User:Holly E Farrell

Hello! Welcome to my page. I got involved with WorldHealer through my good friend Patrick User:Patrick Joel, who is an inspiring person to know! I’d long been interested in the issues and discussions surrounding green and ethical debates, and also in the best methods to change the way I live at the same time, so I loved the concept of this site: it’s a great way for me to find out more and do more to save the world.

I don’t think it’s too egotistical to think that I can save the world, but I have no intention of doing it single-handed: I’m no superwoman! I believe in the power of people and communities. You don’t have to lie down in Trafalgar Square or throw eggs at Jeremy Clarkson to protest about the state of the world. In fact, it may be better if you don’t: sure, you’ll get media coverage of your issue, but will the general public think “what a good idea, I’ll support that”; laugh at Jeremy with egg on his face but forget who threw it and why; or, worse, think that the person who threw it was clearly a hippy extremist and therefore be inclined to rubbish the whole movement?

Far better, in my view, is to channel frustration and anger into actually doing something constructive. Some statistics published recently in The Times showed that whilst 64% of the 2,052 people surveyed took ethical and environmental issues “into consideration where possible”, 63% thought it was “all about companies making themselves look good”, 36% didn’t know what they “should or shouldn’t do”, 35% didn’t see the point and, worst of all, 28% were fed up with hearing about it. If these figures can be taken as indicative of at least the general population of Britain (and possibly other western countries), then we have a serious problem. The incredible take-up by the media on green issues (aided by the trickle-down fashion trend to be green from Hollywood stars such as Leonardo di Caprio) may be turning off people from actually doing anything to improve the situations they are hearing about.

Part of the problem is that in a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week society that is obsessed with always having the latest news, we often lack the ability to stand back and assess situations as a whole. Every day there is a new black, and this could easily lead to apathy on the level suggested by the statistics as people simply get confused as to what is really happening and which pieces of advice to follow. This website should help with that by providing a manual (and filter) of best practice for positive action, both for readers and contributors. I, for one, am looking forward to researching issues and ideas and collating information to add to the site’s content.

From there we can all make the little or big changes that will really make a difference. By buying local, fair-trade and organic food, by writing a letter to a political prisoner or your local MP, or by getting rid of the car, these are all changes we all can make. And if we all make them…