I, promise to do these quite doable tasks the week of
make a choice Insulate house Install a low-flow showerhead Share a shower Share a room Relocate ailing houseplant to friendly outside Plant tree/bush in garden or local green patch Wash clothes in cold or warm water, instead of hot Reuse an envelope someone sent to me Lower thermostat by 2° in winter and turn up 2° in summer. Run dishwasher only when it has full load and is on energy-saving setting Turn the tap off when brushing teeth Switch off appliances at the wall when not using them Get rid of appliances Install double-pane windows Use chemical free, natural house cleaners Give home an energy audit Give parents an energy audit Give partner an energy audit Give children an energy audit xx
make a choice Get a job Share a ride with someone to work Bike to work Ask boss about telecommuting Become boss Join carpool Start carpool Join car club Join camel club Replace lightbulbs with energy-efficient corkscrew ones Use recycled paper (then recycle it) Use edible paper Switch off office equipment at the wall when not using them Recycle printer cartridges Get office plants Water office plants Bin dead plants Start office compost heap xx
make a choice Use own bag for shopping Stop buying bottle water Buy only fair trade coffee Drink only fair trade tea Choose only locally sourced vegetables Eat all my vegetables Consume organic chocolate (if good) Pop bottle of locally made, organic sparkling wine (if very good) Donate read books to library/secondhand bookshop Give unwanted birthday presents to charity shop Use charity for wedding gift registry Install bird feeder on balcony or in garden Plant garden Join a gym Join an ashram Leave an ashram Take a kid to the park (make sure kid is mine or has permission to go to park) Buy Acme Climate Action Kit (makes gorgeous gift!) xx
make a choice Don’t follow leaders Watch parking meters Turn off engine when car is stationary for long time Trade in gas-guzzler for hybrid Sell car Buy bike Buy horse Take only public transportation Walk to shops Ski to shops Swim to shops Holiday nearby Holiday at home Offset air miles Cut up Frequent Flyer Cards Sell Gulfstream IV xx
make a choice Complain to a store manager about excessive packaging Complain to a store manager about wanton plastic-bag-giving policy Write stroppy email to chairman of evil company Start boycott against environmentally destructive company Improve posture Give up seat for old person (unless gvdriving) Ask a dog about the weather Do a couple of minutes of random street cleaning near my home Be oblong and have knees removed Stand up in cinema at end of film and loudly sing French national anthem Start own church for tax purposes. Donate savings to charity Ask for tap water in fancy restaurant Ask for tap water during Communion Go through large municipal building and turn off all unnecessary lights Be boastfully modest about good environmental deeds Personally return junk mail to senders Plant flower seeds on traffic islands xx
