Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be part of that great generation.

Nelson Mandela, 2005

There is much that is good in the United States,* but some things could stand improving.

The following is for people who feel that they should just sit back and enjoy things the way they are. Are there some ideas for documentaries here?

The U.S. As Number One

It has been established that among industrialized nations of the world the United States is:

#1 in murder
#1 in childhood poverty
#1 in lowest voter turnout
#1 in drug use per capita
#1 in air pollutants per capita
#1 in hazardous waste per capita
#1 in likelihood of children being killed by gunfire
#1 in corporate influence over democratic processes
#1 in having the largest percentage of its citizens in prisons
#1 among the top 50 nations in lack of press freedom and individual rights
#1 among the 21 richest nations in childhood disease, accidents and injuries

*CyberCollege and InternetCampus visitors come from more than 50 countries. If you are not from the United States, I'm sure a list could be drawn up for your own country.

Many believe that broadcasting is a more powerful influence on most young people than the home, the school, or the church.

Assuming you secure a position in the industry, one of the ways you can give your life added meaning is to be a bit of a change agent.

This means that you invest some of your energies, talent, and training in bringing about a positive difference in the world.

There are many world problems that need attention.

Every two and one-half seconds (the time it takes you to read this sentence) a child dies in the world from malnutrition or preventable disease.

According to a 2003, U.S. Census Bureau survey, on any one day in the United States, 13-million people don't have enough food to eat. This figure is up 8% from 2002, and up 13% from 2000.

Each year the gap between the "haves" and the "have-not's" increases in the United States. World hunger organizations estimate that nearly 1 billion people around the world are chronically hungry. Around the world undernutrition contributes to the deaths of 5.6 million children every year.

Beyond world hunger we have these issues:

Ninety countries are affected by landmines and unexploded ordinance, with rough estimates of 15,000 to 20,000 mine victims each year.
There are over 30,000 nuclear weapons in the world.
There are 22 countries where more than half the population is illiterate. Fifteen of them are in Africa.
Since the epidemic began, AIDS has killed more than 21.8 million people--almost three times the population of Switzerland.
Every year more than 500,000 women die as a result of pregnancy and childbirth, with huge regional disparities.
And, finally, television and the Internet are today's most powerful forces for bringing about change. In make a positive difference in the world you might consider How to Be a Moral Radical and the file, Levels of Moral Development.

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