Day 3 Part 2 - Take Action!
I didn't have time to write all of Day 3 yesterday, so I split it into two parts.
Part 1 had to do with transportation. Part 2 is now asking us to take action! Stand up for something we believe in, and send a petition or letter to our local/state representatives on a particular matter.
"The No Impact Project is about helping yourself, helping your community, and helping your country.
Steps:
Step 1
To start, just choose one issue - climate change, dirty fuels, or transportation. -CHECK-
-I chose "transportation."
Step 2
At some point this week, choose from one of the Sierra Club actions.
Do something. - CHECK-
-I went to the suggested website, http://www.sierraclub.org, and I told Congress to act on a 21st century transportation system. I sent a standardized message to the NY representatives thrbr />
-Through the website, my request has been sent to NY Senator Gillibrand and NY Senator Schumer.
-After the message was sent, I received an automatic e-mail from the conservation director. I didn't want to send this message to people through e-mail, so I will post it here and you can read it at your own liberty! (I feel like I've heard that expression before, but perhaps not. It that strangely worded?)
"Dear Friends - Send a message to your representatives - I did! In
the first months of 2011, the President laid out a vision for building a
world-class transportation system that works for America. We need
clean, efficient, and affordable transportation choices that can break
our addiction to oil and put America back to work. Tell the Senate to
act on the President’s vision for a 21st century transportation system!
Urge your representative to stand firm against toxic high carbon fuels!
Check it out here:
br />
-Through the website, my request has been sent to NY Senator Gillibrand and NY Senator Schumer.
-After the message was sent, I received an automatic e-mail from the conservation director. I didn't want to send this message to people through e-mail, so I will post it here and you can read it at your own liberty! (I feel like I've heard that expression before, but perhaps not. It that strangely worded?)
"Dear Friends - Send a message to your representatives - I did! In
the first months of 2011, the President laid out a vision for building a
world-class transportation system that works for America. We need
clean, efficient, and affordable transportation choices that can break
our addiction to oil and put America back to work. Tell the Senate to
act on the President’s vision for a 21st century transportation system!
Urge your representative to stand firm against toxic high carbon fuels!
Check it out here:
Thank you for all you do,
Sarah Hodgdon
Conservation Director"
-The second thing I did was write about what I'm doing (No Impact Week) here on my blog where friends and family can see what I'm up to! I don't expect everyone to agree with me or what I'm doing, but maybe I'll inspire someone out there. Maybe even only one person, but I still think that it makes all the difference! A tiny spark together with the right conditions can eventually lead to a raging fire.
Step 4
Tell us (No Impact Project) how you feel about using your voice to make change.
 |
| Sierra Club Home Page |
-After sending in the above message, I received an automated e-mail from Senator Schumer. I know that it was not from him directly, but the e-mail stated his thanks for my participation and for voicing my concerns. Seeing this small sign of acknowledgment gave me courage that if I tried to contact my local representatives and Senators directly, I might actually have a chance of getting through to them with a letter, e-mail, or in-person meeting. I know they are very busy people, and what I have to say may or may not make a difference in their decisions, but the fact that I TRIED at least has the possibility to make an impact. And just suppose that many other people felt the same way about an issue as I did? If they were all too shy or scared to get out there and attempt to make a difference, then it is likely that nothing will happen. But, if ONE individual takes even just a little time and uses just a little effort to make a positive difference, imagine what kind of impact it would be if two people did? Four? Eight? Sixteen? Everyone keeps saying that we really need collective action to make a difference, and we need our governments to be making better decisions and pass stricter laws. Well get this: collective actions is really just a bunch of individuals gathered together to make a group. One big group makes a huge difference, but it is nothing without the individual people in it! Without them, there is no group! Also, the government and big companies really are just made up of people. There is no one force, there are a bunch of individual people gathered together to make decisions, pass laws, change laws, etc. These people have families, they have homes, they have good days and bad days, they have feelings. Who's to say they won't listen? Who's to say the way things are now cannot be changed? It may not be easy, and it may not be accomplished in one day, or one week, or one year, but change has to start somewhere. If you do nothing, you know what is likely to happen? ...nothing.
(All of the steps are found on the No Impact Experiment Guide PDF. Copyright 2011 No Impact Project)
Read about other people's experiences here.
Make sure to download (but don't print) the No Impact Week “How to Guide”
Colin Beavan: Help me build a better future.
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