Monday July 13, 2009, 9:11 pm
“The whole individualist what-you-can-do-to-save-the-earth guilt trip is a myth. We, as individuals, are not creating the crises, and we can’t solve them.” While this may be true in part we can not sit on our asses and do nothing in our personal lives. Change takes time. Like the little snowball at the top of the hill as it rolls down it gains not only size but momentum. Real change.Or like when we all started out here on care2 I started with 0 friends and now I have more. And I would like to believe that together we can all make a difference.

Monday July 13, 2009, 10:03 pm
Thank you, Panda. Real Change is always accomplished by a small, thoughtful group of dedicated people, First by being responsible for their individual daily choices, then by forming bonds with each other, then by spreading education about the need for the change....so it continues to grow as long as each individual acts with determination and works to learn more about the problem and works to share that learning.

Wednesday July 15, 2009, 2:48 pm
Real change does happen through individuals taking small steps. Since our Government has ignore Globla Warming for eight years and destoryed any gains we made for the Envrionment. We need an Envrionmental Revolution that will about sweeping changes. Yes it does start with inividuals doing small things. It is going to take industries and our government to help bring sweeping Envrionmental change.

Friday July 17, 2009, 4:49 am
Hear here Pandas and Stephanie.

Friday July 17, 2009, 9:14 am
I commented over on Orion directly, and I said pretty much the same thing: It starts at home, for sure. I pointed out that people SHOULD be encouraged to do things at home, small things, because over time, they will start to apply the same wisdoms to their street, their block, their neighborhood, and on and on. Plus, those of us who do small things can talk to others who are not as activism-minded and teach them about creating change. Taking shorter showers and recycling are a gateway, I feel, to the deeper conversations that get these things rolling.

Saturday July 25, 2009, 12:45 pm
I tend to agree with the author but only to a point. Yes, government and businesses need to do more. But only when we as individuals act do we change our thoughts on how others, including big business and governments, should act. Maybe it's a necessary step to get to that point where one can tell their elected officials, etc. what they want to see. For me, I would feel like a hypocrite otherwise. I've done all the usual things like harvesting rainwater, composting, etc. and I see that I have had an effect on my co-workers to do the same. (Three are now composting and we take home compostable waste from work, anoth bought a worm bin and several others have purchsed rain barrels. Small steps, I know, but I've created a ripple effect. I've also educated folks about power consumption issues- I work in a large health care centre and we use a LOT of lights, computers, etc.) Now I have an effect on my employers- one has started a recycling program and the other is developing a environmental plan and I will be a part of steering that plan. When enough people make changes it becomes the norm and subtly pressures others to do it as well. Never underestimate the power of peer pressure!