Good News for Humankind 🌏
The world's latest milestones for climate, justice, freedom, peace, health, and more
28 April 2025 C.E.
Global malaria prevention efforts have paid off in a big way, preventing an estimated 2.2 billion cases and 12.7 million deaths in the last 25 years. In 2023 alone, more than 177 million cases and 1 million deaths were averted, the vast majority of them – 80% of cases and 94% of deaths – in Africa. However, malaria remains a significant public health challenge globally. In 2023, there were an estimated 263 million new malaria cases in 83 countries, up from 252 million in 2022 and 226 million in 2015.
Jurors have found that energy giant Texaco, acquired by Chevron in 2001, had for decades violated Louisiana regulations governing coastal resources by failing to restore wetlands impacted by dredging canals, drilling wells, and billions of gallons of wastewater dumped into the marsh. The case was the first of dozens of pending lawsuits to reach trial in Louisiana against the world’s leading oil companies for their role in accelerating land loss along the state’s rapidly disappearing coast.
Endangered sea turtles are making a comeback in many parts of the world, according to a newly published global survey from researchers at Stanford University and other institutions. The study, featured in Endangered Species Research, found that threats to the marine animals – such as hunting, pollution, and coastal development – are declining in more than half of the areas examined. Although the findings offer hope, researchers caution that not all turtle populations are rebounding equally. Leatherback turtles, in particular, remain under severe threat.
Finland estimates that 3,806 citizens are currently experiencing homelessness (about 0.06% of the population). In comparison, over 771,480 Americans were counted as unhoused in January 2025 (about 0.2% of the population). The feat is even more remarkable when noting that Finland's method of counting homelessness is much more inclusive than other leading countries. In Finland, homelessness statistics include individuals temporarily living with friends and relatives, living in an institution, staying in hostels, congregate shelters, and “rough sleeping” outside on the streets.
The Marshall Islands has become the 14th Pacific Islands Forum member state to join the South Pacific's nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament treaty. The agreement, known as the Treaty of Rarotonga, was opened for signature on 6 August 1985 and entered into force on 11 December 1986. The current member states of the treaty are Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
The vaccine – called RTS,S – and developed by PATH and GlaxoSmithKline, was proven effective in 2015. Following the success of pilot immunization programs in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi, the World Health Organization recommends rolling out the vaccine across sub-Saharan Africa and other regions with moderate to high malaria transmission. Having a safe and effective vaccine for one of the world's deadliest diseases, after more than a century of effort, is a historic milestone for medicine and public health.
Malaria has been one of the biggest scourges on humanity for millennia and mostly kills babies and infants. However, through the widespread dissemination of a vaccine developed in the 2020s and other mechanisms, global efforts to eradicate perhaps the deadliest disease known to humanity finally find resounding success. In the 20th century alone, malaria claimed between 150 million and 300 million lives, accounting for 2-5% of all deaths globally. By the halfway point of the 21st century, these deaths had been effectively eliminated.
These milestones have been added to the Archive of Human Genius - our database of social change milestones – past, present & future.
From Indivisible: In the past two months, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has escalated a disturbing pattern of allegedly targeting and forcibly disappearing* international students, professors, lawful permanent residents, and others on valid visas, in many cases, without following due process—seemingly not for any criminal activity, but for their political speech and participation. If you have a Democratic Attorney General, tell them we need them to fight against ICE overreach. Period. Send the email.
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Weekly reflection
Hi beautiful people,
In my early years, when I felt wronged or something was happening that I didn't approve of, I was often quite meek. I didn’t feel comfortable or safe standing up for myself or speaking my truth. I felt like I had to be a good little boy and keep quiet.
But by my 20s, I had learned to speak up. I would let people know when I wasn’t happy with something or when I felt there was some breach of integrity. It felt important, like I was finally standing up for that meek little boy. It felt like I was becoming a man. Today, I imagine few people in my life think of me as meek.
On one hand, this has felt empowering. I know I'm not going to let myself be trampled over. I know I can speak up for myself and for what I believe is good and true.
But as I begin to construct what Peter in his 40s is like, I’m noticing that standing up for myself in this way doesn't feel nearly as empowering as it once did. It feels exhausting. It feels boring. It feels immature, even weak.
I’ve found myself in a few situations recently that would have provoked such a stand in years past. To my surprise, I now feel genuinely curious: What if I just let it go and moved on? What if I just let them be on whatever trip they're on? Would it actually, in any practical sense, hurt me or affect my integrity?
When I imagine it, it doesn’t feel scary. It doesn't feel meek. Something within me breathes a deep sigh of relief.
Love,
Peter
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Peter Schulte
Leadership Coach
Bellingham WA, USA / Lummi & Nooksack lands
he / they
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