Good Governance
What does good governance look like? In this good news section, we share international examples of good governance, from efforts directed at the protection of civil rights to initiatives aimed at the sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment.
Australia says goodbye to plastic soy sauce fish in world-first ban
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For decades, they’ve bobbed alongside sushi rolls across the globe: those tiny fish-shaped soy sauce bottles that squeeze out just enough seasoning for a mouthful of maki. But their days are numbered. As of September 1st, South Australia is the first place Read More...
Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize unite to protect Great Mayan Jungle
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM On August 15, Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize announced a bold regional pact: the creation of the Great Mayan Jungle Biocultural Corridor, a sprawling reserve that will cross national borders to protect one of the world’s most vital tropical forests. Covering Read More...
UK police go undercover in Surrey as runners to crack down on street harassment
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Eighteen people have been arrested in Surrey, UK, after undercover police officers posed as female joggers to identify and intervene in cases of street harassment. The month-long pilot program called “Jog On”, launched by Surrey Police, sent plainclothes Read More...
Amsterdam adds tiny canal staircases to save wildlife and pets
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Amsterdam is taking a thoughtful step to protect the animals that call this city of canals home. Following a rise in accidental drownings, including 19 cats so far this year, city councillors have approved a plan to install hundreds of small escape staircases Read More...
LA homelessness declines for a second consecutive year
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Los Angeles County’s homelessness crisis has long loomed large, but new data offers a rare glimmer of progress: for the second consecutive year, the number of unhoused residents has declined. According to a recent report from the Los Angeles Homeless Read More...
Mexico bans dolphin shows in historic vote to protect marine mammals
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a landmark move for animal welfare, the Mexican Senate voted unanimously to ban dolphin and other marine mammal shows across the country. The decision, passed 99 to 0 on June 23, marks the culmination of a years-long campaign led by activists, researchers, Read More...
MPs vote to decriminalize abortion in England and Wales in historic victory for women’s rights
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM British lawmakers have voted to decriminalize abortion, ending the threat of prosecution for women who terminate pregnancies outside legal parameters. The amendment to the government’s crime and policing bill represents the most significant change to Read More...
Decriminalizing rough sleeping: A new chapter in compassion and justice
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a long-awaited step towards justice for the most vulnerable, the UK government has announced plans to scrap the Vagrancy Act of 1824. The law, which criminalises rough sleeping in England and Wales, will be replaced next year with more compassionate, Read More...
Urban mining: how Europe is turning e-waste and concrete into circular gold
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Buried somewhere in your drawer, that outdated smartphone may be worth more than you think. Not because it's vintage, but because it holds slivers of lithium, cobalt, and rare earth metals… the very stuff Europe desperately needs. Urban mining, the Read More...
Spain leads on LGBTQ+ workplace rights
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs face growing political resistance in the United States, Spain is charting a different course that is grounded in comprehensive workplace protections for LGBTQ+ people. In October, Spain’s center-left Read More...