How to Influence Meaningful Change in the Environment
It takes just a few moments after turning on a news station or browsing the internet for current events before one is bombarded with the onslaught of pollution and corruption going on in the world today. With no shortage of this constant negativity, how is it possible to stay motivated to make a difference in the world? Small Changes Make a Big Impact Trying to make a big impact in the world can often seem like an overwhelming undertaking. However, the key to influencing change is really to start small. By focusing on the small changes that individuals can make, there’s more chance for it to spread through local communities and eventually make its way to broader scales. Consider these 10 simple steps that can be taken to help reduce the negative impact on the environment: 1. Refuse single-use items like plastic bags and straws 2. Bring reusable containers for packaging food to go 3. Choose energy safe appliances and turn them off when not in use 4. Collect rainwater to water your garden 5. Plant a variety of local trees, shrubs and flowers to attract more birds and bees 6. Only buy produce that’s in season to avoid transportation costs and fuel 7. Try to avoid purchasing groceries packaged in plastic 8. Walk, bicycle, or use public transportation as much as possible 9. Recycle all products and materials that can be reused 10. Donate used clothing, toys, books and household appliances to local organizations - and don’t replace them with new stuff! Focusing on simple changes that can be made in everyday life not only helps to reduce personal impact on the environment but also serves as an example to friends, family, and local community members. Don’t be afraid to speak up about the need to reduce environmental impacts. While it may seem futile in the midst of current events, speaking out and informing others about the importance for change is how ideas wind up becoming policies that can help the environmental on a grand scale. Get Involved with Local Organizations In addition to making small changes in day-to-day life, another prime way to help make a difference in the world is by getting involved with local environmental organizations that could use volunteers. There are tons of local community organizations that are doing important work in seeking change, but don’t always have the necessary funds to employ more people to spread awareness or enact community programs. When it comes to volunteering, remember that volunteering for one day or one afternoon is unlikely to actually be very helpful, unless there is a large event or emergency that is specifically seeking one-time volunteers. Try to commit to staying involved, even if only once a month, and take responsibility for the time that you commit so that the organization can depend on you. Make it worth the time it takes to train you! It is often through the work of volunteers that these organizations are able to continue making progress toward their overall mission. Volunteers help immensely by tabling and getting signatures on important petitions, answering various community inquiries, calling local policy makers, helping to run local programs, and spreading awareness about the need for environmental change. Take the Reins and Lead the Way If making small changes in everyday life or volunteering with a local organization isn’t producing the change desired, take the reins and strive toward making a difference in your own way. There are many resources available online that outline the steps needed to start your own charity or nonprofit. Read through some guidelines on how to get started as well as different ways to receive funding, and then begin putting in the work to enact the change you want to see in the world. Remember, all change needs to begin somewhere and even the largest changes started with a single individual’s desire to make an impact. I may have written this post with the primary goal of encouraging myself to keep working on taking big and small steps every day. Thanks to all of you in this community who continue to inspire me to make improvements in myself, my community, and the environment each day, and to not lose hope that this work matters.
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B4tOThis little project is growing! Thanks to everyone who's been involved so far. You can get involved too! Archives
December 2018
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