Written by Sidney Leeder - July 19 2021
Born of our shared frustration with plastic waste and our inability to gather in person throughout the pandemic, the Greenpeace Toronto volunteer 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 a message to @greenpeacevolunteersTO. And be sure to check the link in the IG 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.