The Gems of 2017

From caring, to innovation, to resistance - here are our faves from 2017. 
We chose from 1,236 stories which we published last year. Some of which were republished from Small Victories.
January 9, 2018
​By Ilonka Wloch
Imagen
Art by Lisa Goodman aka Messy Bed Studio

Our voices were being heard!

We broke records with the number of phone calls we made to Washington this year, and people regularly held their elected officials accountable at town halls and protests—many of them by newly-formed Indivisible groups. According to Indivisible, by April alone, 250,000 people had attended 450 marches, town halls, and other events. 

It was the year of
​the feminist 

The Women’s March was the largest single-day protest in US history!

Now, more women plan to run for US Congress than ever before. And hundreds in New York City marched to demand that Wendy’s do their part to end sexual violence against women farmworkers.
more...

The International community stepped up to avert climate change

 ∙ Scotland and Sweden are aiming to be carbon neutral by 2020 and 2045.  
 ∙ ​India, England, and South Korea are saying no to coal power plants.
 ∙ China shut down 40% of its factories taking a stand against pollution
 ∙ Syria joined the Paris Climate Agreement, right behind Nicaragua.
 ∙ India and France are nixing fossil fuel-powered cars by 2030 and 2040.
 ∙ And, Chile turned 11 million acres of donated land into protected national parks.                                          

California poised to reach 50% renewables target
​a full decade ahead of schedule more...

He’s 22. She’s 81. Their friendship is melting hearts.
more...


More than 200 nations promised to stop ocean plastic waste
more...

Sharks gained protection no matter whose waters they swim in!
more...


​Protester hugged Nazi at
​a rally, asking 'Why do you hate me?’
more...

5,000 Israeli and Palestinian women marched jointly for peace more...

A farm staffed by high school students was taking in animals rescued from California fires more...

To eliminate rent hikes, 301 families came together to buy their mobile home park
more...

Kenya brought in world's toughest plastic bag ban: four years jail or $40,000 fine
    more... ​

We demanded
​minimum wage increase and won in 18 states 
​more...
✅ Readers' Pick

Farmer spent 16 years studying law by himself to sue chemical firm for 'polluting his land' - and won!  more...
✅ Readers' Pick

Germany banned meat at all official functions to combat climate change
more...


​122 countries approved first-ever treaty to ban nuclear weapons
more...
And 😊

 
​Over 1,000 Frida Kahlos celebrated the late Mexican artist’s birthday more...
We would like to give special thanks to Alison and Stephanie for their inspiring analysis of 2017 and their ongoing reporting in Small Victories. Cheers!
Why Positive News? 
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to Celebrate Positive Change!
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We envision a world in which people treat each other with respect and kindness, where we consider the Earth to be our home to care for and to enjoy. And we see that this world is in the process of emerging. Positive News is a reflection of this widespread movement and tells its powerful stories.