What do you contribute to make the world a better place?

[Tuffy!]

I thought a lot about the meaning of life lately (basically since I can remember) and came to the conclusion that it is all about sharing & caring about other people, lifeforms and our environment in general. Particularly about changing the society for the better and helping mother nature to survive the Anthropocene in the best way that's still possible.

The worlds ecosystem might survive and outlive our species but it still takes and already has taken a heavy toll. We have encountered a great loss in biodiversity all around the globe. Insect counts are going downhill and they are one of the most important parts of the natural food chain which is resulting in a loss of even more animals.

What I'm trying to do 

I'm currently creating new biotopes in my surrounding areas and help maintaining existing habitats for endangered and not so endangered species as well. I already managed to re-establish a great living space for insects, birds, amphibians and reptiles where I live. In the evening and morning hours a lot of animals that don't live in the area directly come by and visit the place. To name a few, I've seen hedgehogs, martens and several species of deer, badgers and even wild cats are strolling around. Not to mention all the birds that stop by to feed on the insects and bath or take a sip at the water surfaces I helped to create and maintain.

My goal is to up the ante and do this on a wider scale.

I want to help form a community of people that care for mother nature, a community that is globally connected and does community projects together all around the world to help preserve and restore habitats for animals and plants (and mushrooms). 

If you can relate to this, especially if you are capable of creating classic cartoon style characters, please reply or send me a dm. I'm looking for collaborators. I'm working on setting up a ngo or company that donates a big chunk of all the money that comes in to nature conservation projects and other ngos that have an impact on environmental health. I'm pretty far already but I really am struggling financial wise at the moment. I had to sell a lot of my stuff to make my vision come to life and it seems like I'm soon getting evicted from the place I rented. I don't care! Fuck you money hungry bastards that don't give a fuck about others!


Besides all of this I talk to people about how important the choices we make are and teach people about how to use computers and install open source software and alternative OS. I also help repairing old stuff (as far as my knowledge goes) to prevent people from buying new stuff all the time which also is very bad for our environment. And I try to preserve wisdom by archiving important websites and promoting the forum culture of the old web by talking to young people because the dying internet theory is kind of real.



What are you doing to make the society and the world we live in a better place?
Tell your story. I'm curious to find out 

 
UNITED WE
    STAND

    Tuffy!

[Dan Q]

I never feel like I'm doing enough! 

Probably the thing I do that makes the biggest impact is Three Rings. It's a nonprofit that I founded like 23 years ago to make software that we give away for free or cheap to charities. The software helps streamline the management of volunteers and rotas. Soo... we're a voluntary organisation that makes it easier to run voluntary organisations.

Anyway: nowadays it helps facilitate several volunteer-years worth of volunteering effort every day for hundred of charities across half a dozen countries. Everything from suicide helplines and emotional support to community libraries to tree planting to animal welfare is made more-effective by something I made, and continue to make. That's a good feeling.

But I worry, sometimes, that I've "peaked" and am resting on my laurels. What if I never make anything so beneficial to the world again? I've got other things I do/have done, but nothing comes close to the impact of Three Rings. It's tough!

[fairyrune]

i've recently started working with my local library. i won't share the exact details but it's going to help a lot of vulnerable people who might not be aware of what the library offers. typically this includes the elderly, but i've spoken to my bosses and we will eventually be working on expanding it to anybody who needs it. disability and circumstances do not have age restrictions!

something i'd also love to do is hold some bird-watching tours of my local waterways. there's so much wildlife there due to the water and the forest corridors nearby and i don't think people know how to interact with it, and i believe knowing what you're looking at is really important when it comes to understanding why it's worth protecting. but i have no idea where to begin with that! perhaps i could hold a couple in the school holidays.

But I worry, sometimes, that I've "peaked" and am resting on my laurels. What if I never make anything so beneficial to the world again? I've got other things I do/have done, but nothing comes close to the impact of Three Rings. It's tough!

if it helps, i recently found out that this software's used in a relative's work, and it saves lives. i think when you've contributed something so foundational to work like that, you've got nothing to worry about. you've done more good than a lot of people would ever consider, and that's worth celebrating, not dreading!

also, what a lovely thread idea. things are terrifying right now, all around the world, but it's absolutely vital that we remember that there's something we can do to help, even if it's small. a bit of kindness, education and resistance goes a long way. hopefully this thread will inspire at least one person.

