"Be the change you wish to see in the world" - Ghandi 

Becoming a green-living proponent, and living by way of example is no easy feat. There are many of us who have significantly altered our lives, and whom have drastically if not completely departed from the many mainstream conditioned rhetorics of nutrition, the safety of household detergents and cleaners, energy consumption, home-economics, recycling, global warming, transportation (the list goes on and on). Once you've cracked open that precious oyster of knowledge, there really is no going back. Knowledge is infectious, the more we read, the more we want to research and learn. The more we learn, the more we find out the less we know, and more importantly, the more we realize how little control we have over so many of the pertinent health and green issues (whose varied fates depend upon many of the political leaders, corporate conglomerates, and national and international regulatory institutions and commissions). So what difference can one person really have on the environment, our health, and ecosystem in which we all inhabit? How do we empower ourselves to stand up for what we believe in, in the face of the daunting realization that we are "only one person"?  The answer is A LOT.  Here is a list of ways to stay pro-active, whether you are able to dedicate only one hour a week, or 40:

1.     Get and stay informed. The most important preliminary step we can take to bettering ourselves, and our environment is staying up-to-date on the latest and the greatest of all things green, environmental, and health-oriented. And the good news is that in this glorious age of the internet, you need not travel further than your own computer to receive the most cutting-edge, well-researched, and up-to-date green news on the planet!

       Some great newsletters to sign up for are:

• Conservation International - This newsletter provides updated information on environment-relevant issues such as climate, species and ecosystems.
• The Daily Green Newsletter - This newsletter provides more practical at-home advice, tips and recipes.                                                  

• the-environmentalist.org
• huffingtonpost.com/green
• greenoptions.com
• planetgreen.discovery.com
• ecogeek.org
• ecofabulous.com
• treehugger.com
• worldchanging.com
• Audubon.org
• Stopglobalwarming.org
• Lazyenviromentalist.com
• Eco-chick.com
• Webecoist.com
• Greenpeace.org

2.     Eat Green. A well-known fact about reducing our carbon footprint is that our diet and lifestyle directly affects our environment, particularly global warming.  It is estimated that about 40% of global warming can be undoubtedly attributed to the raising, feeding, processing, and distribution of meat. A great documentary to check out is "Eating" by Mike Anderson, which addresses the extraordinary pertinence of how eating meat and animal-based foods directly contributes to (and in most cases, is the sole cause of) America's three top "killers": heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.  The documentary also covers the historical, political, cultural, and ancestral aspects of why and how we went from being a generally disease-free population that thrived on a 90% plant based diet, to becoming a disease-ridden, and almost entirely animal based society at the turn of the industrial revolution and first world war. The movie asseverates the astronomical draining of our planetary resources that eating an animal-based diet requires.  Another great documentary to check out is, "Food,Inc.", which addresses the degradation and de-regulation of factory farms, raising and slaughtering livestock, and the hidden hormones, organic and inorganic contaminants that plague not only our fast food meats, but our store-bought meats, and how the meat industries go to great lengths (and utilize their deep pockets in Washington) to conceal these facts. Of course, if you are a self-professed life-long carnivore, cutting meat completely out of your diet may be nothing short of impossible (although after seeing the two aforementioned documentaries, it might seem a LOT more probable!). 

      But if you simply want to take a small step in a greener and healthier direction, then even doing something as simple as replacing one meat-based meal a week with organic fruits, greens, nuts, grains, or vegetables from your local farmer's market would make a difference.  Eating organic is always preferable to eating pesticides, GMO's, and hormones whose ill-health effects are now becoming mainstream knowledge, but going one step further to reduce your carbon footprint would be supporting your local farmer's market in any way that you can.  Buying directly from your local farmer's market cuts down on the energy and fuel it requires to ship meat, dairy, and produce to larger store-brand corporations, even if the food is organic. Also, by supporting your local farmers, you are ensuring the high quality and organic integrity of your food, and simultaneously keeping hard-working family-owned agriculture in business. To locate a farmer's market near you, go to here. 

