What can you do?

  The very first thing to do is: live and act consciously. That means think about your actions. Think about your purchases. Think. One of the easiest and quickest changes for the better is to begin to make choices that support your philosophy. Simple things can make a dramatic difference, like purchasing local products from locally accountable vendors rather than from multi-national chains that have questionable eco and humanitarian practices. Each purchase that you make is a choice that has ramification supporting some agenda. Do you buy coffee from an over-priced major chain so driven by profits that it destroys the viability of Latin American coffee growers, pays workers less than a livable wage and gouges the consumer? Or, do you buy coffee from a local shop that offers eco and humanitarian products. Do you support environmentalism, yet use disposable products because it is easier? Are you concerned by the ozone pollution that is destroying our national parks, but drive a vehicle that is less than fuel-efficient? Could you walk to the store rather than drive? Living consciously is so full of potential that I think I'll expound on the idea further for another column.

  Educate yourself. Take the time to read. Pay attention to the news. However, you must seek out the best media sources possible. Do not rely solely on the dumbed down, super-conservative corporate news casting that abounds. Remember: these corporations have an agenda, think about what you hear, who says it and why. Be critical.

  Vote. This, indeed, makes incredible difference. With only a few more voters during the 2000 presidential elections, we would have had Gore in office instead of Bush. What differences would have resulted? Would the Federal Government have supported the Kyoto Accords and CAFE standards? What about oil exploration in wildlife refuges and increased clear cutting in National Forests? Would the Federal Government have hidden all sorts of questionable changes and actions in back room deals and low publicity legislation? Whatever your politics, no one can deny this government has made sweeping and dramatic changes in laws with the stated intention of weakening regulation of business and industry by cutting the authority of the USDA, FDA, EPA, and FC, by cutting funding of regulatory programs and by loosening restrictions. Who benefits from these changes? While the government suggests that consumers become the winners, I find that questionable. I do not benefit from breathing increased air pollution because auto manufacturers are not required to improved gas mileage or power plants can continue to burn coal without improving emissions. I do not benefit from the loss of biodiversity and pristine wilderness for an infinitesimal amount of our oil to be sucked out of Alaska and sold back to us at huge profits made by the oil business. I wonder: wouldn't I be better off if my car used less gas and I didn't have to buy as much to get to work? Then I wouldn't need to subsidize the exploitation of our natural resources or our huge military investment in the Middle East. How much could we save of the $459 billion 2004 military budget, which does not include the War on Iraq funding, if we did not have to protect oil investments through out the world? I also doubt that I am better off by increased medical insurance premiums, decreased food safety, decreased media competition and decreased regulation of industrial pollution due to the intentional loosening of our public protections. If you vote for state and federal legislators that support your philosophies, then you will have impact. Local officials govern zoning laws, local business regulations and issues that affect your life. Do you want those decisions made without your input based on some one else's agenda?

  Discuss. The more you talk about important issues with your family, friends and people on the street, the more these issues remain on public consciousness. Educated positions can influence others and even motivate people to action. You may be surprised just how few people really know the details of important issues. With our headlines-only media, we are seldom given detailed information about how legislation, construction or changes will impact the greater scheme of our lives. Encourage education.