“What one man can do is change the world and make it work again…”—John Denver

How many times have you said (or heard), “I’m only one person. What I do won’t make a difference”? Can it be that perhaps you haven’t seen the recent meme about improving a situation? It says, “One tree can start a forest… one word can frame a goal… one hope can raise your spirits… one life can make a difference…” 

In the race to save our planet from the devastating effects of pollution, overuse and depletion of the earth’s resources, there’s plenty that one person can do. Just start small and spread the idea. 

Take for example the annual Sullivan County Litter Pluck. If memory serves, it started out as a one-day. People scoured the highways and byways for discarded trash, put it in bags and either took it to the transfer station or left it on the side of the road for later pickup. Now, that event runs from April 1 through October 31, and has been expanded to include rail trails, public walkways, shorelines and water bodies. Hundreds of people are now cleaning up our public spaces. 

Here are some other things you can do to “change the world and make it work again.”

Reduce the use of single-use plastics

According to Conservation International, over 12 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year. This not only poses a threat to our environment, but to marine life as well. Fishes, whales, dolphins, turtles and birds ingest the plastics and either choke on them, or as it fills up their stomach, they starve to death. A jellyfish and a discarded plastic bag look exactly the same to a sea turtle, crab, ocean sunfish and tuna. 

Examples of single-use plastic include bags, bottles, straws, discarded fishing line and lures. Not only does fishing line get eaten, it also entangles the animal. According to the Sustainable Goals website of the United Nations, “a plastic grocery bag has been found in the Mariana Trench—the deepest point in the ocean, and without urgent action, the estimated 12 million metric tons of plastic currently entering the ocean annually will triple in the next twenty years.” And conservation.org estimates that by 2050, there may be more plastic in the oceans than fish. 

So, start reducing your use of plastic by saying “No straw” the next time you order a drink at a restaurant.

Consider purchasing an electric or hybrid vehicle

While an electric vehicle needs to be charged from the grid, a hybrid vehicle runs on both gasoline and a  battery that is charged by the car itself when you brake or when you’re traveling downhill. The Motor Trend website reports that hybrid vehicles generally offer a combined gas mileage range of 35 to 57 miles per gallon, and even more depending on the terrain. With the current cost of gasoline, not only will you be helping to reduce pollution, you’ll also be saving money. 

Weatherize your home

Heating and cooling generated to keep your home or business comfortable can escape through holes and cracks in your walls, doors, windows and foundations. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) offers a free Home Energy Assessment to eligible New York residents. It’s an evaluation of your power  consumption, waste and ways to improve your energy use. (See www.nyserdahomeenergyaudit.com.) 

Similar programs are available for Pennsylvania residents through www.pa.gov; search for Energy Programs Office. 

Reduce, reuse, recycle

No doubt you’ve heard of the three Rs. And we’re not talking about reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic. We already covered the topic of reducing single-use plastic, but there’s so much more we can do. The world has become a “throw-away” society. It’s easier, and usually less expensive, to bring something to the transfer station than to go to the trouble to fix your broken computer, TV, printer, oven, you name it. And many times you can’t even find someone who can do the work. 

But consider this—we are lucky enough to have a phenomenon in our area known as the Repair Café. It’s a community offering (originally founded in Amsterdam, the Netherlands), where experts in electronics, fabrics, furniture, toys, jewelry and more fix your items at no cost. The cafés are usually listed in the local “things to do” calendar of your newspaper, radio station or social media page, so keep your eyes peeled and take advantage of the free service. 

A few more ideas 

Buy local, buy organic, grow your own food, start a compost pile, buy secondhand (check out some of the local thrift stores and you’ll be helping out a charity at the same time), start or visit a swap group, carpool, install solar energy panels, fix water leaks and install low-flow fixtures, use native plants, attend village, town and county meetings  and advocate for sustainable planning. 

Need more ideas or information? Ask a librarian; use the internet; ask a friend. 

Many of these concepts can certainly be started and accomplished by one person. But it’s always good to have another pair of hands, another pair of eyes and ears, and another opinion. It’s also more fun to work together. And, as anthropologist Margaret Mead once wrote, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”