The Interwoven Discussion Guide

A Resource to Inspire Community

Get-Togethers For Change

Written by Altaire Cambata and Co-Authored by Justin Blake May

Table of Contents

1. Background 2. Why is this Important? 3. How to Get Started

1. Who to Invite 2. Getting the Word Out/Sending Invitations 3. Where to Meet and How Often?

4. Welcoming the Group 1. Prepare Low Impact Snacks

i. A Word on Drinks 2. Decorating for your Gathering 3. Bonding 4. Spare Change for Change 5. Making Announcements

5. How to Choose a Weekly Topic 1. Take Turns Leading the Discussion

i. Everyone is an Expert ii. Current Events iii. Important Causes iv. The Importance of Story-Telling

6. Get Creative 1. Screen a Film 2. Invite a Speaker 3. Organize a Field Trip 4. Poetry Night 5. Fix Up Used Furniture 6. Have a Clothing, Book, Soup or Recipe “Swap” 7. Set Up a Tool Library 8. Create Comics 9. Host a Used-Clothing Fashion Show “Costume Party” 10. Exhibit Photos from Recent Travel 11. Host Eco-Conscious Craft Night 12. Register to Vote 13. Set Up a Food Co-op With Friends 14. Start a Local Zine

15. Go Out to Eat or Drink and Support a Local Business 16. Admit to Your (Car) Emissions 17. Check Your Clothing Tags 18. Clear Cluttered Spaces 19. Who is Your Hero? 20. Group Meditation

7. Rules Appendix 1: Recipes

1. Almond Butter Rice Crispy Treats 2. Beer-Bettered Fried Avocado Wedges with Spicy Lime Dip 3. Chips with Watermelon Blueberry Salsa

Appendix 2: Potential Topics for Discussion Appendix 3: Websites Used in the Discussion Guide

BACKGROUND The vision was this: create a fun and meaningful campaign that illustrates global interconnectivity and prompts individuals to contemplate a sustainable future. The idea was hatched in the spring of 2012 by a masters student studying Climate Change and International Development and a photographer/artist who believed that by weaving together the narratives of unsustainable trajectories across environmental, economic, cultural and political systems, people would be moved to adopt lifestyles that improved rather than exploited life on earth. But how? Well, let’s start at the beginning. The creators of this resource are named Altaire and Justin, and their story goes something like this: In the fall of 2009, Justin and Altaire began assisting refugee artisans residing in Charlottesville, Virginia, helping them to sell their work at local craft fairs. Through their artisan partners, they found themselves inspired by the creativity, self-sufficiency, and more personal nature of craftwork; they soon founded their own all-natural soap company. The project was a foray into “green” branding as well as environmental advocacy, and the soap became a popular across the state. Shortly thereafter, they organized a Eurail trip and backpacked through nine countries in 30 days, a journey that inspired them to document future journeys through photography and writing, capturing the importance of inter-cultural exposure and environmental change. Their next travel itinerary was envisioned with the purpose of pinpointing a geographic area they felt needed greater media exposure and could convey the concept of global interconnectivity they so desperately wanted to highlight. Arduous research, and twists of fate ensured and soon they found themselves filling prescriptions for malaria pills and once again pulling their packs from the closet. Their destination? The largest archipelago in the world. Indonesia is the fourth-largest country in the world (population) and ranks as the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases (mostly due to deforestation). Its economic growth is booming at a rate on par with India and South Africa. However, in the midst of this growth and industrialization reside 10 percent of all flowering plant species, 12 percent of all mammal species, 17 percent of bird species, and 25 percent of the world’s species of fish. The archipelago is as rich with biodiversity as it is cultural diversity. More than 700 languages are spoken by 300 unique ethnic groups, and yet this bio-cultural plurality is dwindling and in many cases it is being actively erased. These juxtapositions make the region a fascinating case study in terms of globalization and development – furthermore, the area is symbolic of the crossroads at which the entire planet finds itself: do we preserve our environmental and cultural plurality, or do we continue on the path of unsustainable resource use and potentially lose some of the planet's greatest assets?

Altaire and Justin spent the summer of 2012 traveling throughout Indonesia, spending time in cities, coastal ecosystems, in slums and some of the most extravagant shopping malls in the world. They worked with non-profit organizations and toured sustainable businesses, trying to get a sense of how people, places, flora, and fauna were managing in one of the fastest growing economies on the planet. Upon returning home, they set up a website where they wrote about their experiences, published galleries of their photographs, promoted additional resources of interest, and initiated collaborations with National Geographic News Watch1, Food Tank: The Food Think Tank2, Conversations with the Earth3, and Voices for Biodiversity4. They began brainstorming other ways to involve the general public in becoming more aware of the world around them, helping people make decisions that strengthen the agricultural, economic, political, social, and environmental systems in which we are all ingrained. This discussion guide, meant to complement the philosophy that ignited the Interwoven project, was created to help people from around the world increase their awareness about the trajectory of human progress and to follow up on that awareness with meaningful action. The guide in particular is targeted toward young Westerners with time and resources to share, who have not yet entered the world of advocacy or who do not want to do it alone, and is meant to be an inviting introduction to thinking outside the box and beyond our comfort zones. However, this “resource to inspire community get-togethers for change” could be adapted to a wider range of social backgrounds, geographic locations, and levels of personal commitment and interest. If popular, we will have cause to explore the production of more materials with more dynamic resources. We are confident that with a few tweaks this guide has a useful place within work environments, schools, and various community centers: multiple venues and scenarios such as conferences and/or workshops could benefit greatly from the exercises and information herein if adapted appropriately. Our philosophy dictates that there is no time to waste in terms of creating the change that the world desperately needs in order to be sustainable, safe, and ethically equitable. Arranging gatherings with people you know and trust, and sharing ideas that can become action is one of the most grassroots, participatory, democratic strategies we could devise. It is not a new idea, just an important one that we must nurture. So, we present to you, fearless reader, “The Interwoven Discussion Guide”. Hopefully it inspire you to realize the threads that bind us all in this rich tapestry of existence, but most of all, we hope it can

awaken you to the possibility of weaving together a new vision for more sustainable ways of living on Earth.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? I want to tell you another story… so, please humor me (and forgive the name-dropping). Recently, I had the incredible fortune to conduct a work-related interview with Gloria Steinem one of the mothers of second-wave feminism. After a 15 minute meditation session on my couch and misdialing her number twice due to nerves, I reached her. I was able to pick her brain about the themes I was exploring for my assignment, and also managed to express that I think that in our society its very difficult to spark change, or to think that you can make a difference even when we notice obvious injustices. To many it seems like such an overwhelming task, especially considering the amount of everyday challenges experienced at home and work. We at Interwoven struggle with this phenomenon regularly, because it seems like the code that, once cracked, can tip the scales from indifference to making a difference. She said, “1. We are told that change comes from the top down, but really, it comes from the bottom up – like a tree. The key to change is realizing that everything you do matters. And 2. You can’t do it by yourself. Or, at least, you can’t do it by yourself for very long because we are communal creatures and we do need each other. So, make sure that at least once a week you meet with other people who, however different they may be, share your values and make you feel smart, not dumb, and generally make you more strong and productive.” The idea that there is nothing we can do to improve our local and global communities is a deception, one that political philosophers of Noam Chomsky’s school of thought would argue is manufactured by politicians and captains of industry who are more than happy to use our apathy to their economic advantage. But think about this: modern society has made us more connected and resilient than any other time in history. On a daily basis, everything from the shampoo we use to the coffee we drink to who reads our Tweets connects us in one way or another to more people across the globe than ever before. This powerful technological and social matrix allows us to find solutions to challenges faster than ever, at a global scale! However, the irony is that while our relationships have become more far-reaching and networks larger, the number of close friends and meaningful relationships has grown smaller. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor Sherry Turkle’s book

“Alone Together”5 explores intimacy (or the lack thereof) in the digital age. This phenomenon of social isolation fuels the bitter machine of ennui and cynicism plaguing young people and twenty-somethings today, yet this is the very demographic that should be the pulse of activism, idealism, and change. In response, we at Interwoven want to propose a new social network, one with a heartbeat and not just the droning hum of electricity. We want to encourage a space that reminds us we can make an impact, that our frustrations can be heard, that we can multiply the impact of the relatively small actions we take individually by reproducing them with our friends and then with strangers, and that the place where it all begins is right in our living rooms. This space is brimming with friends, laughter, food, and ideas about how to make your community (and the world) a better place: ideas about politics, the environment, workplace, or your favorite cause. We could transform the concept that nothing we do matters into the idea that everything we do matters. Each meeting can leave us feeling empowered, uplifted, and dare I say, a new story for the world. Within these pages is a wealth of suggestions about how to make such get-togethers fun, inclusive, creative, and stimulating, but most of all, how to make them a reality. If you read on, you will find a basic introduction for how to structure these get-togethers into your own life and community. In the next section you will find an assortment of suggestions on how to ensure the meetings are thought provoking and refreshing: i.e., activities you would actually want to participate in rather than another re-hashed composite of fundraising ideas or a defense of petition-signing. In other words, this isn’t your average bake sale. HOW TO GET STARTED

1. Who to Invite

First things first: we suggest you gather a group of 3-10 people. They don’t have to be exactly like you. Ideally they are your friends, but on the other hand, you don’t have to know them that well. Maybe you only speak to them during that 5 minute break in your ecology class, make small talk about zombie films at work, or bump into them occasionally in line for open-mic night. That’s fine! The key is to bring together open-minded, respectful acquaintances.

