Since the first issue in 1976, Natural Life Magazine has been about things that each individual and family can do to improve their quality of life while living more lightly on the planet. While other media focus on environmental and social problems, we prefer to help our readers explore solutions to those problems. However, the problems are bigger than individuals or families; while we can each make a difference in our own daily lives, we also need governments to legislate bold policies that will move us quickly away from destructive activities and toward regeneration. This past year has been a wake-up call for anyone who doubted the need for decisive action by the world’s leaders: record high temperatures, flooding, drought, mudslides, melting sea ice, oil spills, and more.

Although I’m not normally a fan of symbolic actions – the time has passed for turning out our lights for one hour each fall evening, for instance – there is one activity happening next month that I’m fully behind. Author and activist Bill McKibben and his grassroots 350.org team are urging us all to, like McKibben, ”get mad and then get busy” on October 10. That’s the day they’re holding a “Global Work Party.” This one day will be a massive, international opportunity to celebrate climate solutions at the local level – and put the pressure on our leaders while doing so. Organizations in over 100 countries so far have organized local activities that will help solve the climate change problem in their communities, while sending a message to governments that they urgently and quickly need to get serious about the climate crisis.

I urge you to visit the website and get involved in your community’s Global Work Party. If there isn’t one organized yet, what’s stopping you from starting one?