What Can You Do as an Individual? – Simple Solutions
Often people feel overwhelmed, telling themselves that one person can’t make a difference. I am here to remind you that we can. Every action creates a ripple of change.
Everything we chose to say or do and consume and buy has an impact. We can start by being aware that everything comes from somewhere, ask yourself where and how was it produced. Ultimately, we need to consume less of the Earth’s resources.
As Mahatma Gandhi once said — ‘The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.’
The moral of our current story is that western consumption and the idea of continual growth means more mining, more deforestation and more destruction to produce ‘stuff’ which we really don’t need.
So no more waiting for government, business or someone else to fix the world’s numerous problems, let’s all take some action now.
We live in a world of supply and demand. Your voice and actions make all the difference. You may be a teacher or a CEO, an artist or a Government minister – whoever you are, it is you we are waiting for. Each one of us has a part of the jigsaw, what is yours?
Whether you can grow a window box of wildflowers for the bees and pollinators or rewild your estate or create change in a school, a business or your own home here are some ideas. Rather than fighting against what we don’t want, let’s move towards the world we wish to see.
ACTIONS WE CAN TAKE TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE
★GET INVOLVED – Join a charity, conservation group or community garden and support them with your time or money. If you are a professional, please donate some time to a charity through Reach Volunteering. From picking up litter to sowing wildflowers, laying hedges and planting trees to helping fundraise and promote good work through social media the world is waiting for you.
★ENSURE YOUR MONEY IS WITH AN ETHICAL BANK.– Money makes the world go round! Most large banks invest your savings and pensions in fossil fuels and large scale deforestation. HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds and Santander are the worst. Banking with ethical banks and choosing Impact investment really drives positive change. For more visit Ethical Consumer How and Who?
★USE AN ENERGY COMPANY WHO IS A RENEWABLE PROVIDER. Let your house be powered by the sun, wind and water rather than fossil fuels. If you can, get solar panels and a heat pump if not a renewal provider. And INSULATE and retrofit to save money and energy.
★SPEAK UP ! Contact your MP and local councillors and have a meeting with them. Ask what they are doing about the climate and ecological breakdown, and what else can you do together? Contact companies and corporates who are a part of the problem. We live in a world of supply and demand. They are waiting to hear from you.
★THINK WATER AND CHEMICALS – If you don’t understand the ingredients of what you are flushing down the drain please don’t. Chemicals in toiletries and detergents are an environmental hazard. Use natural, biodegradable products. Friendlier for You, the Earth, Water and all Life. Be aware of the water you use, it takes a lot of energy to get to you. Try and use less.
★PREVENT FOOD WASTE – Sadly vast amounts of energy and embedded carbon is in food. We urgently must address this problem. There is no need for food waste, buy less, make soup or compost.
★SUPPORT SMALL, LOCAL, INDEPENDENT, ORGANIC, FAIR-TRADE BUSINESS and the bees and insects, soil and farmers will thank you. https://www.ethical-company-organisation.org/
★BUY LESS STUFF and REFUSE PACKAGING – Find a zero waste shop or open one. Return non-recyclable packaging to the supermarket. SAY NO TO TETRA PACKS AS WELL AS PLASTIC. They are a mix of non fsc wood pulp, plastic and aluminium.
★GROW SOME OF YOUR OWN FOOD, even if it’s just on your window sill and get your hands in the dirt. Join a community garden and plant some trees and wildflowers. Encourage the edges to be wild. Grow nut trees and orchards if you have space. Eat delicious wild food (commonly called weeds!)
★EAT LESS INDUSTRIAL MEAT AND DAIRY AND HAVE FEWER KIDS AND PETS. Every one of us demands food. Most crops currently grown are fed to animals, taking up too much land which could grow other food. Industrial farming creates methane and pollutes the water. Support grass fed meat and organic dairy which can be beneficial to the environment as well as improving conditions for the animals. Remember less is more and deer and squirrel if you want to eat meat is the best option.
★THINK ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL TRANSPORT. Limit flying and driving as much as possible. Burning fossil fuels contributes to climate change. Sorry, but it’s the truth. Encourage your council to improve public transport. Cycle, carpool or buy a second-hand electric car.
★THINK INSULATION. Turn down the thermostat and put on a jumper. Ensure heat is not going through the windows, door and up through the roof. Let’s try not to heat the atmosphere any more than we do already.
★CHANGE THE LAW – Talk about what is happening, and name it…Ecocide https://www.stopecocide.earth/
★POWER DOWN – A request to ChatGPT uses about 1 bottle of water and around 10 times more power than a Google search. Unwanted emails, junk, photos, endless messages all take energy. Be aware. Take time to power down which is not only great for you but great for the world.
★GO OUTSIDE AND ENJOY NATURE – Lastly but most importantly take time out to enjoy the beauty of the natural world, so you remember why you are doing what you are doing!
Feel free to download the What Can You Do flyer to pass out wherever you can or make your own with your own logo. People want to know what to do!
