I came across this Mahatma Gandhi quote for the first time in the last ever printed edition of The Ecologist magazine yesterday. I like it a lot as it helps to quell the sense of  helplessness and ‘this problem is too big and too complex for little old me to do anything about’.

Even the smallest things get noticed and have an impact in their own way so by my buying eggs from the local lady with hens and our drastically reducing consumption of meat (and never eating cheap meat produced in hellish animal factories) and our decision to not fly and to drive only when necessary and to spend our money on food which has not had petrochemical fertilisers and pesticides used on them and by turning away from all household chemicals which are not derived from natural plant sources ARE actually all having an impact.

Also by my taking the time to write about our very small modifications and showing others that our lovely high-luxury lifestyle has not been compromised and that our happiness is still marvellous despite making these changes we can hopefully actively encourage others to make similarly small changes which ultimately WILL make a huge difference. More and more farmers will produce organic food which is so much better for the land if more and more people choose these products, fossil fuels will last longer and will pollute far less atomsphere if many people are more cautious with their consumption (burning) of them.

Yesterday (in the same edition of The Ecologist) I found out that non-organic cotton is heavily doused in pesticides as it grows and these chemicals are severely poisoning the Indian farmers and workers who grow and harvest it so we can wear this season’s must-have (eh? says who?) instead of last year’s unfashionable colours. I’d seen adverts for organic cotton in magazines but never realised why someone would wish to choose to buy organic cotton as they surely weren’t going to eat it. It isn’t just about what you put into your own body its also about not keeping the demand up for products which are hurting other people’s bodies or land in the production of the the item. Presumably by ordering organic cotton products a market is created and supported and encouraged by consumers who wish to wear more clothes without guilt that someone in the world has suffered so that we can wear cheap-o fabrics. A small change in purchasing decision leads to big change for poor poisoned Indian farmers.

I’m now on a constant quest to see how I can be the change I want to see in the world. I’m determined to help others see that turning away from non-sustainable fossil-fuel dependent things does not mean turning into a beardy-weirdie (although I have noticed that my dear Bealers is now sporting more facial hair than ever) & having to crochet one’s own cheese.

I like these from the Positive Path website (http://www.positivepath.net/ideasMA11.asp) where I found more about the Mahatma Gandhi quote:

Recognize that everything you do, every step you take, every sentence you write, every word you speak-or DON’T speak–counts. Nothing is trivial. The world may be big, but there are no small things. Everything matters.

To be the change you want to see in the world, you don’t have to be loud. You don’t have to be eloquent. You don’t have to be elected. You don’t even have to be particularly smart or well educated. You do, however, have to be committed.

Take personal responsibility. Never think “it’s not my job”. It’s a cop-out to say, “What can I do, I’m only one person.” You don’t need everyone’s cooperation or anyone’s permission to make changes. Remember this little gem, “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.”

• http://www.peopletree.co.uk/organic_cotton_fibre.php
• http://www.seasaltcornwall.co.uk/index.php
• http://www.organiccotton.biz/