Or, if you are anything like me and find yourself either extremely busy or living the life of a modern-day nomad with a continual friend-group that consists roughly of a worn Joan Didion novel and a stack of old photos held together by a rubber band, do not despair! The website Meet Up6 is a fantastic resource for organizing and connecting with strangers who are most likely friends you haven’t met yet. Know of an urban bee-keeping demonstration going on in town but don’t have anyone to go with? Post the buzz-worthy event online (excuse the pun). Thinking about hosting a viewing of the documentary “Half the Sky”7 at your local coffee house with that awesome projector they rarely use? Log in to the site and rally the masses. With a bit of luck and determination, you may be able to put together a regular and impressive contingent of companions.

2. Getting the Word Out/Sending Invitations Attached to the end of this document is a template for an invitation to your very first gathering. Fill in the important information – time, date, location, and a link to this guide so everyone is up to speed - and attach the paperless invite to an email, Facebook message, use your smart phone and send it in a text message, or, better yet, chat face-to-face. Regardless of how you do it, just make sure people know what to expect, when to be there, and what to bring –if anything. Let people know that you want to use your inner enthusiasm to make a difference in a more significant way, with their help. Entice them with food, drink, and a cozy, relaxed environment. This may sound insubstantial and not too far removed from how you spend a typical Friday night, but in all seriousness, you are about to make history. Whoa! Now I’m totally exaggerating, right? Well, think of it this way: people tend to associate grand gestures of human accomplishment with a few, great (old, white, dead) men. The truth is, history is actually formed through a series of (seemingly) insignificant actions made every single day by a group of anonymous, active individuals. Rosa Parks did not know that her face would become one of the most celebrated symbols of the civil rights movement when she refused to move to the back of the bus. More importantly though, are the hundreds of faceless supporters (across many racial and ethnic groups) who made the act a united movement, who also sat, and laughed in the socially constructed, farcical face of racial segregation. Indeed, if Rosa Parks had been the only one to stay put rather

than put up with discrimination, we would never have become so familiar with her name.

3. Where to Meet and How Often?

So, these meetings generally require just three components: one is people, the other is place, and the third is time. One of the keys to a successful get-together (call it whatever you want: Conscious Collective, Thought Club, Interwoven Society, etc.) is to make sure that it comes together on a regular basis, be it every week, every two weeks, or once a month; fix a time that works for everyone most of the time. The logistics are something you should decide at the beginning.

If you are throwing the premiere meeting, consider how you would feel about opening up your space for every session. Sound like a bit much? (“Yes”, you nod vigorously, dreading the post-carousal clean up). Well, it is also a great idea to rotate apartments/houses/meeting spaces. In fact, taking turns providing a space can also coincide with leading the discussion or activity for that meeting. Believe me, once you take the initiative and host the best and most amazing first “Thought Club” meeting ever, your friends will be more than happy to return the favor if they have the space and time. Don’t forget to keep the location accessible to everyone you’re inviting –think about components like about available parking spots, distance from home, possible public transportation routes, wheelchair access, etc. You may also want to take into consideration access to a high-speed Internet connection if you are planning on streaming any videos.

WELCOMING THE GROUP

1. Prepare Low-Impact Snacks

We all know that few phrases are as enticing and seductive as “Free Food.” And, your get-together is the perfect time to introduce your friends to recipes they can replicate at home, with ingredients that have a low(er) carbon footprint than carbon-heavy alternatives. This section elaborates on some of the more delicious low-impact recipes encountered along my personal journey de h’orderves. As a rough rule, try to stick to vegan options and/or local produce. Why? Okay, let’s break it down:

· It takes 78 calories of fossil fuel to produce 1 calorie of beef protein; 35 calories for 1 calorie of pork; 22 calories for 1 of poultry; but just 1 calorie of fossil fuel for 1 calorie of soybeans.

· Up to 5000 gallons of water for is required to raise one pound of beef. According to the US Department of Agriculture statistics, one acre of land can grow 20,000 pounds of potatoes. That same acre of land, when used to grow cattle feed, can produce less than 165 pounds of edible cow flesh.

· Tropical forests in regions such as Brazil are destroyed daily, in part, to create more acreage to raise livestock. Happy Cow Healthy Eating Guide says “Every second, one football field of rainforest is destroyed in order to produce 257 hamburgers.”

· A University of Chicago study found that the typical US diet generates the equivalent of nearly 1.5 tons more carbon dioxide per person per year than a vegan diet, the average American emitting around 20 metric tons annually, according to the US Department of Energy's Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC).

· The livestock industry is responsible for 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than the entire transport sector (13.5%), and that includes aviation.

· In 1993, a Swedish researcher famously calculated that the ingredients of a typical Swedish breakfast: an apple, bread, butter, cheese, coffee, cream, orange juice, sugar-traveled a distance equal to the circumference of the Earth before reaching the Scandinavian table. In 2005, a researcher in Iowa found that the milk, sugar, and strawberries that go into a carton of strawberry yogurt collectively journeyed 2,211 miles (3,558 kilometers) just to get to the processing plant.

Going local, vegan, or both is a huge commitment, but replacing some snacks and the odd meal is less expensive, an easy place to begin, and your positive impact adds up over time. Herbivore or omnivore, what is most important is that as consumers we become more aware of where our food comes from, how it is produced, the amount of packaging included and the means of its disposal, and subsequently make the best possible choices based on our financial parameters The recipes attached at the end of this discussion guide could be a bit more decadent than what you would want to eat on a regular basis. My reasoning for this however rests on the principle that some of you may be so new to veganism that words like “Quinoa”, “Rennet”, and Cochineal” sound like distant planets from a sci-fi flick. So let’s not bite off more than we can chew for now. Or…wait….

A Word on Drinks…

Let me take a few minutes here to address the importance of beverages as well. If you haven’t already, check to see what organic and Fair-Trade brands of beer and wine are available at your local grocers. In America (especially), microbreweries have received international acclaim for their creativity, many using organic ingredients, some of which use ingredients sourced from local farms, where chemical additives and pesticides are strictly avoided. Best of all, opt for a locally grown organic beverage instead and skip trying to scope out the tiny, green Fair Trade sticker out altogether. The truth is, at the end of the day, it is difficult to say which wine is going to be better for the world: what if it is local but not organic? What if it is organic but has the carbon footprint of a cement factory? Maybe it is local, organic, and some of the proceeds go to helping women start their own vineyards in Chile – but buying it would force you to eat spam and cheese sandwiches for the rest of the month. The idea is to do the best you can, with what you have to spend. The final judgment call is up to you, and the main take-away point is that you took the time to try something new, a decision which will influence the way you view the food industry in general and help you to make more sustainable choices in the future. Speaking of better choices…let’s talk a little about water footprints. The water footprint of products, goods, or services is defined as the volume of freshwater used to produce the product measured at the location of where the product was manufactured as well as the amount of water used in various stages of the production chain. The direct water footprint you leave each day is the amount of water you consume directly, showering, brushing your teeth, watering your garden, and making tea, etc. Your indirect water footprint is the water consumption embedded in all of the goods that you buy, an amount much larger than how much you consume when at home. Based on information provided by the Water Footprint Network8, beverages score as follows: Milk: The exact water footprint of milk depends on the location of the cow, and the production system in which the cow is reared which includes the type and origin of the feed. Roughly speaking, 1000 liters of water are required for every 1 liter of milk. Here is another way of looking at it: 255 liters (56 gallons) of water are required for one glass (250ml) of milk. Coffee: On average, every cup of coffee requires 132 liters (30 gallons) of water. Wine: On average, 870 liters (190 gallons) of water are required per liter of wine. In other words, a glass of wine costs 110 liters (24 gallons) of water. Beer: On average, 74 liters (16 gallons) of water are required per 250ml (one glass) of beer.

Tea: A standard cup of tea uses 30 liters (6 gallons) of water to be produced. In other words, one cup of tea (250 ml) requires 120 equally sized cups of water. Milk is the worst offender, with coffee coming in as a close second. Wine is more water intensive than beer, though both are still better than coffee. Tea leads the way as the least water intensive, but still has a significant impact. Water itself, of course, is your best option. All of this information gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, “drink responsibly”. In terms of cups and glasses, try to avoid the plastic, paper, or styrofoam varieties, such as SOLO cups. Also, don’t forget to recycle any bottles or cans. Alternatively, if you are serving hoppy ales or hearty lagers, consider purchasing “growlers” designed for purchasing beer in bulk. Growlers are typically 1-2 liters (32 or 64 oz), re-fillable and made from glass. Rather than buying glass bottles, the growlers can be reused, drastically easing the environmental impact, and many stores, restaurants, and bars have adapted to its resurgence as a popular option. While they cannot typically maintain freshness as long as traditional capped bottles, the point when filling a growler is to enjoy the beverage within the immediate future or a few days—perfect for a get-together! 2. Decorating for your Gathering Here are a few tips on how to create the optimal space for a small group of people. · Make sure there is adequate seating. · Clean up a bit. Stuff knick-knacks in a drawer and make sure there is

enough toilet paper in the bathroom.

· Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your friends once they arrive if you are still getting some food prepared, or setting up a seating arrangement. Judging by the amount of times I have heard, “Is there anything I can do to help?” as I dash around at the last minute, I can safely say that your friends will want to be busy doing something if you are still preparing when they arrive. At least let them DJ for a while.

3. Bonding Making a group of strangers comfortable with one another fast can be tricky, so I have a few suggestions to boost camaraderie from the level of non-existence to peas-in-a-pod status. · Have your friends take a personality test, like an “Enneagram” test, online

before the first get-together, and share your results. What was true? What surprised you? They only take a minute and many are extraordinarily accurate. [Try http://similarminds.com/]

· Play a fun game! I heartily recommend the following: Give everyone a sheet of paper and some colored pencils, then divide in pairs. Take turns making blind contour drawings of your partner—as in try to draw their faces without looking at the paper as you go.

· Keep the first meeting totally casual, and make it a potluck. Have everyone

bring a vegetarian (no meat), vegan (no animal products), or local (produced within a 100 mile radius) dish of their choice. Many of you will have tried preparing something new, and it will be interesting to see what other culinary creations people contribute.

· Sit in a circle. On a piece of paper write a random fact about yourself. Or,

write two or three facts on separate pieces of paper. Then crumple the paper up and toss it into the middle of the circle. Take turns picking up slips of paper from the pile and guessing who wrote what.

4. Spare-Change for Change At the beginning of each meeting, it’s a nice idea to pool spare change among the group to put toward a single, larger donation at a later date. The group can either decide on a cause beforehand (like sponsoring a friend’s marathon or supporting a local charity) or find something totally new altogether on a platform like KickStarter9. KickStarter is an online fundraising program for creative projects. You even receive gifts for donating, depending on how much you can contribute. Having once completed a KickStarter campaign myself, I cannot stress enough how a little can go a very long way, and that every amount counts! Similar websites include Indiegogo10 and Go Fund Me11. You can search by project theme or geographic location. If you are planning on meeting once a week, pool your change at the end of the month. Maybe you meet once a month for an entire semester. If so, set aside a piggy-bank jar and cash it in during winter break. It may seem petty to collect

petty change, but the power of a small donation can help bring progressive ideas and concepts into being which would otherwise lie dormant. 5. Making Announcements At the beginning of every meeting, share upcoming events, campaigns, or opportunities that may interest the rest of the group. Write them down and post the list somewhere in the room for people to consult later, and make plans to attend together. Facebook groups are also a really good space for keeping your friends up to date on local happenings. Never underestimate the power that accompanies the act of putting your physical body in a particular place at a particular time. Movements and demonstrations make the news when attendance is high. Try to attend as many as possible. HOW TO CHOOSE A WEEKLY TOPIC 1. Take Turns Leading the Discussion Okay, I seem to have lured you in this far, so let’s get serious. It is time to talk about the informative portion of the evening: the discussion. Assign different group members specific dates for leading the discussion, and to decide in advance what the topic will be. I know, I know – this is starting to sound an awful lot like work: the last thing you would want to do with your spare time. Or, perhaps you are even one of those kids who feigned illness before show-and-tell, or is more likely to choose public speaking over death12 when asked your greatest fear. If so, I hope that being amongst friends eases the tension for you slightly, because there is absolutely no pressure, and this whole scenario is meant to be fun. Plus, no one is allowed to make you feel stupid. It’s a rule. (Seriously. Check out the last section of this guide.) Now that I have soothed your qualms, (or you have taken matters into your own hands and stress-eaten a few squares of chocolate, either way, we can move on) now is the time to think about what you could contribute in terms of a theme, topic, or idea. If you are feeling stumped about what to talk about, reference Appendix 2 at the end of this guide, and keep the following tips in mind.

• Everyone is an Expert: I know that this is a difficult concept to grasp, because most of us would not presume to be an expert in a subject. We would never suppose to know an entire topic, back-to-front, inside out. But give yourself the benefit of the doubt; really open up your inner library and poke around. Maybe you know every single Beatles lyric of all time, or have watched all the footage of John Lennon’s and Yoko Ono’s famous Amsterdam “Bed-In” you can find on YouTube. (Seriously, give peace a chance13.) Maybe you grew up learning some self-sufficiency camping skills from your rugged family, or perhaps you have been recycling for so long that you can tell everyone else what those mysterious numbers on the bottom of our yogurt containers mean and how to deal accordingly. Chances are, you have unwittingly spent hours doing something, and that something is something everyone can most likely benefit from.

• Current Events: Use current events as a way to get the ball rolling. Hear of something happening locally that has you excited or, conversely, really bummed out? Maybe a school shooting has prompted you to become interested in gun control legislation, or protesters outside the local courthouse have you questioning how much money the top 1% really have. Perhaps you read something in the news that you want to learn more about: for example, genetically modified crops. Research some background on the topic and jot down some pros and cons. Even if your friends aren’t tremendously informed on the subject at the time of the meeting and discussion is low, your presentation might lead to members of the group asking questions at the grocery store later on that week. Better yet, nothing is stopping you from whipping out a laptop at the meeting and collectively getting to the bottom of exactly what biotech food is all about.

• Important Causes: Have you taken up a cause at any time in your life? Maybe you have raised money for breast cancer, boycotted a name brand due to their unethical practices, or adopted an animal from the SPCA rather than a breeder. How do you feel about the cause? Have you incorporated it into your everyday lifestyle somehow? If not, what sticks out the most about it in your memory? If you have recently been to a talk, film screening, or meeting for a particular issue, share notes from your experience. You can also take this opportunity to add your friend’s names and email addresses to mailing lists hosted by specific organizations that you support, or connect them to causes via social media sites.

• The Importance of Storytelling:

These get-togethers are a perfect space to tell a story about a personal experience that rubbed you the wrong way, one that is emblematic of a larger societal issue. Have you recently felt stereotyped or discriminated against? Is someone in your family dealing with a misunderstood illness? Are you thinking about going vegan but aren’t getting a lot of support? Share your story, and allow others to share theirs in response. Most importantly, invite questions and don’t be afraid to ask them yourself. You are in a safe space, not accidentally late and in the front row of your high school literature class being asked to interpret Holden Caulfield’s red hunting cap. If the discussion gets heated, use this as an opportunity to work on listening to others’ experiences and opinions, and responding effectively with tactful respect.

