(via The Huffington Post  |  By Jessica Prois)

You know the type — the slacktivist who comes out of the woodwork on Earth Day with baby seal photos on Facebook; the too-in-your-face activist who actually turns you off from the cause; or the naive advocate who just seems ill-informed.

Nobody wants to be that guy — any of them.

So we’ve got some simple, effective, non-obnoxious ideas for spreading the message on the importance of conserving the most precious resources we have.

Though Americans reportedly prioritize environmental issues less now than they did in 1971 at the beginning of the Earth Day movement, people are actually taking more steps to protect the environment, according to a HuffPost/YouGov poll.

Maybe you’re part of this group and you’ve stepped up your recycling or you plan to plant a tree to commemorate Earth Day. These steps are commendable, and we’re also giving you ideas on going even further to spread the message to others as an advocate for the resources so many of us take for granted.

Spread the message and do good by volunteering, supporting only green businesses or educating yourself on the particulars of an issue.

What will you do to celebrate Earth Day? Check out these suggestions and let us know your ideas in the comments below.

Put It In Writing
If you’re feeling strongly about a specific topic, you’re likely not alone. Reach stakeholders who can take action on a specific issues and make your voice heard. Send a letter to the State Department, for example, urging it to reject the Keystone XL Pipeline at 350.org. Or visit Care2.com for a list of petitions ranging from fighting fracking in our backyard to protecting endangered species abroad.

Support The Local, Little Guys
Sure, there’s Greenpeace, PETA and the big names, but why not support a local nonprofit working to help the environment? Check out our top green local charities of the month advocating for causes that range from international land and water conservation to neighborhood recycling programs. Learn more here.

Advocate With Your Wallet
Support companies where green practices are part of the package deal. And protest those that aren’t as environmentally friendly by taking your business elsewhere. Sites such as Newsweek rank companies on these factors, making it easy to be an activist through everyday decisions.

Educate Others
The Water Planet Challenge provides anyone from educators to community leaders the tools they need to teach about water and land conservation. The organizations also gives provides grants to educators. Learn more here.

Pledge A Green Act
The Earth Day Network is making it easy to pledge 1 billion green acts. Whether your plan is to plant a tree, clean up a park or commit to another noble green act, join the pledge and movement and find power in numbers. And spread the word! To add your green act to the count or to find a green event in which to participate, click here.

This day-long event at ForYourArt at 6020 Wilshire Blvd. will feature donuts and themed programming as part of a 24-hour durational performance by Dawn Kasper in conjunction with the screening of Christian Marclay’s The Clock at LACMA.

The event will take place from noon April 20th until noon April 21st.

They are looking for volunteers to work 6 hour shifts during that time; helping to pick up and pass out donuts, give things out to people waiting in line for the film at LACMA, keep the space clean, help with programming, and hang donut drawings on the wall.

Volunteers will receive a stipend.

Please contact Sarah Williams (sarah@foryourart.com) if interested.

Image:
Christian Marclay, Still from The Clock, 2010. Single-channel video. Dration: 24 hours. Courtesy White Cube, London and Paula Cooper Gallery, New York

EVENT DETAILS:
Sunday April 7, 2013 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Bridges Academy
3921 Laurel Canyon Boulevard  Studio City, CA 91604

We need your help to run the event!
Are you 10 years or older?
Do you want to help make 4GOOD Family Day a huge success?
Then please sign up and be a part of an amazing day!
If needed we’ll even give you community service credit for your help.

4GOOD Family Day is an afternoon full of hands-on volunteer opportunities for ALL AGES.

We are looking for volunteers to help the kids complete the following volunteer activities:

• Create cards for service men and women over seas with Operation Gratitude
• Craft a friendship bracelet sponsored by our friends at the Zimmer Museum for Children’s Hospital LA
• Decorate placemats and Lunch Bags for our senior friends with Meals on Wheels sponsored by Sunnyside Preschool
• Make a fleece blanket for sick & needy children with Binky Patrol
• Assemble a pull toy for homeless animals with Animal Rescue Group ARME
• Sew a sweet animal pillow with our friends from Zookies to be donated to abused children
• Make your very own Change 4 Change Donation Box

We also need volunteers to help collection donations for the following organizations:

• Gently-used Stuffed animals to donate to SAFE
• Gently-used plastic kids toys to donate to Second Chance Toys
• Canned goods for SOVA Food Bank
• Gently-used teen formal wear -prom dresses and suits - donated to A Place Called Home for under-served youth

We will need volunteers to help decorate, set-up, break-down, staff food booths, welcome attendees, sell food and raffle tickets and much, much more!!! We’ll even feed you for your help!! 

For more information about how to volunteer, please click here.  For more information about the 4GOOD Family Day and to RSVP to attend and participate in the event, please click here.

We’d watch just to see Tina & Amy - But did you know that watching the Golden Globes tonight you’ll be helping support 40 different charities?  The Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s annual Golden Globe Awards is a nonprofit org that has donated more than $15 million in the past 19 years to entertainment-related charities, as well as funding scholarships and other programs for future film and television professionals? In 2012 alone the donations reached a total of $1,243,00.  We love that this red carpet isn’t just about looking good, but doing good too!

We just love 826 National  - the nonprofit organization started by writer Dave Eggers (yes - that Dave Eggers!).  Their volunteers help run its network of eight writing and tutoring centers that provide under-resourced students, ages 6-18, with opportunities to explore their creativity and improve their writing skills. Volunteers help with everything, from running field trips to helping an entire classroom of local students learn how to write a story, to assisting student writers during one of our Young Authors’ Book Projects. They even help with administrative work such as graphic design and website maintenance.  Whatever your skills, as an 826 volunteer, you’ll positively impact youth from your community. If you’d like to volunteer at your local 826 writing center, please click the following links for information on volunteering in Ann Arbor, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC.