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.
Scotland becomes first country to make period products free for all
Scotland is making history in public health as it becomes the first country in the world to make period products free to anyone who needs them. The Scottish Parliament unanimously passed the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill last week to ensure that menstrual products are free and Read More...
Spain may incentivize companies to move to 4-day work week
We recently shared how Unilever is shifting their New Zealand office to a four-day workweek. Other companies, like Microsoft, have also begun to explore the concept of a shortened workweek. The idea seems to be gaining traction as the country of Spain is considering an ambitious plan to introduce Read More...
14 nations come together to launch plan to safeguard our oceans
In 2018, a panel of world leaders was established with the goal of creating a plan to achieve a ‘sustainable ocean economy’ in which our precious oceans are guarded against exploitation. The panel featured a mix of 14 developed and developing nations from around the world, including Norway, Read More...
Want to make a donation this holiday season? Here’s a guide to help you
During Thanksgiving, we shared how you can still safely give back during the pandemic, but when it comes to choosing which organization to support, it’s not always so simple. Today we share a guide on choosing a nonprofit (or multiple!) to support this holiday season. Think about the work Read More...
Anchorage introduces team of mental health first responders
Starting next year in Anchorage, Alaska, a new team of mental health first responders will replace police for emergency calls for someone with a mental health issue. The Mobile Crisis Team is funded by a new local alcohol tax and the team is trained to be dispatched to situations police do not have Read More...
Key West bans large cruise ships from docking to protect coral reefs
On election day, residents of Key West, Florida, voted to impose new restrictions on cruise ships docking in the city — a move that’s expected to give a much-needed respite to fragile marine habitats in the area. The island’s residents voted on three ballot initiatives, including one Read More...
Can VR help lawmakers understand the hidden effects of climate change?
While the massive wildfires and apocalyptic skies hovering over California this year were an obvious sign of the climate crisis, there are more subtle yet dangerous effects of the climate crisis that many people don’t see or understand. To awaken people to the more abstract effects of climate Read More...
Farm Bureau and environmental groups form an unlikely alliance
Large scale agriculture has traditionally been at odds with organic and regenerative farming practices with the American Farm Bureau Federation as a powerful lobbyist against climate change legislation. In a fortunate turn of events, the group recently announced an unexpected alliance to reduce Read More...
UK to ban sale of new gas-powered vehicles in 2030
The UK is on track to phase out fossil-fuel-powered vehicles sooner than any other major economy with this week’s announcement that it will ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles in 2030. The ban on polluting vehicles will be introduced five years earlier than previously planned, although Read More...
The Optimist View: Empowerment, skills training, and the fight to eradicate hunger
“Hunger is not an issue of charity. It is an issue of justice.” - Jacques Diou By Amelia Buckley Right now, 80 percent of food banks in the US are serving more people than they were at the same time last year. The pandemic has exacerbated the need for immediate food relief, but it has Read More...