We are the ones who make a brighter day

Can an individual make a difference? It’s a question that has plagued me off and on for years. I am consumed by doubt, misery, despair, because no one seems to care. But just when it seems like all hope is lost, confidence returns on gossamer wings,

Every great movement, every revolution started at the level of the individual. Someone thought ‘Something is not right’, and then set about looking to make a change, alone or in the company of like-minded individuals. Today it is our turn to be the change. It doesn’t need to be drastic- no one said go back to the Stone Age. Even small tweaks make a difference.

People all over the world are trying to reduce their carbon footprint (carbon emissions created by them). I watched a show on BBC last night, Ethical Man (9 pm IST), that is about the efforts of one journalist and his family to reduce their carbon footprint. He tries various forms of transport- public, cycle, rented car (a quarter of the emissions created by a car are released when it is being manufactured, so sharing the initial cost works out economically and ecologically), shared car, walking ( he walked with his wife to the hospital when she went into labor). He test drives a diesel car that runs mainly on vegetable oil(apparently it doesn't effect . He tries to get a wind turbine installed on his house (unsuccessful because the wind speed in his area isn’t high enough).

While it is nice to experiment, using the old saving methods works too.

• The public transport system in Goa isn’t that good, but it is better than having nothing. Use it as often as possible.
• Segregate your garbage-if there is a recycling program in Goa, I bet dry, clean stuff is easier to handle.
• Try to compost all organic rubbish.
• Switch off electrical appliances when they aren’t in use, including lights and fans.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle-YOU can do (almost all of) it at home.

I always got the clothes my sister grew out of and, as a kid, hated the hand-me-downs. Now I wear them with something approaching pride. When they are too ragged and worn, they get downgraded to rags. That is an example of reducing and reusing.

It all depends on you. Stop cribbing about how no one else is doing anything (trust me-it takes more out of you than you would imagine) and start doing something yourself.

My mum, sister and I make paper bags for our chapel’s food stall. It doesn’t take a lot of time, we reduce the amount of plastic needed in the form of carry bags and we are reusing old paper. We’re looking to expand this wholly voluntary, non-profit venture. Any takers?

Green tip: Close the tap when you don't need running water, for example when actually brushing your teeth, lathering your face, body or hair. Think of the water you waste when it runs down the drain unused and the energy wasted in pumping it up to the tank.