Around our camp dinner, my friend David shared his idea for fighting global warming. What he said was perfect:
“To save the planet, you have to change yourself first.”
That’s it, diamond-like precise. You and I have 100% control over how we run our own lives. Therefore, mindfulness of our own carbon footprint the logical place to start.
Then move on to make gradual changes and feel the momentum building…
A bonus: As you grow into a cleaner, healthier lifestyle, you will automatically get an education in a number of different ways: Climate science, ways to transform your life, and ways to communicate what you are learning.
Another bonus: this automatically sets a leadership example for all around us, including children.
One action, three benefits: “Change yourself first” is an efficient way for Busy People to start this journey…
My favorite source for a fast start at cleaning up one’s lifestyle is a powerful one-page list of tips from the well-respected Union of Concerned Scientists, from their book “Cooler, Smarter.”
I also recommend another excellent list top-ten list from the home of Google, my city of Mountain View, California.
Don’t try to do it all, but do get started… give yourselves, say, six months to a year to clean up a reasonable portion of your lifestyle’s carbon pollution. You can do it!
Finally, want to make this a tremendously fun and validating experience? See what happens when you Do a Green Good Turn Daily. Go where it leads you, and don’t be surprised if you uncover surprising personal talents and superpowers!
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Not sure how to start saving the planet (civilization, really)… Start by remembering that “Hope is a renewable resource.” Keep your morale up.
Then, our immediate practical first step becomes “Deeply know our personal Superpowers,” those skills over which we all have 100% control:
1) To save the planet, CHANGE OURSELVES FIRST;
2) To save the planet, INVEST OUR WORKING LIVES;
3) To save the planet, USE OUR VOICES and take advocacy seriously in all its many flavors: Never miss a vote and never stop influencing your government. Influence the vast business world by voting with your buying power… business listens when you speak its language. Set a solid example in your personal life. Tell friends what we must do. Finally, have a carefully-chosen annual donor program. All of these are ways you can use your voice.
No one can take your personal power away. Stay focussed on the list of substantive global warming solutions.
And at all times, cast aside the “learned-helplessness” that infects so much of modern life… the time is now for action.
Never give up.
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Global Warming, You and I 