Having Fewer Friends Can Make People Happier

Scientists found that people who have fewer friends in real life are happier
than those who have plenty of friends.
Researchers from the University of Leeds conducted the study to gain
insight into social networks and the changes that happen to these groups
over time. The researchers used data from two online surveys, which
involved almost 1,500 participants, conducted by a non-profit research
organization.
The participants shared their ages, the composition of their social networks,
how frequent they engaged in different types of social interactions, and
their personal perceptions of well-being.
According to the study’s results, the social networks of younger people
were larger than those of older people. This was because younger adults’
networks included people they barely know, such as coworkers, relatives,
and school or childhood acquaintances. Additionally, younger adults’
tendency to engage in social media activities usually results in large
but impersonal networks. In contrast, older adults had fewer social
interactions because of life changes such as retiring from work or having
less energy to maintain social relationships.
The older adults were therefore found to have greater well-being than
younger adults. Despite this finding, people who had more close friends in
real life reportedly had higher social satisfaction, regardless of age.
Based on these results, the study recommends that efforts in achieving
higher social satisfaction be concentrated on strengthening people’s ties
with close friends rather than increasing the number of friends.
For older people, this can be achieved by coming up with ways to help
them move around and interact, as well as teaching them how to connect
with close friends online. Meanwhile, the researchers advise younger
people to engage in more sincere conversations when communicating
online.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• Do you agree that the quality of people’s relationships with their friends is
more important than quantity? Why or why not?
• In what ways are real-life friends better than online friends? Explain.
• What do you think are some characteristics of a healthy social life?
Discuss.
• What can people do to achieve a healthy social life? Explain.
Cruise Ship Sets Sail to Visit All Seven Continents

The Silver Whisper ship has embarked on a journey around the world to

visit all seven continents. Silversea Cruises, which owns the Silver Whisper
ship, is acclaimed for its luxury cruise ships designed for few guests and its
personalized service. The company boasts of 9 cruise ships that travel to
900 locations worldwide. According to Silversea, this latest luxury voyage is
the company’s most immersive cruise because of its wide array of
offerings.
The ship departed from Florida, United States, last January, and it will
arrive in Amsterdam, its last stop, in May. Called the Legends of Cruising,
the cruise will visit 62 locations in 32 different countries and will take 140
days to complete. Cruise fares start at $62,000 and rise depending on the
cabin and accommodation placement. Each of the ocean-view rooms
includes amenities, such as a 24-hour dining service, a butler, and a
bar stocked with guests’ preferred drinks.

The most expensive cruise ticket includes round-trip business class

airfares, pocket money, laundry services, and unlimited Wi-Fi among
others. The luxury cruise offers 33 offshore experiences, including a world-
renowned ballet performance in South America, a musical in North
America, and a four-course lunch in Asia. Guests can also enjoy a candlelit
dinner in a desert in Africa, visit churches and museums in Europe, and
see penguins, seals, and other animals in their natural environment through
an inflatable boat tour in the Antarctic Peninsula.
The cruise also offers a cocktail program that lets guests sample and
recreate drinks from various regions they visit. Guests will learn the
tradition and history behind each drink, all of which incorporate local
ingredients.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

 Would you take part in the Legends of Cruising tour around the
world? Why or why not?
 What do you think makes cruises different from other vacation
activities? Why?
  If you were to create your own cruise itinerary, which countries would
you go to, and what activities would you include? Explain.
 What would be the selling point of your cruise itinerary (e.g. visit all
countries, visit all continents)? Discuss.
Luxembourg to Make Public Transportation Free

Luxembourg becomes the first country to have plans of offering free public
transportation to commuters.
The small and prosperous country in Western Europe will
start waiving fares on trains, buses, and trams in the summer of 2019,
according to Luxembourg’s prime minister. With this scheme, the
government hopes to encourage the use of public transportation instead of
private vehicles in order to reduce traffic congestion in the country.
The country’s capital, Luxembourg City, endures some of the worst
traffic jams in the world. In 2016, drivers reportedly got stuck in traffic for an
average of 33 hours. Although the capital houses a small population of
110,000 people, 400,000 workers commute there for work every day.
Approximately 200,000 people from neighboring countries also come to the
country for work daily.
Similar policies have already been put in place to promote the use of public
transportation and address the issue of traffic congestion. Since August
2018, people below 20 years old have been enjoying free public
transportation. Students aged 30 and below have also been able to benefit
from free shuttle rides to and from their educational institution since then.
On another note, some commuters and critics have expressed their
concerns about the government’s latest transport scheme. Some
commuters worry that the rise in the use of public transportation will lower
the quality of rides. In addition, critics say that the scheme will require train
companies to make certain adjustments to accommodate more
passengers, which might increase operational costs.
The scheme is not yet finalized, as the government is still discussing the
preparations needed for its implementation.

