Seattle becomes first US city to outlaw caste discrimination
Following a decision by the city council, Seattle has become the first city in the United States to outlaw caste discrimination. Councilwoman Kshama Sawant, who drafted the law, said the struggle against caste bias "is deeply connected to the fight against all forms of oppression". Proponents Read More...
Seattle installs EV chargers on utility poles for residents
Electric vehicles are the transportation of the future. In the meantime, cities are struggling to install the infrastructure that we will all need to charge our cars. This is an important issue for EV owners away from a home or office charging port, or if they live in an apartment complex. If Read More...
Video: Watch the world’s largest electric plane fly for the first time
On the 28th of May, we published a story announcing that the world’s largest all-electric aircraft got the green light to take to the skies for the first time. Today we’re here to tell you that the plane, a retrofitted Cessna Grand Caravan 208, succeeded in its first flight, exploring the Read More...
Seattle protects Uber and Lyft drivers with new gig economy wages
The gig economy is growing, but these workers are not always guaranteed the same protections as employees in more traditional roles. In a move to protect these workers, the city of Seattle has passed a new wage scale for Uber and Lyft drivers, including a $16.39 minimum wage, to ensure their wages Read More...
Seattle to make some of its neighborhoods permanently “car-free”
In April, as the pandemic made parks and sidewalks more crowded in Seattle, the city shut down most traffic on a series of streets to help give people more room for exercise or walking to the grocery store. Now, the city plans to make the changes permanent on 20 miles of streets. Like in other Read More...
Research shows wilderness is vital for our urban spaces
Taking a walk through the woods, going camping, or even just stepping outside for a deep breath of fresh air reminds us of the restorative feeling that comes with time outdoors. We at The Optimist Daily talk a lot about the mental and physical health benefits of time in nature. Now, researchers at Read More...
This startup is restoring charred forests using tree-planting drones
Forest fires can occur naturally, cleaning away excess undergrowth and making way for new trees to take root. But circumstances like climate change and forest monocultures are exacerbating the problem. And while "acres burned" makes headlines, "acres replanted" struggles to keep up. The arduous Read More...
Seattle takes the long-view and announces its roadmap to resilience
As a society, we face challenges every single day, and this week, as Hurricane Dorian leaves its mark on the Bahamas and the rest of the Atlantic coastline, is no exception. Issues include the extreme weather events and destructive acts of nature that are becoming regular occurrences (floods, Read More...
Microsoft is spending half a billion dollars to make Seattle housing more affordable
The software giant has announced that it will spend $500 million in order to make housing in Seattle and its surrounding suburbs more affordable for people in the community. The Seattle area has long seen rocketing housing prices due to the demand from high-paid employees from Microsoft and Amazon, Read More...
Even as it grows, Seattle aims to go carbon neutral
From the Bullitt Center’s roof, Seattle’s status as the North American crane capital is in full view. Sixty-five cranes are currently reshaping the Seattle skyline, a building boom that reflects this city’s phenomenal growth Read More...