Every Day Better Choices As 'A Finger Up' To The World's Injustices

In the supermarket, I would check the label on the avocados. If they're from Israel, I will quickly put them down and buy another or do without. Such a tiny insignificant action on the out-set but collectively it can be huge.

Mainly, it is huge, because I know I am not complicit with Israel's genocide. It is a huge win in a world where the ability to speak out about the abhorrant behaviour of government and business is being squashed each year.

We need to take such some action, because otherwise we'll feel even more powerless than we already do. We need to do it for ourselves, before we do it for others.

Such actions, such better choices, strengthen ourselves, and allow us in turn, help us to get to the main work of strengthening others.

Another example is that I have 10 years of being Vegan. This means taking action that supports those being abused (the animals) and removing some of the power from the abusers (the ones that profit from animal exploitation). I am very proud of this.

Over 10 years, the difference I've made to animals has been huge. This joy I have found in making these small every day choices has made me feel stronger.

Even when everything going on in the world seems grey and hopeless, I know that my little moments and choices of compassion emanate outwards and it affects others.

According to Buddhist teachings, practicing loving-kindness (meditation) will not only affect those you are considering in this practice, but returns back to you too, for example the Buddha stated that those who practice have a more peaceful sleep.

I believe this to be true, as in a world where we are made to feel so powerless, we can find that we hold the power in ourselves. We can find our purpose in care and compassion.

However small, take action, it's worth it. Start from where-ever you are and what ever means something to you.

You can make an extra donation to charity, you can say a kind word, you can raise awareness, you can volunteer, you can plant a tree, you can enjoy more plant based meals....

.. You can put down the Israeli avocado...

Here are other ideas about how to get involved; https://bdsmovement.net/get-involved/what-to-boycott

Here are some of my personal favourites, ones that I try my best to do, though by no means am i perfect in all of these;

• Make a donation to charities that really matter to you.

• I no longer use Google as my search engline, I instead use Ecosia. This is a 'not for profit' and does a lot of good work for the environment. There are many reasons to not use Google to be honest.

• I do not buy Coca Cola and I try my best to avoid the companies that they own. For example I recenly found out that they own the brand Innocent and now I will avoid this - I use to drink this quite often.

• I have deleted my AIr B&B account and my booking . com account because of their links to the occupied West Bank.

• I try to shop local and reduce spending money on Amazon.

• I try to buy more organic food.

• Reducing plastic, water, electricity usage.

• Quit social media, we don't need to support Elon Musk and Meta and their right wing politics.

• Contact your local MP about topics that matter to you.

• Enjoy a plant based meal, its better for everyone, everything, all round. Ideally go Vegan!

• Sign a petition - check out the Government petition page and see if there's one that interests you.

• Donate stuff you don't want to charity, clear up that clogged energy from your house.

I'm sure there are many things that you're doing already but why stop there.

........

One of my favourite stories, is about a person walking along the beach shore, after a storm. There are thousands of starfish washed ashore.

An old man, is throwing the starfish back into the sea, as people watch, amused.

A person shouts at the man 'Hey, there's so many starfish washed up, you're not going to make any difference! You can't save all these starfish!

The old man refuses to feel deflated and picks up a starfish and throws it back into the sea and replies; 'I made a difference to that one'

Stick a finger up to the world's injustices, by making a few better choices, every day.