I fancy myself a blogger, so I wasn't going to take a pass on Blog Action Day! This year, the BAD topic is "Climate Change." We are called to "mobilize millions of people around expressing support for finding a sustainable solution to the climate crisis.'
Whoa! That's a little intimidating, and my confidence wavers. What can I contribute to the cause of climate change? What exactly is climate change? I know it comes under category: environment...as opposed to unemployment, or healthcare reform, but that's huge! How exactly am I qualified to blog about it?

You can google for lots of information on the scientific and political perspectives. I certainly cannot enlist as a global warming activist or climate change evangelist, so I will have to report from the perspective of the work in progress that is my inner conservationist.

I reassess my efforts in reducing my carbon foot print...mostly standard stuff -- reusable shopping bags are a bona fide habit now- I've changed some light bulbs...but what else? What else? Surely I'm doing more than that?!

Finally, I realize the biggest stride I've made lately is that I am paying much more attention -- as are many of us -- and not simply to debates, but to the constructive ways we can make change.

What's remarkable is that it is not necessarily all intentional. I do not deliberately seek out opportunities to change. There seems to be a natural evolution in my daily intake that inspires and enables change without conscious effort on my part. And for that I credit journalists of every medium who keep me informed and inspired on many levels...by kindling my interest and curiosity.

Recent thought provoking, interesting and inspiring info that has made its way to me:

• An episode on GRITtv re: gas drilling and its effects on NYC drinking water. (You are offered a link to comment directly to the Dept. of Environmental Conservation).

• A very informative article in Edible Jersey about the peril of the honeybees. (One beehive in your back yard can have an impact!)

• Creative ideas (and directions) for re-using and recycling everyday objects at Design Sponge.

Whether you participate in the Kill the Drill campaign, redesign your garden in consideration of the honeybees or simply create a nightstand from furniture found at the curbside, you are participating, you are mobilizing and you are expressing support that in its own way is incorporating change into our collective consciousness.

I look forward to all I will learn on Blog Action Day, and I would like to celebrate it with a big "Thank You!" to journalists of all media who inspire and effect change via information shared in an intelligent, interesting and inspiring way.

[Image: Flowers made from recycled quilts, by Jane Joss]