community and contribution - think global
Think global, act local
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Mahatma Gandhi, Indian philosopher, 1869-1948
There’s so much that needs to change in the world that it can sometimes seem a bit overwhelming. Where do you start if you want to do your bit? Is there any point if we’re destined to self-destruct anyway?! The short answer from most of the experts is a resounding “yes”! There is a point in trying to change things because there is still hope for the planet, and the best way for us each to make a difference is to “think global, act local”. In other words, see the whole earth as your home but then concentrate on doing what you can in your own area to keep it clean, happy and at peace. Imagine you are a stone being dropped into a pond. Every single one of us makes ripples, and it’s vital to ensure that those ripples are positive. You may or may not be able to influence what happens on the other side of the pond, but you can certainly do something about the impact you have on your immediate surroundings - people, environment and so on. So here are our top ten tips on how to create good ripples ...
- Cut down on consumption
- Go green
- Limit the size of your family
- G(r)o(w) veggie
- Keep things tidy
- Smile ... and spread a little happiness
- Love your neighbours
- Live and buy by your beliefs
- Take responsibility
- Campaign for change
It’s quite simple really, you just need to use less and buy less! And guess what, not only will you be helping to save the planet, you’ll also be saving yourself a whole load of money! Cut down on portion sizes, just use a drop of washing up liquid instead of a squeeze, fill the bath a little less full, or take a shower instead. Watch what you do on automatic pilot and see where you could make changes. Take a notebook with you wherever you go for a week, and write down every last penny you spend. You’ll probably be shocked at how much money you fritter away on “stuff” that you don’t really need at all. It may sound like we’re harking back to the good old days, but there’s a lot to be said for a cardboard box, a handful of crayons and some imagination versus a plastic toy made in China!
"My hope is that we come to see consumption as slightly naff, something you do only when you have to," says Chris Goodall, author of ‘How to Live a Low-Carbon Life’, and an expert consulted by the Environment Agency.
So why have we put this as number one on the list? Well, not only does our excessive consumerism in the so-called ‘developed’ world have a huge negative impact on the environment and reinforce the gap between rich and poor nations, it also places unnecessary pressure and stress on us. After all, we wouldn’t need to declutter if we didn’t have so much “stuff”. We are bombarded with advertising from all sides and opportunities to spend are everywhere. Think hard before you buy anything new, even a coffee. Simplify your life and boost your savings by keeping your purse closed!
And if you must spend money - let's say you need to give someone a present - why not consider giving a Good Gift, a gift from Oxfam Unwrapped or a Gift for Life? Saves you stressing over what to get, and is a lot more satisfying for everyone in the long run.
This is, of course, the latest ‘bandwagon’ that everyone’s jumping on ... with good reason! According to Colin Butfield, Head of Campaigns at the World Wildlife Fund, "If everyone generated carbon emissions and used natural resources as we do in the UK we would need three planets to support us.” Whilst it’s easy to get cynical about some corporate motives for going green, the fact remains that we all need to do as much as we can. There’s a huge amount of information out there about the steps we can take to reduce our carbon emissions and live a more environmentally friendly life, and you might like to check out the resources section for further information. In the meantime, here’s a quick summary:
- reduce, re-use, recycle (it’s a mantra, repeat it often!)
- switch everything off when you’re not using it ... and off means off, not ‘on standby’
- install loft insulation
- walk or cycle more, and leave the car at home
- wear more clothes so that you can turn the heating down, or even off
- avoid flying - use video conferencing to minimise the need for meetings and take holidays closer to home
- buy seasonal produce wherever possible, and watch out for food miles
- make your own compost from your leftovers
- consider installing your own energy sources - like solar panels or a wind turbine
- only purchase energy-efficient electrical appliances ... and only when you really have to
- buy a device to monitor your energy usage
- calculate your carbon emissions and set a target to reduce them
3. Limit the size of your family
Bit of a contentious one, this, but the current world population is six billion and it’s projected to be 11 billion by 2050. According to Nick Reeves, executive director of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management: "Scratch the surface of any environmental problem and it reveals population growth, and the way we live our lives, as the root cause. The need for a population policy has never been more urgent."
To put it bluntly, unless we take action, there will soon be more people than the planet can sustain. Already, over 3 billion people around the globe live in extreme poverty, barely able to survive. And yet, by the time a baby born in the United States reaches the age of 75, he or she will have produced 52 tons of garbage, consumed 43 million gallons of water, and used 3,375 barrels of oil. Scary!
You might want to bear this in mind next time you get a nostalgic yearning for a cuddly new baby …
Most people know that there are potential health benefits to going veggie (provided you do it properly) but did you know that you could also be helping to save the planet? A United Nations report in 2006 estimated that the global livestock industry is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the world's entire transport sector - a truly shocking revelation. If this is the case, then reducing our meat intake could be really worth doing. Why not try incorporating a few more vegetarian meals into your repertoire and see how you get on?
