Living Green: The Missing Manual

Chapter 11. Getting Involved

One person can change the world, and if you've made some of the changes suggested in this book, you've already made a difference. But there's strength in numbers, so this chapter explains how to join forces with others to make changes on a local, national, or even global scale. You'll learn how to get started, but then you have to take it from there.

Activism Begins with You

"Think globally, act locally" has long been a rallying cry of the sustainable-living movement. When you walk instead of driving, enjoy a cup of fair-trade coffee, or replace energy-wasting light bulbs with CFLs, you're making changes that contribute to a better world for all. Small changes add up—the more people who live gently on the earth, the bigger the benefit.

One way to make those good deeds multiply is to get together with other, likeminded people and work for a common cause. There's power in numbers, whether it's half a dozen people picking up trash in a local park or an international organization with millions of members working to conserve natural habitats. After you've made adjustments in your own life and home, look outward. There are lots of ways for you to get involved in ongoing efforts to save the planet.

Your Local Community

Going green in your community makes your city or town a nicer place to live. It brings neighbors together for a common purpose, makes earth-friendly improvements right in your own backyard, and spreads the word about the benefits of going green.