Rant One: How to Change the World for the Better in Seven Steps

Alright folks, you've heard my invocation, now lets evoke some new ideas for everyone!

These ideas are my own, but inspired by many others. I've got to remember to thank one Professor in particular at my old university for opening my eyes a little.

They are really simple ideas, but a few need a lot of effort, thought, and compassion to get in gear. I'll try and break them down as best as I can. How you go about accomplishing these goals in your own life, (should you choose to do so) is up to you. However, I'll offer some ways on how to do this in this post.

Also,  on a side note.

I'm definitely not perfect and definitely do NOT do all of the things listed here, but I do a few of these things in my daily life to try and reduce the cruel amount of suck in my small little world.

(Like turning off the light when I exit a room, drinking just tap water, or adopting two unwanted kittens.)

I'm just trying to raise awareness to others who can, but don't make a difference because they see no point in a world that's going to hell anyway. (So, sayeth the conspiracy lovers and most environmentalists.)

That's it, I'm just trying to make a difference in the only way I know how. By writing it out and sending it to you folks.

Alright, so here's Seven Ways To Change the World for the Better:

1) Think Global, Act Local: 

Okay, this may seem like I'm grasping at air here, and maybe you've heard this tune a thousand times before, but it makes sense so please hear me out.

In most of our lives, everyday, we regularly hear events in the news and about the problems which effect the world around us. These events include things like: global warming, famine, wars, environmental disasters, and other nasty world altering events.

Most days, we look at these issues as too big for us to change directly.

I'm here to blow that idea out of the water.

What if we all looked at the world around us and made little changes to affect our world? Nothing too big, but life altering in a small way.

Using the examples above: for global warming, perhaps switch all the light-bulbs in your house to energy efficient ones? Or turning off the lights when you leave a room? Or perhaps walk, bike, or car-pool to work; when-and-where possible, to reduce pollution caused by cars? Maybe drink only tap water (with a good water filter of course) to reduce the amount of carbon emissions from plastic bottle factories?

For famine, maybe research a "not for profit" food donation organization? Maybe eat out less (or if you're really hardcore, stop eating out all together) to reduce the profits for organizations that support wasteful food disposal practices? Maybe you could support or buy locally grown food products from the farmers markets in your area to reduce the "need" to import the huge amounts of food we "need"/"want", and let go to waste, so other people in those areas can have those products? Maybe volunteer to help build wells, support local agriculture in other countries, and buy "fair trade" products?

(On that note...Look into some these things before doing so...You'd be surprised how harmful some of these "charitable" organizations are in reality.)

See my point?

Little things we do affect the world around us in REALLY big ways. It doesn't take "us"; here in North America, or Austrialia, or the U.K, or Europe, etc, much effort to do some of the things I mentioned, but it DOES effect someones' life in a big way without us even realizing it.

So, Think about how your actions/lifestyles affect the world Globally, and Act in your Local area to effect positive change for everyone.

If everyone did that, the world would be just a whole lot better and we'd be hearing less from Al Gore.

2) Volunteer:

Volunteering is a great way to change the world around you and the effects of a few hours a week (Heck, even a few minutes) can make a big difference into someone's (or somethings') life.

I know, it's not realistic for everyone to volunteer their time to "big" charitable organizations in other countries, but you don't have to travel half-way around the world to make the world better.

Helping your local food bank or soup kitchen is not only a great way to build up a resume, but it also helps people in need of food every day for only a few hours of your time. You'd be surprised who in your area attends these places and relies on food banks for every meal and your support could make someones day a little bit brighter.

Or, if your not a people person, you could help support your local pound, or animal shelter. These poor creatures are usually scared, confused, and lonely in need of a person's care and support to get them through their days in these (generally) very crowded places.

Every animal there regularly needs food, socialization, and comfort from their often harsh and sad lives, and taking a few hours out of your day could make some of these animals lives that much better until they find a new loving  home to call their own. Or maybe if they never do; which happens more often then you think, then you just made that creatures day by being there for it.

