history. Spanning 621 miles, the fully electric new rail network will serve 18 million people – nearly half of Canada's population – across the Toronto-Quebec City corridor. It's expected to serve 13 times more passengers annually than the current service. Canada is expected to invest nearly $3 billion USD over the next six years to bring the project to light.

​More than 100,000 pounds of trash removed from the Arctic since 2021​

Over 50,000 pounds of trash have been removed from the Arctic in 2023 alone after a multilateral effort flooded critical northern ecosystems with volunteers. Working during the brief Arctic summer, clean-up operations were carried out in Alaska, Greenland, Norway, and Iceland. Nearly 2,000 volunteers were enlisted across the treaty nations of the Arctic Council, an inter-governmental panel on peaceful and sustainable use and protection of the Arctic zone formed by the nations that pierce its frozen bordersand the Indigenous peoples that call it home.

​Global child mortality rate plummets from a historical average of 48% to 27% in 1950 (1950 C.E.)​

As recently as two centuries ago, around 1 in 2 children died before reaching the end of puberty. Our ancestors were often largely powerless against poverty, famine, and disease, and these calamities were especially devastating for children. Since then, child mortality has plummeted across the world. This dramatic decline has resulted from better nutrition, clean water, sanitation, neonatal healthcare, vaccinations, medicines, and reductions in poverty, conflicts, and famine.

​Global child mortality rates drops below 2.5% for the first time in history (2040 C.E. ???)​

The global Sustainable Development Goals adopted by all U.N. member states in 2015 set out an ambitious goal to achieve less than 25 deaths before the age of 5 per every 1000 children. A decade after the initial 2030 goal, the world finally achieves this monumental milestone for families and communities around the world.

​Stop Trump’s Postal Service Takeover​

From Common Cause: Congress must protect our Postal Service from Trump’s reported plot to take it over. Millions of Americans rely on the Postal Service for receiving medications, sending letters to family, or casting mail-in ballots. The Postal Service is a public good guaranteed by our Constitution, which gives Congress – NOT the President – authority over the USPS. Our members of Congress must step up and protect this crucial service from Trump’s hostile takeover. ​Sign the petition.​

This week's calendar

• ​GET S*** DONE Work Group​ every weekday, 10:30am-12pm PT (online)
• ​Bellingham Men's Circle​ on Monday, March 3, 6-8pm PT (in-person)

Peter Schulte Leadership coach Bellingham WA USA About | Instagram | Donate