GET CREATIVE As much as I love a round-table discussion where everyone’s minds are buzzing a-new with intellectual stimulation, I am also a sucker for participatory learning and creative self-expression. The following twenty-odd ideas are catered toward people who similarly enjoy hands-on experimenting - with an artistic twist. Above all, these exercises are meant to be fun. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature14, best known for the role in determining the status of a species’ population as threatened and endangered, put it the best when they said, “The best way to rekindle a lost love is not to talk about what went wrong…it’s to remember what we loved in the first place”. In other words, we need to enjoy making the world a better place; we have to love something about the world and remember those aspects worth saving. “Oh yeah, I love being cornered and bombarded with depressing stories of starvation, poverty, and rainforest-loss in places far, far away from me. My idea of a good weekend is to inundate myself with information that makes me feel guilty, antagonized, belittled, sinful and gross”, said nobody. Ever. While the world needs a lot of change that should not be glossed over, rallying support for a cause will not work if we exclude or ostracize others – or ourselves. Remember, there is no point in raising awareness and becoming more informed if we make ourselves feel sick or overwhelmed in the process. The ideas below provide an alternative to the doom-and-gloom mobilizing we are bombarded with in the media and on the streets. Influencing the world begins with how we influence ourselves and how we impact those immediately around us. 1. Screen a Film

The great thing about watching a film together is that it doesn’t require any work outside the meeting in order to prepare. There are literally hundreds of films with really important messages about the world we live in – and not all of them are abstract, long-winded documentaries. Also, have you ever checked out your local library’s DVD collection? Sure, some libraries are more sophisticated than others, but it is worth a look. Rent 3 or 4 films, just in case some end up being duds; it doesn’t matter how many you walk away with, because they are free! Settle on some kind of theme beforehand with your friends: environmental conservation, human rights, food and agriculture, healthcare, or even a time period you want to explore. A few quality suggestions are listed below with brief explanations, lifted from each film’s website. Watch the trailers on YouTube or go to the Internet Movie Database Website15 to find out more about each film.

· No Impact Man (2009) Directed by Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein: For one year Colin Beaven and his family unplugged from the electrical grid, produced no trash, traveled exclusively by foot or bike, and bought nothing except food (all of it locally grown.) By the end they discovered something surprising: living simply wasn’t just good for the environment; it made them healthier, happier and richer in ways they’d never expected.

· Persepolis (2007) Directed by Marjane Satrapi: A poignant coming-of-age story of a precocious and outspoken young Iranian girl that begins during the Islamic Revolution. This animated film is based off of a autobiographical graphic novel.

· The Corporation (2004) Directed by Joel Bakan: Part film and part movement, The Corporation is transforming audiences and dazzling critics with its insightful and compelling analysis. Taking its status as a legal "person" to the logical conclusion, the film puts the corporation on the psychiatrist's couch to ask "What kind of person is it?"

· Half the Sky (2012) Directed by Nicolas Kristoff: This film was filmed in 10 countries and follows Kristof, WuDunn, and celebrity activists America Ferrera, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union, and Olivia Wilde on a journey to tell the stories of inspiring, courageous individuals. Across the globe oppression is being confronted, and real meaningful solutions are being fashioned through health care, education, and economic empowerment for women and girls. The linked problems of sex trafficking and forced prostitution, gender-based violence, and maternal mortality — which needlessly claim one woman every 90 seconds — present to us the single most vital opportunity of our time: the opportunity to make a change.

· Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media (1992)

Directed by Mark Achbar and Peter Wintonick: A film about the noted American linguist/political dissident and his warning about corporate media's role in modern propaganda.

· Food Inc. (2009) Directed by Robert Kenner: Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment.

· Human Planet BBC Series (2011): Uniquely in the animal kingdom,

humans have managed to adapt and thrive in every environment on Earth. Each episode takes you to the extremes of our planet: the arctic, mountains, oceans, jungles, grasslands, deserts, rivers and even the urban jungle. Here you will meet people who survive by building complex, exciting and often mutually beneficial relationships with their animal neighbors and the hostile elements of the natural world. Human Planet crews have filmed in around 80 locations, bringing you many stories that have never been told on television before.

· Gasland (2010) Directed by Josh Fox: "The largest domestic natural gas

drilling boom in history has swept across the United States. The Halliburton-developed drilling technology of "fracking" or hydraulic fracturing has unlocked a "Saudia Arabia of natural gas" just beneath us. But is fracking safe? When filmmaker Josh Fox is asked to lease his land for drilling, he embarks on a cross-country odyssey uncovering a trail of secrets, lies and contamination.

2. Invite a speaker Do you know of anyone in town who is passionate about a particular subject who might be willing to give a thirty minute, casual intro into what it is that makes them tick? Chances are, the couple that owns the organic restaurant downtown would be willing to speak to you about seasonal produce. The woman who owns the vintage clothing shop might be able to speak to the virtues of thriftiness. Even though you won’t be able to pay them, explain that you want to become more informed about what they do, and that the most delicious refreshments will also be served in their honor. You never know, they could jump at the opportunity to explain the thought-process behind what prompted

them to break free from the mainstream and to share that journey with a group of open minds.

3. Organize a Field Trip Nothing is quite as transformative as stepping outside of your comfort zone. You will learn a new perspective to temper your own. You will question routines, rules, and truths in the face of alternative ways of thinking and being. You will grow in a way that causes you to critically determine the way things are and the way things should be. At the very least, these are ideas you can use to replace the monotony of your date-night, family-night, or brunch with your friends. Think of the following opportunities as ways to imprint your personal, authentic point-of-view onto a new space. Hopefully, you will leave with an imprint of your own in exchange.

a. Community garden/roof-top garden: If you live in a city or suburban area, do a quick search to see if there are any community gardens near you, that is, a single plot of land that is collectively gardened by many people. Schedule a tour, preferably in the spring, summer, or fall, to find out what people are planting and growing, and why they choose to garden. Dig a bit deeper into urban agriculture (unavoidable pun intended) and check out some local rooftop gardens for an equally as interesting tour – with a neat view. If you are techno-savvy, consider making a website or online forum where gardeners and potential gardeners in your town or city can come together and schedule free information sessions, develop mentorships, and sell (or donate) surplus produce. You may even end up having access to affordable, local veggies.

b. Bike around your city: On a day where the weather doesn’t look too dreary, rent bikes for the day and see your town or city from a new perspective. If you don’t feel safe enough to take it to the streets, find areas with bike lanes and parks that keep you away from the thick of traffic. To prepare, search online for cycling maps and cycling groups in your area, and dress accordingly. Biking in a dress, no matter how adorable it may look when you see Parisian girls doing it in indie films, is not for beginners, and don’t forget a properly sized helmet. (Depending on your location, you may want to place a handkerchief on your head before slipping on a common use helmet.)

c. Coordinate a volunteer opportunity: Keep your eyes open around town for invitations to volunteer at community centers, animal rescue organizations, or hospices. Use websites like Idealist16 to locate volunteer requests and opportunities near you. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t any experience in the past. Assets you have developed over time like resourcefulness, coordination, physical strength, budgeting, creativity, and the ability to multi-task will all come in handy.

d. Plan a hike/trail cleanup: If you already have a favorite hike or trail walk in mind, consider revisiting it – but this time, with a twist: take trash bags and collect litter! Maybe you were hoping for something a little more exciting, but preening Mother Nature is good for the mind, not to mention the environment, and all of those squats picking up beer cans are good for the glutes and hamstrings.

e. Visit a museum together: Wander around a museum in town for the better part of a morning and see what grabs your attention. Splurge on tickets for the current exhibit or IMAX production if it looks interesting; chances are you will learn something mind-blowing about the world around you. Over coffee afterward, discuss how the museum (or film) helped you understand different facets of history or your place in contemporary society. Most of all, museums – especially those that are free of charge – are perfect opportunities to expand our knowledge of art, innovation, and culture from across the world and throughout history. Our common history belongs to us all, and seeing it makes real the possibility that with some inspiration and access, we can find the spark of that very genius within ourselves.

f. Attend a farmer’s market: Find your local farmers market, and with your reusable bags in tow, I charge you with not only attending (and potentially eating an amazing local donut that will have been baked with fresh organic ingredients and from scratch on the spot), but to also source all your ingredients for a dinner or brunch that week. Invite your friends to think along the same lines and you could put together a potluck of epic proportions.

