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Coming into the last weeks of the presidential race, most of us have decided which candidate we'll be voting for on November 4th. The question is now, how do we support our candidate while staying as environmentally friendly as possible?
Well, there are plenty of solid eco-friendly ways to show your support—here are five things you can do to stay green while you spread the word about your candidate.
- Get Green Products with Your Donation: There are actually a number of straight up green goods you can get with a donation. If you're supporting Barack Obama, you can get an organic Obama t-shirt designed by Maria Cornejo with your donation. Or, get a DNC tote so you can bring your own bag when you shop instead of wasting disposable bags. There are fewer options from on the McCain camp (he's using public funding, so there's a less involved donation effort), but a good bet would be something that would bear reuse, like an American made baseball cap. (A note hear, McCain goods are sold by for-profit companies, and the candidate will receive no donation)
- Avoid Official Yard Signs: The millions of these passed out at rallies and events, and sold online will generate tons of waste nationwide. So pass on the official yard sign. But wait, you say, how will I show off my family's support? Make your own, of course, out of recycled household products. Got old boxes lying around, or even grocery bags stuffed under the sink? Get creative, and make your own personalized yard sign that'll stand out from the generic ones likely to be lining your neighborhood.
- Take Public Transit or Carpool to Volunteer: Are you taking to the streets in a battleground state to canvas or to get out the vote for your candidate? Travel green with public transportation if you do, and hook up with other supporters to carpool to the contested areas. The campaigns themselves largely have this one covered once you reach the HQ, but if you're traveling further to get there in the first place, take a bus or a train. If you're heading from New York to Pennsylvania or from California to Nevada, for example, utilize public transit to cut down on your carbon footprint. Or, carpool there too, and use an internet service to locate fellow supporters.
Read more about green politics:
Clueless on Following Green Politics? Try These Sources
Focus on Focus Earth: The Green New Deal
Focus On Focus Earth: The Denver Convention
We Need a New Green Politics! James Gustave Speth on The Change Needed in the Environmental Movement
