"We need to work together to transform today's throwaway economy into one that prioritizes environmental sustainability and social justice over stuff. Creating that kind of change would really be something to celebrate."

Does anyone have any suggestions for creating change locally?  
Thanks

I suggest purchasing services instead of products - such as a massage, a nice dinner out at a local organic restaurant, a spa day, movie passes - these are great gifts that also encourage spending time with those you love - and support your local economy .

I second the suggestion of buying more services as gifts, especially for eco-friendly services, instead of stuff, but you can also find some good "real" gifts locally as well. Local orchards often sell nice gifty stuff such such as homemade jams, candies, maple syrup, etc. That's where I got most of my presents this year.  Local craft shoes often have clothing, crafts, furniture and more made from local artsy/craft folks.  A few holiday seasons ago I bought some cds from a local Andean band I heard at a street festival. (Okay, the materials used for the cds probably were manufactured locally, but I still think this counts as "local") The only non local items I bought this year was some vegan, fair trade chocolate.

anyone know of a good option for buying clothes that contributes less to enviornemntal degradation, sweatshops, etc, etc.? i mean, are there any companies or brands that offer a good option? i know that buying secondhand is the way to go, but sometimes i need to find a speciific item that fits well.

                                                            TIME
                            by  Donald Hawkins
     George Monbiot said the other day, "The crisis we face demands a profound philosophical discussion, a reappraisal of who we are and what progress means."  Of course what he was referring to is climate change.  Kenneth Davidson said today, " The rapidly evolving science on this issue suggests that the scarcest resource humanity has is time."  Is climate change a crisis that demands a profound philosophical discussion, a reappraisal of who we are and what progress means?  Oh yes, it sure is and people we are in big trouble.  Time is short to slow this problem down so let's cut to the chase on this profound philosophical discussion.  Steven Hawking a rather smart man said on the History Channel a few months back.  "I am an optimistic man and if we use reason to overcome are instincts we should be alright."

     Arctic sea ice receded so much that the fabled Northwest Passage completely opened for the first time in human memory.NSIDC scientists monitor and study Arctic sea ice year round, analyzing satellite data and seeking to understand the regional changes and complex feedbacks that we are seeing. Serreze said, "The sea ice cover is in a downward spiral and may have passed the point of no return. As the years go by, we are losing more and more ice in summer, and growing back less and less ice in winter. We may well see an ice-free Arctic Ocean in summer within our lifetimes." The scientists agree that this could occur by 2030. Serreze concluded, "The implications for global climate, as well as Arctic animals and people, are disturbing." the National Snow and Ice Data Center

     Now if my memory servers me right didn't the Russians just sent a nuclear ice breaker to the North Atlantic and put the flag on the bottom of the ocean, fascinating.  The President of The United States from what I understand called Konrad Steffen this summer on a satellite phone.  Konrad does assessment of global sea level change and sensitivity studies of large ice sheets.  Why did the President call Konrad?  Because he is worried about climate change and needs the data to better make policy to fight this little problem?  Russians same thing to gather data to better understand climate change?  No, to know when they can go up there and get at all that oil, gas and gold.  Would you say that is reason or instinct?  Probably instinct but more importantly it's nut's.  The very thing that is causing the problem and will raise sea levels Worldwide and change the climate Worldwide they want to get more.  Do you see the beauty in that?

     When the ice melts enough and the oceans rise, heck let's be nice 3 feet and the East Coast and Gulf Coast big trouble and weather is getting more extreme Worldwide and yes we go to the North and start to drill for oil.  What are the people you know Joe public going to say?  Wait more importantly what is the government and the media going to say to keep the people calm.  Well probably the same thing they tell the people now nothing.  

     "So why, regardless of the character of its leaders, does the United States act this way? Because, like several other modern democracies, it is subject to two great corrupting forces. I have written before about the role of the corporate media (particularly in the US) in downplaying the threat of climate change and demonising anyone who tries to address it(10). I won't bore you with it again, except to remark that at 3pm eastern standard time on Saturday there were 20 news items on the front page of the Fox News website. The climate deal came 20th, after "Bikini-wearing stewardesses sell calendar for charity" and "Florida store sells `Santa Hates You' T-shirt"(11).  George Monbiot Dec 17, 2007

     That was my try at the profound philosophical discussion.  Let's move on to the  reappraisal of who we are and what progress means?  How long have people been mass marketed to and told that in order to be a real person you need to buy this and wear this and drive this and live in this and drink this or this and act this way talk this way walk this way.  You get the idea.  Time is short maybe ten years to turn this around so again let's cut to the chase.  Just the fact that the Earth is here is a miracle but to be just the right distance from the sun.  The moon just at the right place to make tides.  Life and how it formed very lucky.  Ok look how far we have come in just the last fifty years in some way's  in other ways no.  Progress moving forward somehow help people to understand they are a real.  It's Ok to be a human.  Somehow I think that may take a few years and time is short we have the technology right now to turn this problem around.  It will not be easy and tuff times are ahead but if we try with a little luck we can do this.  Come on people we need to help each other, suggestions. ideas are welcome.  That was my try at the number one problem facing the human race.

Annie, I really enjoyed your video "story of Stuff"  This is exactly what we need.  Something that explains a very complicated problem through a simple story.  I have told everyone I can think of to see your video.  One person I talked to who saw it said that it summarizes, in all of twenty minutes, what you could learn about how the environment is linked to the economy in three years doing an undergraduate degree
    Part of the reason that we are still heading off the cliff is that the situation is global and  so complicated that people can't see the forest for the trees.  We need more things like your video that connect all the dots.

    It's a huge collective effort to inform people of what is wrong and what needs to be done.  It is analogous to the nineteenth century anti-slavery movement.  The most influential work in that campaign was Louisa May Alcott's book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin".  It's all about telling the truth in a simple story.  Keep up the good work Annie.

charlesjustice - Uncle Tom's cabin was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe.