Activism: Moving Forward to Build a Brighter Future

By Anh Huynh

Cycling, walking or taking public transit are small steps that can help conserve energy.

Activism is sometimes associated with extreme forms such as protests and riots. This discourages people from engaging in less
extreme forms. Like politics, the fallacy is that we must abide by a partisan dichotomy. You don’t need to pick a side if you realize that all human beings have the same goals. We have the same needs that psychologist
Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy
depicted: good food, clean water, fresh air, social acceptance, etc. We all want life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Therefore, we can all be active toward a common and inclusive goal. The word “active” means

“a disposition to effectuate change.” It means to take action to cause the changes you seek. You’ve heard the age-old saying, “talk is cheap.” These days, the meaning has deeper implication as we’re witnessing unprecedented destruction and injustice environmentally, socially and psychologically.

There is enough bad news every day to make you want to tune out and stay in bed all day. But that’s not how you make the world a better place for yourself, your loved ones or future generations. While the overwhelming problems pour in, never forget that each effort is a contribution. Only you can decide to see the ills of the world and realize, “Wow, this madness is happening in my lifetime. What can I do about it?”

Like you, I am average, but that shouldn’t suggest powerlessness. None of us can do everything, but each of us can do something. I don’t have the money to constantly donate to charities as I wish to. I don’t have organizing skills to lead a group. I don’t even have that much time. But one day I realized that there is no separation between the world and me because what happens “out there on the news” is also happening to me because it affects the entire community.

The BP oil spill might have happened near the Gulf of Mexico, but we’re all connected to a body of water. The conflicts in the Middle East are heavily draining resources in the United States, and we’re all feeling the economic crunch. We live in an age of technological miracles and the Internet virtually connects everyone on the planet. Our world is getting increasingly smaller. Our interdependence shows that we are one. Embracing this unity allows us to approach important issues without discrimination against skin color, ethnicity, political party or religion.

Start small and tackle issues that matter to you personally. Take pride in making big differences through small steps. For example, when you decide to switch to low-voltage light bulbs, you are being active in reducing energy consumption. When you recycle and compost, you’re actively reducing waste. When you shop at farmers’ markets, you’re actively supporting fresh, local food as well as reducing gasoline required for transport. When you decrease your meat consumption, you’re being an activist for better animal treatment and environmental conservation.

You don’t have to wait until an election to vote for a particular cause. Every time you consume something you’re supporting the product, manufacturer and its business ethics.

Taking small steps can make a big difference...

To conserve energy, I’m going to:

• Air-dry clothes (clothesline)

• Insulate windows & doors

•Purchase fuel-efficient vehicle

• Reduce flight travel

• Use stairs instead of elevators

• Insulate windows
& doors

• Walk, bike or take public transportation__days a week

• Have blackout (electricity-free) days

• Turn off & unplug unused electronics

• Get an energy audit of my home & workplace to improve efficiency

• Reduce use of air conditioning & heater

To improve community, I’m going to:

• Educate myself & others

• Encourage school & work to adopt environmentally friendly programs

• Volunteer to feed the needy, teach English, assist seniors, tutor children, clean up public parks, lakes & beaches

• Be informed on news (preferably independent & unbiased media)

• Join local groups with similar aspirations for support & ideas

• Talk to others, share information & advice

To conserve resources, I’m going to:

• Shop locally to support small businesses, reduce
transport fuel & improve the local economy

• Shop organic & avoid foods ridden with pesticides & herbicides

• Shop at thrift stores to fight consumerism &
overproduction

• Share resources: donate clothes to thrift stores, magazines to clinics, food to shelters, etc.

• Turn off faucets while brushing or shaving

• Take shorter showers with warm instead of hot water

• Avoid disposable items with lots of packaging

• Replace paper napkins, towels, plastic bags & utensils with reusable alternatives

• Use the library

• Grow your own herbs, fruits & vegetables

• Plant native plants that require less maintenance

Volunteers clean up the Niles sign in Fremont, by Jacline Deridder.

Using a clothesline helps to conserve energy, by Jane M. Sawyer.

Shopping at a farmer’s market helps build community, by Anh Huynh.
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© Copyright 2010 Midnight Magazine, a production of the Ohlone College journalism department.