[Licheus]

I wrote a large piece below, so here’s just a summary first: what I do is to share specific techniques on my website which, if implemented by enough people, would transition society away from monetary dependency into post-scarcity.

Below is my longer text for those interested. ^^

For me personally when thinking about this, it helps to break it down like this: living beings have needs. The most important need is to not be instantly killed: if you were teleported into the earth’s core right now, that particular need would be violated. Then it goes down from there, like the need for air, water, food, medicine, housing, intimacy and so on (the order gets slightly vague, but people can intuitively identify and order needs with good enough approximation). For an intelligent being like a human, there’s the need for intellectual stimuli and expressions.

Problems in the world arise when needs are not being met.

The world is a three-dimensional space where you can arrange matter to meet needs. We have the resources and knowledge to meet every need on the planet.

On my website I share techniques (specific configurations of matter, rather than general concepts) which I have identified to be the most impactful, least absorbable by conventional power structures and most directly implementable by everyday people.

I spend some of my spare time researching, hand-picking and sharing these transition tactics in digestible form.

The purpose is to ultimately circumvent monetary systems to the largest possible degree and spearhead society towards post-scarcity. I believe people are kept from forming benevolent neural connections en masse (and build the better world themselves) by contemporary power structures wielding the threat of debt to hold the majority hostage in perpetual labour slavery (probably just by the nature of how established systems preserve themselves, no conspiracy required).

If you’re interested, the concepts I utilise are dual power and prefigurative politics. From Wikipedia:

“Dual power, sometimes referred to as counterpower, refers to a strategy in which alternative institutions coexist with and seek to ultimately replace existing authority.”

“Prefigurative politics are modes of organization and social relationships that strive to reflect the future society being sought by a group. In practice, they involve building a new society ‘within the shell of the old’ by living out the values and social structures the group desires for the future.”

I believe that our greatest strength in modern times is that, despite all the shit going on in the world, we have more access to human knowledge than ever before. Contemporary systems are making noise to drench out the better paths. If we can sort through the noise with the proper pin-point focus, we can arrive at cost-efficient techniques for every area of life and build a parallel society. For example (concretely):

• The Four Thieves Vinegar collective is open sourcing medicine as we speak.
• Every rural household could theoretically grow all their calories locally, specifically by combining permaculture, the biointensive growing method, Ruth Stout gardening and Jean-Martin Fortier’s techniques for small market gardening.
• A rocket mass heater+water heater+cookstove+coppice/pollarding zone solves all temperature increases in your home (80-99% of the electric bill). Built from brick or cob, it can be thrown into nature with zero pollution. The total environmental impact for burning is in the same ballpark as solar panels (theirs is one-time mining spread out over their full operational time). The burn is so efficient that the exhaust is basically breathable: shown in pink, I estimate ppm CO in that graph to about 20, where 9 would be safe even after 8 hours if the exhaust went straight into the house. Coppicing and pollarding is often a net-positive to local ecosystems.

Just as a final side-note: I think some things people do don’t get enough credit. I haven’t written on these at my website because I want specifics there, but if people gravitate towards what’s most alive in themselves, it’s generally much better than forcing themselves to be activists or whatever (although if activism is your thing, more power to you). Like, if you’re present and loving when raising your children, that’s probably much more impactful than something which sounds good on the internet. Same if you create art which makes you feel something etc. Your impact on the world is a combination of everything that happens in your life and how that affects chain reactions, not just the stuff which is easily presented and understood. ❀

[TheFrugalGamer]

Just as a final side-note: I think some things people do don’t get enough credit. I haven’t written on these at my website because I want specifics there, but if people gravitate towards what’s most alive in themselves, it’s generally much better than forcing themselves to be activists or whatever (although if activism is your thing, more power to you)....

Thank you for saying this! It's so easy to fall into doomerism and lose hope because they think they're not doing enough. Just caring and stopping to think is putting you on a path towards good, and you should be proud of yourself for that. Also, I'm really enjoying reading through your site!

But I worry, sometimes, that I've "peaked" and am resting on my laurels. What if I never make anything so beneficial to the world again? I've got other things I do/have done, but nothing comes close to the impact of Three Rings. It's tough!

I don't think it's possible to predict how much of an impact everything we do is going to have, and trying to match the success of a previous project is setting you up for failure, I think. The fact that you're trying is enough!

---------------------------------------------------

As for me, I think the biggest thing I've done is giving up eating meat. Statistically that's been shown to have the largest impact on the environment, and as a bonus I feel a lot healthier and happier about my eating choices (I love animals so much, and didn't realize how much guilt I had around eating them).

In other areas of my life, I try to reuse as much as possible, while realizing that there's no way to be perfect about it while living in the society that I do. I have a compost pile in my back yard, and I love using found materials in my crafts and art. I'm also always trying my hand at gardening (although I'm not usually very successful. It's difficult to grow things in Texas).

Although I don't live in a very walkable city, I was privileged enough to be able to chose my housing so that it was central to most of the places I need to be. I walk to work whenever I can, and try to minimize my car usage as much as possible. Eventually I'll probably be getting a bike as well, since we do happen to have a little bit of a biking culture here, and that will get me further than walking. As an upside, it makes my doctors happy 

I currently have a tutorials section on my website, and although it's a bit neglected right now, I have plans to add instructions on how to make things that you might need in your household. My hope is by sharing different techniques for sourcing unusual materials and re-using items that normally go into the trash, I can get people thinking about how to buy less overall.

I try to make my things last as long as possible, and have repaired a lot of clothing and electronic items. My phone is currently going on four years, I think, and I always try to stretch that out as much as possible. One of the upsides about this I've noticed is that people tend to ask me questions about the visible mending I do, and it gives me an opportunity to share why I repair things and how to get started. Usually they end up wanting to try it themselves.

[MrsMoe]

I haven't been able to do anything really huge in terms of activism, but I've been doing a lot of volunteer work around town. The town I'm currently living in is very small and there's no a lot here for social interaction, to the point where a lot of people here rarely leave their houses. I've spent the three months since I moved here attending our local multicultural/pride group, helping out at "the drop zone" (a monthly get together our multicultural building hosts that gives kids/teens a place to play and socialize), and doing movie scheduling for our only movie theater. I have absolutely no idea if what I'm doing is going to improve things in the long run, but I really do want to help give this place a stronger community if I have to live here.

[Cele]

I feel like I do things for my hometown, working in maintenance in the public sector, it's a meaningful job imo. Sure, I do some smalltime queer activism as well. I used to volunteer teaching language to immigrants but I'm too busy and burnt out for it now But I hope that my efforts to put accurate info online, including on Wikipedia, will have a positive impact over misinfromation.

[fablefound]

oh, this is a lovely question, and one i was actually just thinking real hard on the other day!
at my current point in time, i can't do as much as i'd like to. i'm saving up to get a place with my partner, and live pretty far away from most of my friends and community at this point... that said:
- i've started a tradition of a "monday tenner." every monday, i donate to mutual aid or a charity, or cover something for someone in my life. ideally people wouldn't be in these situations where that kind of help is required, but with the world being how it is... i like to think it helps.
- because it's hard for me to show up to events, be they concerts or protests, i like to share them online and on occasion contribute by buying a ticket or donating directly to any relevant fundraiser.
- when i do get out into the world and put on my own shows, ive really enjoyed doing fundraisers, myself! last year, we raised a few hundred for crips for esims, and next week, we'll be fundraising to keep a local arts space open. i also really enjoy building lineups with folks who i know struggle to get opportunities--because i know what it's like.
- i lend my eyes and ears when i have the capacity, whether i'm beta reading someone's project, spiffing up a friend's resume, or just listening to someone who had to vent.
- i like to think my day job helps, too. i work for a writing organization, so i spend many of my days helping our clientele (primarily older folks) connect with each other, figure out tech, and talk craft. it's really fulfilling!
- and maybe this is a little vain... but i like to think that my writing has a good impact on things. i talk a lot about disability and survivorship, and people have told me it's helped them learn about themselves and others in their lives. if i can help people unlearn stigma and biases, that's got to count for something.

i hope that once i have my own place and can get out into the world more often, i can do more. i'd love to find somewhere i can volunteer regularly, and/or to just be a helping hand to my neighbours.

[koiitan]

I wanted to write longer reply, but I got logged off, and I didn't manage to save it as a draft.

I'm not doing as much as I could, and I would like to for now, but I'm also trying to not do anything at all (but I'm still aiming to go further) and I'm trying to educate myself more in those topics.
Last year I took a stray pregnant cat, and now I'm taking care of them and their kitten. I would adopt them and took home inside, but I'm still living with my family and my grandma said a big no, I need to accept this and do what I can for now.
Mostly what I'm doing is to eat less food (become a vegetarian when I'll be less picky ), buying clothes from second-hands because I HATE fast fashion with my whole heart, sending donations to fundraisers with purposes like helping animals and hospitals.

