Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Change the world from 9 to 5

If you want to change the world, start with yourself. At wearewhatwedo.org this saying is taken seriously: the site encourages people to change the world with simple but significant actions, and allows them to register online what they've contributed to bettering the world we live in. Here's just a few examples of the type of feasible actions suggested by We Are What We Do:
  • Read a story with a child
  • Take public transport when you can
  • Plant a tree
  • Have a bath with someone you love (or: how saving water can be fun -- see the accompanying wallpaper to brighten up your computer's desktop)
  • Learn one good joke
  • Have more meals together (see the accompanying BBC video here)
It may look a bit boring if you see it in a list like this, but check out the website -- it's all very cleverly and funnily done.

For a similar kind of organization operating in the Netherlands (and hence in Dutch), point your browser to sire.nl (Stichting Ideële Reclame).

9 comments:

Choffray Aurora said...

Change the world??? What a difficult task...
We could find this too difficult and impossible to realize on your own! But if everybody could do just one little thing, the world would be better! I propose two tips which are for me really important!

1. We should laugh/smile at least 3 times a day…
2. Give a present to someone you like or love

Why those two tips and not other ones?
1. People often complain about stupid things, saying that the life is bad and so on,... So I think that if everybody could laugh or smile at least three times a day, the world could be more beautiful! It’s so beautiful to see people smiling instead of being sad!
2. Don’t you like to receive a present from someone that you really like (or love)? Of course you do! Well, if you like to receive presents it means that the others also like to receive presents from you! Do you still follow me? It’s quite simple: give a present to someone you like (or love) as much as possible! So that your friend will realize how much you like him/her!!!

Anonymous said...

Here are my two ideas which could help to change the world. I hope that most of you will agree that my tips could be constructive.
The first tip that I suggest is the following one : " Make a chimney fire with the members of your family in winter. Everyday of the year , you find it difficult to get up early in order to go working. But it is much more difficult to do that when you are in winter. During this season, all the people feel like depressed because the weather is bad and because winter is synonym of coldness. So, I propose them to do something against it during their weekend. People should sit down in their sofa with all the members of their family on Fridays evening. Making a chimney fire will bring them warmth and will make them feel a bit of conviviality. It creates a particular atmosphere which will help all of you to calm down.
My second tip is to encourage people to read the newspaper as much as possible. In my point of view, people have to know what's going on in the world or at least what’s going on in their own country. So, when you have a break, why don't you buy the newspaper to keep yourself informed?

melaniecalomme said...

It is difficult to change the world, but a little something can make the day more pleasant!
We can, for example, say ''goodmorning'' to the people in the street! This little word can make people happy. Another example: we can give presents even if there is no reason for doing that! According to me, everyone has the power to make life more beautiful!

Anonymous said...

It maybe seems pessimistic but I don't think we can really change the world. But of course each of us is able to better our daily life a little bit.
So I suggest two ways of doing so:

1.We should ask a friend to go for a drink instead of staying in your room doing nothing. The life would then seem more pleasant.
2.People could also climb the stairs instead of taking the lift. It would improve their health.

Nathalie Blouard said...

This nice website is a good piece of evidence that changing the world need not be a utopia and that we can achieve this challenge(or at least part of it)without any supernatural powers...
Here are two personal suggestions which,I think,could contribute to a better world:
-When they see a beggar in the street people could take the time to stop and comfort him or her so that the person could feel not completely alone and left behind.
-People should prefer a good walk to a drive when it is a short distance(it would be healthier for them and for the nature too!).

Charlotte Collard said...

Here are my ideas to improve the daily life of our family and friends more than to change the world:
- Laugh as often as possible
- Write some funny or nice post-its to persons you like and put them on the fride, the table, the bed,...

It will not change the world but it can bring a little bit of delight in your circle of family and friends.

Anonymous said...

Hello everybody!
Here are my two favourite pieces of advice to change the world. I think life could be much better if everybody did at least one thing a day...
First, go to see an old friend that you haven't seen for a long time. It's a little attention but he or she would be very happy to see you. It's as positive for you as for him or her!
Secondly, read a little positive sentence every morning to be in a good mood ( I've already tried it and it works;-))
It's up to us to change the world...

aurore_denis said...

What a great idea that makes me think about the movie "Un monde meilleur" ("A better world"???). If we follow the example of that movie, we can change the world by everyday little actions. Here are my two ideas for a better world:

1. You should always tell you mother you like the meal she has prepared.
2. Try to visit your grandparents once a week.

I thinks that these two little tips could improve the life of persons that a dear to most of us without requiring much time or effort.

Vé Gé said...

I apologize because I'm posting late, but you know, I've had some computer issues.
And thus, here is my first piece of advice:
-people should try improving the consciousness of computers, bringing them to possessing a more human "nature" (think about it! What if the automatic super-computer that gyroscopically controls the new ultra-nuclear warhead begins to think "awww this atomic crap is going to bring so many deaths... I'd better toss it into the outer space"?).
My second piece of advice is more down-to-earth.
-One should always show openness, towards anybody... In my opinion, it is most important in these days of extreme right (almost-)reign.