Born of our shared frustration with plastic waste and our inability to gather
in person throughout the pandemic, the local Toronto group banded
together as digital warriors, taking to Instagram and TikTok rather than the
blue seas of our rainbow warrior predecessors.
Our mission: spread green vibes and grow the tribe of environmentally
conscientious Torontonians.
On April 22nd 2021 — Earth Day, GP volunteer Dominique led the charge,
posting our first ‘Eco Hack’; a DIY video extolling natural alternatives to
chemical cleaning products.
Encouraging others to substitute baking soda and vinegar for traditional
toxic cleaners may not seem a revolutionary act. But in the midst of covid,
we had to do something to combat the rise of carcinogenic toxins and
single-use waste in our communities. By sharing the daily practices we’ve
adopted to be more eco-conscious individuals, we could maybe, just
maybe, influence others to do the same.
While @Greenpeace_Canada and @GreenpeaceInternational already have
an inspiring social media presence and move huge mountains daily with
their online actions, we craved to connect with the Toronto community on a
more personal level. After all, what good is getting friends and family to sign
Greenpeace petitions if their daily habits directly contribute to the things
we’re all fighting against.
Jane Goodall said it best — “It depends on changing attitudes. And if we
could just get a critical mass of us to start thinking about the consequences
of the little choices we make each day, what we buy, what we wear, what
we eat, how was it made… We just have to get it through our heads that
what we do as an individual, in the big scheme of things doesn’t make a
difference. But what we do collectively, as billions of human beings making
the right ethical choices — that is going to move us in the right direction.”
Creating the @GreenpeaceVolunteersTO TikTok and Instagram has allowed
us to expand our circle. We’ve connected with allies like
@FridaysForFutureTO, led educational discussions in the comments of our
videos, and have featured accounts in our stories like @mysuppli and
@muuse.ca — two local companies providing sustainable alternatives to
single-use takeout containers & coffee cups.
The tides of protest are turning, and while the act of posting an IG Reel
promoting laundry strips (check Trevor’s stellar vid combatting plastic
detergent bottles) may pale in comparison to the boots-on-the-ground work
of our mentors (cough Jane Goodall), there is no debating that an eco
message gone viral has the potential to spark real lasting change.
Remember the turtle with a straw up its nose? I certainly do. The footage
was powerful, and marine biologist Christine Figgener knew it could be
impactful if she shared it on social media. The result? Starbucks said
goodbye to plastic straws in 2020. A major feat, but alas a small step in the
shift towards more conscious consuming.
Our follower count has been slow, but our commitment to sharing knowledge
remains strong. In its smallest successes, developing this volunteer
platform has certainly made a greener girl out of me. From Julie’s post on
growing your own vegetables to Sarah’s tip on reusing plastic bread bags,
each week’s ‘show and tell’ promises frugal, sustainable alternatives, most
of which I’ve adopted into my everyday life. It takes time, effort & thought to
break the bad habits promoted by governments and manipulative
marketers whose only agendas are economic growth, efficiency, and
convenience. But the benefits to making these small personal shifts now,
far outweigh the cataclysmic changes we will continue to experience as a
species if we carry on the way we are.
Do you have an eco hack? We’d love to hear it! Send us a message
@greenpeacevolunteersTO. And be sure to check the link in our bio to find
a zero-waste store near you — GP volunteer Beth has curated tons of
wonderful sustainable resources on her site www.canadareduces.ca.
About the author
Sidney Leeder
Toronto Local Group Volunteer with
Greenpeace Canada. Animal loving artist
Start volunteering with Greenpeace! Together we spread awareness, bear witness and take action to put an end to the attacks on our planet and its people.