One of the things we hope this website can do, is to give you the opportunity to share what you are doing right now to live more sustainably, to reduce your carbon footprint, and to walk lightly on the Earth. Sometimes it can seem overwhelming when we hear about global pollution, climate change, loss of biodiversity and large scale ecological disaster. We can feel impotent… like there is nothing we can do that will make any difference.
And yet small steps, and individual actions, multiplied millions of times can and do make real change happen.
So share what you do with all those other ‘monkeys’ out there. Think of how differently you live your life today than you did ten or twenty years ago. What lifestyle choices, consumer decisions, and behavior patterns have you changed already? Have you joined, or started a green group? Are you bringing ideas about sustainability to your workplace, church, or school? Do you recycle? You may be doing more than you think!
By sharing your choices, you may give someone else out there a good idea, or some inspiration to change. You can instantly magnify the power of your choices by passing them on right now! Doesn’t that feel good?
OK, I guess I’m first!
I am the chair of the Green Sanctuary Committee at my church, the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. We’re doing some fun and exciting things to get our church community more aware of how conservation, and personal lifestyle choices affect the environment. We’ve done several events where we have taken the tire pressure of the vehicles in the parking lot, and offered to pump tires up to their proper levels. Then we calculate the energy savings and tell the car owner how much money and gas they save, and how much LESS carbon they put into the atmosphere!
In my personal life, I’ve switched to compact fluorescent bulbs, I clean my kitchen with dilute vinegar in a spray bottle, I use Seventh Generation biodegradable soaps, and I use soap nuts to do my laundry. I have been slowly over the last 10 years, switching to a semi-vegetarian diet, then ovo-lacto vegetarian, and now finally a vegan diet. It’s been a big big decision, and one that I’ve moved to step by step, but I feel happier and healthier! I also recycle, even though it is not mandatory in Anchorage, and many areas do not have curbside recycling.
But the most fun thing I’ve done recently, is work with Rhiana Levy to create this blog. Rhiana called me to see if I’d like a DVD, and we got to talking. By the end of the conversation I told her I’d be happy to set up a forum where people could record their reactions, and track the progress of these lovely gifts she is spreading across the country. We often cast out bread on the water of life, and never know what good may come of it. Here, we have an opportunity to share with one another, and remind ourselves that we are not alone. There are hudreds or thousands more out there who have watched the same movie, shared it with others who were willing to listen, and passed it on. We are ALL making a difference.
I hope more of you will comment here and share what you are doing, or what you would like to do to change your little corner of the world.
Jeanne Devon
I personally have chosen to put my foot down on consumerism. Every next purchase made by me with be locally grown or made and/or organic. I’m looking for a new bedspread that’s 100% organic. As Harry Truman said, the Buck stops here. I will not allow my actions to cause any more damange that it must. I am also riding the bus. It doesn’t save any time, but I finally get to finish those books I’ve been wanting to read!
Help your town government become more energy efficient and join the Cool Cities movement: http://coolcities.us/
and if you are in North Carolina, contact me (kara.craig@sierraclub.org) about Cool Cities: http://www.nc.sierraclub.org/coolcities/index.html