Make Small Acts Lead to Larger Acts

What will it take to get us to a sustainable future? There are those who think lots of people committing to small, conservation-minded acts (switching to CFLs, turning off the water while brushing teeth, etc.) will get us there, while there are those who think lots of people committing to larger efforts to effect legislative, social, and economic change will get us there.

And you know what? They're right. Both camps.

But where does one begin? I say "Do what you can, but don't just stop there." When it comes to embracing your own environmentalism, go ahead and start with the often-criticized "In me / On me / Around me" perspective. Think about the products you're putting in your body, i.e., food and other consumables. Then think about what you're putting on your body, i.e., clothes and personal care products. And once you've got a grip on that, think about what's going on around you, i.e., what impact your lifestyle has on your environment, carbon footprint, water footprint. "In me / On me / Around me" gets criticized because people usually stop once they get to "In me". I hope that people go beyond that and continue to evolve their personal environmental outreach.

I'd like to highlight one person trying to make a difference. Her story is inspiring and her message is similar to mine in that she does what she does for her kids. I admire her effort. Margo Pellegrino is currently paddling an outrigger from Seattle to San Diego to raise awareness about the plight our oceans face with sewage, plastics, unsustainable fishing practices, and ocean acidification. Paddling almost the entire length of the US west coast (she's already paddled the east coast from Miami to Maine) is no small act, but she is one woman taking action. One woman hoping to demonstrate how one person can make a difference. She just reached Pt. Reyes by my house and is aiming to reach San Francisco Bay by Saturday. I hope to catch her while she's in the area. If you live near the California coast, try to get out to meet her. You can track her progress here. Go Margo Go!