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January 13, 2019

Expanding Your Impact

Let's go beyond "preaching to the choir."

Part 9 of a Series on the Environment from the Question Line Duo

squirrel

We are clearly "preaching to the choir" when it comes to suggestions and encouragement for taking action to counter climate change and support the health of our environment.

It's time to expand our impact and involve people who live "outside the choir."

Climate change is a man-made disaster and only we can turn it around. This isn't something off in the future. It is happening now, and worsening quickly.

Our New Mission for 2019

This year, let's each commit time, effort and activity to a family member or neighbor who is hesitating to make a change. They may just be overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem. Or they may be holding back because they haven't recognized the need for change.

Talk to your friend about the importance of acting now. Help them identify one easy step they could take. Help them set up to make that change. Then follow up after to help them continue. Let's spread environmental change beyond the choir.

1. A Way To Open The Door

As unbelievable as it may sound to some of you, many of your neighbors and friends are likely to know very little about climate change. It's also possible a percentage of our "environmental choir" knows little about climate change, but understands personal and environmental responsibility. Maybe you understand what's happening, but you haven't a clue how to begin introducing the concept to someone else. Well, this article is a great start:

And for the answer to the question, "What can I do?" you have this series for simple, everyday solutions.

Fortified with this information and insight, approach someone in your life who you think would benefit from your help to implement one small change in their routine that will have an impact. Talk with him or her.

2. Once The Door Is Open

Think about and identify one option that is a good fit for that person's current lifestyle and will take minimal effort. Explain how this one simple change will affect the bigger picture of climate change and contribute to the drawdown. Consider what is required for a workable plan, and help them reach their new environmental goal.

  • Perhaps it's recycling. Maybe they need help arranging for pick-up? Or they don't understand the sorting requirements. Maybe they just need some help hauling everything out to the curb or to the local recycling center each week.

  • Maybe their car is about ready for the junkyard and they could use some help researching electric cars and their tax credit benefits? Or would they appreciate having a friend and sounding board when they go for test drives?

  • Do you have a co-worker who loves shopping for new outfits? Tell her or him about the many organic and fair trade options available out there. You could forward this link: Environment Series Part 8, Ecological Shopping. Or have some fun with it. Schedule a home "shopping date." Invite them over for coffee and pie, then shop together online. Check out the options first, then show the ones that fit your friend's style and budget.

ranchers

Good Things Are Happening

Just because we all need more of this, we're sharing a recent photo-essay we found uplifting and hopeful.