Ultimate Environmentalist: Activism

Sometimes it takes large and unsettling events to take place before people are moved into acting. But this is exactly what has to be done if we want to have any hope of living in a sustainable world and not screwing it up more than we already have. I don't mean to say every Thursday we go out and organize a large riot or protest in support of Environmental responsibility, but I would like to see a greater interest in showing our concern.

So that brings us to my third of four articles on Ultimate Environmentalism! As I had mentioned, being environmentally conscious can fall into 4 Categories: Recycling, Smart Consumption, Activism and Giving Back. The subject today being Activism.

While the word activism seems to imply staging mass protests and hunger strikes, this is not what I am suggesting. The best activism an individual can do is to simply channel their efforts into small, meaningful projects of their own or of a groups. All it takes is a little research, some elbow grease and determination.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Start a Cleanup - Think Local. The best place to start is where you live. Start small and then expand. There are rivers, roads and parks to be kept up and there is always litter flying around. Clean up your local community and you will find a sense of pride unknown to you before. Also, as a group, you can be responsible for a section of highway or road near your town. Simply call up your local government for the deets.

2. Plant a Vegetable Garden - This really only works for a short time of the year for people living in a Northern Community where winter leaves its mark on 6 months of the year. But it is a viable proposal that provides a cheap food source and some outside fun. At the same time, start thinking about a compost pile in your back yard too.

3. Take Public Transportation - Or Carpool. Buses and taxis are out there for us to use and sometimes they are worth it. My university is only down the road from me so I can easily take the bus. It also doesn't hurt that we get a bus pass along with our tuition. When going to a friends house or the out on the town, try to fit all your friends into 1 or 2 cars. You will find that you can reduce the amount of gas you use and increase your cash reserves at the same time :)

4. Spring Cleaning - Every year I go through my old clothes and items, wondering why I ever wore such haggard things and bought such useless objects. Aside from throwing out broken things, I donate still good clothes and items to organizations like the Salvation Army and the Thrift Store. This gives your stuff a second life and gives someone else a second chance.

5. Buy an Electric Vehicle - If you can afford it. They don't come cheap, but they are a great way to curb our carbon emissions and pave the way for a cleaner future. Plus some of them look so cool!

6. Education - The best thing you can do is to educate yourself on the science of Climate Change and support Environmental legislation from the government. Sure, there is a lot of controversy around climate change and what is causing it, but if you don't know both sides to the story then you are not as well informed as you should be.

7. Buy from Companies with Good Environmental Records - This one takes a little research on your part. Try looking online for some profiles of major companies and think twice before you use your money to buy their products. As the saying goes, "Vote with your Wallet". Check out Responsible Shopper, a website dedicated to helping you out with this.

8. Install Solar Panels - Again, only if you can afford them. Solar panels have come along way since they first lit up a solar calculator but they still have a long way to go before they can become cost effective. The panels we have now are not as efficient as we would like them to be, but efforts are underway to change that. Installing solar panels would be a nice step for you to take to tell the world that you care.

9. Walk/Bike - Probably the simplest type of activism you can do is to leave your car at home. Ride the bike path to work or take a jog around the Marina. Not only will you get some great exercise but you will also get people's attention. A little inspiration is all that is needed for people to change their lifestyle and you can provide it.

Activism is not just for large crowds and rowdy citizens. It is also for individuals who want to make a difference and who are willing to act. Take part in rallies and group meetings but remember that it all starts when you decide that speaking up is worth your time. Hopefully you can take away something from this article. Implementing at least two or three of these suggestions is a great start to making this world a better place.

Next time on Dragons Make Igneous Rocks, Ultimate Environmentalism: Giving Back!

Part 1: Recycling
Part 2: Smart Consumption
Part 3: Activism
Part 4: Giving Back