[TurningCanadian]

You still have two votes: with your wallet, and with your ballot.

Think back to the times of slavery. You could've said: "I don't own any slaves, so there's nothing I can do". In the end, we did the right thing, but unfortunately after much human suffering. Hopefully we don't wait even longer this time around. There were many things you could've done to help. You could've avoided buying from places that used slave labor. You could've voted for abolitionists. You could've donated to the cause. You could've stood for justice when serving on a jury. You could've convinced your friends that things had to change.

You as an individual may be individually directly responsible for a small amount, but you are probably responsible for a greater than average amount. The little changes that you make will make a bigger difference than most people's. You can also be indirectly responsible for a much greater amount. Talking to your friends about the environment can have a greater effect than you acting alone. People don't realize just how much better EVs are, induction stoves are, heat pumps are, solar panels are, etc, if they haven't heard the benefits. Help to open their eyes.

Your vote also likely controls a far greater amount than you are giving it credit for. Margins of victory are often small, and a few people thinking of the medium and long term can make a big difference.

[rcarr]

> You could've convinced your friends that things had to change... You can also be indirectly responsible for a much greater amount. Talking to your friends about the environment can have a greater effect than you acting alone. People don't realize just how much better EVs are, induction stoves are, heat pumps are, solar panels are, etc, if they haven't heard the benefits. Help to open their eyes.

From personal experience of when I went vegan for a year and rode a bike everywhere, people really don't want to hear it. I went out of my way not to talk about it unless people specifically asked me about it, and even then, they didn't want to hear it. Regardless of what you say when questioned, they either think you're sanctimonious and/or they will start associating their guilt and negative feelings with you. The end result is that you start getting frozen out. If you no longer eat meat, you stop getting invited to the BBQ, or the meal at the steakhouse, and when you stop getting invitations to these events, you stop getting invites to others because you're getting pushed further and further to the periphery. People are tribal and they don't want to feel bad about things they enjoy. It is far more likely that you will get kicked out of the tribe rather than the tribe changing it's behaviour to match yours.

[TurningCanadian]

There is a real taboo about mentioning veganism. That said, it's fairly mainstream these days -- any big enough BBQ will have to have some option. Lactose/gluten/shellfish/peanut etc issues (that aren't choices) are a fact of life, and any crowd will have at least one vegetarian/vegan that can benefit from some of the overlap.

It's not about convincing people to change their behavior directly though. People hate being told what to do. It's also hard to guilt someone into change. Some of the changes are just no-brainers though. Plenty of people try veganism and give it up. How many people try an EV then give it up? (I don't actually know, but it doesn't seem like many. They're so fun to drive.) More upfront cost, yes, and that may be the reason not to get one, but it pays for itself over time. Same with an induction stove. Who actually likes being in a superheated kitchen on a summer day? Who likes how much harder it is to clean a gas stove? The risk of burning yourself or starting a fire? Worst case: some of your pots don't work and you have to replace them.

You don't have to mention this stuff out of the blue, but if someone is thinking of redoing their kitchen? That's the time. Buying a new car? That's the time. Someone has money to invest? Get some solar panels instead.