Green Living

Sometimes it feels like in order to go green you have to spend green (even if, in the long run, you’ll end up saving it). Not so with one magic word: action. Regardless of whether you can shell out major cash for solar panels or minor bucks for a reusable water bottle, you can always give your time and energy to a good, green cause.

Here are some eco-actions that have little to do with money and everything to do with movement:

*Pick up trash in your neighborhood, on the sidewalk, or where you work.

*Ride your bike or walk instead of slipping into the car bubble.

*Volunteer with an organization you believe in. Around here, that could be Heal the Bay , TreePeople, North East Trees, Friends of the L.A. River, C.I.C.L.E. or any place you deem worthy. (Here’s a link to more green orgs in L.A. and here’s a post Joli wrote on all manner of volunteer opps.)

*Read things that matter be they blogs or books (if you swap or borrow, books are free, too—though I’m still a big believer in supporting writers and indie booksellers).

*Contact elected officials telling them what matters to you—water, land, recycling, parks, etc. If you e-mail, it’s truly free.

*Participate in the fight against climate change:

350.org has declared this Saturday, October 24^th International Day of Climate Action (with other orgs joining in). And you can join in, too! The science tells us we can have a livable planet with 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (currently we’ve got more like 390).  So stand up for cooling down the planet by finding or starting an action (bonus points if it incorporates the number 350). On our radar is the Blogger Beach Cleanup, a collaboration of green LA girl and The Daily Ocean.  Be on the lookout there for YDT founders Tracy and Lauren!  Check out our green events calendar for other Climate Action Day  happenings around Los Angeles. 

Hopenhagen At December’s COP15, the UN will meet to discuss global warming and enact a climate treaty. It only takes a minute to sign a petition showing your support for turning Copenhagen into Hopenhagen—in hopes of sealing a deal that cuts emissions sufficiently by 2020.

Any other ideas that don’t require more than motivation? Share them with us in the comments so we can all get in on the action!

Tags: 350.org, climate change, cop15, Environmental Action, free green actions, global warming action, Green Living, green organizations, volunteer opportunities los angeles