If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you consider yourself a member of Minnesota’s green community or that you might think of yourself that way one day in the future. As environmentally conscious Minnesotans, we strive to minimize our individual impact on the earth and other living creatures. Reducing, reusing, and recycling have become second nature for many of us; we consider the impact of chemicals, development, and land management in our daily lives. We make sustainable choices when we buy groceries, decide how to commute to work, or plan a party.
Living or working towards a sustainable life is better for the environment and for us. Our physical, mental, and emotional health can be improved by living green; we feel better about ourselves and the world around us. But let’s be honest. If we really want to make a permanent change in the world, we need to do more than just change our own habits. As much as we’d like to think that the majority of people in the world, or even the great state of Minnesota, share our priorities and make deliberate, conscious choices to protect the environment, the truth is that most people don’t.
Aluminum can recycling is generally considered to be one of the simplest green actions, something that we expect everyone to do, but the Environmental Protection Agency reports that only 55% of aluminum beverage cans are being recycled in our country. If we haven’t yet reached the point where we can rely on our friends, family, and coworkers to recycle a soda can, then we aren’t anywhere close to where we need to be to create a culture of sustainability. If we truly want to make a positive difference for our environment, then we need to do more than just change our own habits. We need to act as ambassadors of change for our state and our country. Only then will our green community be truly successful.
In order to broaden our impact, we need to be leaders, advocates, and educators. Write to your government representatives and tell them what issues you’re concerned about and how you’d like them to vote; remember- they’re there to represent you! Volunteer for a board or committee, be it at the community level or with your school or workplace. Create or join a green team at your work, your church, or your child’s school. Take action even when something is not your responsibility; digging through the office trash bin to pull out recyclables might not make your coworkers want to do the same, but some of them will try harder to separate their waste and recycling in the future.
Above all else, talk to people! Talk to your neighbors about why you’ve torn up your lawn and replaced it with a restored prairie. If a friend comments on your vegetarian meal or your organic shampoo, tell them why you’ve chosen those options instead of cheaper, less sustainable ones. If you feel particularly skilled in an area of green living, offer to give a workshop or talk at your local library or community center. The more we do and the more people we reach, the more likely it is that Minnesota’s green community will be a force for change in our state.
Photo: NASA
