Article: If you hear someone use racial slurs, make a racial joke, or mistreat people because of their race, step in say something.You might be afraid of someone who is openly hostile, but think about how the other person feels. If you are afraid for your or the other person's safety, feel free to get an authority figure, such as the police, or an adult if you are a child or teenager. If the person sees nothing wrong with what was said, ask the person not to say racist or bigoted remarks around you anymore. Tell the person that you will no longer hang around them if they continue to act this way. For example, if someone says "All _____ are criminals," ask the person, "Why do you say that?" or "Where do those beliefs come from?" Try saying, "That was an inappropriate thing to say." or "How would you feel if someone said something like that about you?" If you miss the opportunity to say something or chicken out, do not beat yourself up about it. Promise yourself that you will speak up the next chance you get. Address the behavior or the comment instead of the person. Do not resort to name calling or tell someone, "You're a racist." This will only offend them and make them angry. Most cities have cultural festivals and events. These events are a great place to learn about different cultures and interact with people from that culture. Invite your friends and family to go with you as well. Educating yourself and others is a way to have a more positive attitude towards people from different backgrounds. Events are often held in accordance with larger celebrations such as Black History Month, Asian-Pacific Heritage American Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month, etc. Protests and demonstrations are powerful ways to combat racism in your community. These can be coordinated in response to events that happen around you. For example, if someone puts racial graffiti on a building, you could get together with some people to paint over the graffiti. If a hate group such as the Ku Klux Klan is coming to town, create a petition to stop them from coming. Even if you are not able to organize something yourself, just the act of speaking up and introducing the idea is helpful. Always start by contacting your friends, family, classmates, neighbors, etc. You can also contact local law enforcement about your concerns or about what you are interested in doing. Racism happens at both the individual level and at the institutional level. Local and federal legislation can promote racism. Educating others and reforming yourself is more important, but the government does make a difference. Look for laws that promote equal salaries, equal opportunity, and punishment for people who discriminate in housing or employment. Write your elected officials, newspapers, or contact community organizers about the policies. Many organizations are dedicated to working towards these issues. Joining or supporting one of these organizations is another method you can use. You may meet like-minded people or get useful updates. You can volunteer at the organization or donate your time and/or money to their cause. America Healing maintains a list of organizations that work on racial equity issues. Having a good understanding of your community will help you identify the best approaches for reducing racism. Read through your local newspaper, magazine, or websites to get some background information. What groups of people live in your community? Do these groups live and work together? Are neighborhoods segregated? Have there been any incidents of racism between different groups?
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Speak up if you see racism in action. Support and attend events that celebrate different cultures. Organize a vigil or protest. Lobby and fight for nondiscriminatory laws. Get involved with a local, national, or international organizations. Learn about your community.

Avoid single-serve or individually wrapped items. Shop at stores that have bulk dispensers for grains, nuts, dried fruits, and snacks. Bring your own plastic bag or container to put the bulk food in. And try to buy bulk sizes of food or sanitary products, which saves on packaging. When buying produce at the grocery store, avoid packing the product in an extra plastic bag if it isn't necessary. Vegetables such as potatoes, onions, peppers, tomatoes, beets; and fruits such as bananas, apples, plums, and melons shouldn't require an extra bag. Instead of buying canned soup or pasta sauce, read up in a cookbook how to prepare them at home. Practice "precycling" by only buying products whose materials can be recycled. Take durable canvas or synthetic-fiber bags, a backpack, or a basket with you to the store, enough to hold whatever you plan on buying. These can usually be bought at the stores themselves. A heavy-duty plastic bag that you use multiple times can serve the purpose almost as well. Disposables contribute large amounts of waste to our environment. They include things like plastic forks, knives, plates, and cups. They also include things like diapers and razor blades. Instead of buying items that you'll throw away after using them, buy items that you can use again and again. For example: Instead of using disposable diapers, try cloth diapers or nappies. You will have to clean them more often, but you'll reduce waste. Get a razor with replaceable blades rather than a disposable razor. You'll still have to throw the old blades away, but you'll save the plastic handle. For picnics, serve with re-usable plastic or wooden plates, cups, and utensils instead of disposable paper or plastic ones. Turn off or unplug any electrical appliances that aren't being used, such as the TV, radio, stereo, computer, lights, or chargers for cellphones or mp3 players. Try to wash clothes by hand, and dry them outside as much as possible. And if you purchase appliances, such as dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers, choose ones that are rated with the Energy Star classification. Replace all incandescent lightbulbs with Energy-Star-rated compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs), which can save you $6 in energy costs per year. Try towel drying your hair instead of blow-drying it. If it is cold inside your residence, just put on a jacket or sweater instead of turning up the heat. Try to reduce your shower time to between 5 and 10 minutes. Turn off the water when shampooing or scrubbing. Take fewer baths as well, since they can consume more water than a short shower. When you brush your teeth, turn off the faucet between soaking and rinsing the brush. If you're receiving junk mail, call the sending company's 800 number, usually found on the offer or order page, and ask to be removed from their mailing list. Request electronic bill instead of paper ones for all your utilities, member dues, and other periodical payments. You can choose this when signing up for an account. If you are already receiving paper bills, it is not too late to change. Access your account online or by phone, and see if you can switch to electronic bills instead. Try to walk, bike, or take public transit to school or work. If possible, invest in an electric or hybrid vehicle--these options are more fuel-efficient and emit less carbon into the atmosphere. Organize carpools with your neighbors or co-workers to reduce fossil fuel use. Choosing a residence as close as possible to your place of work will reduce both your commute time and energy consumption. Escalators and elevators are convenient, but sometimes they are not necessary, especially if you only have to travel 1 or 2 floors. Not only will taking the stairs save electricity, but you'll also get some exercise in. You also won't have to wait in line. Escalators and elevators cost money to run. By taking the stairs, you may see lower prices (if you're at a shopping center) or a higher salary (if you're at an office building). There are instances where taking escalators or elevators may be necessary, such as if you have an injury, a bad knee, or need to get to the 24th floor.
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One-sentence summary --
Buy products with less packaging. Take a reusable bag with you shopping. Do without disposables. Cut down on electricity use. Use less water. Stop junk mail and paper billing. Consider alternative transportation. Take the stairs.