Many of us are aware of how much suffering many people and animals are under, the fact that global warming is increasing and that the environment is being destroyed. Many of us would love to make a difference, but what can we do about it? It seems like to really make a difference in the world, you have to have a lot of money and a lot of time, which are the two things very few of us have! You have all the time in the world if you’re unemployed but no money, and a fair bit of money if you are employed, but no time!
This book is full of actions you can take; some are small and you’ve probably heard them before (but they do make a difference!) and some are quite big and the difference you make will be life changing to you as well as others! But they are all worthwhile and when done together, can change the world or make the world of difference to a few individuals if carried out by one person. It’s split into 52 actions so it works out at one action a week within a year so it won’t take up too much of your time and although some actions do take money, it won’t be so much that it eats into your savings.
Of course, these are just a few ideas and there’s nothing to stop you coming up with your own better ideas. With enough imagination, creativity and passion, anything is possible and the world is yours for the taking.
A young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each star-fish, she would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her with amusement.
She had been doing this for some time when a man approached her and said, “Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!”
The girl seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied, “Well, I made a difference to that one!”
The old man looked at the girl inquisitively and thought about what she had done and said. Inspired, he joined the little girl in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved. - adapted from the Star Thrower by Loren C. Eiseley