g. Better yet, plan a visit to a local farm. Some farms have “open-house” days, providing an opportunity for locals to meet food producers. Sometimes you can even pick your own produce or go for a tractor-trailer ride.

h. Visit an art gallery featuring international artists/photographers: There is nothing quite as immersive as seeing the world through someone else’s eyes. Keep up to date on what your local art galleries and art museums have on display, and

try to take note of any photography festivals happening in the area. Evocative, transcendent imagery allows us to gain intimate access to places and people who may seem light-years away but nevertheless occupy this planet in tandem with us, and share many of our aspirations and questions in life.

i. Go to garage sales, flea markets, or estate sales and consider buying something second-hand: Be forewarned: the feeling of finding a real treasure is addictive. It is better than finding a four-leaf-clover, a five-dollar-bill, or even the awesome t-shirt you loved but then leant to a friend and when they finally returned it, it was a surprise because you had forgotten it was gone. This is so. Much. Better. Than. That.

j. Guerilla gardening: Otherwise known as “political gardening”, guerilla gardening is gardening made deliciously devious through subversive behavior. “Seedbomb” drab spaces – (as long at the species aren’t invasive. Invasive species can disturb or over-run ecosystems). Plant flowerbeds in abandoned lots. In the dead of night, set up a legion of sunflowers on the side of the road. It isn’t really vandalism: consider it pro-activism. Search online for more information; the movement has quite the revolutionary following.

4. Song or Poetry Night Tonight, play songs for one another that have had a significant impact on your identity, worldview, or personal growth. Alternatively, you can take turns writing or reading poems that express your feelings about society, economics, politics, or the environment. Draw from poetry written by Maya Angelou, Henry David Thoreau or lyrics from a Bob Marley song. Get everyone to bring at least once piece to read out loud, and consider taking some time during the meeting to freestyle and improvise your own poetic stylings. Never underestimate the power of a good Haiku. (Makeshift bongos and big mugs of tea: highly recommended. Giving snaps at the end of each poem – a must.) 5. Fix Up Used Furniture Okay, this idea requires a bit of preparation and may be a day-long event rather than a few hour affair, but, ladies especially, do not be dissuaded by how involved, difficult, and Martha Stewart-y it sounds. It is easy to end up with a fabulous piece of furniture on the cheap.

To find a piece to work with, visit flea markets or charity shops, and keep your eyes pealed for discarded pieces around your neighborhood dumpsters. The phrase “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” has never rung so true as it does with a hardwood coffee table. The key to re-working an old bookshelf or chair is to find something worn but sturdy. The piece won’t be in perfect condition; pay attention to the type of material (wood vs. plastic), the general shape, and (I cannot stress this enough, even though it sounds strange) the smell (even with wood). Head to a local hardware store and choose a paint (or stain) color with an appropriate luster. Clean the piece you’ve collected, fill any cracks or holes with paintable spackle (putty), and then sand it smooth. Lay down a large tarp or old towels in the garage, the front yard, anywhere large enough for your friends to plop their projects. It is wise to keep a wet rag handy for any unplanned Jackson Pollock flourishes that wind up on the floor.

Begin painting from the top and slowly work your way down to catch extra drips, and go with the grain of the wood rather than against it. Keep each coat thin and wait for it to dry fully.

If you are working on a chair with a bit of upholstery on the seat only, consider reupholstering it yourself, but we won’t blame you if you take it in to have it professionally done. The procedure isn’t too expensive, and you can even re-use interesting fabrics. As a rule, shy away from attempting to rework furniture completely upholstered in fabric – it will be labor intensive and/or expensive to fix-up.

Consider re-purposing used doors and turning them into headboards for your bed. Stepladders can become nightstands or towel racks. You can stack backless benches to create bookshelves. Stools can become end tables. Tall lamps are suddenly coat racks! Have you ever seen “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”? Well, did you ever notice that her couch is made out of a bathtub sawn in half? Yeah. The point is that the sky is the limit and there is a lot of inspiration on the Internet worthy of an entire evening of procrastination, avoiding whatever it is you are meant to be doing.

6. Have a Clothing, Book, Soup, or Recipe Swap Clothing swaps and book swaps have become national phenomena and may even be happening in your hometown on a large scale. How about hosting your own? Make it as large as you can, inviting friends of all shapes and sizes.

Basically, you bring unwanted, lightly used clothing items (washed or dry-cleaned in advance!), and for every piece you donate to the pile, you are allowed to take one in return. Alternatively, you can use a point system where really nice garments are worth more points and therefore more pieces of lesser quality. Don’t set a minimum or maximum of garments, and remember to include accessories like bags, belts, and scarves. Unopened beauty products that haven’t expired are a great addition, as well as shoes that haven’t hit the dance floor one-too-many times. It is a nice idea to set up mirrors, clothing racks, and changing rooms if you can. Also be sure to differentiate the clothing that’s up for grabs from the shirt you wore to the party but temporarily left on the couch while you tried on something else. You don’t want anyone walking off with your favorite top. Take the overflow to a local charity once everyone is satisfied with their lot. A uni-sex alternative along the same lines would be a book swap. The concept is similar: bring old books and magazines and leave with new ones. It is a nice idea to leave a note on the inside cover explaining why you bought the book and what you liked about it. For soup-lovers (also widely and more popularly known as “soupies”), events called “Soup Swaps” have become commonplace. The basic gist is that you invite your friends to come along to your place, each toting six 1-quart containers of frozen soup. Once everyone has arrived, take turns explaining your soup recipe, and make sure everyone goes home with six 1-quart containers of different soups in return. A good rule of thumb to ensure the process is fair is to select soups in a single file line, and to do this again for each round with a slightly different sequence so people have turns choosing first and last. This sounded boring (sorry soupies) until I started looking into soup recipes myself. Carrot and squash curry, West African peanut soup, roasted red pepper, fennel, and lentil stew. And just think: you leave with six separate meals that you don’t have to cook yourself! Sign me up! Take this exercise in a slightly different direction, and swap recipes for your favorite healthy foods. As a bonus, bring the home-cooked dish to the get-together so everyone can have a sample, and use the opportunity to be more aware of and discuss the issue of food waste. In a report published by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, it was found that “Today, we produce about four billion metric tonnes of food per annum. Yet due to poor practices

in harvesting, storage and transportation, as well as market and consumer wastage, it is estimated that 30–50% (or 1.2–2 billion tonnes) of all food produced never reaches a human stomach.” Ask discussion questions like,

• What items do you end up throwing out the most? Could you freeze them?

• Do you know the difference between "sell-by”, “use-by”, “best-by” and expiration dates? (Learn about food labelling here.)

• How do you personally prevent “impulse buys” at the grocery store? • For every 1 billion people who are hungry, about 1 billion people are

overweight. Did you know this? If not, how does the information make you feel?

7. Set Up a Tool Library A tool library is an establishment where patrons can borrow hand and power tools, equipment, and “how-to” manuals for projects pertaining to construction, gardening, or repairs. If you don’t have one in your hometown, consider setting one up among your group members. Simply instruct everyone to make a list of tools they own. A simplified list could look like this: hammer, wrench, rake, power-washer, lawnmower, drill, and shovel. Someone else’s list might read weed-whacker, paper cutter, 2 inch angled paintbrush, pliers, extension ladder, and pitchfork. Compile all of the tools into a spreadsheet, categorizing them alphabetically or by common purpose, with the owner’s name and phone number next to the corresponding item. Then, reproduce the spreadsheet and email one out to everyone in the group. As new people join your tool-sharing community, add their items to the list in the same way and send out an updated chart. Knowing you have access to tools you would ordinarily have to go out and buy may increase the chances of undertaking a Do-It-Yourself project – perhaps even using repurposed materials. Build a birdhouse with your son or daughter, construct a storage bench from recycled wooden pallets (found at newspaper headquarters or distribution centers), or install window insulation to save precious energy – all without footing the bill for a repairman or the tools. 8. Create Comics Turn the doodles in the margins of your notebooks into a full-on outlet for your frustration with the status quo, by drafting some comics. Draw out some panels

and fill them in with scenes of humanity participating in the things that annoy you most, For example – draw a picture of a socialite, dressed in designer clothes and an opulent fur coat, sitting first class on an airplane. It’s zooming full-speed through the air while spewing out loads of CO2 in a grungy contrail. She declines a mimosa offered to her by a stewardess, “Is the champagne organic? How much longer to Ibiza?” Or, poke fun at actions you consciously participate in that could be viewed as humorous. For example, scribble a version of yourself singing Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” (“They took paradise and put up a parking lot…”) during a 25-minute shower, a heap of plastic bottles full of chemical-laden hair products accumulated in the corner. While you are introducing some comedy into your life, watch a bit of social commentary alla George Carlin, Jon Stewart, or Bill Hicks: comedians known for their relentless, disenchanted takes on the American dream. (And their dirty mouths. Be forewarned…)

