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.
Cities all over the world are electing bike mayors. Here’s why
When the first “bicycle mayor”–a person who serves as a connecting point between city departments, nonprofits, and other bike advocates– was chosen in Amsterdam in 2016, the idea was to help an already bike-obsessed city become even more bikeable. But the program was never intended only to Read More...
A new mandate in Boston could lead to more protected bike lanes across America
In many European cities, bicycles are king. Bicyclists have their own lanes, they have the right of way, and the city tries to do everything they can do to support bicycle-riding. In America, it’s a much different story, with cars dominating the roads and respect for bike lanes being Read More...
Wales becomes latest government to provide free sanitary products to women
Last week we wrote about a landmark move in Georgia where lawmakers set aside more than $1 million to provide free menstrual pads and tampons to low-income women and girls. Now just a week later, the country of Wales has followed up with another impressive proposal. The government has set up a Read More...
Bitcoin mining pollutes the planet. China wants to ban it altogether
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have left their mark on the world, but not in the way most people predicted. In a typical Bitcoin mining operation, powerful banks of computers are dedicated to crunching out “blockchain” numbers and processing transactions. Nearly three-quarters of Read More...
London just launched an ultra-low emissions zone for its city center
Global cities around the world are starting to take drastic measures to reduce road transport emissions. In New York City, a new law is being put in place that will charge drivers well over $10 to drive n the busiest parts of Manhattan to reduce congestion and lower air pollution. Meanwhile, in Read More...
Can New York City's congestion pricing plan alleviate traffic?
Talk to any New Yorker and they will tell you how bad traffic is in the city. Recently, policymakers decided to address the problem by introducing a bill that would charge vehicles over $10 to drive in the busiest parts of Manhattan. But to ensure that their congestion pricing plan is effective, Read More...
Singapore and Australia are drawing news laws to stop spread of fake news
The phenomenon of ‘fake news’ poses a serious threat to democracies all over the world because of its ability to significantly influence political and social trends in our societies. In an attempt to prevent such democratic disruptions, governments in the Asia Pacific region are accelerating Read More...
New technology is making it way harder to rig elections in Nigeria
The unfortunate truth about elections in many African nations is that—when they happen—they’re often corrupted or rigged. But technology is starting to change that. In Nigeria, a new system has been set in place that is removing much of the paperwork out of elections in order to avoid Read More...
Peace—not war—will motivate the next wave of technological innovations
Although war is responsible for causing a number of horrible things, over the years it’s also led to many transformative inventions, such as the aircraft, duck tape, and the Internet. Now, according to the president emerita at MIT, the world is on the cusp of a new innovation boom, one that Read More...
New York’s new wage law for Uber drivers is a lesson for cities around the world
New York City has set a minimum wage for Uber and Lyft drivers—the first for ride-hail drivers in the Read More...