Are you taking Real Action?

Annie-Marie Slaughter, in her blog entry “Real Action on Climate Change”, had written a nice piece on the small steps we can take around us, to make a difference – something that perfectly resonates with the theme of Small Steps.

Coming out of the Bali conference of the United Nations on Climate Change, Anne-Marie redefined what was spelt out as “need for Real Action”

What is real action? Reducing carbon emissions? Stopping petrol consumption? Producing lesser vehicles on road? Or hunt for alternative sources of energy? Well, these might just work, but for the common people like you and me, they aren’t something one would call “real action”

What then is real action? – Real action, for you and me, is what we can do around us – simple things that you might wonder if they even make a difference, but simple things, that DO make a difference. Real action, perfectly defined by Anne-Marie, begins at home.

As mentioned in her note:

“When I was in Japan last month, I saw real action in action. After a day of meetings at the Foreign Ministry, a young diplomat escorted me to the entrance just after 5:00. We walked through a darkened hallway; I assumed that we were in a part of the building under renovation. Not so – my guide explained to me that all non-essential lights were turned off “to save energy and the environment.” We came to the elevator bank, where 5-6 people were waiting in front of an elevator even though the elevator next to it was there and empty. I gestured toward it, and my guide again explained that after 5:00 only one elevator ran – the others were blocked.

...at home Tokyo residents are required to separate out 7 different kinds of products for recycling, and that in some other cities in Japan the categories go as high as 19. These distinctions make it possible to readily recycle different materials; indeed, Eiko-san mentioned that the governor of Tokyo was doing everything possible to avoid creating another major landfill.”

Quite pertinent to most of us, am sure. Hopefully, one could pick learnings from Japan and reapply in our respective communities.

So, are you ready to “really act”?