Unleash Your Inner Eco-Warrior: Easy Steps to Make a Big Impact

girl holding up a cardboard sign that says: less is more, it's eco-logical

Climate change is no longer a distant threat, but a reality we face today. And unfortunately, its effects are not distributed equally, with marginalized communities often bearing the brunt of environmental degradation. Now, sustainability isn't just a trend, it's a call to action.


And while we may not be able to single-handedly reverse the effects of decades of environmental damage, we can make a difference by adopting sustainable habits in our daily lives. Let's face it, going green can be daunting. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start and what impact our individual actions can have. But the truth is small changes can add up to big results.

So, if you're feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the climate crisis, remember that you're not alone. There are countless resources and communities out there to support you on your journey toward a more sustainable lifestyle. After all, sustainability is not just about sacrifice, it's about innovation and creativity in finding solutions to the challenges we face.

Here are some practical and achievable tips that can help you reduce waste, conserve energy, and promote a healthier planet.

Reduce, reuse, recycle!

Our mamás have always been ahead of the eco-friendly game – they knew how to work their magic by turning cookie tins into sewing kits and ice cream tubs into frijoles storage. It's time for all of us to hop on board and make sustainable choices by cutting back on consumption. Remember the three R's: reduce, reuse, and recycle. By doing our part to minimize waste and find new uses for old things, we can make a big impact and keep those landfills in check.

Support brands that implement sustainable practices in their supply chain

Sustainability goes beyond not creating waste or emissions - it’s also ensuring that garment workers are fairly compensated for their work. From beginning to end, the entire lifecycle of a garment shouldn’t cause harm to the environment or the workers producing that garment. We love brands like Selva Negra and Wasi Clothing that are Latine-owned and sustainable!

Adopt zero-waste lifestyle practices into your routine

Some of our favorite examples of this include bringing your own bags to the grocery store, composting garbage at home, and creating less trash by purchasing packaging-free foods or products. You can usually do this by buying from farmer’s markets that typically use less packaging overall, or by buying from bulk food stores and bringing your own reusable packaging. It’s all about making less trash!

Give garments a second life

Here’s a not-so-fun fact: around 57% of all discarded clothes end up in landfills, producing half a million tons of microplastics each year. So next time you're eyeing that fancy new outfit, think twice about the true cost of fast fashion. Thrifting is a great way to give clothing a second life cycle, and some of our favorite ways to do this are by purchasing used clothing to upcycle it into newer pieces that fit your style. This way the fabric gets used again, and you get to fire up your sewing machine to show off your fashionista skills. Not into sewing? No problem! Thrifting is still a great way to use clothing that is already out there and make sure it doesn’t become trash at the end of the season.

Take public transit or use alternate ways to get around when possible

Public transit, ride-sharing, riding a bike, and even just walking are all excellent ways to get from point A to point B without hurting the environment.

BYOC - Bring your own cup

Love a morning coffee but always get a disposable cup? Try bringing your own to your outings to save on the trash (and money). This also applies to refusing disposable cutlery, using reusable straws, refusing receipts (opt-in for e-receipts when possible - they’re amazing), and avoiding wasteful single-use packaging.

Replace your hygiene products - or make your own

There are a few options when it comes to getting more eco-friendly period products, but we love reusable silicone soft cups or period panties. Going chemical-free for your pads, tampons, and opting for an aluminum-free deodorant also makes a huge difference not only for the environment but for your body as well - we’ll say thanks but no thanks to the unnecessary exposure. Into DIYs? You can make your own products at home, including soaps and more if you’ve got the knack for it!

Eat less meat

We know this one can be tough for some (we all love our carne asada) but meat production is one of the top emitters of greenhouse gases. Animal agriculture accounts for more greenhouse gas than all of the world’s transportation systems combined. Can’t go fully meatless? No problem! We recommend a Meatless Monday to start off with and work your way up from there.

Follow social media accounts to inspire your sustainable journey

We find that just seeing more things in our feeds reminds us to be more environmentally conscious. After all, we’re all in this (earth) together. Here are some of the accounts that keep us feeling inspired:

bop the bigot video game logo

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.

a woman giving the side eye to a man

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