Taking action starts here
With 5 principles of action
Every one of us makes a difference everyday, whether we know it or not. To make the biggest positive difference try these five principles of Action.
1. Live lightly on the Planet
We all leave a footprint on the world; a measure of the impact we have on the planet through the materials we use and the waste we make. The more we use, the more we buy, the more we consume, the larger the footprint.
Right now the footprint of the whole human family is larger than the capacity of the planet!
Living Lightly can be as simple as Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Reduce means live simply, resist the lure of the advertisers that suggest you really need the latest gadget, car, shampoo, fashion, phone or gizmo – you don’t! Happiness is wanting what you’ve got not getting what you want.
Reuse says look to see how you can make second or third use of things. You can do this yourself and by donating or selling stuff instead of simply tipping it.
Recycle means making sure stuff is collected to be re-worked, and its also buying goods that are made from recycled materials.
2. Make your money make a difference
Every penny, every cent we spend funds somebody’s activities, some ethical and sustainable, some not. We can use this consumer power to create the world we want.
Buy products which support the world we want, these might be fair trade, local or organic choices. Read the labels, make yourself aware.
Boycott products you disapprove of; those that are produced by exploitation, which pollute the planet or corrupt our way of life.
Support or boycott companies including shops, based on your judgement of their contribution to the world.
Allocate some of your disposable income, the surplus, to charitable causes or those you feel strongly about .
3. Stand up, speak out
Every point of view counts. In a democracy our way of life is shaped by the voice of the people but we need to use it, to make our views known.
Be well informed; know what’s going on in your community or in the wider world.
Take a stand for what you believe to be true. Speak Truth to Power; let those who make decisions on your behalf know what you think.
4. Be of service
The world revolves on unpaid acts of service, when we do something for someone else with expectation of thanks or reward. This is what keeps our functioning smoothly. We all have a chance to serve everyday, from the smallest kind act to a regular commitment to a voluntary job.
Find practical ways to give your time, energy or expertise to someone who needs it.
Be happy to do something for nothing.
Give some of your time to an organisation that is doing good in the world
5. Just shine
We each affect how lots of other people feel; each of us every day has an impact on heaps of other people whether we know it or not. So be a positive shining light wherever we can, let’s light up people’s day. Be positive and always look on the bright side of life. Be cheerful and happy everywhere you go, a smile makes someone else’s day. Leave other people feeling better than when you found them.
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TOP TEN TIPS from www.manchesterismyplanet
1. Only Boil Water You Need in the Kettle
Do you stand by the kettle waiting ages for it to boil the water for your cup of tea? This is not only a waste of time and money, it also wastes energy. Only boil up the water you need – you’ll save electricity and you’ll get your cuppa quicker too!
2. Switch off appliances rather than leaving them on standby
Televisions, washing machines, computers, dishwashers…appliances continue to use energy when they are left on standby. Up to 85% of the total energy used by an appliance is consumed when it is on standby. This is costing you money and wasting energy. It’s easy to turn them off…so do it.
3. Replace ordinary light bulbs with energy saving light bulbs
Although they may be more expensive to buy, they last up to ten times longer than ordinary bulbs and use only a fraction of the energy. The cost savings become apparent when you aren’t buying light bulbs every few weeks and when you get your bill at the end of the month.
4. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth
We waste loads of water by leaving the tap running when we brush our teeth – 5 litres a minute in fact. If we all turned it off we would save enough water to supply 500,000 houses a day. Saving water can save us money in the long run as water companies use less electricity on wasted water.
5. Turn the thermostat down by just one degree
You’ll hardly notice the difference and it could save you £30 a year. It is also a huge waste of money and energy to heat an empty house. Don’t leave the heating on when you’re out, set the heating to come on 30 minutes before you get home – you’ll still have a lovely warm house to come home to in winter.
6. Switch your electricity supplier to a green energy supplier
Despite what people think, switching your energy supplier is really easy to do and, as green energy suppliers generate electricity from renewable sources, such as the wind and sun, using them automatically cuts greenhouse gas emissions.
7. Share car journeys or walk/cycle/use public transport wherever possible
Cars are a source of atmospheric chemicals such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur and benzene, which can cause asthma, acid rain, cancer and global warming. Of all the car journeys made in the UK, 42% are less than two miles long. Wherever possible, try to walk or cycle - you’ll save money and be generally healthier. In fact, a 10% increase in adult physical activity would benefit England by £500 million a year. If you can’t travel without your car, why not see if you can car share - it’s a lot more sociable and it’ll reduce energy wastage and pollution.
8. Turn down your washing machine to 40 degrees and make sure it’s full
You’ll still get clean clothes at the lower temperatures and you’ll be saving energy and money at the same time. Make sure you’ve got a full load, it is an obvious waste of electricity and therefore money if your washing machine is working hard to wash one pair of jeans.
9. Buy local to reduce food miles
Summer arrives and you fancy some strawberries. If you buy Californian strawberries they have travelled nearly 5,500 miles, whereas the UK produces strawberries right on your doorstep. That 5,500 miles has wasted energy and caused pollution - from the aeroplane and lorries used to transport them - when you could have actually picked your own or bought locally produced fruit. Anyway, surely it’s better to buy British…our stuff is great!
10. Choose energy efficient appliances
Next time you buy a new washing machine, dishwasher, fridge freezer, or other Appliances (we’re not suggesting you go out and replace all your white goods this week), check that it has the Energy Efficiency logo, is A-rated for efficiency and displays the EU Energy Label. These are your guarantees that the appliance will cost you less to run, save electricity, and therefore reduce your contribution to climate change.
