Why vote or live sustainably? – You’re too small to matter, right?
Did you vote in the last election? Why would you? Your impact is too small to make a difference. There are so many people voting yours barely matters. Maybe you’re in a state that doesn’t even have that many electoral votes, so now your vote matters even less. The chances of one person’s vote tipping the scales are infinitesimally small. So why bother? It’s just a waste of time.
How many of you agree with this sentiment?
Now it’s possible that thoughts like these have entered your mind at some point, but I think a large majority of Americans would disagree with most of what I just wrote. Most people living in the good ol’ US of A still go out and vote. Why? Because when you combine the tiny near-insignificant votes of hundreds of millions of people, they end up making a huge difference. They shape our future.
And yet, when it comes to sustainability, people make the exact same argument against acting personally to live more sustainably:
Why change what I do? My pollution doesn’t matter compared to everyone else’s. That trash I pick up is never going to make a difference in the amount of litter in the world. It’s not ME, it’s the corporations that do most of the polluting.
Living Sustainably: The Paradox of Powerlessness
Many people express feelings of powerlessness when it comes to making a difference in environmental issues. They argue that their individual actions will have negligible effects on the vast challenges we face globally. However, just as with voting, individual actions, no matter how small, can accumulate and create a significant impact.
Let’s look at just a few examples.
The Power of Picking up Trash or Using Less Plastic
Consider the act of picking up trash in your community or reducing your plastic use so there’s less trash to pick up. On their own, they may seem like a minor acts that barely scratch the surface of the immense pollution problem. However, when multiplied by the efforts of many individuals, the impact becomes evident. Think about this: Even if we all disposed only one piece of plastic a day, we would be throwing away 8 BILLION pieces of plastic. Each day. And most of use a lot more than one piece of plastic per day. And it builds up in our waterways, streets…It’s everywhere. I would argue that the less trash we see, the better our life will be. Clean streets and parks not only enhance our quality of life but also inspire others to follow suit. By taking the initiative to make our surroundings cleaner, we become catalysts for change.
Eating Less Meat: A Healthier Choice
Another sustainable action that often goes overlooked is reducing meat consumption. Individual choices to eat less meat may seem inconsequential, but they contribute to a larger movement towards a more sustainable food system that has significant ripples: less livestock means less greenhouse gas emissions, less deforested land, and less food grown for livestock (meaning more for us). Moreover, opting for plant-based alternatives has a positive impact on personal health, reducing the risk of numerous diseases. By making this small change, we improve our well-being while supporting a more sustainable and compassionate world.
Shopping Local and Supporting Local Communities
Shopping locally at farmers markets and supporting small businesses is yet another powerful way to live sustainably. While it may appear that our individual purchases have little influence, each dollar spent locally strengthens the local economy and reduces carbon footprints associated with long-distance transportation. By supporting local farmers and artisans, we foster a vibrant community, preserving cultural heritage and creating a sustainable economic ecosystem. It takes money away from big, polluting corporations, and puts it instead into the people who live right around you.
Let’s Be Powerful
We have to realize, that just as voting can empower citizens, embracing sustainable practices can transform our sense of powerlessness into a force for positive change. Despite one’s individual vote seeming insignificant, it contributes to the collective decision-making process, and embracing sustainable living offers a similar transformative power. By engaging in small actions like picking up trash, reducing your plastic use, reducing meat consumption, and supporting local communities (and driving less, and flying less, and growing your own food, and cooking more, and spending time with people instead of on screens, etc. etc.), we take control of our impact on the environment and society. These actions not only improve our own lives but also inspire others to join in the movement toward sustainability. Let’s remember that the power to make a difference lies within each of us, and by living sustainably, we can go from feeling powerLESS to powerFUL agents of change. Let’s be powerful.
