Full Description

Ten Ways to Change the World in Your Twenties

WHAT KIND OF WORLD DO YOU WANT TO LIVE IN?

Throwing a party. Preparing a meal. Sending an email. These are things you do all the time. How can they really make a difference? Ten Ways to Change the World in Your Twenties shows how to transform these everyday activities into world-changing events: Throw a party with a purpose. Prepare a sustainable meal. Send an email to your representative.

An inspiring collection of ideas that can make the world a better place, this book taps into the potential of an energetic, influential generation and lights the path to shaping tomorrow by:

• Digging into what you love
• Volunteering in ways big and small
• Supporting political actions that reflect your values
• Leading an eco-active lifestyle
• Simplifying and reducing your footprint
• Using your buying power to encourage better business practices
• Eating well locally
• Hosting a party with a purpose
• Exploring the world through environmentally responsible travel
• Turning your passion into a vocation
  

With a rating scale based on the time, money, and lifestyle impact required, and peppered with true tales of twentysomethings who've made an impact, Ten Ways to Change the World in Your Twenties provides resources and opportunities for you to use your talents to help create a history we can all be proud of.

***
"Everywhere I go around the planet, I find young people, fresh from college, leading the new green movement. With savvy and heart, they're making a real difference—and as this book shows, you can too!"
Bill McKibben | 350.org

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction

1 Ways to Get Excited and Involved
Discover Your Unique Viewpoint by Exploring the Resources around You

2 Ways to Live, Give, and Thrive through Volunteering
Self-Discovery Need Not Be a Selfish Process

3 Ways to Be the Life of Your Party
Support Political Actions That Reflect Your Values

4 Ways to Be a Green Giant
Practical Ideas for Leading an Eco-active Lifestyle

5 Ways to Lose Waste Fast
Reduce Your Footprint and Simplify Your Life

6 Ways to Make Your Money Talk and Companies Listen
Harness the Power of Your Dollar by Supporting Ethically and Environmentally Sound Businesses

7 Ways to Eat What You Want Without Eating That
The Triumphs of Good Taste for the New Low-Impact, Seasonal Omnivore

8 Ways to Throw (or Attend!) a Party with a Purpose
A Step-by-Step Guide to Throwing Parties That Can Change the World

9 Ways to Travel Lightly (and Cheaply!) Everywhere You Go
Expand Your Horizons by Heading for…Well, the Horizon

10 Ways to Turn Your Passion into Promise
T urn Your Interests into Your Vocation

Conclusion
Appendix
Notes
About the Author

Excerpt

Excerpt

Excerpt from Chapter 1: Ways to get Excited and Involved

Discover Your Unique Viewpoint by Exploring the Resources around You

In the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.
- Barack Obama

In This Chapter:

• Jump-Start Your World-Changing efforts
• Be an Informed Activist
• How to Look for Third-Party Credibility
• Ideas for Investing in the Future
• Ways Guide to Getting Involved right Now
• Ready to Do More?

JUMP-START YOUR WORLD-CHANGING EFFORTS
As we stand at this crossroads, it is clear that the tide is swiftly turning toward hope, action, and a collective interest in a better world. With record youth-voter turnout in the 2008 election, we see that change as the result of our actions is possible, and we are energized and excited about this potential. So what are your goals, exactly? The answer for everyone will be different, but now is the time to embark on explorations about how to spend your valuable time on this planet. Seize this moment to choose your own adventure.

As soon as people hear about this book, the most common (and heartening) question is, "What can I do?" My response is always, "What are you interested in?" Changing the world is deeply personal; at its core it is the quest to identify what matters most to you. What do you want for yourself, your community, and for the world? Do you want to help children learn to read? Do you want to save monkeys? Do you want to help fight malaria? Do you want to teach monkeys to read or fight malaria? Your options are limited only by your willingness to believe in your ability to make a difference. To be sure, many of you are grappling with circumstances that limit you in some practical sense, whether they are financial burdens, health restrictions, or time constraints that you do not fully control. I am not here to deny that such realities exist, but as you will see throughout this book, people of all stripes and backgrounds have been able to do remarkable things despite, and sometimes because of, these obstacles. So while I can't tell you exactly how to go about changing the world, I can offer many suggestions to help you answer these questions by finding interesting and creative ways to start exploring your most precious inheritance: the world.

