​If you live somewhere that has free and open elections, you have not only a privilege and a right to vote, but also a duty to be an informed voter.  Don’t throw away your opportunity to express your values to the officials that will control many things about your life.  Your vote does matter, even if you think it will be overcome by a large number of opposition voters.  Strange things happen when large numbers of voters vote differently than what the polls think might happen.  In the US, the 2026 midterm elections are hugely important for our country and our relationships with the rest of the world.  Make sure you’re registered to vote (check even if you think you are already registered) and then research the issues and candidates and parties.  Don’t just rely on your favorite social media feed for information – check many sources including those that present viewpoints different from yours.  And remember that sometimes you have to vote “against” rather than “for”.  Don’t ignore the local elections, as they also have a big impact.  As just one example, a local school board can sway curriculum choices to promote a specific ideology.  So, please register to vote, do your homework, and then VOTE!

Many of us travel multiple times a year for work, fun, or to visit family and friends who live far away.  When you travel, try to take your sustainability mindset with you and, when possible, make choices that are more sustainable.  A few are easy.  Unless you are going to an area where the local drinking water is not safe or easily found, take your own refillable water bottle instead of buying water in single-use disposable bottles.  Leave areas as you found them – don’t litter, deface buildings or objects, or collect local plants, wildflowers, or wildlife.  Remember that the places you are visiting are someone’s neighborhood and respect it as you would want them to respect your neighborhood.  The attached link has a lot of other good tips to consider. 
https://sustainabletravel.org/top-10-tips-for-sustainable-travel/
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