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.
The Optimist View: An interview with community peace advocate Aqeela Sherrills
By Kristy Jansen Aqeela Sherrills grew up in Watts, California in the Jordan Downs Housing Projects. In his own words, he is a spirit-centered activist, organizer, advocate. In 1992, he was instrumental in organizing the peace treaty between the Crips and Bloods which launched his career in Read More...
Economists propose an “orbit tax” to solve the problem of space junk
Although it can seem like an endless void from Earth, the truth is that our near-space area is getting quite crowded, with more than half a million objects now orbiting the planet at speeds high enough to destroy satellites and do serious damage to the International Space Station. This space Read More...
The Optimist View: Cultivating a Circular Economy
“There is a great need for the introduction of new values in our society, where bigger is not necessarily better, where slower can be faster, and where less can be more.” – Gaylord Nelson On one of our regular family Zoom calls, my aunt asked me “what habits have you adopted during Read More...
Costa Rica just held the first legal same-sex marriage in Central America
In August of 2018, the Supreme Court of Costa Rica ruled that the country’s gay marriage ban was unconstitutional. Now, two years later, Costa Rica has witnessed its first same-sex marriage after the country’s ban on such unions was lifted. That makes Costa Rica the first Central American Read More...
Millions of healthcare workers urge G20 leaders for a green recovery
As lockdowns around the world begin to ease, medical professionals are urging political leaders not to forget the lessons learned from the coronavirus, emphasizing that a new trajectory, one that takes account of air pollution and the climate crisis, is needed. More than 200 organizations Read More...
South Korea is on a mission to transform from carbon villain to model
A year ago, Soyoung Lee was one of a crowd of climate activists demonstrating on the streets of Seoul in a campaign inspired by the global school strike founder Greta Thunberg. Today, the 35-year-old lawyer is the youngest member of the South Korean parliament and a driving force in the Read More...
Ohio could soon be home to America’s first freshwater offshore wind farm
While Europe has 105 offshore wind farms, the US currently has only one up and running. But according to the U.S. Department of Energy, Americans shores have enough wind blowing to produce more than 2,000 gigawatts of power, or nearly double the nation’s current electricity use. In what Read More...
The EU is committing big money to boosting biodiversity in Europe
We have fantastic news from the climate front in Europe. This week, the European Commission has committed to protecting 30% of the EU’s land and oceans by 2030 as part of the European Green Deal, in a plan tentatively welcomed by environment groups who warned far-reaching ambitions must not only Read More...
Pledge completed: UC Berkeley has now fully divested from fossil fuels
The University of California announced Tuesday that it has fully divested from all fossil fuels, making it the nation’s largest educational institution to do so as campaigns to fight climate change through investment strategies proliferate at campuses across the country. The UC milestone capped Read More...
The case for shifting to a four-day workweek for post-pandemic life
At The Optimist Daily, we’re putting a lot of focus on what the world can do after the pandemic to create a healthier, more sustainable, and more inclusive society. In New Zealand, one idea that was suggested by prime minister Jacinda Ardern is starting to gain a lot of traction: shifting to a Read More...