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.
The Optimist View: Best of 2020
"Often when you think you're at the end of something, you're at the beginning of something else." - Fred Rogers While 2020 has felt like a long, strange “fever dream”, to quote one of our staff members, there were lots of positive solutions to be found. Whether it was advances in medicine, Read More...
Filter designed for the ISS will provide clean drinking water on Earth
From LED lights to digital cameras to GPS, innovations designed for the purpose of space exploration have long benefitted life here on Earth. Now a company that designed a water-purification system for the International Space Station (ISS) aims to use that technology to help solve the global water Read More...
Optimist View Special Feature: Uplifting Stories by Ione Butler
“If you want to improve your mood, a great place to start is by shifting the narrative.” - Ione Butler, Author Uplifting Stories As we all hunker down to await the end of this pandemic, connecting with our usual holiday cheer is tough. Quarantine fatigue is getting us down, but the Read More...
These gas pump stickers aim to make drivers more eco-conscious
In a bid to help its residents shift away from internal-combustion engines and towards cleaner modes of transportation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, will be using gas pumps across the city as a means to do this. Now how exactly can gas stations, the existence of which is in itself a threat to our Read More...
The Supreme Court has fully restored DACA protections
The federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was fully restored this week after the US Supreme Court ruled the program to be constitutional in June. DACA protects people who immigrated to the US with their guardians as children, shielding them from deportation, regardless Read More...
UN reclassifies cannabis as a less dangerous drug
In 1961, The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs classified marijuana as a Schedule IV drug, the most dangerous category. Now, cannabis has been removed from the list per the World Health Organization’s recommendation. The drug’s declassification opens up the door for more research Read More...
House passes bill to protect big cats across the US
Netflix’s popular documentary series “Tiger King,” sheds light on the prolific issues surrounding wild cats kept in captivity across the US. To address the threats that captivity poses to communities and these cats, the House of Representatives has passed the Big Cat Public Safety Act. The Read More...
San Francisco votes to ban cigarette smoking in apartments
Big cities can have some strange odors, but one thing you won’t smell anymore if you live in a San Francisco apartment building is tobacco smoke. Last week, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 10-1 to outlaw tobacco smoking in the city’s apartments. The ban applies to apartments Read More...
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...