Do you have any resolutions for 2015? Yes, yes, I know. The tradition of crafting New Year’s resolutions evokes eye rolls from some but for others, it is a critical plan to achieve human perfection (or – maybe stop leaving your socks at the top of the stairs every night).
As an avowed list-maker, it’s too hard for me NOT to make some type of goal-setting projections for 2015. However, I’ll avoid the individualistic approach to advancements through ambitious and likely unreachable diet/exercise/do more of this, less of those changes and create some resolutions our environment. Specifically, resolutions I would like to see fulfilled for the natural resources in this great state.
Resolution #1: I will keep North Carolina drinking water safe from toxic chemicals.
Without access to safe drinking water sources, we cannot grow as a people of this state. Unfortunately, this resource has been impacted – time and time again – because of inadequate oversight from those who are supposed to protect us.
Between coal ash spills, unregulated pollution, and cuts to wetland protections, we have seen our drinking water become more and more contaminated. In 2015, we need a healthy North Carolina population. That vision starts with clean drinking water.
Resolution #2: I will #ActOnClimate.
Combating the largest threat to our national security seems a bit overwhelming for the average person. But, cast doubt aside. There are simple acts each of us can do daily to reduce our impact (this inspired Resolution #5 below). It may sound silly but a simple “turning off the lights when leaving a room” mentality can go a long way into ensuring we use our current energy more efficiently while new, renewable sources continue to blossom.
So, what can you and I do? I am going to try composting my household waste (reducing the amount of methane billowing from our landfills). Maybe you can switch up your work transportation routine by taking the bus, carpooling, biking, or even working from home (flexible plan to save the planet!). Stay connected to grassroots efforts here in North Carolina through our Climate Action NC campaign. Taking action to combat climate change isn’t about making sacrifices despite what critics like to say. It’s truly about being more thoughtful on how our lives impact the overall big picture. It harks back to another one of our principles here at NCLCV: every vote counts. If 10,000 individuals thought their votes didn’t count and refused to participate in last November’s election, many race outcomes would have turned out very differently.
Resolution #3: I will hold my leaders accountable for how they vote on the environment.
State and local politics may not carry the glitz and glamor of the national arena, but the truth is: the decisions made in these governing bodies have a far greater impact on your life than what gets passed (or not) in Congress. I resolve to first know who my North Carolina representatives and senators are by going here.
Then, I’m going to keep up with where they align themselves on environmental issues that matter to me. Will they support the renewable energy portfolio that has brought thousands of jobs and millions of dollars into NC? Will they push for fracking despite the overwhelming evidence of major environmental and public health concerns associated with this energy practice? Here at NCLCV, we’ll do the leg work to keep you informed. But, it’s up to you to let your leaders know if you are pleased or displeased with how they treat our state’s natural resources. (Hint: you can keep tabs on their voting history through our annual scorecards here.)
Resolution #4: I will educate myself on how I can bring critical issues to my community.
While it can be fun to maintain the 30,000 foot perspective on how environmental policies play out in North Carolina, the real work is what happens in those pockets we have coined as cities and towns. From Newland to Raleigh to Rocky Mount, communities face countless environmental issues that may – or may not – play out on the statewide stage. Sadly, too many are still unaware of what is happening in their backyards, from the quality of their air and drinking water to proposals for new landfills to the potential for a natural gas pipeline.
But, I have no time to get educated! Yes, time is a precious resource. Between our responsibilities at home, in the workplace, in our volunteer organizations, checking in on Facebook, taking a selfie for Instagram, and reading blogs, our time does seem to slip away. Here are three quick tips I offer for how to stay connected to environmental issues:
- If you haven’t already, sign up for our weekly Conservation Insider Bulletin. Every Monday morning at 8am, we deliver to you the key environmental news, hot and fresh.
- If you are already on social media, find us there (yes, a shameless plug moment). We can be found on Facebook,Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Tumblr, and Pinterest. You can feel less guilty about spending time on those sites then, right?
- Build yourself the ultimate environmental news dashboard using a site like AllTop or Feedly. You tell them what topics you want to follow (green energy, climate change, coal ash) and the top news will populate. Pretty easy, right? 10 minutes a day scanning headlines and reading 1 to 2 articles in depth will allow you to feel in the know and prepared to take action when needed.
Resolution #5: I will think globally and act locally.
Despite our best efforts to avoid acknowledging this truth, our actions do have an impact on those around us. I think (and hope) that the vast majority of us want this world to be a good, clean place. We want our children and our grandchildren to enjoy the fruits of our labors, to treat others with kindness, and to have the opportunity to have better lives than those of past generations.
So, how do we accomplish this? I don’t have that answer fully vetted, but one way to move in that direction is to enhance our awareness and understanding of the world around each of us and how these seemingly disconnected parts are woven together in the same tapestry. This is especially true when it comes to tackling issues around environmental justice, a topic that we at NCLCV don’t talk about enough but are adding it to our list of resolutions. Why do certain communities bear the brunt of the waste? Why are certain populations subjected to dirtier air? Why is access to open spaces seemingly impossible for too many of North Carolina’s youth?
This past February’s coal ash disaster woke many of us up. We need to understand what’s happening around us, and we need to act on behalf of all people and all voices – some of which need us now, more than ever. While the adage of resolution #5 may be trite or outdated, its core message is not. In order to preserve our values and our world, we must take steps – yesterday, today, and tomorrow – to fulfill that vision. As former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt noted, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
This above list is a conjecture from Online Engagement Coordinator and rabid task master Katie Todd. Other items on her personal resolutions list include making more personal phone calls, taking the bus more to work, and visit two new states in the new year.
