Intro
It only seems like we should celebrate different groups of people annually, when our best respect is in raising awareness of their help to take consistent actions. So, how can we support those who are responsible for the groceries we buy, where our trash goes, saving our lives, driving modes of transportation, etc.?
Calgary recently held its municipal election on October 20th, a time to ponder where our efforts from long and drifting days and nights end up or count towards. Choosing a recognized leader who has specific views on the hardest working people in the city and taking care of them can forever change the future from what some may see fit. But millions of people make a much larger difference in retrospect; it’s often that we blind ourselves to the true power we possess. Regardless of your own whereabouts while you’re reading this, here are some recommended actions of civic responsibility to take. Keep in mind, these may seem basic, but they can only be positively impactful.
Watching where your garbage goes
Only excuses pile on each other, and so does garbage, soon after it’s instinctual. Going to community events or specifically hosting cleanups (within legal terms) means a lot to the planet and garbage workers. Before relying on a trash can, perhaps hold onto a smaller piece for a little while and take it to your place or another spot. It gets full pretty fast, and makes managing harder since it’s been normalized not to pick up after yourself and throwing soda cans, plastic containers, and trash in a single can, or even on the floor.
Go to community events, specifically those that work for mental health to be more accessible.
Mental health services are only there to help those who need to understand the importance of lying low, even when they’re pressured not to or have much on their plate. They are significant to every person out there and are necessary against stigma and discrimination. In any space where you and others could spread a spirit of warmth and strength, it is possible and needed. Usually, bigger causes can reach people who don’t have the resources, but it’s always more powerful to do it in your community if you have the opportunity. Tutor kids, coach a little basketball or soccer team, and come up with all sorts of passion projects combining the things you love to do while helping your community. It’s easier said than done, but definitely rewarding. As Arthur Ashe said, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” Volunteering is also quite useful, especially somewhere like YAA at Youth Central. But volunteering is unique to everyone, regardless of hours and needs.
Put less focus on energy. Remove the excess, reduce the bills…
This, I feel, is the simplest, but ever decreasingly attention spans are having a tougher time catching up with. Unplug the devices, including appliances like the kettle and microwave, as soon as you’re done using them or when you see one that’s still plugged in. Never have to drive up those bills you will eventually pay for.
Productively use public services. Appreciate and take it all in.
Exercise your freedoms by taking a nice walk in the park and using the bathrooms without leaving more waste than you found there in the first place. Be vocal on the things you care about, perhaps by providing feedback on budget plans and public safety in the places you fancy yourself around. Many people are drawn to a calm and peaceful environment, which is why they continue to live here. Never be afraid to be an active and engaging citizen in times when they are significant.
Advocate for current issues. Have intriguing conversations and debates, and harness your voices.
Speaking of vocals (not the singing kind), advocate! Participate in conversations with friends and update yourself on news that may be of importance in the long term. For Alberta, it’s the teachers’ strike. Globally, there’s too much to discuss. The only thing we can do as youth is to question; many of our efforts can go to waste if no one is protesting. Are we comfortable with what we see? What do we have to say? Write to your MLAs/ government officers, attend rallies or even host them, spread the news on social media platforms— TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, and work to have your voices understood so that it’s easier to address local issues at hand. Grouping yourself with other people with similar interests can always make the job easier. You need to become a way for impact to be felt in your communities to create action for demands and strengthen the vitality of the spaces in which you’re present. Who knows, maybe we are bonded through clarity and passion? We just have to try.
In Nepal, the country’s Gen Z was able to overthrow their government and decide on a new leader on a Discord server. Change is prevalent; it can occur once power emerges much stronger than before. Whether you would like to get a job or a new government altogether, protesting and creating opportunities are the medicinal potions for chaos.
Final Notes
TL: DR; If you want to help essential workers in your communities, enact action to help your community as they’ve helped you. Picking after yourself, attending community events or hosting your own, reducing energy and water bills, and advocacy are good ways to lead.
I think this was a pretty basic explanation of ideas, but I was motivated by the thought of someone getting inspired to do something for themselves and others. Most of the work is your own, but reading this provides food for thought on what you may envision for a better future and nation through seeing your individual perspective as an asset. A lot of the workers we build relationships with, mostly for a short time, influence our mindset towards achieving goals with teamwork. And youth, the biggest audience of the YAA blog, have the key to make and access change in the systems, they just have to start with brainstorming evocative actions and develop them suited to their skills and hopes. Making wiser and responsible choices to lessen the burden on teachers, garbage workers, business owners, and guardians leads you down roads to understanding current issues. Now start with any chat or discussion amongst peers or your close ones, and you’ll begin to understand a lot more.
Let me know what your thoughts are on this topic. I would love to know your opinions and the ideas you would add, particularly those that are unique. Thank you for reading!