Most people organize because they want to bring about change. They want to see improvement in their own lives and in the lives of others, and they recognize that they can achieve this by working as part of a group.
People are most likely to organize around particular issues that affect their lives daily.
For example, residents of a community may oppose the placement of a new landfill in their area, because they fear that it could contaminate groundwater, air quality and public health. As they oppose the landfill, part of their strategy might be to advocate a recycling or source reduction solution to address the area's waste problems more effectively. This document is intended to help the beginner move forward on all of these. It builds on a wealth of organizing information available in print and through the Internet. Follow the links for more information to begin enlisting others in your community's most important environmental issue, to bring press attention to a local problem, to sway decision-makers on matters that affect the quality of life in your neighborhood or the world, or to nurture a fledgling local community group.