Global Demographics

One-fifth of adults prefer their furry loved ones to their partners this Valentine’s Day.

One in five adults would rather spend Valentine’s Day with their animal companions than their human partners, reveals an international survey that polled 24,000 people in 23 countries. According to the survey, jointly conducted by Reuters/Ipsos, younger and less affluent people are more likely to prefer pets over people, but there was no significant difference between men and women.

Young people are dying from drug-related deaths in the UK.  

An academic paper from the University of Hertfordshire in the UK contends that the rate of young people dying of ecstasy-related deaths is increasing at an alarming rate. Most disturbing is the fact that most of the deaths occurred in people who were young and healthy, said lead author, Professor Fabrizio Schifano of the University's School of Pharmacy, in a public statement.

A demo dirt reader explains why it is important to visit the favelas of Brazil. 

I recently returned from a trip to Brazil and one of the last things I did there was a tour of Rocinha, Latin America's largest favela (shantytown), in Rio, where more than 200,000 people live.