3.     Contribute to the Cause. This can mean a broad spectrum of things.  Essentially it means spreading the word of green support, in any way that you know how, and in any forum that you can. Here are a few ideas that will help you spark interest and association with the cause that inspires or interests you the most:

• Influence your family, friends and community. Throw a green party to spread consciousness. Ask your friends and family to bring only organic, animal-friendly foods and use only recyclable dishware (you may even want to ask them to ride bikes or walk!)
• Use Social-Networking to get your cause out there. We all do it. Either facebook, twitter, myspace, or friendster, or all of the above! Use these valuable online networks to publish notes, links, articles of interest, or even updates on the progress of your own greening efforts to your friends, acquaintances, and business associates. The perfect way to lead by example, and to a large network!
• Never forget to vote to support candidates and initiatives that promote biodiversity, environmental protection, and green living. If you have local issues, you have a great opportunity to network at town meetings or local hearings open to the public. If your issue is national, you may need to get ahold of your indigenous state legislative representative.  To find out and monitor the voting record of your elected leaders to see whether they are green or not you can contact the following organizations:

·         League of Conservation Voters (http://www.lcv.org/) or call at (202) 785-8683.

·         Contact the Capitol switchboard and ask for your congressman or woman. If you are not sure of the name of your federal representative or senator, the switchboard operators can tell you. Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121.

      Remember that your elected leaders are there to represent YOU, and you have every right to contact them with issues, small or large; it is their job listen to your concerns.

• Incorporate your eco-conscious and green-friendly living habits at home, at work, around your family, and with your children. Knowledge is infectious, and people are usually curious to know more when presented with alternative options that may be healthier for themselves and for their family.

4.     Minimize your Carbon Footprint.  This is a sweeping generalized phrase that gets thrown around in every green circle, publication, or advocacy. But it is one that should not be downplayed. After all, to lead by example, one must in fact, lead by example.  Some simple and easy tips on how to minimize your carbon footprint are the following:

•  Buy energy efficient technology when you need new appliances such as  dishwashers, cars, computers, refrigerators, or anything that requires energy, or gives off electromagnetic pollution or gas emission.

•  Side-note: a great way to protect yourself from electromagnetic pollution which has been proven to have negative effects on health is to invest in a BioPro chip, which can be put on your cell-phone, blackberry, or iPhone; or you can purchase a BioElectric Shield, both of which all have harmonizing effects on these dangerous fields.
•  Adjust your thermostat by just one or two degrees and throw on a sweater in cooler seasons to cut down on energy use (and cut down on energy bills!)

• Opt for either public transportation, biking, walking, or carpooling to your destination when you can. Some of you who live in a large metropolis such as Los Angeles may find owning a car necessary, but if your neighbor is throwing a party two blocks away, is it really necessary to drive there? Only drive when you have to, future generations will thank you!

• Calculate your carbon foot print to see exactly how much energy you consume, and find out how to reduce consumption and pollution for a more sustainable lifestyle!

All in all, the most we can do is educate ourselves, stay up to date on the latest news, conduct our own research and stay conscious. Whether or not you do all of the above or just one, know that you are contributing to a great cause that will affect the lives of our children and of our children's children.  Stay flexible, stay active, spread the word to your family, friends, and community, and never become smug or arrogant about your lifestyle choices. If there's one thing that we, who strive to live extraordinary and conscious lives can do to greatly benefit the well-being of mankind, that is to spread compassion, love, and awareness. We must never judge others for their decisions, nor try to coerce, force, or intimidate any one into changing their daily habits, political views or lifestyles. Instead we should strive to lead with the model that all greatest leaders in history have used to lead (Jesus, Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr. are just to name a few). The model these prolific and ingenuous leaders used, allowed their messages to have the most profound and long-lasting influence on human consciousness. And that model is, of course, to lead by example.