9. Host a Used-Clothing Fashion Show “Costume Party” Step 1: Set up a quirky backdrop next to a table scattered with ridiculous props, and fix your camera on a tripod facing the set. The scene can be whatever you want: an underwater vista, an antique family portrait, a cheesy rendition of the Eiffel Tower, etc. It can even be the back seat of your car. Get creative. Step 2. Require every person to arrive at your place in a fabulous outfit that is completely second-hand. Step 3. Eat, drink, and be merry. Step 4: Do photo-shoots throughout the night and swoon over your fashionísta see-stas and brothers. Step 5. Post to Facebook and wait for jealous remarks about your swanky, vintage duds.

10. Exhibit Photos From Recent Travel

Have you or any of your friends traveled to a distant land recently? If so, put together a presentation of photographs from the trip and talk about the food, the religious beliefs, the pop-culture trends and the cultural sites visited. Be sure to include some travel stories that made you receptive to local beliefs or exposed new ideas that can be incorporated into your lives – even if it only consists of trying to find a local spot serving authentic Turkish coffee or hosting live flamenco dancing. Get everyone to dig a little deeper by asking the following questions.

1. What did your experience teach you about your own culture? 2. What comfort zones did you abandon? 3. Who were some of the people who touched your heart?

4. At what point did you feel like you were having an authentic travel experience? Do you think a local would challenge the authenticity of that experience?

5. Did you encounter any cultural misunderstandings on your journey? How did you solve them? Did you solve them, or are you still wondering why no one in Paris ever responds to your attempts to speak French, but replies in English instead? And what’s up with Japanese toilets? (No offense to Parisians or Japanese toilets – you are awesome.)

11. Eco-Conscious Craft Night Okay, there are endless ideas for eco-conscious crafts on the Internet, but try to follow these basic guidelines…

o Use recycled materials that you have laying around, like wine bottles, corks, old clothing, damaged books…

o Stay away from tools that require a lot of electricity o Skip standard spray paints when you can. It contains volatile

organic compounds (VOCs) that are bad for your health and the environment. Opt for rollers and paintbrushes or spray guns, and try to find low-VOC latex paints, spray paints, or plant-based dyes.

o Instead of buying new glue, buttons, scissors, whatever, ask everyone to bring their own.

Ladies, this is a really great opportunity for you to make your own all-natural, toxin-free cosmetics. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has compiled some recipes17 for facemasks, lip balm, shampoo, and more. To find out more this informational video entitled “The Story of Cosmetics18” by “The Story of Stuff Project” reveals the pervasive use of hazardous chemicals in our cosmetics. I am also attaching one of my favorite crafts: DIY Hanging Air Plants.

DIY Hanging Air Plants

[Thank you Design Sponge!19] Air plants are really low maintenance; you just need to spray them occasionally in order to keep them thriving. In nature, air plants find a larger host plant and naturally suck moisture out of the air to survive. This project only requires five materials and takes four steps. Hang them anywhere, but consider placing them in your bathroom where they can naturally live off of your shower steam.

Materials

· Clean plastic bottle lids (like

shampoo lids or cleaning product lids)

· String · Paint of your color choice · Air plants (can found at most

garden shops) · Hammer and thin nail (or

something else to pierce a hole through plastic)

Instructions

1. Pierce a hole in the top of the plastic lid with a nail. 2. Apply several layers of paint to the lid (drying between each coat) to achieve the desired color in a smooth finish. 3. Thread a piece of string through the hole in the lid and gently tie a knot around the base of the air plant. 4. Hang near your bathroom window so they can get sunlight and will be watered by steam, or be prepared to water them now and then by either soaking or misting with a spray bottle.

12. Register to Vote The process for registering to vote is different around the world, so I won’t get into the details here. You can go online or visit your local election offices for a step-by-step explanation. What I want to emphasize is the importance of getting engaged in the election process. The bottom line is that in England, about six out of 10 people vote. In America, only 48% of the population heads to the polls. In Australia, voting is compulsory

so just about everyone does it. If you can find the time to vote on election days, it is undeniably an important way to make your voice heard. Now, I understand voter apathy as much as the next person. The system is broken in the sense that politicians are largely assuaged from action due to donor pressure from corporations, and that short election cycles prevent meaningful change from occurring over the long term. Your vote may not decide the election, and corruption may even steal that vote from you. Getting to the polls is inconvenient and time-consuming, and reading up about various political platforms beforehand can be confusing and stressful. But here is why it is important. Democracy relies on its voters. If voter turn out drops too low, the legitimacy of the democratic system is at risk. You know, democracy, that thing millions of human rights campaigners have fought for and won, providing you with the opportunity to be counted as a full citizen. Another important point is that, not voting will not make marketing or politics disappear. It merely changes the person the marketers and politicians are trying to please. Studies have shown20 that negative campaigns are purposefully hoping to keep swing-voters at home: disenchanted and apathetic. Casting your vote is only step one of a spiral staircase of change. However, use the opportunity to get registered as a symbolic commitment to your interest in how the world around you operates. Make your voice worth the attention of political representatives; if you stay at home, you cease to be a threat to the system, and that can be dangerous. 13. Set Up a Food Co-op with Friends Would you like to buy more organic food but can’t afford to foot the bill each week? Consider buying some items in bulk to ensure lower prices, and then distribute equally among a group of people splitting the price. How? Dedicate an entire meeting to solidifying a product list of items you all desire, and then research local suppliers. For example, non-perishables like salt and pepper, flour, almonds, beans, spices, coffee, flax seed, honey, peanut butter, and oats can usually be found in bulk at various local, organic groceries. Visit or call the health food markets in town, and ask what they have in stock, as well as the prices of each item.

During the next meeting, take a trip to the different suppliers and stock up! Not only will you save yourself money, you can cut down on packaging as well. Bring your own reusable containers and re-sealable glass jars to the meeting. Once you have finished your organic food safari, divvy up the goods. Make sure you have a scale, a calculator, and some scoops on hand to keep the process organized and hygienic. 14. Start a Local Zine Once you really start to get passionate about local issues, take your ideas to the streets in the form of a grassroots magazine. If your friends are good writers, editors, and graphic designers, a zine is a fantastic creative medium for spreading your insights. Be on high alert for ideas for publications, potential writers, and possible interviews. You will want to start by obsessively downloading and collecting various zines already on the market in order to get a feel for layout, style, and tone. Then, decide on the various components that will make your manifesto a streamlined, creative success. You’ll also want a catchy, easy-to-remember name that matches the identity of your material. Do a quick Google search to make sure your title is original. From there, prepare the material for the first few issues in advance (articles, comics, interviews, photos, activities, etc.), and then arrange a rough layout for the content. You can cut, paste, and scan and hand-write “old-school” style, or you can use a word processing program (Microsoft Word). Better yet, you could use some fancier software from Adobe, but that requires more practice and know-how, not to mention money. Once you are ready to insert the text, be sure to choose legible fonts. You will want images to accompany your writing, but take care in how you collect and use them. If you take images from the Internet, be sure to give proper credit to the original source unless the image is copyrighted, in which case leave it alone or ask for permission. If in doubt, contact the creator or agency and explain how the image will be used. Costs can be supplemented or completely covered by advertising space. In order to get people and businesses interested, send your first zine out for free to local coffee shops, record stores, bookstores, artists, and any other small commercial businesses you can think of. A week or so later, email them again with a proposition. You could also barter an article about their business or project in return – just be sure to indicate that the business sponsors your zine

