Good Governance
What does good governance look like? In this good news section, we share international examples of good governance, from efforts directed at the protection of civil rights to initiatives aimed at the sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment.
Belgium pioneers EU ban on disposable vapes as Milan acts on outdoor smoking
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Belgium officially stepped into the spotlight as the first EU nation to ban the sale of disposable vapes, a move it hopes will protect young people from nicotine addiction and reduce environmental waste. The ban, which came into effect on January 1, was Read More...
The Azores lead Europe's largest marine protected area network—a win for conservation
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Portugal constructed Europe's largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) network in the Azores, protecting an astonishing 287,000 square kilometers of water. These safeguards assist diverse ecosystems that support deep-sea corals, whales, manta rays, and sharks, Read More...
7 states secure abortion rights as voters push back against restrictive measures
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As abortion rights remain a hotly debated issue in the United States, voters in ten states recently had the opportunity to change reproductive freedoms at the state level. More than two years after the Supreme Court decided to overturn Roe v. Wade, which Read More...
UK government unveils bold plan to achieve 95% green energy by 2030
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a historic step to reshape the UK's energy future, Ed Miliband, Secretary of Energy and Climate Change, revealed the government's "Clean Power 2030" strategy. The initiative, described as the most ambitious energy reform in decades, seeks to generate 95 Read More...
Colombia outlaws child marriage in landmark move
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Colombia made a historic move to protect its youngest citizens by prohibiting child marriage. After nearly two decades of passionate campaigning, the Colombian Congress passed legislation prohibiting marriage before the age of 18, closing a 137-year-old gap Read More...
Brazil fines meat producers $64 million over ties to deforested Amazon land
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a major environmental crackdown, Brazil's IBAMA fined meat packers and cattle ranchers $64 million for rearing or purchasing livestock on unlawfully deforested Amazon property. This effort seeks to reduce one of the primary causes of Amazon deforestation: Read More...
Thailand set to legalize same-sex marriage in January 2024
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Thailand has made a significant step toward LGBTQ+ equality by becoming Southeast Asia's first country to legalize same-sex marriage. The groundbreaking ordinance, signed into law by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and published in the Royal Gazette, will take Read More...
California's first national marine sanctuary in 30 years to protect 116 miles of coastline
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The proposal for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary marks a big step in protecting California's coastline. This sanctuary, which spans more than 116 miles of the state's central coast, will become the third largest of its kind in the United Read More...
Alaska Judge overturns law allowing only physicians to perform abortions
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A state Superior Court judge overturned an Alaska statute that required only licensed physicians to provide abortions, declaring that the limitation violated constitutional protections of equal protection and privacy. Superior Court Judge Josie Garton's Read More...
The FCC launches nationwide alert system to protect and serve missing Indigenous people
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a key step toward improving public safety, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) implemented a new nationwide warning system designed expressly for missing and endangered Indigenous people. This effort intends to fill a critical vacuum in the current Read More...