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 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...
Have your food and support it too: SF’s new optional tax funds regenerative farming
If you live in California, you may begin to see an optional surcharge on your restaurant checks. The one percent tax is not mandatory, but it can make your meal more sustainable. The new surcharge profits are going to Restore California, a division of a non-profit which provides grants to Read More...
Pushing for ambitious sustainability has become the standard in Paris
Whatever you think of them, you can’t say the new promises from Paris’s Mayor Anne Hidalgo lack ambition. Seeking re-election at the municipal polls in March, Hidalgo unveiled proposals this week that include a referendum on the role of Airbnb, a plan to make the city center “100 percent Read More...
Titanic wreck gains further protection under new treaty between US and UK
Researchers, archeologists, and the famous DiCaprio-Winslet love saga have made the Titanic a fascinating piece of sea voyage history. Now, the ship’s wreck will be protected for generations to come under a new treaty between the U.S. and England which places stricter regulations on removing Read More...
If we truly want to 'correct' prisoners, then prison education is a must
The problem with America’s prisons is that although they are called “correctional facilities”, prisons are really just a place where criminals are punished. This is reflected in America’s absurdly high recidivism rates: people released from state prisons have a five-year recidivism rate of Read More...
How AI technology is being used to crack down on illegal online drug sales
In the age of the internet, online drug sales are a major factor in the opioid crisis which kills 130 Americans every day. Now, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is using artificial intelligence to crack down on online drug trafficking. As you can imagine, this system is more complex Read More...
New homes in Wales will be powered by renewable energy by 2025
The building and housing sector are one of today’s major contributors to global warming and the climate crisis. Acknowledging the urgent need to find a solution to this problem, the Welsh government has recently issued plans requiring all new homes in the country to be heated and powered by clean Read More...
China to ban single-use plastic bags and food containers by the end of 2020
As plastic pollution becomes ever more ubiquitous each year, China - one of the biggest contributors to the problem - is set to introduce a ban on all non-degradable plastic bags and single-use straws in its major cities. By the end of the year, the country is expected to ban the production and Read More...
Amsterdam is offering a ‘new start’ to young people in debt
In a vow to help young Amsterdammers, the city of Amsterdam is taking over the debt of young adults who are struggling to get into work or education. This action was taken to directly confront the growth in borrowing among young dutch adults - more than a third of Amsterdammers aged between 18 and Read More...