#beach clean up
Look. There’s a creek near where I live that has its own volunteer non-profit organization.
It’s just one creek. One trickle of water among millions. But people decided to care about that creek. A bunch of people, volunteers, got together and they cleaned several tons of trash out of the creek.
They got to work removing non-native plants from the creek banks and planting native trees.
They got a nearby water treatment plant to upgrade and stop polluting the creek.
They educate people and tell them about the fish and invertebrates that live in creeks and why they should care.
I think that it matters. I think that making sure your community has clean water matters. I think making sure one specific old lady’s house doesn’t flood matters. I think one stream where fish can live again matters. I think one patch of green space in a downtown area matters. If nothing else, it makes people’s lives less shitty, and that’s worthwhile in itself.
Stop asking “how do I save the world?” Start asking “can I get together several people to clean up that creek downtown?”
This is what “Think globally; act locally” means.
And I get it: It’s scary.
The internet can make you believe you have more in common with a group of fans of the same tv show, scattered across several continents, than the two dozen people who live on your block and the next.
And maybe you do, in some ways. But. If what’s bothering you - and those other two dozen people - is that the walk sign at the intersection is burned out and the green part never shows, so people don’t realize it’s “on” until it starts flashing red, and then they rush to get across and some of them get hit by cars…
You don’t need 150 friends on 5 continents to fix that. You need three other people to go with you to the city council meeting and say “The walk sign at 4th and Manchester needs fixing; how do we make that part of the city budget soon?” (And you don’t technically need those three others, but if you’re not used to city council meetings, it really helps to have moral support and confirmation of your story.)
You don’t even necessarily have to go to the city council meeting! I was out for a walk one day a few months ago and ran into a campaign event for people running for city council. They were chilling in front of the library (which is downtown here) and one of the dudes gave me this whole spiel on this fancy solar powered sidewalk/lights system he wants and then asked my thoughts. And I responded something like “That sounds great, but before we worry about that, how about we make the pedestrian crossing at that intersection” (points to the one literally closest to where we were standing) “actually work?”
And you know what? He didn’t know it didn’t work. And he ended up getting elected and the new city council isn’t even installed yet and that pedestrian crossing works now (it hadn’t worked for at least a year)! I have an email address that will reach the new city council person, and next time I find an issue like that I will absolutely email him.
If you are comfortable going to city council meetings that’s great. If you aren’t, learn who your city council members are and how to make them aware of issues. Their job is to represent you. And if they won’t, vote for someone who will at the next election.
It can be a lot less intimidating to email someone than to present the issue yourself, and it still makes a difference!
In 2019 I decided that I wanted to really work on my environmental impact. I hope to complete at least 8!
My Goals for This Year:
1.) Shorten all showers to 5 min or less (trying to eventually get down to 2 min) (✔️ I’ve made this into a habit!)
2.)Pick up trash/litter anytime I go for a walk (and go on walks daily) (✔️ I have made this into a habit!)
3.) Support small/ethical businesses and thrift shops (✔️)
4.) Use my money to buy plants/seeds to both build a garden and expand the number of plants in my room (✔️)
5.) Continue the process of cutting out meat from my diet (I’ve already cut all red meat [update: just cut chicken, pork and ham!]) (✔️)
6.) Participate in 3 beach clean ups
7.)Use no single use plastic! (straws, plastic water bottles, plastic bags, etc.)
8.)Stop using teabags, use loose leaf tea instead (teabag packaging uses plastic)
9.) Buy only secondhand books unless impossible
10.) Read 5+ books on sustainability to be better informed (2/5)
11.)Vote for climate change bills, locally and nationally
12.)Walk instead of drive to places near my house 100% of the time (✔️)
You are welcome to snag any of these! Anything will help, no matter how small. Make sure to stay within your budget and means, and not be too hard on yourself if the changes don’t come all at once. Many times, just becoming more aware is what will help the most. What are your goals for this year in terms of sustainability?
