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| Author | Topic: how can I make a difference? |
| anita |
posted 4/28/06 12:33 AM
As a self-supporting student, I feel really limited in the ways I can contribute to the enacting justice.Buying fair-trade and energy efficient sounds great in theory, but it's honestly difficult to find that extra dollar or two when every penny is so tight.I volunteer when I can, but working and going to school full time really saps my time and energy, and signing whatever petition comes my way seems really passive.I feel selfish and hypocritical for claiming to have such passion for justice, yet doing so little for it. What can I do? |
| Amy |
posted 5/3/06 1:54 PM
Talking about your faith and beliefs with other people might not seem like much, but it counts. Every bit of awareness raised helps. |
| Sean |
posted 5/3/06 1:57 PM
hey, have you heard of simple living? if you're tight on cash, there are always ways to cut back that also help others. try to find a community garden in your area, or join a co-op. and you might be surprised at how resourceful energy-efficient items really are. lightbulbs and things might be more expensive up front, but they last a lot longer, so you don't end up paying any more in the long run. |
| Jason |
posted 5/4/06 4:02 PM
Anita,When I talk to students about "making a difference" I hear very similar concerns. I always look at it like this: we can make an impact on different levels;charity, advocacy, direct transformational involvement (i.e. community development), and responsible living. We can make a huge difference just by living responsible lives--that includes simple living, but extends to being concerned citizens as well...use your voice not your money. We can make such an impact politically by being vocal concerned citizens...our politicians work for us, and they make decisions that can make or break the poor and oppressed!So that is something you can do that doesn't require your money, but makes a deep impact. also as a consumer you have a lot of power as well. I would check out the better world handbook for that info..it speaks to simple living quite a bit as well. www.simpleliving.org is another great resource. alright, i'm off of my soap box. |
| Gerda |
posted 5/17/06 3:28 PM
Hi Anita, that's always the big question (I'm a student too, and have been for 6 years). One of the best ways to make responsible choices on a budget is to eat simply, because unlike some other choices, this is actually cheaper AND more responsible (and healthier!). I've become a semi-vegetarian, not on principle but just because meat is expensive and too much trouble to cook when I'm eating by myself. I've discovered that lentils and rice with a little cheese on top makes a great main dish, with a salad on the side. You can make squash-apple-ginger soup to serve six for less than $2. The classic cookbook is of course More-with-Less, but my new favourite is Simply in Season -- the third one in the More-with-Less series. It has a lot of vegetarian recipes, encourages eating foods that are in season, and most importantly uses things that you actually have in the house, not exotic, expensive ingredients. I HIGHLY recommend it. |
| Gerda |
posted 5/17/06 3:40 PM
Oops, I need to clarify. I didn't actually say WHY eating simply helps with the cause of justice (which I take to include environmental stewardship as well). I tend to assume people know, but maybe not everyone does. Here are a few reasons:1. Meat typically uses a lot of land and energy to produce; focusing on grains and veggies puts less of a burden on the earth.2. Processed food and out-of-season fruits and vegetables take huge amounts of energy for transportation; buying locally-produced fruits and vegetables at a farmer's market or even a grocery store is really not more expensive, and less energy-intensive.3. Eating simply is a way to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world who only get to eat rice and beans, or porridge and greens, every day. |
| Judy |
posted 5/25/06 9:10 AM
Ooh! Thanks for the MCC shout-out! I'm a volunteer for them:) "Less with More" and "Simply in Season" are MCC publications, of you didn't know. For info, check out: http://www.mcc.org/shop/ |
| Judy |
posted 5/25/06 9:11 AM
http://www.mcc.org/shop(sorry) |
| Mrs. B |
posted 2/13/07 8:25 PM
Just want to encourage you to keep working on the small things while continually thinking big. Who knows what you say to your family, friends, fellow students, co-workers, grocer, teachers, and so on will accomplish. Imagine 20 years from now hearing that the big earth-saving, justice giving, salvation offering invention was inspired by words you gave to the man on the corner who took it and ran with it. You may not know your reach of influence, your power for change...but God does. Trust His guidance and humbly follow. Maybe someday you'll be a part of the biggest change the world has ever seen! |
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