BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Continuing the conversation: What effective allyship really looks like Today we are continuing to revisit our 2020 series on allyship. If you caught Part I, you’ll remember we explored the rise of performative allyship: how well-meaning gestures can fall short, and sometimes even cause harm. Now, in Part II, we turn our focus toward what it really means to practice effective allyship: an ongoing, imperfect, but essential commitment to justice and equity. Drawing again from the wisdom of DEI expert Jess Mally, this piece offers clear, actionable ways to align your values with your behavior. Though this article was written through the lens of allyship to combat racial injustice, these principles remain applicable to intersecting social justice issues.  Let’s keep showing up and doing better. How to be an ally part II: effective allyship Welcome to part two of this two-part series on allyship — click here to read part one — one of the neologisms born out of contemporary English-language social justice activism. More specifically, this piece will discuss what it takes to move from performative allyship to effective allyship, and, like part one, draws from the work of Jess Mally, co-founder of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) agency Belovd. Although we defined the broad sense of what an ally is in part one, we’re including it below for good measure. That said, if you haven’t yet read part one, which focuses on the concept of performative allyship, we encourage you to check it out!  What is an ally? An ally is understood to be someone who advocates for the inclusion and equal representation of marginalized communities for the benefit of humanity on the whole through intentional and positive efforts. Allyship is not an identity but a state of being that continues to support people or groups outside of themselves.  Allyship is not reserved only for the super privileged—anyone can assume allyship as privilege is intersectional. Thus, men can be allies to women, white women can be allies to people of color, economically privileged people can be allies to those who are not, etc. What constitutes “effective” allyship? To define effective allyship, Jess Mally paraphrases a quotation from The Anti-Oppression Network which she declares one of her favorites: “[Allyship] is an active, consistent, and arduous practice of unlearning and re-evaluating, in which a person in a position of privilege and power seeks to operate in solidarity with a group that has been marginalized.” Thus, rather than a self-defined identity, allyship is a process and an unceasing action. Here are five indications that you’re practicing effective allyship and should keep doing what you’re doing! You’re doing the internal work of constantly unlearning and re-evaluating Embodying effective allyship takes more than just occasional engagement with the internal work that is necessary to unlearn your own biases and take in new narratives. The work of dismantling oppression has to start from the inside out and is not a destination but a lifelong journey. You pay Black folks A great and tangible way to start practicing effective allyship is to, as the old saying goes, put your money where your mouth is. Ensure that your dollar goes towards supporting Black-owned shops, Black-led charities, and the online educators out there that are helping you do the internal work. Most social media educators will have Venmo or PayPal, so if you know that they play an intrinsic role in your personal growth, thank them by supporting them financially. You call out racism (or any “ism”) and call people in There are a lot of narratives and stereotypes out there that only uphold the current oppressive system. When you are with your friends, family, and colleagues, harmful comments or interactions that promote narratives such as “the angry Black woman,” colorism, bodies of color as commodities, etc., then stop those narratives in their tracks. For historically marginalized people to be truly safe within their empowerment and freedom requires that these narratives (no matter how “small” they may seem in the moment) are stopped because they continue to promote dehumanization and fear. You support and demand anti-racist policies Allyship is inherently political because there are still policies in place that either uphold the status quo or demand change. Support leaders who are actively challenging and changing policy and hold current leaders and politicians accountable for their actions. You center marginalized voices and make space Effective allyship means reminding yourself again and again that you are not there to speak for marginalized and oppressed communities, but are doing your part to make space for them—whether at work, school, or at social events—and are ensuring that their voices are heard. Instead of using your privilege to talk louder and for longer, you use your privilege to open the doors that are historically closed to these identities and allow them to walk through. Keep moving forward Learning to practice effective allyship is not something we can easily cross off our to-do lists. It means constantly taking an honest look at our motives, evaluating whether our past contributions and actions were helpful (even if our intentions were good), and then constructing new pathways to allyship that are better informed and executed. Of course, the important part is to simply start and to know from the get-go that we’ll get it wrong sometimes. And that’s okay, as long as we continue to maintain an open heart and the willingness to keep learning and listening to those we ally ourselves with.The post How to be an ally part II: effective allyship first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a small Finnish town with a big climate goal, an unassuming tower of sand is quietly storing solar and wind energy all while making a powerful statement about clean tech innovation. Pornainen, in southern Finland, is now home to the world’s largest sand battery: a 13-metre-high, 15-metre-wide thermal storage system built by Finnish company Polar Night Energy. Capable of holding 100 megawatt-hours (MWh) of heat, the new battery will slash emissions from the town’s district heating network by nearly 70 percent and phase out the use of oil. “Our goal is to be climate neutral by 2035, and the sand battery is a major step toward that,” says Mikko Paajanen, CEO of Loviisan Lämpö, which operates the heating system. With its large-scale rollout, the battery is now the network’s main energy provider. Wood chip use is expected to drop by 60 percent, while an existing biomass boiler will offer backup during energy demand spikes. The surprising power of sand The Pornainen battery isn’t Finland’s first foray into sandy storage. In 2022, Polar Night Energy launched a smaller prototype in Kankaanpää, just as Russia cut off gas supplies. The timing made a strong case for homegrown, renewable energy solutions. Engineers and co-founders Markku Ylönen and Tommi Eronen came up with the idea in 2018. “We were talking about how—if we had the liberty to design a community for ourselves—how could we solve the energy problem?” said Markku. “Especially here in the north, you run into the problem of energy storage.” Sand turned out to be the perfect candidate: affordable, abundant, and surprisingly spacious when it comes to storing heat. Lithium batteries, while useful in certain situations, fall short for large-scale energy storage due to cost and environmental concerns. Sand, by contrast, can store heat for days or even months at a time. How does a sand battery work? The system is relatively straightforward. A tower is filled with low-grade sand and heated using excess electricity from solar or wind power. This is done via resistive heating, where friction from the electrical current generates heat. That hot air then flows through a heat exchanger, charging the sand. Stored at around 500 degrees Celsius, the heat is held until needed. When temperatures drop, the battery releases the hot air to warm water in the town’s district heating system. In Kankaanpää, it helps heat homes, offices, and even the local swimming pool. “There’s really nothing fancy there,” Markku explains. “The complex part happens on the computer; we need to know how the heat moves inside the storage, so we know how much is available and at what rate we can discharge and charge.” What makes this one different? The Pornainen system is about ten times larger than the Kankaanpää model. It’s built using crushed soapstone, a by-product from the Finnish fireplace company Tulikivi. As project manager Naskali notes, “The soapstone they use is a very Finnish thing.” And it’s not just nostalgic; it’s practical. Soapstone meets the density and heat tolerance needed to store thermal energy efficiently. “We always choose the storage medium based on the customer’s needs,” says Naskali. “Examining and testing different materials is crucial for us to use options that are cost-effective and support the circular economy.” Mayor Antti Kuusela is a proud supporter. “This project has gone very smoothly,” he says. Town buildings like the school, library, and town hall all run on district heating. “Pornainen wants to be a front runner in sustainable energy solutions.” In summer, the battery can meet nearly a month’s heating demand; in winter, about a week’s. Each year, it’s expected to eliminate 160 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. Can sand really save the world? Well, maybe not all sand. A Dutch study recently warned that demand for construction sand will surge by 45 percent in the next 40 years, with harmful impacts on rivers and lakes. But Polar Night Energy isn’t after beach sand. “We wanted to find something that can be sourced nearly everywhere in the world,” said Markku. Their solution is to use any sand-like material that meets thermodynamic standards. That flexibility keeps costs low and helps promote sustainable sourcing. With successful pilots in Kankaanpää, Tampere, and now Pornainen, the company has big dreams. Earlier this year, it announced a pilot in Valkeakoski to explore converting thermal energy back into electricity. International expansion is also on the horizon. “We want to build a hundred times larger storages around the world as fast as possible,” Markku asserted. From backyard brainstorms to international headlines, Finland’s sand battery movement is proving that sometimes the simplest materials can offer the smartest solutions.The post How Finland’s giant sand battery is storing clean energy (and cutting emissions by 70 percent) first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

