Take action (and have some fun, too)!
Simple, everyday actions make a big difference. Whether you do something for the community like shopping locally, something for the environment like avoiding plastic bags, or something for you, like learning to paint, sing, or speak Spanish, you CAN change the world! Here’s how.
Featured Action
Bake something for a friend
Next time you need to buy a friend a present, don’t.
Make them one instead.
Gingerbread Men
1/2 cup softened butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 cups plain flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
Preheat oven to 350º F.
Cream together butter and sugar.
Beat in the egg and syrup.
Sift in the dry ingredients and mix.
Chill the dough before rolling onto a lightly floured board,
to a 1/8 inch thickness.
Cut into shapes, using a gingerbread cutter.
Bake on a lightly greased tray for 8 – 10 minutes.
Give away immediately.
Featured Action
Recycle your books
They dreamed up a scheme in Amsterdam a few years ago, where white bicycles were provided free. And the idea was that – after you’d finished your ride – you’d leave the bike in the street for someone else to use free.
And if that isn’t recycling, we don’t know what is.
But unfortunately this idea flopped, because they failed to take into account two things:
One, the fact that criminals exist. And two, the fact that colored paint exists.
But the idea was fantastically optimistic and deserved to
succeed.
A better version of this might be to ask people to recycle their books. Give them to a thrift store, your local library, or just leave them lying on a park bench.
Featured Action
Save the world while brushing your teeth
Most people leave the faucet running while brushing their teeth. This wastes more than 2 gallons a minute!
This means your street alone could fill an Olympic sized
swimming pool each year.
This wastes huge amounts of water and is a bit stupid – it’s like having the toilet flush the whole time you’re on it.
So why not turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth?
(We bet this is one of the actions you don’t forget from the book. For some reason, it seems to strike a chord with
everyone.)
Featured Action
Use a mug not a disposable cup
Every year Americans throw away an estimated 25 billion Styrofoam cups, which is enough to circle Earth about 400 times.
Additionally, 410,000 paper cups are used every 15 minutes in the United States for hot beverages.
Where? Where do they all come from? Is there some mad genius breeding them in underground bunkers? Do they sneak out at night and eat our leftovers?
I could have sworn I saw two of them whispering to each other
in the garbage can.
But why not just put your coffee into a mug, not a Styrofoam or paper cup? It’ll taste better, and you’ll be doing your part for the planet.
For Change the World Day on May 1st I’m volunteering in the green groves of the Presidio, doing landscape stewardship and habitat restoration.
For May 1st, Change the World Day, I’ll be volunteering at 826 Valencia. We’ll either be copyediting, making pirate supplies, or mailing out books!
For Change the World Day on May 1st, I’m volunteering at Alemany Farms, an urban community garden in San Francisco!
More on the issue of vegetarianism (you surely didn’t think saving the planet wouldn’t require some self-sacrifice did you?!): http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/forget-about-recycling-on-earth-day/
Be kind to those around you: go vegetarian. Not only human being have feelings, you know. I can mention recycling, buying local and organic produce, owning wormfarms, growing your own veggies, reducing your commercial intake, biking instead of driving etc etc - all caring for the planet - but how can people do this without caring - at the same time - for the animals on it? Ok, a bit of fish and chicken is ok (and all ideally farmed so as to not put pressure on our non-sustainable oceans), but warm-blooded mammals such as us? I hope not!
Send a handwritten letter to a loved one. People never get letters in the mail, anymore. It will really make their day to know that you thought of them.
I create art out of things that people usually throw away.
Recycle your own bottles, cans and glass. Not only will you know that it is actually being recycled, you get some change back (in some states) to start your own charity fund.
[...] As my new favourite website-based-on-a-book shouts out CHANGE THE WORLD FOR TEN BUCKS (visit http://changetheworldfortenbucks.com/actions/). It’s easy, it’s simple, it’s empowering: use a mug instead of a disposable [...]
Buy eco-friendly products.
As a parent show your children compassion by giving the troubled kid at school a little attention so they stop bothering your child, and do so without judgement.
Be a locavore - eat food produced in your local area.
Pay for me plus the car behind me at the toll booth.
I promised to start composting.
“Write to someone who inspired You”
I sent my WWII veteran great-uncle a Thank You note for his great sacrifice.
60 years later, but it felt good to do.
Buy local, eat local, and share with friends!
Say thank you more often!
Ride your bike more.
Shop at the farmers’ market!
Plant a garden!