The Ripple Effect

I don’t know if it’s simply the election cycle or what, but more and more frequently the world seems to be spinning out of control.  Problems and/or issues everywhere.  Which one to prioritize?  How to “fix” what is going wrong?  Is it leaving you with an overwhelming sense of helplessness?  It does me, all too often.

Here is a list of the serious issues that are bombarding my senses:

• The economy
• Unemployment
• Poverty
• Wall Street’s continuing abuses
• Wealth inequality
• Debt
• Offshore oil drilling
• Fracking
• Renewable energy
• The condition of our oceans
• Climate change
• Endangered species
• Pesticides, herbicides
• Food safety
• Pollution of our air and water
• Violence against women throughout the world
• Pay equity
• Abortion rights
• Access to contraception
• ALEC’s legislative initiatives
• ALEC’s co-opting of our political process
• The need for campaign finance reform
• Voting rights
• Union busting
• Immigration
• Health and health care
• The dismantling of our educational system
• The privatization of the prison system
• Hate speech & hate crimes
• Gun rights & gun control
• The billions of non-human animals killed each year worldwide, not only for food, but on our streets, in our homes and in our shelters
• Wars, seemingly everywhere
• The aftermath and attempted recovery following both natural and man-made disasters

There is little doubt in my mind that most people have shut down and they have chosen to ignore many, if not all of these critical issues.  For so many others they don’t have a choice.  They don’t even have the time or energy to think about them because they are struggling to survive, to put food on their tables, to pay the bills and keep a roof over their heads.  Their focus is on their personal problems, not the bigger issues that are taking a heavy toll on their day to day lives, their future and the future of their families.

What can we do?  How can the majority of the people on the planet, especially those whose personal resources are sorely limited make a difference, not only in their own lives, but for the future of all life on our planet?  Here are a few simple each of us could try:

• Educate ourselves so we make conscious decisions that will benefit our finances, our health and the impact we have on our environment, whether it’s our home, our community or the planet.
• Reduce the amount of plastic, especially disposable plastic, that we buy.  For example, opt for fresh foods over processed, prepackaged foods when possible.  Use refillable containers instead of individual bottles of water. Avoid individually packaged food items – opt for a full size bag or container.  Separate into individual servings at home. Don’t buy disposable plates and cups.  Recycle and/or reuse plastic – and don’t forget to cut up those plastic rings that hold bottles and cans together – and return plastic bags to the stores for recycling.  Take reusable bags when we shop, instead of the store’s plastic bags.
• Donate unused items to community groups or thrift stores.
• Pick up trash when we see it: in our yards, in the parking lots, on the beach, or participate in an annual beach or waterway cleanup in our area.
• Volunteer our time in schools, nursing homes, soup kitchens, for non-profits or wherever our time and expertise can be used.
• Eat lower on the food chain.  It’s good for our health.  It’s good for the planet, and it’s good for the animals.
• Write letters or send emails to our local media, to our elected officials, and to policy makers.  Sign up for the action alerts of groups who address issues of concern to us.
• Adopt a homeless animal from a shelter or local rescue group.  It will save a life and the animal will enrich ours. And if you can’t adopt, consider volunteering for a local rescue group or even fostering an animal until he/she is ready to be adopted.

Many of you are probably already doing some or all of these, or you may be doing others that I haven’t mentioned.   By all means, if you have additional personal solutions or tips, please add them in the comments.  Most of these ideas will only cost a bit of your time.  Many of them will actually save money.   I know that even doing what seems like something small, I feel better.  I feel like I am doing my part, however little it might be.  We rarely know the full impact of the choices we make on a daily basis, or how our actions might influence others.  Even if we can’t always make waves, we can, at least, generate some ripples.