Blogging for Change
Written by Rosalind Gardner on May 1, 2008 · Comments (17)
Filed Under Blogging ·
No… “blogging for change” doesn’t mean blogging for pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.
By ‘change’, I mean using your blog to make things happen!
Case in point.
On Earth Day night, I couldn’t help but notice the ugly glare from the HUGE lamp standards at our local baseball field than burned for hours on end while no one played… AGAIN.
As a local taxpayer and someone concerned about the environmental damage caused by wasteful energy usage (not to mention how we should be conserving every precious kilowatt), I had already phoned City Hall about the issue.
However, despite assurances to the contrary — nothing happened.
So, that night I took photographic evidence of the bright empty field, uploaded the pics to Flickr and then blogged my utter disgust in a post at Roamsters.
What do you think happened when I phoned City Hall the second time and said “Oh and by the way, if you Blog search Google, you’ll see a blog post entitled “Wasting Energy: How Penticton Celebrates Earth Day” right at the top of the listings?
You’re right! Changes started to happen the very next day!
The Parks guys programmed the system so the lights turned off at 10PM the following night, rather than 10:30PM. A couple of nights later, one of the Parks guys went out to the field on his own time and seeing that is was empty, turned the lights off at 9PM.
A couple of days after that a switch was installed at the field so the lights will only work when the team is there and actively turns the lights on and a discussion was held with the local baseball league to inform them of their responsibility to turn the lights OFF when they leave.
And best of all (from my selfish perspective), a Parks rep visited our home and a link to the blog post was sent to the company that installed the lights. By result, in the next few days the company will adjust them downwards to reduce the glare from our (dis)advantage point.
How’s that for effective blogging? 
For me personally, the effect is hugely satisfying… moreso even than if I’d made a pot full of money blogging about something else. It feels really good to be able to effect quick change on a level that benefits both my community’s environment and budget.
Would the response have been as quick if I’d said, “go take a look at my website” instead of “blog search Google”?
Based on previous experience, I don’t think so. I believe the quick response was by and large a result of how effective blogs are in scoring points with Google.
And I’m sure I’ll have opportunity to test that theory sometime in the not-too-distant future… but next time I’ll upload video to YouTube!
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Comments
17 Responses to “Blogging for Change”
Darwin on May 1st, 2008 17:58 pm
Obviousl proactive blogging is much more effective then complaining to the powers that be. Forced transparency is the result.
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JanRon Publishing on May 1st, 2008 18:32 pm
Way to go Ros! Who says you can’t fight city hall - and win? Especially when you tell them to ‘google this!’
Your triumph just goes to show that the blog is mightier than the sword.
Sharon Bray-McPherson
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Rosalind Gardner reply on Friday, May 2, 2008 5:57 am:
I’m totally gonna steal your “the blog is mightier than the sword” line… that’s excellent!
Cheers,
Ros
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Brad on May 1st, 2008 19:29 pm
Heck Yeah! Now THAT’S sticking it to the man!!
We had a similar note hit the paper earlier this week (about waste in general). The subject was the city parks waste of water with their automatic sprinklers. In a desert state where you hear about conserving water on a regular basis.
The article told a tale of how long it took to affect the change.
-How many people complained.
-The cost, and loss, to the city.
-etc. etc.
(And of course, the excuse. ie: the cost to modify the system)
Anyway, they finally made the changes needed.
It makes one wonder how much quicker the change would have happened if the city’s neglect would have been featured on the first page of the mighty google.
Good Job Ros!
Glad that someone has the nerve to speak up about things
Brad.
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Rosalind Gardner reply on Friday, May 2, 2008 6:04 am:
Not sure that action was propelled so much ‘nerve’ as concern and selfish interest, but hey.. whatever works, eh?
And I used to write letters to the Editor of the local rag, but haven’t found that it’s had any effect on the terrible drivers in this region. LOL (They cross the line like they’re driving in Beijing, but a lot more aggressively and therefore more dangersous).
So, ya… go for the Google-effect every time!
