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.
Oregon will offer free camping at state parks for underrepresented groups
In an effort to increase camping opportunities for underrepresented groups, select Oregon State Parks will offer free yurts and cabins for disabled, LGBTQ, and POC campers this summer. The initiative was pioneered because segments of Oregon’s population do not camp or visit state parks in Read More...
What congress could do to cut drug prices in America
One thing that can be unanimously agreed upon around the United States is that drugs and medical treatments are outrageously expensive. Americans lead in total amount spent on drugs globally, with costs recently rising to an average of $1,200 per person per year. If slashing the price of drugs in Read More...
Green policies, citizen science, and reversing the trend of wildlife losses
Amid big declines in wildlife, action can still help to reverse the trend for some species. This is the conclusion from a new analysis out of the UK which shows that freshwater insects, mosses and lichens are bucking the trend of wildlife losses in the country and have expanded their ranges since Read More...
How Japan operates the world’s most effective lost and found system
Have you ever lost a cell phone, umbrella, or jacket and wondered where it ended up in the world? Well, if you live in Japan, you stand a much higher chance of reconnecting with your long lost item. The country’s elaborate lost and found system has efficiently mastered how to reconnect items with Read More...
How to make public meetings more productive
If you’re involved in local politics or have just seen the show Parks and Rec, you know that public meetings can be disastrous and unproductive. However, roughly 97 percent of local governments utilize some form of local meetings. So how can we take these collaborative spaces and get them back on Read More...
PETA is donating old fur coats to Afghan communities in need
With the growing awareness around animal cruelty in recent years, shoppers have increasingly turned away from fur products. But as people across the country continue to abandon the use of fur, what happens to the products that already exist? Every year, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Read More...
Chileans now consume a lot less sugar after landmark public health law
The world’s toughest controls over the promotion of sugary drinks, brought in by a nation beset by obesity, have cut purchases by nearly a quarter in two years, research has shown. Four years ago, the people of Chile were consuming more sugary drinks per head than any other country in the Read More...
Should we switch gas stoves for electric ones to fight climate change?
With climate change being a recurrent topic of conversation, legislators and organizations are looking into all aspects that can be optimized to reduce our current climate impact. The answer, legislators propose, is to push for electrification of our homes. This consists of changing the source Read More...
The Little Shell Tribe finally receives federal recognition after 125 years
Native Americans have routinely fought for land rights across the U.S. This past December, one small tribe won a land autonomy milestone, as Congress officially recognized the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians. The tribe has about 5,300 members and, after 125 years of waiting, they now Read More...
How New Jersey is taking extra steps to consider the climate in building plans
This week, New Jersey announced it will become the first state to require potential building projects to pass a climate change impact evaluation before being approved. As a part of Gov. Phil Murphy’s commitment to achieve 50 percent clean energy by 2030 and 100 percent by 2050, building projects Read More...