Assuming you aren't talking regular volunteer gigs, I'd recommend picking a few of the following: eating less meat, finding a one-off day of service to plant trees/pick up trash (not only is it helpful, I think it makes the biggest impression on your own psyche, because it is so tangible), writing politicians (right now the Land and Water Conservation Fund needs re-upping, so contacting your law-makers would be great, especially because Utah has a great tradition of open lands), use reusable containers, especially for water and shopping bags, install low-flow shower-heads/toilets, compost (if your local trash company doesn't), support businesses that serve locally grown food/locally made items, buy energy-star appliances, check your foods to be sure they are are seafood watch/rainforest alliance/etc. approved, recycle your electronics (so they don't mine coltan for new cell phones where mountain gorillas live). Don't buy products with microbeads - microplastic is terrible for the oceans! One of the absolute BEST things you can do is not buy palm oil, to protect the rainforests and orangutans in southeast Asia. Even the sustainable kind is iffy, from what my friends with connections in Indonesia have told me. Also, as I work in non-profit conservation, I'd be remiss to point out that money does help. You can buy carbon offsets, plant trees, find a project that speaks to you, etc. Also, if you shop at certain retailers such as Amazon's smile, Brown Paper Tickets, or Backcountry, they will often give the option of donating to an environmental group.
Whatever you pick, thank you for working to make the world a better place. I started volunteering at my local zoo after the 2016 election, and it's made such a huge difference mentally to be giving back to the community when so much is a raging trash fire.
This is excellent! I'm trying to buy less (especially online). In the middle of October, I'm training at my local Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) where they take paint, hard plastics, light bulbs, fertilizers, pesticides, medicines, etc, and send them to companies that recycle or incinerate things properly. There are centers like this all over the country, and they can have a drastic impact on the local waterways. As for food waste, if I notice that I'm not eating leftovers or something is rotting before I can get to it, the next time I'm at the store I try either not buying it or buying one less zucchini. It sounds stupid, but I haven't "needed" the thing I didn't buy.
Ohhh I feel this! I have been looking into a local meat CSA. We don’t eat a ton of meat but we haven’t been great about focusing on where our meat comes from and I’m from NC where the current flooding has made it front of mind. Plus we have the resources which is a major factor and road block for many.
I am trying to write one text/email a day to a loved one (friend, family, colleague) that tells them something about them I love. and hugging my kids a lot. It feels restorative to make small acts of kindness when the world feels so goddamn cruel.
Assuming you aren't talking regular volunteer gigs, I'd recommend picking a few of the following: eating less meat, finding a one-off day of service to plant trees/pick up trash (not only is it helpful, I think it makes the biggest impression on your own psyche, because it is so tangible), writing politicians (right now the Land and Water Conservation Fund needs re-upping, so contacting your law-makers would be great, especially because Utah has a great tradition of open lands), use reusable containers, especially for water and shopping bags, install low-flow shower-heads/toilets, compost (if your local trash company doesn't), support businesses that serve locally grown food/locally made items, buy energy-star appliances, check your foods to be sure they are are seafood watch/rainforest alliance/etc. approved, recycle your electronics (so they don't mine coltan for new cell phones where mountain gorillas live). Don't buy products with microbeads - microplastic is terrible for the oceans! One of the absolute BEST things you can do is not buy palm oil, to protect the rainforests and orangutans in southeast Asia. Even the sustainable kind is iffy, from what my friends with connections in Indonesia have told me. Also, as I work in non-profit conservation, I'd be remiss to point out that money does help. You can buy carbon offsets, plant trees, find a project that speaks to you, etc. Also, if you shop at certain retailers such as Amazon's smile, Brown Paper Tickets, or Backcountry, they will often give the option of donating to an environmental group.
Whatever you pick, thank you for working to make the world a better place. I started volunteering at my local zoo after the 2016 election, and it's made such a huge difference mentally to be giving back to the community when so much is a raging trash fire.
This is excellent! I'm trying to buy less (especially online). In the middle of October, I'm training at my local Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) where they take paint, hard plastics, light bulbs, fertilizers, pesticides, medicines, etc, and send them to companies that recycle or incinerate things properly. There are centers like this all over the country, and they can have a drastic impact on the local waterways. As for food waste, if I notice that I'm not eating leftovers or something is rotting before I can get to it, the next time I'm at the store I try either not buying it or buying one less zucchini. It sounds stupid, but I haven't "needed" the thing I didn't buy.
Ohhh I feel this! I have been looking into a local meat CSA. We don’t eat a ton of meat but we haven’t been great about focusing on where our meat comes from and I’m from NC where the current flooding has made it front of mind. Plus we have the resources which is a major factor and road block for many.
I am trying to write one text/email a day to a loved one (friend, family, colleague) that tells them something about them I love. and hugging my kids a lot. It feels restorative to make small acts of kindness when the world feels so goddamn cruel.