Why Take Action?
With so much to do and so many things going awry looking at the state of the world can be daunting. We may feel hopeless, or as though there is nothing that we can do. After all, “I’m just one person,” right? Everything is already too bad to be fixed now? Too messed up?
NO!
Times like these, where it may be hard to see the light or it may seem hopeless, are exactly when we need to act! Keeping hope, even in these times of hopelessness, is very important when it comes to working towards saving our planet and our futures. In this, community is something that is very important. After all, we aren’t and we shouldn’t be working alone. This world is all of ours, and it is all of our responsibility to save it.
So, you may be thinking . . . what can I do?
Calls to Action: What can I do?
Create a Bioswale!
See Infographic below:
Try to Avoid Single-Use Plastics
Plastic never goes away, and the amount that is used only once before being tossed away forever needs to decrease. A great way you can help take action and be more sustainable is by trying to reduce or even remove you use of single-use plastics. Investing in reusable items such as shopping bags, bottles, and utensils can help reduce your use of single-use plastics. It is also important to advocate for your town and/or community to make things like clean water accessible to everyone. Having a reusable water bottle is a great step, but it is important to make sure everyone is able to be provided with clean water to fill it with!
Instead of using plastic bottles you can use one reusable bottle. By doing so you could save around 1500 plastic water bottles per year.
Community
Joining and collaborating with others to help is a way that you can get involved with your community and start working towards change close to you. Here you can find various environmental groups in the United States.
Work With Your Skills and Interests
What are some things that you are good at or that you enjoy? There are a variety of ways in which you can incorporate your hobbies, interests, and skills into actions. Writing, music, and art are all areas that excel in spreading awareness and information. In writing you can share information. Knowledge is something very important and needed when it comes to taking actions in saving our world. “Worlding the World” is another thing that writers can do as the world helps shape their writing and the their writing will hopefully help shape the world. Music can help promote awareness and deliver messages in a different way, and help reach more people. Art can help in a variety of ways from promoting awareness, helping others see what could be (whether good or bad), and help visualize what a more sustainable world could look like. Looking into what you are good at, what you like to do, and what needs to be done can help you find a middle ground on what actions you can and may want to take.
Form sustainable habits while outside
Form sustainable habits by being continuously mindful of the environment you’re traversing through while outside. You can do this by cleaning up waste you stumble upon, choosing sustainable options for outside related gear, or get involved with local cleanup gatherings.
reduce your carbon emissions
Try to be mindful of the carbon emissions you generate, especially while traveling. If possible, try to choose options which reduce your carbon emissions. For example, if you are driving to a vacation with friends, carpool with as many of them as possible.
Another option for those who do not have the opportunity to reduce their carbon emissions is to donate to any of the various carbon credit programs. These programs focus on helping to offset our carbon footprint. This option does not address our systemic carbon generation problems, but it is better than nothing.
Resources
- Staff, AMC. “Go Green: 10 Tips for a More Sustainable Lifestyle.” Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), 13 Dec. 2024, www.outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/conservation-and-climate/go-green-10-tips-for-a-more-sustainable-lifestyle/.
- “13 Incredible Artivists Using Recycled Materials in Their Art.” Causeartist, Causeartist, 5 Aug. 2024, www.causeartist.com/incredible-recycled-art-materials-creations/.
- Admppc. “12 Inspiring Works of Art on Plastic Pollution.” Plastic Pollution Coalition, 30 Jan. 2023, www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2017/5/2/10-inspiring-works-of-art-about-plastic-pollution.