In the environmental sphere, time is everything. As it passes, the global situation becomes increasingly dire with global temperatures spiking past predicted trends and natural disasters becoming more and more frequent every year. That is why this needs to be the year you jump aboard the ‘green’ train and play a role in the improvement of environmental conditions. It’s completely achievable.
Stay informed.
When it comes to the environment, ignorance plays an enormous role in encouraging apathy in the masses. Try to follow environmentally proactive Social Media groups such as change.org and Environmental Working Group. It also really helps to read the news from politically unbiased publications such as Huffington Post Green. Once you know what the main issues are, you can start making tracks. Finding informative articles can also be an enormous help when it comes to convincing skeptical family members and friends of the undeniable issue that is global warming and surrounding environmental concerns. Depending on your living situation, your own interest in environmentalism might be marred by uncooperative family or housemates. Getting everyone on board is the easiest way to stay on track and motivated.
Pledge to make a difference, either literally or figuratively.
Many charity or non-profit organization websites ask visitors to pledge their dedication to the cause. Although there is no repercussion for going back this particular promise, having a monthly email reminder or simply the pledge in your mind can often encourage you to go the extra mile. It is also important to make your promise known to the people around you. If they’re checking up on you, you’re less likely to slide or forget to keep your ‘green’ promises. Who knows, you might even get them interested! With regard to environmental awareness, the more, the merrier.
Remember that sometimes, intangible acts or results are worth more than monetary ones.
While sending a monthly sum to a charity organization is an incredible step, it is undeniably true that sometimes the best gestures don’t have a price tag attached. In Kuwait, there are so many ways you can give something to the local environment without even touching your wallet. For example, just visiting the K’S PATH grounds and walking a few of the dogs is enough to help the staff get some of their other important work done and allows the animals to get acclimatized to new people, which is essential in nurturing an adoptable animal. Among this, there are also beach clean-ups organized by countless environmental groups. Showing up to these clean-ups has a direct result and encourages passers-by to get involved.
Take it step by step.
Conquering global warming is an enormous job, even for international government bodies so don’t take the unsustainable weight of the world on your shoulders. In the case of environmental awareness and activism, starting small really is the best route. It is way too easy to get entirely overwhelmed by the constant extinction of various species and ever-rising sea levels. At first, keep your activism physically local but make sure to use Social Media as a sharing platform, as it reaches much further. Once you know how you fit into the environmentalism sphere and have found your passions, you can start to invest your time and money into world-wide organizations and get involved in exchanges or visiting programs during the holidays.
Good luck, Green Machines!
