With a whole bunch of climate-change deniers in the Whitehouse and a pro-fossil fuels agenda about to hit the fan, it’s down to us to do what we can to save the planet.
Because as from now, shopping local, cycling, or turning the heating down are no longer just the preserve of a few hardcore eco-warriors.
They’re an absolute imperative. For all of us.
Click any of the images to see them at a larger size.
SHOP LOCAL
Using local businesses is one of the most pleasant political actions there is.
You get your goods (often with exemplary customer service) *and* the warm glow of satisfaction that comes from knowing that your money is going directly into the local community.
Image by Lucy Knisley
HAVE YOUR DAY IN COURT
Your government should serve you. If you believe they have gone so badly astray from this path that they are doing actual harm, there is recourse: you can take them to court.
Yes, it takes guts; it takes money too. But it may just save the world. In the US, for example, kids are suing the government over climate change.
Image by Amber Hsu
GO CROSS-COUNTRY
Taking fewer flights can be a reward in itself, if you take time to enjoy the journey as well as the destination.
Work in some extra time to go by train, boat, bus, bicycle, or a combination of all the above.
Image by Myfanwy Tristram
PART-OWN YOUR STUFF
When every house in the street has their own electric drill, laminator, or anything else that you might only use a couple of times a year, it only benefits one thing — capitalism!
Let’s save some money, make friends amongst our neighbours, and do a bit of good for the environment by starting a sharing group. If that goes well, you could work up to sharing bigger things, like cars…
Image by Joe Decie
LOOK TO YOUR BATHROOM
Environmental considerations be hanged; there are some things that just have to be disposable, right? No-one wants to use a cotton bud or toilet paper more than once, for example.
But you can still seek out less environmentally-damaging products, like paper cotton buds, or unbleached and recycled loo rolls.
As for sanitary products, well, that’s somewhere that there *are* reusable options, but if you can’t use them for whatever reason, the same applies: look for brands that don’t wrap each item in plastic, which use unbleached paper, and are composed of certified materials.
Image by Jo Harrison
LAYER UP
Instead of turning the heating on, put another layer on. Just like your mum told you.
Image by Danny Noble
TRANSITION YOUR TOWN
Commit your town to increasing self-sufficiency to reduce the potential effects of peak oil, climate destruction, and economic instability.
Image by Dave Crane
PLANT A TREE
The Woodland Trust gives eight reasons for planting a tree, from providing a habitat for the many creatures that live on, below and around them, to helping with flood defences.
In the UK, they’ll even provide trees for schools and communities, for free.
Image by Abigail Lingford
EAT LESS MEAT
More people are recognising the serious impact of the meat industry on our planet.
Producing meat — especially beef — destroys forests to make way for grazing land, diverts scarce water resources and uses up resources to produce animal feed that could be used to grow vegetables and grains, feeding more people.
Cows’ burps also produce massive amounts of methane, a climate-changing gas twenty-five times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Eating less meat, or going vegetarian, can only be a good thing. Good for the planet, and good for you, too.
Image by Sarah Lippett
GO REUSABLE
Convenience be hanged, every disposable razor, pen, coffee cup or carrier bag we buy is wasting resources, magnifying our carbon footprint, and going straight to landfill — not to mention the horrible chemicals that were probably involved in its making.
We’re all used to the canvas tote bag now — it’s time to research permanent, reusable alternatives for the other wasteful goods in our lives.
Image by Daniel Locke
DONATE YOUR WASTE GOODS
If your car is only good for scrap or your phone is due for an upgrade, there are services which will take them off your hands and donate any proceeds to the charity of your choice.
Image by Paul Shinn
PLANT RADICAL ROOTS
Start a community gardening project where everyone reaps what you sow together.
You’re growing cheap, healthy food, and at the same time, creating friendships, getting fresh air and exercise, improving mental health, and reducing the amount of fruit and veg that needs to travel half way round the world.
Image by Zara Slattery
CRANK UP THE SINGER
If you’re handy with a sewing machine, making your own clothes means that you can opt out of the multinational fashion business, which often exploits workers, ships garments half way round the world, and dictates how women should look.
Fashion-loving blogger Ivy Arch set herself a challenge to stay away from clothes shops for a year, in 2013, and never went back. As a result, she’s now got one of the most personal and eclectic wardrobes you’ve ever seen.
