Baby steps. I think we have become accustomed to think that everything we do to make change has to be huge or on a grand scale. I think we have forgotten that small, methodical, consistent action creates huge impact, especially when used by many people, a whole neighborhood, or country.
If you wanted to lose weight, you would unintentionally sabotage yourself if you started to change a bunch of things at once. So imagine if you started eating raw and vegetarian, severely cut back on carbs, cut out all the junk food you eat, started running 5 times a week and lifting weights several times a week (when you exercise maybe twice a month now), and get up earlier in the morning to make room in your schedule for all this extra activity. After a week you’d be exhausted and tell yourself you can’t do it. And you would be right. Trying to change too many things at once is a way to sabotage your efforts.
With that in mind, here are some easy and simple steps you can take to create positive environmental impact, one step at a time, which can lead to big change.
Some quick, easy and impactful changes you can start now:
1. Bring reusable bags with you to the grocery store instead of using plastic bags
- Less plastic produced, discarded, and ending up in the ocean where marine animals ingest it and die
- Less chemicals on the ground which leach into the water supply (and into your drinking water) and into the bays and oceans in which the fish we eat, live.
- Less plastic (which can end up in the ocean - breaking up into smaller pieces on its journey there- where turtles and fish eat it and die); less paper used and fewer trees cut down
- Facts about the downside of using plastic water bottles; and most don’t get recycled.
6. Buy and use stainless steel straws (they can be cleaned easily)
7. Switch your energy provider to an earth-friendly provider (it may be cheaper and have great impact)
- Earth friendly providers can decrease greenhouse gas emissions
9. Buy products made of recycled materials
- Search for recycled alternatives to the things you buy; also use the green business bureau
- How trash affects the marine environment
So here's to you, you Earth Champion, and the change you are creating. Every baby step done repeatedly leads to big impact.
“Why should we tolerate a diet of weak poisons, a home in insipid surroundings, a circle of acquaintances who are not quite our enemies, the noise of motors with just enough relief to prevent insanity? Who would want to live in a world which is just not quite fatal?”*
—Rachel Carson (1907-1964), *Silent Spring, 1962 |
We'd love to hear what you do to contribute to recycling or making the earth cleaner and healthier! Please share your steps and strategies for creating a cleaner earth.