Look, all I'm saying is these two places are great ways to help your local community, and thus, make the world a better place. So, give it some thought and see what you can do. At the very least, maybe make a tiny donation once a month or two?

It doesn't even have to be money.

Canned foods, unused kitchenware, knitted blankets,  cat litter and food, dog/cat toys, etc are all in high demand at many of these places, that could not function without regular donations from kind people.

So, look up something you think you might enjoy Volunteering for, or maybe even want to help out with and give someone a ring. Most of these places would be glad to see a few dedicated new faces.

(I need to work on this too. So, please don't bite my head off for ranting about it.)

3) Be Informed, Stay Informed: 

One of the best ways of making the world a better place is to get informed on a few of the issues and problems that matter to you.

So, if you've got problems with the way that welfare is run, or the way government funded child support is being handled, or with the way the education system runs, then try and stay informed on that subject.


I mean, you don't have to be completely aware of everything that goes on with the issue at hand and scrounge through hundreds of newspapers and government files to care about a problem, but it does make a difference to the world just being aware that the problem is out there.

Maybe make it part of your daily routine to read the newspaper? (I'd look at both a Liberal and a Conservative newspaper to get as full as story as you can on certain issues and viewpoints.) Or even Wikipedia or Google an issue that you've heard about but don't know anything about?

What I mean to say, is that ignorance on an issue is just another way to say: "I don't care about what happens in my world." without even raising your voice.

Again, you don't have to know about everything that pops up in our world, all I'm saying is to just try and find things you care about and understand what the world or your society is doing about those issues.

Some awesome YouTube channels are a great and entertaining way of getting a few world issues and interesting problems without too much time and too much effort.

A few of these channels are dedicated to raising awareness of some pretty interesting and controversial issues to a HUGE number of people and it definitely makes me feel a little better getting my daily fill by Philip DeFranco or The Vlog Brothers. (I'll link these two channels below in case you wanted to check a few of these people out.)

http://www.youtube.com/user/sxephil?ob=4&feature=results_main (Philip DeFranco's Channel)
http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers?feature=results_main (The VlogBrothers' Channel)

So, give it a whirl, you might find that in some way you can help those issues that matter to you by just being aware of them.

I mean, it's hard to "fight the good fight", when you have no idea where, when, or who's fighting it. Right?


(I definitely have to work on this one as well, but I'm trying. )

4) Know Your Government: 


This step is REALLY difficult, VERY hard, and ABSURDLY boring.

Unfortunately for most of us who aren't political science nuts or in politics, this part is important for trying to make change in big or small ways, and if you're not one of the people I mentioned above, most of this stuff is hard to get into.

But it is important if we want to make the world around us a little better.

Using the example of a battlefield (like I lamely attempted to above) : If you don't know who the Generals are in your battles, and how they work, what they stand for, or their alliances, you won't be able to set up your own defences, counter their attacks, and create allies of your own to face them.

Government's; for the most part, are in place to create changes that (supposedly) help everyone, but their decisions affect everyone in different ways and opinions vary widely from party to party and person to person.

So, even though some Government parties say "This is what we stand for", many people who are in those parties or groups, don't agree with everything their party (apparently) stands for, and it is important to know whose views you agree with and whose don't so you can contact them or get in touch with organizations who can help make change in your area.

In Canada; which is the only example I can give since I live here, we have a Democracy. (Some people would disagree with me...Look another pun!No?...I'll continue then. ), run by people who are voted into their positions by a majority vote. (It's more complex then that, but I'm not going to get into it right now.)

But, most people think, that the only way you can make changes in our country is by voting period.

That our only right to say anything about our government is during "voting season".

Unfortunately, this is not true, but most people don't know other ways to show their displeasure at something that Parliament has done or decided.

Canada's Government will listen to it's people if their is an issue that a lot of people care about and wish to see changed. (At least that is how I've come to understand it in my life's experiences...And it's not always true...But it does happen with enough support.)