Get the Ball Rolling
This business of "making a difference" often seems overwhelming, and the information superhighway can often lead to a feeling of overload. Every day I wade through the barrage of news from around the world and action updates from the charities that I support. Like many of you, I often find that the volume of statistics and anecdotes available in my inbox, mailbox, and living room is staggering. My stack of books and research is now so tall that my husband uses it for cover when he sneaks off to play video games. From global warming to poverty and disease, the list of challenges we face seems to grow faster than we can track.

But within this confluence of good intentions, fluctuating priorities, and shortages of time, it is important to remember (and I will continue to remind you) that we have already taken the first step: we care. I wouldn't have started writing my Weekly Way blog and this book—and you wouldn't be reading this book—if that were not the case. One of the best aspects of being in your twenties is increased autonomy: what you do with your day (or at least part of it) is up to you, so start making proactive decisions about how you will spend it. Besides, doing what you love now could help prevent a midlife-crisis freak-out when you're fifty. In an effort to avoid overwhelming you, here goes: Just start. Go ahead and pull the trigger! Too many people spend too much time getting ready or aiming.

Begin by using the rating system in this book to help you find the most convenient suggestions these chapters have to offer. Take a simple action or two every day or a few times a week, even if you don't think it matters much. Don't worry, I will spare you the corny talk about how a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step, or how a waterfall begins with a single drop, or how, by working together, a school of tiny piranhas can skeletonize a cow. Still, even babies must crawl before they run, and they have to get up off their little bellies to do even that much.

Once these actions become second nature and you develop some momentum, you will probably find yourself looking for more to do and learn. But consider this your fair warning: knowledge and activism, like power, Facebook, and Sour Patch Kids, are addictive, so be prepared for a life of personal growth and positive contributions to your local or global community. While the world has occasionally changed in enormous and
rapid ways (ask the dinosaurs), most big changes are the product of millions of little changes. You are one of those millions, and the momentum of your efforts is what will keep the changes coming. Get started by trying a few or all of the ideas detailed later in this chapter, see what works best for you, and let me know how it goes.

BE AN INFORMED ACTIVIST
Not the pompous, condescending kind but the wise, gentle kind, like Yoda or Gandalf, who seem merely to be reminding people of what they already know to be true. After all, nobody likes to be told what to do, but if presented in the right way, a gentle suggestion about recycling or purchasing socially responsible products is almost always welcome among friends.

Before preaching to the choir or converting the heathens, you actually need to know what you are talking about. A crappy argument is an unconvincing one, and while personal insults and sarcasm might be a self-satisfying form of entertainment, neither will do much to move an issue forward. If you want to effectively influence people, advocate for a cause you care about, or enlighten someone about green consumption habits, volunteering opportunities, or energy-efficient practices, you'd better do your homework first. There are many ways to fire up those neurons, and there are endless issues to explore. Don't panic. Start slow and stay true to yourself. You will find the path and actions that are right for you.

Listen
At the core of any good dialogue is not the ability to talk louder than your colleagues in discourse; rather, it is the ability to listen calmly to diverse perspectives. Be curious, because the day you run out of curiosity is the day you start to become boring to the rest of us. Ask questions about the world around you, and pay attention to the answers.

You can always learn more by listening to other points of view, especially those you disagree with. It is hard to find common ground without understanding where people are coming from. Spend as much time as possible listening to what other people have to say, even when you are sure of your stance. After all, if you are going to bring a message to people, understanding and appreciating their positions is the first step in persuading them to accept yours.

The more you listen to differing points of view, the more clearly you will be able to articulate your own. Pay attention to yourself, your local community, and the world around you. Be open to change. The smartest people in the room are often the ones with the least to say. They aren't talking because they are listening, and when they do decide to speak, you can bet everyone else will be paying attention.

Reviews

Reviews

Got 2 Be Green Blog Kelly McNair
Although twentysomethings are faced with environmental and humanitarian issues on a scope never seen before, the timing is perfect to take action and make a difference! Environmental advocate Libuse Binder introduces Ten Ways to Change the World in Your Twenties (Nov. 2009; $14.99 U.S), an inspiring collection of new ideas, resources and innovative twists on proven strategies that will help millenials tackle today’s toughest issues.