'Well, this is not an act of war'

A kitten found hiding on a car tire truly thrived when she met a three-legged cat that needed her. Coco@tiny.paws.fostersA Good Samaritan heard meows coming from a car and discovered a tiny kitten hiding on a tire under the wheel well.The kitten was scared but stayed still, letting the finder gently lift her from her hiding spot. Exhausted and covered in grease, she was finally safe and brought to AnimalLuvr's Dream Rescue.Nadija, a long-time volunteer with the rescue, took her in and gave her a place to land after a lifetime on the run. @tiny.paws.fostersThe kitten, Coco, didn't put up a fight, even during her bath. After getting all cleaned up, she polished off her food and curled up for a long, well-earned nap, catching up on lost sleep.She woke up refreshed, her purr engine rumbling softly as she leaned in to her foster mom for affection. @tiny.paws.fosters"She's the sweetest little girl that comes when called or the second she sees me, loves snuggles and to be held, and has a purr loud enough to hear across the room. She's also incredibly soft, so cute, and a bit sassy. The total package," Nadija shared.Thrilled to be indoors, Coco still longed for a buddy—someone to chase, tumble with, and curl up beside after playtime. Peach@tiny.paws.fostersAbout two weeks before Coco entered foster care, an orange-and-white kitten with a severely injured leg was brought to the county shelter, desperate for a lifeline. Even with her hands full, Nadija didn't think twice about stepping in to help.After a much-needed bath, Peach (the kitten) perked up in all the best ways: eating heartily, purring nonstop, kneading her blankets, and even using the litter box. @tiny.paws.fostersWhen it became clear her leg couldn't be saved, she underwent surgery and bounced back with remarkable resilience. Now three-legged and infection-free, she's found her rhythm, moving with confidence. "She's so incredibly sweet despite everything she's been through.""Since she was so tiny (only a little over a pound), a cone wasn't an option for her, so I made her a cute sock sweater." @tiny.paws.fostersWith excellent care and plenty of TLC, she healed steadily and grew stronger each day.Peach was soon hopping around on three paws, navigating her world without missing a beat. She surprised everyone with how quickly she took to play again, even attempting to climb the cat tree like nothing had changed. @tiny.paws.fostersAs Peach grew in size and spirit, so did her longing for a constant companion. Meanwhile, Coco was adjusting beautifully to foster life, quietly hoping for a friend to share her days. When the two finally met, it was as if they'd known each other all their lives.Coco's playful, outgoing energy is the perfect balance to Peach's sweet and cuddly nature, like puzzle pieces that just click into place. @tiny.paws.fostersThey gravitate toward each other, swapping toys, sharing beds, and turning every nap into a cozy pile of paws and purrs.Though they came from different beginnings, they have become best friends, finding comfort in each other. Coco showers Peach with snuggles as if she knows her new sister could use the extra love. @tiny.paws.fostersIn just two weeks, Coco went from a tiny stray, always on the run, to a playful, confident young cat with a three-legged best friend who leans on her like they've been through it all. @tiny.paws.fostersShare this story with your friends. More on Coco and Peach and Nadija's fosters on Instagram@tiny.paws.fosters and AnimalLuvr's Dream Rescue @animalluvrsdreamrescue.Related story: After Saving the Kittens, They Never Stop Searching for Mother Cat, Ultimately Giving Her Best Outcome

Monday's Final Word

Within minutes of American bombs dropping in Iran on Saturday night, the network “experts” were second-guessing everything, calling the moves “extremely risky.” President Trump was responsible for endangering both American troops and innocent Iranian civilians. Journalists always want to line up for diplomatic “solutions,” even if nothing gets solved. CNN’s Clarissa Ward took to CNN Newsroom to gripe about how Trump threw a “curveball” into the plans of European leaders who wanted to negotiate with the regime. She went further and suggested that innocent Iranian people were going to “to pay the consequences” for Trump’s decision. Speaking with Rachel Maddow on Saturday night, MSNBC weekend host Ayman Mohyeldin repeatedly suggested that Benjamin Netanyahu "dog-walked" President Trump into attacking Iran. Then the Sunday shows followed, and predictably, CBS Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan invited Secretary of State Marco Rubio for a battle of wits, which she routinely fails. On CNN, commentator Scott Jennings praised the president for this action, calling it a “righteous strike” for Western civilization, and mocking a Democrat who suggested it wasn’t proven that Iran is a threat to America. Jennings couldn’t believe it, asking “They're fiery but mostly peaceful Iranian butchers? On Monday morning, CBS reporter Debora Patta was channeling supposedly representative Iranian protesters. "Israel has also not let up its bombing campaign on Iran and thousands of Iranians rallied in Tehran to protest Israeli and U.S. strikes. 'The U.S. has no right to tell us what to do,' said Ali. 'We must slap America hard.'” David Frum of The Atlantic embarrassed himself with an article on Saturday morning titled "The mullahs of Iran join the bet that Trump always chickens out.” Frummy was guessing that Trump could be talked out of war by Putin: "Trump is vulnerable to the negotiate-to-delay strategy because he has not taken any of the necessary steps to lead the nation into the war he once seemed ready to join." The Economist magazine also published a silly article, a puff piece with the headling “Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Great Survivor,” the article describes him as “an underdog from the start,” one of eight children born to a “poor religious scholar from the north-east of Iran.” We’re told he studied the Koran, “listened to music, recited poetry and read novels such as Les Misérables and The Grapes of Wrath." It was gross. It's reminiscent of the puff pieces Soviet dictators used to get during the Cold War from the Western press. "Yuri Andropov loves jazz," and so on. Enjoy the podcast below, or wherever you listen to podcasts.   

New York Times 'Family' Beat Reporter Goes After Secretary Sean Duffy, Family, Faith

Mick Ralphs, Guitarist for Mott the Hoople and Bad Company, Passes Away

Biden’s Middle East Advisor Offers Stunning Praise for Trump’s Leadership: ‘Best Place We Can Be’

Even though President Donald Trump was optimistic Monday that the ceasefire he brokered between Israel and Iran will hold, the U.S. should remain on high alert for any subterfuge by the Islamic Republic, The Hill reported Monday.