Politics
Having a difficult time finding positive news about national and global politics? Search no further! From public policy to positive leadership to democracy efforts, find the latest good news stories in the world of politics at The Optimist Daily.
Costa Rica isn’t letting Covid stand in the way of sustainable progress
One small Central American country is making big moves when it comes to combating climate change. Famous for its environmental policy, Costa Rica is making headway against the destruction of its fragile habitats even in the face of budget cuts and setbacks due to the pandemic. Costa Rica is Read More...
Dating apps provide support for employees affected by Texas abortion law
The biggest names in US dating apps reacted to Texas’ new restrictive abortion laws that went into effect this past week by creating relief funds for those who will now have to seek medical care outside of the state. Austin-based Bumble extended their relief fund to anyone seeking abortions Read More...
Robert E. Lee statue set to be removed from Richmond, VA
A colossal 21 foot tall Robert E. Lee statue has been removed from Virginia's capital, state officials said on Wednesday. The statue stood for over 130 years as a monument to the Confederacy. "Virginia's largest monument to the Confederate insurrection will come down this week," Governor Ralph Read More...
How relocating urban highways is an act of racial justice
Many urban highways from the 1950s and 1960s were deliberately built through neighborhoods primarily occupied by people of color, effectively walling these families off from economic opportunity and disrupting their sense of community. Urban planning and public policy researchers Julian Agyeman and Read More...
Statue of Olmec woman to replace that of Columbus in Mexico City
Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum has announced that a statue of Christopher Columbus which stands on one of the city’s major avenues will be replaced with a statue of an Indigenous Olmec woman. The Columbus statue, which was removed from its location last year due to public pressure, will Read More...
Greece creates climate crisis ministry in the wake of summer fires
Following a summer of devastating fires and record temperatures, Greece’s government has created a new ministry to address the impact and risks of climate change. Led by former European Union commissioner Christos Stylianides, the ministry will be in charge of firefighting, disaster relief, Read More...
Mexico is first country in North America to ban animal cosmetic testing
Mexico becomes the first country in North America and the 41st country in the world to completely ban cosmetics testing on animals after Mexico’s Senate voted unanimously to do so. This change in legislation is believed to have been influenced by the Humane Society’s International Read More...
Labor Day: A brief history of the holiday
Today, the US celebrates Labor Day on the first Monday of September to commemorate the social and economic achievements of American workers, but did you know it had been a federal holiday since 1894? That’s just 24 years after Independence Day and Christmas became federal holidays. Back before Read More...
Paris lowers the speed limit on most city streets
Pedestrians and cyclists in Paris are welcoming a new policy that will restrict the speed limit on nearly all streets in the French capital to just 30 kph, down from 50 kph. The law is the latest move by the municipality to advance the city closer to its climate targets and transform people’s Read More...
Football Association of Ireland to pay women and men’s teams equally
Ireland is taking a big step in sports equality with the announcement that the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) will pay the women's and men's teams' equal match fees. Match payments paid to male athletes will be reduced while match payments paid to female athletes will be increased to reach Read More...