Everyone knows that when it comes to the environment, I always have a lot to say! I recently did a Q&A with Do Something for their Increase Your Green campaign about what I think young people can do now to green their schools, and what inspired me to go green.
Click HERE to read the full interview on the Increase Your Green site, or check it out below.
What inspired you to Do Something about the environment?
Where I live on Long Island, the environment is the last thing that people are concerned about. Crime, drugs, and lowering high school drop out rates are bigger priorities. Climate change is real and it’s not just a “rich” problem. I’m passionate about environmental issues and I wanted to use my voice to let my community know that this cannot be placed on the back burner.
Why should other young people follow your lead?
What young people must realize is that we’re all in this together. We all are inheriting the environmental challenges of generations past. Let’s be remembered as the ones that stepped up to do something about it!
How did you get other people excited about your work?
It can sometimes be difficult to get people to believe or invest in an “idea” so instead of just telling people that I was going to create a television show, I just went ahead and did it! Once people started seeing the show, everyone wanted to be a part of it.
What are the best ways to use technology to go green?
On Twitter, I do something called “Melissa’s Green Tip of the Day.” I find that most people aren’t adverse to making positive changes for the environment but they may not be willing to change any of their current habits. I try to emphasize things they already do that happen to be green and give tips that are easy to implement. And what’s even easier is for them to hit that “retweet” button and broadcast the message to their entire network of followers!
What efforts did you make to save energy?
Before I became as passionate about the environment as I am today, I was a vegan. Factory farming is a leading contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and I adamantly believe that reducing our dependence on the meat and dairy industries are the best thing we all can do to reduce energy and reverse climate change. When I’m producing the show, I serve my crew vegan treats. It’s a totally vegan production!
What was the most creative project you did?
I thought it would be pretty exciting to turn some of my daily green tips on Twitter into a video webcast showing me actually implementing my own green suggestions at home. I made a video called “I’m Dreaming of a GREEN Christmas” on YouTube that featured easy ways to green your holiday season.
Tell us the top 3 things any young person can do to make their school more eco-friendly.
Encourage your school district to take on Meatless Mondays, get the maintenance crew to convert all of their cleaning supplies to eco-friendly ones, and at the very least, make sure there is a recycling bin for paper in every classroom.
What was your greatest challenge and how did you overcome it?
My greatest challenge continues to be having a consistent place to film. It is a bit of a guerrilla operation but with creativity, we have managed to get some great interviews and segments.
Which accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the impact that I’ve had on individuals. The change I’ve made has been modest so far, but it meant a lot to me when someone saw my segment on lowering your carbon footprint and questioned me how they could do more.
What piece of advice would you give to people nationwide who hope to green their schools and communities?
Just do it, with or without a friend or any help! Support will come in due time but if you know that there’s important work to be done for the environment, act on that alone, and let your desire for change fuel you.
