Clearing the air
From The Optimist Magazine Summer 2014 Forget the airpocalypse—the skies are getting cleaner. Hopeful signs from Mexico City, no longer the world’s dirtiest. On a cool Saturday morning, I check the air quality report on Twitter before putting on my running shoes. “Good,” the tweet says—as Read More...
Canada produces 66 percent of its electricity with renewable energy
New data showed that Canada produced 66 percent of its electricity from renewables in 2015. 60 percent of the county’s electricity was generated with hydro power—Canada produces 10 percent of the world's hydro-electricity. The remainder came from wind, solar and biomass. Besides Canada there Read More...
The circle economy: Veggies grown with toilet water
Nature produces no waste. Whatever any species leaves behind is used as fuel for another species. Humans are the great exception. We produce massive amounts of waste. That has to change and here’s an example. This water treatment plant turns sewage in water that can be used for veggies Read More...
Study: Stroke prevention through healthy lifestyle also reduces dementia
A decade-long research project focused on stroke prevention has led to the discovery that by successfully fighting off the risks of stroke—with a healthy diet and exercise—the incidence of dementia also declines. The outcome may not be so surprising: It makes sense that a healthy lifestyle Read More...
Germany is leading a meat-free, vegan revolution
Eating less meat is a global trend that substantially helps decreasing carbon emissions. According to a recent report, between 2005 and 2014 American beef consumption decreased by 19 percent. The Germans are well known for their bratwursts and schnitzels, but they are also leading vegan innovation. Read More...
Singing bowls: Sounds that clean the soul
Sounds can heal the soul. That’s the principle of singing bowls—an ancient practice with origins in Tibet more than 2,000 years ago. Sound-healing is becoming increasingly popular in the West as the practice has been scientifically linked to reductions in stress and anxiety. Interesting fact: Read More...
If your carbon footprint makes you feel guilty, there’s an easy way out
“We think a lot about our carbon footprint,” says Deborah Markowitz. She diligently recycles, avoids eating meat most days, burns wood pellets for heat, and drives an electric car if public transport isn’t available. That’s all pretty standard fare for the environmentally conscious. But Read More...
Atlanta pledges 100 percent renewable power by 2035
Atlanta has arguably been the capital of the American South for decades, from its moniker as “The City Too Busy To Hate” during the civil rights era to its hosting of the Olympic Games a generation ago. Now, according to the Sierra Club, Atlanta is now the largest southern city to commit to a Read More...
7 companies steering the self-driving car craze
In 2009, the first photos started to trickle out of a Toyota Prius outfitted with a bizarre-looking metal contraption on the roof cruising the highways around Silicon Valley. The concept seemed far-fetched at the time, but Google’s early self-driving car went on to blaze a trail for the current Read More...
Inspiration: A year without processed food
From The Optimist Magazine Fall 2015 Megan Kimble, a journalist based in Tucson, Arizona, decided to spend one year eating only whole, unprocessed foods. Her book Unprocessed: My Busy, Broke City-Dwelling Year of Reclaiming Real Food tells about her journey. Why did you decide to stop eating Read More...