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.
EU to force makers of smartphones to install easily replaceable batteries
Back in the age of flip phones, replacing cellphone batteries used to be quite easy. Now, however, smartphones keep their battery compartments sealed off, meaning that users often have to replace the entire device or navigate a complicated repair process when they can no longer hold a charge. This Read More...
New York is enlisting Billy Idol to stop drivers from idling
Cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles are the source of 11 percent of fine particulate air pollution and 28 percent of nitrogen oxide pollution in New York City. On Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio introduced a new initiative to try to make a dent in that pollution by harnessing the star power of, Read More...
Lithuania recycles 92% of its beverage containers thanks to deposit scheme
There are billions of drinks containers produced every year, but only a small fraction of that amount is recycled, while the rest ends up in landfills and the environment. In Lithuania, things are a little bit different. Thanks to a progressive plastic deposit scheme implemented in 2016, the Read More...
Luxembourg introduces free public transportation nation-wide
Luxembourg achieved a major global milestone this week as it became the first country on Earth to make public transportation free nation-wide. The initiative is an effort to encourage citizens, and the country’s 214,000 daily foreign commuters, to use more environmentally friendly methods of Read More...
Huge win for climate activists as Heathrow airport expansion ruled illegal
Heathrow airport outside of London is one of the busiest airports in the world, with 80 million passengers going through it each year. So when plans were announced to construct a third runway that would bring in 700 more planes per day, it was no surprise that environmentalists were outraged (and Read More...
Scotland passes bill to make menstrual products free to anyone in need
In 2018, Scotland became the first country in the world to make menstrual products free to all students in schools, colleges, and universities in the country. This week, Scotland took this idea a giant step further after passing a bill to provide free menstrual products to everyone who needs Read More...
Oregon will offer free camping at state parks for underrepresented groups
In an effort to increase camping opportunities for underrepresented groups, select Oregon State Parks will offer free yurts and cabins for disabled, LGBTQ, and POC campers this summer. The initiative was pioneered because segments of Oregon’s population do not camp or visit state parks in Read More...
What congress could do to cut drug prices in America
One thing that can be unanimously agreed upon around the United States is that drugs and medical treatments are outrageously expensive. Americans lead in total amount spent on drugs globally, with costs recently rising to an average of $1,200 per person per year. If slashing the price of drugs in Read More...
Green policies, citizen science, and reversing the trend of wildlife losses
Amid big declines in wildlife, action can still help to reverse the trend for some species. This is the conclusion from a new analysis out of the UK which shows that freshwater insects, mosses and lichens are bucking the trend of wildlife losses in the country and have expanded their ranges since Read More...
How Japan operates the world’s most effective lost and found system
Have you ever lost a cell phone, umbrella, or jacket and wondered where it ended up in the world? Well, if you live in Japan, you stand a much higher chance of reconnecting with your long lost item. The country’s elaborate lost and found system has efficiently mastered how to reconnect items with Read More...