Aimed at twentysomethings interested in making a difference, Ten Ways will tap into the potential of this energetic, influential generation of leaders by proving that every action, big and small, makes a difference.

VictoriaKlein.net
Good Reads: 10 Ways to Change the World in Your 20s by Libuse Binder
November 5, 2009 - 9:31 am
Being a 20-something is today’s society is, frankly, a royal nightmare. On the cusp of striking out on our own, this is the first chance we have to identify ourselves as individuals – not just another one of your parent’s kids.

There’s a lot of pressure, financial concerns, emotional growth … but the most important factor is how we spend our time. Our careers & our hobbies define us more than anything. They can also have the biggest impact on the environment & unforeseeable future.

Currently 25, I can deeply connect with Libuse Binder’s 1st book, 10 Ways to Change the World in Your 20s. This time is the beginning of the rest of our lives – the best time to find your passion & run with it. Hitting shelves this week (visit your favorite local bookstore!), Libuse does an exceptional job of rounding up the ever-growing options of how us young people can make a true difference.

This book also captures a vital part of the sustainable/ethical/sociological movement that I consistently promote – every little thing counts. Basic things like sending emails & cooking can be turned into impact-having actions!

Libuse includes concrete information on the benefits of volunteering, reducing waste, conscious traveling, how to find your passion & turn it into a career … and oh yeah, lots more. Each action she describes is rated in 3 categories: time, cost, & lifestyle impact. These graphics are a great way of getting a visual idea of the difference you can really make (& who doesn’t like cute little icons?).

We are the future & we need to use our influence for the biggest impact possible. 10 Ways to Change the World in Your 20s is a comprehensive book that should be required reading in every high school worldwide.

Life Goggles Joel
Ten Ways to Change the World in Your Twenties by Libuse Binder is yet another green tips books. What is different about this one? It’s targeted to people in their 20s (as you can tell by the title), and provides ideas, resources and proven strategies to help those twentysomethings take action and make a change.

It may only be ten ways, but at over 300 pages there is certainly a lot of detail. The ways are general, but with specific examples and suggestions, I found it packed full of “ways”. The 20s thing is part gimmick and part practical, there are many ways that are easier when you’re younger, but it certainly applies to people of any age who are willing for inspiration on how to make a difference.

I also liked that is wasn’t preachy, and you can open the book almost anywhere and find something useful you can do almost immediately. There’s a icon ratings guide (lie several other green books) to rate each activity in terms of time, cost and lifestyle impact, and there is even an index to summarize them if you want to looks for some easy ones quickly.

I enjoyed reading about the ideas, and particulary the easy ways to travel lightly and cheaply. If you don’t already have a green book full of ideas, or you’re looking for something with fresh ideas and practical steps to achieving them, then this book is a great resource.

MissMalaProp.com
I just finished reading 10 Ways to Change the World in Your Twenties by Libuse Binder. While I feel like I’ve read a lot of the information presented here in various forms before, it’s nice to see it all compiled together and presented in a series of action steps that are ranked by how much time, money and change of lifestyle that each would require. Ideas for making a difference range from the life-changing, such as volunteering in another country, to the wicked fun, such as throwing a party with a purpose.

Thanks to reading this book, I am now more than a little obsessed with the idea of doing an Earthwatch Institute expedition. These are basically volunteer vacations where you assist scientists in their research at various locations around the globe. These trips sound AMAZING, and I’m totally going to start saving up for one. The only problem would be choosing which trip I’d like to do!

10 Ways to Change the World in Your Twenties gives you ideas for all sorts of ways in which you can take a positive step towards making a difference. Whether your interests lie in politics, the environment, or social justice, there are tips here for you. The last chapter focuses on how you can turn your passions into your job, and throughout the book Binder includes success stories of 20-somethings who have gone the extra mile towards helping those around them. While the book focuses on those in their twenties, most of the suggestions could be acted upon by someone of any age. (Personally I think a series of Earthwatch Institute expeditions or similar volunteer abroad programs seems the like the perfect way to spend your retirement.)

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Specs / Support

Trade Paper Specfications

• Length: 8.50 in
• Width: 5.00 in
• Height: 0.00 in
• Weight: 16.00 oz
• Page Count: 352 pages