The Choice to Make Change

Let’s talk about climate change and personal responsibility. While so much is out of our personal control, in reality, we as individuals have the ultimate control…choice. And when we exercise choice mindfully, purposefully and collectively, we affect change.

The Choice to Refuse

Refuse single-use. The Bring Your Own movement is critical to curtailing mindful waste. By bringing your own bag, beverage container, utensils, and take-away container, you are exercising choice. By demanding the right to bring your own and not accepting single-use, you are creating change.

The Choice to Vote With Our Fingers, Feet and Wallet 

Every day, we make multiple purchasing decisions, whether we purchase in-store or online. We choose what we purchase, who we purchase from, and how the item is bagged and/or delivered. Also, when there are options, we choose the packaging or container the item comes in. All this is personal choice, and when done mindfully by numerous individuals, we affect change.

The Ultimate Choice, The Right to Vote

This year, the Illinois Primaries are on June 28. Decisions made by those we vote into power not only affect you, your family and friends, but directly affect the health of our one and only planet and the health, homes and livelihoods of those a half a world away.

Every single seat in the U.S. House of Representatives is up for election. Illinois has one senate seat up for election. We are also choosing who will govern our state. Many state senate and house seats are up for election. Competent judges need to be elected to preside over our courts.

Vet the candidates, know their position on climate change, and, if they don’t have one, demand they adopt one before the general election in November. Know who is endorsing your candidate of choice. If possible, investigate who is contributing to their campaign. Write to them, call their offices, email them. Make some noise! Share your knowledge with your family, friends and colleagues, and encourage them to also vote with the climate in mind.

Then, vote. Like your life, health and wellbeing depends on it, because it does. Vote. For the planet, for all creatures great and small. Vote. For those most vulnerable, and the ecosystems that sustain life as we know it. Vote. To ensure the health and safety of all Americans as well as citizens of the world.

Vote early, at the polls, or from the comfort of your couch. 

Vote. Affect change.

Our Choice

We choose to write this column in case we reach even one person who will choose to make a difference. We would love to hear from you at environment@lwvchicago.org with your comments and suggestions, or to see you at our summer meetings on June 20, July 18, and August 15 @ 4 pm.