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.
IMO moves to make shipping companies pay a price for emissions
As the volume of goods traded across the world continues to increase, emissions from container ships are becoming a more prevalent source of pollution. In an effort to transition to industry towards a greener future, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has proposed a regulation that would Read More...
New York introduces mandatory racial impact studies for large developments
New development projects are a fact of life in urban areas, but unfortunately, these developments displace marginalized communities and families of color at a disproportionate rate. Communities that developers feel do not have the resources to advocate for themselves are taken advantage of and Read More...
The Optimist View: The Doughnut Economy
“Don’t wait for economic growth to reduce inequality—because it won’t. Instead, create an economy that is distributive by design.” - Kate Raworth BY Amelia Buckley Years ago, before I decided that my writing skills were far stronger than my calculus abilities, I sat in an Read More...
Brooklyn Museum returns 1,305 looted artifacts back to Costa Rica
Recently, we shared the good news about Germany’s decision to return its collection of the Benin Bronzes back to Nigeria, where they belong. Soon after, the Met Museum followed suit and returned two brass plaques belonging to the same collection of West African art that was looted during Read More...
Los Angeles expands mental health crisis line to 24-hour service
Back in February, Los Angeles piloted a program which diverts mental crisis 911 calls from police departments to certified mental health providers. The concept was implemented on a trial, eight-hour a day basis, but after overwhelmingly positive results, the city is expanding the service to a Read More...
US will offer non-binary gender option for passports
Pride Month has come to a close, but the US State Department created a policy for greater equality in June’s final days, announcing that US citizens will soon be able to choose a third gender option on federal passports. Citizens will also be allowed to, for the first time, select their own Read More...
130 countries declare support for global minimum corporate tax rate
As global wealth inequality becomes more severe, a growing number of countries are turning to corporate tax enforcement to help close this gap. G7 finance ministers recently proposed their own tax accord to prevent tax evasion, and now, 130 countries have agreed to back a global minimum corporate Read More...
Yorkshire Dales rewilding initiative lets nature reclaim the land
Another expansive rewilding initiative was launched last week in England. The restoration process is focused on the gorgeous but barren landscape of the Yorkshire Dales. While the Yorkshire Dales is celebrated for its bleak beauty, the fact of the matter is that the land’s striking appearance is Read More...
New Zealand will ban most single-use plastic items by 2025
While New Zealand is considered to be one of the greenest countries in the world, it is currently one of the top ten per-capita producers of landfill waste worldwide. That may soon change, however, thanks to new legislation that will ban most single-use plastics by 2025. Among the main items Read More...
Researchers identify surprising way to boost female education
Educating women and girls is one of the most powerful tools we have for improving economic prosperity and sustainability, especially in middle- and low-income countries, but theories vary on how to best implement universal education. A new study from The World Bank Economic Review offers some Read More...