The world’s largest database of good news and social change milestones from throughout human history
We are building the world’s largest database of social change milestones, from the first fire to today’s good news. Change is not only possible, it has happened consistently throughout human history. Filter by era, country, topic, actor, source, and more.
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Era
- Tomorrow (2025 C.E. - ???)
- Today (2017 C.E. - 2024 C.E.)
- Post-modernity (1945 - 2016 C.E.)
- Modernity (1500 - 1945 C.E.)
- Post-classical (500 - 1500 C.E.)
- Civilization (3000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)
- Agriculture (10000 - 3000 B.C.E.)
- Prehistory (250000 - 10000 B.C.E.)
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2019 C.E. October 3
The Ocean Cleanup begins catching trash in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
At age 19, Boyan Slat founded The Ocean Cleanup. The organization has developed a massive plastic-cleaning device which is now operating in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
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2019 C.E. October 3
India replaces ten million conventional streetlights with ‘energy-efficient’ LEDs
These LED streetlights have helped the country to reduce its greenhouse gas emission by 4.63 million tonnes annually.
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2019 C.E. October 2
Thailand to ban imports of high-tech trash, plastic waste
Southeast Asia nations fear they are the new dumping ground for the world's trash after China banned the entry of several types of waste as part of a campaign against foreign garbage.
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2019 C.E. October 2
All banking partners to private prison leader GEO Group to stop funding private prisons
Eight major banks have announced their commitment to ending their support of the immigration detention center and private prison industry.
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2019 C.E. October 1
Washington state launches statewide standing order for Naloxone
Naloxone (or Narcan) is a medication that can save lives by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose. Now anyone in Washington state who needs naloxone can get it at a pharmacy.
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2019 C.E. September 30
Norway will pay Gabon to preserve its forests
As part of a 10-year deal, Norway will pay $150 million to Gabon to battle deforestation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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2019 C.E. September 30
California passes a law that allows college athletes to get paid
Gov. Gavin Newsom passed SB 206, also known as the Fair Pay to Play Act, that allows college athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness.
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2019 C.E. September 30
Abortion decriminalized in Sydney after Australian lawmakers overturn 119-year-old law
Women will now be able to get abortions up to 22 weeks into their pregnancy without proving that their health will be impacted if they continue the pregnancy.
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2019 C.E. September 27
Costa Rica produces 98.84% of its power from renewables in 2019
According to the National Centre for Energy Control, the Central American country has maintained the trend of keeping the annual share of the renewable generation above 98% since 2015.
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2019 C.E. September 26
Timberland clothing brand to plant 50 million trees over five years
Over the next five years, Timberland plans to plant 50 million trees. Partnering with nonprofits, the company will begin with projects in Haiti, China, the Dominican Republic, the United States, Tanzania, and Mali.
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2019 C.E. December 3
Zambia halts mining permits in pristine wilderness
Besides being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park is 1,500 square miles of classic African bush (about half the size of Yellowstone).
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2019 C.E. December 2
Hong Kong voters deliver landslide victory for pro-democracy campaigners
Hong Kong’s voters have delivered an unprecedented landslide for pro-democracy candidates in local elections, in a powerful show of solidarity with the city’s protest movement and rebuke to the government over its handling of the crisis.
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2019 C.E. November 26
Survey of 167 countries shows tolerance toward LGBT people rising globally
The rise in acceptance of LGBT people was particularly marked, rising from about one in four people expressing acceptance a decade ago to almost a third in the latest report.
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2019 C.E. November 26
United States enacts animal cruelty bill into law, making it a federal felony
Animal cruelty has officially become a federal felony after President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan bill, Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, into law.
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2019 C.E. November 25
Steyer, Bloomberg pledge $60 million to boost youth voter turnout in the U.S.
The progressive advocacy group NextGen America announced plans to spend $45 million in the next year to register and turn out people in 11 states that both the Democratic nominee and President Trump will be targeting.
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2019 C.E. November 25
27 countries pledge $9.7 billion for climate action in the global South
Countries from around the world have pledged more than $9.7 billion to replenish the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which was established in 2010 by the 194 countries to serve as a key channel for delivering climate finance to developing countries.
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2019 C.E. November 22
Michigan bans cages for egg-laying hens
Michigan joins California, Washington, Oregon and Rhode Island in adopting a cage-free requirement.
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2019 C.E. November 22
France returns historical sword stolen in the 19th century back to Senegal
The French Prime Minister, Philippe said giving back Saidou Tall's saber was "the first step" in a project tailored at returning more west African artifacts that are currently in French museums.
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2019 C.E. November 21
Humpback whales in the South Atlantic have recovered from near-extinction
A new count shows the population off Brazil went from about 450 in the 1950s to 25,000 now
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2019 C.E. November 21
New ‘Sesame Street’ show aims to help refugee children
Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee have joined forces to help Syrian refugee children through educational learning programs, including the launch of a new "Sesame Street" show in Arabic.