DISCUSION QUESTIONS

• Do you think that Luxembourg’s free transportation scheme will be

effective in addressing traffic congestion in the country? Why or why not?
• Aside from those mentioned in the article, what are the other possible
effects of the free public transportation scheme? Discuss.
• Aside from transportation, what other services should governments
provide for free? Explain.
• In your opinion, what difficulties will governments face in making these
services free? Discuss.

Research: Vegetarian and Vegan Diets May Increase Risk of Stroke

A new study suggests that vegetarians and vegans may have a higher risk
of stroke compared to meat-eaters.
Published in the British Medical Journal, the research aimed to determine
whether meatless diets have health risks. Researchers from the University
of Oxford observed 48,188 people from the United Kingdom, who did not
have a history of stroke or heart ailments, at the onset of the study. The
participants were categorized as meat eaters, fish eaters, and vegetarians
and vegans based on their responses regarding their diets. They were
monitored for 18 years and were asked about their lifestyle and medical
history.
During the 18-year research period, there were 2,820 coronary heart
disease and 1,072 stroke cases documented within the entire group.
The researchers discovered that there was a lower heart disease risk for
both fish-eaters and vegetarians and vegans. However, they also found
that vegans and vegetarians have a 20% higher risk of stroke than meat-
eaters. Those with meatless diets were particularly at risk of a hemorrhagic
stroke, an uncommon type of stroke that occurs when blood vessels erupt
and bleed into the brain.
While the exact reason for the higher stroke risk is unclear, the researchers
speculate that it may be due to vegans and vegetarians missing out on
key vitamins and nutrients that cannot be effectively sourced from plant-
based diets. Some studies have correlated very low cholesterol levels and
vitamin B12 deficiency with increased stroke risk.
The researchers mentioned that the study was the first to look into the link
between stroke and plant-based diets. They, therefore, recommend further
research to determine how stroke risk is exactly related to cholesterol and
certain nutrients.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• In your opinion, should people who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet re-
evaluate their eating habits? Explain.
• Do you think people should exclusively follow one type of diet? Why or
why not?
• How would you define an effective diet? Discuss.
• Why is it important to determine the type of diet that is effective for your
body? Explain.
Report Reveals the World’s Most Powerful Passports

The Henley Passport Index has released 2019’s list of the world’s most
powerful passports.
Henley & Partners, a London-based residence and global citizenship
advisory firm, compiles the list and reveals it annually. It gathers data from
the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which holds the largest
database of travel information in the world. This year, the firm ranked 227
countries and territories, taking into account the number of destinations
their citizens can visit even without obtaining a visa.
Singapore and Japan are both at the top spot, with their passports granting
visa-free access to 189 destinations. The two countries have held this
position for 18 months after unseating Germany in early 2018. Finland,
Germany, and South Korea hold the second spot, allowing their passport
holders to visit 187 places without a visa. Denmark, Italy, and
Luxembourg round out the third spot.
The United Kingdom and the United States used to share the top spot in
2014 but have plummeted to sixth place, with both having a score of 183.
This is the lowest rank that both have held since 2010. At the bottom of the
list is Afghanistan, whose passport allows its citizens visa-free access to
only 25 countries.
Henley & Partners Chairman Dr. Christian H. Kaelin believes that the list
shows that many countries recognize the importance of granting foreigners
visa-free access to a country. He explained that welcoming foreigners can
greatly contribute to a country’s social and economic development and is
beneficial to all countries in the world.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• Do you think it is necessary to release the list of the world’s most powerful
passports? Why or why not?
• Do you agree that welcoming foreigners is important to a country’s social
and economic development? Explain.
• In your opinion, what are some indicators of a country’s social and
economic progress? Discuss.
• Why do you think some countries struggle to achieve social and economic
progress?