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Five tips for saving the world
Bridget Walsh on 22 September, 2011 | 
Whether you’re in it for the hard yards of planetary and humanitary rehab, or simply just wanting to add a few green ticks to your proverbial life boxes, finding sources of information and inspiration is not always easy. We are bombarded every minute of every day with advertising, the media, social imagery and subliminal messages, essentially encouraging us to do the ‘wrong’ thing: the easy thing. The cheap thing. The thing that will make you “happy”. The latest “thing” that you simply must have for your life to be that much closer to complete…
Combine this bombardment with our excrutiatingly “busy” lives, general lack of awareness of processes and consequences, and our arguably flawed nature constantly pushing and pulling us towards attachments and aversions and well, it’s no wonder we’ve got ourselves into such a state. You have to also, of course, take into account all the people who simply don’t know enough or care enough to engage with these issues at all, heave a collective sigh, and be secretly grateful for the idealists amongst us who are striving for change all the same.
Clearly if you’re into yoga, you already have some grasp on the ‘bigger picture’, and whether it’s on a spiritual level or not, we can’t deny that our choices are like pebbles in a lake, with ripples that extend across our social circles, our communities, our countries and ultimately our planet.
Reconnect with the food you eat.
For me, that means being vegan, though I appreciate that this choice might not be right for a lot of people. But that doesn’t mean you should buy the cheapest or easiest option. And certainly don’t justify buying something because it “tastes good” or you’re “craving it” (though believe it or not, it is possible to feel that way about things that are actually good for you too!) I could go on and on here - but let’s have these questions as a starting point. Spend a bit of time reading the ingredients on packages, choose to support local farmers and manufacturers, and think to yourself…
• How did this food actually get here? Did it travel across cities, countries, oceans?
• Was it once living and raised in miserable circumstances and slaughtered without any concern for it’s awareness? Was it cultivated in a factory of filth, bacteria and artificial light?
• Is this product MEANT for my consumption, or was it really created for another creature or purpose?
• What kind of ingredient is a number?
• How easy would it be if I just pushed myself a little and made this from scratch?
• What benefits is this actually going to offer me apart from VERY short-lived potential feeling of satisfaction/crave-relief?
Take some ownership.
Accept that every choice you make has a process and a consequence, and contributes to an ongoing cycle. Each time you give a business or brand your money, you are voting with your wallet. You are saying to them “I agree with how you do things - here, have some money so you can keep doing them this way”. If you know you’re giving this vote of confidence to people and organisations who don’t deserve it, then make some better choices! As I say on my website, “We can make good choices and we can make rubbish ones too. But the most powerful thing we possess, is our ability to MAKE choices at all. Question everything, keep smiling & use your power for good…”
Green up on the easy things!
Slowly but surely the market is catching on - there IS demand for better choices, and as such many better options are now available to us just as easily as the rubbish ones. Some of these things are just so EASY to integrate into your ‘normal’ lifestyle anyway. Get on board! Here are some starters:
• Find a sustainable energy provider (install eco light bulbs!)
• Buy recycled tissues & toilet paper, use sustainable cleaning products like Ecover or Method, for GOODNESS sakes - give up the plastic bags and get some reusable ones!
• Use public transport - or even better, bike or walk!
• Buy your fruit & veg from a local market or box scheme, do some volunteer work, get into some charity stores (they’re everywhere!) and buy second hand.
• Reduce, re-use, recycle. Say no to excess packaging. Compost. Get yourself some re-usable containers and cups…
Communicate.
Talk to people. Ask questions. Make people and companies accountable. Instigate discussions with your friends. A lot of companies and organisations try their darnedest to keep us trucking along all nice and superficial-like, buying what they're selling and soaking up everything they want us to hear. Re-assert your control on YOUR life and YOUR choices. Don't just make the choices that the ‘big guys’ have convinced you to make…
Support the little guys.
Once you've started to ask questions and done a bit of research, find out about local businesses in you area who you can use or shop at, rather than always going to the high street or big name supermarkets: Organic grocers, fruit & vege stalls, 2nd hand/charity stores, hairdressers who use organic products, local designers, village bakeries…
...the list goes on. If we don’t support the independent stores now while we sill have the option to, the big players will continue to buy out an overpower our stores until we have no individual choices left!