Citizen commitment and responsible consumption, taking concrete action in your daily life!
Many of you want to get involved alongside Justice & Peace, Caritas and its partners for greater social justice and international solidarity.
Good news ! There is no shortage of avenues for engagement. Discover our proposalsconcrete actions for a more responsible consumption.
As a consumer, what can I do?
Consume less
" A chaque fois que vous dépensez de l'argent, vous choisissez officiellement le monde dans lequel vous voulez vivre " Anna Lappe
- By taking the time to think before buying a new product. For example: do you really need to buy a new mobile phone if yours still works?
- In extending the life of your products : taking good care of your phone, for example by protecting it and avoiding charging it overnight, can prevent breakdowns up to 40%; unscheduling unnecessary updates also saves battery life
- In repairing : yourself, thanks to the warranty (generally two years) or a co-repair workshop such as Repair Café (increasingly common)
Consume better
- By buying second-hand (more ecological, because it avoids the production of new objects and often of higher quality, because it is an object which is resistant enough to have a second life): with Oxfam Solidarité, Les Petits Riens and the Salvation Army for example, your purchases finance social actions.
- By informing yourself before purchasing
-> On electronics (for example, is it a sustainable model, such as the Fairphone ?)
-> On my electricity supplier ( supplier ranking )
-> On my bank's investment policy ( bank scan )
Donate and recycle
Photo credit: medium.com
Before throwing away an item you no longer need, Think of THE give or to the to recycle !
Currently, more than 2.3 million mobile phones are unused and lying around in Belgians' drawers. Given the unsustainable nature of the resources that compose them, donating, selling or recycling them thoughtfully is fundamental.
Here are some reliable tips:
~ What if we repaired
~ Resources
~ Oxfam solidarity
~ Recycling
~ On planned obsolescence
~ To give to refugees
My role to play as a citizen
Inform & raise awareness
- You are reading these few proposals because you are sensitive to the dignity of each human being. You find out about situations of injustice, close to home or further from our borders. It’s already a commitment! Around you, many people are asking questions about these societal issues, linked to sustainable development, migration issues, etc. Enter into dialogue avec elles, apportez-leur des réponses, renseignez des sources d’information fiables, des événements et partagez vos propres moyens d’action, à la machine à café au bureau, en famille, à l’école... Dépourvu-e face à certaines questions ? Let us know, we are happy to think about it with you!
Roll up your sleeves
- Engagement starts at your doorstep. At Justice & Peace, Caritas or elsewhere, the possibilities of volunteering do not miss. Dare to walk through the door of your neighborhood association, the nearest reception center, or on the cultural or sporting grounds... You have precious and contagious talents!
- Sensitive to the situation of migrants ? Did you know that you can support new arrivals in their first steps in Belgium, in the search for a job, accommodation, become a guardian for an unaccompanied foreign minor or even become a joint owner.
Exercise your citizenship
- Your voice counts ! Contact your local decision-makers on the topics that matter to you, in person, by mail or online. Sign and support petitions, such as the European Citizens' Initiative for a hospitable Europe or the campaign “ You don't lock up a child. Point. » Finally, demonstrate for the issues that are important to you.
Intéressé d'en apprendre plus sur le phénomène migratoire à l'approche des élections ? Agathe Smyth, chargée de plaidoyer chez Justice & Paix, a consacré un article à la thématique : read here .
- And then, of course, vote informed...and if you can't find the candidate who suits you: take the step yourself!
Whatever you do, do it with heart. Ah yes, one more thing, we are very curious to hear YOUR ideas for engagement. Write U.S and tell us, we are curious to discover what actions you adopt on a daily basis!