So, if a lot of people make their voices heard through some (peaceful) means, like non-violent protests, or petition signing, or written letters to House representatives, then changes and compromises in the way something is run or done, happen.

This isn't a perfect system. It's not the best system at all, but it is the best system we have right now, and changes do happen. Look at how far we've come with gay and lesbian marriage laws, our free health care system (despite the challenges it causes), or our welfare system? (Which isn't great, but it does help a lot of people.)

My point is, knowing how your government works is a great way to help make change in the world, and you don't have to do much to make a stand. Sending a concerned handwritten letter to a representative sometimes sends a stronger message about an issue, then any argument constructed by a party leader at a meeting.  

5) Make Connections:

(I know this rule sounds shady at first but, trust me. It's not...Really.)

You've all probably heard the old saying: "It's not what you know, but who you know". It couldn't be more true about trying to change the world. 

People ultimately run the show behind most issues and getting into contact or knowing who to talk to about things can really make a difference. I mean, you don't need to be on a first name basis with these people, (If you are then that's a bonus!) but it does help you make changes in your world  if you know who the movers and shakers are.

Even people in your local community can make a big difference in your world.

So for example, if you wanted to raise money for cancer patients at your local hospital, then maybe contacting a catering company to get a bake sale together for fundraising, or maybe contacting the town hall or a local community center and throwing a salsa dance party, concert, or art gallery/auction, you could raise a small fortune and help so many people in need for just a short phone call and a few days of your time!

Heck, if you got your event out on the radio, then people from other areas could know about it and donate their time, effort, and money to whatever it is you're raising money/awareness for and it could be even better!

So, it really helps in the end to make connections in your area in order to make some of these changes possible and make seemingly impossible goals a reality.
   
6) Protest with a Plan, Not Just with Passion:

Sometimes, the only way to get your point across is to make a stand in a big way. Protesting is a really big stand and gets a lot of peoples' attention.

I mean, look what it does for the West Boro Baptist Church.

(That was a joke by the way...I don't agree with what they stand for by any means. No offense to any of them personally or anyone who agrees with them, I just have a different more accepting and open perspective of other peoples rights, beliefs, and lifestyles.)

However, most (not all) people who protest are their just to add their voice of displeasure on an issue without really being informed on what the protest is about, and even if their voices are heard, does anyone really know what to do about solving the problem/issue in a realistic and effective manner?

This is what I mean by this step. If you're going to protest, know what you are protesting, and how you can work with your government or the people in charge to make the changes you wish to see in your world.

It doesn't help to make a stand and gather a lot of angry/concerned people somewhere and not know how to make the proposed change in a real world setting.

If you follow Steps Three and Four, Be Informed and Stay Informed and Know Your Government, then you've already got a good basis on how to get what you want and where to go to get it done.

But if you don't then it's a good idea to toss around a few ideas with your local representative, or even with a few pretty well informed friends, workmates or peers.

Sometimes, these ideas can make all the difference and Government's are usually more than happy to work with people to make change if there is a well developed and thought out plan.

So, be passionate about your beliefs, (as long as they don't harm others in any way, shape, and form, directly and indirectly), and if you're going to protest, or going to a protest, then make sure you know why you are there and what you are going to do about the issue at hand.

7) Obey the Law, Play Within It:

  This issue is a big one that has stirred up a lot of problems in the past couple months on many peoples views on protests and protesters as a whole. Especially in Canada with the Toronto G20 protests/riots and the recent protests/riots in Quebec over tuition hikes and the cost of post-secondary education.


Most of the people who were at those protests for good reasons and who were well informed, got caught up in a lot of violent, destructive, invasive acts, which if not completely, then mostly lost the peaceful protesters right to be heard as a whole, and broke an otherwise good movement.

All because a few very radical people decided, that in order to "make a statement", or "stick it to the man", they needed to destroy public property, attack police, and ruin those movements and peaceful protests by getting everyone labeled as rioters.

