posted by: Sandra
Laptops everywhere are greenin' it up to embark on the year-long blogosphere journey to make a difference on Canada's environment.
Recently, we asked you to help us focus BlogHers Act Canada on a singular issue for our awareness, activism and fundraising efforts. You responded with several important directions for us all to consider and now we are ready to vote on that enviro-issue!
But before we do, check out what some of you had to say about our focus:
Three And Holding writes passionately on why we should care about eliminating cosmetic lawn pesticides and reminds us that:
"125 municipalities in Canada have passed bylaws to restrict cosmetic pesticide use. Yet, Quebec is the only province with legislation that prohibits the sale of some pesticides. At the present time however, only 20 active ingredients are subject to the ban. We can do more. We should do more."
Kuri commented about the revised Clean Air & Climate Change Act (Bill C-30):
"which was rewritten by a cross-party committee and sets clear targets for industry with specific penalties for non-compliance. I think a campaign aimed at compelling our government to pass and implement Bill C-30* (which must be brought back to the House for second reading) would be an excellent idea. Commitment is easy - honouring that commitment with action is much harder by much more important.
In our Facebook Group, Nadine writes:
"I think as mothers what we need to focus on is the effect of some aspect of environmentalism and the effects on our children. So either we are lobbying to phase out potentially harmful chemicals in foods and retail products, or we need to focus on education initiatives."
So this is our final vote. Over the next week (until Sunday, August 19th) we have one simple question to ask you. One critical question about the focus for our national issue. Click here to take survey now. C'mon you know you want to. It will take only a few seconds but it is an important few seconds. We need you to weigh in and determine what it is we'll work on together.
But, wait, that's not all!
Leo Tolstoy once said,
"Everyone wants to change the world, but no one wants to change themselves."
Apparently, that doesn't apply to the many, many bloggers and blog readers who are in enthusiastic support of BlogHers Act Canada. In addition to advocating for a "larger" issue, you want to make the biggest difference in your own lives. You want to use our consumer power and collective influence to make tangible, lasting, small-but-meaningful lifestyle changes that are eco-friendly.
This has inspired us to give BlogHers Act Canada a two-layered approach. We will still adopt one important national issue (vote, vote, vote until August 19th).
But, Mouse says it best ...
"I think that it might make sense to take a two-pronged approach. It's obvious to me that climate change is not something we can leave entirely in the hands of the government and that we need individuals to take the initiative with the hopes that governments will follow suit."
We plan to have monthly personal action items that we can all work on, blog about and encourage others to join in. We'll share ideas and quantify our progress to make a long-term impact on how we each treat our planet.
MBT has contacted several environmental groups and charities to get their advice on our national issue and to cultivate partnerships. So far the good folks at the David Suzuki Foundation have been most interested. Their Nature Challenge is a perfect fit for our personal action layer to this project.
Reducing the environmental footprint of hundreds and thousands of bloggers and blog readers will be huge. HUGE. (Not to say that you have huge feet or anything. Although you know what they say about huge feet ... um, big shoes?).
Some of your activist feet have already started sharing ideas on personal change...
Wet Coast Women writes:
"We’ll try to reduce our disposable diaper use by half with cloth. We hope to burn through our kitchen waste with a composter working overtime. We promise to recycle every bit of paper and all those take out tins I didn’t used to wash."
The City Gal says:
"Every time we go to the supermarket, we are about to turn on heater/air-conditioning, we are at a car dealership or the gas pump, or we are about to dump a garbage bag down the chute, we need to ask ourselves: - Is my life-style (my habits of consumption) sustainable?"
Cheaper Than Cheap blogs about five easy and wonderful ways to be an ecogeek and states fantastically:
"Going green has actually SAVED me money."
Three Seven commented:
"To me the most important thing is to get the everyday consumer thinking green... once the consumers are mobilized and onboard, governments will be far more amenable to policy changes. Most consumers "want" to help but don't know how, and furthermore don't understand the impact of their everyday choices. Sure, recycle your water bottle.. but think about the impact of the plastic petroleum derivative shipped across the world bottle in the first place. Are there better choices?"
Can you hear me clapping loudly for each of you? Cause I am. I'll even stand on my coffee table. And jump up and down. Because we are so frackin excited.
All year we'll embrace your great ideas and many more. We even got a head start at our Eco-Trippin page which spells our first attempt at tangible eco-change (and alllllllll the unbridled fun we had doing it).
Cheers to a green, green year!
.... but first, let's vote.
