Individual actions
5 everyday actions that can really make a difference
-
eating : more organic food and less meat
Why ?
The industrial farming is hugely responsible for the ecological destruction on the planet, for the extinction of thousands of species and for the ruin of millions of small farmers (see the FAO report).
It takes part in the depletion of water resources and widely contributes to the global warming.
Livestock farming, single-handedly, is responsible for 18% of the greenhouse gas emission. Each year, 65 billion of animals are bred in insufferable conditions just to be killed afterwards. To feed them, millions of forest acres are cut down to grow soya and corn, thus exhausting and polluting the soil (because of the pesticides). Many populations and species who used to live there are deported.
A few agents of the food-processing industry are now controlling most of the seeds, as the giants of the retail chain are controlling a major part of production, retailing and food prices. Our ability to feed ourselves by our own means is in danger.
How ?
Cultivate and learn about permaculture or agroecology.
On market places, try to find small independent producers or independent organic stores (such as Biocoop), join an AMAP, join or launch an Incredible Edible group, use direct systems of supply with small producers, such as La Ruche qui dit oui.
Find on Le Marché Citoyen a map of organic stores and producers close to your place.
-
Opt for a renewable electricity supplier
Why ?
Fossil fuels (oil, coal, gas) contribute actively to global warming.
Most of the Western countries are now totally oil dependant, which makes them very vulnerable. As the extraction will become more expensive, prices will increase, dramatically weakening our economy.
The fight for the control of fossil fuels is (and will be) the cause of numerous conflicts and geopolitical situations endangering many populations. It is already the case.
Nuclear energy is far too expensive and too dangerous, it consumes massive amount of water and produces toxic waste we still do not know how to get rid of.
How ?
Install renewable resources at home (solar panels, mini windmills, geothermal…)
Opt for a 100% renewable electricity supplier like Enercoop.
The best thing being, at the same time, to reduce your energy consumption and use “soft” transports like bicycling !
-
Buy in local and independent shops
Why ?
Many studies show that buying in a local and independent company creates 3 times more jobs, while money circulates 3 times faster, and creates 3 times more local taxes which come back to the local communities and bring back 3 times more donations to the local associations.
For 1 euro spent in a multinational company, very few cents will stay in the local economy. The money is capitalised and participates to strengthen the power of some global giants to the expense of local players. The inhabitants loose grasp on their local economy.
Maintain a local economy controlled by its inhabitants, restrict outsourcings, speculation and tax avoidance.
How ?
Check who owns the companies you buy from and their social and environmental policy.
Find here some links close to your place. You may contribute, too !
-
Change your bank
Why ?
Most of the French banks have subsidiaries in tax havens, thus encouraging their clients to do the same and hide their fortune. Taxes on those huge amounts of money would solve many problems we are facing.
Most of the banks are engaged in financial speculation, noticeably about hunger.
Finally, most of the French banks fund the coal industry, the worst CO2 emitter.
How ?
Some banks are more ethical and responsible. “Les Amis de la Terre” have made a climate ranking and the collective “Sauvons les riches” another one targeted on speculation and tax havens. In decreasing order, we find La Nef, le Crédit Coopératif, la Banque Postale.
To help you, les “Amis de la Terre” have set up a kind of user guide. La Nef and le Crédit Coopératif, again, get the best marks.
-
Reducing, re-using, recycling, repairing, sharing
Why ?
All over the world, 10 millions tons of waste are thrown away every day. Landfill sites, rivers, forests, oceans are saturated with the western countries waste. In Africa, entire cities are clogged up with old computers, TVs, vehicles we don't use any more; waters and soils are polluted, children are poisoned… We throw away a third of the food we produce.
At the same time, the bulk of natural resource is running out.
Recycling creates 10 times more jobs than burning.
Sharing things rather than own them would allow us to reduce tremendously our needs in raw materials.
Zero Waste made some videos so that we can have a better grasp at what is at stake.
How ?
Learn or re-learn the waste sorting with the sorting guide.
Make composting in cities (with a vermicompost in a house, or collective compost systems) or in gardens.
Repair, re-use in a Fab Lab (here a map of Fab Lab in France).
Share rather than buy. This is what OuiShare suggests.
Collective actions
Transform your neighbourhood, your village, your city in a vegetable garden
-
Transform your neighbourhood, your village, your city in a vegetable garden
-
Create a citizens community to produce renewable energy
-
Create a complementary currency (local, or in your enterprise…)
-
Create an alternative school
-
Run for office in your town and get the power back !
Political actions
5 actions we can bring together to our representatives.
-
Redirect the farming subsidies to facilitate the change for organic farming, agroecology, permaculture…
-
Swing the work tax system toward carbon
-
Free the currency creation
-
Create a second chamber (a kind of senate) with randomly drawn citizens.
-
Include pedagogy and in situ training in teachers curriculum.