2014 Gates Annual Letter

So, I'm in a class on international economic development policy, and it's really been opening my eyes to poverty, humanitarian work, and development. Bill and Melinda Gates published this letter at the beginning of the year to dispel some "myths" about international development.
Here's one of my favorite points: "Creating societies where people enjoy basic health, relative prosperity, fundamental equality, and access to contraceptives is the only way to secure a sustainable world. We will build a better future for everyone by giving people the freedom and the power to build a better future for themselves and their families."

I'm no expert, but the way I see it, the more people are happier, higher educated, and productive, the more  likely they are to come up with great ideas that make our lives better like smart phone apps to tell you if it's dark outside, or poo pourri , or THIS! I know, right?

But seriously, with more people able to focus less on where they're going to find their next meal or if they can pay for meds to keep their kid from dying of diarrhea, people will be able to focus their energy on solving problems that are less urgent but important like: the debt crisis, pollution, terrorism, and why I can't seem to keep  my wonderfully curly hair from randomly turning into a giant ball of frizz. Because that's what people do, we solve problems with our miraculously developed large frontal lobes, and we're dang good at it!

I can't wait to see all of the amazing innovations that come about in the near future, and I know that the more people are educated and provided opportunities to do stuff like think creatively, the more economic pie will be available for everyone to get a bigger piece.

The world is an amazing place, and I'm privileged to be a part of it  in this day and age.

Here's a link to the rest of the letter. Please put aside any assumptions and political biases you may have towards Mr. Gates and evaluate it on the merit of the content.

Cheers,
Tonya

Events

Dear Sis. Johnson the Youngest,

Sounds like things are going good  in Louisiana. How's learning Spanish going? Don't worry about not being able to contribute a lot. Now you know how I felt my whole mission. It really makes you simplify your teaching down to the nuts and bolts of the gospel, which is what it should be anyway. 

I'm glad that you're finding more people to teach. A busy missionary's a happy missionary. 

This week wasn't that super interesting for me. Some highlights were going with Dallin to eat the most authentic tacos at this taco truck right by the tracks in Provo. It was amazing. A taco truck stuffed  in this wooden structure with some insulation and a tarp on the outside. The most delicious tacos I think I've ever had. 

I did a lot of stuff for school. I made a whole presentation about social capital and how it effects international development. I looked at this one study from Indonesia where a researcher discovered that villages that had more TV and radio channels had less social capital, meaning that they had fewer social groups and less participation in those social groups. 

I read another one about how social capital has increased in Burundi as a result of violence experienced by some communities in the civil war that raged there from 1993-2003. The study discovered that communities and individuals that had experienced higher levels of violence were more likely to be altruistic than those that hadn't. Most developmental economists consider civil wars to be steps backwards in terms of development, but sometimes horrible, traumatic events can lead people to be better. Unfortunately, the study didn't explain why, but I think it has something to do with hope, social capital, and that indomitable human spirit.  

Other than that, not much going on. Church was good. We learned about the creation. Always a plus. 

Your quote this week is from the doctor. It's from the "Waters of Mars" episode and is a good example of what can happen when you exercise unrighteous dominion or priestcraft. "But there are laws. There are laws of time. Once upon a time there were people in charge of those laws, but they died. They all died. Do you know who that leaves? Me! It's taken me all these years to realize the laws of time are mine, and they will obey me! We're not just fighting the Flood; we're fighting Time itself! And I'm gonna win!"

I  love you,

Tonya Johnson