You answered the call.  Which is great.  But there’s a problem.  I’m not your General.  There’s no front.  There’s no plan, but there’s lots and lots of chatter.  I can give you (good) suggestions, and that is what I dedicate this blog to – how to get critical mass with people and effective measures that will turn the tide in 3 decades.  Because it’ll take decades, and whatever you commit to is a life-long commitment.  You traded in that SUV for an Elec?  You may never drive an SUV again, ever.

But I will try to help you make the proper first steps.  Some obvious, some not so obvious.

Research.  Find and subscribe to the most sober, science-backed, apolitical organizations or websites you can find.  Read up on global warming, what causes it, what it’s doing.  Read up on technology, what things you can do now that offers best bang for the buck.  Subscribe to a leading advocate like Al Gore to find out what’s going on politically.  Just read email digest for now.  Then over time, figure out who you’d like to take action for.

Take the easiest, long-term actions now. Replace standard light bulbs with energy-efficient ones.  Or if you can spend some extra money, LED lighting for your home.  Turn off the light when you’re done!  Find alternate ways to work, mass-transit, bike, walking or car-pool, and use it once a week, or one week a month.  Trade in your SUV for a hybrid or electric vehicle like the Volt – if you get a Volt, drive less than 40 miles/day.  Cut down on beef consumption.

Take action that doesn’t require a long-term commitment. KFC still uses styrofoam cups.  Write KFC to replace them with cardboard.  Donate money to charities buying land for reforestation.

Take up gardening. Got a plot of ground at home, or a community garden?  Plow or join.  Involve your kids.  The food you grow is not really the point, it’s setting the relationship with sustainability and your planet.  It can be a very rewarding one.  And it’s so different from what you’ve done before, you’ll know you’re doing something.

Involve your kids. You have it easy, and you get to do the easy stuff when you want to.  Your kids will not have those choices when they grow up.  For them, the fight will be more about survival.  They need to be ready, because they’re doing the brunt of the fighting.  Let them know that they will be the true heroes.