A new United Nations report is a good reminder we are witnessing the end of an era in our lifetime – in our case, the end of the 10,000 year pre-industrial era. Though we may lament the loss of traditional cultures around the world and worry about the new global order that our changing times are bringing, a look at the data underscores that industrialization is overwhelmingly a positive long-term developmnent…reducing poverty, increasing education levels, encouraging equal rights, and setting the stage for much higher quality of life for all people. Learn more about the new UN report at Poverty Rates Halved or read the full report at MDG Report 2011.