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ASK ECOGIRL'S THEME:
Shiting Our Thinking to Create More Fun & Effective Action


For your convenience, I've gathered my Ask EcoGirl print columns into themes, often with additional information.

NOTE: This COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL is AVAILABLE FOR SYNDICATION, CUSTOMIZATION & REPRINT!

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The Rebel & The Status Quo (June 2013)
Often people see themselves as primarily either a traditional rule-follower or a rebel change-agent. Then they can harshly judge other people who they see as being in the other camp. How much time have we spent fighting in this dynamic? However, EcoGirl feels that both these urges are within all of us, that both these roles can bring positive contributions -- and that both can be expressed in negative ways too! By stepping back and getting a better understanding of each of these roles -- and how they can give their gifts more constructively -- we can break free of the harmful part of this pattern and greatly improve the level of our outcomes, both personally and collectively. That's because this understanding can help us be more empathetic of others, bridge viewpoints, combine the value of change and tradition, reduce unnecessary conflicts, and create smarter integrated solutions for our future. Read this piece to explore these ideas further!
 
Is There Hope For The Planet? (July 2011)
It's easy to feel disheartened seeing all the eco-crises in the world. Is there really hope, or is an early death for the earth just inevitable? EcoGirl answers that there is hope -- to the extent that we take positive actions. That's because the future scenarios aren't black-and-white but a range of outcomes that will unfold in better or worse ways depending on the choices that we make. What's even more exciting though is that we also benefit personally by taking constructive action for the earth and proactively embracing the upcoming changes, because it reduces our pain while creating more fun, aliveness, empowerment, and business opportunity. Why would we choose anything else?
 
Reclaiming Our Shared Power (April 2012)
We all certainly at times can feel hopeless about all the horrible things happening in the world, and wonder if we really can do anything to make a difference. But EcoGirl believes that we have much more power to impact our world and our future than we realize -- as consumers, workers, citizens, and community members. In this column, she gives four key steps for reclaiming that power, in joyful and constructive ways. How exhilarating!
 
From Gratitude to Action ( December 2011)
Too often, children can devour their Christmas gifts so quickly that they don't really experience or appreciate each one, let alone the person who gave it. In much the same way, our culture is voraciously turning the earth's amazing ecosystems into momentary objects that we barely notice and quickly become part of our overwhelming piles of waste. To help remedy this, EcoGirl offers some easy ways that we can redirect our actions towards sanity, and through this more fully enjoy the objects and experiences we have, reduce our harm to the precious earth, and help ensure that there will be happy times tomorrow!
 
Honoring Change and Tradition (November 2011)
Like many folks, EcoGirl has been fascinated and thrilled to see people come out onto the streets to call for major changes in our system's structures. These movements offer us a chance for the scale of change that we need to steer ourselves away from so many crises, including eco-collapse. EcoGirl offers her thoughts about how we all can respond constructively to the opportunity of this powerful moment, wherever we are; what she feels is vital for the movement's success; and how the earth's ways can (and must) be included in the new solutions. She also honors the tradition of our winter celebrations by offering organized and helpful lists full of ways that you can honor the earth in all your holiday activities.
 
Connecting With Your Eco-Passion (January 2011)
Most of us love the earth, but amidst life's busyness, how do we make sure we follow through with our good intentions to take care of her this year? EcoGirl offers constructive tips for eco-motivating yourself in ways that bypass "should" and shame, and instead are fun, inspirational, and aligned with your other goals in life. Nurturing the earth can be a fun way to nurture YOU!
  
Constructively Channeling Your Inner Eco-Rebel (October 2009)
Are you feeling guilty for not doing more for the earth? EcoGirl makes it easy for you to convert guilt into personal passion with her handy checklist for understanding what's holding you back. As you then use her simple steps for resolving these, in ways that fit with your life and style, you'll find that indeed acting for the earth can be fun and empowering. Really!
 
Creating Your Personal Earth Action Plan (April 2008)
The current blossoming of green stories and claims in mainstream media can be both encouraging and overwhelming. Where on earth should we start in taking action? EcoGirl hears that a lot. So, instead of just giving you another list of tips to add to your already-stuffed do-list, this column maps out four simple steps for you to follow to uncover your personal approach to this topic. This Plan will help you both prioritize and feel excited about the impact you can have!
 
