Think Global, Act Locally

What does it mean to think globally and act locally? In the simplest terms, this oft-quoted philosophy calls on us to consider the health of the planet and all of its inhabitants even in the smallest and most immediate actions. This proceeds from the idea that each of us has a part to play in both the well-being of our communities and of the larger world that we all share. This begins with living a more sustainable lifestyle, one that is simultaneously more economically savvy and more environmentally conscious.

EARTH IS ONE

To Think Globally means

We must be conscious that all human beings live on the same planet, in a moving environment managed by biodiversity.

TAKE ACTION IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY

To Think LOCALLY means

You act to support your local economy, community, and culture, you are making important contributions to improvements in living standards, sustainability, and economic fairness the world over.

5 TIPS TO SUPPORT LOCAL

1. Buy Locally Sourced Food

By focusing on only buying food sourced in your community or region, you help to reduce your community’s dependence on processed and imported food. This is important because many global food producers leave considerable carbon footprints as a consequence of corporate farming operations, long-distance shipping and, in many cases, maintenance of operations in contexts with lax environmental and labor laws. By seeking out locally sourced food, you are reducing your contribution, and your community’s contribution, to food manufacturers who negatively impact the environment.

2. Start a community garden

Creating a community garden is an amazing way to add to the local food supply while establishing a vibrant green space where members of your community can meet, gather, and organize. The results of your effort will be added green space and improved air quality in your neighborhood alongside greater civic involvement and, most importantly, the establishment of a sustainable source for healthy, responsibly grown, and affordable food. Once your garden is mature and thriving, you should be able to harvest enough fruits and vegetables to benefit participants, neighbors and local food pantries, all while reducing the carbon footprint required to feed your community.

3. Patronize Locally Owned Businesses

When you shop with your neighbours, you’re also supporting their employees, their landlords, their local suppliers, their local contractors, and a host of others who make up your community.

4. Reduce Waste At Home and In Your Community

Whether you’re a local citizen, a business owner, or both. It’s important that the businesses making up your community are engaged in responsible management of their own waste in ways that transcend basic trash and recycling pickup.

Local organizations can play a lead role in helping businesses find creative and constructive ways to reduce their wastefulness. This can include strategies for up-cycling old storage, display, and retail materials; replacing the use of plastic containers, straws, utensils, shopping bags, etc. with paper or reusable goods; and donating or composting unused foodstuffs rather than disposing of them in a landfill-bound dumpster.

Individuals can also take steps to reduce waste by shopping with reusable bags; eliminating single-use items like water bottles and coffee-pods; purchasing foods without extra packaging, and; like businesses, composting uneaten food for garden fertilizer. The less waste your household produces, the less fuel will be expended for either recycling or waste disposal on your behalf, and the less substance you’ll contribute to the nation’s landfills. And as with each of the tips on our list, this one will save you money as you shop with a greater focus on reusable goods and materials.

5. Organise Communtity Swapping and Shopping

Another great way to save money and reduce waste is to open the lines of communication and trade within your community, both online and in person. Create online marketplaces for selling personal times among neighbors; organize community flea markets where locals can sell unneeded items, and; schedule regular clothing, book, and magazine swaps.

You don’t necessarily even need to extend these efforts to your entire community. You can make an impact on a small scale by simply hosting your own swap activities among friends.