Image by Jacqueline Nicholls
BREAK THE CARTELS
London People’s Energy are campaigning for a publicly-owned energy company: “We want a new public company that cuts bills and cuts polluting carbon emissions. A non-profit company with social justice, clean energy and democracy at its core.”
You can do the same — and not just with energy, either. How about truly public transport, banks, or mobile phones for the people?
Image by Kirsty Hunter
SPEND WISELY
Read up on the places where you spend your money: do they pay their workers a living wage? Do they support sweatshops or child labour? Do they fund the weapons industry or finance a political party that you disagree with?
Many apps and websites can help you. Shopping with local independent businesses can also help you avoid many of the big, bad brands.
Image by Emmi Bat
SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES
Trying to make a better world?
Write a blog as you go about it. Sharing your experiences with the world sets a precedent, and normalises them for the next person thinking of doing the same.
Image by Richy K. Chandler
PUT THE PRESSURE ON
Tell your MP or other representative what you expect them to do about the issues that matter to you. And keep telling them.
You might get a pat, generic response: that’s not good enough, and you should write back to tell them so. Otherwise, how will they know? It’s our job to hold our representatives to account.
Image by Simon Russell
GO SLOW
Fast fashion — the phenomenon of cheap highstreet shops churning out clothes that are only designed to last a season, cost almost nothing, and then end up in landfill — is bad for the environment.
“Clothes are the second largest source of pollution after oil,” according to the US organisation Opposing Views.
It’s very likely also bad for the people who make the clothes. Ask yourself how much the factory workers must be being paid, to be able to offer garments at such low prices. Then research the more ethical options and take your custom there.
Buy fewer items that are high quality and will last longer.
Image by Rica March
SWITCH TO GREEN
If we’re going to prevent climate disaster, we need to get fully behind renewable energy.
Switch to a green energy provider and ensure that the water in your cuppa is boiled by the wind, sun and sea rather than fossil fuels. Swapping providers is really easy these days, and you’ll be making a proper difference every time you boil the kettle.
Image by Aki Alaraatikka
BREAK THE LAW
Depending on where in the world you live, aggravated trespass, obstructing the police or criminal damage are offences for which you may risk arrest, a fine or even imprisonment.
But in the UK, it’s worth remembering that the defence of “preventing a greater crime” can hold good in Crown Court. That greater crime might, arguably, be genocide, global warming, poisoning of the water system… or many others.
Yes, you may wish to check with a good lawyer before you cross the line, but take heart from the Ploughshares activists, who walked free after damaging Hawk Jet planes in order to prevent them from bombing East Timor.
This action contravenes the law (obviously, in this case): proceed with caution.
Image by Kate Evans
All artwork on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
BREAK THE LAW
Depending on where in the world you live, aggravated trespass, obstructing the police or criminal damage are offences for which you may risk arrest, a fine or even imprisonment.
But in the UK, it’s worth remembering that the defence of “preventing a greater crime” can hold good in Crown Court. That greater crime might, arguably, be genocide, global warming, poisoning of the water system… or many others.
Yes, you may wish to check with a good lawyer before you cross the line, but take heart from the Ploughshares activists, who walked free after damaging Hawk Jet planes in order to prevent them from bombing East Timor.
This action contravenes the law (obviously, in this case): proceed with caution.
Image by Kate Evans
SHOP LOCAL
Using local businesses is one of the most pleasant political actions there is.
You get your goods (often with exemplary customer service) *and* the warm glow of satisfaction that comes from knowing that your money is going directly into the local community.
Image by Lucy Knisley
HAVE YOUR DAY IN COURT
Your government should serve you. If you believe they have gone so badly astray from this path that they are doing actual harm, there is recourse: you can take them to court.
Yes, it takes guts; it takes money too. But it may just save the world. In the US, for example, kids are suing the government over climate change.
Image by Amber Hsu
GO CROSS-COUNTRY
Taking fewer flights can be a reward in itself, if you take time to enjoy the journey as well as the destination.
Work in some extra time to go by train, boat, bus, bicycle, or a combination of all the above.
Image by Myfanwy Tristram
Draw The Line 