A good thing:

The website congomines.org has been launched to promote transparency in the Democratic Republic of Congo's mining sector, which is plagued by conflict and corruption.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15537682

A bad thing:

Worries about high tides overwhelming parts of Thailand in recent days have morphed into fears about polluted water and insect-borne diseases. In some parts the water is a filthy black color containing sewage, garbage and dead animals with a nasty smell.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/31/world/asia/thailand-flood/index.html?hpt=ias_c1

A thing to change:

Amnesty: Since February of this year, the Bahraini armed forces have used tanks, armored vehicles, small arms and projectile weapons to inflict deaths and injuries on protestors demanding greater political freedom. Now the US Department of Defense has proposed selling even more military equipment to those same armed forces.