It’s tough out there right now; everyday television screens, radio stations and newspapers tell of political upheaval, environmental damage and societal sorrow. Even our social media feeds are choking on unpleasant updates. However, optimism is a crucial tool in the toolkit during the quest to elicit positive change. As such, a spotlight must be shone upon the stories of good from around the world, as well as the bad.
We’ve rounded up some of the best ‘good news’ stories in the media right now, with the hope they’ll inspire a little hope and optimism.
FMCG Giant Unilever takes an ethical stand on the Internet
Keith Weed, Unilever’s chief marketing officer, has confirmed the multi-billion dollar company will not hesitate to pull marketing spend from digital platforms like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter if ‘fake news’, radicalism and hatred continue to be spread, uncontrolled and unchallenged, on these sites.
Why is this good news? Well, Weed insists this move comes from Unilever’s desire to avoid “platforms which do not make a positive contribution to society” — and as a multi-national leader in many categories, it’s unlikely that now Unilever has made its stance clear, other companies won’t do the same. The argument is impossible for the likes of Facebook to ignore. What we can hope for, then, is a cleaner and more responsible Internet that’s safer for everyone to enjoy.
Stay tuned with the help of a new source, such as International brief, for the latest developments on this.
People power helps fund LGBTQ children’s book ‘Maiden Voyage’
Users of Kickstarter — the crowdfunding service — have once again come through for an independent project, raising more than the necessary total to bring ‘Maiden Voyage,’ the second in a series of LGBTQ inclusive books, to print.
Through ‘Promised Land Tales,’ co-founders Adam Reynolds and Chaz Harris want to give today’s children the books they needed to see when they were growing up; stories where diversity is key, yet isn’t questioned or used as a plot device.
This is great news, as it’s another step towards raising younger generations to be accepting and loving of each other as equals.
UK air pollutants continue to decline
Citizens of Great Britain can breathe a sigh of relief, for now, as motor emissions fell 12% between 2012 and 2016. It’s a great step in the right direction, yet the nation remains in breach of European limits for nitrogen oxides in sixteen cities across the country.
Nevertheless, a steady closure of coal-fired power stations resulted in a significant drop in sulfur dioxide levels, and in general air toxicity levels are within legal limits.
While there’s still a long way to go, it’s worth celebrating the positive change — it’s far better than the alternative!
Stay positive; share positivity
It can be hard to keep smiling in times such as these, but one thing is for sure: to drive change, we have to stay motivated. In this spirit, try to share one positive story with someone you speak to today, in the hopes they’ll share one with someone else. One by one, we can change the world.
The author is Delicia Warren. She is a freelance writer, passionate about the environment, organic farming and food production. An advocate for a holistic approach to the world’s problems, she has a particular interest in the small changes individuals can make to their lifestyle to minimize their environmental footprint.
Imagine you’re hiking near a wilderness creek or you’re out on a canoe trip, and you’re desperate to charge your cell phone. You could have brought along a $20 solar panel, or this, a $159 water turbine that weighs more, that you can somehow maneuver into the flowing water.
Italy’s announcement that it will completely phase out coal by 2025
The construction industry is going green, now more than ever. There are numerous reasons for this. For one, it’s more cost-effective in the long-term and construction projects should be thought about in the long-term. It’s also something that’s of great interest to younger homeowners that have grown up with environmental concerns in mind. Now it’s their turn to build and buy homes. 
Anita Heuss writes: I know we are all angry about guns today. Unfortunately I think something else needs to be said (displayed at left). 
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Question: What country just became the first to divest its entire national holdings from fossil fuels? 
