Global footprint (Credit: Dekade via Flickr)
Individuals play an important role in societal change. Information is not enough. Small steps can move people from concern to action and there's research to show exactly that.
This Earth Week, CBC asked me to help inspire an average Canadian hockey family to grow from their pale green ways to a slightly darker shade. It was a kind of eco-lifestyle assessment and I was their personal trainer. Here's the story that ran on The National.
What tips would you give the Shackles?
Here are some steps I suggested they use to turn Earth Day into Earth Week and beyond...
Step 1. Start with what you love
Any successful journey of change should begin with what you love. Starting with something you are passionate about (e.g., gardening, cooking, cycling, etc) increases your chances of sticking with it. When you encounter challenges along the way, you will be more likely to see them through and find creative solutions.
Step 2. Focus
Once you focus, it's easier to grow the scope of what you know. Let's say you love gardening — growing your own food and flowers. Your next step might be learning how to compost. If you've ever bought a bag of soil, you know you have a vested interest in actually making your own! The big picture benefit is reducing the waste you take to the curb each week by about 40 per cent. Bigger still, you'll help ensure fewer food scraps head for the landfill and you'll lower green house gas emissions — methane in particular.
Step 3. Share your knowledge
Did you know that some of the most trusted advisors in people's lives are not experts like scientists and politicians, but actually people like you and me? It's time to share your experience with others! Now that you've mastered composting in your own yard, why not teach a neighbor, a family member, or your youth group — even your book club? Modeling behaviour is a powerful way to influence others.
Why do you think small steps and green tips work?
Sincerely,
Lindsay Coulter, Queen of Green
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4 Comments
2:53 PM
Green Drinks Burnaby (BC) invites you to our first event on May 11
Please see details on our Facebook or Linked-in page
We look forward to making this group dynamically successfull and fun! :)
Cheers!
Please join as a member..it’s free to join and to attend!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=117833191575562
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2962844&trk=mygugrpovr
Interested in meeting a group of friendly people having lively conversations about all things green? Then join us for Green Drinks Burnaby on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 6:30pm.
2:53 PM
The above is good but not enough for the environment. Initiatives based on the goodwill and social conscience (i.e. a minority of people doing the right thing) have been around for at least two decades, and we are losing ground. We need a strategy that forces everyone to act and get greener. An example of this is at:
Waves of the Future — A Structural Strategy for Global Warming, Non-Renewable Resources, Conservation, Renewable Energy, Toxic Contaminants
Component Details:
Climate Change & Carbon Emissions, Alternative Energy, Toxic Chemicals and Contaminants, Markets of Recycling & Reuse, Alternative Energy & the Management of Non-Renewable Resource Management, Transportation: Hybrid & Electric Vehicles, Population Growth
2:53 PM
Our 3 year old son, Ajax, has been learning about making the earth happy. It’s simple to a three year old: you make too much garbage, the earth becomes sad. We’ve stolen an idea from the Charlie and Lola book
“We are Extremely Very Good Recyclers.” Our family has begun using a “Tree Counter” to help us measure our recycling efforts. Our tree counter is made up of items that have ended up in our recycling and is begining to make a pretty beautiful piece of art. It’s the small choices of many families that can help make the earth happy. We are one small part. (Photo)
12:53 PM
yeahh we can make a differences in are world
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