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.
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...
Community-level big data offers a clearer picture of disaster resiliency
Hurricane Ida has demonstrated once again how chaotic the days after a natural disaster can be. Relief organizations are often on the ground right away, but determining the extent of damage and displacement can take time, delaying the delivery of essential supplies. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Read More...
Leaded gasoline has officially been globally discontinued
The health effects of leaded fuel were first questioned in 1924 when five workers died at a Standard Oil refinery, but despite concerns, the lead continued to be added to gasoline everywhere until the 1970s. Today, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has officially announced that leaded fuel has Read More...
Arizona abolishes peremptory challenges to improve juror diversity
Arizona’s state Supreme Court has announced a policy change to improve juror diversity and reduce racial bias in the legal system. The state will eliminate peremptory challenges, the practice that allows lawyers to remove jurors from a case without justification. In both criminal and civil Read More...