5 Ways to Rebuild Your Neighbourhood

Image via Wikipedia We live such disconnected lives nowadays. We commute long distances to work, we work long hours, we barely have enough time for our family let alone our neighbourhood. But by neglecting our most immediate community connections we lose an invaluable support network, we miss out on the opportunity to forge great friendships, to create a safe environment for our kids to play in and to have the sense of really belonging that comes with being a contributing member of the neighbourhood.

It seems that neighbourliness is a lost art. And it shows in the graffiti on fences and buildings, in the litter on the street, in the lonliness of people who live surrounded by other lonely people in our cities and towns. But its not so hard to be neighbourly. All it takes is to slow down a little and make an effort.

When was the last time you stopped to chat with someone who lives in your street? If its been a while, then perhaps its time to get to know your neighbours and rebuild your neighbourhood! Check out the list below for some ideas to get you started.

1. Be welcoming
It sounds corny, I know, but take the time to welcome new families to your neighbourhood. Think of the things that they may need to know - like when the rubbish is collected, if there are any neighbourhood playgroups or youth groups, where the local parks, libraries, recreation facilities are. You could even come up with a Welcome pack to present to new families with all that info.

2. Meet your neighbours
If you don't know the people that live around you, make a point of getting to know them. You could organise a get together for the neighbourhood in the local park, or simply make the effort to smile and say hello when you see people on the street.

3. Share with your neighbours
Share your skills, the bounty of your garden, your time, your possessions . . . it can take time to build a sense of trust but it has to start somewhere and it might as well be with you.

4. Encourage neighbourhood pride
Organise a group of neighbours to pick up litter from the sidewalk or to clean up the local park, take action to eliminate graffiti. It may only be a few of you at first, but its amazing the difference in people's attitude towards their neighbourhood once it starts to look like someone cares.

5. Support your Community
Support local business and recreation facilities, they can be a real rallying point and source of pride for your neighbourhood.

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5 Ways to Change the World

Well, actually its only one way . . . but 5 places to do it!

Social Networking is not just Facebook and MySpace anymore. Social Networks are springing up all over the internet and there are plenty out there that focus on bringing people together who want to make the world a better place. They cover everything from stopping Global Warming, to sharing your Good Deeds - and everything in between.

Signing up to a Social Networking site and adding your profile is all very well, but if you really want to make a difference you need to get involved. Join in discussions, share your opinions, spread the word about the causes you are passionate about. And remember too, that while Social Networking is a great thing, its no substitute for getting out and about with the real people in your local community to make your own neighbourhood a better place!

So take a look at the 5 sites listed below and get connected to make a difference!!

1. Care2.com
The premise of Care2 is simple: One person can make a difference.

Whether you’re passionate about green living, health, human rights or protecting the environment, Care2 puts the tools for change in your hands.

Over 8 million wonderful people discover, share and take action on Care2 and Care2's The Petition Site. It's the largest online community of people passionate about making a difference.

Its a great site offering everything from free e-mail to e-cards and blogging. And its full of great information on green living.

2. Ladder to Heaven
Every day, people are doing great things for each other. We are performing incredible acts of kindness, selflessness, and generosity, whether these actions are planned or completely random. But often these deeds go unnoticed; we are too easily preoccupied with all the bad to see all the good in our world. Ladder to Heaven is the first place on the web for users to post their own good deeds and the deeds of others, bringing the righteousness of human nature to the foreground of society.

3. Brighter Planet
Here you can create a free climate profile. Then get ongoing estimates of your carbon footprint, see your progress towards carbon neutrality and link up with friends and join teams (join the How to Make a Difference Team when you sign in!!).

4. Wiser Earth
WiserEarth serves the people who are transforming the world. It is a community-editable international directory and networking forum that maps and connects the largest movement in the world – the hundreds of thousands of organizations and concerned individuals within civil society that address social justice, poverty, and the environment.

WiserEarth provides the tools and a platform for non-profit organizations, funders, social entrepreneurs, students, organizers, academics, activists, scientists, and citizens to find each other, make connections, build alliances and share resources.

WISER stands for World Index for Social and Environmental Responsibility.

5. MakeMeSustainable
MakeMeSustainable was created to fill the void between how we feel about our environment and what we do about it. MMS brings you the tools to take action. Their Carbon and Energy Portfolio Manager enables you to visualize and contextualize your individual impact. MMS' sustainable solutions empower you to act upon your knowledge. They aim to help you to become a more environmentally conscious and efficient individual or business. MMS empowers you to spread the word and encourage friends, family, and co-workers to join the collective effort.