“There’s a Place in India Where Religions Coexist Beautifully and Gender Equality Is Unmatched”
– Huffington Post, April 6, 2016
In a world struggling with virulent strains of intolerance and violence, the Indian state of Kerala is a symbol of religious coexistence, not simply tolerance. It has a unique mix of three of the world’s largest religions and is a model of how to keep multiethnic and multi-religious communities stable in the long-term. The founder and CEO of the Global Institute for Tomorrow offers a few reasons as to why it is so.
“Spas Aren’t Only About Beauty…or Fun. They’re Also About Grief”
– New York Magazine, March 25, 2016
Spas are associated with beauty, pleasure, fitness, personal transformation – and are, of course, our meccas of healing and sanctuary. But one thing that’s far too overlooked is just how many people quietly and desperately turn to spas when they are grieving. Experts and spa-goers explain why a trip to the spa can be an important aid in recovering from loss and grief.
“Your Healthy Lifestyle Won’t Necessarily Make You Healthier”
– Wired, April 5, 2016
Counter-intuitive, but true… According to the Mayo Clinic, despite the U.S. collective fixation on health, less than 3 percent of Americans actually live a healthy lifestyle. This article explains why there is a mismatch between lifestyle and health outcomes.
“The Inequality of Happiness”
– The Atlantic, April 8, 2016
This is an article based on the World Happiness Report’s finding that, generally, lower income inequality is correlated with a higher average happiness score, suggesting that more equal societies are happier as a whole. The underlying reason seems to be fairness: “Humans evolved in a social context that makes us prefer fairness. When we exist within a context where unfairness is prevalent, that is inherently stressful.”
“We’re Running Out of Water, and the World’s Powers Are Very Worried”
– Reveal, April 11, 2016
This short analysis of classified U.S. cables reviewed by The Center for Investigative Reporting illustrates the extent to which water shortages did and will spark unrest across the world. One third of the world’s population will be affected by fresh water scarcity by 2025. Problems will be the severest in the Middle East, northern India, northern China and the Western United States.
A Striking Stat:
Twelve million people die annually as a result of living or working in an unhealthy environment (from exposure to air and water pollution, climate change and chemicals). That’s almost one in four of total global deaths.
Source: World Health Organization estimates
