2022 WAS NOT ALL BAD

While historians may not rate the year 2022 in particularly positive terms, it seems to me that we can't end the "Year of the Tiger" remembering only the distressing events that took place during these past twelve months. There certainly remain a multitude of challenges worthy of analysis and discussion. They tend to pile up. However, they will keep for another time. A cursory search of the internet exposes a variety of entries specifically designed to publish the brighter side of news stories. Moreover, multiple diagnoses of international events will highlight silver linings to otherwise traumatic occurrences. Given the inflation induced economic hardship endured by many of our citizens, among the multiple points of light shining brightly in the face of so much suffering and discomfort for many stands out the recognition that overall charitable giving increased significantly this year. If the projection holds, total charitable giving in our country this year will exceed $500 billion. This is the 6th consecutive year over year increase. Our 1.7 million active nonprofits will continue to receive some of the necessary funding needed to do their work. It also seems appropriate to acknowledge that a number of the nation's billionaires, who routinely receive criticism from political operatives, are instrumental in supporting this fundraising effort. A few of the outstanding contributors in 2022 were: MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Jeff Besos, who announced donating $5.8 billion in grants to 500 different organizations; Warren Buffett, who annually contributes between $2 and $3 billion in Berkshire Hathaway stock; and the Gates Foundation which committed $1.75 billion for pandemic relief. On a different scale, but contributing a significant effort to bring relief to troubled areas, we need to include Chef Jose Andres' "World Central Kitchen." This philanthropic organization raised $7.8 million for their efforts in Ukraine last year, and served upwards of 1.7 million meals a day. Another constant is "Rotary International," which spent $250 million on service projects around the world this year. These are just a few examples of organizations making a difference in 2022. Shifting to unintended consequences of adversarial situations: Russia's invasion of Ukraine may have initiated some significant movement on the climate change discussion. While cruel, traumatic and criminal, this inexcusable act of war resulted in changing the energy paradigm in multiple western nations. Countries which thus far largely relied on gas supplied by Russia began to wean themselves more aggressively from that energy source and ramped up their focus on renewables, powering a transition away from fossil fuels. In the midst of all of this, Ukraine inspired us all by showing that self determination and liberty are worth fighting for. Well deserved, its president, Volodemyr Zelensky, was selected Time magazine "Man of the Year." Ukraine was chosen the Economist's "Country of the Year." Politically, the extremes of far-right populism took a hit. Here, at home, almost all election deniers nominated by our previous president, lost. In the U.K. and France the radical right became the more moderate center. Except in Italy and Israel, centrist predominantly won their elections. In Canada, conversion therapy was officially banned. It became illegal to provide or promote services intended to change someone's sexual orientation or gender expression. The World Health Organization declared that the end of the first pandemic in a century is now "in sight." At a micro level, a selection of random positive or heart warming scraps of information might include: - Monarch butterflies returned to California. This year researchers counted nearly 250,000, up from just 2,000 in 2020. - Due to global conservation efforts, the once endangered humpback whale population rebounded from a low point of 10,000 to nearly 80,000. - In Las Vegas, a Burger King cook, who had never missed a day of work for 27 years, received over $270K in donations from a "Go Fund Me" account set up by his daughter. - In Burlington, North Carolina, in what amounted to an extreme palindrome, a baby boy was born on 2/22/22 at 2:20 am in labor and delivery room 2. Judah Grace made his astonished parents, Aberli and Hank Spear, very happy. - Maya Angelou became the first African American woman featured on a U.S. quarter. - Stephanie Frappart of France became the first female lead referee at a men's world cup match - officiating a game between Costa Rica and Germany. - For the first time three women were appointed to a Vatican committee advising Pope Francis on candidates for bishops in the Catholic Church. - "Dictionary.Com" announced its word of the year - it is: "Woman." And for anyone who feels the urge to communicate positive stories, I recommend you share your narrative on a website set up by the family of the late Captain Sir Tom Moore of Yorkshire, England, who, leading up to his 100th birthday, raised more than $20 million by walking across his garden 100 times. The website is: http://www.agiftofkindness.net, and is designed to offset much of the negative vibes emerging from the news these days. Have a marvelous 2023 - the "Year of the Rabbit."