What We CAN do « forwardthroughtheslime

The article today, “How Can Progressives…” is long and dense, full of all the reasons I don’t watch the news very often and live in the middle of nowhere. The author’s main point, I think, is that it’s easy to get burned out on fear and hysteria, when you don’t have a clear direction in which to actually progress.

So, lest I belabor the point, here is a brief list of what we as individuals, CAN do to save the planet.

We eat, therefore growing food is good.
We invest, therefore investing in progressive businesses and divesting from dinosaurs is good.
We drive, therefore an efficient and/or electric, etc. car is good. Also living close to where we work and shop, and also investing in a bike and hiking boots.
We use electricity and heat, therefore investing in solar, wind, and tide generation is good.
We work, therefore, 8 hours a day we have the opportunity to influence those we work for and with. We can choose a job with a small company. We can start our own business. If necessary, we can subvert the corporations from within.
We dwell, therefore it is good for our dwellings to be upgraded to use the least energy. We must shut things off when not in use, buy efficient appliances, add solar roofs or small wind towers.
We bathe and wash our excessive amounts of clothing. Therefore, appliances that limit water use while getting us clean are good. Buying fewer and better quality clothes is good. Short showers are very good.
We play, therefore finding recreation that doesn’t add to the earth’s troubles is good. Hike, but don’t drive a thousand miles to do it. Go two- or four-footing, instead of four-wheeling, to see the wilderness. Dig a garden instead of mowing the grass. Plant the garden instead of watching TV.
Join a sports team or a book club or a church.
We all live in a locality. Therefore, it is good to think globally, but act locally, to clean up, rethink, reallocate, build community, tend to the neglected and confront the greedy.
We are citizens of the United States of America AND of the world. Therefore, it is good and necessary to act like citizens, not like slaves. Stand Up. Do Right. Speak truth to power. Take your lumps and try again. They made me an Elder of my church yesterday. If an unregenerate pagan and unitarian like me can open my mind to that extent, what might be possible for you?