The Optimist View
Our weekend edition long form journalism explores in-depth solutions to global issues.
Samhain ─ Inside the pagan traditions of Halloween’s ancient precursor
Editors Note: We're dusting off our Halloween history Optimist View to honor the day! “The magic of Samhain is that of endless possibility. Since we return to the beginning, we can begin anew in any way we wish.” ~ Michael Furie BY Marvin Lanes Haunted houses, scary movies, and terrifying Read More...
Think Global, Eat Local
“A garden is a solution that leads to other solutions. It is part of the limitless pattern of good health and good sense." – Wendell Berry By Sadie Wilbur Dirty Hands, Happy Heart My love for all things green began when I was a young girl. I grew up alongside a variety of trees and plants, Read More...
Solutions Thinking and Climate Change
Open Minds and Optimism: Keys to Solving the Climate Crisis In February 2022, the world’s leading climate scientists released the most urgent warning on climate change to date. The report, released by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), describes the implications of our Read More...
5 ways to save rainforests and the world every day
“At first, I thought I was fighting to save rubber trees, then I thought I was fighting to save the Amazon rainforest. Now I realize I am fighting for humanity.” - Chico Mendes, Brazilian environmentalist July 28 is World Nature Conservation Day. In honor of this, we're happy to offer Read More...
Greenwashing: The Conscientious Consumers Conundrum
“You have to hold yourself accountable for your actions, and that’s how we’re going to protect the Earth.” – Julia Butterfly Hill By Arielle Tiangco I have to admit, there was a time when I would shamelessly spend all my disposable income, from pouring smoothies at my part-time job, Read More...
Coping with climate anxiety through connection
“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one destiny, affects all indirectly.” — Martin Luther King Jr. Constant news updates are inescapable. Wildfires Read More...
Be bored, then get going
“Boredom is just the reverse side of fascination.” — Arthur Schopenhauer Congratulations, graduating classes of 2022! Being young, with a freshly minted degree, you probably feel invincible, like you can do anything. There’s a lightness and exuberance in your step, and you are full Read More...
Wild Motherhood: Meet some of the coolest mothers in the animal kingdom
Happy Mother’s Day 2022! They care for us, teach us, and shape our relationship with each other and with the world. For better or worse, each of us owes a lot of who we are to our moms! And as much as we all love to celebrate motherhood on this holiday, there is one mother that is ever-present Read More...
APA, AAPI, APIDA or AANHPI? The history and significance of the “Asian American” identity crisis
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” ― Lao Tzu By Arielle Tiangco Weeks ago, seated cross-legged on my couch, I watched the small bobbing faces of my colleagues speaking within the confines of their equally-sized zoom rectangles. We were in our scheduled editorial Read More...
Love and Action: Happy Earth Day!
“There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew.” — Marshall McLuhan, philosopher As far as we know, Earth is the best place in the Universe. The search for life beyond our planet and even our solar system is ongoing, and one day we could very well make the Read More...