This year I would like to sign up to volunteer in helping a seal sanctuary, if not this year then definitively next one, I'm also planning to volunteer in an animal shelter.

I admire your activity and that made me want to do even more things that could help a world to be a better place. Have a great day anyone who's reading it!

[Licheus]

Thank you for saying this! It's so easy to fall into doomerism and lose hope because they think they're not doing enough. Just caring and stopping to think is putting you on a path towards good, and you should be proud of yourself for that. Also, I'm really enjoying reading through your site!

I really appreciate all of this, thank you so much!

Not eating meat deserves a lot of respect. Appreciation for that should be the default in society. Like, regardless of whether a person eats meat or not, they should see the value in refraining from doing so and appreciate how vegetarians use less resources and cause less suffering. My brother is vegan and has probably had a greater positive impact on the world than me, even though I try a lot harder than him in many other ways. Not eating meat is just that much more impactful.

- because it's hard for me to show up to events, be they concerts or protests, i like to share them online and on occasion contribute by buying a ticket or donating directly to any relevant fundraiser.

I lose a lot of energy around other people. It’s really nice that it’s possible to fill different niches, where people who are unable or unwilling to be in community or in physical proximity to friends also have options. There is immense work to do. I relate to you (although for different reasons), although I’m also very thankful for the people here who do real life volunteer work and activism.

I wanted to write longer reply, but I got logged off, and I didn't manage to save it as a draft.

My condolences for the lost text, I hate it when that happens. I’m even writing everything in local text documents ever since I lost some draft decades ago. ^^

Yours is another cool example of filling a niche. I’m moving so slowly through life that animals “move too fast” for me (I really like plants, lol). If an animal gets sick, I need to be there quickly and handle the situation, for example. But you seem to have a passion for animals. I’m really thankful for people like you who naturally gravitate to what I’m bad at.

[RNotteLovesOwls]

i have been very, VERY critical of the powers that be since graduating college with my arts degree, and i've done many things to make a positive impact on the world:

1. i'm strictly a freelancer. i will never become an employee to a massive corporation for as long as i live. i have too much respect for myself and my work to do that
2. i've started buying canned food and drinks, because they last longer. my parents have a food waste problem; they keep buying foods and not eating them, then throwing them away. i want to reduce my food waste, eat well, and save money, and canned food will help me do that
3. i regularly shop at a store in town that sells only fair trade-certified goods. they are non-profit, anti-cruelty, and anti-exploitation. if ever i'm shopping for birthday/christmas gifts, or special foodstuffs, that's the first place i'll go
4. on the same token, i only buy clothes (and a lot of other things) used, from thrift stores or garage sales. it helps to reduce waste, and heck, clothes from the thrift store are ironically higher quality than most clothes made today! (i'm looking right at you, shein. screw you and everything you stand for)
5. i have a public library membership. i really need to go there more...
6. i support wildlife non-profits through buying fahlo products. fahlo sells bracelets and plush animals with codes to track wild animals in collaboration with the non-profits to study their behavior and keep them safe
7. i am driving less. instead, i go to places by my e-bike. once i get my own place closer to town, i will ride my bike to even more places

the more i think about it, i'm doing more to help the world than i realize. i've learned that you don't need to directly donate money to the WWF or whatnot to make a positive impact

[lakes]

• I'm not gonna get into it here. But I've become more interested in dual power and even joined an org.
• I have a list of fundraisers on my site because I'm not in a position to donate unfortunately.
• I've been trying to decrease my reliance on big tech. Using open source software where I can, downloading music & listening to internet radio instead of listening to spotify, etc.
• I took in a cat that was starving to death a year before her owner passed away. She's eating better. But we've been having trouble giving her medicine. (She has kidney stones.)
• Been reading more non-fiction (theory, history, science, etc) in an attempt to educate myself.

[torquuato]

i volunteer bi-yearly, at lourdes (in calais, france) as a YOUTH pilgrim. Basically i push wheelchairs for old people around the lourdes town and pilgrimage site. Whilst im not entirely mega religious, for me it's more making the experience for the elderly person i am accompanying for that day. They spend all year in a retirement home and this is the one week that they get to go out into the world so i make sure they are having a good time. i also recently started volunteering for ACF or the Army Cadet Force as an instructor. so idk. ig i contribute by helping/volunteering in my community?