Cheers,
Ros
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Dan Quizal on May 1st, 2008 19:42 pm
Energy wasters: Good for you, Ros… What a better world this would be if more of us followed your lead and took ACTION to help preserve our world and its resources. Waste has just become an ingrained part of most of our lives so that we don’t even notice it. Glad at least YOU NOTICED and then, took the next step to “stick your neck out” to publicize it.
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Rosalind Gardner reply on Friday, May 2, 2008 6:10 am:
Ugh. Don’t get me started on the topic of how wasteful we are in the first-world (particularly North America). Let’s just say that you don’t want to take a drive with me on garbage day… I do rant.
Guess I’m ‘lucky’ that I was raised by parents who went through a depression and WW2. My mom, at 93, is still one of the best conservationists I know.
So… what’s it gonna take to get more people to ’stick their necks out’ as you put it?
Cheers,
Ros
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Bob Marconi on May 1st, 2008 21:48 pm
Nice Going!!!
One person CAN make a difference.
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Rosalind Gardner reply on Friday, May 2, 2008 6:10 am:
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Lowell on May 2nd, 2008 2:53 am
Way to go Ros!
Lowell
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Ron Rink on May 2nd, 2008 6:14 am
Way to go, Ros! And, as you commented, the use of Google and YouTube are becoming much more effective in bringing about change. It’s especially good when it’s positive change!!
Congratulations! Hope your evening on the patio are much more romantic!
Be Well — Be in Peace …
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Burke Sisco on May 2nd, 2008 6:52 am
Ros -
What a great success story with your lights out blogging strategy. I am a bloggin’ Real Estate Agent of Change practicing in the metro Atlanta area. My blog, EcoHomeGuy.com, is a great tool for me to educate, enlighten, empower and entertain my past, current and future clients.
I am currently embarking on a “Right to Dry” initiative in Georgia. The idea is to reclaim people’s freedom to use their own backyard to do something as simple and practical as dry their clothes outdoors. By doing so they can save up to 10% of their electric bill. The problem is that this is a real solution to energy-efficiency and climate change mitigation immediately available to scores of citizens– BUT! — is illegal in most areas of the country due to HOA covenants and zoning laws.
A blog can be a super effective way to begin rallying support for change.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery said “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”
This is the power of the blog. Through the power of story and narrative and the voice of the common man, real change can be sparked.
~ Burke Sisco
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Rosalind Gardner reply on Friday, May 2, 2008 7:05 am:
Because truly… how flippin’ absurd is it to have bylaws that actually make best-practices illegal.
BTW, bringing up my mom again… at 93, she still hangs her clothes outside (in the basment in winter) to dry. So, the added benefit is that work keeps one fit.
What a concept!!
Cheers,
Ros
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Jan Tallent on May 2nd, 2008 14:21 pm
That is great, Rosalind and thanks, Sharon for sending me the link to this blog.
I am wondering if it would do any good to blog about the 30% rate increase on our electric here that is keeping most of the residents of my tiny town broke just paying the power bill and have some of them even shut off coz on fixed incomes they cannot pay! Heck, that is also the main reason I had to retire my real-world general store, no one could afford to shop when the electric rates went up and I could not pay the electric bill for my store!
anyway, great job, Rosalind!
Jan
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Gina on May 3rd, 2008 7:25 am
Hi Ros!
Thanks so much for this post - one person definitely can make a difference! I’m so glad to spoke up…it drives me crazy when lights are on when no one is using them!
Reading your post is great timing for me: I’ve been debating forever whether to push forward full steam ahead with my environmental blog and this post was the little kick in the butt I needed to realize that change can happen through blogging!
Thanks Ros. You continue to inspire me every day.
Gina
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Codrut Turcanu - AdSenseProfitTips.com on May 3rd, 2008 13:38 pm
Thanks Rosalind for sharing such a nice piece of information.
You have proved that one should never underestimate the power of Blogging.
And we must have certain responsibilities towards our community too.
On the whole it’s inspiring for all of us.
Cheers,
Codrut Turcanu - “Succeeding Against All Odds!”
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mustapha on May 5th, 2008 2:22 am
dear rosalind
i thank you very much for all your effort and for this information.
happy to meet you !…i wish you so much luck
yours…mustapha
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