Global Development
In an increasingly globalized world, international development efforts aim to improve living conditions, equity, and human rights around the world. Our global development section tracks this globalization and reports on specific equitable and sustainable development initiatives.
6 Reputable organizations providing direct relief to Haiti
Haiti experienced a 7.2 magnitude earthquake on Sunday resulting in the death of more than 1200 people and broad infrastructure damage. Multiple nonprofits have mobilized to provide aid, so we gathered a list of a few reputable organizations you can donate to in order to support relief Read More...
Naomi Osaka to donate tournament winnings to earthquake relief
Following a devastating earthquake in Haiti on Sunday, tennis star Naomi Osaka has announced that she will donate the prize winnings from her next tournament to fund relief efforts in the country. She began playing in the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati on Monday. Osaka, who is of Read More...
This sanitary pad washing kit helps refugees tackle period poverty
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are 82.4 million forcibly displaced people around the world, about 6 million of which live in refugee camps. Women make up half of these populations, yet access to period products in these environments remains a major Read More...
Community input stretches the impact of Covid relief dollars
As $350 billion in Covid-19 relief funds make their way to cities and states, many are pondering the most impactful way to spend that money. Some, like Nashville, are putting towards affordable housing while others look at infrastructure or making up for lost tax revenue during the pandemic. To Read More...
The Optimist View: ITP Small grants change the world
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead The Optimist View is our long-form edition weekend publication which dives deeper on the critical solutions we cover on The Optimist Daily. Read More...
Rotating water still device produces potable water at much faster rate
Solar stills are a primary technology for extracting potable water from tainted or salinated water, and while they’re useful in water-scarce regions, their technology is still relatively inefficient. Fortunately, a team of researchers from Russia's Ural Federal University has reconceptualized the Read More...
EU launches climate resiliency checklist for new infrastructure projects
In addition to reducing emissions in order to mitigate the effects of climate change, we must also ensure that we are protecting communities by building infrastructure that can withstand the results of climate change we are already experiencing. To address this issue, the EU has created guidelines Read More...
Germany gymnasts reject sexualization by ditching bikini-cut uniforms
Professional female athletes have been subjected to sexualization for far too long, and they are starting to fight back. We recently wrote about how the Norwegian women’s beach handball team wore shorts instead of bikini bottoms during the 2021 European Beach Handball Championships to protest the Read More...
THE OPTIMIST VIEW: Invoking the Pause 一 Funding environmental changemakers
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead We’re all familiar with major names in philanthropic giving like MacArthur, Rockefeller or Ford, but there are hundreds of lesser known Read More...
EU announces new climate action legislation
To reach their goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, the EU has released a draft of new climate change legislation to further cut emissions. The new legislation, which must still be approved by the EU’s 27 member states and parliament, proposes laws such as increasing taxes on jet fuel and Read More...