1- Develop a National Program for Environmental Responsibility. Use various NGO’s such as Surfrider Foundation and Sierra Club as resources to spread the philosophy of this program to schools in order to reduce the amount of state/national funding required. Developing a new culture is something that requires foresight that goes beyond public awareness and legislation. And that’s what this program would be all about, creating a new culture with the next generation. We’ve come a long way, but even today I still see educated people throwing valuable resources in the trash. Recycling should, after the nearly forty years since the first Earth Day, be almost an involuntary action. The only way to get everyone to think this way is to start with young minds. This is happening in a loose knit fashion already; however I think it’s absolutely vital that we integrate a program into the national academic standard.
2- Get the Conservative demographic onboard by fostering relationships with various faith based organizations including the Catholics, Mormons, Evangelicals, Protestants, Lutherans, Muslims etc… I think we need to appeal to these groups on moral grounds. Just look at how much influence (power) they had on fighting against Prop 8! If we could get some of these highly organized institutions/groups to put their vast resources into saving God’s green earth, then amen and hallelujah! Also, I think getting the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America involved here at home and the Peace Corps and groups like the Surfrider Foundation abroad would be valuable help. Providing internships to colleges would also be a way to get fresh perspective and energy involved.
3- We have to closely analyze the cultural lenses of each group we intend to target for maximum effect. I feel like a lot of NGO’s are “point and shoot” operations and don’t take into account the cultural lenses of the groups they’re attempting to educate. They think that because their cause is worthy, people will be inclined to be supportive. Every: socioeconomic group, race, religion, etc… has a different perception of how they affect the world and how the world affects them. One time when I was on a locally owned surf charter boat in
4- The single fastest and most cost effective way to cut emissions of greenhouse gases is through energy conservation. I think quantifying average household savings by unplugging unused computers, TVs, cell phone chargers, microwaves etc. and showing what people can save financially on their energy bills could be really effective. Pre-Cycling needs to be the new “it” word. Interesting fact, I just read that recycling one plastic bottle provides enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes. When you put things into simple quantitative comparisons, it has a very strong impact.
5- I believe we can create a more equitable, educated and socially conscientious society by quantifying the duties of parenthood. Salary.com valuated the “mom job” at $122,732. Achieving valuation on stay-at-home moms or dads would level the playing field for so many underprivileged families. When both parents are forced to work (often times multiple jobs) to make ends meet our society takes a step backwards with each child that doesn’t get the nurturing and love they truly need and deserve from at least one; if not both parents. Building stronger families transcends to all the other positive aspects in our society. Family Values is a term that needs to be taken back from the Conservative Right and given the meaning it deserves. Building a better world has to begin with building stronger families and communities.
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