Of course, they’d probably taste even better and be even healthier if you grew the vegetables yourself! You could use the compost you’ve made from your leftovers (see tip 2) and establish your very own organic vegetable patch. Apparently it’s easy … although I have to admit that the caterpillars got to our broccoli before we did last year! Get it sussed and you can save yourself money, feed your family well, avoid nasty chemicals and food miles, and benefit from all that lovely exercise and fresh air! Research shows that people who garden regularly tend to be healthier and happier than people who don’t. It’s official - gardening is good for you.
We could make the world a much more pleasant place if we all took care of the parts we live in. It’s so obvious. Look after your home, and garden if you have one. Keep on top of the maintenance as best as you can so things don’t get tatty and rundown. Take care of your possessions - mend anything broken if you can, polish your shoes regularly, sew buttons back on, etc. Encourage your children to look after their belongings and to keep their bedrooms tidy. Always, always put your litter in the bin or take it home with you, and make sure your children do the same. Set some basic standards, like leaving the kitchen clean after a meal and whizzing over the bath with a cloth as soon as you get out. These things take minutes but help to create a sense of calm and wellbeing. And last but definitely not least, keep yourself and your children tidy. Clean clothes, hair, teeth and nails count for a lot!
6. Smile … and spread a little happiness
Yes, that’s it. Smile. There’s no quicker or easier way to generate good feeling. It’s virtually impossible to resist responding to a beaming face, and you just don’t know how far-reaching that one tiny action could be. Some people have such little joy in their lives that your one smile could really brighten their day and make them feel that they matter.
You might even like to go round ‘collecting’ smiles - see how many people you can smile at in a day and how many different smiles you get back! It’s the kind of simple game that you can get your children to play as well, yet the impact could be profound.
“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”
Phyllis Diller
Okay, so what we really mean is take an interest in and care about the people around you. We no longer live in a world where front doors are left open and everyone pops in and out of each other’s houses. These days, we have to make an extra effort to get to know our neighbours, and it’s quite possible to go for weeks without seeing them. Yet if you take the time to build relationships in your local community, you will feel much more a part of it. Is there an elderly person nearby who might like a lift into town or some help with their food shopping? Is there a teenager who could use a few extra quid and could help you out with a few jobs? Who’s fine, who’s struggling? Do you know? More importantly, do you care?
Carry out random acts of kindness, for complete strangers as well as people you know. Clean your partner’s car, pop a chocolate bar through a friend’s front door, give someone your seat or pay them a genuine compliment. Try doing one altruistic thing a day, for no particular reason other than to make the world a nicer place.
It’s so easy to live an insular life, rushing round like a headless chicken just dealing with our own family and friends. And yet, if each of us took a bit more notice of the people who live in our vicinity, we might be able to make life a little better for everyone. It’s not a one-way street, either. Research shows that helping others is one of the best ways to make yourself feel happier - it can even give you a “helper’s high”! So you know what to do - next time you want to get high, go for the healthy option!
8. Live and buy by your beliefs
Set an example. If you feel strongly about something, you should do your best to act according to that principle in every aspect of your life. If you want a peaceful world, start by creating a peaceful and loving home environment. If you think justice is important, make sure you treat other people fairly. If you value love and kindness, love yourself first. Remember, change starts with you. We can’t change other people; we can only change ourselves …but we often find that this then has the most amazing effect on others. So recognise that everything you do, every step you take, every sentence you write, every word you speak -or DON'T speak - counts. Nothing is trivial. The world may be big, but there are no small things. Everything matters.
This means, of course, that you need to put your money where your mouth is. It’s hypocritical to talk about justice and then skip past the fairtrade products in the supermarket. It doesn’t make sense to buy ‘green’ washing liquid and then shove all your wet clothes into the tumbledrier. It isn’t going to help keep the small independent shops in your high street if you do all your purchasing online or at out-of-town superstores! Okay, we all have to operate within our own financial constraints, but often it’s a question of priorities. Put your money to good use.
All significant change throughout history has occurred not because of nations, armies, governments and certainly not because of committees! It happened as a result of the courage and commitment of individuals. People like Joan of Ark, Albert Einstein, Rosa Parks, Mahatma Gandhi, and many many more. They might not have done it alone, but they were, without question, the change makers.
And most change makers are just ordinary people like you and me. To be the change you want to see in the world, you don't have to be loud. You don't have to be eloquent. You don't have to be elected. You don't even have to be particularly smart or well educated. You do, however, have to be committed.
Take personal responsibility. Never think "it's not my job". It's a cop-out to say, "What can I do, I'm only one person." You don't need everyone's cooperation or anyone's permission to make changes. Remember this little gem, "If it's to be, it's up to me." And also this old African proverb: “If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito”!
Whilst change usually starts with individuals, it tends to be when people get together and take collective action that things really happen. It’s the snowball effect. Someone gets the snowball rolling and then it gradually gets bigger and bigger, gathers momentum and takes on a life and power of its own. So shake off any apathy you might be feeling and go make a difference. Instead of complaining about something, be proactive. Join a campaign for change … or even set one up yourself. Write letters to MPs, express your views online, sign petitions, use your votes … and vote with your feet or your purse. There are any number of organisations you could get involved with that are campaigning for a better world, or taking action to create one. Have a look at the Resources section of Mummo Knowhow to find an initial list. And, in the words of American anthropologist Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”
Go for it!