(Not saying that it wasn't police that started the attacks, or that innocent people got unfairly treated, but I'm going to trust the Toronto police department in their judgement on trying to rally up all the people who were actually at the protests to cause trouble. I don't mean to say that they did the best job ever, I'm merely stating that given the situation, I would like to believe they made the best call.)

Nothing, and I mean nothing, pisses off Governments' and sensible people more then violence. It completely stains a persons reputation if they were a part of that well thought out, powerful, movement, and forever puts a stigma on all protests being violent and destructive.

This is a problem for most people who aren't indeed violent radicals who just want to make the world a better place and make their voices heard to people who can make a difference, because it makes protesting harder to pull off safely and peacefully.

I'm going to steal a quote from the Dalai Lama's Rules for Living a Good Life (A Poster I used to own): "Know the rules, so you can break them properly."

This may sound like a radical notion, and to some it is, however, there is some truth to be had in it.

If you know the rules, then you can break/bend them properly to suit your needs/benefits and the needs/benefits of many.

I'm not saying blatantly break all the rules, I'm trying to get people to know what the laws are, so you can find ways to use them to your advantage.

There are ways to get what you want out of life, without going around, above, or below the law, it just takes a little persistence and a lot of research.

So, please, for the future of everyone who will protest, or want to use protest as a viable means of positive, peaceful, change, obey the law, but know how the law works as well.

Because, believe it or not, the law does help to protect people every single day and these rules have been created for the good and betterment of many.

(Again, it's not perfect, but it is better than straight up anarchy, or the law of the wild.)


If you've made it this far, thank you for reading my rant. I apologize to those of you I've offended, but I hope to those of you who've read this and say to yourselves, as you scratch your chins: "This guy has a few good points", then I'm glad I've opened up a new world of possibilities and ideas.

I just ask that you use this information to make positive changes in your lives and other peoples lives and send the karma forward.

Thanks again folks and keep fighting the good fight,
Yours with thanks,
Leighton Smith

"Why The New Blog?"

Hey Folks, it has truly been a while, (What, two months now since I've posted anything?) and I apologize.

I have been really sorting through some heavy thoughts the last couple of days and I've started to realize that maybe what I've been doing lately hasn't been the most productive, nor the most insightful way of getting where I need to go, or making any positive changes in my own, or anyone's life.

So, I am creating this "rant" blog to get a few ideas and issues I've had lately off of my chest and hopefully, I can help others make a difference in their own lives; and Karma being what it is, maybe my own.

I mean, we're all connected in some way, shape, or form, due to this wonderful/terrifying/inescapable thing we call globalization (I'm sure you've all heard of it...Get it?...No? Bad pun? Ok.) and I'd like to think that maybe, just maybe, I can make a difference by putting a few of my ideas out there.

I want to make some change in the world for all the people that could really use it. (Including myself.)

I want to shake things up a bit, make some noise, crack open some of the systems (the "good ones" and the "bad ones") that we live in and show them for what they truly are: Systems of control and order.

I want to show some of you the truths and the lies behind some of the events in our lives which some of us ignore or take for granted.

I want to make you question the world around you and try to figure out why things are the way they are.

Sometimes, I want to make you angry, to make you confused, to make you uncomfortable, so that you can question why it made you angry, or confused, or uncomfortable and eventually grow wiser from asking yourself those questions.

I want to be challenged, I want to be questioned, I want to be told why I can't do something, or can't change anything and learn something new about my own limitations.

I want to help everyone, for everyone's well being.

To put it quite simply, I'll quote the famous Youtuber Zefrank who can't capture what I feel any better than he already did:

"Warts and all. Let's start this shit up."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYlCVwxoL_g 

 (A nod to you Zefrank. Thanks for the inspiration.)

 So, despite the rotting pustules; and glowing peaks, of society-and the hardships which we all face within our own lives-lets try and begin something new together this time, shall we?