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.
If we truly want to 'correct' prisoners, then prison education is a must
The problem with America’s prisons is that although they are called “correctional facilities”, prisons are really just a place where criminals are punished. This is reflected in America’s absurdly high recidivism rates: people released from state prisons have a five-year recidivism rate of Read More...
How AI technology is being used to crack down on illegal online drug sales
In the age of the internet, online drug sales are a major factor in the opioid crisis which kills 130 Americans every day. Now, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is using artificial intelligence to crack down on online drug trafficking. As you can imagine, this system is more complex Read More...
New homes in Wales will be powered by renewable energy by 2025
The building and housing sector are one of today’s major contributors to global warming and the climate crisis. Acknowledging the urgent need to find a solution to this problem, the Welsh government has recently issued plans requiring all new homes in the country to be heated and powered by clean Read More...
China to ban single-use plastic bags and food containers by the end of 2020
As plastic pollution becomes ever more ubiquitous each year, China - one of the biggest contributors to the problem - is set to introduce a ban on all non-degradable plastic bags and single-use straws in its major cities. By the end of the year, the country is expected to ban the production and Read More...
Amsterdam is offering a ‘new start’ to young people in debt
In a vow to help young Amsterdammers, the city of Amsterdam is taking over the debt of young adults who are struggling to get into work or education. This action was taken to directly confront the growth in borrowing among young dutch adults - more than a third of Amsterdammers aged between 18 and Read More...
Fish populations are rebounding thanks to stricter fisheries management
Nearly half of the fish caught worldwide are from stocks that are monitored and, on average, are increasing in abundance. Scientists believe this increase is due to better, regulated fishing practices that are allowing overfished populations to rebuild successfully. “There is a narrative Read More...
It’s now prohibited to sell cosmetics tested on animals in California
With the turn of the decade, an old senate bill passed in 2018 will finally come into effect in California to regulate the current cosmetics market. The bill, known as the California Cruelty-free Cosmetics Act, is designed to protect the wellbeing of animals used for testing cosmetic Read More...
This Philippine island is reconstructing itself by turning volcano ash into bricks
Last week, the island of Luzon in the Philippines was startled by an eruption of the Taal Volcano - one of the most active in the region - displacing thousands of people and blanketing neighboring towns and villages with thick layers of erupted ash and mud. Following the disaster, the ash-covered Read More...
EU will dedicate 1 trillion euros to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050
As the signs of a changing climate become even more difficult to ignore, calls for leaders to act echo around the globe. It appears that in Europe these calls have resonated the loudest, as the European Commission unveiled this week an ambitious €1 trillion investment plan to put the continent Read More...
Mexico City takes its people back in time with ban on plastic bags
For centuries, Mexico City residents brought warm tortillas home in reusable cloths or woven straw baskets, and toted others foods in conical rolls of paper, "ayate" net bags, or even string bundles. Now, people in Mexico's massive capital city may have to return to those old ways thanks to a Read More...