somewhere in the article. You can try larger commercial centers as well, but they will most likely be weary of your small distribution network and radical, world-changing agenda. Or, skip printing costs and paper waste altogether and create an E-zine. You can attach a document to an email listserv, post your zine to a website, or create a professional-looking newsletter using an interface like Mail Chimp21. 15. Go Out to Eat or Drink and Support a Local Business Next time you are struggling to make a decision on where to have lunch, narrow down the options by supporting a local business rather than a chain restaurant or corporate coffee shop. Not only will you be ensuring diversity in your town by preventing “big business” from homogenizing your communities, you are keeping your dollars local rather than letting them accumulate in the pockets of millionaire (billionare) CEOs, and local businesses are much more likely to have the freedom to cater to your individual interests and needs. In this day and age, specialty shops tend to carry products that are ethically sound and of higher quality: in general, foregoing mass-production. They can also avoid selling products that use animal testing or that contain harmful ingredients while large stores are stuck with a particular inventory controlled by a small number of buyers at the top. If you can, try out a restaurant that supports local, small-scale farmers as well. The food used in your dishes will be fresher, have a lower carbon footprint and, again, the dollars that reach farmers will circulate within the local economy. In a way, you are voting with your wallet by empowering your local economy rather than supporting large corporations. However, remember that you cannot completely replace organized political action with individual choice. While it is true that the mottos “quality over quantity” and “less is more”, should guide your purchasing habits, widespread boycotts and policy measures are the most effective way to impact the world around us. 16. Admit to Your (Car) Emissions Anyone with a car may not be aware of the following tips on reducing emissions, and no, none of them involve switching to a bicycle or buying a hybrid. Read the following advice out loud and take turns discussing emission-heavy instances during the past week or so that could have been avoided. Afterward, discuss possibilities for car-pooling as it pertains to any group members whose schedules overlap.

• The next time you are stuck waiting in a traffic jam, waiting for a train, or dropping off a friend, shut off your engine until you are ready to get going again. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, around one minute is the limit past which idling time uses more gas than restarting your vehicle.

• Be more mindful while driving. Accelerating gently and braking minimally will reduce the output of the engine significantly, as will anticipating the flow of traffic.

• Check your tire pressure. Under inflated tires cause tire wear, reduce fuel economy, and lead to higher greenhouse gas and other air pollutant emissions. You can typically locate your car’s optimum tire pressure listed on the driver's-side door pillar (for newer vehicles) or in the owner’s manual.

• Have your oil changed as directed by the manufacturer. Waiting too long or not paying attention to mileage can do terrible damage to your automobile, significantly decreasing its longevity. It’s a mechanical (not to mention financial) disaster waiting to happen.

• If your car is diesel powered, consider switching to a biodiesel blend such as B5: a fuel blend that contains 5% biodiesel. The Alternative Fuels Data Center website22 can help you locate alternative fueling stations near you.

Interestingly enough, many decisions you make while driving that reduce emissions also improve your fuel economy, saving you money. It is a perfect win-win, especially in scenarios where public transportation, walking, or biking are not realistic options. 17. Check Your Clothing Tags Who made your clothing, and where did it come from? Look up the brand's environmental and social policies. Is that business “green”? Do they ensure a living wage for the worker? Campaigns like Oxfam’s “Behind the Brands”23 website can help you determine from a third-party perspective if companies are truly living up to their claims of sustainability. Spend the meeting writing a company a letter expressing that you would feel more comfortable buying their clothing – and would potentially buy more – if they were more active environmentally and socially. An example of such a letter is provided below. To whom it May Concern at INSERT CLOTHING STORE I am an occasional patron of your store in _________, where we have enjoyed shopping for basic pieces for our wardrobes as well as an assortment of dresses, accessories, and swimwear. We are reliably pleased with the range of selection and the way INSERT STORE NAME manages to translate runway fashions into functional, everyday wear.

However, we are also attentive to human rights abuses and environmental issues such as climate change, and are aware that businesses can contribute to these problems in both positive and negative ways. Although we recognize your occasional ethics campaign and the fact that an assortment of your clothing is made with organic cotton, we would purchase more from your company if we knew that every garment was manufactured ethically and with a concern for natural resources. Many items and services we now consume as a family adopt a philosophy that considers the production process of its goods from beginning to end, including those components that affect the well-being of the people making the clothes such as work wages, work conditions, and exposure to chemicals and pollution involved in the manufacture and disposal of the product. We hope that INSERT STORE NAME is also making efforts to shift its methods of production toward a more sustainable alternative. Thank you for considering our concerns. Sincerely, INSERT YOUR NAME(S) 18. Clear Cluttered Spaces Nothing makes spring-cleaning easier than some extra hands. Have you been meaning to clear out your pantry, closet, garage, den, or basement but just haven’t brought yourself to tackle the mess? Go ahead and enlist your friends to help you clear out that cluttered space. They won’t mind if you offer loads of tasty treats or offer to do the same for them in return. Start by sorting items into three piles: “keep”, “donate”, and “discard”. As your friends unearth relics of your past, direct them where to place the goods. Take unwanted, lightly used items to a charity shop, second-hand store, or let your friends have first dibs. Afterward you can pat yourself on the back for contributing new treasures to the cycle of re-useable stuff and invigorating a steady state economy – a concept worth exploring in another meeting. 19. Who is Your Hero? Role models and mentors serve as important guiding lights for those lucky enough to have one. Who is yours? What are three things about them that you admire and hope to one day emulate? How have they shaped your ambitions and character? A session where everyone tunes in to the individuals that have kept them driven, focused, and centered serves to emphasize the importance of having a tight-knit network of positive influences, and illustrates how crucial it is to our development and the development of those around us to have a sense of guidance, assistance, and companionship. Many of the provisions of life that we rely on come from outside of ourselves; they come from other people or

from nature. Additionally, while individual innovation can be unique, the body of knowledge on which that innovation rests is communal. As much as Western society and political philosophy celebrates the autonomous individual, we must never forget that human beings are mammals and social beings that have survived due to their predilection for social communication and collaboration. Those people in our lives that have been particularly inspiring can always serve as a source of creativity, strength, and provide the energetic field to which we can align our moral compasses. 20. Group Meditation The benefits of meditation are numerous and so extensive that it wouldn’t make sense to go into detail in such a small amount of space. Most notably and fundamentally important is that there are measurable differences in the brain activity between people who meditate regularly and those who do not meditate, and meditation. Among many other psychological and physiological improvements, meditation practice results in a happier, calmer disposition. It has also been linked to reduced needs for medical care, improved focus and concentration, and decreased tendency to worry. Meditation is repeatedly cited as one of the most holistic, beneficial practices to incorporate into one’s lifestyle. After even just one try, you will feel refreshed, more aware, calm, and content than before. During a group meditation session, try to go through 20, 45, or 60 minutes of silence, in a circle, with each person absorbed in their own slice of peace. There are several ways you can set up a group meditation because there are numerous ways to clear your mind and learn to discipline your thoughts. Below are instructions adapted from my personal experience, although you can find many variations and helpful tips online. It is also fairly easy to find spoken “guided meditation” audio files developed by skilled meditators, an option that may be better for first-timers or those who enjoy visualization.

1. Sit in a comfortable position that is as effortless for you as possible, but be sure to maintain good posture. If you don’t have good posture during the day, this could be slightly painful at first. It may help to do some stretches beforehand. In the beginning stages of your practice, it is recommended that you sit up straight either on the ground or in a chair as opposed to lying down where there is a danger you will fall asleep.

2. Close your eyes, and with your consciousness, focus on the space just in front of your eyes and forehead.

3. Anchor your self and your thoughts while paying attention to your breath. More specifically, focus on being able to feel your breath as it enters your nose then exits through your mouth, and try to clear your mind. Gently

reject any stray thoughts or ideas that arise. Think of each thought as a passing bus that you choose not to board. Let them drift by, and continue to maintain focus on breathing. The thoughts will come, but over time, they will be less prevalent. Try not to get angry or agitated at the amount of information that keeps entering your mind. You can even politely ask such thoughts to leave.

4. Feel comfortable in the silence. This is your opportunity to wind down after a busy day, the majority of which was probably spent on autopilot as your mind was occupied with other thoughts. Be fully present in this space, in the moment, conscious, and aware. But here, you are an observer. Breathe. Find patience. Find peace.

