The Daily Green Tip

Do your part to help shape the course of local and world events by casting your vote for your candidate of choice this Election Day. Your decision could have a big impact on the environment, as well as on other important issues, from the economy to healthcare, education, taxes, human rights and much more.

It's a fact of contemporary politics that most candidates will say they care deeply about protecting the environment, when actually there are significant differences among them in terms of actually making an impact with policing polluters, cleaning up air and water, safeguarding coastlines and oceans, addressing the threat of global warming and chartering the course to a clean, green energy future.

Voting should take just a few minutes, and every voice really counts – even if it doesn't end up tilting the scale on a national level, you are sending an important message to those in power about what issues matter to people. At the very least, don't let apathy become a signal to leaders that no one cares, and they can therefore do whatever they want. It's sort of like "broken window syndrome" and crime: if people don't express pride and involvement in their communities, then should they really be surprised when things go downhill?

Need help finding where your poll location is? You should have received notification from your state, probably in the mail. If you don't have that it's best to look on your town's website, or call city hall. You can also get some info, and find many polling places, on Vote411.org and through Google's effort.

So walk, bike, Segway, carpool, take the bus or train, or -- if you must -- drive to the poll. If you need a ride call your local Democrat, Republican, Green or other party, which will likely have organized volunteers ready for the task. Let's make a difference!

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