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Inflation declined in October to 7.7% in the US from 8.2% in September 2022. This reflects year over year change in the consumer price index. Excluding food and energy it was 6.3%. Goods inflation for used cars, clothing slowed, airfares also declined.

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This FR24 video shows Chile's Atacama desert as a dumping ground for fast fashion clothing, boots and other consumer products.

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See this amazing exhibition of award winning photographs and video installations in DW.com of how humans have impacted the planet over millenia. The view from space highlights the beauty of the planet - and also its fragility.

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With about 81% of people over 12 years getting 2 doses of vaccination, Netherlands has one of the highest vaccination rates in Europe. The recent surge in UK, Germany and Austria has also hit Netherlands with 16,000 new cases per day. A partial lockdown starts on November 13 for 3 weeks in Netherlands.

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The Glasgow COP26 summit could be the beginning of a new era for mankind as the city that started the industrial revolution in Britain takes the world on a turn into a new era of ecologically conscious living. This BBC report looks at changes we should be experiencing in 2022 to 2030. Electric cars that take the place of current automobiles, increasing use of construction materials other than cement and concrete, use of solar and wind energy. From a mental health standpoint lifestyles built around walking and cycling, more forested areas and green spaces in and around cities, cleaner air, quieter cities, food choices and agricultural choices made around health and better ecology. Personal investments, corporate investments and pensions of $139 trillion invested in a way that cuts carbon emissions. Governments and private citizens enabling transparency and regulation, weekly monitoring on matters relating to emissions in one's own neighborhoods and local region.  ...

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Only by drawing the real connection between climate and human health can real progress be made in tackling climate change. The planet is greater than we are, say experts, and it will survive us. It is people who have to save themselves.

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Without FW De Klerk's vision and leadership, and courage to go against the instincts of Afrikaaners in the National Party, could South Africa have ended up in civil war and become like some other African nations a failed state? This was a distinct possibility in the 1990's and a failed state today would be much worse than any of the difficulties that South Africa has faced so far. By 1992 with release of Nelson Mandela and 1994 with elections based on universal franchise, De Klerk had dismantled much of the system of Apartheid or race based rule of white Afrikaaners. Apartheid was a system of racial segregation based government imposed by a white Afrikaaner government in 1948 and which continued till 1994. Afrikaaners are descendants of Dutch immigrants to the Transvaal and other regions in British South Africa. They briefly fought a war with the British called the Boer War from 1899 to 1902. Today there are about 2.7 million Afrikaaners in South Africa, about 100,000 in Namibia, about 41,000 in Zambia. As best seen on the cricket grounds white and black Africans in South Africa and Namibia are part of a new mutiracial country. Much of this made possible by De Klerk's courage as a Transvaaler who made the right choices after assuming the leadership of the National party in 1989, coming from provincial roots in Transvaal.  ...

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Israel remains a laboratory for the rest of the world in tackling coronavirus. During the beginning of 2021 Israel was the first country to push ahead with Pfizer vaccines for the over 18 population in a country of 10 million people. As winter approaches Israel has given a third booster shot to 50% of the population and is able to conduct normal life with a green pass system and the use of masks indoors. Each time a major surge has been prevented. The green pass in Israel is now for people who have had a third shot or booster shot. By thinking one step ahead, making decisions rapidly, and coordinating action early between the government and other organizations to vaccinate everyone, Israel provides lessons for the rest of the world. Not that there are no unvaccinated -about 700,000 people do not believe in vaccination and are unvaccinated. They are a vocal group but only about 8% of the population, and the vast majority of Israelis are in favor of vaccination and the green pass system. ...

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Shortages of urea from China used for fertilizer in India and urea solution used for reducing diesel emissions in South Korea is affecting farmers in India, and cargo truck drivers in South Korea. Prices of urea increased 10 fold in 2021. Urea is extracted from coal and coal shortages in China are worsening. China makes 40% of world urea supply and India takes half of China's exports. This is one more example of how the supply chain is affected by coal shortages in China.

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Studies released during COP26 in Glasgow show Australia has 5.34 tons of carbon emissions per person per year, twice that of China at 2.71 tons per person per year. South Korea is at 3.81 tons, US at 3.08 tons on a per person basis.

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This obituary for FW De Klerk looks back at the dismantling of race based rule of Apartheid in South Africa in 1992, the release of Nelson Mandela, and elections in 1994 through universal franchise. This was done by the son of a schoolteacher in the Transvaal region who rose to the top through the provincial leadership. De Klerk took the actions to bring racial harmony after growing up as an Afrikkaner and working in the local politics of the National Party that introduced Apartheid rule. Before 1989 reforms in the Botha government left black people on 13% of the worst land in the country, tribal homelands in which they did not even live in, in a distorted form of representation. Limited representation was given to Indian ethnic minorities and colored people.  All this changed between 1992 and 1994 after De Klerk assumed leadership of the National Party and the government in 1989. This required great courage and statesmanship, and vision from De Klerk to set the foundations for a multiracial society that even Margaret Thatcher and Reagan failed to grasp and promote. De Klerk died in 2020. For Mandela the path was clear, for De Klerk the path had to be forged out of nothing and against the natural instincts of his own party. This saved south Africa to become a true multi racial society with respect for the rule of law and democracy. ...

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Who will take up the difficult work in American childcare centers at $10-$15 per hour when retailers such as Amazon and Target are paying $20-$25 an hour during labor shortages in the US in 2021. As a result thousands of childcare centers in the US are closing and others are operating at a fourth or fifth part of their capacity. The result- less childcare and fewer women able to return to the workforce. Fewer men who can go back to work if caring for a child. This leads to further labor shortages. For a long time retailers like Amazon and Target were faulted for paying wages that made it difficult for workers to support their families. With the increase in inflation of about 5% in 2020-2021 it is even more difficult to pay for essential food and clothing. Another problem that America and Europe have lived through under different administrations in the last 2 decades is now getting even worse. Left to markets alone the whole system breaks down when one by one essential services such as healthcare, sanitation, childcare, transportation, cannot be provided. The US is facing an existential crisis not just in climate change but also in childcare, healthcare services. Both are caused by same source, a lack of emphasis on the right and essential national priorities. The causes go back to faulty capital allocation in America and Europe. $390 billion is allocated for childcare in Biden's plan in October, yet the Biden Families and Workers plan faces resistance. Gradually many of president Biden's programs for women including paid leave, child care and others are being shriveled into smaller and smaller amounts and the $3.9 trillion in spending for the workers and families plan is down now to $2 trillion.  The US and Europe face splits in society with one more urban and from the professional classes and the other more rural and in smaller urban communities and from the less educated classes each having different priorities. Only a clear resolution in the proper direction can bring relief for women, children and all segments of society, needed for a good society. ...