This author thinks otherwise, though. Even if you are not as filthy rich as the most affluent personalities in your country, you can do something for your society; for your environment; for your own nation. You don't have to be a music icon, a sports celebrity, or a movie giant just to make a difference. Every little thing that you can do to help the needy, to keep your environment clean, to inspire the people around you, and to make the world a better place to live in counts.
Below are the littlest and the simplest things that you can do to have a positive impact towards the society and the people you coexist:
BE AN INSPIRATION:
1. You don't know how many people feel down nowadays. A lot of people are losing hope thinking that it's the end of the road for them, that there's no getting back to rebuild their lives. Furthermore, many people are clueless about what they need and have to do with themselves which are almost half-buried in the graveyard of poverty, unemployment, illegal drug usage, hopelessness and pessimism. There is also a lot of people who are just contented with what they have, who they are, and what status in life they are in. It's either they are skeptical about having the capability to turn their lives around or they dwell in mediocrity and lethargy and it's as simple as it.
BE A DISCIPLINED CITIZEN AND CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT:
In the country that am I in, which is the Philippines, waste disposal; cleanliness and lack of discipline of its countrymen have always been a major alarming challenge. People simply couldn't care less due to lack of awareness and education about the negative repercussions to both their health and environment that not taking care of their environment bring.
I'm pretty sure that in the country you are in, these are similar concerns. Nonetheless, some things can be done to address these gradually if not in just a blink of an eye.
After you smoke, throw it to the designated trash bin. Better yet, don't smoke to begin with. Not only that you are abusing your own and other persons' lungs, you are also poisoning the air. And basic science says that poisoned air widens the gaping hole in the ozone layer, which in turn lets in a huge amount of excessive ultraviolet rays that damage our eyes, immune system and skin and that also cause global warming and sunburn just to mention a few of its not-so-good consequences.
Every time you eat, throw your leftovers and the packages or wrappers that they were wrapped in to the trash can. Better yet again, be knowledgeable about segregating wastes and separating the recyclable, compostable and the residual ones from one another. Being able to sort wastes properly will give your area's solid and water waste management authorities an easy time to treat them accordingly.
Recycle the recyclable. Produce something artsy or creative out of scrap or recyclable materials. Aside from being able to utilize them again, you can also innovate and manufacture or engineer them into a new object or material that can be used in the office or your house like a pen holder and the like. It has even been proven that people can make handicrafts out of recyclable materials that you can even sell for an affordable price. Hence, you just got yourself your own business and you even extended a big help to Mother Nature!
Use papers bags in place of plastic bags. Actually, there has been an ongoing debate about paper bags being environment-friendly or more compared to plastic bags. The latter's manufacturing companies' owners have been defending plastic bags from paper bags saying that the usage of the latter also has some negative effects to the environment. Therefore, not making them any better. Well,they may or may not be right but paper bags are a lesser evil. Both have their own pros and cons but plastic bags may arguably have more damaging effects. So, we may have to settle for paper bags instead.
See, there are definitely a lot of things you can do to take good care of your world. Matter of fact, there's a lot of more but enumerating them all here would definitely need much more space than what's allowed. But bottom line is, however simple they are, something can be done and you can make it yourself.
GIVE FOOD, NOT MONEY, TO THE BEGGARS AND VAGRANTS YOU COME ACROSS IN THE STREETS:
You may be wondering why it is discouraged that people give money to beggars or vagrants. Here in the Philippines, not that you are not giving them the benefit of the doubt or you're becoming too presumptive, but most of the time; they use the money you hand over to buy drugs or solvents they can inhale. Ergo, just to put it safe or simply to make sure they don't do anything unpleasant with it, give them appreciable and nutritious food instead.
Food is a basic need. We all need it to nourish our body so as to preserve or lengthen life, to energize, and to promote growth. So, it will definitely be a big help if we give clean food and drink instead. We have to be aware that these unfortunate people may not eat three to four times a day or they may do but they get their food from restaurant left-overs thrown into dirty trash bins or from trash cans scattered all over the Metro. And these could be very unhygienic that may pose risks to their health. So, it's only proper and affectionate enough to show how much you care and love them. Share your food.
TELL THE LEGITIMATE CONCERNED AUTHORITIES OF ACTS OF GRAFT AND CORRUPTION SO CROOKS ARE DEALT WITH LEGALLY AND MORALLY:
Graft and corruption is everywhere. Here in the Philippines alone, it's rampant that perpetrators even do it in public despite people witnessing their activities. Someone has got to put a stop to this. When you see acts of bribery, fraudulent transactions, shady deals, dishonesty, or shortchanging; let the proper authorities know so they could be punished and face charges for their nefarious trades.
Probably, you are thinking you are just putting yourself in danger doing this but the thing is, graft and corruption should not be tolerated and furthered especially when you live in a third-world country. It is one of the several reasons why poor countries remain poor. This has to end now or continue suffering.
If you need security and protection, you have to start with ensuring you tell it to reliable, credible, and trustworthy groups and offices. You don't just tell it to anyone who you would end up discovering is a corrupt official himself or is in cahoots with the wrongdoers. Disclose the information you know or the acts you have witnessed with your own eyes on the condition of anonymity, witness protection, and security.
Do it this way. Otherwise, your good efforts may go down the drain or you may jeopardize your own immediate family.
JOIN BOTH NON-GOVERNMENT/NON PROFIT AND GOVERNMENT-AFFILIATED VOLUNTEER AND ADVOCACY GROUPS THAT STAND UP FOR A CAUSE THAT YOU CAN COMMIT TO:
You don't need to organize a group yourself. It's costly, for one. There's a lot out there that you can join and dedicate yourself into. However, you don't just join groups for the sake of it. Make sure that they are aligned with your genuine concern and passion. If you are into sports for example, then join organizations that advocate for the government supporting those accomplished yet disadvantaged sports inspirations who need financial assistance or who simply have to be promoted to the casual fans of their given sport. If you are into environmental protection, then be connected to affiliations that have the heart for nature.
Being affiliated with organizations whose causes are closest to your heart would make you devote sincerely and actively. Additionally, you become a very active and involved citizen who helps and not just someone who goes to work, comes back home, goes back to work, comes back home again, so on and so forth. Thus, has no use in the society.
LAST ON THE LIST BUT CERTAINLY NOT THE LEAST, SIMPLY BE A LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN:
This may sound and look simple and easy but if it is, then who can explain why some regular people still get imprisoned, fined, or required to do community services for violating let's say, simple traffic rules, etc?
Rules are rules and they govern the good, ethical and proper conduct of its followers and their activities. Policies are policies and they define sound decisions that are geared toward what is right and what's socially acceptable. Laws are laws and they are there not to make matters worse, to aggravate situations or strain relationships but to put order in everything that we do and organize how we go about things. Nobody is above them and they should be revered.
Hence, what a peaceful and orderly society it is when people abide by the laws and the rules and follow them religiously. There will be no crimes and no animosity towards one another.
These are just some of the little things you can do to serve your country, your society, and world in general well. Just to reiterate, the society doesn't demand that you be rich, that you be famous, that you be influential. Even if you are just a simple person living a regular life and doing what every normal person does every basic day, you can be an active and concerned individual of your surroundings and the less-fortunate people in it who need you help and your attention.
« return.