Today’s Solutions: December 18, 2024

Social Justice

Read about the newest efforts to overthrow systemic inequalities and address injustices in terms of wealth, opportunities, and privileges to make the world a better place.

Female Truck driver

More women take the wheel in the trucking industry

Truck driving is a steady-paying career that offers job security, and now trucking firms are trying to incentivize more hires with employee benefits amid driver shortages. It is an intense job with long hours, but the role of truckers has become more important than ever in the Pandemic and with Read More...

Toilet with flowers in it

Upcycling your "business," 5 uses of human waste

At The Optimist Daily, we keep our ears keened for news about upcycling. It’s an impressive hack, making productive use of discarded materials and waste, turning what was trash into something new. It’s a great solution toward making sustainable products, and we’re always looking for creative Read More...

Traffic free London

Ultra-Low Emissions Zone extended to all of London

The Optimist Daily has followed the progress of London’s Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) since the beginning when mayor Sadiq Khan planned to reduce the city’s air pollution and introduce a charge on the most polluting vehicles in the city. In 2019, ULEZ was enacted, charging motorists £12.50 Read More...

Woman wearing a pink hajib gesturing Break The Bias in support of International Women's Day with women standing behind her doing the same.

Break your bias this International Women’s Day

In 2022, International Women’s Day is celebrated today, on March 8th. The important event is honored each year to acknowledge the contribution and strength of women globally. Women have been marginalized throughout history, so days like this are important to reflect on the societal progress we've Read More...

Donating affordably

5 affordable ways to donate your money

You don’t need to be a billionaire philanthropist to make donations that matter. Even if you’re on a budget, there are some clever ways you can give to good causes—even if it’s a small amount of money. Here are five affordable ways to be a philanthropist. Rethink your rewards These days Read More...

Women's victory for equal pay

US Women’s Soccer Team wins equal pay

The US Women’s National Soccer Team has won four World Cups, four Olympic gold medals, and last week, in a stunning 5-0 shutout against Iceland, won the 2022 SheBelieves Cup. Last week the team also achieved a victory, not in a soccer match, but for equality in pay.  The Optimist Daily Read More...

Toni Morrison the Bluest Eye

A victory for free speech: Toni Morrisson’s The Bluest Eye unbanned

Last month, the board of the Wentzville School District of St. Louis, Missouri voted to ban Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison’s novel, The Bluest Eye from school libraries. This came after a handful of parents requested the book be banned, citing themes of racism and child abuse.  Now, after a Read More...

woman shops for ceramics and homeware

Boosting prices to raise wages? This brand’s customers approve

The way that the pandemic has forced us to reevaluate our lives and the systems that govern them cannot be overstated. One of the many concerns that bubbled up to the surface was the plight of the worker. Unfair wages, overloaded schedules, lack of childcare, mounting anxiety and stress, and Read More...

POC home owners

Congress aims to fix the appraisal industry and help POC owners

At The Optimist Daily, we’re excited by stories about narrowing the wealth gap, especially when it comes to the racial wealth gap. This is why we were happy to hear on Tuesday that the House of Representatives will be pushing legislation forward to address racial discrimination in the home Read More...

Kyev Monument of Independence

History provides context: A modern timeline of Ukraine-Russia relations

Part of what happens when a dramatic event shocks the world is that the headline news cycle moves fast in one direction, and we can lose sight of the context within which these events are occurring. The answer to that cycle is to seek out historical context. An excellent overview of the key events Read More...