RULES As you embark on this new addition to your lifestyle, leveraging the bonds of trust and friendship you have with your nearest and dearest fellow humans in search of something new, something more, keep in mind the following rules. Rule 1. Support each other. Continuously reinforce one another’s interesting ideas and strengths. Complement progress, and help each other feel smart. Rule 2. Skip the paper plates/SOLO cups/styrofoam. It doesn’t make any sense to tear into some plastic packaging to whip out a slew of plastic plates that were sourced from oil in one part of the world, molded into plates in another, shipped to a packaging facility elsewhere, and then delivered to your grocery store just so you could buy them and throw them away after one use instead of using a plate you already own. Rule 3. Keep it free-of-charge. Rule 4. End it on a positive note. If anything, be grateful for your ability to organize openly with peers, to explore and question the state of the humanity and the state of the planet. Many people aren’t so fortunate in that capacity, and would want you to grasp onto the incredible democratic powers available to you. Once you become aware of the world in ways you previously ignored, neglected, or weren’t exposed to, it will become obvious how urgently we need to act, and on what scale we need to strategically and meaningfully unite. I am hoping that once you follow this guide a few times, it will become obsolete to you. You will criticize it for not being transformative enough, political enough, or accessible enough. If indeed you do eventually find yourself in such a state of mind, then I will have succeeded. Go on now, go off and make us proud. History is in our hands.

THE BEGINNING

Appendix 1: Recipes 1. Almond Butter Rice Crispy Treats: Who can resist a comfort-food favorite like rice-crispy treats? (Thanks www.OhSheGlows.com!)

Ingredients

Prepares 12 squares

• ½ cup chunky almond butter

• ½ cup brown rice syrup

• 1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract

• 1 tbsp. Earth Balance (or non-

dairy spread)

• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, or to taste

• 3.5 cups Rice Crisp Cereal

Chocolate Drizzle • ¼ - ½ cup vegan chocolate

chips • 1 tbsp. almond butter • A pinch of salt

Shredded coconut, to garnish

Instructions

1. Prepare an 8-inch by 8-inch square pan, by lining it with parchment paper on both sides.

2. In a large pot over low-medium heat, add the brown rice syrup, Earth Balance, almond butter, and salt. Stir well until combined and heated through. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.

3. Stir in 3.5 cups of rice crisp cereal until thoroughly combined.

4. Scoop into pan and spread evenly. Press down with fingers or roll flat with pastry roller. Place in freezer to set for 5 minutes while you make the chocolate glaze.

5. In a microwave safe bowl, add the chocolate chips. Microwave for about 60 seconds, stirring after 30 seconds. Be careful not to burn. Stir in the almond butter and pinch of salt.

6. Remove pan from freezer and drizzle or spread with melted chocolate mixture. Sprinkle with coconut and place in the freezer until firm, about 15 minutes. Slice into squares. Bars will hold their shape quite well at room temperature, but you can store in the fridge to ensure the chocolate stays solid.

2. Beer-Bettered Fried Avocado Wedges with Spicy Lime Dip: Yeah. I started drooling as I typed that. (Thanks for the recipe, www.Yummly.com!)

Ingredients

Serves 3-4

• 1 cup lager beer or 1 cup ale

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 ½ teaspoons paprika

• 2 garlic cloves, chopped finely

• 2 avocados

• Vegetable oil, as needed (for

deep frying)

• Salt, as needed, along with any other desired seasonings

OPTIONAL: Lime Sriracha

Mayonnaise · ½ cup vegan mayonnaise

· Juice from ½ lime

· Sriracha, or other spicy chili sauce

Instructions

1. To make beer batter, whisk together

beer, flour, paprika, and garlic (and any other desired seasonings) until well blended.

2. Let stand for at least 2 hours

3. Peel avocados; cut each into 6 wedges

4. Dredge 6 wedges in reserved beer batter

5. Deep fry in hot oil (370F, 188C) until golden

6. Repeat with remaining wedges

7. Mix vegan mayonnaise, juice from ½ lime, and add sriracha to taste for a spicy dip. Serve on the side.

3. Chips with Watermelon Blueberry Salsa: Prepare your taste buds for the most delicious combination of zest, citrus, spice, tang, and sweetness they have ever experienced. Pair with your favorite tortilla chips and copious amounts of white wine. (Thanks for the recipe, www.TheHealthyFoodie.com!)

Ingredients

Serves 4 · ¼ of a large watermelon

(500g)

· ¼ of a large papaya (250g) · The seeds of the whole

papaya · 150g blueberries · 2 small cucumbers, skin

on

· 2 green onions, finely chopped

· ½ red bell pepper · 1 small jalapeno pepper,

seeded and finely chopped · 1 tsp. fresh rosemary,

finely chopped · 2 tbsp. fresh parsley,

finely chopped · 2 tbsp. fresh ginger,

grated · Juice of 1 lime · ½ tsp. Himalayan salt · ¼ tsp. freshly cracked

black pepper

Instructions

1. Cut the papaya in half, remove the seeds with a spoon and throw into a large mixing bowl.

2. Cut each half in half again and

remove the peel from one of the quarters. Cut into small cubes and add to papaya seeds.

3. Cut watermelon into small

cubes and add to bowl with papaya.

4. Chop cucumbers, green

onions, red bell pepper, jalapeno, rosemary, and parsley very finely and add to bowl.

5. Toss in grated ginger, lime

juice, salt and pepper. Mix until well incorporated.

6. Serve immediately or leave in

the fridge for a couple of hours to allow flavors to develop.

7. This salsa will keep for a few

days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Appendix 2: Topics for Discussion

POTENTIAL TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION CULTURE ECONOMICS ENVIRONMENT HEALTH POLITICS Activist Art Advertising Carbon Footprints Alcoholism Arab Spring

Consumerism Capability Approach Climate Change Cafeteria Food in Schools Asylum Seekers

Eco-Tourism Ecological economics Fish Stock Recovery Cosmetics and toxins Corruption Ethnomusicology (Culture of Music) Free-Trade Food Deserts Domestic Abuse Ethnic Cleansing

Feminism Gross National Happiness Food Miles Eating disorders Food Sovereignty

Indigenous Rights Human Trafficking Food Waste Healthcare Policies Gay Marriage

Language Extinction Inflation Food-Water-Energy Nexus Healthy recipes Globalization

Masculinity International Trade Fracking (Hydraulic Fracturing) HIV/AIDs Gun Laws

Photojournalism Land-Grabbing Gaia Theory Malnutrition Human Rights

Political comedians Local Production-Consumption Cycles

Genetically Modified Food (GMO)

Maternal and Newborn Healthcare in the Developing World

LGBTQ

Political graffiti Natural Resource Exports Green Spaces in Cities Mental Illness Mass Media and

Politics Prejudice and Discrimination Neoliberalism Nuclear Energy Mindfulness Migration

Professional Sports Plenitude Economy Organic Farming Nature Deficit Disorder Military Force Religion and Spirituality Steady State Economy Planetary Boundaries Obesity Political Campaigns

Social Media Student Debt Public Transportation Pharmaceuticals Population Growth

Stereotypes Sudsidies Renewable Energy Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome Religion and War

Violence and the media Wealth Distribution The Sixth Great Extinction Preventable Diseases Right to Water

Women’s Rights Worker Owned Co-ops Urban Sprawl Veganism The Millennium Development Goals

Appendix 3: Websites Used in the Discussion Guide 1 http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/ 2 http://foodtank.org/ 3 http://www.conversationsearth.org/ 4 http://www.izilwane.org/ 5 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alone-Together-Expect-Technology-Other/dp/0465031463 6 http://www.meetup.com/find/ 7 http://www.halftheskymovement.org/pages/screenings 8 http://www.waterfootprint.org 9 http://www.kickstarter.com/ 10 http://www.indiegogo.com/ 11 http://www.gofundme.com/ 12 http://tmvision.org/speaking/people-fear-public-speaking-death/ 13 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acb15JsCGSk 14 http://www.iucn.org/ 15 http://www.imdb.com/ 16 http://www.idealist.org/ 17 http://safecosmetics.live2.radicaldesigns.org/downloads/DIY-cosmetics-recipes_2010.pdf 18 http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-cosmetics/ 19 http://www.designsponge.com/category/diy 20 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-2508.2007.00618.x/abstract 21 http://mailchimp.com/ 22 http://www.afdc.energy.gov/locator/stations/ 23 http://www.behindthebrands.org/en-us