Eco-Persuasion (March 2012)
It's a question surely faced by anyone who cares for the earth: how do we persuade other people to take action on eco-issues without making ourselves crazy? In this column, EcoGirl describes a tool she's adopted from the marketing domain to help tailor her message for her audience. When we can empathetically meet people where they are, we'll more likely be able to engage with them both respectfully and effectively.
 
Speaking Effectively for the Earth (September 2011)
A reader asks how she can talk to her uncle, who's opposed to President Obama's recent increase in car mileage standards, because he thinks they're only harmful and that global warming isn't real. EcoGirl offers her two quick links to email him that address his key points, and offers her general suggestions for being persuasive in talking with people about eco-issues.
  
Creating Sane Group Dynamics (October 2011)
A key way that we can work on eco-issues is through community groups, which allow us to join together in creating a better world. However, these groups are often so fraught with unproductive conflict and covertly harmful personal dynamics that people can shy away from them. Does it have to be that way? Or can we create productive and enjoyable experiences? In this piece, EcoGirl shares her thoughts about how we can constructively take on these groups' inherent challenges in order to build effective teams, move community issues forward, and support our own personal growth!
 
Love Your Local Activist/Change Agent (May 2011)
No matter how bad you think the world is now, imagine how much worse it would be without the change agents (by whatever label or title) who stepped back from their individual lives to imagine and create something better for their communities and our shared future. And yet those of us working for a better world today can often be considered odd ducks in this culture that's so often focused on immediate personal rewards. In this column, EcoGirl speaks up for her team of innovating pioneers, and suggests that a smart culture welcomes and nurtures its change agents, valuing their essential role in steering wisely and avoiding collective disaster. She hopes that you'll be empowered by this perspective -- and share it with others!
 

Return to EcoGirl's Theme Page Index.
 

OTHER PRINT ARTICLES I'VE WRITTEN ON THIS THEME
 
* "Healing Our Culture's Abuse of the Earth," Sonoma County Peace Press, April/May 2011 and June/July 2011. In this article, I explore a topic I've been thinking about for a while: how the psychology of abuse is expressed not just in our culture's families but also in our businesses, politics -- and how we treat the beautiful sacred earth. Thus, I feel that that the abuse model can be a powerful tool to help us steer our culture away from eco-disaster and towards eco-survival and happiness. Read the article to find out more!
 
* "Uprooting the Environmental Causes of Poverty & War," Sonoma County Peace Press, April 2009. I was delighted when the Sonoma County Peace Press asked me to write something about the environment, giving me the chance to connect environmental and social justice issues. It's another example of how saving the earth is saving us humans too! My article uses as an example the story of the Nigerian people and their journey with the oil industry. This webpage version of the article also has bonus links for more information on the topics discussed.
 
* "Divine Intervention: China's Taoist masters are mobilizing for the sacred earth," North Bay Bohemian, Dec. 31, 2008 (My web page here also includes the bonus of links to lots of great information on this column's topics.)

* "Reasons for Hope," Sonoma County Environmental Impact Reporter, Dec. 1998, p. 4. (Column EarthWalk.)

* "What's Your Vision of Sonoma County's Future?", Sonoma County Environmental Impact Reporter, Oct./Nov. 1998, p. 4. (Column EarthWalk.)

* "Vision and Action Healing the World," Sonoma County Environmental Impact Reporter, Aug. 1998, p. 15. (Column EarthWalk, introduction, in this monthly newspaper on environmental issues.)

MORE OF MY PRINT ARTICLES
 
* My Next STEP newsletter, which has lots of information on toxics and alternatives, plus government and community-level actions. "It's your handy guide to less-toxic living." Look up topics of interest in the The Next STEP index of articles.
 
* North Bay Bohemian. I also wrote several articles on these topics for the Bohemian's Green Zone column. 

* I also cover these topics on my Facebook page and blog.


STAYING CONNECTED
 
Ask EcoGirl is written by Patricia Dines, Author of The Organic Guides, and Editor and Lead Writer for The Next STEP newsletter, which gently educates readers about toxics and alternatives. For more information about my work for the planet, see www.patriciadines.info
 

Sign up for my low-volume writing announcement list (1-3 emails a month), to get emails when my new print articles are published, at www.patriciadines.info/EList.

 
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I hope that you find this information useful. I welcome your throughts and feedback! (You can email me at info [at] askecogirl.info.)
 
Editors: Please contact me if you'd like to publish any of these articles in your periodical, or discuss an article that I might write for you.



This entire website is (c) Patricia Dines, 1998-2014. All rights reserved.
Page last updated 3/7/14
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